The opposition in Belarus yesterday criticised a parliamentary bill that would give Alexander Lukashenko's regime the legal right to crack down on protesters engaging publicly in "non-actions".
The bill -- submitted by top ministers to the lower house of parliament last week -- proposes a ban on "previously-agreed actions or non-actions."
This is apparently aimed at the numerous "silent" protests the opposition has held in recent months, where protesters chanted no slogans and merely stood clapping their hands.
Under existing legislation, the regime can act against protesters engaged in "hooliganism", while the new bill also covers "the mass gathering of people at a previously-agreed location -- including in the open air -- at an agreed time to conduct previously-agreed actions or non-actions".
The opposition and activists said the law will give the government the full legal authority to arrest rally participants simply for standing in silence.
It will also formally let the authorities videotape crowds and intercept conversations of people suspected of planning banned rallies, according to the draft posted on the pravo.by official website that publishes bills and laws.
Source : The Daily Star
