From....dankovic r sladjana ........... sladjana@juno.com

Dear people,

Today three women, including emperors-clothes writer Blagovesta Doncheva, were violently arrested in Sofia, Bulgaria for daring to take part in a peaceful protest against Pres. Clinton's visit here. Blagovesta was
singled out for special treatment, apparently to punish her for writing the truth about conditions in free Bulgaria.

We called Blagovesta's home tonight but got no answer. Here is a report:

An American civics lesson: free Speech in democratic Bulgaria
by Madeleine Kircheva

Today, November 16, 1999, a group of Sofia citizens have gathered by the US Embassy to protest against Clinton's visit and the planned location of US
bases in Bulgaria.

Only 15 minutes after the beginning of the protest a police lorry appeared and forcibly cleared the area dragging the protesting women on
the ground and brutally pushing them into the lorry.

Mr. Stefan Sofianski, Sofia's mayor and UDF (Union of "Democratic" Forces) member, has forbidden all protests against Clinton's visit and thus violated
Bulgariian Constitution.

The protesting citizens have been dispersed and three women have been arrested without justification. According to Article 39, p.1 of the Bulgarian
Constitution every Bulgarian citizen has the right to protest.

The arrested women, Madeleine Kirrcheva, Anka Petkova and Blagovesta Doncheva were detained in the police station N 1 from half past five till
half past seven in the evening.

Madeleine Kircheva and Anka Penkova were then released. Blagovesta Doncheva has been taken to a hospital for mental diseases. Again the
methods of the KGB are used in "democratic" Bulgaria - proclaming that dissidents are mad.

Please, support Sofia's protesting citizens by expressing indignation for Sofia Mayor's orders to your local Bulgarian Embassy or by writing to:
Town Hall
Address 33, Moskovska Str.
Sofia 1000 Bulgaria

To read what Doncheva has written, see below.

* 1 - Click on With her eyes opened - a letter to the Serbian 'Democratic
Opposition' or go to :
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/misc/bulgaria.htm

* 2 - Click on 'We here think it has been planned' or go to:
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/doncheva/donch2.htm

* 3 - Click on A Tale of Two Articles - the NY Times op-ed reprints from
Emperors-Clothes. Slightly altered. or go to:
http://www.emperors-clothes.com/articles/doncheva/donch3.htm