October

1999

Information message

30.09.99 the one-day all-republican action of the protest of the businessmen to support the requirements of the workers was held. The action was organised by the Free and Independent trade unions of the citizens, businessmen and people working on hiring. All large markets of the Republic of Belarus stopped to work that day. The total number of the strikers was more than 110 thousand men.

The businessmen supported the requirements of the workers to cancel the Decree of the president of the Republic of Belarus #29 which establishes the slave-owning relations and serfdom. Today the state on behalf of A. Lukashenko tries to squelch the last capability of the workers to protect the rights with the help of trade unions substituting a trade union by any presidential commission at each plant. Workers being weakly organised and slightly protected are not capable to defend themselves. And the meeting which was held at 30.09.99 in Minsk showed it. Instead of announced 50.000 men more than 10.000 men took part in the meeting. Of course there was straight falsification and offensive surprises at the meeting. So the representatives of the Free trade unions, businessmen, the strike committee wee not allowed to speak by the “state" trade unions. On behalf of the businessmen of the Republic of Belarus an unknown impostor who was not authorised by the businessmen made a speech. And the real representatives of the businessmen’s structures who have organised the all-republican strike of the businessmen were refused to make a speech.

The action showed that the federation of the trade unions having huge material and financial resources is not capable to organise even meetings properly and is gigantic «trade-union impotent». Therefore the businessmen of the Republic of Belarus decided to help to form different new trade-union’s structures and organisations at enterprises of the country.

Today there is no split in the trade-union movement as a lot of people think. In trade unions as well as in the society there is a process of refinement and creation of new trade unions. This natural process will take a lot of time but it should be started already today otherwise A. Lukashenko will convert workers in brainless weight of animals which need only «drink and eat». We originating middle class of the Republic of Belarus will allow it. Our mottoes:

There are no poor meetings and there is the poor organisation of these measures,

There are no «not our people» and there are people with whom we have worked a little.

Priority task of the businessmen of the Republic of Belarus is the breakthrough of the information blockade of workers and employees. With this purpose the publication of a number of free of charge issues is planned. It is necessary to inform every man about the truthful information about the processes happening in the country. The experience shows that when a man have the truthful information, he starts to think. Having thought, he starts to act. We invite labour collectives to co-operate.

Grodno Stefan Batory (the hotel "Neman") 8-201, tel. 72-00-72, pager 73-00-00 subscriber 95200.

In Minsk, Freedom square 23, tel. 227-57-78, Zaharov street 24 tel. 284-31-82

On the photo:

30.09.99. Minsk. The Belorussian businessmen together with the workers are at the meeting (on a photo the leaders of the businessmen’s structures of the largest markets of Minsk).

30.09.99. Minsk. The action of the protest. Procession to the place of the meeting. The leaders of the Free trade unions, workers, politicians and businessmen go together.Long path to Freedom.

Thousand people hurry to the place of the meeting.

And the state television "forget" to show a plot about this action of the protest.

Meetings

28.09.99 in Minsk the working meeting occurring of the leaders of businessmen’s structures, Belorussian Congress of Democratic Trade unions (BCDTU) with the chairman of the group OBSE sir Hans-Georg Vikom (on a photo in the centre) was held. During the meeting the breaches of rights of the businessmen in the Republic of Belarus, current legislation in this sphere in the whole and the decree of the president of RB #14 in particular were discussed. The sides agreed upon more tight co-operation and realisation of joint seminars.

It is possible to inform about all breaches of the rights of the businessmen to the address 220116, Minsk, prospect of the Newspaper “Pravda” 11 (for the councillor of OBSE Hristofer Paniko) (photo)

27.09.99 near the “native" ministry of business and investments the results "of talks" of the government and businessmen were discussed.

On a photo: acting in the capacity of the chairman of the Grodno trade union of the businessmen "Southern" Alexander Vasiliev, the leaders of the Minsk Urban trade union of the citizens, businessmen and people working on hiring, Vladimir Leonidivich Belov and Yury Mikhailovich Devochko share impressions.

September 20, 1999 Alexander Vasiliev met the president of the Belorussian union of the businessmen and lessees Tatyana Bukova (photo).

The sides discussed more than 15 problems in the field of development of business. Tatyana Bukova was informed about the main requirements of the businessmen to the president and government and also she was shown the project of the Decree offered by the Free trade union of the businessmen. Tatyana Bukova promised to organise the meeting between A. Vasiliev and A. Lukashenko.

Details will be published in the following issue of the bulletin "The Employer".

"Aunts"

Introduction.

The process of association of the businessmen is becoming more powerful. Naturally that pseudo-leaders, false structures, a lot of officials posing as businessmen and, certainly, different kind of rogues appear in the common wave.

The disconnection, split in the environment of business – say the newspapers’ headlines. «What can not you divide there?» - the businessmen say. The businessmen’s movement in the modern history of Belarus starts to be central. It is understood by all.

The businessmen are originating middle class in our country. Middle class is the basis of any civilised society. The present state is to struggle with the originating middle class as the middle class is the opponent of any dictatorship. The main reason of welfare of Europe and America is the huge quantity of the people with a mean prosperity. The dictatorship in these countries is basically impossible. Everybody including the authorities understand that the process of formation of the middle class in Belarus (in the centre of Europe) is irreversible. But this process can be slowed. One of directions to divide the businessmen’s movement is the creation of the ministries and offices, committees, pro-presidential public organisations and trade unions which will inflate cheeks and pretend that they defend the businessmen. (Notice: in these structures a lot of good specialists work but, unfortunately, they can do nothing). Let's acquaint with them closer.

The ministry of business and investments.

Exist for two years.

It has the huge staff of the workers, takes the large areas as cabinets everywhere in the republic, pumps inconceivable money resources from the poor budget of the country. For two years it has shook air. It carries out congresses, the employees of the ministry and people who are close to it, go in foreign business trips by crowds. The result of the work is "zero". It has no any efficient proposal or normative act. It only shakes the air.

Uncountable quantity of committees and "public" organisations at the government and president. They are one more large army of parasites. This army is created to mislead the world community and population of the Republic of Belarus. They visit foreign countries and tell how sweet is the life of the businessmen in the Republic of Belarus. Those come investing and … damn that day when they were advised to visit this republic. It is the cheating at the republican and international level. But in the world fools disappear very quickly. Nobody wants to invest in the country with crazy, daily varying legislation in the field of business and taxation. Even the own potential investors prefer to invest the capitals outside of Belarus.

One more direction is mastered by this "public workers". It is the appropriation of financial (international and internal) flows intended for development of the public and businessmen’s movement. Yesterday's party nomenclature and their adherents who struggled with sprouts of business all their life have pronounced themselves by the most important protectors of the businessmen and formed a queue to get budgetary and extra-budgetary money.

Separately it is necessary to discuss the trade union "Sadruzhnosts". About this trade union it would be possible and not to speak as it is a soap bubble which burst at 22.09.99. Despite of counteractions of this trade union the all-republican action of the protest organised by the free trade union of the businessmen was a success. But as the MASS-MEDIA speak about any split in the environment of business it is necessary to explain this problem.

Arnold Pechersky (who died under rather mysterious circumstances) was an ancestor of the businessmen’s movement in Minsk. As the authorities did not register trade unions of the businessmen there was a question about legal "roof" for the businessmen of Minsk. the half-poor trade union “Sadruzhosts” was chosen. The businessmen of Minsk paid for the "roof" 35 % from membership fees. The exchange on membership fees was the full freedom of the actions of the businessmen. Therefore the actions we realised together. We never divide people depending on their belonging to trade unions. Approximately one month prior to tragic death of A. Pechersky the solution about transition of the businessmen from the trade union "Sadruzhnosts" to the free trade union and about association of all businessmen in the unified republican body was accepted. But the death of Arnold, my arrest and destructive position of two "aunts" from the trade union "Sadruzhnosts" Maya Sinaiskaya and Katya Naumovich did not allow these plans come true. Why are they "aunts" and not the trade-union’s leaders? According to the words of the guys who trade at the market "Dinamo" they were not elected anywhere and, in general, they do not remember when and where any elections of the management of this trade union were conducted.

Resignation of two men from the great collective is not a split. There is no and there never was the trade union of the businessmen "Sadruzhnosts" which was separated from the businessmen’s movement. There was, there is and there will be the common movement of the businessmen. And renegades, traitors, those who regenerated etc. are normal phenomenon for any new movement. A. Pechersky controlled well enough the businessmen in Minsk and Minsk region therefore we did not create other structures here. But in connection with treachery of our former colleagues we have conducted a great work and now in Minsk the powerful structure of the Free trade unions of the businessmen (at all large markets of Minsk) is created.

We did not want to use non-standard vocabulary concerning the trade union "Sadruzhnosts". We thought that the “aunts” have got confused, «star illness» was very strong. When they will come round then we shall include them in the command taking into account their old merits. Our hopes were not justified. Probably the "aunts" were simply bought. The chronicle of events:

1) August 12, 1999 the "aunts" at the all-republican meeting state that the markets of Minsk 1.09.99 can not be stopped. Because of their position the half-solution is accepted.

2) August 27, 1999 the Grodno area leaves on holiday from 1.09.99 and asks the "aunts" to organise support in Minsk, to stop the markets of Minsk even for one week.

3) September 1 all Belarus strikes. The markets do not work. The "aunts" visit the markets of the cities and persuade people to start work immediately. They are accompanied by the group of the provocateurs and false representatives from Grodno. The all-republican strike failed.

4) The "aunts" start secret talks with the government. The representatives of other trade unions are not informed about this.

5) During all September, 1999 the “aunts" distribute hearings and fables about V. Levonevsky, attempt to hammer a wedge between citizens of Grodno and citizens of Minsk.

6) 22.09.99 – the all-republican strike. The "aunts" do all possible to break the strike. The businessmen supported the requirements of the citizens of Grodno and all republic struck. It is the time of mass formation of structures of free trade unions of the businessmen in Minsk and other cities.

7) having not informed the businessmen the "aunts" concluded the agreement with the government. The result of the agreement is given by the state MASS-MEDIAS as huge achievement in negotiating process …. between the officials. The true result of talks is that the "aunts" allowed the confiscation of the goods, criminal and administrative liability on formal reasons for the businessmen and other punitive measures in exchange for personal profits.

8) 30.09.99 – the all-republican action Stock of the protest of the businessmen organised by the free and independent trade unions. All large markets of the Republic of Belarus do not work. Minsk. Meeting …. The representatives of the Free trade unions, businessmen, the strike committee wee not allowed to speak by the “federal". On behalf of the businessmen of the Republic of Belarus an unknown impostor who was not authorised by the businessmen made a speech. And the real representatives of the businessmen’s structures who have organised the all-republican strike of the businessmen were refused to make a speech.

It is the chronicle only of a small period. It is a well-tested way to destroy a structure - to join it and to disorganise it from inside. This attempt of special services, the ministry of business and investments and the "aunts" was not a success and will not be a success.

Once again I would like to point out that there is a normal process of formation of the powerful and decisive force. The authorities create structures of adhered from “People” and “small” people, refused to have a dialogue with the progressively tuned businessmen (they are simply afraid), the special services do all possible to disorder the structure and physical destruction of the leaders. It is the external factors and we can directly influence them in a small degree. A structure can be opposed only by a structure. The long struggle for our rights and legitimate interests is necessary. Those are misled who think that we and the "aunts" have different approaches to the solution of problems connected with the protection of the businessmen. The "aunts" have no approaches at all and as events of last days have shown they can not simply have them. Everything they need is the loyalty of the authorities to them personally and personal income to injure all other businessmen.

The "aunts" from the colleagues transformed first of all into the adhered then into the frank enemies. With such people it is necessary to struggle resolutely and ruthlessly. They are more dangerous than any ministries and special services as they try to destroy our common movement from inside. They are those who regenerated. What is the result "of the talks" in which they have played for the whole month? Zero. The only thing that prevent the authorities from the beginning of repressive - punitive measures is the threat of the general strike everywhere in the republic with the termination of payment of taxes and other payments in the budget. And it is a severe struck on the budget.

It is necessary to look in the radical of a problem. The budget is empty. The authors of the Decree (government) have decided to fill up the budget by the introducing of latent tax - collection of payment for the mandatory certification of the goods which exceeds monthly tax at 5-10 of time. And the goods of those who has not paid this latent tax will be fully confiscated. Is it the robbery? Is it the banditry? No – it is the state policy!!!

Instead of the additional latent tax the state can not receive even former taxes as the businessmen will amicably leave on holidays and will stop to pay taxes in general. This is the really powerful weapon in our arms.

Each businessman has the right to make the choice - to be integrated or to live in constant fear. Citizens of Grodno, you have been shown what the organised force is. Only the position of the citizens of Grodno and the beginning of joining process of the businessmen instead of "talks" retain the authorities from mass reprisals.

Conclusions. Today there is no split in the environment of the businessmen. Vice-versa, the businessmen for the first time were united under unified banners. The most important thing is that this process of association is irreversible. Today the majority of former members of the trade union "Sadruzhnosts" in the mass order come to us and we are happy to see them in our numbers.

And the last thing which concerns not only businessmen, it is impossible to put in one box to healthy fruits even one rotten or in a barrel of honey a spoon of tar. Only healthy forces can be integrated. The adhered can be used but it is impossible to be integrated with them. The traitors, those who were regenerate and rogues should be sent away or they will do huge, hard corrigible work.

Valery Levonevsky

To attention of the leaders of the businessmen’s structures and organisations, businessmen and people working on hiring.

In October, 1999 the following measures are planned:

- October 14 the one-day preventive all-republican action of the protest of the businessmen. The markets of all cities of the Republic of Belarus stop to work for one day. Our requirements: the beginning of substantial talks with the authorised representatives of free trade unions of the businessmen, cancellation of point 1.22 of decree №14, acceptance of the decree offered by the Free trade union of the businessmen in a full volume (it was published in the bulletin "Businessman" №24), cancellation of mandatory certification and hygienic registration on small batches of the goods (up to 100 units), cancellation of obligatory slip system when the ggods are realised, cancellation of broad explanation of «the hidden income», cancellation of criminal prosecution of the businessmen for small repeated "offences", invariable rates of fixed tax counted in dollars of the USA.

- October 17 the national action of the protest.

- Preparation to the all-republican irredeemable strike of the businessmen from 1.11.99. (with the termination of payment of taxes and other payments)

Our request is to inform all businessmen’s structures and organisations, private shops and businessmen.

The strike committee.

September 25, 1999 in Grodno a legal seminar organised by the Belorussian Organisation of the Working Women (BOWW) – M. Alieva, Grodno businessmen, Grodno branch of BOWW (B. Vasilieva, M. Levonevskaya), the Free Trade union Belarusky (FTUB) - I. Bairoshevskaya, A. Zatsepin), the Grodno branch of the Belorussian Helsinki committee (A. Antanuk) was held. The lecturers were the well-qualified lawyers and representatives of the ministry of a social protection. An essential theme of the seminar is the protection of the rights of the woman and a child, the right of the mother, protection of the social guaranties of the working women.

Record on seminars: tel. (0152-31-30-62 in the evening)

On a photo: the organisers of the seminar