Minority issues in Latvia, No.21
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Subject: Minority issues in Latvia, No.21
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Original sender: Aleksejs Dimitrovs <[email protected]>
Minority issues in Latvia, No.21
Minority issues in Latvia, No. 21
Prepared by the Latvian Human Rights Committee (F.I.D.H.)
September 30, 2000
The Information Centre starts to work
The Information Centre on linguistic legislation started its work in
the Latvian Human Rights Committee's office. It collects data on
practical implementation of the new State Language Law and the
governmental regulations, offers free consultations about the content
of the corresponding normative acts and the linguistic rights of
Latvia's residents. The Centre has been established as a result of the
conference organised by the pro-minority coalition "For Human Rights
in United Latvia" on September 4 (see Minority issues in Latvia, No.
20,
http://racoon.riga.lv/minelres/archive//09092000-10:29:02-8811.html ).
It's activities are seen within the framework of the campaign of
non-violent civil disobedience.
Organisers of the civil disobedience campaign will not be prosecuted
The Constitution Defence Bureau (CDB), in response of the request of
Mr Dzintars Abikis, chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on
Education, Science and Culture, investigated activities related to the
conference on linguitstic legislation of Latvia held on 4 September
(see Minority issues in Latvia, No. 20,
http://racoon.riga.lv/minelres/archive//09092000-10:29:02-8811.html ).
The SDB anbounced that it will not bring an action against the
pro-minority coalition which organised the event, for activities of
the coalition do not contain signs of any crime. Mr Abikis expressed
his disappointment about this decision.
News from the Saeima
On September 14 the Saeima (the Parliament) of Latvia adopted
amendments to the Law "On the Status of the Former USSR Citizens Who
are not Citizens of Latvia or Any Other State" (the so-called
"non-citizens"). The procedure of deprivation of the non-citizen's
status is changed again.
On March 30 the Saeima adopted amendments to the Law, stipulating that
a person can be deprived of this status only in accordance with the
decision of a court (see Minority issues in Latvia, No. 14,
http://racoon.riga.lv/minelres/archive//04192000-12:39:29-11811.html
). However, several MPs from the ruling People's Party immediately
initiated new amendments, aiming at restoration of the previous
procedure - i.e. the deprivation of the non-citizen's status by
administratively made decision. It should be mentioned that in several
cases this administrative decision was succesfuuly contested in court,
but it took many months and even years to restore the status this way.
The newly adopted amendments give the Cabinet of Ministers the right
to establish the process of the deprivation. Thus, the decision wiil
be made administratively, but it will not take effect if a person uses
his/her rights to appeal it in court. In this case, the decision must
be suspended till the jury makes its verdict.
On September 21 the Saeima forwarded to parliamentary commissions
draft amendments to the Law "On Meetings, Processions and Pickets"
proposed by MPs from the radical nationalistic faction "For Fatherland
and Freedom". The draft amendments are aimed at limiting the freedom
of peaceful assembly. In particular, they limit the number of 50
persons who can participate in a picket (not more than 50); enlarge
the list of official buildings near which it is prohibited to hold
public events; establish that meetings with members of parliament
deputies can be held in premises only but not outdoor; establish that
a permit is necessary to hold a non-organised picket too. Experts
consider the Latvian Law "On Meetings, Processions and Pickets" too
restrictive already in the present wording. Miroslav Mitrofanov, MP
from the faction "For Human Rights in United Latvia", told in the
parliamentary debate that in his view these amendments are aimed at
limiting the campaign of civil disobedience. "The state limits the
freedom of peaceful assembly instead of beginning the dialogue with
national minorities", Mitrofanov said.
Good practice in Daugavpils
The City Council of Daugavpils (the second biggest city in Latvia,
populated predominantly by the Russian-speakers) has employed a
translator after the State Language Law came into force. The
translator helps the residents of the city to translate their
documents being handed in to the Council from Russian into Latvian.
However, only those residents whose income does not excede minimum
established by the City Council, are eligible for this free service.
Nevertheless, this is very valuable experience, because the
translator's services are quite expensive in Latvia, especially for
the residents of Latgale - the poorest region (Daugavpils is
considered as a capital city of Latgale). Deputies from the coalition
"For Human Rights in United Latvia" in the Riga City Council have
already proposed to adopt this experience and employ a translator in
the Riga City Council too.
In the meantime, it also should be mentioned that the Department of
Welfare of the Riga City Council has published a brochure on
opportunities to receive social aid in Riga in the Russian language,
besides Latvian.
New publication on integration
Dr. paed. Valery Bukhvalov and Dr. paed., MP Jakov Pliner have
published a new brochure on the problems of integration - "Problems
and perspectives of the national minority schoolchildren`s integration
into the society of Latvia". The publication in Russian language
contains materials on the process of integration in schools through
the programs of national minority education. Contact address for
information: Jakov Pliner, Jekaba str. 16, LV-1050, Riga, Latvia,
tel.371-7087239.
Alexei Dimitrov
Latvian Human Rights Committee (F.I.D.H.)
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