Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: ‘Breaking off the signs in Jaszuny is an act of hooliganism’

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland commented on the case of breaking off several signs with Polish street names in Jaszuny, says weekly magazine ‘Wprost’.

According to the Ministry, the incident was an act of hooliganism, but actions of Lithuanian authorities concerning protection of the rights of national minorities leave a lot to be desired.

‘Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland sees breaking off the signs with bilingual street names in Jaszuny as an act of hooliganism which is, unfortunately, one of many incidents that by members of Polish national minority in Lithuania are justifiably treated as deviating from commonly accepted standards of protection of the rights of national minorities. We hope that perpetrators will be found and punished as soon as possible. We would also like to point out that representatives of Polish authorities raise the issue of protecting the rights of Polish national minority in Lithuania every time when they talk with the Lithuanian side,’ wrote the Ministry to the magazine.

The signs were broke off on the night from 11th to 12th March. The case was commented on also by politicians of AWPL (Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania).

‘I want to bring the attention of the Lithuanian Parliament, as the basic legislative body in our country, and also the attention of politicians and public opinion, to the consequences of incitement to discords in relation to national minorities which come from the mouths of politicians, social activists and organizations,’ wrote Lithuanian MP Leonard Talmont in his special statement.

According to Talmont, such attacks are also directed against national minorities and they incite to discords on grounds of nationality. There are attempts to intimidate national minorities which is unacceptable especially in the European Union. ‘National minorities in Lithuania expect the law enforcement to take immediate actions in order to ensure their safety and the safety of their private properties,’ stated the politician.

Source: http://zw.lt/wilno-wilenszczyzna/polskie-msz-zerwanie-tabliczek-w-jaszunach-chuliganski-wybryk/

Tłumaczenie by Anna Leśkiewicz w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Anna Leśkiewicz within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.