Poland’s Independence Day

The UN climate change negotiations began in the Polish capital on a day of national pride. Independence Day is a celebration of Polish independence from Russia, Prussia and Austria in 1918.

The celebrations in some areas of the city were civil and celebratory compared to the marches that threatened the security of foreigners, especially delegates to COP19, with the strong anti-foreigner sentiment evident.

Delegates to the negotiations were warned weeks in advance of the independence marches as the demonstrations by radicals including Neo-Nazis and other nationalist that often express hostilities towards the foreigners, women, and homosexuals.

The tone of the city was somber outside of the Palace of Culture and Science, a striking building in the middle of Warsaw, which reminds the Polish daily of their communist past. It represented a sort of irony to the nationalistic views the demonstrators were preaching.

It was possibly this that fuelled the protests to get out of hand, as has previously happened. Tear gas and rubber bullets were reported to have been used by the police to break up the crowds.

Sirens roared throughout the city as a handful of people were reported to have been injured by the crowds. Flare guns and the smashing of bottles were prominent in the crowd of mostly Polish men carrying large red and white flags while they chanted “God, Honour, Fatherland!”

Later that evening as the crowds had subdued, a smaller congregation of men outside of the COP19 opening reception at the Warsaw University Library were peacefully calling for an independent inquiry into the 2010 Polish Air Force Tu-154 crash.

As of Tuesday morning, business is as usual at COP19 in Warsaw.

For more photos, please go here.

By Andrew Johnson.