11-08-2021, 08:28 PM
*** 9-Nov-21 World View -- Crisis grows on Poland-Belarus border over weaponized migrants
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Crisis grows on Poland-Belarus border over weaponized migrants
****
![[Image: g211108b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g211108b.jpg)
Hundreds of migrants are trapped in a Belarus forest along the border with Poland (AFP)
There is a growing possibility of military clashes across the border
between Poland and Belarus, as Belarus attempts to push thousands of
migrants into Poland. The policy is in revenge for sanctions imposed
after Belarus illegally forced a passenger plan to land, in order to
jail a reporter on the flight.
Hundreds of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia are trapped
in Belarus on the border with Poland, with thousands more migrants on
the way to the border. Poland has installed a barbed-wire border
fence to prevent the migrants from crossing, but the migrants are
using wire cutters and shovels, supplied by the Belarus military, to
cut the wire or dig up the fence.
The Belarus military is standing behind the migrants, shooting their
guns into the air, threatening any migrants who attempt to turn back
from the border. Poland's military is standing on the other side of
the barbed-wire fence, blocking any attempts by the migrants to cut
the barbed wire and cross into Poland.
Poland has deployed more than 12,000 soldiers to the border and a
volunteer Territorial Defense force was put on alert, according to
Poland's defense ministry.
The European Union is describing the Belarus policy as "weaponizing
migrants." Belarus has extended this policy from Poland to Lithuania
and Latvia.
****
**** Lukashenko's revenge following Ryanair plane forced landing
****
The reason that these thousands of migrants are in Belarus is because
they were solicited on the orders of dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus has been soliciting migrants from the Middle East, Africa and
Asia to travel to Belarus, and has provided free air travel for them
to do so. The migrants are promised an opportunity to cross the
border into Poland or Germany.
The current crisis began on May 23, when a Ryanair passenger plane
with 126 passengers crossing Belarus air space was ordered by Belarus
air traffic controllers to land in the Belarus capital city Minsk,
supposedly because of a "potential security threat on board." The
demand was backed up by a Belarus fighter jet.
When the plane landed in Minsk, Belarus security forces boarded the
plane and arrested a Belarus journalist, Raman Pratasevich, and his
girlfriend Sofia Sapega. Pratasevich had been a vocal critic of
Lukashenko, including accusations of rigged elections. After his
arrest, Pratasevich was paraded in staged events.
In June, the EU, US and UK imposed coordinated sanctions on Belarus.
The EU has banned flights from Balavia and other Belarus
airlines from its airports and airspace. The EU is also
planning to sanction airlines that are cooperating with Belarus
in flying migrants from the Mideast and Africa to Belarus.
Already, Poland's defense ministry has thanked Iraq for having Belarus
close its consulates in Baghdad and Irbil that were giving tourist
visas to migrants.
These sanctions have infuriated Lukashenko. He has retaliated and
taken revenge by launching his program of weaponizing migrants --
transporting them from the Middle Ease and Africa, and then trying to
push them into Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.
****
**** Tensions grow on the border as Polish and Belarus forces face off
****
Video from the border is showing a tense military standoff.
Polish border guards have used teargas to push back people who
tried to cut through the barbed wire. Gunshots were thought
to come from Belarus border guards, shot in the air to
frighten migrants and prevent them from moving away from the border.
Hundreds of migrants have set up a tent city on the Belarus side of
the border in a forested area, where they are essentially trapped.
As more thousands of migrants are headed to the same area, it seems
certain that there will be some kind of military confrontation on the
border. There is the possibility that lives will be lost, or that a
gunfight will break out between the border guards on the two sides.
And with Russia supporting Belarus, it's possible that a clash could
spread.
Sources:
Related Articles:
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko,
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Middle East, Africa, Asia,
Ryanair, Raman Pratasevich, Sofia Sapega, Balavia
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 2-03C
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Crisis grows on Poland-Belarus border over weaponized migrants
- Lukashenko's revenge following Ryanair plane forced landing
- Tensions grow on the border as Polish and Belarus forces face off
****
**** Crisis grows on Poland-Belarus border over weaponized migrants
****
Hundreds of migrants are trapped in a Belarus forest along the border with Poland (AFP)
There is a growing possibility of military clashes across the border
between Poland and Belarus, as Belarus attempts to push thousands of
migrants into Poland. The policy is in revenge for sanctions imposed
after Belarus illegally forced a passenger plan to land, in order to
jail a reporter on the flight.
Hundreds of migrants from the Middle East, Africa and Asia are trapped
in Belarus on the border with Poland, with thousands more migrants on
the way to the border. Poland has installed a barbed-wire border
fence to prevent the migrants from crossing, but the migrants are
using wire cutters and shovels, supplied by the Belarus military, to
cut the wire or dig up the fence.
The Belarus military is standing behind the migrants, shooting their
guns into the air, threatening any migrants who attempt to turn back
from the border. Poland's military is standing on the other side of
the barbed-wire fence, blocking any attempts by the migrants to cut
the barbed wire and cross into Poland.
Poland has deployed more than 12,000 soldiers to the border and a
volunteer Territorial Defense force was put on alert, according to
Poland's defense ministry.
The European Union is describing the Belarus policy as "weaponizing
migrants." Belarus has extended this policy from Poland to Lithuania
and Latvia.
****
**** Lukashenko's revenge following Ryanair plane forced landing
****
The reason that these thousands of migrants are in Belarus is because
they were solicited on the orders of dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
Belarus has been soliciting migrants from the Middle East, Africa and
Asia to travel to Belarus, and has provided free air travel for them
to do so. The migrants are promised an opportunity to cross the
border into Poland or Germany.
The current crisis began on May 23, when a Ryanair passenger plane
with 126 passengers crossing Belarus air space was ordered by Belarus
air traffic controllers to land in the Belarus capital city Minsk,
supposedly because of a "potential security threat on board." The
demand was backed up by a Belarus fighter jet.
When the plane landed in Minsk, Belarus security forces boarded the
plane and arrested a Belarus journalist, Raman Pratasevich, and his
girlfriend Sofia Sapega. Pratasevich had been a vocal critic of
Lukashenko, including accusations of rigged elections. After his
arrest, Pratasevich was paraded in staged events.
In June, the EU, US and UK imposed coordinated sanctions on Belarus.
The EU has banned flights from Balavia and other Belarus
airlines from its airports and airspace. The EU is also
planning to sanction airlines that are cooperating with Belarus
in flying migrants from the Mideast and Africa to Belarus.
Already, Poland's defense ministry has thanked Iraq for having Belarus
close its consulates in Baghdad and Irbil that were giving tourist
visas to migrants.
These sanctions have infuriated Lukashenko. He has retaliated and
taken revenge by launching his program of weaponizing migrants --
transporting them from the Middle Ease and Africa, and then trying to
push them into Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania.
****
**** Tensions grow on the border as Polish and Belarus forces face off
****
Video from the border is showing a tense military standoff.
Polish border guards have used teargas to push back people who
tried to cut through the barbed wire. Gunshots were thought
to come from Belarus border guards, shot in the air to
frighten migrants and prevent them from moving away from the border.
Hundreds of migrants have set up a tent city on the Belarus side of
the border in a forested area, where they are essentially trapped.
As more thousands of migrants are headed to the same area, it seems
certain that there will be some kind of military confrontation on the
border. There is the possibility that lives will be lost, or that a
gunfight will break out between the border guards on the two sides.
And with Russia supporting Belarus, it's possible that a clash could
spread.
Sources:
- Poland warns of further large migrant clashes on Belarus border (Reuters, 8-Nov-2021)
- Poland blocks hundreds of migrants at Belarus border (BBC, 8-Nov-2021)
- Migrants aided by Belarus try to storm border into Poland (AP, 8-Nov-2021)
- Poland says Belarus 'fully' controls migrants after attempted breach (Deutsche Welle, 8-Nov-2021)
- Poland blocks hundreds of migrants, refugees at Belarus border (Al-Jazeera, 8-Nov-2021)
- Belarus escorts 1,000 migrants towards Polish border (Guardian, London, 8-Nov-2021)
- Crisis worsens on Poland-Belarus border as migrants congregate and troops are mobilized (CNN, 8-Nov-2021)
- Lithuania expects further action after ICAO report on Ryanair flight's diversion to Minsk (Baltic Times, 11-Oct-2021)
- Raman Pratasevich / Online Appearance By Dissident Belarusian Journalist Pratasevich Raises Questions (RFE/RL, 8-Nov-2021)
Related Articles:
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko,
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Middle East, Africa, Asia,
Ryanair, Raman Pratasevich, Sofia Sapega, Balavia
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 2-03C
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
