Poland starts collecting computers for Belarusian journalists

Organisers hope that Polish individuals and companies will give some dozens of computers, both used and new, for Belarusians.

On February 28, an initiative started in Poland with an aim to collect PCs and laptops for Belarusian journalists and human rights activists, whose equipment had been seized by the KGB. A number of Polish NGO joined the action initiated by Free Belarus organisation.

One of the NGOs is the Polish Press Club, which supports journalists and freedom of speech in 27 countries. Its head Jarosław Włodarczyk told Euroradion about the plans of the initiative:

“We hope to collect at least some dozens of computers in spring. I mean new computers, because we also collect money, and second hand ones, which must be in a good condition.”

The action is announced to last until March 20, but the organisers hope it will be possible to continue it until the end of April.

“We hope for a good reaction of the Poles. We used to receive similar aid from the West in spite of communist bans during the times of our underground resistance. It wasn’t laptops, of course, because the time was different. Now we consider it our moral duty to help our brothers Belarusians in their struggle,” Jarosław Włodarczyk said.

He admits it won’t be an easy task to carry the equipment to Belarus.

“We’ll certainly face a problem of delivery of equipment to Belarus. But let’s recollect the military times in Poland again: foreigners managed to transport copiers and ink. I hope we’ll manage to do this. It is impossible in theory, but possible in practice,” he says.

Jarosław Włodarczyk assured there were plans to carry computers to Belarus, but declined to tell them to the media for obvious reasons.