(Security guards beat protesters -after "neutralize" them- & journalists, workers cut off tree with people on it, police molested sexually famine activists)
The Landscape Park St. Anna is located near Opole in south-western Poland. This Park was established to protect endangered species of plants and wildlife. There is 5 small, but unique natural reservations in the Park. Many kinds of animals, including 600 kinds of butterflies, lives in his Park, as well as old trees, including beech.
Negotiations
between
Polish environmental movement and Government didn't brink a
solution. At 04.30'98 the first anti highway camp in Poland
has taken place. Sit tree protest began. Usually anywhere
from 9 to 30 people sit on the trees. Polish ecoactivists
are joined by some from Germany & Sweden. Media talk about
the protest nonstop. Few times workers tried to cut off
some trees but protesters stop them by claiming on or
making
a circle around the tree. Protesters were peaceful and here is an Open Letterto support for
environmental activists jailed by Polish Government, signed
by many famous people.
185
000 trees will be cut off the St. Anna Park, 265 000 will
be plant, but they need 20 years to look like regular
tree. There will be 12 tunnels for animals (freeway divides
park for 2 parts), but many people doubt that tunnels won't
be wide enough. According to plans the tunnels will be 10
-
12 meters wide, that's enough o n l y for fox & seller
animals. Deers, stags and other similar animals will n o t
go thru those tunnels because they will be afraid of
paracious animals ( there is no way to escape). Similar
tunnels in other countries are bigger: 50m.wide in Holland
(highway A50),33m.in Germany(B33), in Switzerland (N7).
Level of danger dioxides (even without
cars) on St. Anna Mountains will be 117-200& over the norm.
There is already known officials wasn't right saying that
in
next 14 years highway A4 will pay off.
Bob
Sobanski
Because Polish Government want to build international A4
highway, about 150 feet cross train was excluded from the
Park. This divided the park on 2 pieces. Governor of
Opole Mr.Zembaczynski decided that a strip of land across
the Landscape Park doesn't belong to the Park any more,
because Environment Protection & Management Act forbids to
locate highways in landscape parks. Cities around didn't
give permit to make an alternative roads (industrial
area).Money for the project came from taxpayers
(Government), European Investment Bank & PHARE. If they
will make freeway, old trees will be cut off and many
animals will be in danger.For more
details click here
singing.One worker grabbed a camera from a
protester. The protest is supported by Polish environmental
movement, including: Polish Ecological Club, Green
Federation, Workshop for All Beings and Foundation
Support of Ecology Initiatives. After all negotiations Gov.
Zembaczynski said
06.01 that protesters will be removed from the trees.
Michal Chomiuk (22) started at 06.04 hungry strike to
oppose
stopping negotiations by Government side.
The same day (Th) in Poznan has been
beneficial program
showing pictures
from St.
Anna
protest. Audience reminded quiet during the
show and gave huge
applause at
the
end.
The next morning workers with assistance of security guards
(and people living around) started cutting 100 years old
trees.
They also try to cut off the tree with protester on it.
Guard beat some protesters & journalists, guards also stool
few thinks from protesters. Workers were cutting trees
being next to protesters, which is against the law. Another
volition of law happened when guards beat
protesters after "neutralize" them. Police
didn't do nothing about it. On Sat. guards again beat
protesters using truncheons, workers tried to cut off trees
wit on them. One tree with 2 people on it was cut off! All
of those events was against people life & health, and
police
(& Government) new about it but didn't do nothing to
enforce
the law. Monday
(06.08)large
police
force
(including special
group)
arrested 26 people, among them 2 journalists & 2 Germans.
During operation police tried to cut down branches with
protesters, pulled out the hair from protesters heads and
molested sexually famine activists. Media were kept away.
The Journalist who didn't respect police order, Jacek
Zachura ended with broke expensive camera. After 38 days
the sit tree protest ends, Michal's strike too. Immediately
after police intervention, 20 people came by Governor
Office
to urge him to free all arrested protesters. Demonstration
blocked Office's entrance. Mr.Zembaczynski said to them:
"I'm with you", but went away after demonstrator asked why
he arrested protesters. He also didn't take the Gold Saw -
gift from ecoacticists. Security guards showed them
disapproval by kicking demonstrators who set by the door.
The same day police free 4 people, who then joined the
picket by Gov. Office, where protesters spent part of the
night. Around 10pm. 30 skinheads attacked pacifists by Gov.
Office, this time police escorted ecoactivists to a save
place. On Wednesday police free last arrested protester.
All
of them made police headache, they never saw that many
people on small police station (nearest one to protest
area), also ecoactivists didn't want to eat meat. There
were court cases against 24 activists, but it was dropped after public (and celebrity) pressure.
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