Silesian Autonomy Movement
Encyclopedia
The Silesian Autonomy Movement is a movement officially declaring its support for the autonomy of Silesia
as part of a unified Europe. The association was founded in January 1990 by Rudolf Kołodziejczyk and is based in the Polish part of Upper Silesia
. RAŚ sees the Silesians as a "separate nation" rather than primarily as Poles, Germans or Czechs.
On 17 October 2009, the Silesian Autonomy Movement signed a cooperation agreement with its German sister organisation, Initiative der Autonomie Schlesiens (IAS), based in Würzburg
, and the UK-based Silesian Autonomy Movement.
Some members leave RAŚ for more radical organizations, such as Silesian Separatist Movement
(Śląski Ruch Separatystyczny) or Silesian National Movement (Śląski Ruch Narodowy) which are seeking a full independence of Silesia. Other organizations, for example People of the Silesian Nationality (Związek Ludności Narodowości Śląskiej) call for the immediate recognition of the so-called "Silesian nation" in Poland and Czech Republic.
In 2002, RAŚ became a member of the European Free Alliance
.
In 2007, RAŚ activists reestablished football club 1. FC Katowice. Also, since 2007 RAŚ organize in Poland every year "Autonomy Marches" (pl, szl).
and received 40,061 votes (0.36%) and two seats, one of its MP was Kazimierz Świtoń.
In the 2001 parliamentary elections
, two candidates of the movement were included on the lists of the Civic Platform
(PO).
In the elections of 2005
, several candidates from the movement, including its vice president Krzysztof Kluczniok, took part on the list of the Polish Peasant Party
(PSL).
, the movement did not win a single seat in the sejm
ik of the Silesian Voivodeship
, gaining 4.35% of the popular vote. It placed after main parties in Poland: Civic Platform
(PO), Law and Justice
(PiS), Democratic Left Alliance
(SLD) and Polish People's Party (PSL), but ahead other main parties in Poland: Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland
(Samoobrona), which won 3.96%, and the League of Polish Families
(LPR), which won 3.46%. In Opole Voivodeship
, RAŚ won 1.46% of all ballots.
RAŚ won mandates in a few municipalities and county councils: in Katowice
(7.7% of the popular vote), Ruda Śląska
(9.39%), Zabrze
(5.71%), Tychy
(5.1%), Bytom
(6.8%), Mysłowice (8.3%) and Gliwice
county (7.54%), Bieruń
-Lędziny
county (10.4%), Tarnowskie Góry
county (7.73%), Siemianowice Śląskie
(4.94%), Piekary Śląskie
(5.06%), Rybnik
county (8.1%).
, the movement got three seats (for Jerzy Gorzelik
, Henryk Mercik, Janusz Wita) in the sejm
ik of the Silesian Voivodeship
, gaining 8.5% of the popular vote. It is twice the amount from previous elections (in 2006). It placed RAŚ after the main parties in Poland: Civic Platform
(PO), Law and Justice
(PiS) and Democratic Left Alliance
(SLD), but ahead of other main National parties: Polish People's Party (PSL), Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland
(Samoobrona) and the League of Polish Families
(LPR). In the Silesian part of the Silesian Voivodeship RAŚ had the following percentage of votes: Chorzów
area - 17,50%, Katowice
area - 15.96%, Rybnik
area - 14.57%, Gliwice
area - 8.70% and Bielsko-Biała
area - 1.58% (actually only half of Bielsko-Biała lies within Silesia). Generally, the average result in Silesia within the Silesian Voivodeship (Katowice, Chorzów, Rybnik and Gliwice areas) was nearly 15%. In districts of the Silesian Voivodeship which lie outside of the historical Silesian region RAŚ had the following support percantage: Sosnowiec
area - 1.37% and Częstochowa
area - 0.69%. Towns, cities, communes or municipality councils: Gmina Godów
- (10 of 15 seats), Gmina Lyski
- (8 of 12 seats), Gmina Cisek
- 41.26% (4 seats), powiat rybnicki - 25.61% (5 seats), Czerwionka-Leszczyny
20.48% (4 seats), Mysłowice - 9.29% (2 seats), Katowice - 8.86%, Chorzów - 8.69%, Ruda Śląska
- 8.18%, powiat wodzisławski - 7.91%, powiat opolski
- 5.27%, powiat bieruńsko-lędziński - 4.54% and Gmina Gaszowice
(1 seat), Gmina Marklowice
(1 seat). Candidates in the towns, cities, communes or municipalites majors: Gmina Godów - 90.3%, Gmina Lyski - 64.67%, Mysłowice - 9.79%, Ruda Śląska - 7.75%, Chorzów - 7.61%, Rybnik - 3.78%. RAŚ in comparison with the other parties did not have a developed election campaign,moreover, RAŚ is not a political party but a social organization.
Helen Pidd
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
as part of a unified Europe. The association was founded in January 1990 by Rudolf Kołodziejczyk and is based in the Polish part of Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia
Upper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
. RAŚ sees the Silesians as a "separate nation" rather than primarily as Poles, Germans or Czechs.
On 17 October 2009, the Silesian Autonomy Movement signed a cooperation agreement with its German sister organisation, Initiative der Autonomie Schlesiens (IAS), based in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, and the UK-based Silesian Autonomy Movement.
Some members leave RAŚ for more radical organizations, such as Silesian Separatist Movement
Silesian Separatist Movement
Silesian Separatist Movement is a movement officially declaring its support for the independence of Silesia and official recognition of Silesian nation in Poland....
(Śląski Ruch Separatystyczny) or Silesian National Movement (Śląski Ruch Narodowy) which are seeking a full independence of Silesia. Other organizations, for example People of the Silesian Nationality (Związek Ludności Narodowości Śląskiej) call for the immediate recognition of the so-called "Silesian nation" in Poland and Czech Republic.
In 2002, RAŚ became a member of the European Free Alliance
European Free Alliance
The European Free Alliance is a European political party. It consists of various national-level political parties in Europe which advocate either full political independence , or some form of devolution or self-governance for their country or region...
.
In 2007, RAŚ activists reestablished football club 1. FC Katowice. Also, since 2007 RAŚ organize in Poland every year "Autonomy Marches" (pl, szl).
Polish parliamentary elections
The movement participated in the 1991 parliamentary electionsPolish parliamentary election, 1991
The Polish parliamentary election in 1991 to the Sejm and the Senate of Poland was held on October 27. In the Sejm elections, 27,517,280 citizens were eligible to vote, 11,887,949 of them cast their votes, 11,218,602 of those were counted as valid. In the Senate elections, 43.2% of citizens cast...
and received 40,061 votes (0.36%) and two seats, one of its MP was Kazimierz Świtoń.
In the 2001 parliamentary elections
Polish parliamentary election, 2001
Polish parliamentary election in 2001 to Sejm and Senate of Poland were held on the 23rd September. In Sejm elections, 46.29% of citizens cast their votes, 96.01% of those were counted as valid...
, two candidates of the movement were included on the lists of the Civic Platform
Civic Platform
Civic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
(PO).
In the elections of 2005
Polish parliamentary election, 2005
Parliamentary elections for both houses of the Parliament of Poland were held on September 25, 2005. Thirty million voters were eligible to vote for all 460 members of the lower house, the Assembly of the Republic of Poland , and all 100 members of the upper house, the Senate of the Republic of...
, several candidates from the movement, including its vice president Krzysztof Kluczniok, took part on the list of the Polish Peasant Party
Polish Peasant Party
The Polish People's Party , is a centrist, agrarian, and Christian democratic political party in Poland. It currently has 31 members of the Sejm, one member of the Senate, and three Members of the European Parliament. It is the junior partner in a coalition with Civic Platform.The party was...
(PSL).
Polish local elections, 2006
In the Polish local elections, 2006Polish local elections, 2006
The 2006 Polish local elections were held in two parts. with its first round on November 12 and the second on November 26, 2006. In the election's first round, voters chose 39,944 gmina councillors, 6,284 powiat councillors and 561 deputies to provincial voivodeship sejmiks...
, the movement did not win a single seat in the sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
ik of the Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
, gaining 4.35% of the popular vote. It placed after main parties in Poland: Civic Platform
Civic Platform
Civic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
(PO), Law and Justice
Law and Justice
Law and Justice , abbreviated to PiS, is a right-wing, conservative political party in Poland. With 147 seats in the Sejm and 38 in the Senate, it is the second-largest party in the Polish parliament....
(PiS), Democratic Left Alliance
Democratic Left Alliance
Democratic Left Alliance is a social-democratic political party in Poland. Formed in 1991 as a coalition of centre-left parties, it was formally established as a single party on 15 April 1999. It is currently the third largest opposition party in Poland....
(SLD) and Polish People's Party (PSL), but ahead other main parties in Poland: Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland
Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland
Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland , abbreviated to SRP, is an agrarian political party and trade union in Poland led by Andrzej Lepper. Its platform combines left-wing populist economic policies with religious conservative social policies....
(Samoobrona), which won 3.96%, and the League of Polish Families
League of Polish Families
The League of Polish Families is a right-wing political party in Poland. It was represented in the Polish parliament, forming part of the cabinet of Jarosław Kaczyński, until the latter dissolved in September 2007....
(LPR), which won 3.46%. In Opole Voivodeship
Opole Voivodeship
- Administrative division :Opole Voivodeship is divided into 12 counties : 1 city county and 11 land counties. These are further divided into 71 gminas.The counties are listed in the following table .- Economy :...
, RAŚ won 1.46% of all ballots.
RAŚ won mandates in a few municipalities and county councils: in Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
(7.7% of the popular vote), Ruda Śląska
Ruda Slaska
Ruda Śląska is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river ....
(9.39%), Zabrze
Zabrze
Zabrze is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union is a metropolis with a population of around 2 million...
(5.71%), Tychy
Tychy
Tychy is a city in Silesia, Poland, approximately south of Katowice. Situated on the southern edge of the Upper Silesian industrial district, the city borders Katowice to the north, Mikołów to the west, Bieruń to the east and Kobiór to the south...
(5.1%), Bytom
Bytom
Bytom is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central-western district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Bytom is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Bytomka river .The city belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since...
(6.8%), Mysłowice (8.3%) and Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
county (7.54%), Bieruń
Bierun
Bieruń is a town in Upper Silesia, in southern Poland, about south of Katowice. The town belongs to the Silesian Voivodeship since its formation in 1999, previously to Katowice Voivodeship and, before World War II, was part of the Polish Autonomous Silesian Voivodeship.-Geography:It is located...
-Lędziny
Ledziny
Lędziny is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It borders the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million which is located in the Silesian Highlands....
county (10.4%), Tarnowskie Góry
Tarnowskie Góry
Tarnowskie Góry is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands....
county (7.73%), Siemianowice Śląskie
Siemianowice Slaskie
Siemianowice Śląskie aka Siemianowice ; is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions...
(4.94%), Piekary Śląskie
Piekary Slaskie
Piekary Śląskie is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. The north district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 million...
(5.06%), Rybnik
Rybnik
Rybnik is a city in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship. Rybnik is located close to the border with the Czech Republic and just outside the southern border of the largest urban area in Poland, the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union...
county (8.1%).
Polish local elections, 2010
In the Polish local elections, 2010Polish local elections, 2010
The 2010 Polish local elections were held in two parts, with its first round on November 21 and second on December 5. The first round included elections of deputies to provincial voivodeship sejmiks, as well for gmina and powiat councilors. The second round of elections were marked for mayors,...
, the movement got three seats (for Jerzy Gorzelik
Jerzy Gorzelik
Jerzy Zdzisław Gorzelik – Silesian politician and an art historian. The president of the Silesian Autonomy Movement and an advocate for decentralization of the Polish administrative structure.- References :...
, Henryk Mercik, Janusz Wita) in the sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
ik of the Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship
Silesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
, gaining 8.5% of the popular vote. It is twice the amount from previous elections (in 2006). It placed RAŚ after the main parties in Poland: Civic Platform
Civic Platform
Civic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
(PO), Law and Justice
Law and Justice
Law and Justice , abbreviated to PiS, is a right-wing, conservative political party in Poland. With 147 seats in the Sejm and 38 in the Senate, it is the second-largest party in the Polish parliament....
(PiS) and Democratic Left Alliance
Democratic Left Alliance
Democratic Left Alliance is a social-democratic political party in Poland. Formed in 1991 as a coalition of centre-left parties, it was formally established as a single party on 15 April 1999. It is currently the third largest opposition party in Poland....
(SLD), but ahead of other main National parties: Polish People's Party (PSL), Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland
Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland
Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland , abbreviated to SRP, is an agrarian political party and trade union in Poland led by Andrzej Lepper. Its platform combines left-wing populist economic policies with religious conservative social policies....
(Samoobrona) and the League of Polish Families
League of Polish Families
The League of Polish Families is a right-wing political party in Poland. It was represented in the Polish parliament, forming part of the cabinet of Jarosław Kaczyński, until the latter dissolved in September 2007....
(LPR). In the Silesian part of the Silesian Voivodeship RAŚ had the following percentage of votes: Chorzów
Chorzów
Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
area - 17,50%, Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
area - 15.96%, Rybnik
Rybnik
Rybnik is a city in southern Poland, in the Silesian Voivodeship. Rybnik is located close to the border with the Czech Republic and just outside the southern border of the largest urban area in Poland, the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union...
area - 14.57%, Gliwice
Gliwice
Gliwice is a city in Upper Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Gliwice is the west district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union – a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
area - 8.70% and Bielsko-Biała
Bielsko-Biała
-Economy and Industry:Nowadays Bielsko-Biała is one of the best-developed parts of Poland. It was ranked 2nd best city for business in that country by Forbes. About 5% of people are unemployed . Bielsko-Biała is famous for its textile, machine-building, and especially automotive industry...
area - 1.58% (actually only half of Bielsko-Biała lies within Silesia). Generally, the average result in Silesia within the Silesian Voivodeship (Katowice, Chorzów, Rybnik and Gliwice areas) was nearly 15%. In districts of the Silesian Voivodeship which lie outside of the historical Silesian region RAŚ had the following support percantage: Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec
Sosnowiec is a city in Zagłębie Dąbrowskie in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a combined population of over two million people located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Brynica river .It is situated in...
area - 1.37% and Częstochowa
Czestochowa
Częstochowa is a city in south Poland on the Warta River with 240,027 inhabitants . It has been situated in the Silesian Voivodeship since 1999, and was previously the capital of Częstochowa Voivodeship...
area - 0.69%. Towns, cities, communes or municipality councils: Gmina Godów
Gmina Godów
Gmina Godów is a rural gmina in Wodzisław County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Godów.The gmina covers an area of , and as of 2006 its total population is 12,520.-Villages:...
- (10 of 15 seats), Gmina Lyski
Gmina Lyski
Gmina Lyski is a rural gmina in Rybnik County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Lyski, which lies approximately west of Rybnik and west of the regional capital Katowice....
- (8 of 12 seats), Gmina Cisek
Gmina Cisek
Gmina Cisek, German Gemeinde Czissek is a rural gmina in Kędzierzyn-Koźle County, Opole Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Its seat is the village of Cisek , which lies approximately south of Kędzierzyn-Koźle and south-east of the regional capital Opole.The gmina covers an area of , and as of...
- 41.26% (4 seats), powiat rybnicki - 25.61% (5 seats), Czerwionka-Leszczyny
Czerwionka-Leszczyny
Czerwionka-Leszczyny is a town in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Borders on the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands....
20.48% (4 seats), Mysłowice - 9.29% (2 seats), Katowice - 8.86%, Chorzów - 8.69%, Ruda Śląska
Ruda Slaska
Ruda Śląska is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. It is a district in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union, a metropolis with a population of 2 million. It is located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Kłodnica river ....
- 8.18%, powiat wodzisławski - 7.91%, powiat opolski
Powiat opolski
Powiat opolski may refer to either of two counties in Poland:*Opole County, in Opole Voivodeship *Opole Lubelskie County, in Lublin Voivodeship...
- 5.27%, powiat bieruńsko-lędziński - 4.54% and Gmina Gaszowice
Gmina Gaszowice
Gmina Gaszowice is a rural gmina in Rybnik County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Gaszowice, which lies approximately west of Rybnik and west of the regional capital Katowice....
(1 seat), Gmina Marklowice
Gmina Marklowice
Gmina Marklowice is a rural gmina in Wodzisław County, Silesian Voivodeship, in southern Poland. Its seat is the village of Marklowice, which lies approximately east of Wodzisław Śląski and south-west of the regional capital Katowice.The gmina covers an area of , and as of 2006 its total...
(1 seat). Candidates in the towns, cities, communes or municipalites majors: Gmina Godów - 90.3%, Gmina Lyski - 64.67%, Mysłowice - 9.79%, Ruda Śląska - 7.75%, Chorzów - 7.61%, Rybnik - 3.78%. RAŚ in comparison with the other parties did not have a developed election campaign,moreover, RAŚ is not a political party but a social organization.
Controversies
- In 2000 the Polish Office For State ProtectionUrzad Ochrony PanstwaUrząd Ochrony Państwa or UOP was the intelligence agency of Poland. It was founded on April 6, 1990, as a department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 1996 it was transformed into a separate government agency under the supervision of the Prime Minister...
warned in its report that RAŚ may be a potential threat to Poland's interests.
- In 2007, reestablishment of the 1. FC Kattowitz soccer club by the RAŚ activists caused controversy. 1. FC Kattowitz was a soccer club established in 1905 by Germans, club played in the German soccer league. Following the Silesian UprisingsSilesian UprisingsThe Silesian Uprisings were a series of three armed uprisings of the Poles and Polish Silesians of Upper Silesia, from 1919–1921, against German rule; the resistance hoped to break away from Germany in order to join the Second Polish Republic, which had been established in the wake of World War I...
in 1921 and a subsequent League of Nations plebiscite, part of the region – including Kattowitz – was granted to Poland and the name of the city was changed to Katowice. With the transfer of the city of Katowice to Poland, the name of the club was Polonized in 1922 to 1. Klub Sportowy Katowice. That same year, the membership of the club successfully challenged the change in court and won the right to play as 1. FC Kattowitz. By 1924, the team was part of regional Polish competition and playing as 1. FC Katowice. Katowice faltered in 1929 and was relegated from first division Polish football, descending to play in the regional Silesian league where they became champions in 1932.
- In June 1939, the club's activities were suspended by Polish authorities when they were accused of promoting and supporting the interests of Nazi GermanyNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
(through the '30s, club was overtaken by the radical pro-Nazi nationalists from the Jungdeutsche Partei). After the German invasion of Poland which began World War II in the fall of 1939, the team resumed play with German authorities looking to hold up 1. FC Kattowitz as a model side in Upper Silesia for propaganda purposes.
- In 2010, controversy sparked over the controversial photo on official RAŚ site. The photo itself showed a young man who held a trophy in his hand and diploma in other while behind him was a commemorative plaque with words in German language "Zum gedenken den gefallenen" (In memory of the fallen), above the plaque was the Iron Cross with dates 1939-1945. On the sides of the commemorative plaque were Silesian and modern Germany flags. When the scandal broke out, Silesian Autonomy Movement has been accused by some of being a "VolksdeutscheVolksdeutscheVolksdeutsche - "German in terms of people/folk" -, defined ethnically, is a historical term from the 20th century. The words volk and volkische conveyed in Nazi thinking the meanings of "folk" and "race" while adding the sense of superior civilization and blood...
organization which real goal is to break the Silesia region from Poland and return it to Germany" and also a "German fifth columnFifth columnA fifth column is a group of people who clandestinely undermine a larger group such as a nation from within.-Origin:The term originated with a 1936 radio address by Emilio Mola, a Nationalist General during the 1936–39 Spanish Civil War...
in Poland". Photo vanished from the RAŚ site as soon as it was acknowledged in the media. Ryszard CzarneckiRyszard CzarneckiRichard Henry Czarnecki is a British-born Polish politician who is a Member of the European Parliament for the Lower Silesian and Opole constituency from Law and Justice...
, Polish politician who is a Member of the European Parliament for the Lower Silesian and Opole constituency from Law and JusticeLaw and JusticeLaw and Justice , abbreviated to PiS, is a right-wing, conservative political party in Poland. With 147 seats in the Sejm and 38 in the Senate, it is the second-largest party in the Polish parliament....
, stated on his official Europarliament site that: "From one side it proves how contumely and effrontery are Silesian separatists, from the other side Polish media can play a positive role only if they will want to oppose such iniquity, such defamation of the fallen Poles [who died] from the German hands during the II World War. One must want and can to place a dam to this pro-German effrontery."
- Meanwhile, writing in a party document entitled "The State of the Nation", the Law and JusticeLaw and JusticeLaw and Justice , abbreviated to PiS, is a right-wing, conservative political party in Poland. With 147 seats in the Sejm and 38 in the Senate, it is the second-largest party in the Polish parliament....
(PiS) leader, Jarosław Kaczyński, said “Being a Silesian is a simple way to cut ties [with a Polish identity], and indeed could be a way to camouflage a German identity”. At a later press conference, the former Prime Minister said that anybody who declared their Silesian nationality were in some way “declaring their Germaness”.
- Jerzy GorzelikJerzy GorzelikJerzy Zdzisław Gorzelik – Silesian politician and an art historian. The president of the Silesian Autonomy Movement and an advocate for decentralization of the Polish administrative structure.- References :...
, the current leader and representative of the Silesian Autonomy Movement, has claimed numerous times that he is not Polish by nationality but rather "Upper Silesian". He once stated: I'm Silesian, not Polish. My fatherland is Upper SilesiaUpper SilesiaUpper Silesia is the southeastern part of the historical and geographical region of Silesia. Since the 9th century, Upper Silesia has been part of Greater Moravia, the Duchy of Bohemia, the Piast Kingdom of Poland, again of the Lands of the Bohemian Crown and the Holy Roman Empire, as well as of...
. I did not pledge anything to Poland nor I promised anything to it so it means that I did not betray it. State called Republic of Poland, of which I'm a citizen, refused to give me and my friends a right to self-determination and so that's why I do not feel obligated to loyalty towards this country.
- In 2010, Gorzelik has been elected to the SejmikVoivodeship sejmikA voivodeship sejmik is a provincial-level elected assembly for each of the 16 voivodeships of Poland. Sejmiks are elected to four-year terms, decided during nationwide local elections...
of Silesian VoivodeshipSilesian VoivodeshipSilesian Voivodeship, or Silesia Province , is a voivodeship, or province, in southern Poland, centering on the historic region known as Upper Silesia...
. Upon taking the councilor's sit in Sejmik, he had to swear an oath (it is mandatory in Poland for every councilor of each Voivodeship sejmik), and thus automatically pledge loyalty to the Republic of Poland (before Gorzelik was elected, an oath in Sejmik of Silesian Voivodeship was always taken collectively). The oath goes as following :
- I solemnly swear to honestly and faithfully carry out given duties in regard to Polish nation, to stay in the guard of sovereignty and interests of the Republic of Poland, to act for prosperity of Fatherland, of community of the Voivodeship sejmik and for the well-being of all citizens, to obey to ConstitutionConstitution of PolandThe current Constitution of Poland was adopted on 2 April 1997. Formally known as the Constitution of the Republic of Poland , it replaced the temporary amendments put into place in 1992 designed to reverse the effects of Communism, establishing the nation as "a democratic state ruled by law and...
and other laws of the Republic of Poland.
- Fear of separatismSeparatismSeparatism is the advocacy of a state of cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, governmental or gender separation from the larger group. While it often refers to full political secession, separatist groups may seek nothing more than greater autonomy...
, instead of officially declared autonomy, was flamed up by some publications in "Jaskółka Śląska" - RAŚ's official magazine. There were published articles which called openly for sovereign, independent Silesian state.
See also
- Silesian Separatist MovementSilesian Separatist MovementSilesian Separatist Movement is a movement officially declaring its support for the independence of Silesia and official recognition of Silesian nation in Poland....
- Union of Upper SilesiansUnion of Upper SilesiansThe Union of Upper Silesians was a mass movement for the independence of Upper Silesia. The lands of Prussian Upper Silesia and Austrian Silesia, which existed from January 1919 to 1924 within the borders of Germany, then in the borders of the international plebiscite territory, constituted Upper...
- Silesian People's PartySilesian People's PartyThe Silesian People’s Party was a political organization in Cieszyn Silesia that existed from 1909 to 1938 in Austrian Silesia, which later became international plebiscite territory and finally part of Czechoslovakia. The party included mainly Slavic people, who saw themselves as members of a...
- German Minority (political party)German Minority (political party)German Minority is a political party of the German minority in Poland, in the mainly Polish part of Silesia. It is the political arm of the Social-Cultural Association of Germans in Silesian Opole and Social-Cultural Association of Germans in Silesian Voivodeship German Minority is a political...
External links
- Konrad Pędziwiatr, Silesian autonomist movement in Poland and one of its activists, Tischner European University
- Helen Pidd, Upper Silesia flags up its call for autonomy, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Friday 8 April 2011
Helen Pidd