People Of Soviet Have Gradually Lost Civil Freedom, Says Escapee

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14662, 4 May 1948, Page 4

People Of Soviet Have Gradually Lost Civil Freedom, Says Escapee

HARD CONDITIONS IN RUSSIA REVEALED BY ARRIVAL IN N.Z.

“The people of Russia have gradually lost all civil freedom raid arc now nothing more than the property of the Government. initiative has been killed and those with any authority are scared to exert it because of the severe penalty for a wrong decision. "Wherever possible, the making of a decision is referred to someone else.” . These facts, in a general picture of life in Russia, were given to an. Evening' Post reporter during an interview with a visitor who, because lie had escaped from Russia, did not, for ids own safety, wish his identity to be revealed. “Not only in matters of importance or danger, but during; normal work, the thought of the person concerned is not for the immediate circumstances, but for the gaol term to be served if the decision is wrong,”-he said. “The Government is in complete control and dominates every phase of Russian life. This domination is usually direct, but where certain spheres are nominally free, subtler methods are used.

"Freedom of religion is said to exist in Russia. Certainly, the-Gov-ernment will raise no objection to a worker attending church, but his union (really controlled by the Government) will, and the worker affected will be dismissed from the union as 'ideologically unfit' and will be without work. As the Government owns everything and is the only employer, he cannot work until he stops going to church. "Russian authors, poets, playwrights, musicians, and artists are not free. Writings are censored and imbued with propaganda, and it is a constant problem to know what will be acceptable to the strict Goyernment bureau concerned. "Shostakovich wrote a symphony dedicated to the defence of Leningrad, but it was considered insufficiently heroic, and he was ordered to write another.

"Life for ike worker is very hard., Food and clothing are scarce end prices high—on the unofficial and Government black markets, even higher. The wages of one man are not enough to maintain his family and, as those who work receive almost twice the ration of those wno do not, large numbers of women are working.

“The Government is based upon a perfectly organised and developed secret police. It is a crime to criticise, or listen to and not report criticism of, the Government, and it is fear of the secret police that ensures prompt obedience of this law. “All members of the Communist Parly are, in effect, members of the secret police, and, consequently, police coverage is wide. There is no knowing who belongs to the secret police. “The suppression of thought can be seen by the fact that most of the prisoners in Russian gaols are not criminals,'but ‘political’ prisoners. “The country is being worked by the Government to a system of planned economy. This system is too rigid, and very often is a handicap to the natural development of the country. “The production of factories is planned, but to keep up with it, defective goods are often put c.n the market. This is because the managers will bo gaoled if they fall behind in their quota. “This planned economy is being carried almost to the point of absurdity. Even, the production of crops or the catch of fish is being planned. Another ilaw is that many executives are appointed not because of their knowledge of the work, but because they are good Communists. “To illustrate how stiff this system is, suppose a shipment of essential raw materials does not reach a certain place because of, say. a a llision, then other materials could not be railed because

the railways programme is already planned. ■

“Another example of the planning and fear can be shown by the building of a certain shipyard. It ivas to be ready by a set date, but ;'/as not. The man in charge, knowing the penalty, cabled Moscow that it was. So a ship was sent to be repaired at this partly-completed yard. Making the' best of it, the ship’s engine was dismantled and stored in an empty building. “Education has to bo paid for, and so is beyond the reach of the average worker, who is forced to put his children in the Labour Reserve schools, where a little time is devoted to the bare rudiments of education and the rest to learning a trade that has been chosen for them. If a child is dull and its marks below a set standard, - the authorities consider it the fault of the teacher. Teachers, rather than lose their positions, falsify marks. So, many children have good marks, but are illiterate. “There is free medical help, but I would not take it if 1 could possibly avoid it. Conditions are dirty, and there is overcrowding and unskilled attendants. There are no private practices, but better treatment can be obtained, at a price, from doctors who secretly practise after hours. “Probably the best work for a Russian is "to be a sailor on a foreign-going ship. Ho has a better opportunity to get clothes and food, and variety. But he has to be careful. “Secret police arc usually among the crew, and an official political commissar travels with the ship. The regulations are strict. “Sailors must not stay ashore after 10 o’clock, nor visit hotels, clubs, theatres, cr people without the approval of the local Soviet representatives. No acquaintances are to bo made unless absolutely necessary. Foreign magazines, are not allowed to be read or taken back to Russia. “These restrictions are strictly complied with, because the sailors do not want to lose the only opportunity they have to spend some time away from Russia. “Elections, of course, are a farce. No matter what political beliefs you may hold, you either vote for the Communist Party candidate, or not at ail. All candidates are appointed by the Communist Party. To express anything but Communist political beliefs is a crime. “If the Communists have done any good, lit is far outweighed by the great wrong they are doing the people in suppressing their freedom. \

"Communism, I believe, in Russia and throughout the world, reached its peak during the war and is now declining. The maicrity of Russians hate it and, although they are powerless now, I think another revolution will come."