Gazeta Wyborcza: Belarusian Poles made to write appeals to Polish authorities

All companies and firms in Belarusian regions make lists of their employees of Polish origin.

According to Gazeta Wyborcza, Minsk makes the Belarusian Poles sign appeals to the Polish authorities.

All companies and state-run enterprises of the Hrodna region make lists of Poles they employ. The lists are sent to ideological department of the local executive committees, ideological officers visit the Poles at work and “offer” to sign an appeal to President of Poland Lech Kaczynski, Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the marshals of the Sejm and Senate, Polskie Radio reports.

“All conditions have been created for getting education in Polish, for studying Polish, preserving and developing the historical and cultural legacy of the Polish nation. All houses of Poles in Belarus vigorously perform cultural and educational services,” the letter published on February 26 by pro-governmental news agency BelTA says.

According to authors of the letter, head of the unrecognized Union of Poles Andzelika Borys and her few supporters do not have the right to represent views of the whole Polish minority.

Some days ago, BelTA said 31 people had signed the letter to the Polish authorities, though some of the alleged signatories claim they didn’t do it. Now official Minsk wants as many Belarusian Poles as possible to sign the appeal. According to official data, there are about 400,000 Poles in Belarus.

“The actions by the Belarusian authorities are disgrace. I feel sorry for the intimidated people who are made to sign the letter,” Andzelika Borys said.