8 FEBRUARY 2021
Opinion Belarus fights on in silence http://soasspirit.co.uk/category/opinion/ Opinion editor: Anna Fenton-Jones
Weronika Krupa, BA International Relations and Chinese Trigger warning: mentions of torture and rape.
There is a revolution happening right on the EU’s doorstep. It was sparked by the rigged election of president Alexander Lukashenko, who started his sixth term in office after allegedly winning around 70% of the popular vote in August, after having imprisoned and detained the opposition candidates. The peaceful protests convey the frustration of the Belarussian people. Through Telegram or media agencies like Belsat, Nexta, or Radio Svoboda (Radio Free Europe), protestors have shared shocking and heart-breaking stories of the brutality they have experienced at the hands of the state Militia and the KGB. Beaten, shot, tortured and raped, the Belarussians have struggled in their fight for democracy for more than half a year. The EU has already placed multiple personal sanctions on senior Belarussian officials, and many Eastern European countries have eased their visa procedures in favor of the citizens of Belarus. Yet the media coverage of the situation lessens every day – it is shocking how little of a conversation we have in Western Europe about the significant events taking place on the other side of the continent. Belarussians lose their lives every day whilst fighting for a morsel of the freedoms we enjoy. I spoke about the protests with Zmicier, a young student
from Belarus. Zmicier has been separated from his family back home and currently resides in Poland. He is counting down the days until he can come back to a free and democratised Belarus. I asked him how he felt, half a year after they started. ‘You know, unfortunately, the protests have now entered some sort of a “cold phase”.’ Zmicier said, ‘There aren’t as many open protests as there were in summer, for obvious reasons. The format is a bit different now. Smaller manifestations around the blocks make it easier to escape from the militia. It’s a total guerrilla fight over there. A lot of political experts prognose a second wave of protests in springtime – maybe even more powerful than the summer one. The regime is falling apart, and it’s visible.’ I asked him how he felt about the EU’s response to the situation. The sanctions, the visas – did he think enough was being done? Zmicier responded, ‘Well, myself, living in the EU, I have already been introduced to the EU apparatus. I kind of understand how it works here. However, during the first days and months of the protests, when I was talking with my friends back home at the barricades, they kept asking: “Why isn’t the EU doing anything? Why are we being shot at, and the EU stays silent?”. Well, it was obvious to me back then that the bureaucracy needs some time to work. I think the EU could have done more, but I understand that not everything is possible. The Belarussians need to understand that too.’ Though this situation brought together the V4 countries,
I asked Zmicier if he was disappointed that countries further afield in Europe were not getting involved. ‘I mean, a random Brit living in London does not care about what’s happening somewhere in Belarus.’ He replied, ‘What is their relation to it? Just some protests somewhere, one more dictator being overthrown, so what? But yeah, we got a lot of support from eastern countries like Poland and Lithuania.’ I asked him if there was anything he would like to say specifically to the people of Great Britain, or to the whole Western-European community. He responded, ‘I have nothing to say. Those countries are doing everything they can. They can’t just enter Belarus in tanks and overthrow Lukashenko. We need to do it ourselves. I think democracy is something that every nation has to earn. If we don’t fight for it ourselves, no one will.’ Despite the EU’s diplomatic involvement, it seems that Belarussians can only count on themselves. The situation in Belarus calls for a wider discussion. A discussion on democracy, solidarity and mass mobilisation. A discussion we need to have in order to spread awareness of the significant political shifts which are already happening in Europe. As Zmicier pointed out, democracy cannot be taken for granted. It is fought for, it is cultivated and protected through direct action. If Belarus succeeds in liberating itself from Lukashenko’s regime, it may serve to remind us that citizens who stand together in solidarity against oppression are a force to be reckoned with.
Mental Health Is A Social Justice Issue Ashika George, BA History of Art Trigger warning: Mentions of mental illness and suicide.
Those who suffer with mental health issues often feel isolated in society (Credit: Grae Dickason, Pixabay)
WWW.SOASSPIRIT.CO.UK
A typical day for a student with mental health issues involves long hours spent in bed, a lack of energy to perform even the most menial tasks and a constant feeling of hopelessness. I am filled with guilt and regret every time I hear of anyone suffering like this. If this imagery can provoke such concern, then why is there - even during an age of acute activism - still no major shift in the system to aid those who are afflicted by these disorders? We must understand why mental health is an important social justice issue. Poor mental health affects a significant proportion of the British population. In 2020, Mental Health First Aid England stated that 26.8% of those aged between 16-24 reported having suicidal thoughts in their lifetime. Even at SOAS, it is clear that mental illness is increasing while students continue to fight for access to the same resources. Despite the services provided by educational institutions and the NHS, many will not receive the medical help they need or will never understand their disorders as many go undiagnosed. Our institutions are not listening to their pleas for further support and extensions. If we remain apathetic towards the mentally ill, we are as guilty as the systems who have failed them. Those who are formally diagnosed may be prescribed medication, but prescriptions must be paid for at £9 each even for students who study full-time. Receiving therapy can
be a lengthy process filled with extensive waiting lists and diminishing hope. One cannot help but feel the system is inherently exploitative, especially towards those from marginalised backgrounds. For those of us in a place of privilege, it is our responsibility to first educate ourselves on the mental illnesses that exist, and then progress to ensure there are accessible consultations, diagnoses, and treatments available in a reasonable amount of time. In the contemporary moment, mental health has a large presence on social media in particular. There is a plethora of infographics and some peer support for suffering individuals. But is this the best we can do? Ultimately, sharing resources, petitions and calls to action for the government to aid the NHS and the mental health sector once on a social media profile is the bare minimum effort we could display. We must realise that if we truly care for the mentally ill, we must consistently work to encourage a shift and push for an improved system. Sparking further conversation amongst politicians is not just an idealistic dream, it is a human rights issue. The sooner we stop acting passively, the sooner we can bring an end to this barrier preventing effective treatment, and the more individuals we can save. Let us make this our generation’s mission. We must ensure that these calls for help are not shouted into an echo chamber, but rather, are made into a reality.
17
