solidarity with trade unions in Belarus

Brothers and sisters!

Blatant situation now arose in Belarus. The regime once again tries to oppress independent thinking people in trade union movement. The power has already managed to grip control over Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, one of the two national trade union centers of Belarus. The former deputy head of the presidential administration became a new chairman of the Federation. But establishment of the control didn't change wicked behavior of the authorities toward trade unions and namely those leading their own independent policy as democratic institutes protecting interests of workers. Following the order of Mr. Lukashenko to the state officials at one of the meetings the Ministry of Industry waged an unprecedented campaign against Belarusian Automobile and Agricultural Machinery Workers' Union (AAM) and Belarusian Radio and Electronic Industry Workers' Union (REI). The aim of the campaign is to replace by all means AAM chairman Aliaksandr Bukhvostau and REI chairman Gennadi Fedynitch. In order to achieve that aim the authorities do not restrict themselves by such a formality like national law not to mention international ones. To violate the law is not a problem for them, the most important is to obey the order of their master, president Lukashenko, who defying all rules have publicly given the order in March 2003 to replace both leaders during a month, simply because he personally didn't like them, and the Government pretends not to interfere in domestic trade union affairs. The order is given and the officials like retrievers hurry up to execute it!

The authorities have many times tried to depose both leaders by implying pressure against them personally, now having failed they apply new tactics. Representatives of the Ministry of Industry go around enterprises and threaten their directors with denial to approve credit lines (including loans for wage payment) and literally promise to block their enterprises if the workforce will not join the newly created state run Trade Union of Industry. Pressure is exerted against workers and medium level trade union leaders affiliated with AAM and REI unions. The yellow Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus also helps the authorities to destroy both unions: recently the Council of the Federation has condemned steps of Aliaksandr Bukhvostau and Gennadi Fedynitch aimed to protect their organizations.

We now would like to address to all of you asking for your solidarity support, we need your letters of protest sent to the Administration of the President of Belarus, Ministry of Industry, Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus.

Yours in solidarity,
Aliaksandr Ivanou
International Dept
AAM union

Addresses to send your letters of protest

Administration of the President of Belarus:
38 K. Marx St.
Minsk,
BELARUS
e-mail: contact@president.gov.by
fax +375-17-226-06-10

Mr. Anatoliy Harlap
Minister of Industry
2 Partizanskiy av. building No. 4
220033 Minsk
BELARUS
fax +375-17-224-87-84

Mr. Kozik
Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus
Masherov av. 21
220126 Minsk,
BELARUS
fax +375-17-223-89-93