'On the eve of the Day of Freedom Defenders (13th January), EAPL faction underlines, that Polish community in Lithuania, which was actively supporting and defending the independence of Lithuania, 23 years after the regain of independence, almost 10 years after the accession to the EU and NATO, and at the end of the Presidency of the Council of European Union, experiences oppression and receives huge financial penalties for the use of its native language,' the statement issued by the EAPL faction in the Seimas says.

Members of the EAPL faction underlined, that punishment for the use of the native language discredits Lithuania as a democratic country.

'The situation undermines the basis of the democratic state. All the more that Lithuanian Poles not only supported and took active part in the struggle for freedom and independence of Lithuania, but also together with all the citizens of Lithuania aimed to reach the common goal - to build an independent, based on democratic principles, reborn State of Lithuania.

• On 23rd August 1989 representatives of the Association of Poles in Lithuania (APL), including present leaders of the EAPL and the Seimas faction, took part in the Baltic Way;
• On 12th March 1990 President of the APL supported the Independence Act in his official statement via LRT television: 'The welfare of Lithuania is our common aim. For our freedom and yours!';

• On 22nd April 1990 Second Convention of APL officially expressed its support for the independence of the country;

• On 13th January 1991 during the very important moment for Lithuania protecting its independence, chairman of the faction of Association of Poles in Lithuania (APL) turned to the Lithuania's inhabitants in the Supreme Council of Lithuania: 'Today, during such a difficult moment for our homeland, I turn to you, my dear countrymen and all the inhabitants of Lithuania. I appeal to wisdom, peace, and mutual understanding. Dear countrymen remember that we lived and will live together with Lithuanian nation. We have the responsibility to ensure that we and all the future generations will live in peace, that differences in cultures, traditions and languages would serve the mutual enrichment and respect. Today let us forget everything that separates us, let us forgive everyone, who did not want to understand us, let us look for something that unites us, i.e. reluctance of the dictate and violence, common aspiration for freedom, democracy and independence';

• On 15th January 1991, Chief Board of the APL supporting the position of the APL faction in the Supreme Council condemned the use of force and confirmed further creation of independent Lithuania in a separate statement;

• On 15th January 1991, APL decisively condemned the use of armed force: 'APL declares that, after all, it will make every effort to ensure that the Republic of Lithuania becomes a free and democratic country, that all rights - common, civil, national - are respected in the country';

• On 16th January 1991, Chief Board of the APL disclosed its appeal to officers of Polish origin who served in Soviet army, to reserve soldiers and conscripts: 'At the time Soviet army is being used in criminal actions. If you receive an order to participate in such actions, do not shoot at unarmed civilians, avoid the use of violence. Do not be used as tools for the strangulation of freedom and democracy. Be faithful to polish motto 'For our freedom and yours.' This initiative was supported by the whole community of the national minority,' - the statement says.
The EAPL faction underlined, that when Polish community in Lithuania was getting ready for the struggle for the independence of the Republic of Lithuania more than twenty years ago, it hoped that the reborn state will function on the basis of fundamental democracy principles
'This is how the Polish community in Lithuania, striving for the independence of the Republic of Lithuania, expressed its solidarity with the entire Lithuanian nation. Aware of the responsibility for the fate of independent Lithuania it stood in defense of its independence in a common front, hoping that the reborn state will be built on the basis of fundamental democracy principles,' the eight-person EAPL faction stated.
According to the faction, amendment to the Law on National Minorities adopted in 1991 was probably the first step towards improving relations with the Poles living in Lithuania.
'On 29th January 1991, appreciating the unambiguous position of Lithuanian Poles in speaking and defending the independence of Lithuania, Lithuanians made perhaps the first step towards better Lithuanian-Polish relations in the Vilnius region - the Supreme Council of Lithuania adopted amendments to the Law on National Minorities in which part of the Poles' and other nationalities' requirements were reflected and legally established, including the use of the native language in public life in addition to the Lithuanian state language. This document became the basis of mutual confidence and of solving the most sensitive problems of the population of Vilnius region,' EAPL members of the Seimas underlined.
In their statement EAPL faction members underlined that surprising is the fact, that the Law on National Minorities - legal act regulating the functioning of the national minorities in a country - was adopted and then after 20 years cancelled by the same political force.
'In January 1991 there was a particular key issue - namely the preservation of independence, freedom and faith that in the independent and democratic Lithuania all citizens, regardless their nationality, will be able to exercise their rights, cherish their culture and language, respect common history in a comprehensive and complete way.
Looking back on the entire history of the independent Lithuania from 1990 to 2009, the astonishing is the fact that political force, which signed a Law on National Minorities and adopted beneficial changes for national minorities in 1991, in 2009 decided to abolish the Law which was well functioning for 20 years of the independent Lithuania. On 1st January 2010 the Law has expired, regardless that:
• On 17th February 2000 Lithuania unreservedly ratified the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe from 1st February 1995;
• The accession of Lithuanian to NATO and European Union in 2004 was actively supported by all the Polish communities in Lithuania, including 32 organisations,' EAPL members of the Seimas underlined.
Members of the EAPL faction in the Seimas of Lithuania underline, that not only Poles living in Lithuania, but also representatives of other national communities are unhappy with the annulment of the Law on National Minorities.
'After the expiry of the Law on National Minorities, Poles in Lithuania together with other national minorities have repeatedly stressed the importance and protested against the narrowing of the rights of national minorities in the field of education and against restricting the use of the native language in public life in addition to the state language,' the statement issued on 9th January says.
The politicians of Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania underline that during the important for Lithuania period of the Presidency of the Council of European Union, national minorities understanding the importance of a good image of the state in the international arena did not organise any protests.
'It is worth stressing, that during the six-month presidency of the Council of European Union in 2013, national minorities, with respect to the representative functions of our country in the international arena and the importance of preserving the political face, did not organise any protests, although other groups of citizens, despite such an important period for the state, gathered to protest next to government offices and the Palace of the Grand Dukes,' EAPL members shared their opinion on the matter.
Members of the EAPL faction deplore that the loyalty of national minorities to Lithuania, decent and honest work for the sake of the state are not valued.
'Unfortunately, recent events show that the loyalty of national minorities to the independent Lithuania, decent and honest work for the sake of the state are not valued. New version of the Law on National Minorities is not adopted and in the version in preparation the attempts are being made to reject the provisions adopted during the independence period. Moreover, the comeback of the provisions adopted in January 1991 and acting for 20 years is being blocked. Cynical is the fact, that the same political force - the Conservatives, which signed the Law on National Minorities with the hand of its leader V. Landsbergis and abolished it in 2010 - is against the return of the Law today and is actively blocking in all possible ways even the inclusion of the subject on the agenda of the Plenary meeting,' EAPL faction stressed.
The EAPL faction also expressed its concern about the politicization of the Lithuanian legal system.
'In addition, a member of the Conservative party, representative of the Government involves Lithuanian courts into political disputes and this way politicizes the Lithuanian legal system even more while initiating lawsuits. Pursuant to a judgment of the Vilnius Regional Court, on the eve of the Christmas Eve, 23rd December 2013, the penalty of 43 400 litas (12 569 euro) has been imposed on Boleslav Daškevič, Director of the Administration of the Šalčininkai district self-government, for the use of bilingual street name plates in the district. Actions of the plenipotentiary of the Government in the Vilnius district, conservative Audrius Skaistys, discredit our country in the international arena, escalate tension and incite to national discord. This behaviour is provocative, directed against constitutional human rights – 'citizens belonging to national minorities have the right to foster their language, culture and customs' (Art. 37 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania). It has to be noted, that repressions are used and basic human rights – the right to use of one's native language – are violated. The state has the duty to ensure that human rights are protected and not violated in terms of equal parties,' members of the EAPL faction claimed.
In its statement the faction expressed the conviction of the need to ensure justice and independence of the judiciary system.
'It is worth to note that today in an independent Lithuania one of the most important principles of the administration of justice is independence of judges and courts (Art. 109 of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania). According to the judge of the European Court of Justice Egidijus Jarašiūnas, the stability of validated judgments and approved legal relations is guaranteed, what
strengthens confidence of the legal entities to state authority and legislation. At the same time real opportunities to meet the obligation to guarantee the protection of human rights by court are created. The obligation is underlined in legislation of the Republic of Lithuania and international documents. On the basis of the judgment of the Vilnius Regional Court on bilingual street names in the Šalčininkai district and imposition of a huge penalty (43 400 Lt) on B. Daškevič, doubts arise concerning the compliance with the principles of the administration of justice and transparency of the judiciary of Lithuania. In response to the complaint, B. Daškevič indicated that the judgement of 2008 was executed as the boards with bilingual street names that were placed on the buildings at the discretion of self-government have been removed; boards remained on private possessions whose owners did not agree with removal. Director of Administration underlined that he has no right to remove the boards from private residents' houses,' EAPL activists emphasised.
Members of the EAPL faction name the judgment of the Vilnius Regional Court on the bilingual street names in the Šalčininkai district as a political one.

'Having in mind the fact that the fines are imposed because national minorities use their native language in the district where 79 per cent of population are Poles, this court ruling is purely political. Unfortunately, it casts a shadow on the courts of our state, as it is hard to imagine such situation when a superior court increases a fine almost hundred times in a civilised, democratic state. What is more interesting, this situation takes place in a member state of EU,' indicated EAPL members of the Seimas.

In their statement the EAPL faction calls for an adoption of the Law on National Minorities in a first matter of urgency, to abolish judicial orders which punished the citizens for the use of native language and separate Lithuanian legal system from politics.

'Taking into account the emerged situation, which humiliates human dignity and ignores the rights of citizens to use their native language in addition to the national language in public life, the EAPL faction in the Seimas demands:

1. To adopt the Law on National Minorities in a first matter of urgency, which would legally restore the rights of national minorities agreed in January 1991, in the presence of threat to the independence and which were in force until 2010;

2. To abolish judicial orders, which are oppressive and which punish Lithuanian citizens for the use of their native language in public life;

3. To depoliticise Lithuanian legal system, to withdraw all complaints which are related to the use of the minority languages in public life,' says the statement distributed by the EAPL faction in the Lithuanian Seimas.

Expressing our protest, we declare that we will decidedly take all democratic ways in Lithuania as well as in the international space to defend the rights of national minorities. We also want to notice that we will appeal to all international institutions and people of good will regarding the violation of human rights in our multinational and multicultural country,' the statement, which was adopted with one voice during the meeting of the parliamentary faction of EAPL on 9th January 2014, says.

Based on www.awpl.lt