Farmers and foresters are preparing for widespread protests

On May 21 of this year, the associations "Farmers' Parliament", "Latvian Forest Owners' Association", "Latvian Agricultural Cooperatives Association", "Latvian Young Farmers' Club", "Cooperation Council of Agricultural Organizations", "Farmers' Association" and "Association of Agricultural Statutory Societies" sent an open letter to SIA "EHR Mediju Grupa" and the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development (MARAM), Chairman of the Council of the Latvian Environmental Protection Fund (LVAF) Artūrs Tomas Plešs, calling for a public apology for an advertisement financed from the state budget, in which farmers are called "mass murderers", as well as calling for changes to the rules for granting LVAF funding so that the information provided in the future is scientifically based, excluding the possibility of spreading defamatory and false information, or advertising political figures.

“To respond to our demands, we gave the Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Rural Development and Rural Affairs and SIA “EHR Mediju Grupa” time until 28.05.2021 at 11:00. We respect the attitude of SIA “EHR Mediju Grupa” in apologizing to farmers, broadcasting the apology on the air, as well as explaining the circumstances of the situation. In turn, no official response has been received from the Minister of Environment, Rural Development and Rural Affairs, Artūrs Tomas Plešis. Farmers and foresters do not plan to give up their demands, because unlike politicians, we solve our problems, not practice “ostrich politics”. We started to address the problems with the activities of the LVAF with the previous Minister of Environment, Rural Development and Rural Affairs Juris Pūcis, and we continue to do so now. Unfortunately, the letters that were addressed to the LVAF Council with outright lies and half-truths have been filigreely ignored. Our submissions were answered that “[what was expressed in the publications] is not a model of best practice”, however, the LVAF Council did not see any problems with the information presented.” – Maira Dzelzkalēja-Burmistre, Deputy Chairwoman of the Board of the Association “Zemnieku saeima”, explains the situation.

Sandra Eimane, association “Latvian Young Farmers Club”: “Such an attitude on the part of politicians is absolutely unacceptable and clearly indicates how unimportant the agricultural and forestry sectors are in the eyes of the minister, which together account for around 40% of Latvia’s exports. 89.1% of Latvia’s population also consider agriculture to be important for Latvia’s economy and exports. These sectors of the national economy have been discredited and slandered for a long time as state budget funds. This is perceived especially painfully by young people in the countryside and young farmers who have worked hard with their parents since childhood to maintain and develop Latvia’s rural environment. Young people are determined to develop, accumulate their own experience, work efficiently and conscientiously, constantly learning a lot and being environmentally friendly. It is sad to watch what is happening and receive a lot of reproaches at a time when we are doing a lot and investing in the future of Latvia. Now young farmers are starting to consider the idea of not starting or continuing their work in the countryside, but going to cities or abroad, because the prestige of the sector is being undermined year after year and young people in the countryside are being falsely portrayed as limited people. Neither farmers nor foresters are aimed at aggression and we have done everything to avoid having to resort to such radical methods as protests.”

Indulis Jansons, “Latvian Association of Agricultural Cooperatives”: "Given the minister's inability to respond to the situation and respect the demands of farmers and foresters, we are forced to organize large-scale protests. We started planning today. The situation is very tense, farmers are ready to go to Riga. We will organize a protest between June 15 and 23. If the demands are not met and a dialogue is not initiated, we do not rule out a request for the minister's resignation. The protest will include tractors and forest equipment units in the center of Riga, as well as on the country's main highways."

Arnis Muižnieks, Association “Latvian Forest Owners Association”: “We emphasize that we are not against providing funding for LVAF activities and believe that promoting environmental awareness in society is necessary. However, if we do it with taxpayers' money, it must be done with a clear goal, objectively and reasonably - without half-truths, distorted facts, fabrications, practices used outside Latvia or outright lies. The development of materials would definitely require the participation of representatives of the involved sectors, scientific institutes, universities and statisticians. The line between limiting fake news and censorship may be narrow, but it must be found.”