Today, 13th December, marks the 25th anniversary of the instatement of martial law. Meetings, conferences and exhibitions are taking place in different cities throughout Poland, reminding people of the events of December 1981. (13-DEC-06)
Written By Marta Lempicka/HRH Warsaw
On the night between 12 and 13 December 1981, the then ruling communist authorities of Poland announced martial law. In this way they wanted to hold off public protests and democratic processes initiated by “Solidarity” in August 1981. The official justification for the action was the collapse of the state economy, as well as threat of coup d’état and take over of power by “Solidarity”.
Around 12 thousand people were interned under martial law; among them were activists from “Solidarity”, opposition activists, scholars, as well as representatives of culture and art. The activists, who managed to avoid arrest, organized strikes and an underground “secondary circulation”, lead boycotts of state mass media. More than 5 thousand people were imprisoned. Individuals who supported “Solidarity” were subjected to repression and sacked, and thereby left without livelihood.
