On the imperialist revanche in the Republic of Poland
Changes to the law on the InstituteofNational Remembrance, targeting the Ukrainian national liberation movement, point to dangerous trends in the political life of the Republic of Poland. Much of the political elite leadership want to return Polish society to the worst times ofconfrontationwith Ukrainians.
Today, the Polish leadership is not guided by European traditions of dialogue and seeking understanding and reconciliation. Instead, there is a return to tragic traditions of occupation, political repressions, (including the Bereza Kartuzka concentration camp), polonization, and negation of the right of the Ukrainian nation to self-determination and independent statehood.
Despite becoming a member of the European Union and NATO, the Republic of Poland has not yet recovered from an age-old affliction called imperialism. The irresponsible changes to the INR adopted by the Polish Sejm give succor only to the Putin regime. Bandera’s national liberation ideology of struggle against all imperialists and invaders has been the battle cry for Ukrainians that have repeatedly stopped the Russian aggressor on their eastern borders. They are defending not only Ukraine’s territory but also the borders of Poland, Europe, and the civilized world.
From the battle front of the Russian war against Ukraine, throughout all of Ukraine itself, and beyond to every corner of the world where Ukrainians live, one hears the proud and powerful refrain “Glory to the Heroes!” in response to the patriotic call "Glory to Ukraine!" Bandera’s universal call to rise that encompasses humanity’s aspiration to be free was also on the lips of Poles who were on the Maidan during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity.
Astute national leaders understand that every nation honors its heroes. Such general truths are well known to Polish diaspora organizations that work closely with Ukrainians in their foreign homelands. And yet today’s political leaders in Poland are at best oblivious or at worst speculating on xenophobia and confrontation.
The leadership of the revolutionary OUN firmly believes that irresponsible politicians will not be able to set Polish and Ukrainian peoples against each other, especially after so much has been done to promote understanding and reconciliation to overcome many historical wounds and tragedies. Our nations have not only fought against each other in past centuries. They also are bound by traditions of fruitful interaction and cooperation.
The OUN (b) remains unwavering in its commitment to a common European future for the Ukrainian and Polish nations, and expresses hope and expectation that the changes to the statutes governing the Institute of National Memory of the Republic of Poland will not become part of Polish law.
