Minority issues in Latvia, No. 10

November 20, 1999


Content

- News from the Saeima

- Adoption of the Integration Concept delayed

- The case of Tatyana Zhdanok still pending

- International Day against Fascism and Anti-Semitism celebrated in Latvia

 
News from the Saeima
 
On November 11 the Saeima (the Parliament) of Latvia considered
amendments to the Education Law. Once again, none of suggestions of
the pro-minority faction "For Human Rights in Integrated Latvia" has
been adopted. In particular, the faction proposed to amend the
provision which determines in which language orphans should be taught.
According to the clause currently in force, all orphans must study in
Latvian. The opposition's proposal was to give those children who lost
their parents the right to continue education in the language they
began their studies. Thus, besides surviving personal tragedy, orphans
also in the future will have to change their school and the language
of instruction. Another proposal was to extend eligibility for state
subsidies to private schools with minority language of instruction
(currently, only private schools with Latvian language of instruction
are eligible for these subsidies). Also this discriminatory provision
remained unchanged. 

During the parliamentary discussion on the amendments, representatives
of the radical nationalistic faction "For Fatherland and Freedom" made
some remarks which contained personal insults towards MPs from the
pro-minority faction, blaming them, in particular, for phonetic mistakes 
and heavy accent when speaking Latvian. Some human rights activists 
evaluated the points made as qualifying for hate speech definition. 
According to the legislation of Latvia, MPs are not juridically accountable 
for their speeches at the rostrum, e.g. they cannot be sued for defamation. 

In 1922-1934 also German and Russian, besides Latvian, were officially
used in Saeima. After restoration of independence, Latvian is the only
officially language in the parliament.



Adoption of the Integration Concept delayed

Conception of the Integration of the Society of Latvia was supposed to
be finally approved by the government in October 1999, after broad
public discussion held in spring and summer and financially supported
by the UNDP and co-ordinated by the Soros Foundation Latvia. However,
at the very last moment the radical nationalistic party "For Fatherland 
and Freedom" (member of the governmental coalition) came up with sharp 
criticism of the Conception, in particular, for "absence of a chapter on 
de-colonisation". 34 amendments have been submitted by the ministers from 
this party. Another coalition partner, the People's Party, supported this 
criticism. Several amendments apparently distort the basic ideas of the 
Conception. There is still hope that the Conception might be adopted in 
this millenium. 



The case of Tatyana Zhdanok still pending

On November 12, Riga District Court as a court of appeal examined the
case of Mrs. Tatyana Zhdanok, a prominent activist of the Latvian
Human Rights Committee and a member of the Riga City Council. She
disputed a decision to deprive her of the City council deputy's mandate 
because of alleged "activities" in the Latvian Communist Party after 
January 13, 1991 (Mrs. Zhdanok was a member of the Inner Audit Commission 
in the LCP). According to the electoral legislation of Latvia, persons 
who were active in the LCP, Komsomol, Interfront, and some veteran 
organizations after 13 January, 1991, cannot run for both parliamentary 
and municipal elections (although these organizations were legislatively 
banned only in August 1991). The Jury found drawbacks in evidences 
presented by the Prosecutors Office. The case will be examined again in 
December. In the case of lost trial, Mrs. Zhdanok intends to bring the 
case before the European Court of Human Rights. 
 


International Day against Fascism and Anti-Semitism celebrated in Latvia

From November 5 till November 9 the Latvian Human Rights Committee and
other non-governmental organizations held different events connected with 
the International Day against Fascism and Anti-Semitism - an anniversary 
of the Crystal Night. Incidentally, during these days a neo-nazi who defiled 
memorials to victims of the Holocaust was arrested in Daugavpils. He is 
reported to be a person with mental problems, a fan of Adolph Hitler. 
Swastika was also drawn - apparently, by other persons - on the memorial to 
victims of nazism in Bikernieki (Riga), where several thousands of Riga Jews 
were killed in 1941.  


Alexei Dimitrov
Latvian Human Rights Committee (F.I.D.H.)