Henryk Wujec: At present Belarus needs the same assistance rendered to Poles formerly

The adviser of the president of Poland Bronislaw Maria Komorowski had a meeting with former Belarusian political prisoners.

One of the leaders of Solidarity, the Polish underground trade union federation, met with the former presidential candidate, the leader of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Andrei Sannikov, a coordinator of “European Belarus” Zmitser Bandarenka, the director of the Belarusian House in Warsaw Uladzimir Kobets and the editor-in-chief of charter97.org website Natallya Radzina.

The meeting took place in the editorial office of charter97.org in Warsaw.

The topics discussed with the adviser of the Polish president included the hard situation with Belarusian political prisoners in Belarusian jails, continuing political repressions in the country, the necessity to help independent media and the democratic opposition of Belarus and continuation of the sanctions against Lukashenka’s dictatorship.

- I remember very well how it all started in our country. In 1989 we had great hopes that Belarus would become a democratic country, and everyone was looking forward its joining the family of free countries. But bleak times started then, Lukashenka’s coming to power, and his dictatorship,” said Henryk Wujec to charter97.org website after the meeting. – “I do not have doubts that no one in Poland approves the policy of Lukashenka and his methods. This could not be accepted.

We hope that our dreams of early 1990-ies will finally come true. When people show resistance, not only a few dissenters, but the entire society, masses, young people, the dictator starts to lose. It’s hard to say when it is going to happen. We had the same situation during the state of martial law. In the very beginning there were small groups, but then, when Solidarity was created, we knew it was the beginning of the end [for the regime].

The same is to happen in Belarus. Lukashenka’s methods of government – arrests and assassinations of oppositionists – show that the dictator fears the society, and it means that he has finally lost.

How the democratic forces could help Belarus? I think that at present Belarus needs the same assistance previously provided to Poles. When we were kept behind the bars, our families received aid, democratic states demanded to release those who had been incarcerated innocently, for their struggle for human rights. Leaders of democratic states didn’t want to meet with General Jaruzelski, they treated him as a non-handshakable guest. The same policy of isolation towards Lukashenka should be conducted by European countries now. It is also important to render assistance to those who are fighting for freedom, both humanitarian aid and assistance in functioning of opposition.

It is highly important for Belarusians to have access to free mass media. We were helped by Free Europe Radio then, now websites, TV channels, radio stations, bringing a free word to Belarus, should work hard. So that it would be possible for Belarusians to choose information, and not only be bombarded by massive propaganda and lies from the side of Russia and the Belarusian authorities.

Democracy does not come all of a sudden. It is a long process, which demands lots of efforts, endurance, patience, self-sacrifice. But the main thing is that this process is to end in success. I wish freedom to Belarus!