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Defence minister condemns internet slurs on Polish troops

PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle 28.10.2011 11:43
Poland's defence minister has condemned criticisms of Polish troops in Afghanistan after adverse comments by internet-users were highlighted in the press.

isaf.wp.mil.pl
isaf.wp.mil.pl

Minister Tomasz Siemoniak addressed the issue in an interview with Polish Radio on Friday, just days after Private Mariusz Deptula became the 31st Pole to die in Afghanistan since the war began ten years ago.

A personal initiative by Sergeant Jacek Zebryk, who has collected numerous instances of defamation against Polish troops on internet forums, brought the matter to the fore in the press.

Private Deptula's death itself prompted various responses on the internet.

“Finally some good news at the end of the day,” wrote one anonymous commentator on a news forum.

“This was not a soldier, but a murderer - all the lackeys of the USA should die,” they continue.

Minister Siemoniak said that Sergeant Zebryk had the “full support” of the Ministry in drawing attention to such comments.

“I cannot understand how someone can behave in such a way, writing about the death of a soldier who has risked his life in our name,” he said.

Meanwhile, when pressed by Polskie Radio about “expert” assessments that the Allied mission has “zero chance of success” in Afghanistan, with a peace deal with the Taliban “wishful thinking,” Siemoniak attempted to defend the position, saying that a forthcoming conference in Bonn may lead to progress in the matter.

“There will be a discussion there about how to proceed with the stabilization of Afghanistan,” he said.

In June, it was reported that some form of Taliban representation was being sought for the conference, which is due to take place in December.

Although Poland formally completed its term in charge of the Ghazni province in Afghanistan on Wednesday, Siemoniak reaffirmed that the Polish mission is due to continue in the country until 2014, as had been outlined in Lisbon in 2010 at a meeting of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Poland currently has 2600 Polish military personnel in the country, and 400 troops are on reserve in Poland. The numbers are due to be slightly reduced by 300, with just 200 waiting in reserve, but no greater change is envisaged for the time being.

In spite of pessimistic assessments in the press, Minister Siemioniak told Polish Radio that he had spoken with local leaders in Ghazni last week, and that they had told him that “the situation is going in the right direction.” (nh/pg)

Source: IAR

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