TRUTH FOR SMOLENSK! – JUSTICE FOR KATYN!
Saturday, April 12th, 2014, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Daley Center Plaza, 50 West Washington Chicago, IL 60602,
The Organizing Committee:
Polish American Congress – Illinois Division
Katyn Memory and Identity Association
Association of Remembrance for Victims of Katyn and Smolensk
Association of Polish Institute
We call on the Polish Community in the Chicago area, on all people who value the honor and well being of Poland, and on people of good will to join us. This protest is part of a larger action to demonstrate at Russian embassies, consulates or other appropriate places around the world.
The investigations conducted thus far by the Russians and Poles do not bring us closer to the truth. Opinions of renown international experts and demands of the families of the victims are systematically ignored, suppressed or ridiculed. Polish institutions do not stand up for the return of the wreckage of the plane and the black boxes – indispensable evidence in every investigation.
Four years after the crash, the Poles still do not know the cause of death of the President of Poland and the top leadership of Poland who perished en route to the Katyn forest for the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Katyn Massacre. Therefore:
We demand transparency and fairness in the investigation into the crash of the Polish Air Force One in Smolensk, Russia on April 10, 2010.
We protest against the withholding by Russia of key evidence on the Smolensk Crash.
We demand Russian apology for unjustly dishonoring in front of the entire world Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Air Force General Andrzej Blasik.
Russia must return the property of Poland which constitutes the key evidence in the investigation of the Smolensk Crash, including:
1. Wreckage of the airplane.
2. Black boxes
3. Aircraft debris and human remains collected by Polish archaeologists at the crash site.
4. All electronic devices belonging to the victims, including mobile phones.
We further demand full and fair international investigation, including the following:
1. The work of special security forces both before and after the crash of the Polish Air Force One.
2. The 2009 overhaul of the Polish Air Force One in Samara, Russia, and mechanical failures of the aircraft preceding the crash.
3. The work of the flight control group, including the „mission” of the aircraft IL -76 in the airspace of the Severny airport shortly before the crash.
The warning issued by late President Lech Kaczynski at a 2008 rally in Tbilisi in the presence of six leaders of the European Union to stop the Russian aggression on Georgia before it spreads to other countries, become the reality. Russia became the threat to the world peace and security. Today it is Ukraine’s turn. Who will be next?
It is the responsibility of the Poles and Polish-Americans to fight for the truth about Smolensk and justice for Katyn. The Smolensk tragedy must be investigated by an independent international commission according to civilized standards of aircraft investigation, and
in accordance with fundamental principles of due process of law, fairness and transparency. The perpetrators must be brought to justice.
Join us! Stand up to defend the dignity of the Polish people!
Stand up for the Truth and Justice!
To view a short video please click on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrDLJMbfNlI