January 11, 2000, Tuesday / BBC Summary of World Broadcasts / PAP news agency, Warsaw
Cracow [southern Poland], 9th January: Samoobrona (Self-defence) farmers' union head Andrzej Lepper said in Cracow on Saturday [8th January] that farmers could launch a countrywide blockade of Poland's roads if [by 15th February] the government failed to fulfil his union's demands for more profitable sales prices in agriculture, annulment of farmers' debts to the government and fuel bonuses for farmers.
"If the government doesn't state a deadline for realizing our demands, we may order farmers to set up roadblocks. This is the only form of protest we have. The blockades will be peaceful and there will be no stone-throwing," Lepper said.
Lepper also announced that the Peasant-National Block, a right-wing group comprising Self-defence, the August 80 and Solidarity 80 trade unions and several smaller organizations, would hold its first congress on 17th January in Warsaw.
"The bloc is meant as an alternative to [ruling] Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) and the [opposition] Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). Right now all the people have to choose from is the Right and the Left. We are offering a third choice," Lepper argued.
Copyright 2000 British Broadcasting Corporation:
