Tensions in Poland over migrants escalate despite fall in attempted crossings from Belarus
Two years after Poland erected a border barrier to stop migrants from entering from Belarus, the influx has diminished but public debate over the issue has not, fuelled in part by the fatal stabbing of a soldier in June.
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00:00This wall, built in the heart of the Polish forest of Bialowieża,
00:05has been dividing Belarus, to my left, from Poland for two years.
00:08A barrier against the influx of thousands of migrants,
00:11of whom Minsk is accused of orchestrating the forced passage to the European Union.
00:16The surrounding region, once a high point of Polish tourism,
00:19has also become the scene of many dramas,
00:22a subject that polarizes Polish opinion more than ever.
00:31We are in the border region of Podlasie, in the east of the country,
00:35where incidents between migrants and security forces have recently multiplied.
00:40In June, the death of a young soldier,
00:43stabbed at the border, had aroused public indignation
00:46and the adoption this summer of a law
00:49facilitating the use of firearms by the military and the police.
00:53Groups of civilians are multiplying the initiatives
00:56to, they say, defend the border.
00:59These men, coming from Warsaw,
01:02have called on the population to show their support
01:05to the security forces in front of the wall.
01:08Glory to the heroes! Glory to the heroes!
01:14We care about the safety of our country,
01:17above all our families,
01:20our values that Poland has,
01:23our religion.
01:26That's why we go along the border
01:29to stop this wave of illegal immigration.
01:32We don't want such situations as in Europe to happen,
01:35that there is murder, that there are rapes
01:38on our women, on our children,
01:41on our children's children,
01:44on our children's children,
01:47that there is murder, that there are rapes
01:50on our women.
01:53And if this continues,
01:56unfortunately, their culture, their faith,
01:59will threaten our faith.
02:02And we want to defend our faith,
02:05because it is very important to us.
02:08We want to show the patriotism of Polish citizens.
02:11We want to convey to society,
02:14to remind them of our values
02:17and we will organize such meetings.
02:20We need such support,
02:23because even the army feels more confident
02:26that there are people like us, who patrol
02:29so that the other side behind the wall
02:32also hears about us, sees what is happening
02:35and either does not go to the places
02:38where we often go,
02:41March, march, DÄ…browski,
02:44From Italy to Poland,
02:47We will join the nation
02:50at your command.
02:55In the region, the controls are constant.
02:58An area of ​​bans on access
03:01was reintroduced in June.
03:04The border is all the more secure,
03:07as Varsovy fears possible Russian incursions.
03:10A civil or paramilitary meeting is not necessary,
03:13emphasizes the spokesman of the border guards of the region.
03:16Border Guard, Polish Army and Police
03:19are currently guarding the border
03:22and no help is needed here.
03:25Border Guard, we had no contact with these people.
03:28According to the spokesman,
03:31the number of attempts to pass clandestine
03:34has fallen by 70% since the implementation
03:38But the border guards remain vigilant.
03:42The threats resulting from this illegal crossing of the border
03:45are unpredictable,
03:48because it is the Belarusian and Russian side
03:51that organizes this illegal migration.
03:54Foreigners get legal visas to Russia,
03:57from Russia they are transported to Belarus
04:00and in this way illegally cross the border on the Polish side.
04:03So-called couriers, drivers are waiting for them
04:06to be transported further to Western Europe.
04:09The security overhaul worries the humanitarian organizations
04:12who are trying to help the migrants
04:15who manage to cross the wall.
04:18We meet one of the groups
04:21who is relaying in bases in secret locations
04:24to respond to distress calls.
04:27Sometimes risky interventions.
04:30We see such an alliance of the border guard
04:33with patriots or nationalists
04:36who prevent us
04:39from freely reaching the group
04:42who declare their desire to stay in Poland.
04:45They ask for an oasis in Poland.
04:48Nevertheless, these people are rather sent to Belarus,
04:51which can be for them
04:54even a mortal danger.
04:57In addition to the usual fear or concern
05:00about migrating people,
05:03there is also a fear about us.
05:06Because we do not know how the nationalists
05:09can behave towards us.
05:12Suddenly, the team receives a message of distress.
05:15We have a challenge.
05:18We have bases nearby.
05:21We will prepare a plan.
05:24The activists hurry.
05:27There is a danger of pushback.
05:30Some people experience a lot of pushbacks.
05:33This ping-pong, crossing the border,
05:36may not have an end.
05:39Nothing can stop people.
05:42Neither such a large number of troops
05:45nor such a huge number of services
05:48or building walls.
05:51Despite this, people who escape
05:54will always find a place,
05:57a desire and a will
06:00to cross the border.
06:06We are going to meet the inhabitants
06:09of the villages closest to the wall,
06:12which are said to be particularly scared
06:15by the arrival of migrants.
06:18A postulate that makes the inhabitants
06:21afraid to cross the border.
06:24We are sitting on a bench,
06:27and that's it.
06:30What has changed here,
06:33except for these huts?
06:36We have peace here.
06:39Because our soldiers are here.
06:42Because they are watching us.
06:45A protection that many consider excessive
06:48and that depends mainly on tourism.
06:51The strong military presence
06:54and numerous checks are dissuasive
06:57for visitors who deserted the region this summer,
07:00the merchants tell us.
07:03Slavek is one of the few who has agreed
07:06to express himself openly in front of our camera.
07:09We can estimate that this is only 30% of tourists
07:12who normally come to Białowieża.
07:15This is a disaster for us.
07:18This restaurateur has several asylum seekers
07:21among his employees.
07:24Here, in fact, no one feels any anxiety,
07:27no one is afraid of anything.
07:30Because when migrants come,
07:33they don't come to the city,
07:36but rather go somewhere in the woods
07:39so that no one notices them.
07:42The fact that we are afraid of politicians
07:45creates a parallel reality
07:48that has nothing to do with the real situation.
07:51Only politicians want to have more voters
07:54and for people to focus on the authorities.
08:00As we leave the city,
08:03we receive a message from the activists.
08:06They have received a distress signal
08:09and allow us to join them this time.
08:12We find them with three men and a woman exhausted.
08:15They have crossed the wall after several attempts
08:18and weeks of wandering in the forest.
08:21The dogs in Białowieża have chased us
08:24and nibbled and ate everything.
08:27I couldn't stand it because it covered me at night.
08:30They beat us and sent us back.
08:33We tried again.
08:37They beat us so much.
08:40They are from Cameroon.
08:43They say they fled their country
08:46to escape the political persecution
08:49they were subjected to there.
08:52They beat me.
08:55They raped me.
08:58They beat me.
09:01In front of us,
09:04there is an international protection in Poland
09:07and border guards.
09:10I would like to stay in Poland
09:13because I don't want to go back to Cameroon.
09:16If I go back there, I will die.
09:21If they don't want to accept the international protection,
09:24they will be put on the border
09:27and deported to Belarus.
09:30I hope it won't happen.
09:33I hope the head of the foreign affairs office
09:36decides to give them the international protection.