LATVIA
Riga Gay Pride: It's Worse Than Moscow
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by Nikolai Alexeyev |
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RIGA, July 22, 2006 – It is astonishing. It’s worse than Moscow. There is total chaos here. The police seem very weak and disorganized. The fascists are able to act at will. And Latvia is in the European Union. The police presence outside the Reval Latvia Hotel, where a press conference and and alternative event to the banned Pride march is being staged, is symbolic. Small and inadequate. We are under siege by a mob of some 70 fascists.
“A small number of neo Nazis have now infiltrated the hotel,” said Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group Outrage! “We fear that they are calling on their mobiles to coordinate a fascist attack on the hotel. A group of anti gay right wingers got into the hotel lobby. They have just been evicted. “The fascists are very well organized, he continued. “They have a military-style operation. They seem to know everything Mozaika has planned and are able to disrupt every event the moment it starts.” One of those assaulted was the openly gay pastor Rev Maris Sants. The Police refused him protection as he went to his car, where he was attacked. “People attending the press conference had to be rushed out into waiting vans to be ferried away from the baying homophobic crowd,” said Mr Tatchell. “Earlier today, the church service Rev Sants held in support of Riga Gay Pride was attacked by a dozen neo-Nazis. Worshippers were pelted with shit and rotten fruit. “Despite previously requesting police protection, no police were present to protect the congregation. Dutch MEP Sophie In’t Veld was one of the worshippers prevented from leaving the church by the homophobic vigilantes. “The inaction of the Latvian police is scandalous. They seem to be doing the absolute minimum” said Mr Tatchell. It feels like Moscow all over again. Homophobic mobs are roaming the streets of Riga with apparent impunity. As the Mozaīka organizers, together with the Tatchell and myself, left the press conference, we were followed by fascists in a van. The who pelted the car with eggs. “Thankfully, they had only eggs, not bricks or guns. t was really scary as they zapped our vehicle. They chased us through the streets until we got to the Reval Latvia Hotel” said Mr Tatchell. “Gangs of homophobes are roaming the streets of Riga, looking for gays and lesbians to attack. There is a police presence outside the Reval Hotel but not elsewhere.” As I write this report, a bus with 40 policemen has just arrived, two hours after the first protests – and despite having been requested several days ago by the organisers. The speeches of local politicians and foreign politicians are coming to an end at the hotel. There are about 100 gays and lesbians who are here celebrate what should have been Riga’s second Gay Pride. Protesters outside the hotel have now started to attack those leaving. There appears to be little co-ordination between the police and the hotel. The police are reacting very slowly to the protesters and appear to be not too concerned about the safety of the participants. The first taxi that was trying to take one of the organisers, was attacked by the protesters who pushed the cars, and threw eggs – all under the eyes the police who did nothing. Journalists were also attacked with eggs and water on them and on their cameras. Protesters were targeting anyone leaving the hotel. An elderly woman holding an icon in her hands lay on a car with a bottle that she called “sacred water”. It is not yet clear how gays, lesbians and their friends will evacuate the building. Today, Latvia does not show the face of a modern and democratic country within the European Union. Instead, Riga is showing the face of homophobic fascism, threatening its citizen and their guests, members, including Members of the European Parliament. LINKS
OTHER RIGA PRIDE COVERAGE
Neo-Nazis Terrorise Riga Gay Pride Rally.
By Peter Tatchell. Neo-Nazi, Christian fundamentalist and extreme
nationalist protesters terrorised participants at the Gay Pride rally in the
Latvian capital of Riga last Saturday (July 22, 2006). Private armed guards
were drafted in to provide security, after the Latvian police repeatedly
failed to halt the aggression of the homophobic mob.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Riga Gay
Pride: Lars Grava - “The Story That Needs To Be Told”.
Open Letter From Lars Grava.
Dearest friends: I am writing this in English since the story needs to be
told far and wide. This is the story from my perspective. Everyone else who
was there will have other stories to share. Gaston and I are safe after yesterday's well-organized
fascist attacks against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
community in Riga during Pride.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Gay Pride Organisers "Trapped" in Riga Hotel
– Rescued by Cabinet Minister
Organisers of Riga Gay Pride
have been "rescued" after being trapped for hours in the in the Reval Latvia Hotel, with "hysterical"
protesters surrounding the building. (UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Riga Gay Pride: Putting the European Union to the Test.
Commentary.
Sophie In’t Veld, the Dutch MEP and a vice president of
the European Parliament’s Intergroup for gay and lesbian rights did not
mince her words. “It’s putting Europe to the test,” she charged.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Prohibiting Gay Rights March Is Blow for
Democracy.
Commentary by
Mozaīka. ...
Democracy is being held hostage by the
strengthening forces of extremism in Latvian society. These forces have
been encouraged by the unwillingness of the political elite to rein them in,
and indeed by the continuous barrage of hate speech indulged in with
impunity by many politicians themselves.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Citing National Security,
Court Says No To Riga Gay Pride. The
Administrative Court in Riga has this afternoon upheld the decision of the
City authorities to ban the Gay Pride Parade, due to be held tomorrow, on
the grounds of “national security” and concerns over public order. (UK
Gay News, July 21, 2006)
Riga Gay Pride: We Will
Not Organise Any Illegal Event. As the decision of the
Administrative Court as to whether or not tomorrow’s Gay Pride March in Riga
can go ahead, organisers said today that “regardless of the outcome, we will
not organise any illegal event”.
(UK
Gay News, July 21, 2006)
Riga Gay Pride March Ban
Is Wrong Says, Euro-MP Cashman. Labour MEP Michael Cashman has reacted with anger at the decision by authorities in
Latvia to ban this year’s Pride march which was scheduled for this Saturday
(22nd July).
(UK
Gay News, July 20, 2006)
Latvian President and
Amnesty Both Condemn Restriction of LGBT Rights. The President of
Latvia and Amnesty International (AI) have both issued statements this
morning following yesterday’s decision by the Riga City Council to ban this
weekend’s planned Gay Pride march in the capital.
(UK
Gay News, July 19, 2006)
A Blow for Democracy: Riga
Council Denies Permit for Gay Pride March. The Riga city council
this morning denied a permit Saturday’s “Riga Pride 2006” march. The city council justified its
decision by invoking threats of violence allegedly received from extremist
groups – and the police’s inability to guarantee security and order during
the march. (UK Gay News, July 19, 2006)
Latvian Priest Strongly
Supports Riga Gay Pride. An
English translation of an interview with openly gay Maris Sants conducted by
GayRussia website.
(UK Gay News, July 17, 2006)
Tension and Uncertainty
Rising Around Second Gay Pride in Riga. Latvian interior minister Dzintars Jaundžeikars went on record last week that the
Interior Ministry would not be able to provide adequate security during this
year’s Pride March, scheduled to be held on Saturday (July 22).
(UK Gay News, July 16, 2006)
Prominent Foreign Politicians to Take Part in Riga Pride.
Several European
politicians will be taking part in Friendship Days and Riga Gay Pride, due
to take place in the Latvian capital next week. (UK Gay News, July 16,
2006)
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Posted: 23 July 2006 at 13:00 (UK time) - Updated 14:00