Poles set to restage Solidarity protests

POLAND:Young Poles were preparing last night to stage mock clashes between Solidarity activists and riot police on the streets of Warsaw, to mark 25 years since the country's communist regime imposed martial law to try and crush the pro-democracy movement.

The event was due to take place after midnight and be broadcast live on national television, to launch a major commemoration of the crackdown on Solidarity that was announced on December 13th, 1981.

"It will be a reconstruction of a battle between the opposition and riot police, and will be followed by events on Wednesday culminating in another mock fight in central Warsaw," said Zofia Kabas of the Civic Responsibility group that planned the "clash".

"We expect about 30 volunteers wearing old riot police uniform, and dozens more playing democracy activists. We will also be using cars from that time," Ms Kabas said, adding that hundreds of people could ultimately be involved as word of the event spread.

"Our generation doesn't remember that time, and we need to talk to young people about this important part of our history."

Loudspeakers around Warsaw will today broadcast the announcement of martial law that was made by Gen Wojciech Jaruzelski, who was prime minister of communist Poland in 1981.

"Volunteers dressed in period uniforms will be posted in various parts of Warsaw, including in front of Gen Jaruzelski's house," Ms Kabas said of plans for today.

"We wanted to park an armoured vehicle there, but we didn't get permission."

Solidarity was banned under martial law and its leaders were among thousands of people jailed for supporting a movement that had become a huge pro-democracy force, since being recognised as the first independent trade union in the Soviet bloc in 1980.

Dozens of people are believed to have died at the hands of the security forces and in jail during martial law, which was officially lifted in July 1983.

Widespread repression continued until 1989, however, when Gen Jaruzelski was forced to negotiate a transition to democracy with his erstwhile foes from Solidarity.

Gen Jaruzelski insists that he imposed martial law to prevent a full-scale invasion by the Soviet Union, which was alarmed by the rise of Solidarity, but he is still threatened with prosecution by Poland's current leaders.