21.04.2005 Be not silent, when the rights are broken!

The person is created for a life and freedom, and the government- That everyone felt this person.
The schoolboy of 8-th class from 40-th lyceum of Petrozavodsk. (From " the Book of infringements of human rights ")

On December, 10th, in the international day of human rights, in Petrozavodsk the first took place a remedial march. A route passed from main case of Petrozavodsk State University up to a building of government RK. The organizer was the Karelian regional branch "Youth Human Rights Group (YHRG)". The purpose of the action was to pay attention of a society to infringement of human rights, to call all for civil activity. The chosen motto isn’t accidental too: "Be not silent, when the rights are broken! " It was not sham, but display of real democracy and will of citizens.
Some days prior to the action on city had been pasted the announcements calling all "not be silent … ", and also - to join procession. To enable all to be heard, we had been thought up "The Book of infringements of human rights " in which everyone could make record. Then, on a plan, in the ending of action this book should get to the Head of republic and the Federal inspector on Republic Karelia. Besides that, had been made extensions on whose was written: "Not be cattle, defend the rights!", "Give a freedom of speech!", "Authority under the control of a society!", "To everyone elite habitation and the worthy salary!" Basically, people to the last appeal reacted so: "Well, with elite habitation you have gone too far!" Is it surprising, why they think so? Why the usual person, slugger, does not presume to have to himself normal habitation with elementary convenience and comfort, instead of any garage for people?! And we in XXI century - it would seem, a civilization - at times we live without gas in houses, hot water and light. Some houses in Petrozavodsk (I don’t speak any more about other areas) are without the water drain at all, and even are at all dangerous to a life and demand immediate moving! But things are right where they started. When ours "servants of people" drive on jeeps, buy to themselves huge houses (not in one copy), have a rest abroad and…it’s impossible to finish the list.
Ahead of a column participants of the action were bearing a symbolical pie which intended to hand over to authorities on the occasion of the 10 anniversary of the beginning of war in the Chechen Republic. "For these 10 years have been killed, on different data, from 120 up to 200 thousand person, tens cities, hundreds villages, thousand hospitals, schools, houses are destroyed; billions rubles on them "restoration are mastered; millions tons of oil and other resources are stolen. We together with war have learned to hate, torture, to blow up, abduct, take in hostages", - is spoken in circulation "The Antifascist initiative".
"Our action is dated for the International day of human rights which is annually marked on December, 10th. We wish to pay attention of city dwellers to a problem of observance of human rights and constitutional freedom in Karelia and in Russia as a whole. To induce people to social activity and upholding of the rights. Before authority it is necessary to put problems and to achieve their decision!" - the head of the Karelian branch "Youth Human Rights Group (YHRG)" Maxim Efimov.
The House of the government was the terminal point of a march about which this day the armed security forces have been exposed. During a half an hour participants of procession have been waiting, that somebody will leave or even they will obtain a permit to come to the building to transfer "the book of complaints", and is more true, "The Book of infringements of human rights" in which everyone could leave the reference or even cry from the heart. It counted about thirty records. This book has been sent to the federal inspector on Karelian Republic later. Doors have been blocked. Did not start up even the people who are not having any attitude to a march. Such boorish behavior of the selected authority does not add authority to it. From the youth which has addressed with legal requirements, officials were closed on all locks. As a result of an hour of the action, from which half an hour was necessary to stand on a cold before tightly closed door of the federal inspector on republic Karelia and the chapter the republics, much of participants have picked up cold.
Unfortunately, our rights which have been written down in the Constitution and the General declaration of human rights, are frequently ignored. The unique person in our country which rights are protected is our President; and, maybe, still some persons approached to him. So why we are silent? Many, passed by, spoke: "It is necessary for something to do, and it will not help!" What then will help? Who if not ourselves, will rise on protection of our rights?! Three telechannels have shined this event that evening. Reportings were short and dim. The action have apprehended, unfortunately, only as a certain show. All have noted a small amount of participants (no more than 50 people), that speaks only about disinterest of "victims" of infringements of the rights. It looks like everyone hope, that someone will come and intercede for them. But may be we should to help ourself?! All in our hands!
In "The Book of infringements of human rights" the indignant retorts and concrete requests of the townspeople, for example, about the help in purchase of twelve cows to a farm in Lehnavalok. Or that "it has bothered to live on a living space 11,4 sq.m. with the 15-years son. I want norm of social habitation for me and the son!" Written have carried Petrozavodsk to "the number of the dirtiest cities of Russia. Some years are allocated money for the program on improvement of quality of water. Results it is not visible!" To indignation of pensioners and students there was no limit when they addressed to authorities: "Beggarly pensions to itself take away. Choke "northern" and privileges! Has bothered to live how we live. Why servants of people live better people? We demand to increase the grant up to a living wage, to give a good hostel. Live though one day as there live pensioners. Have dinner though once as it does the majority of students on the beggarly grant. It’s necessary to have the real right to free-of-charge training." The participants of the action declared infringement of the labor rights and is non-comparable to low wages. "Revolts the attitude of administration of Petrozavodsk to the workers. Three years I work for kopecks, I write the contract every month and I have no social guarantees. We have the right to a worthy payment, health protection. We would like to live adequately!" A rating of trust to authority and the Karelian mass-media, unfortunately, is very low. "Is useless to wash out to us brains through the caved in mass-media. It would be better to allow us to live!" Other topic of the day was construction of habitation. Today not many people presume to construct the house or to buy a new apartment. The shabby fund is not settled, and in fact people will not have other life. There are spontaneous protest actions on a background of growth of construction of elite habitation, feebleness of authorities in the decision of a problem of emergency habitation, in improvements of living conditions of citizens. "There are many elite houses where the mere mortal has no condition to settle. It is necessary to build houses and for the others. Rich men live well everywhere. The right to habitation has everyone, not just elites." The special place is borrowed with critical responses about a state of affairs in "armed forces of the Russian Federation where all human rights are practically lawfully forbidden and covered by The Statute of the Military Forces of the Russian Federation. It is unfair! The military is too the person!" Really, despite of numerous promises to reform army, to make military service the independent initiative (not a duty), nothing has changed. And today in armed forces prospers "Army Harassment", tortures, from army already run mouths across all Russia. It is asked, for what then we have such the Minister of Defense and such the commander-in-chief, who are unable to put things in order in the ancestral lands?!
And on it the list of claims to authorities did not come to an end. Passers-by reproached officials with the prejudiced attitude to the people born not in Karelia and to people, who have other nationality, not Slavic appearance. Along with was emphasized "the indifference of authorities in relation to growth of nationalism". Besides that Petrozavodsk is extremely badly shined during evening and night time that promotes growth of number of crimes. Just as acted requirements of preservation of privileges. Let's sum up. Eventually, "the right to a worthy life of doctors, teachers, scientific, etc. is broken."