photo - east newsFollowing authorities backing down from removing a Smolensk memorial cross from outside the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Tuesday, both sides in the conflict are blaming each other for causing the row in the first place.
After mass protests on Tuesday, with scuffles between a few hundred protestors and police over the relocation of the Smolensk cross to the nearby St Anne’s church, Warsaw authorities have erected steel barriers around the wooden cross outside the Presidential Palace, commemorating the victims of the Smolensk air crash on 10 April.
The cross’s relocation had been planned by a joint decision by the Warsaw Diocese, the Presidential Chancellery and scouting organisations, as well as the St. Anne’s academic pastoral ministry.
On Wednesday morning, around 10 people present at yesterday’s protests were gathered near the cross, although now they do not have direct access to it.
Spokeswoman for the Warsaw City Guard, Monika Nizniak, told journalists that the barriers were put up in case of a repeat of yesterday’s scene, when hundreds of protesters vowed to defend the ad-hoc monument put up by scouts in the aftermath of the Smolensk tragedy “to the death.”
The pavement lying in front of the Smolensk cross is now covered in candles, flowers, with several new, smaller crosses placed there.
There are still signs of tension, however, as passers-by and the crosses self-styled “defenders” exchanging angry words.
One woman likened the protestors to “the Taliban.”
“No-one died here; it’s time that you realised that,” the passer-by is recorded to have said to the protestors.
The fate of the cross, which was scheduled to be taken on a pilgrimage to Poland’s holiest city Czestochowa tomorrow is still unknown.
“It’s Komorowski’s fault”
Head of the Law and Justice Parliamentary Club, Mariusz Blaszczak told Polish Radio, Wednesday morning that President-elect Bronislaw Komorowski is to blame for the scuffles seen in front of the cross yesterday.
“After [the crash on] 10 April, it was millions of people that chose this place,” Blaszczak stated.
“They brought flowers, lit candles […], who has been disturbed by this? Bronislaw Komorowski, that’s who, and it was him that got the Church involved: and then we witnessed yesterday’s scenes,” Blaszczak said, commenting on the fact that the proposal to move the cross was one of Bronislaw Komorowski’s first moves after being elected president on July 4.
Cross dragged into political row
On Tuesday evening, the Warsaw Curate published a statement declaring that the Smolensk memorial cross is being used for purposes other than religion.
The declaration was jointly signed by the Presidential Chancellery, St. Anne’s academic pastoral ministry and two of Poland’s main scouting organisations.
The statement reads that the cross was placed outside the Presidential Palace to join Poles in common reflection and prayer and for those wishing to pay homage to the victims of the Smolensk crash during the period of mourning.
However, Tuesday’s unrest saw the cross witness events that should never have taken place, “ reads the statement. The signatories concluded with the hope that a permanent memorial to the victims of the Smolensk tragedy will be found by way of dialogue. (jb/pg)
Sources: PAP/IAR/TVN24
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