23 June 2007
More than 100 people gather at cemetery in Minsk to commemorate anniversary of Vasil Bykaw's death
More than 100 people, mostly opposition activists, gathered at the Maskowskiya cemetery on the evening of June 22 to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Vasil Bykaw's death.
The admirers of the renowned writer's talent, with many holding Belarus' historically national white-red-white flags, laid flowers at his grave and sang "Mahutny Bozha" (Oh, Lord Almighty), a Belarusian-language anthem.
Uladzimir Ramantsaw, a member of the Conservative Christian Party, said that, four years after his death, "Vasil Bykaw is still looking at this world through our hearts, souls and eyes." "He hopes that Belarus will remain a normal independent country that will love its mother tongue, its national culture and will have respect for Man, regardless of his or her age and socio-economic status," Mr. Ramantsaw stressed.
Vital Rymashewski, an activist of Alyaksandr Milinkevich's Movement for Freedom, said that Vasil Bykaw is called the conscience of the Belarusians, while his works are seen as the voice of conscience. "And this voice calls on us to be his worthy successors and to fight for his ideals," Mr. Rymashewski suggested.
Vintsuk Vyachorka, leader of the Belarusian Popular Front, noted that the genius writer was not afraid to take to the streets to make his courageous voice heard even when all Belarusians were unable to hear it. "I'm convinced that Vasil Bykaw's words that 'freedom alone will give us independence, however, only independence can ensure freedom' should stay in our hearts and on our flags," the politician stressed.
Ales Pashkevich, chairman of the Union of Belarusian Writers, said that in the years following Vasil Bykaw's death true Belarusians were able to fully appreciate the extent of the loss.
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