Belarus Election - The Tyrrany Continues

Ryokan · 19th March 2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Several thousand Belarussian opposition supporters have gathered in a main square in Minsk as voting in the country's presidential election ended.

They claim that President Alexander Lukashenko has rigged the vote to ensure a third term in office.

Mr Lukashenko has warned he will crush any attempt to stage a popular revolt.

More than two hours before the official end of voting, exit polls on state controlled TV suggested Mr Lukashenko had won 82% of the vote.

The same poll said that the main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, had won just 5%.

According to election officials the turnout has been more than 80%.

Quote:

The president has warned he will not tolerate any attempt at a "coup" and has vowed to "break the neck" of anyone who tries to seize power.

Large-scale street protests led to the fall of leaders in other ex-Soviet republics such as Ukraine and Georgia.

Both the European Union and the United States have expressed concern at the Belarussian government's tough stance on political protest.

Quote:

Police have said that protesters "trying to destabilise the situation" will be treated as terrorists and could face the death penalty.

A spokesman for the Helsinki Committee, a human rights organisation, told the BBC the Belarussian government's threats to opposition groups could trigger violence.

"We've had similar statements during previous elections... This one is stronger and maybe it's a sign that we should expect violence during Sunday evening," Dzmitry Markusheuski said.

Officials in the ex-Soviet republic have accused foreign countries of backing opposition candidates in the election and a number of foreign monitors and journalists have been denied entry to watch the vote.

Source

Quote:

Eyewitness: Expelled from Belarus

Eight members of a Scandinavian team of unofficial election observers have been ordered to leave the country, days before the presidential elections.

The BBC News website spoke to one of the those arrested - Michael Johnson, 23, the Belarus co-ordinator for the Social Democratic Youth of Denmark (DSU).

Source

Mycroft · 19th March 2006, 03:14 PM

Wow. I don't think I'd ever heard of Belarus before this.

Ryokan · 19th March 2006, 03:22 PM

Originally Posted by Mycroft

Wow. I don't think I'd ever heard of Belarus before this.

I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then?

Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship.

Mike B. · 19th March 2006, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by Ryokan

I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then?

Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship.

I think he is pulling your leg.

Here is a bit in CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html

Ryokan · 19th March 2006, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Mike B.

I think he is pulling your leg.

Here is a bit in CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html

Ah.

Mycroft · 19th March 2006, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ryokan

I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then?

Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship.

I haven't been watching much TV lately, but I don't think so, no.

The Central Scrutinizer · 19th March 2006, 04:29 PM

I blame Bush.

Someone had to say it!

Art Vandelay · 21st March 2006, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Ryokan

I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then?

Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship.

What about the Vatican?

Kerberos · 21st March 2006, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

What about the Vatican?

The Vatican has no other citizens than it's employees, so we have a dictatorship that only "oppresses" people who volountarilly choose to work form them, which you can leave whenever you choose and where you propably have a fair degree of freedom of speech, thought, fair courst (I think they use the Italian ones mostly) and so forth. Not exactly the associations the word dictatorship normally carries. Fact is that the Vatican isn't really a proper state at all.

a_unique_person · 22nd March 2006, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Ryokan

Source

Source

From what I have heard, he is a lot like the president of Russia, acting illegally, but still quite popular because a lot of people just want someone who can keep things stable, and is able to push the right 'populist' buttons.

Kerberos · 22nd March 2006, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by a_unique_person

From what I have heard, he is a lot like the president of Russia, acting illegally, but still quite popular because a lot of people just want someone who can keep things stable, and is able to push the right 'populist' buttons.

That's, I believe partially correct, but let's not forget Lukashenko also controls the media, imprisons political opponents and all that. He's a lot worse than Putin. Also while he might get a majority anyways, one might wonder why he objects to exit polls if he's not going to improve on the results. Incidentially I spoke to some of the expelled observers, and one og them told me that some of the Belerussians who worked with them believed that the booth were being monitered to register who they voted for. While this might not be true, the belief that it is could in itself influence voting.

a_unique_person · 22nd March 2006, 12:38 AM

I have no doubt they could do a lot better, but the states new to democracy seem to take it slowly sometimes. Hopefully, this will turn out ok in the long run.

19th March 2006, 02:12 PM	#1
Ryokan Insert something funny here Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 8,194	Belarus Election - The Tyrrany Continues Quote: Several thousand Belarussian opposition supporters have gathered in a main square in Minsk as voting in the country's presidential election ended. They claim that President Alexander Lukashenko has rigged the vote to ensure a third term in office. Mr Lukashenko has warned he will crush any attempt to stage a popular revolt. More than two hours before the official end of voting, exit polls on state controlled TV suggested Mr Lukashenko had won 82% of the vote. The same poll said that the main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, had won just 5%. According to election officials the turnout has been more than 80%. Quote: The president has warned he will not tolerate any attempt at a "coup" and has vowed to "break the neck" of anyone who tries to seize power. Large-scale street protests led to the fall of leaders in other ex-Soviet republics such as Ukraine and Georgia. Both the European Union and the United States have expressed concern at the Belarussian government's tough stance on political protest. Quote: Police have said that protesters "trying to destabilise the situation" will be treated as terrorists and could face the death penalty. A spokesman for the Helsinki Committee, a human rights organisation, told the BBC the Belarussian government's threats to opposition groups could trigger violence. "We've had similar statements during previous elections... This one is stronger and maybe it's a sign that we should expect violence during Sunday evening," Dzmitry Markusheuski said. Officials in the ex-Soviet republic have accused foreign countries of backing opposition candidates in the election and a number of foreign monitors and journalists have been denied entry to watch the vote. Source Quote: Eyewitness: Expelled from Belarus Eight members of a Scandinavian team of unofficial election observers have been ordered to leave the country, days before the presidential elections. The BBC News website spoke to one of the those arrested - Michael Johnson, 23, the Belarus co-ordinator for the Social Democratic Youth of Denmark (DSU). Source

19th March 2006, 03:14 PM	#2
Mycroft High Priest of Ed Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 16,105	Wow. I don't think I'd ever heard of Belarus before this.
	__________________ Surely Israel is the party to blame? -a_unique_person I do have Mycroft on ignore, he is pretty much the Matt Giwer of your side. -a_unique_person Palestinian Refugees

19th March 2006, 03:40 PM	#4
Mike B. Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,186	Originally Posted by Ryokan I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then? Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship. I think he is pulling your leg. Here is a bit in CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html
Mike B. Graduate Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,186

19th March 2006, 03:50 PM	#6
Mycroft High Priest of Ed Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 16,105	Originally Posted by Ryokan I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then? Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship. I haven't been watching much TV lately, but I don't think so, no.
	__________________ Surely Israel is the party to blame? -a_unique_person I do have Mycroft on ignore, he is pretty much the Matt Giwer of your side. -a_unique_person Palestinian Refugees

19th March 2006, 04:29 PM	#7
The Central Scrutinizer Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The White Zone Posts: 42,277	I blame Bush. Someone had to say it!
	__________________ If I see somebody with a gun on a plane? I'll kill him.

19th March 2006, 03:22 PM	#3
Ryokan Insert something funny here Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 8,194	Originally Posted by Mycroft Wow. I don't think I'd ever heard of Belarus before this. I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then? Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship.

19th March 2006, 03:42 PM	#5
Ryokan Insert something funny here Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 8,194	Originally Posted by Mike B. I think he is pulling your leg. Here is a bit in CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html Ah.

21st March 2006, 11:05 PM	#8
Art Vandelay Illuminator Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,790	Originally Posted by Ryokan I'm guessing the US media isn't covering this, then? Belarus is also known as the last European dictatorship. What about the Vatican?

21st March 2006, 11:56 PM	#9
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	Originally Posted by Art Vandelay What about the Vatican? The Vatican has no other citizens than it's employees, so we have a dictatorship that only "oppresses" people who volountarilly choose to work form them, which you can leave whenever you choose and where you propably have a fair degree of freedom of speech, thought, fair courst (I think they use the Italian ones mostly) and so forth. Not exactly the associations the word dictatorship normally carries. Fact is that the Vatican isn't really a proper state at all.
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	__________________ Bible code: A method for obtaining hidden messages from texts that contains none, for the purpose of predicting events after they happen. "When the facts are on you side, but the law is against you, stress the facts. When the law is on your side, but the facts are against you stress the law. When both the facts and the law is against you, pound the table and yell like hell". Laywer maxim Last edited by Kerberos; 22nd March 2006 at 12:05 AM.

22nd March 2006, 12:13 AM	#10
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,329	Originally Posted by Ryokan Source Source From what I have heard, he is a lot like the president of Russia, acting illegally, but still quite popular because a lot of people just want someone who can keep things stable, and is able to push the right 'populist' buttons.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes

22nd March 2006, 12:27 AM	#11
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	Originally Posted by a_unique_person From what I have heard, he is a lot like the president of Russia, acting illegally, but still quite popular because a lot of people just want someone who can keep things stable, and is able to push the right 'populist' buttons. That's, I believe partially correct, but let's not forget Lukashenko also controls the media, imprisons political opponents and all that. He's a lot worse than Putin. Also while he might get a majority anyways, one might wonder why he objects to exit polls if he's not going to improve on the results. Incidentially I spoke to some of the expelled observers, and one og them told me that some of the Belerussians who worked with them believed that the booth were being monitered to register who they voted for. While this might not be true, the belief that it is could in itself influence voting.
Kerberos Illuminator Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,608	__________________ Bible code: A method for obtaining hidden messages from texts that contains none, for the purpose of predicting events after they happen. "When the facts are on you side, but the law is against you, stress the facts. When the law is on your side, but the facts are against you stress the law. When both the facts and the law is against you, pound the table and yell like hell". Laywer maxim Last edited by Kerberos; 22nd March 2006 at 12:29 AM.

22nd March 2006, 12:38 AM	#12
a_unique_person Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Mt Disappointment Posts: 33,329	I have no doubt they could do a lot better, but the states new to democracy seem to take it slowly sometimes. Hopefully, this will turn out ok in the long run.
	__________________ *Continually pushing the boundaries of mediocrity.* Everything is possible, but not everything is probable. For if a man pretend to me that God hath spoken to him supernaturally, and immediately, and I make doubt of it, I cannot easily perceive what argument he can produce to oblige me to believe it. Hobbes