| Summary: | Extracts from Polish underground publications compiled and translated into English by the RFE Polish Publication Unit for broadcasting purposes. Introductions to most articles are provided by RFE staff, and items are compiled in issues based mainly on theme and date.
Why Committees Against Violence?[from: Solidarność Poznań, no. 1(37) (4 January 1985)]This description of the human rights committees set up in many Polish cities after the abduction and murder of Father Jerzy Popiełuszko in the autumn of 1984 appeared in the underground publication of the Interim Regional Committee for the Poznań area (Wielkopolska). The committees seek to monitor human rights abuses and intend to act openly. It should be noted that the various committees formulate their names in different ways.
So Long as Public Opinion Exists[from: Robotnik, no. 79 (3 February 1985)]This is an interview by Robotnik with two signatories of the founding charter of the Szczecin Committee in Defense of Human Rights (Polish acronym RSOKOP), Winicjusz Górecki and Grzegorz Ostrowski. Both are former political prisoners and are currently out of work, having lost their jobs for political reasons. Before being dismissed, Górecki worked as a waiter and Ostrowski was a fitter in a shipyard. RSOKOP was formed on 23 November 1984 by 13 activists. On March 22 this year charges were filed against two members of the Committee, veteran trade union activist Edmund Bałuka and Jan Kostecki; they were indicted for issuing statements slandering the legal order and undermining social confidence in state authority. The Warsaw-based underground weekly "Robotnik" [The Worker] is not to be confused with the paper of the same name published by members of KOR during the late 1970s. This new Robotnik is edited by members of the underground Interfactory Workers' Committee "Solidarity" (Polish acronym MRK"S") in Warsaw and has been appearing regularly since the end of 1982.
About the Cracow [Kraków] Initiative[from: Tygodnlk Mazowsze, no. 119 (28 February 1985)]This interview with Edward Nowak, a member of the Citizens' Initiative in Defense of Human Rights "Against Violence" in Kraków, appeared in the main Solidarity underground weekly for the Warsaw area. During the Solidarity period Edward Nowak was chairman of the Workers' Self-Management Body at the Lenin Steelworks in Nowa Huta near Kraków. He was cofounder of the "Network of Leading Enterprises" (Sieć) set up during the Solidarity period, and he represented the trade union in negotiations with the government over the law on self-management and enterprises. When the strike at the Lenin Steelworks ended (it had begun when martial law was imposed and lasted until 16 December 1981), Edward Nowak, as a member of the strike committee, was arrested and sentenced to three years in prison. He was released under the amnesty of 1983. Although called a citizens' initiative, the Kraków organization of which Nowak is a member is essentially no different from the committees in defense of human rights and is numbered among them when committees are referred to collectively in the following text.
Independent Demonstrations - Experience and Prospects / by Jan Mak[from: Solidarność Walcząca, no. 21/88 (7-14 October 1984)]Lech Wałęsa and the Solidarity leadership have called for demonstrations to mark the 1st of May. This is the first of three articles discussing the pros and cons of demonstrations. Jan Mak argues in favor of public demonstrations as a means of opposition and proposes several forms that these demonstrations can take. Solidarność Walcząca is the Wrocław paper of the radical Fighting Solidarity Organization.
A Study in Heroism / by A.L.[from: Obecność, no.7 (Fall 1985)]The author of this article takes issue with the arguments presented by Solidarność Walcząca in favor of demonstrations (see item 7D). A.L. believes that the cost of demonstrations for the opposition is great. In his view, experience shows that there is no massive public response to calls by the Solidarity leadership for demonstrations. This would indicate, the argument continues, that the underground is not "in tune with the mood of the masses" and only serves to diminish the authority of the union and its leaders. The author disagrees with Jan Mak that people are unwilling to participate in street demonstrations only because of fear and cowardice and holds the view that demonstrations are not a useful means of struggle. "Obecność" [Presence] is an independent literary journal published in Wrocław underground. This transition is a shortened version of the original article.
A Study in Imagination / by Jan Mak[from: Solidarność Walcząca, no.1(94) (6-13 January 1985)]Jan Mak defends his arguments in favor of public demonstrations against the criticism by A. L. in "Obecność."
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