A Call for Freedom

Fire of Liberty

William Hague, the UK's Shadow(Conservative) Foreign Secretary, has a good Op/Ed in The Times that calls for the governments throughout Europe to call for the spread of democracy in Belarus. Here's a sample:

The Belarus opposition has a mountain to climb: unlike Ukraine, where both presidential candidates were on an equal footing, Mr Lukashenka is running as the incumbent and holds all the cards. Unlike Ukraine, the Belarusian opposition is not represented in parliament or in local government. The state-controlled system of counting votes is wide open to abuse and almost certain to be abused. The current inflated economic growth of Belarus may just be enough to choke democracy again. Those who try to justify the behaviour of the Lukashenka Government on the ground that some of its policies appear to be effective should remember that the record of applauding authoritarian regimes for their “efficiency” is not a happy one. Freedom of expression and the rule of law are not ideals to be sacrificed in return for the trains running on time.

If Mr Lukashenka is "“elected"” we will witness not just stagnant democracy, but democracy in reverse. When we can celebrate the flourishing of democracy in so many formerly communist states, we must not forget the people living in places where it is being stamped on. All of us who enjoy the right to free and fair elections should salute the activists and candidates who are now bravely battling on without freedom or fairness, and condemn a regime that adopts the language of democracy as it retreats into despotism.

It is time to offer support to the people of Belarus and take a harder line against a Government that is forfeiting its legitimacy; and it is certainly time for more European governments to say so.

Bravo Mr. Hague, we need more folks like you in Europe who are willing to stand up for freedom. The folks in Belarus will appreciate such efforts when the fires of freedom are eventually lit in Minsk.