283 People Have Been Arrested During 16 Weeks Of Demonstrations Demanding That President Lukashenko Resign In Belarus

Demonstrators in Belarus (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - A total of 283 people were arrested by police as anti-government protests continued across Belarus, Sunday, November 22. The news was conveyed by a number of human rights groups (HAM).

The demonstration has been going on for 16 weeks without stopping. Thousands of people took to the streets calling for President Alexander Lukashenko to step down.

In dealing with protests, security forces are accustomed to using stun grenades, tear gas, and even direct physical attacks, including arrests. There have been so many days of protests since last August.

However, Sunday's protests were the biggest. Moreover, what happened in the capital city of Minsk. The protests began after the presidential election on August 9 which gave Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term.

But the opposition and some voting officials say the votes were manipulated. Then protesters asked the president to step down.

On Sunday demonstrators tried to thaw the detentions and dispersal by initially gathering in different parts of the capital Minsk. But they were met by the police when they tried to gather at the central point.