On 29 August 2006, the daily “Zycie Warszawy” published an article, which stated a thesis that Jacek Kuron cooperated with the Secret Police in the 1980s. This article caused an avalanche of comments aimed at discrediting not only Jacek Kuron, but the entire political line that he represented. The politicians of the ruling coalition, in particular the politicians from the League of Polish Families (Liga Polskich Rodzin), have excelled at this. (08-SEP-06)

Written by Marta Lempicka/HRH Warsaw

On 3 September, hundreds of people visited Jacek Kuron’s grave at the Powazki Cemetery in Warsaw to protest against attempts to defame a person of such merit to Poland. A series of open letters have appeared in defense of Jacek Kuron’s good name, inter alia a signature collection campaign organized by the daily “Gazeta Wyborcza”. The Helsinki Committee in Poland and the Open Republic Association (Stowarzyszenie Otwarta Rzeczpospolita) have also protested by means of an open letter. Anyone can sign the letter by sending information to the address: sekretariat@prawaczlowieka.pl.

Jacek Kuron was one of the most important figures of the democratic opposition in times of Communism in Poland. He co-founded the Workers’ Defense Committee (Komitet Obrony Robotnikow) in 1997, and in 1980 he was an advisor for the Inter-Factory Founding Committee (Miedzyzak³adowy Komitet Zalozycielski) of the trade union “Solidarity” (NSZZ Solidarnosc). He was interned under martial law, and in 1982 he was arrested on charges of overthrowing the political system. In total, he spent over 9 years in prison. In 1989, he took part in Round Table talks. In times of political transformation he was a Member of the Polish Sejm and the Minister of Labor and Social Policy.
 

            

                               LETTER OF THE HELSINKI COMMITTEE IN POLAND 
 
Initially we thought it was enough to go to the cemetery in silence and once again honor the memory of Jacek Kuron at his grave – the memory of a defender of human rights, and in particular the rights of individuals, who hardly anyone ever defends.

Defend the memory of Jacek Kuron? At first we didn’t even think this necessary. This memory is strong among people and so obvious that nothing can undermine it. Those who attack it, as Minister Roman Giertych, certify their moral blindness. This should have been enough to reverse the trend promoted by such individuals.   

This however did not occur. Despite numerous signs of indignation from far and wide, also from beyond the circles associated with Jacek Kuron either due to views or democratic opposition experiences, the revolting campaign continues. The protest must therefore be continued and extended.

We write this letter later then others and draw conclusions from what we hear. The protest must be more extensive and profound in nature. Therefore, we state that: We do not wish for Poland to be saturated with contempt and for the society to be fed with distrust and suspicion in advance, often in defiance of obviousness – as recently in the case of Jacek.

The most important and initial response of common sense and conscience should first and foremost be – do not do harm!

Let’s say this loud and clear. Perhaps this will be heard by the authors of election strategies or the candidates, who employ them, or maybe by the editors of newspapers and magazines or the owners of mass media.
                    
This letter may be signed by everyone who agrees with its contents. No birth certificate or identity card is necessary.


Warsaw, 1 September 2006.

The Members of the Helsinki Committee in Poland:
Teresa Bogucka, Halina Bortnowska, Marek Edelman, Janusz Grzelak, Zbigniew Holda, Jacek Kurczewski, Wojciech Maziarski, Michal Nawrocki, Marek Antoni Nowicki, Danuta Przywara, Stefan Starczewski

The Board on behalf of the Open Republic Association (Stowarzyszenie Otwarta Rzeczpospolita):
Krystyna Bratkowska, Maciej Geller, Marek Gumkowski, Teresa Holzer, Paula Sawicka, Danuta Stolecka-Wojcik, Janusz Szymczak

+ So far about 1140 people have signed the protest.