Photographer who lost eye in police rubber bullet fire sues Interior Ministry

The Warsaw court yesterday began hearing the case of a photographer who is suing the Interior Ministry after he lost an eye three years ago during a demonstration by workers at the Lucznik armaments plant in Radom. Robert Sobkowicz, who works for the Nasz Dziennik daily, is seeking zl.250,000 in damages from the ministry, as well as a monthly disability pension of zl.3,000. He claims the police over-reacted to the situation and started shooting rubber bullets without any warning. "I felt a strong pain near my eye. When I touched the spot I realized I was holding an eyeball in my hand," he said. He also claims that when he approached the police, they refused to help him. Sobkowicz maintains the accident has affected his professional career and forced him to undergo costly rehabilitation. (Rzeczpospolita, p. C1) M.K.