The authorities of Soligorsk block the construction of a new polyclinic. Even the police took part in the conflict. “Somehow” they learnt about the existence of some leaflets with the activists’ proclamation for the citizens of Soligorsk and managed to confiscate the material. Near the entrance of the capital of miners the police detained a radio-electronic Minsk region trade union activist Nikolai Pohabov. He carried a heap of these printed leaflets for the citizens of Soligorsk. The leaflets were confiscated.

In the proclamation Soligorsk people were offered to join the campaign that the activists of The RETU (Radio-Electronic Trade Union) and some civil activists had begun. The motto of the movement is “The new polyclinic WILL be constructed in the city.” The capacity of the only policlinic is about 680 visitors a day, but 1800 visits a day are made instead. It is very difficult to get to the medical specialists and many citizens suffer from lack of medical care. It leads to advanced cases, higher mortality. As early as 1999 the plan of its construction was approved, a construction site was reserved. They found the money to build the “Ice Palace”, but not the policlinic. And now Soligorsk authorities have decided to bury the mere possibility of its construction. The reserved territory for the policlinic (the only one fit for the construction) the chairman of the Executive Committee of the District Soviet of People's Deputies Alexander Rimashevski decided to give to the construction of a multi-storey building for the coaches and the staff of the very same “Ice Palace”. That was written in the confiscated leaflets.

“I came to the conclusion that the police were ordered to confiscate that very proclamation. I was stopped on the road on purpose”, says Nikolai Pohabov. “Somebody is very much concerned about the fact that the citizens of Soligorsk could join hands in their determination to make the city authorities build the new policlinic. And it will ruin the plans of constructing new housing for the coaches, which is going to be comfortably situated in the centre of the city, not in the suburbs. Besides, the main architect of the Executive Committee of the District Soviet of People's Deputies said at the meeting with Soligorsk civil activists that if the policlinic would be ever built, it was going to be built in the suburbs. For the moment the proclamations are read only by the police officers. Well, they are also citizens of Soligorsk. And one day medical care could become necessary for them or for their families. Nikolai Pohabov was set free after a questioning at a police station, and the activists from The RETU are still going to appeal to the people to make the Executive Committee change its position. That incident convinced them once more: it is unacceptable to step back.

esoligorsk.net

The original in Russian at http://belarus.avtonom.org/?p=3101