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Main objective of Freedom Day demonstration is to let people feel that fate of Belarus depends on them personally, organizer says

 

The main objective of the March 25 “Dzen Voli” (Freedom Day) demonstration is to let people feel that the fate of Belarus depends on them personally, Viktar Ivashkevich, an organizer, told reporters in Minsk on Wednesday.

The Minsk City Executive Committee permitted demonstrators to gather in the square in front of the National Academy of Sciences at 1:30 p.m. and march to Peoples' Friendship Park in Bangalore Square to hold a rally there.

According to Mr. Ivashkevich, some 10 musicians have agreed to perform during the rally. Participants are to include relatives of political prisoners and leaders of political parties and civil society organizations.

Uladzimir Kolas, chairman of the Rada (Council) of the Belarusian Intelligentsia who is a member of the organizing committee for the demonstration, said that during a meeting at the Minsk City Executive Committee on Tuesday, the organizers were told that the city authorities had no objection to the announced form and route of the demonstration. “The meeting was held in a favorable atmosphere on the part of the authorities,” Mr. Kolas said. “They assured us of their willingness not to pose any obstacles and their interest in this festival going off without provocations.”

Mr. Kolas also said that people would have to pass through metal detector gates to get into Peoples' Friendship Park. There will be six metal detector gates in the area, and people carrying sharp objects, glass bottles and so on will not be let in, but the city authorities promised that banners, flags and signs would not be prevented from being brought to the rally, he said. //BelaPAN