Belorussian Conspiracies of Revolt
Belarus' KGB (yes, it's still called the KGB there and nowhere else) yesterday insisted that its 'opposition' was plotting to detonate explosives in a crowd of their own protesters, so that they would have an excuse to cease peaceful protests and attack the government.
Well, since a majority of people don't actually join an organization, whether they support it or not, the number of protesters will probably be slim. Especially when you understand that things will probably get violent starting from the side of the government in the first place.
Yes, if the government became violent, it would be like committing suicide with 'Western' nations. However, it would be supported by Russia...who doesn't really like Lukashenko that much either, but supports him much more than their alternative. [And if you don't believe Russia would support such a thing, look what happened in Uzbekistan.]
I see these reports as both preparation and excuse. Of course, all they need is the excuse. Still, as preparation, it's rather childish and poorly done. Now they give away their intent publicly if they were to take any actions. It's just poor political form and a little blatant--showing true roots of dictatorship. (I hate to sound like some EU news feed here, but the move is actually reminiscent of dictatorship.)
Even after reading and writing the above, this story is now on the news. I see there are plenty of people already in the streets.
I don't normally mind Belarus, actually. And the people there are quite nice.
Apart from two people that were strange in Minsk (the Belorussian capital), everyone is was extremely nice and helpful. I loved the country and found it absolutely breathtaking to travel through and visit.
[Those two people were both street people, one who was collecting bottles of recycling money and drinking from the used beer bottles and then spitting it out at the feet of people traversing that particular park near the capital building and the main train station. The second was a beggar (or just a woman begging, but wearing clean and decent clothing). When we refused to give her any money, as we didn't have that much ourselves, she proceeded to argue that she needed the money more than we did and that we owed her the money as humans helping out other humans and such a stupid spin of shit that my girlfriend just said no and we left the park.]
After such stories, I have to say that I spent the next 5 days with other Belorussians that were definitely some of the nicest and courteous people I've met. They would even stop other tourists for someone taking pictures...something I always thought was just a normal courtesy seems to not be with tourists from America, Russia, and various other countries (although some tourists of these other countries are polite, it is not the norm and even other Russians have told me the same).
Anyway, it's sad that they (as well as Russia) are preparing for a possible 'revolution' in Belarus.
I doubt that it will be allowed or tolerated, but it's probably overdue since Lukashenko has been there since 1994, and that doesn't really allow for fresh and productive ideas or change.
Already their Belorussian rubles have fallen through as they prepare to change to the Russian ruble (RR). I'm not in favor of any 'international' currency other than goods (including gold, etc.), but it seems to be a major trend these days and I understand that because it 'seems' simple and culture isn't a noticeable thing on a currency.
Still, with this introduction of the RR, they dragged it out for two or three years. This allowed currency in Belarus to just take a nose dive...since it wasn't immediately pegged or linked in any way. The people will be OK, because the already didn't trust their currency and many (hopefully most) keep their money in some other currency, ironically dollars or euros. However, to purposefully allow a currency to drop out from under a people and then introduce one that is 100 times more valuable is damaging to a people and economy. There is a good system in place to both change and exchange currencies across Europe, and while people go through these transfer periods, their value is respected and while they may be losing some value, they don't loose such a large value over a 3 year period.
OK...so I ranted. And have said to expect a lot of talk, but not so much violence...although it's still possible for some. And there may be a revolution in Belarus, but I doubt it will be a successful revolution because they already know what they will have to do in order to make sure it fails and they will be working on those measures from last March 9, one year ahead of these 'presidential' elections.
Enough said.
I would still like to have a free 1 month visa there...just for traversing and visiting. But that seems unlikely with the current situation anyway. (And believe me, even though Russia is a sitting observer and even decision maker in NATO, they believe that NATO is against them...and Russia supports any measure that keeps NATO off of their doorsteps.)
Well, since a majority of people don't actually join an organization, whether they support it or not, the number of protesters will probably be slim. Especially when you understand that things will probably get violent starting from the side of the government in the first place.
Yes, if the government became violent, it would be like committing suicide with 'Western' nations. However, it would be supported by Russia...who doesn't really like Lukashenko that much either, but supports him much more than their alternative. [And if you don't believe Russia would support such a thing, look what happened in Uzbekistan.]
I see these reports as both preparation and excuse. Of course, all they need is the excuse. Still, as preparation, it's rather childish and poorly done. Now they give away their intent publicly if they were to take any actions. It's just poor political form and a little blatant--showing true roots of dictatorship. (I hate to sound like some EU news feed here, but the move is actually reminiscent of dictatorship.)
Even after reading and writing the above, this story is now on the news. I see there are plenty of people already in the streets.
I don't normally mind Belarus, actually. And the people there are quite nice.
Apart from two people that were strange in Minsk (the Belorussian capital), everyone is was extremely nice and helpful. I loved the country and found it absolutely breathtaking to travel through and visit.
[Those two people were both street people, one who was collecting bottles of recycling money and drinking from the used beer bottles and then spitting it out at the feet of people traversing that particular park near the capital building and the main train station. The second was a beggar (or just a woman begging, but wearing clean and decent clothing). When we refused to give her any money, as we didn't have that much ourselves, she proceeded to argue that she needed the money more than we did and that we owed her the money as humans helping out other humans and such a stupid spin of shit that my girlfriend just said no and we left the park.]
After such stories, I have to say that I spent the next 5 days with other Belorussians that were definitely some of the nicest and courteous people I've met. They would even stop other tourists for someone taking pictures...something I always thought was just a normal courtesy seems to not be with tourists from America, Russia, and various other countries (although some tourists of these other countries are polite, it is not the norm and even other Russians have told me the same).
Anyway, it's sad that they (as well as Russia) are preparing for a possible 'revolution' in Belarus.
I doubt that it will be allowed or tolerated, but it's probably overdue since Lukashenko has been there since 1994, and that doesn't really allow for fresh and productive ideas or change.
Already their Belorussian rubles have fallen through as they prepare to change to the Russian ruble (RR). I'm not in favor of any 'international' currency other than goods (including gold, etc.), but it seems to be a major trend these days and I understand that because it 'seems' simple and culture isn't a noticeable thing on a currency.
Still, with this introduction of the RR, they dragged it out for two or three years. This allowed currency in Belarus to just take a nose dive...since it wasn't immediately pegged or linked in any way. The people will be OK, because the already didn't trust their currency and many (hopefully most) keep their money in some other currency, ironically dollars or euros. However, to purposefully allow a currency to drop out from under a people and then introduce one that is 100 times more valuable is damaging to a people and economy. There is a good system in place to both change and exchange currencies across Europe, and while people go through these transfer periods, their value is respected and while they may be losing some value, they don't loose such a large value over a 3 year period.
OK...so I ranted. And have said to expect a lot of talk, but not so much violence...although it's still possible for some. And there may be a revolution in Belarus, but I doubt it will be a successful revolution because they already know what they will have to do in order to make sure it fails and they will be working on those measures from last March 9, one year ahead of these 'presidential' elections.
Enough said.
I would still like to have a free 1 month visa there...just for traversing and visiting. But that seems unlikely with the current situation anyway. (And believe me, even though Russia is a sitting observer and even decision maker in NATO, they believe that NATO is against them...and Russia supports any measure that keeps NATO off of their doorsteps.)