The Association of Poles in Lithuania paid tribute to insurgents

Last Wednesday (23^rd January) the Association of Poles in Lithuania paid tribute to insurgents killed during the January Uprising of 1863.

“On 22nd January 1863, the provisional government issued a manifesto in which it declared a national uprising. The first victims were identified as early as the next day. They were mostly Polish peasants armed with scythes. This is the reason why the Association chose that particular day to commemorate their deaths”, said Michał Mackiewicz, a member of the Seimas and the Association’s chairman.

He briefly described the history of the uprising, the place where Muravyov “the hangman” personally ended the insurgents’ lives, he informed how many people were hung, shot and exiled to Siberia.

“On Łukiski square alone, 166 peasants were hung by Muravyov.  The leaders of the uprising were killed more honourably. They were shot. According to archives, 1200 battles were fought during the uprising, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. After the uprising, 1000 people were executed in Vilnius alone, 28 thousand were sent to Siberia and 10 thousand managed to cross the border”, continued Mackiewicz.

Wreaths were placed and candles were lit under the cross on Łukiski square, followed by the singing of “Angelus”.

The politicians participating in the celebration were chairmen of the Association, representatives of the Vilnius Guide Club, upper secondary school graduates and other organisations and sympathisers.

Source: http://pl.delfi.lt/aktualia/litwa/zwiazek-polakow-na-litwie-zlozyl-hold-powstancom.d?id=60500337

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