"Gazeta Wyborcza" and Polsat start "Stand Up for the Free Speech" campaign
07-10-2002
The newspapers in Belarus are being shut down and their journalists are being arrested and charged with defamation of President Lukaszenko. Belarussian authorities are preparing further regulations aimed at restraining the publishers of independent press. One of basic human rights - the right to free speech is suppressed in Belarus for it would give the society an unrestricted access to information, allow public debate or lead to power struggle. The authorities instead of serving the people are being served by them. That is why "Gazeta Wyborcza" - the defender of democracy, together with Polsat organized the campaign emphasizing that human rights violations are not "internal affairs" of Belarus. Every person wishing to join this campaign may do so by visiting "Gazeta Wyborcza" Internet portal and send an e-mail of protest to President Lukaszenko.
Belarussian journalists - like Poles of yesteryear - need the sign of solidarity.
