Belarus Communist Party
Moldova
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and AssociationThe Constitution provides for freedom of assembly, and the Government generally respected this right in practice. Mayors' offices issue permits for demonstrations and may consult the national government if a demonstration is likely to be extremely large; permits were issued routinely and without bias. From January 9 to April 29, the opposition PPCD organized unauthorized protests against certain policies of the Communist authorities, such as measures to make Russian a second official language, extension of the teaching of Russian language in schools, and changing the history curriculum in schools from the current "History of the Romanians" course to a "History of Moldova" course. Protesters, who called for the resignation of the Communist party leadership, numbered at various times between several hundred and an estimated 30,000 supporters, though the opposition-contro ... [Read More]
Cyprus (07/05)
Political parties: Greek Cypriot Community--Democratic Rally (right); Democratic Party (center-right); AKEL (communist); KISOS (socialist); United Democrats (center-left). Turkish Cypriot Community--National Unity Party (right); Democrat Party (center-right); Republican Turkish Party (left); Peace and Democracy Movement (center-left); Communal Liberation Party (center-left); National Justice Party (ultra-nationalist); New Party (Turkish immigrant party); United Cyprus Party (left). ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
When the Ambassador entertains officially, invited staff members should arrive 10 minutes before the appointed time in order to assist and should remain at the party until the foreign guest(s) or guest(s) of honor have departed, or until informed that their obligation has been fulfilled. Special InformationLast Updated: 11/28/2003 11:33 AM ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: Text: Ambassador Rubin remarks on Human Rights, Country Situations
The human rights situation in Burma also remains dismal. The people of Burma continue to live under a highly repressive, authoritarian military regime that is widely condemned for its serious human rights abuses. The regime has intensified its restrictions on basic rights of free speech, press, assembly, and association and shows no sign of a willingness to cede its hold on absolute power. Political party activity remains severely restricted. Although the government recognizes the opposition National League of Democracy as a legal entity, they frequently prevent the party from conducting normal activities. Since 1998 the regime has detained many NLD members and, through security measures and threats, pressured others to resign, closed party offices throughout the country, and severely constrained the activities of NLD General Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi. One positive development in the human rights situation in Burma this year was that the government permitted the International Com ... [Read More]
Kazakhstan (04/05)
Administrative subdivisions: 17; 14 oblasts plus 3 cities--Almaty, the former capital; Astana, the current capital; and the territory of Baykonur, which contains the space launch center that the Russians built and now lease. Political parties: As of August 2004, there were twelve political parties registered by the Ministry of Justice. They are the Agrarian Party, Ak Zhol (Bright Path), Asar (All Together), Ayul (Farmers), the Civil Party, the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, the Communist Peoples Party, DVK (Democratic Choice), the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, Otan (Fatherland), The Party of Patriots, and Rukhaniyat (Spirituality) ... [Read More]
Latvia (05/05)
In the 1998 elections, the Latvian party structure began to consolidate with only six parties obtaining seats in the Saeima. Andris Skele's newly formed People's Party garnered a plurality with 24 seats. Though the election represented a victory for the center-right, personality conflicts and scandals within the two largest right of center parties--Latvia's Way and the People's Party--prevented stable coalitions from forming. Two shaky governments under Vilis Kristopans and Andris Skele quickly collapsed in less than a year. In May 2000, a compromise candidate was found in the form of Andris Berzins, the then Latvia's Way mayor of Riga. His four-party coalition lasted until parliamentary elections in October 2002. Those elections left Latvia's Way, for the first time since 1993, with no seats in parliament. Einars Repse's New Era Party, which ran on an anti-corruption platform, gained the most seats, and Repse headed a four-party coalition government until his abrupt resignation in Feb ... [Read More]
Lithuania (06/05)
Since 1991, Lithuanian voters have shifted from right to left and back again, swinging between the Conservatives, led by Vytautas Landsbergis (now headed by Andrius Kubilius), and the Labor (former communist) Party, led by former president Algirdas Brazauskas. This pattern was broken in the October 2000 elections when the Liberal Union and New Union parties won the most votes and were able to form a centrist ruling coalition with minor partners. President Adamkus played a key role in bringing the new centrist parties together. The leader of the center-left New Union (also known as the Social Liberal party), Arturas Paulauskas, became the Chairman of the Seimas. The then-government of liberal Rolandas Paksas got off to a rocky start and collapsed within 7 months. In July 2001, the center-left New Union Party forged an alliance with the left-wing Social Democratic Party and formed a new cabinet under former President Algirdas Brazauskas. The cabinet of Algirdas Brazauskas is made up most ... [Read More]
Belarus
During the year, the regime used several tactics to intimidate and restrict the ability of opposition leaders and groups from organizing and publicizing their views. Authorities added three articles to the Criminal Code that made libel of the President a criminal offense. These articles were used to punish not only opposition party members but independent media as well (see Section 1.d.). During the year, the regime used excessive force to disperse demonstrations by opposition parties (see Section 1.c.). On several occasions the regime directly interfered in the affairs of political parties and organizations. Following intense regime pressure on members of the Women's Party, on August 14 party members voted to replace former Women's Party leader Valentina Polevikova with pro-regime member Valentina Matusevich. Polevikova's removal from power caused a split in the party with Polevikova and Matusevich each leading a different faction of the Women's Party. Observers claimed t ... [Read More]
Belarus (10/04)
Political parties: Belarus has 18 registered political parties, including: Agrarian Party (AP); Belarusian Communist Party (KPB); Green Party; Belarusian Labor Party; Belarusian Social and Sports Party; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (BPR); Belarusian Popular Front (BNF); Belarusian Social-Democrat Party (BSDP); Social-Democratic Hramada Party; Belarusian Socialist Party; United Civic Party (UCP); Liberal Democratic Party (LDBP); Party of Communists Belarusian (PKB); Party of Popular Accord; Republican Party of Labor and Justice (RPPS); Social Democratic Party of Popular Accord (PPA); Women's Party Nadezhda. Several of these parties exist in name only. Other, unregistered parties are also active, such as: Christian Conservative Party and Party of Freedom and Progress. ... [Read More]
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