Tensions in Poland over migrants escalate despite fall in attempted crossings from Belarus

euronews (in English)

Two years after Poland erected a border barrier to stop migrants from entering from Belarus, the influx has diminished but public debate over the issue has not, fuelled in part by the fatal stabbing of a soldier in June.

Transcript

00:00This wall, built in the heart of the Polish forest of Bialowieża,

00:05has been dividing Belarus, to my left, from Poland for two years.

00:08A barrier against the influx of thousands of migrants,

00:11of whom Minsk is accused of orchestrating the forced passage to the European Union.

00:16The surrounding region, once a high point of Polish tourism,

00:19has also become the scene of many dramas,

00:22a subject that polarizes Polish opinion more than ever.

00:31We are in the border region of Podlasie, in the east of the country,

00:35where incidents between migrants and security forces have recently multiplied.

00:40In June, the death of a young soldier,

00:43stabbed at the border, had aroused public indignation

00:46and the adoption this summer of a law

00:49facilitating the use of firearms by the military and the police.

00:53Groups of civilians are multiplying the initiatives

00:56to, they say, defend the border.

00:59These men, coming from Warsaw,

01:02have called on the population to show their support

01:05to the security forces in front of the wall.

01:08Glory to the heroes! Glory to the heroes!

01:14We care about the safety of our country,

01:17above all our families,

01:20our values that Poland has,

01:23our religion.

01:26That's why we go along the border

01:29to stop this wave of illegal immigration.

01:32We don't want such situations as in Europe to happen,

01:35that there is murder, that there are rapes

01:38on our women, on our children,

01:41on our children's children,

01:44on our children's children,

01:47that there is murder, that there are rapes

01:50on our women.

01:53And if this continues,

01:56unfortunately, their culture, their faith,

01:59will threaten our faith.

02:02And we want to defend our faith,

02:05because it is very important to us.

02:08We want to show the patriotism of Polish citizens.

02:11We want to convey to society,

02:14to remind them of our values

02:17and we will organize such meetings.

02:20We need such support,

02:23because even the army feels more confident

02:26that there are people like us, who patrol

02:29so that the other side behind the wall

02:32also hears about us, sees what is happening

02:35and either does not go to the places

02:38where we often go,

02:41March, march, Dąbrowski,

02:44From Italy to Poland,

02:47We will join the nation

02:50at your command.

02:55In the region, the controls are constant.

02:58An area of bans on access

03:01was reintroduced in June.

03:04The border is all the more secure,

03:07as Varsovy fears possible Russian incursions.

03:10A civil or paramilitary meeting is not necessary,

03:13emphasizes the spokesman of the border guards of the region.

03:16Border Guard, Polish Army and Police

03:19are currently guarding the border

03:22and no help is needed here.

03:25Border Guard, we had no contact with these people.

03:28According to the spokesman,

03:31the number of attempts to pass clandestine

03:34has fallen by 70% since the implementation

03:38But the border guards remain vigilant.

03:42The threats resulting from this illegal crossing of the border

03:45are unpredictable,

03:48because it is the Belarusian and Russian side

03:51that organizes this illegal migration.

03:54Foreigners get legal visas to Russia,

03:57from Russia they are transported to Belarus

04:00and in this way illegally cross the border on the Polish side.

04:03So-called couriers, drivers are waiting for them

04:06to be transported further to Western Europe.

04:09The security overhaul worries the humanitarian organizations

04:12who are trying to help the migrants

04:15who manage to cross the wall.

04:18We meet one of the groups

04:21who is relaying in bases in secret locations

04:24to respond to distress calls.

04:27Sometimes risky interventions.

04:30We see such an alliance of the border guard

04:33with patriots or nationalists

04:36who prevent us

04:39from freely reaching the group

04:42who declare their desire to stay in Poland.

04:45They ask for an oasis in Poland.

04:48Nevertheless, these people are rather sent to Belarus,

04:51which can be for them

04:54even a mortal danger.

04:57In addition to the usual fear or concern

05:00about migrating people,

05:03there is also a fear about us.

05:06Because we do not know how the nationalists

05:09can behave towards us.

05:12Suddenly, the team receives a message of distress.

05:15We have a challenge.

05:18We have bases nearby.

05:21We will prepare a plan.

05:24The activists hurry.

05:27There is a danger of pushback.

05:30Some people experience a lot of pushbacks.

05:33This ping-pong, crossing the border,

05:36may not have an end.

05:39Nothing can stop people.

05:42Neither such a large number of troops

05:45nor such a huge number of services

05:48or building walls.

05:51Despite this, people who escape

05:54will always find a place,

05:57a desire and a will

06:00to cross the border.

06:06We are going to meet the inhabitants

06:09of the villages closest to the wall,

06:12which are said to be particularly scared

06:15by the arrival of migrants.

06:18A postulate that makes the inhabitants

06:21afraid to cross the border.

06:24We are sitting on a bench,

06:27and that's it.

06:30What has changed here,

06:33except for these huts?

06:36We have peace here.

06:39Because our soldiers are here.

06:42Because they are watching us.

06:45A protection that many consider excessive

06:48and that depends mainly on tourism.

06:51The strong military presence

06:54and numerous checks are dissuasive

06:57for visitors who deserted the region this summer,

07:00the merchants tell us.

07:03Slavek is one of the few who has agreed

07:06to express himself openly in front of our camera.

07:09We can estimate that this is only 30% of tourists

07:12who normally come to Białowieża.

07:15This is a disaster for us.

07:18This restaurateur has several asylum seekers

07:21among his employees.

07:24Here, in fact, no one feels any anxiety,

07:27no one is afraid of anything.

07:30Because when migrants come,

07:33they don't come to the city,

07:36but rather go somewhere in the woods

07:39so that no one notices them.

07:42The fact that we are afraid of politicians

07:45creates a parallel reality

07:48that has nothing to do with the real situation.

07:51Only politicians want to have more voters

07:54and for people to focus on the authorities.

08:00As we leave the city,

08:03we receive a message from the activists.

08:06They have received a distress signal

08:09and allow us to join them this time.

08:12We find them with three men and a woman exhausted.

08:15They have crossed the wall after several attempts

08:18and weeks of wandering in the forest.

08:21The dogs in Białowieża have chased us

08:24and nibbled and ate everything.

08:27I couldn't stand it because it covered me at night.

08:30They beat us and sent us back.

08:33We tried again.

08:37They beat us so much.

08:40They are from Cameroon.

08:43They say they fled their country

08:46to escape the political persecution

08:49they were subjected to there.

08:52They beat me.

08:55They raped me.

08:58They beat me.

09:01In front of us,

09:04there is an international protection in Poland

09:07and border guards.

09:10I would like to stay in Poland

09:13because I don't want to go back to Cameroon.

09:16If I go back there, I will die.

09:21If they don't want to accept the international protection,

09:24they will be put on the border

09:27and deported to Belarus.

09:30I hope it won't happen.

09:33I hope the head of the foreign affairs office

09:36decides to give them the international protection.

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