Are You Afraid of Us?

Bulgaria is a Parliamentary Republic. All governing power comes from the Bulgarian people. Dear Bulgarian Government, do you remember that? That is how the Constitution of Republic of Bulgaria begins. And the stress is on "PEOPLE".

It seems the government has forgotten that. Recently, they have discussed and have been intending to pass a law that forbids protest rallies in front of key state institutions - the Parliament Building, the building of the Council of Ministers, and the President's office. No, it is not over yet. We cannot protest near courts of justice, hospitals, churches, administrative buildings, etc. We will not be allowed to protest by cars, and block roads.

The only places left for protest rallies are parks, and open spaces outside cities. Far from the government and its business. Far from where we can be heard. Far from cameras, journalists, European Unions ever seeing eyes. Far from trouble. Trouble for who? For the ruling society of busy politicians, who are concerned of people rising in discontent.

Are people such a threat? And threat for who? They are threat for those who feel threatened, of course. Someone who feels threatened of public discussions has definitely something to hide. Fear of publicity in a public country. That is what this bill shows. That is funny.

I thought that we left the time of publicity fear 20 years ago. Bulgarians lived for nearly 50 years under the fear of showing discontent, and under the fear of public and free speech. Is the government showing us we are slowly going back to those age? Where people were going to the "Persin" prison for no reason. Oh, yeah. There were reasons. Reasons like listening to "The Beatles", and "Free Europe" radio, and wearing jeans, and many other scary things. In those times, the Bulgarian government was afraid of people finding out what a great lie they live in. A lie where there was no inflation, no unemployment, no crisis. We can see why the ruling class was afraid of publicity.

The question is, do we need such measures nowadays? My answer, as a citizen of Republic of Bulgaria is "NO". Government's answer, on the other side, is "YES". I will ask again, WHY? Do you have something to hide? Its all clear now. After denying the global financial crisis for so long, the Bulgarian Government finally said its negative effects were noticed in Bulgaria, too. What a surprise! But the crisis is here, and it is big. They have nothing to hide. There should be something else.

General elections are coming. In the last couple of months a lot of changes in elections legislature have been made. Bold changes, I may say. Stupid changes, I may say also. Changes that show a very destructive and dangerous tendency in Bulgaria's political class. They have started thinking that we are blind, that we are so dull that we cannot see what is going on. The 8% coalition threshold was proposed and passed the Parliament a month after the biggest rightist parties DSB and UDF agreed on a coalition. Is not that strange and suspicious? The General elections and the EU parliament elections were divided and will be held separately. It makes the choice more simple for the illiterate ones. The General elections will be held in the beginning of July. The electronic voting system was never developed. In the beginning of July most of the young people are abroad, attending Work and Travel programs in the US and England. They will simply not be able to vote.

The ruling Left party and the Ethnic Turks party are simply arranging the chess figure before the game has begun. They are trying to rule without the people - something they have been doing so far, but not so arrogantly obvious.

In that situation, banning protest at public places seems just fine. But it is not. It is the most illegal thing Bulgarian government have ever done. The government takes people's constitutional rights, people's constitutional power and spits on it. And it hurts a lot. Citizens of a country like Bulgaria have guarantied by the Constitution social and political rights to elect and be elected, and to protest. That is how we can participate in governing of our country. That is the foundation of every democracy. But not the Democracy of People's Republic of Bulgaria(that is how Bulgaria was called during the Communism). The true Democracy, where the state is based on peoples will to live together and form a steady society. I know it sound like utopia, but that is how democratic constitutions are written. The essence of the modern state lies on the foundation of peoples freedom. Freedom, given by nature, and sacrificed in way in the name of the peaceful living.

We, as citizens have the right to vote. The government is trying to limit it. We, as citizens have the right to protest. The government is trying to limit it. Our freedom is endangered. It seems like we no more have our own state. The one that we have built by our freedom. Does that sound scary? Well, Someone may be afraid. Someone, who is trying to limit our rights may be afraid. Because this someone perfectly knows it is not right to keep away people from what they own.

People own the State.

Now, are you afraid of us?

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