WARSAW, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Polish coal miners, protesting against plans to close pits and cut jobs, clashed with police in Warsaw on Thursday, injuring several as they threw burning boots and clothes and chunks of masonry at them, witnesses said. In one of the most violent protests in Poland over the last several years, about 5,000 gathered outside a government ministry. Some set alight petrol-soaked workboots and clothes and hurled them at police in riot gear, and the uniform of at least one policeman caught fire. Protesters also used mining equipment to dig up pavements and hurl chunks of tarmac at police. Several policemen were injured, the PAP news agency reported. A police spokesman could not confirm the number of injuries. Police fired tear gas into the crowd, which was expected to move on to Prime Minister Leszek Miller's office. "The government are thieves. Poland needs coal and they are trying to shut us down," said Robert Pienkowski, a miner for 18 years at the Kopalnia Centrum pit in Silesia. The left-wing government wants to close four mines in the industrial south to reduce excess capacity, and cut 14,000 jobs to reduce the coal mining workforce to around 100,000. "In Poland you can't do anything without force and this is only the beginning," said 42-year-old miner Tadeusz, who would not give his last name.
|
|
Poland
AID AGENCIES CALL FOR FULL GLOBAL HIV/AIDS FUNDING IN 2004 Including $300 million for programs for children orphaned by AIDS
CARE - USA
Global release of the Landmine Monitor Report 2003
Handicap Intl - Belgium
Safety First - A field security handbook for NGO staff
Save the Children - UK
Safety First - A field security handbook for NGO staff
Save the Children - UK
Dozens hurt as Polish miners' protest turns violent
NATO to test new rapid-response force off Scotland
Polish coal miners' protest turns violent
Iraq Shi'ites want own militia to defend holy city
Coalition troops operating in Iraq
|
Printable view
Email this article