Statkevich: Leaders of the democratic movement must remain in the country, even if the cost is great. The diaspora can only play an auxiliary role

"Somewhere over two and a half thousand years ago, the following dialogue was recorded in China.

Zi Lu asked: 'The leader of Wei intends to involve you in governing the state. What will you do first?'

Confucius replied: 'It is necessary to start by rectifying names.'

Zi Lu asked: 'You are starting from afar. Why is it necessary to rectify names?'

Confucius replied: 'If names are not correct, then words do not have a basis. If words do not have a basis, then affairs cannot be accomplished.'

This is what I am getting at. During my last imprisonment, the situation changed dramatically. A massive special operation by security forces was carried out to force hundreds of thousands of our compatriots into emigration. A 'cleansing' of the discontented took place in the hope of subduing the rest. Public activity in the country has been suppressed.

Therefore, the public socio-political life of Belarusians has moved abroad. There, political emigration tries to restore its usual activities in an ersatz form. From the other side of the border, this often looks a bit strange," writes Statkevich.

He says he was struck by the discrepancy with the real state of affairs, that political emigration calls itself Belarusian democratic forces, forms some quasi-parties with a few dozen members, holds elections to something like a quasi-parliament of "Belarusian democratic forces," and has a "leader of Belarusian democratic forces."

The politician adds that it is a given that so many intelligent and active compatriots have found themselves abroad. And one must think about how to use this tragedy for the benefit of Belarus's democratic future. Now and in that future, when the knowledge and experience accumulated in developed countries can be in demand on their native soil.

"Here I stumbled upon the need to somehow name these people of ours abroad," writes Statkevich.

"From the name 'Belarusian democratic forces,' it literally follows that all Belarusian democrats have found themselves abroad and are fighting for democracy in their host countries against local undemocratic regimes. And none remain on the territory of their historical Motherland. But this is, to me, an absolutely undeniable untruth.

I see this without any surveys, because I myself am a good indicator — it's enough to simply appear in a crowded place. Here, in my opinion, there are no less than 2 thousand of them.

Not everyone could be forced out of their native country. They are not organized into any structures, which is perfectly understandable in conditions of war against the people. Rather, these are individuals with democratic convictions, but they are here in the majority," asserts the politician.

According to him, under favorable conditions, these will be mass democratic forces.

"But will they want to recognize as 'leaders' those who claim this from a 'safe distance'? A leader is not a position, but a characteristic of a person who can lead other people towards a specific goal, regardless of danger to themselves. Leaders of mass escapes are not considered leaders," he believes.

The politician gives the example of Poland's history:

"During the imposition of martial law by General Jaruzelski, opposition leaders were offered a choice between prison and emigration. All those who chose emigration lost in the very first democratic elections."

In his opinion, everything falls into place when using the other self-designation — diaspora.

A diaspora of such size and quality as ours has enormous potential, he writes.

"There are known peoples in the world whose diasporas have played a huge role in their destiny. For example — the Armenian diaspora. And the Jewish diaspora made a great contribution to the restoration of its historical state, became a source of personnel for it, and still provides invaluable support to it.

A diaspora can protect the rights of its members, provide assistance to new refugees from their historical Motherland, help prisoners and dissidents, conduct actions in their host countries to draw the attention of local authorities to the problems of their Motherland. Ultimately, to be the voice of their enslaved people in the world. And with the advent of the internet — even wage an information struggle against the regime," writes Statkevich.

It is desirable, he adds, that the diaspora be organized. How to organize the activities of the diaspora is, first and foremost, a matter for those of our compatriots who found themselves abroad not of their own free will, writes the politician.

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