14 January 2009 - 14 February 2009. One month of civil protests in Bulgaria.
On the 14 January 2009 Sofia witnessed violent street protest. More than 50 people werearrested, and there have been numerous reports of the police acting unprofessionally andexcessively violent.The protests were organized by 22 different Bulgarian social movements. The most oftenmentioned are:•The students. They that had been protesting against corruption and a grave lack of resources in the educational system. The protests started when Stojan Baltov wasbeaten to death outside a discoteque near his dormitory in Studentski Grad 5th of December.•The ecologists.They had been demonstrating since years for better protection of Bulgarian wildlife. Their latest big campaign was against exploitation of the Rilamountain, and against the
zamenki. Zamenki
was a system that allowed privateinvestors to exchange cheap land for parcels in attractive areas that should beprotected.•Organizations representing different kind of Bulgarian farmers.•The association of Bulgarian mothers.A list of 35 demands, ranging from subsidies and import protection for farmers to strongersupport for children of drug addicts and a ban of the
zamenki
system were handed over tothe parliament on the 14th of January. As the demonstration turned into, riot media tendedto report on the acts of violence.The protests continued until Sunday 18th January. New demonstrations were heldWednesday 21 January and 11 February.The protesters managed to shortlist their absolute demands ahead of the meeting the 21January. These included the resignation of minister of interior Mihail Mikov whom theprotesters see as responsible for the violence 14th of January and the death of MetodiMarinov in custody the night after the demonstrations. Moreover, the protesters demandeda reformed, electoral system and the posibility to initiate local referendums with decisivepower.No organizations representing ethnical minorities participated. The Bulgarian anarchists alsodeclined to participate, as did the far right movement Ataka.The
zamenki
system was banned after the demonstrations on 14 January. In spite of thiscases of state land being exhanged have been recorded.Parliamentary commissions are currently discussing a number of demands. The governmenthas proposed budgetize more money to student facilities.The opposition is actively pursuing the protesters demands in the parliament. Two liberal/right parties are preparing a motion of no confidence against the government.The ecologists have launched a campaign for citizens participation in the Bulgariandemocracy.The internet community is argumenting against the imposing of new laws regarding storageof ISP clients data.In June Bulgaria will hold elections to the parliament. The Socialists' main contender isGERB, a populist right wing party.
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