The Border Defence Movement is today operating along the entire western border of Poland. Its presence results directly from threats associated with the EU migration pact. “We do not trust Donald Tusk or the European Union, which is currently assuring that under the solidarity mechanism migrants will not be directed to Poland”, Robert Bąkiewicz, leader of the Border Defence Movement, stated.
Migration pact enters into force
Today, the migration pact came into force across the European Union. The new regulations introduce, among other things, a permanent solidarity mechanism under which member states are to participate in the relocation of applicants for international protection, provide financial support, or offer assistance in other agreed forms.
In the first year of the system’s operation, Poland will not be required to accept migrants or contribute financial resources under the solidarity pool. Behind the scenes in the European Parliament, there is unofficial talk that a similar decision could also be made next year, allegedly in order to help Donald Tusk’s political camp ahead of parliamentary elections.
ROG leader: “We do not trust Tusk”
Robert Bąkiewicz, leader of the Border Defence Movement, spoke about the issue during a press conference in Słubice.
The Border Defence Movement is today operating along the entire western border of Poland. Its presence results directly from threats associated with the migration pact. “We do not trust Donald Tusk or the European Union, which is currently assuring that under the solidarity mechanism migrants will not be directed to Poland”, said the ROG leader.
As he noted, Poland’s current exemption from the obligation to accept migrants does not mean that a similar decision will apply in the coming years.
Today that is indeed the case, but soon the situation may look completely different. A temporary exemption for Poland provides no guarantee that in a year or two we will not be forced to accept migrants or bear the costs for each person not accepted, Bąkiewicz said.
The ROG leader also recalled last year’s events on the Polish-German border. At that time, people who had previously reached Germany were being transferred across the border bridge in Słubice into Poland.
We remember scenes from last year when dozens, and possibly even hundreds, of migrants were pushed across that border bridge into Poland. They were being transferred by the German side. That is precisely why the Border Defence Movement remains along the entire western border, he stated.
The presence of ROG activists is also intended to exert pressure on the government.
“We are here to constantly hold the authorities accountable and exert pressure on the government of Donald Tusk and Minister Marcin Kierwiński. We believe that the real intention of the current government is to implement a policy of mass migration, which dominates in a large part of Europe today,” Bąkiewicz said.
The leader of the Border Defence Movement argued that the organization’s actions are primarily aimed at protecting the safety of Poles.
“Why are we doing this? Because we want safe streets, safe Polish women and safe Polish children. We do not want to repeat the mistakes of Western European countries. Poland does not have to go through the same problems, tensions and conflicts that other countries are struggling with today,” he stressed.
He added that maintaining social pressure on the government is necessary, because in his view, without it the authorities may limit the presence of services on the western border.
“We must loudly and consistently exert pressure on Donald Tusk. The government has already attempted in some places to limit patrols by the Border Guard and the military. At the same time, we know that migrants may also be transferred to Poland through other channels. We must show that the Polish nation does not agree to mass migration,” he stated.
Bąkiewicz also assessed that the movement’s activities have already brought concrete results.
What happened almost a year ago was a great success of the Border Defence Movement, but also of the media, particularly TV Republika and journalist Janusz Życzkowski, who did a tremendous job.
As he argued, it was thanks to the joint efforts of activists, citizens, and journalists that the number of migrants transferred to the Polish side was significantly reduced.
Bąkiewicz also pointed to the situation in Western European countries. In his view, Poland should treat these experiences as a warning against the consequences of uncontrolled migration policy.
“We do not accept what is happening in Western Europe today. We see the situation in the United Kingdom and growing social tensions there. We do not want a similar scenario to be implemented in Poland,” he said.
He also announced further actions to defend Poland against mass migration.
“The Border Defence Movement will defend Poland against mass migration. That is why we are here and why we will remain on the western border. However, we need public support and the engagement of Poles to jointly defend our country against this threat,” Bąkiewicz stressed.
“We cannot allow decisions concerning Poland’s future, the safety of our families, and the shape of our society to be made over the heads of citizens. We must remain vigilant, monitor the government’s actions, and clearly state that Poles do not agree to a policy of mass migration,” the leader of the Border Defence Movement concluded.