Minority issues in Latvia, No. 6

No 6, August 31, 1999


Content

- Adoption of the State Language Law postponed

- State Language inspectorate fines "Molokh"

- Capital punishment problem in Latvia

- LHRC web site coming soon



Adoption of the State Language Law postponed
 
On August, 26 the Saeima (the Parliament) of Latvia resumed its work
after summer holidays. One of the most complicated issues - "extra"
consideration of the the State Language Law which the President had
refused to promulgate (see our previous reports) - postponed till the
end of autumn. Draft amendments to the provisions rejected by the
President are to be submitted before October 29, and the "extra"
reading is scheduled for December 9. This decision was suggested and
supported by MPs from the parties of the governmental coalition in
spite of the fact they had been doing their best to speed up the
adoption of the new Language Law, and even initiated extraordinary
sessions of the Parliament, only two months ago. Pro-minority faction
released a statement in which the intention of the ruling coalition
was described as willingness to deceive the European Union and to
adopt this law the same in essence after the EU has taken an
anticipated decision to start the negotiations about Latvia�s
accession during the summit in Helsinki (scheduled for December 11).
The European Commission heavily criticized the bill for running
contrary to some important provisions of the EU legislation, and its
early adoption without essential changes might impede the invitation.  



State Language inspectorate fines "Molokh"

On August 19, the Cannes-awarded "Molokh" was presented to Riga cinema
fans. The movies director, Alexander Sokurov, addressed the public
during the event. One of the participants of the event filed a
complaint to Mr Abikis, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on
Education and Culture, for Sokurov's speech was not translated to
Latvian. Mr Abikis turned to the State Language inspectorate. The
Inspectorate decided to fine the organizers of the event, "Alexander
Studio Group" company, for 50 Lats (appr. 100 $ US). 



Capital punishment problem in Latvia
 
The Saeima ratified the Sixth Protocol to the European Convention of
Human Rights in spring 1999, so abolishing the death penalty in
Latvia. However, a new bill passed to the Saeima committees allows to
apply the capital punishment during the wartime when the martial law
is declared, or "under the conditions of the threat of war".
Oppositional parties are concerned with this move, in particular,
because there is no clarity what is the legal procedure for
determiming the "threat of war". We will be grateful for comments on
the situation in other states which have abolished the death penalty:
are there similar reservations in their legislation?



LHRC web site coming soon
 
The Latvian Human Rights Committee will soon open its own web site
containing various information about the human rights situation in
Latvia. The URL is to published in the next issue of this newsletter. 


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