Polish Police Scour Abortion Ship

BBC ^ | 6/23/2003

[traditionalist]

Customs officials have boarded a ship operated by a Dutch abortion rights group to search for contraceptive pills that are illegal in Poland.

However, a spokeswoman for state prosecutors, Malgorzata Wilkosz-Sliwa, said the Langenort's crew would not be in breach of Polish abortion laws so long as any pills remained on the ship.

"If no-one tries to distribute [the pills], then there is no crime," she said.

Crew member Jeanette Kruseman admits RU-486 pills are on board, but under a seal that will not be broken while the ship remains in Poland.

The ship arrived at the Baltic Sea port of Wladyslawowo on Sunday where it was met with fierce protests in a country that has one of Europe's toughest anti-abortion laws.

In Poland, pregnancy can be terminated only if it threatens the woman's health, the foetus is irreparably damaged or if the pregnancy results from rape or incest.

The ship is crewed by members of the Dutch Women on Waves group who say they plan to offer Polish women advice on contraceptives.

Ireland visit

The group has previously offered RU-486 to women after leaving nations with strict anti-abortion laws for international waters.

"All our services will be in international waters, whatever they may be," she said.

People performing or helping with an abortion in other circumstances in Poland can face up to three years in prison.

The ship's visit angered Poland's influential Roman Catholic church and anti-abortion groups that have asked prosecutors to investigate if it violates Poland's law.

In 2001, Women on Waves took another boat to predominantly Roman Catholic Ireland, but called off plans to offer RU-486 following last-minute legal and logistical complications.

[BrooklynGOP]

Let's see them try it in Saudi Arabia.

[Revolting cat!]

I say, they oughta let them go!

[Saundra Duffy]

Boat of death alert.

[Mr. Silverback]

Like BrooklynGOP said, let's see these guys try this in Saudi Arabia!

ProLife Ping!

If anyone wants on or off my ProLife Ping List, please notify me here or by freepmail.

[Physicist]

Did you hear about the Polish policemen who tried to scour the abortion ship?

They ran out of Brillo!

[gridlock]

The Polish authorities should consult with the French DSGE about how to deal with pesky boats that get in the way...

[Petronski]

Somebody please torpedo the deathboat.

[Constantine XIII]

Thumbs up for Poland!

[traditionalist]

Unfortunately, I don't think the Polish government can do anything about this legally.

[traditionalist]

RU486 is illegal, but most contraceptives are legal. They have RU486 on board the ship, but so long as they do not bring them on shore or dispense any while the ship is inside Polish waters, there's not much the authorities can do.

[Petronski]

"Legally?" What the hell is "legally?" Sink the Deathboat.

[traditionalist]

The problem here is that unlike the Rainbow warrior, the Dutch ship is not technically doing anything illegal.

[traditionalist]

All I'm saying is that in order to sink the ship, either Polish law or international law has to be broken. I don't think the Polish government is prepared to do either.

[autoresponder]

When you are inside another nations waters, even if you do not dock, you are at the mercy of that nation.

Getting picky about international law never helps you if your cargo is seized, you are imprisoned, or you disappear.

Otherwise, "Don't cough!"

[traditionalist]

What the Polish government could do is pass a law prohibiting the export of pregnant women for the purposes of killing their unborn children. Unfortunatly, the "ex"-communists running the country are not going to pass such a law.

[traditionalist]

The problem is that they are not even violating Polish Law as it stands. Recall, they're not dispensing RU-486 within Polish territorial waters. They plan on taking pregnant women out into international waters and dispensing the baby-killing pill there.

[gridlock]

...the Dutch ship is not technically doing anything illegal.

I don't think the Rainbow Warrior was technically doing anything illegal while it was tied to the dock in Aukland.

[traditionalist]

You're right! I just read about it. It was a covert cloak-and-dagger operation. I like it. Unfortunately, I don't think the Poles are about to do the same thing, since they're just joining the EU and the Dutch would not look to kindly on something like this happening.

I hope the Poles do something similar, but I doubt they will.