Vice Chairman of the European parliament Supports Day of Solidarity :: Charter'97 :: News

A vice-chairman of the European Parliament, one of the founders of Polish “Solidarity” Janusz Onyszkiewicz has supported the Day of Belarusian Solidarity. “It is a very interesting initiative, it reminds of the actions held in Poland on 13th day of every month. (On December 13, 1981 a martial law was proclaimed in Poland.) And this initiative was a success. Many people switched off the light in their windows. It is a symbol and a signal. It is really important for the people to understand that they are not alone, that they have many like-minded people. It can lead to a situation when people understand that those who think in a differently from the government are not dissenters, and the government are those who are dissenters,” told the vice chairman of the European Parliament in his interview to the Charter’97 press center.

One of the leaders of the Polish “Solidarity” Janusz Onyszkiewicz recalls: “In Poland in 1980 it was clear for all of us what do we mean when we say “they” – a Communist regime. But we did not understand at all what is meant by saying “us”. But when the Pope arrived, we saw that there are millions of us. We realized that “we” are almost the whole population, we are a majority, and “they” are dissenters. And it was very important for the whole movement of “Solidarity”, and it led to the final victory of democracy in Poland. I think that it is necessary to hold such actions. I wish you every success”.

The former political prisoner Janusz Onyszkiewicz notes how important the solidarity was in Communist Poland.

“I know from my own experience how important it was for me when I was in prison to know that I am not forgotten, that people remember about me, and send letters. And it is important not only on the level of individuals, but nationally as well. There are changes in the situation in Belarus now. Belarus is no longer considered a “black hole”, a country that could be simply ignored by the Western Europe. I think it’s all the result of our work in the European Parliament, in the European Commission as well. Today, when the European Commission discusses international relations, Belarus is discussed every time. It had never happened before. There are changes in the conscience of the European Union, Eastern Europe, the USA. Belarus is the country which is important for the region, important for Europe, and it’s an important element of the international policy,” Janusz Onyszkiewicz said.

Representatives of the civil society of Belarus proposed to hold the Day of Solidarity with the Belarusian political prisoners, disappeared oppositionists, their families, independent journalists, with all fighting for freedom and democracy in Belarus, on the 16th day of every month. The Belarusians are appealed to switch off the light at 8 p.m. for 15 minutes and light a candle of Freedom in their windows.