Poland: Minorities Dislike Question about Ethnicity in Census
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Subject: Poland: Minorities Dislike Question about Ethnicity in Census
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Poland: Minorities Dislike Question about Ethnicity in Census
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RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report
Vol. 4, No. 9, 5 March 2002
A Survey of Developments in Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine by the
Regional Specialists of RFE/RL's Newsline Team
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POLAND
MINORITIES DISLIKE QUESTION ABOUT ETHNICITY IN CENSUS.
Last week, Interior Minister Krzysztof Janik appealed to
representatives of Poland's ethnic minorities not to be afraid to
declare their ethnic origin (narodowosc) in the general census that is
to take place from 21 May to 8 June. "Do not be afraid of the census.
This census and its results will allow [the government] to create a
special database on minorities. It will be a basis for the government,
and it will make it possible to work out an appropriate position for
negotiations with the European Union regarding the protection of
ethnic minorities. It will also serve as a basis for talks between the
government and local self-governments in order to conduct a consistent
policy toward the minorities," PAP quoted Janik as saying.
Janik's appeal addressed the recently expressed fears by minority
organization activists in Poland that the question about ethnicity in
the census may only cause problems for those declaring a different
ethnic origin than the Polish one. According to Myron Kertyczak of the
Union of Ukrainians in Poland, Polish Ukrainians prefer not to
disclose their ethnic identity because they are afraid of resulting
consequences in the office or at school. "Minorities feel that they
are treated unequally, therefore we have objections to the question
about ethnicity," Kertyczak said.
Senator Henryk Kroll, who represents the German minority in Poland's
upper chamber, pointed to an example of inequality in the census
itself: "The census is unequal in its foundation. When a Pole declares
the Polish ethnicity, he does not have to answer further questions.
When he declares a different ethnicity, he has to answer additional
questions; for example, about the language he uses at home."
Jan Syczewski, the chairman of the Belarusian Social-Cultural
Association, cast doubt on the reliability of data on national
minorities that will be obtained in the census: "We have conducted a
poll in a school in which we knew all students were of Belarusian
origin. The results of the poll showed that only one-fourth of the
students declared their Belarusian roots. If the general census shows
that there is no Belarusian minority in Poland, will it really be so?"
The Association of Roma in Poland and the Union of Polish Tatars also
spoke against the question about ethnicity in the general census.
"People are afraid. There are still many anxieties and prejudices,
primarily among older people. They still remember their postwar
experiences. So the census may not provide actual data," Union of
Polish Tatars leader Selim Chazbijewicz noted.
It is estimated that some 2 percent of Poland's population - or around
1 million people - belong to ethnic minorities. The largest minority
groups are Germans, Ukrainians, and Belarusians.
.................
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"RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report" is prepared by Jan
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