Sunday October 24th 2021
Migration through Belarus
Seehofer wants to “closely control” the border with Poland
While Polish mothers are campaigning for the refugees in the border region with Belarus, Federal Interior Minister Seehofer expresses his understanding for the plan for a border barrier at the EU’s external border. With regard to the border between Poland and Germany, he announced “close-knit” controls.
Federal Interior Minister Horst Seehofer has expressed understanding for the planned construction of a border barrier on Poland’s border with Belarus. “It is legitimate that we protect the external border in such a way that undetected border crossings at the green border are prevented,” said the CSU politician of “Bild am Sonntag”. In addition, he announced that he would increase controls in the German-Polish border area. He has already sent eight hundred police officers there to support the federal police. “If necessary, I am ready to step up there even further. We will closely monitor the border area and the green border with Poland.”
Since August, thousands of migrants have tried to cross the Polish border from Belarus. The EU is assuming a retaliatory action by the Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko for sanctions decisions taken in Brussels. It is believed that the Belarusian authorities are bringing migrants into the country in a targeted manner and smuggling them to the borders with the eastern EU states. Poland has stationed thousands of soldiers at the border because of the influx of migrants from Belarus. The government also announced the construction of a 353 million euro fortified border facility.
With regard to the German-Polish border, Federal Interior Minister Seehofer is also considering regular border controls, such as those on the German-Austrian border. “Last week we announced the extension of controls at the German-Austrian border for a further six months in Brussels,” said Seehofer. “If the situation on the German-Polish border does not relax, it must also be considered here whether this step should be taken in coordination with Poland and the state of Brandenburg.” This decision will be made by the next government, said Seehofer.
Polish mothers: “We cannot stand idly by”
With chants like “Schande” and “Nobody is illegal”, especially Polish mothers demonstrated this weekend in the border region between Poland and Belarus against the bad treatment of migrants – especially refugee children. “We cannot stand idly by when children spend weeks in cold, wet, dark forests on Polish territory,” the event organizers said on Facebook.
People called on the Polish government to re-open access to the border so that the migrants can get help. They also accused the border officials of using so-called “pushbacks” to push migrants back across the border.
“We feel for the people in the forest,” said Sylwia Chorazy, one of several hundred demonstrators in Michalowo. The place hit the headlines earlier this month when border officials there sent a group of immigrant children and women back into the forest despite asking for asylum.