[Reader-list] democracy in Russia
Irina Aristarkhova
uspia at nus.edu.sg
Sat Oct 2 23:34:46 IST 2004
Dear All,
Whatever little democracy we have managed to create in Russia is
deteriorating with a speed of light - and it is not only 'Western
propaganda', this time. Beslan is to Russia what 9-11 was to the USA. At
least, in government's attempt to make its citizens paranoid, fearing
their neighbors and reporting on every move of 'strange looking' people.
Today we've learned that the new social movement called "Russia
anti-terror" is being created to "conduct civic surveillance over public
places, as well as public ad-hoc education, and to inform authorities on
found misbehavior in the work of various organizations". The leaders
present this new movement not as political organization, but of a 'human
rights' type. They strive towards 'peace and order', it seems.
In a country, where the work of informants has been the main resource
for exiling people to Siberia and Gulag for centuries, this is not an
innovation, but a well-known technique of everyday life. Those 15 years
of democracy (though violent ones) are too little for a country like
that.
I would like to finish with words by "Russia anti-terror" leader (A.
Lebedev) on how one would define a 'dangerous element':
"Who is amoral person? It is the one who is listening to music at night,
disturbing the sleep of his neighbors. Such person might happen to be a
terrorist or someone who morally supports terrorism. That is, a normal
person at night sleeps, not sings.'
Any comment?
I often hear that India is the largest democracy in the world. At the
same time, I learn from this list that 'freedom of speech and dissent'
are often being persecuted in various ways, including most violent
means. How does one reconcile it? Continue to work, despite of....?
Best regards,
Irina
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