The draft resolution on the 80th anniversary of the Volhynia genocide, drafted by the majority of the Senate, returns to committee; PiS senators tabled amendments containing other versions of the draft – one of which assumes the use of a text analogous to the Sejm resolution.
The Senate debated the draft resolution late Wednesday evening. Marcin Bosacki (KO), the rapporteur of the Legislative Committee, stressed that there was no consensus in the committee, and many amendments were eventually tabled, changing the text of the draft originally prepared by PiS Senator Jerzy Czerwiński.
What’s in the Senate bill?
The draft prepared by the senators emphasized that 80 years ago, on July 11, 1943, in a series of organized attacks by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, about a hundred Polish-inhabited villages in Volhynia were destroyed. It was pointed out that this was the most tragic moment and the culmination of the UPA’s genocidal actions, which, according to historians, killed at least 100,000 Poles.
The victims of genocide were not only Poles, but also Jews, Czechs, Armenians, Roma, Russians and also righteous Ukrainians who tried to save Poland. At the same time, in the Generalgovernment and in the border regions of the Second Polish Republic, the pacification of Polish villages by the Germans reached its peak. Poles were shot, burned alive, taken from farms, robbed of their possessions and transported to extermination camps. Quotas of agricultural products were imposed on the hosts and ruthlessly enforced, which they had to supply to the German occupiers
– emphasized.
It was indicated that the symbol of this mass pacification is the village of Michniów in the municipality of Suchedniów, which was burned down twice and almost all its inhabitants were killed, and on the anniversary of these events, the Day of the Battle and Martyrdom of Polish villages is celebrated all over the country.
The Senate of the Republic of Poland pays tribute to all those murdered by Ukrainian nationalists and by the German occupiers, as well as their families, with a commitment to cherish their memory to this day. He also expresses his deep conviction that the knowledge of the genocide experienced by the Polish inhabitants of the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic should remain the subject of educational, scientific and cultural activities of the Polish state institutions. Poland does not forget its victims
says the draft resolution.
It stressed that “those righteous Ukrainians who risked their lives to save their Polish neighbors in the days of the fire deserve great respect”, and the attitude of these people, who selflessly helped the persecuted, deserves the highest recognition.
The Senate of the Republic of Poland honors them
– marked.
The project highlights that to this day the remains of the victims of many murders lie in nameless graves and are not properly memorialised; it was stressed that it was essential to carry out the excavation, to bury and commemorate with dignity all victims of the genocide in the eastern borderlands.
The Senate of the Republic of Poland also reminds us not to build our memory and future on nationalism. In Polish-Ukrainian relations there should be no glorification of nationalistic views. For more than 500 days, Ukraine has been the victim of criminal aggression by Putin’s Russia
– we read in the motion for a resolution.
The Senate of the Republic of Poland pays respect to all Ukrainians who sacrifice their independence and democratic European values. The Senate of the Republic of Poland is convinced that even the most painful things of the past cannot cross the Polish-Ukrainian community of interests and values
– added in the project.
Support for Ukraine’s membership in NATO and the EU
It also indicated that the Senate supports Ukraine’s aspirations for full membership in both the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union.
During the debate, Aleksander Szwed (PiS) argued that changes to the draft prepared by the PiS senator were “forced” during the committee meeting.
Czerwiński (PiS) said he sees “symmetrization attempts” in the modified project, eg in the excerpt stating that “in Polish-Ukrainian relations there can be no glorification of nationalist views”. He said he was unaware of the fact that an alternative project had been submitted to the one he had previously prepared. Therefore, as an amendment, he proposed his draft resolution, which was – as he said – based on the terms of forgiveness expressed by the families of the victims of the massacre in Volhynia. He stressed that in the bill drafted by the majority of the Senate, there is no condition to stop the glorification of UPA criminals.
Marek Komorowski (PiS) announced the tabling of an amendment “disconnecting” the issues of Michniów’s pacification and the Volhynia massacre; he noted that 30 senators supported it. He stressed that they want to pass the same resolution that was recently passed by the Sejm.
In turn, Senator Kazimierz Michał Ujazdowski stressed that it was impossible to pressure Ukrainians to accept 100 percent. Polish arguments, and the issue of meeting the conditions necessary for forgiveness, is at your discretion. He appealed to patience.
Bogdan Borusewicz (KO) ruled that the draft drawn up by PiS was bad and included “imposing conditions” for Ukraine to join the EU and NATO inappropriately. He argued that the resolution should also mention the influence of the Germans on the situation.
Referring to the votes in the discussion, Bosacki said the KO would not agree to Senator Czerwiński’s “incendiary” version or the “parliamentary” version, but would consider separating the Michniów and Volhynian massacre issues into two resolutions.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce