Vatslau Areshka: Boycott of “elections” can become beginning of civil disobedience campaign
- 23.07.2015, 8:45
A wide campaign of civil disobedience should be launched under the aegis of the boycott of the dictatorial “elections” of October 11.
Culturologist and member of the organising committee to create Belarusian Movement party Vatslau Areshka, said it in an interview with charter97.org.
– You already said that the nomination of Mikalai Statkevich as a candidate could become a good motive to boycott the “elections” in Belarus. His initiative group has been denied registration. What further steps should be taken, in your opinion?
– The denial was expected. It would be strange of the Central Election Commission to behave in another way. This outcome was expected.
So, we must follow the strategy proposed several months and even a year ago – refusal to participate in the elections. I mean not only the refusal but the active boycott. The boycott of the “elections” is the boycott of the regime in its displays.
The feature of this year's “elections” is that the idea of the boycott appeared at the very beginning. Even if we count the candidates who applied for registration, we don't take them seriously. We always think about the boycott whatever we do.
The authorities showed clearly what they want. The decision of the candidates whose groups were registered to run in the elections to a certain degree means betraying the principles of Belarusian democracy and playing in the hands of the regime.
I already said that we mean boycott whatever we do. A considerable part of Belarusian society thinks about the boycott. The task is to decide how to carry it out, taking into account the official ban on calling for a boycott.
I think we must use all forms, including a satirical one, to speak about the boycott. We need as many people as possible to know that any support of the government's initiative is unproductive. The boycott must become a wide campaign.
It doesn't mean only voting with your feet by not attending a polling station. It also means conveying your message to people. The campaign for the release of political prisoners must become an important part of the boycott campaign.
It is an important question what will happen after the so called elections. We often saw that everything ended the next day after the elections and new political prisoners appeared.
It is significant to continue boycotting the regime after the “elections”. It mustn't be a one-time campaign. It must be the deliberate refusal to support the regime and the authorities.
– How can people boycott the regime without reference to political campaigns?
– You can read a lot about it. For example, Gene Sharp wrote about it. We just need people to learn about such methods. A boycott can take different forms.
I do not call not to pay taxes, because it's not suitable for everyone. But you can ignore different initiatives organised by the regime, beginning with days of voluntary work. You can stop supporting the regime in another way, for example, you can refuse to “voluntary” give money for the authorities' initiatives.
It is also important not to attend all ideological and entertaining events organised by the regime, including sporting events. I would happy to see victories of our sportsmen in free Belarus, but it is a different thing when they win under Aliaksandr Lukashenka's flag. Sports fans should understand it.
Forms of non-support can be different. Everyone can invent something new. Let's recall the “clapping campaign” in summer of 2011. The regime was afraid of those peaceful and, at first sight, senseless campaigns. Such happenings can demonstrate that we didn't elect these authorities.
We should take actions together. The civil disobedience campaign can be launched under the aegis of the boycott of the “elections” and be continued after the “elections”. Such proposals were made by late Viktar Ivashkevich and other politicians.