An Appeal regarding the situation at the Poland – Belarus border
Poland has imposed a state of emergency along its border with Belarus, holding back small groups of men, women and children who are refugees from Afghanistan, Syria and other countries. They are without shelter, clean water, food, and access to medical help. This expulsion and simultaneous non-admission of refugees has triggered the xenophobic resentments and anti-humanitarian policies of Poland and Belarus. The police, army, and border guards prevent any humanitarian action. Several refugees have died already.
We are sending you an appeal signed by well-known oppositional figures in Poland. We ask for help in disseminating this appeal as widely as possible.
From the European Union’s border with Belarus, October 6, 2021
An Appeal
In keeping with the legacy of Marek Edelman, Jacek Kuroń, and Irena Sendler, and endeavoring to live according to their example, we cannot remain silent while people are dying at the Polish border. We cannot remain silent while they are denied help by those who are obliged to provide it. We cannot remain silent while people of good will are prevented from saving and assisting others deprived of shelter and threatened by hunger, cold, sickness, and pain. As we are helpless vis-a-vis the repulsive, inhumane immigration policy of the Polish authorities, we appeal for solidarity with an abused people whom they look upon with cruel insensitivity. We appeal to international public opinion, to people in culture, science, and business, and to politicians throughout the world whether in power or in the opposition, to exert unyielding pressure on the Polish authorities to stop this torture.
Witold BEREŚ
Bogdan BIAŁEK,
Seweryn BLUMSZTAJN,
Teresa BOGUCKA,
Krzysztof BURNETKO,
Agnieszka HOLLAND,
Paula SAWICKA,
Andrzej SEWERYN
See the latest piece on the situation at the border on Democracy Seminar: “Slow Agony of Europe: Afghan Refugees Trapped at Borders,” by Izabela Wagner, Tomek Kitlinski, Angus Reid. Also, a brief update from Tomek Kitlinski here.
