10 June 2004 12:42
Russians in Latvia stage five-day education reform protest
[Presenter] In central Riga, the political association For Human Rights in a United Latvia is holding a five-day
round-the-clock protest against education reform. Valentina Bochkova has the details.
[Correspondent] Despite verbal refusal by the executive director of the Riga Duma, activists of the movement for the
protection of the right to receive education in one's native language have put up two awnings and become the centre
of vigilant attention of the municipal as well as the security police. The participants in the protest are being filmed
on video, and police are trying to prevent the organizers from circulating leaflets in the Russian, Latvian and English
languages entitled "The Russian language is more than just a language".
Statements to the effect that protests of this kind are illegal are not justified. Article 40 of the Constitution of
the Republic of Latvia stipulates freedom of gatherings and marches, while standing in the street is not prohibited, nor
is circulating information illegal.
The protest is propagandist in nature. This is one form of struggle - let the powers that be not think that summer is
a time for relaxation, Juris Sokolovskis, deputy of the 8th Saeima [parliament], has said.
Police however have embarked on counter measures. They have begun collecting signatures among passers-by to the
effect that the participants in the protest are blocking the pavement. No threats can frighten us, the organizers are
saying in response.
[Radio Russia] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
