[CivilSoc] Civic Leader Is Attacked in Belarus

[Center for Civil Society International]

Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 22:32:12 GMT
From: International League for Human Rights <Communications@ilhr.org>
To: Center for Civil Society International   <ccsi@u.washington.edu>
Subject: Civic Leader Is Attacked in Belarus
Mr. Alexander Lukashenko
Republic of Belarus
VIA FAX 011-375-172-26-06-10
August 13, 2001
Dear Mr. Lukashenko,
The International League for Human Rights, a non-governmental
organization devoted to protection of human rights, is extremely
concerned with the recent attack on Sergei Strizhonok, a member of
the Citizens' Commission of Investigation of Disappearances of
Zakharenko, Gonchar, Krasovsky and Zavadsky.
On July 31, 2001, at approximately 11:00 p.m., a group of
unidentified men ambushed Strizhonok as he was exiting the elevator
of the building where he lives.  The men sprayed a large amount of
tear gas in Strizhonok's face and assaulted him, hitting his head,
back, arms and legs with rubber sticks until he lost concsiousness.
When leaving, the perpatrators said it was "in retaliation for his
big mouth."  Subsequent medical examinations revealed brain damage
and severe bruises to his back, arms and legs.
This latest attack is part of a coordinated harassment campaign
directed against members of the Commission, including routine
telephone threats and steep fines for staging public protests
demanding a full and transparent investigation into the
disappearances.
Recently, two Belarusian investigators who had Belarus and received
political asylum in the United States have revealed credible evidence
of a death squad run by you and/or members of your entourage.
According to their accounts, then-Security Council head Viktor
Sheiman (currently Prosecutor General) ordered the formation of the
squad in 1996, and it has since been responsible for the murder of 30
people.
The League believes that the Commission and particularly Strizhonok
have been targeted for their active role in investigating the
disappearances and helping the investigators flee the country.  We
demand that this harassment be stopped immediately and those
responsible for this attack held accountable.  We also urge you to
follow the recommendation of the UN Committee Against Torture made in
November 2000 to form an "impartial governmental and non-governmental
national human rights commission to . . . investigate all complaints
of human rights violations," which would then assure a full and
transparent investigation of the disappearances.
Sincerely,
Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Executive Director