 |
| Ship of Fools? | |
| 2003-06-26 | |
| The Langenort, a ship carrying the Dutch Women on Waves organization's abortion clinic, arrived at Władysławowo's port June 22. Its arrival gave rise to violent protests from the League of Polish Families (LPR) party and the All-Poland Youth organization. The issue has revived discussion on the Polish anti-abortion law. Langenort entered the port without the port captain's permit. All-Poland Youth picketed the boat, throwing eggs and chanting "murderers." A delegation of Polish women's liberation organizations welcomed the Langenort enthusiastically. It came to a fight on the harbor as a result of which red paint was poured on a few of the women leaders. The ship captain claims she had no choice and had to enter the port quickly without waiting for a permit because the boat had problems with its engine. "Such conduct is punishable with a fine," said Kazimierz Udro, Władysławowo's port captain. Around 4 p.m., Langenort finally received a permit to moor in the section of the harbor that is closed to public. "Since we have come to Poland, we have been offended and intimidated," head of the Women on Waves foundation, Rebecca Gomperts, said during a press conference. "Many people from Poland who would like to help us are also intimidated," she added. Gomperts announced that after the Langenort came to port, foundation leaders would conduct "informational campaigns and workshops", and then the boat would sail out to international waters and back several times. She did not confirm the allegations that abortions would be carried out onboard during that time. "Women on Waves cannot provide information about abortion services since this would mean breaking the law in Poland. Polish law is extremely restrictive," Gomperts commented. The head of the foundation refused to confirm the presence of RU 486 pills aboard, the trade of which is forbidden in Poland. RU 486 has not yet been put on the Polish pharmaceuticals register. Over recent months, leftist groups have been campaigning in favor of selling the drug in drugstores. Port services sealed the onboard operating room. After customs control, the issue was referred to the prosecution authorities, said Witold Niesiołowski from the District Prosecutor's Office in Puck. On the afternoon of June 23, representatives of the Port State Control and customs officers started the inspection in the presence of pharmacology experts. Unofficial sources said that some pills banned in Poland have been found onboard. Jolanta Twardowska, a representative of the Customs Chamber in Gdynia, said that 48 pharmaceuticals had been found, 40 of which were expired, and 8 absent from the Polish pharmaceutical register. Twardowska did not say, however, that RU 486 was among them. She said that each time the boat would want to leave Polish territory, it would have to go through customs. The crew has been informed that the drugs found onboard cannot be used on the territory of Poland. "But no one had that intention," said Wanda Nowicka, head of the Foundation for Women and Family Planning. The information that RU 486 may be onboard could be found on the Women on Waves' website. Langenort's visit to Poland had been organized by Polish pro-choice leaders. "For some 10 years, women's tragedies have been reported in Poland, but none of the decision-makers seem to be interested. The present abortion law is harmful and leads to tragedies by exposing women to the hazards of the clandestine abortion business," Nowicka stated. Women's Lib leaders from Langenort stated they intended to stay in Poland until July 5. They put up a poster on the boat with a cell phone number on it, which could be called for information on the organization's operations, contraceptives and family planning. The abortion issue was commented by President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, who was in Hel June 20. "Each of us has his own answer regarding the fact itself. Mine is definitely negative," he stated. Archbishop Józef Życiński stated such actions were unacceptable. "The interpretation according to which pro-choice leaders came to sexually educate Polish women is very pretentious," the archbishop said. The metropolitan bishop believes that the Dutch foundation conducts experiments deserving of moral condemnation. Yet he does not approve of the behavior of abortion opponents, with "showering abuse and tossing eggs being the main methods." Bishop Piotr Libera, secretary of the Polish Episcopate, said, "This is an open provocation; the idea itself to organize such action is a provocation. This is a death ship. It is a symbol of an anthropological catastrophe, as it is the essence of what is evil in humans." The ship captain received an official note June 24 stating that Langenort was not allowed to leave Władysławowo until port authorities have finished an official investigation into its illegal entry. The entrance to the harbor is guarded by security agents hired by the organizers. | |
| (The Warsaw Voice) | |