This letter was forwarded by Alexey From Ambassador 21. >> We, musicians of Belarus, feel it necessary to express our concern about the pressure we have already been experiencing for almost two months since July 21, 2004. On that day, we (the bands Palac, Drum Ecstasy, Neuro Dubel, N.R.M., ZET, Pomidor/OFF and Zmicier Vajciu kievič) performed at a concert to coincide with Aleksandr Lukashenko’s 10 years in power.
We wish particularly to emphasise that this rally and concert at Minsk’s Bangalore Square was officially permitted by the authorities. The next day, however, we had already begun to suffer the consequences of our participation.
Our concerts are being cancelled at the last moment on various far fetched pretexts, or are banned altogether. Television and radio station personnel have told us repeatedly of the existence of a ban on mentioning the musicians involved in the Bangalore Square concert in the state press, or playing their songs on state electronic media (TV channels First National, LAD, STV and ONT, plus National Radio 1 and 2, Radius FM, Pilot FM, Radio Minsk and Novoe Radio). The management of commercial radio and the country’s only private First Musical TV Channel have also been pressurised. It is not difficult to find this out for yourself; it’s enough just to call any of the FM stations listed and ask them to play a track by one of the disgraced bands they will refuse.
We feel as if our hands have been tied, we have been stood on tiptoes, and a noose has been placed around our necks. Apparently we haven’t been hanged yet, but you can’t call it a life. Therefore we wish to make the following statement:
1. We are not the opposition, but maintain a civic position – we wish to live and work freely in our own country.
2. We are law abiding citizens who obey the law even when it is directed against us. However, we have now come up against the telephone law of Soviet times, and wish to know on what grounds we are being banned, and what exactly we have contravened.
3. We are concerned by steps the Belarusian authorities are taking against contemporary music. We know that the Ministry of Culture is currently drafting a new regulation according to which all concert participants will have to be approved (or vetted, as it was known under the Soviet system) before any performance. It is only a question of time before the Belarusian Council of Ministers passes this regulation. Some sort of jury will then be authorised to ban concerts by Belarusian artists. We feel these measures to be illegal and contradictory to the principles of freedom of speech.
4. We are appealing to people who care about the current situation to send e-mails in support of the musicians to , and write to state officials at the following addresses to ask – Why are the bands being banned?
Minister Leonid Pavlovich Gulyako
Belarusian Ministry of Culture
220004 Minsk prospekt Masherova 11
Fax: (++375-17) 2239045.
Minister Vladimir Vasilyevich Rusakevich
Belarusian Ministry of Information 220004 Minsk prospekt Masherova 11
5. We request media workers to carry out a journalistic investigation to find answers to the questions: who contacted Belarusian radio stations and gave the order not to allow musicians involved in the July 21 rally onto the air; who is now banning these bands from holding concerts, and on what grounds? If no such ban exists, then we wish to be told so officially. We would then kindly ask you to publish your findings.
6. We plan to set up a Belarusian Musicians’ Union to unite us in our common fight and support young bands who are facing problems organising concerts. We are calling on everyone who stands with us in our desire to live and work in Belarus to join in our initiative.
Minsk, Belarus
16.09.2004
forwarded to widerstand.org by Ambassador 21
http://www.ambassador21.com
