Strandzha and the Freedom of Speech. A brief in English.

For the sake of updating Non Bulgarian speaking readers this post is in English.
This 7th month of the 7th year of the 2nd milennium is very hot in Bulgaria. Ambient temperatures marking record levels across the country coupled with citizens waking up from a long sleep and expressing their position on the street.
Strandzha is what urged people to stand up.
The short story is a "Company Crash 2000 " together with the local Mayor tried to use a loophole in the system and appealed in court the existance of the Nature Park Strandzha. They almost reached their goal with the Decision of the Supreme Administrative Court from June 29th, which announced the park for non-existing, due to its boundaries being not defined. The wave of flash mobs and peaceful protests led to a very quick political response. Тhis Friday, the 13th, an ammendment to the Law for Protected Areas was voted at first hearing in Parliament. By virtue of this ammendment no appeal of an order proclaiming a land for protected area is allowed.
This is quite an extreme protection achieved only after 2 weeks post the Supreme Court Decision.
Somehow we come to ask the question, how on Earth our politicians, unable for 2 months to agree upon the election of 2 new Ministers to replace the 2 resigned following corruption scandals, were able to organize in short time and vote with almost full majority??!?

The answer is very simple: Our lovely politicians are scared big time! The energy which is now loose on the street is the nightmare of every government, escpecially of one that has failed to do much apart from fulfilling the interests of its members and its sponsors.

However, as we know, fear is not a good ally. The government freaked out as it was reported to summon in the Police bloggers writing about Strandzha events. Mishel had to answer questions regarding his posts and asked to sign a Protocol of Warning that he will restrain of publishing content provoking illegal civil protests....
The investigation is led by ГДБОП - "The Chief Directorate for fight against the organized crime" - wow!! The purpose of the Directorate is to sort out things like drug dealing, murders and other crime of that size....interesting usage of this resource....
A massive reaction has been seen in the blogspehere and internet during the weekend. Are we in China or this is this the year 1987 is some of the hundreds of comments in the net.
Main result of the Strandzha affair is people start to remember their power.
The last action from Friday was requesting immediate cleaning of the illegal building from Strandzha park and stop of the illegal digging works in Rila Park.

Things have gone too far, following the attempt of few to make money while demolishing endagered species and unique nature, we now are in a situation where the government attempted to question the freedom of speech.
They will have to pay the price.
Strandzha

PS. One of the many reactions http://semkiibonbonki.blogspot.com/2007/07/blog-post.html (in Bulgarian)