Aleksandr Bukhvostov arrested and sentenced

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Last Thursday, October 30, Aleksandr Bukhvostov, President of the Byelorussian Union of Auto and Agricultural Machine-Building Workers of Belarus (ASM), was arrested and sentenced to ten days in jail. He was picketing in the centre of Minsk as a protest against the government's campaign to remove him as President of the Union. Under his leadership, his union has been one of the pillars of opposition to the dictatorial regime of President Aleksandr Lukashenko, who for the past 8 years has been gradually subordinating the union movement to the state.

Together with the Belarussian Radio Electronic Workers Union REP and the Belarussian Congress of Independent Unions, the ASM is one of the three remaining independent unions in the country. All other unions have been brought under direct control of the government, with puppet leaders set in place by Mr.Lukashenko.

To destroy the power of ASM, the government has created an alternative yellow Trade Union of Industry. The local plant committee leaders of ASM are now being put under heavy pressure by management and by the state authorities to leave ASM and join this new yellow union. It is against this direct interference in internal union affairs that Mr.Bukhvostov has decided to speak out and protest openly. When he asked for permission to organise a peaceful protest action in the centre of Minsk, permission was denied by the authorities. Mr. Bukhvostov decided to ignore this government order and, accompanied by a small group of unionists, he went to the Oktybrskaya square in the centre of Minsk. As soon as Mr.Bukhvostov unfolded a small banner against the violation of trade union rights, he was surrounded by 15 policemen and escorted to a police bus. Within 2 hours, a court was convened and Mr.Bukhvostov was sentenced to 10 days prison in isolation. In Belarussia, the independence of the judiciary has been abolished by Mr.Lukashenka since a number of years, as well as the democratically elected parliament. The mass media are under control of the government, and there is censorship on independent media.

Since his arrest, the family, friends and supporters of Mr.Bukhvostov have not been allowed to speak or communicate with him. From another prisoner that was released this week, we know however that he is doing well under the circumstances.

Although most national union leaders have refused to support Mr.Bukhvostov and protest against his detention, the ASM has received numerous letters of support from local unions and independent organisations from all over the country. Mr. Bukhvostov is a well known and respected leader in the country, already since he organised a foot march to Moscow to protest against the neglect of the victims of the Tchernobyl nucleair disastre in 1989.

For more information please look at the web site of the independent union movement in Belarus www.praca.by., and click on the english version on the right above. You will find there a more detailed description of the arrest of Mr.Bukhvostov, with photographs.

It is urgent to show solidarity with the independent labour movement in Belarus and with Aleksandr Bukhvostov.

Please fax letters of protest to the following addresses:
Administration of the President of Belarus: (375-17) 226-06-10
Prosecutor-General of Belarus, V.V. Sheiman: (+375-17) 226-41-67
Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (+375-17) 210-43-37
with copy to: Byelorussian Union of Auto and Agricultural Machine-Building Workers of Belarus (375-17) 223-97-92 or (+375-172)-223-8160

LabourNet Germany

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