Witam, Zapewne wielu z Was z zainteresowaniem przeczyta ponizsze informacje i glosy w dyskusji na temat jak wyzej, jakie wybralem z listy APAP. Pozdrawiam, zB. _____________________________________________________________________________ Subject: German compensation to slave/forced laborers Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 17:43:25 -0400 (EDT) From: Ted Mirecki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Two pieces of information about the Slave Labor Compensation negotiations: 1. Officials at the Polish Embassy in Washington have indicated that the US State Department is aware of the statement of Mr. Edward Moskal, National President of the Polish American Congress, and of the Action Alert the PAC has publicized to get Polonians to write letters in this matter. The State Dept. is "concerned" about this, and just the thought of such an action has prompted a significant upward re-assessment (50%) of the amount to be awarded to the surviving slave / forced laborers. No word yet on whether the other unacceptable provision of the settlement (exclusion of agricultural and municipal workers) will be renegotiated. Now, if just the call to action can produce positive results, let us hope that actual action on the part of Polonia will produce even more results - an even higher settlement, and extension of eligibility. The State Department has been told to expect over 100,000 letters to the White House in this matter. PLEASE LIVE UP TO THIS!!!! We really need your support. Write to the President. For background information and a sample letter, please see the Polish American Congress Web site, http://www.polamcon.org. 2. The final decision in these negotiations rests not with the US Government, but with the Government of Germany. Several representatives of the Polish Government have said that the major stumbling block is the prevailing political mood in Germany: Germans feel that they should end their expiation for the crimes of Nazism, and that the Schroeder government no longer feels responsible for the transgressions of 50-60 years ago - this is a NEW Germany that needs to break with the past. We Polonians need to create a world-wide climate of public opinion that makes this position politically untenable by the Germans. Although Polish-Americans have little direct leverage on the German government, we can insist that our US government exert political pressure on Germany to make good the crimes against humanity. Please remind our President to remind Germany that there is no statute of limitations for crimes against humanity. As the Bonn government returns to Berlin, and as Hitler's bunker is uncovered, the crimes against our countrymen are again buried in the world's indifference, as they were in the times of the Teutonic Knights, of Bismarck's Kulturkampf, and of Hitler's Holocaust. -Ted Mirecki, President Washington Metropolitan Area Division, Polish American Congress _____________________________________________________________________________ Subject: Re: German compensation to slave/forced laborers: put the pressure on German Date: Sat, 23 Oct 1999 22:56:35 -0400 (EDT) From: "JAPBArmatrong" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Ted is right. We need to write letters. We also need to squeeze the Germans. After I write my letter to Clinton I'm going to write one the the German Ambassador. Even a 50% increase is not enough. So it becomes $7,750. Big deal. Today I read about a guy who won a civil case on police brutality --- he will recieve $43,000 because a police dog was sent on him when he was not resisting arrest. For the forced and slave laborers it should be at least $100,000 if not half a million dollars a piece. If the Germans are worried about the cost, gee, I guess they shouldn't have started the war. John A. _____________________________________________________________________________ Subject: Re: German compensation to slave/forced laborers Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 02:53:39 -0400 (EDT) From: "T. Ron" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Ted's posting is correct. However, there are rumors emanating from "undisclosed sources" that the two excluded categories, which applied to most Polish forced laborers, will be added. Nevertheless, it is necessary that Polonians keep up the pressure so that the rumor becomes a reality. Likewise, it is true that the PAC's strong action has been felt in Washington. I was privy to a somewhat frantic telephone call from an official, particularly upset that the current situation was characterized as "Shades of Yalta" by President Moskal. T. Ron Jasinski-Herbert _____________________________________________________________________________
