Students rise up in protest

RIGA - Several hundred students gathered at the Cabinet building on Feb. 28 to protest against the budget cuts in education, reports news agency LETA. The protesters marched from the Latvian Academy of Arts to the Culture Ministry, stood for a while at the Rainis Monument on Riga’s Esplanade and then proceeded to the Cabinet of Ministers.
The protesters were singing songs and shouting slogans – ‘Valdis! Valdis!,’ ‘Sarmite! Sarmite!,’ ‘Valdis, Come Dance!,’ ‘Give Back the Money for Education!’

The students criticized Finance Minister Andris Vilks (Unity) and demanded Culture Minister Sarmite Elerte’s (Unity) resignation. Many protesters held placards: ‘Hands Off Higher Education!,’ ‘Do Not Take Away Funding For Culture!,’ ‘Do Not Destroy Musicians, There Will Be No One To Play At Your Funeral!,’ ‘Sarmite, Remember Linda!’ One of the protesters had erected a guillotine-like construction and positioned himself in it.
Saeima deputies Imants Paradnieks, Janis Dombrava (All For Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK), Latvian Free Unions Association’s Chairman Peteris Krigers, Igors Siskins, a member of the ultra-radical ‘Thundercross’ organization, and Uldis Freimanis also participated in the protest.

Elerte met with the protesters twice - at the Latvian Academy of Arts, and at the Cabinet building. The culture minister admitted that she understands the protesters’ concerns, however, cannot prevent the budget cuts, since they are necessary.