Rights groups denounce Poland’s media ban on the Belarusian border Migration News

Sokolka, Poland – Human rights groups have condemned the Polish government for continuing to ban journalists, lawyers and aides from entering the Belarusian border, as thousands of migrants and refugees have gathered on the Belarusian side to cross into Poland.

Two months ago, media professionals did not enter the Polish border. As well as increased media attention this week escalating geopolitical conflict, journalists were still unable to approach the Polish border fences.

Polish media and Journalists Without Borders, who called the restrictions “arbitrary and disproportionate,” called for an end to the ban on media presence in order to convey accurate and transparent information from the field.

Approximately 3,000 to 4,000 migrants and refugees are camped on the Belarusian side of the Polish border after being denied entry into the EU nation. Human rights groups have expressed concern for their safety amid harsh winter conditions and a a bunch of deaths on both sides of the border.

The EU accuses Minsk of encouraging migrants and refugees to try to join the bloc revenge Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has been sentenced to life in prison for violating dissent after serving a sixth term in office after a controversial election in August 2020.

The checkpoints cover the length of the border between Poland and Belarus until the beginning of December, which is currently in a state of emergency. Thousands of miles from the wire fences where Polish border guards are stationed, anyone who drives in the area stops at roadblocks formed by the military and police. Journalists have reported that they have been arrested and only those who can provide documentation proving that they live in a restricted area can be included.

Pavol Szalai, a journalist at the European Union and the Balkans, told Al Jazeera that it was essential for journalists to report from the border.

“While it is permissible for the Polish authorities to declare a state of emergency at the border due to security concerns, the restrictions on freedom of the press imposed are arbitrary and disproportionate,” he said.

“The general ban on journalists working in the border area is contrary to Poland’s international commitments to press freedom, which can be restricted to press freedom only with a legitimate aim and in proportion to the threat in question.”

Szalai added that so far at least two media groups have been prosecuted for violating the ban on entering the area.

“Considering the prosecution arbitrary, we have asked to report it and dismiss it. As the state of emergency ends on December 2, the RSF has renewed its call on the Polish authorities to lift all restrictions on press freedom. Only then will journalists, in addition to Poles, have the freedom to address European issues of public interest, given that Poland’s border with Belarus is a Schengen border. “

Earlier this week, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the border media would only harm the situation, saying the media could be “affected by the fake news of Belarus and Russia”.

Polish media have repeatedly denounced the ban. in a open letter written in September and signed by 30 national media and journalism organizations, the lack of access indicated that it was “against the principle of freedom of expression and that the work of journalists is an illegal obstacle and suppresses criticism of the press.”

“The state of emergency imposed by the government has ruled out media activity along the entire length of the Polish-Belarusian border. The regulations allow the free movement of people and entities that provide various services and carry out economic activity, with the exception of journalists and social organizations. This is a clear sign that our presence is uncomfortable for the government. That should be a nuisance. “

“Our only goal is to ensure that journalists have the right to work for the public, to ensure that the truth about events, especially those that are so interesting to the public and crucial to democracy, reach society.”

Journalists and rights groups have said that the lack of coverage on the Polish border has led to the start of disinformation.

“You don’t fight Belarusian disinformation with censorship,” said Ricardo Gutiérrez, secretary general of the European Federation of Journalists.

“On the other hand, journalists should be allowed to document the situation as it is. We cannot allow this government to push for this kind of ban on journalistic coverage as soon as a government creates a sensitive situation. We believe that the state of emergency was mainly established so that the country would not witness the dubious activities along the Belarusian border. Critics have accused the Polish authorities of violating international law by crossing the border with asylum seekers. “

Polish journalist Wojciech Bojanowski said on Twitter that restrictions on Polish and international media in the Russian and Belarusian media suggested that Polish security forces were throwing tears at children as allegations that it was impossible to verify or refute.

Piotr Skrzypczak, a human rights activist at the Homo Faber Association, said restricted access is detrimental to all walks of life, including journalists, lawyers and aid organizations, who try to help displaced people who can only face criminal charges for entering a restricted area.

“We know that if we entered the area, we could have very serious criminal problems,” he said, adding that “transparency is very important in these situations.”

“This is what we need independent and verified information on these issues of public interest at the border,” said Szalai. “This can only be provided by independent and professional media. to provide reliable information in general and on border issues in particular ”.