Dictator vs Internet: who will win?
- 24.12.2009, 8:40
The Belarusian authorities want to declare war against the Internet. Are we ready to defend ourselves?
Dear readers! Events in our country develop in such a way that the Belarusian Internet as a place of free speech and independent information may cease to exist in the nearest time.
You may face a situation when the website charter97.org and other news resources may be unavailable in the nearest future. With the help of the decree the dictator wants to impose total censorship on the Belarusian Internet segment. Dozens of independent newspapers, TV channels and programmes have been closed in Belarus in the last 15 years causing degradation of public information space. Even Lukashenka has recently admitted: “There’s nothing to watch on Belarusian TV, nobody listens to radio”.
Most independent journalists moved to the Internet. Due to an opportunity of feedback, the ByNet has become a center of hot discussions of acute problems, the authorities often close eyes to. Uncensored Belarusian Internet is the only means of public control in the country. The authorities are working out the China’s variant for us. Uncomfortable websites will be blocked, in fact every Internet user will be under control, distributors of “harmful” information will face criminal and administrative persecution.
We are addressing you, dear friends! If our and other independent websites are blocked by the authorities, you must know: the dictator has declared war against the Internet and the sinister decree has come into force.
Don’t be slow!
Our Belarusian readers, on that day at 6 p.m. go to October square of Minsk with demands of free Internet. Spread this information among your friends.
Dear Belarusians in emigration and Belarus’s foreign friends! Demand your governments to impose the harshest economic and political sanctions on the regime of Lukashenka!
Only our decisive actions can help defend our freedom. You should know – there are a lot of us. The Belarusian Internet segment has more than 3 million users.
No to Interment blockade! For freedom yours and ours!