Hundreds arrested in Belarus after defying ban on protests
25 replies, posted
[URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-39393351"]Source.[/URL]
[QUOTE]Police in Belarus have arrested hundreds of people during protests against a so-called "social parasites" tax on the under-employed.
Thousands defied a ban to protest, taking to the streets of Minsk and other cities. Demonstrators shouted "Fascists!" at riot police.
There have been weeks of sporadic protests against a $230 (£185) levy on those unemployed for six months.
President Alexander Lukashenko insists the tax will not be scrapped. He says it instils discipline in the workshy, though he has suspended it for this year. Opponents say it punishes those who cannot find a job.
Organisers called the protest Freedom Day, evoking the independent Belarus that lasted just six months after the First World War, in 1918. The march in the capital Minsk took place on the 99th anniversary of the proclamation of the Belarusian People's Republic.
Demonstrators tried to march down one of the major streets in Minsk, but were blocked by police who began arresting them, along with journalists covering the protest.
police officers detain protesterImage copyrightEPA
"They're beating the participants, dragging women by the hair to buses. I was able to run to a nearby courtyard," demonstrator Alexander Ponomarev told AP news agency.
Earlier, police raided the offices of human rights group Vesna and detained about 30 activists. The authorities had already jailed more than 100 opposition supporters for terms of between three and 15 days in the lead-up to the demonstration, reports said.[/QUOTE]
I'm surprised nobody else has posted this yet, it's a fucking shame really - I hope people continue to protest and respond to the government's brutality with some force of their own, it's about time this cunt got put in his place.
So let me get this straight you have to pay a 230$ tax if you're unemployed am I understanding that right?
$230 fine for being unemployed? Wow what the fuck are they snorting. How they expecting to get that money btw? Seems like an incredibly retarded law
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;52014609]$230 fine for being unemployed? Wow what the fuck are they snorting. How they expecting to get that money btw? Seems like an incredibly retarded law[/QUOTE]
I assume those who can't pay are sent to prison or made to participate in a forced labour program thinly veiled as "community service".
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;52014609]$230 fine for being unemployed? Wow what the fuck are they snorting. How they expecting to get that money btw? Seems like an incredibly retarded law[/QUOTE]
If you can't pay, you are presumably forced to do community service etc to cover that
The poor tax and debtors prison are making a comeback
[QUOTE]There have been weeks of sporadic protests against a $230 (£185) levy on those unemployed for six months.[/QUOTE]
This is such a fucking bullshit law. How the fuck can you punish someone for this? Isn't being unemployed punishment enough?
Not to mention how retarded the ban on protests is. Belarus truly is the last european dictatorship, huh?
Lukashenko, go fuck yourself.
[QUOTE=duckmaster;52014605]So let me get this straight you have to pay a 230$ tax if you're unemployed am I understanding that right?[/QUOTE]
Yeah. Basically negative welfare
[QUOTE=fruxodaily;52014609]$230 fine for being unemployed? Wow what the fuck are they snorting. How they expecting to get that money btw? Seems like an incredibly retarded law[/QUOTE]
... for 6 months
[QUOTE=RocketSnail;52014752]... for 6 months[/QUOTE]
... And?
[QUOTE=RocketSnail;52014752]... for 6 months[/QUOTE]
Seriously, explain to me how this will solve anything. Making people who can't find a job pay the government $230 for the return of absolutely nothing. What will this do?
Belarus is a fascist shithole and I'm glad it's being reported on.
[QUOTE=RocketSnail;52014752]... for 6 months[/QUOTE]
I legitimately cannot tell with your posts anymore if you're just that far deep into alt-right or if you're just a troll. The line between the two gets harder every day.
[QUOTE=RocketSnail;52014752]... for 6 months[/QUOTE]
"lol fuck the poor"
If you leaned any further right you'd fall out the damn boat
[QUOTE=RocketSnail;52014752]... for 6 months[/QUOTE]
Having gone through unemployment for nearly over a year in the past, let me tell you something, ol buddy ol pal
[I]it's not always easy getting a job, and if I have a hard time getting a job in flipping Norway, then I can't imagine how difficult it is for some in Belarus[/I]
[QUOTE=Limed00d;52014832]Having gone through unemployment for nearly over a year in the past, let me tell you something, ol buddy ol pal
[I]it's not always easy getting a job, and if I have a hard time getting a job in flipping Norway, then I can't imagine how difficult it is for some in Belarus[/I][/QUOTE]
Finding a job is easy. Finding a job that treats you more than just a slave not so much.
[QUOTE=Lord of Boxes;52014778]Belarus is a fascist shithole and I'm glad it's being reported on.[/QUOTE]
"Social parasitism" laws such as this are one the hallmarks of a communist regime though, and Belarus is openly continuing many Soviet practices, so fascist is hardly the appropriate term here.
[QUOTE=Kecske;52014897]"Social parasitism" laws such as this are one the hallmarks of a communist regime though, and Belarus is openly continuing many Soviet practices, so fascist is hardly the appropriate term here.[/QUOTE]
I have heard the Soviet Union described as "fascism disguised as communism" which sounds pretty apt.
[QUOTE=Grenadiac;52014929]I have heard the Soviet Union described as "fascism disguised as communism" which sounds pretty apt.[/QUOTE]
Well I mean horseshoe theory is a thing after all. It's just that where I live the distinction seems to be much clearer, perhaps due to the fact that there are still many people who had firsthand experience with both. These terms are treated less like abstract concepts.
Guys there is more, Belarus may be the next Crimea.
[QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52015068]Guys there is more, Belarus may be the next Crimea.[/QUOTE]
Do Russia really need more ethnic minorities to deal with? Might actually be better than the current regime though.
[QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52015068]Guys there is more, Belarus may be the next Crimea.[/QUOTE]
lol wtf
Apparently every country in eastern europe is the next crimea
[QUOTE=RocketSnail;52014752]... for 6 months[/QUOTE]
Yeah, because after being unemployed for 6 months, you'd be perfectly capable of paying a $230 fine. :downs:
The last closed economy east of the former iron curtain is extremely shitty with no labour rights and authoritarian government? Wow surprising. Belarus has had the same exact same man in power since the Yugoslav wars.
[QUOTE=OmniConsUme;52015068]Guys there is more, Belarus may be the next Crimea.[/QUOTE]
Seems like it'd be kind of unnecessary. Belarus doesn't appear to be on the verge of a regime change or anything so why should Russia get involved?
Sorry, you need to Log In to post a reply to this thread.