Poland: The Ideals of Solidarity Remain

"The Ideals of Solidarity Remain

Life under martial law: hard times and disillusion

One year ago this week, Poles were still adjusting to the rigors of martial law. They could not travel, make telephone calls or receive uncensored mail. More than 5,000 people were interned, the independent Solidarity union was suspended and its leader, Lech Walesa, was being held at a government complex outside Warsaw. During twelve months of martial law, General Wojciech Jaruzelski has succeeded beyond most people's expectations in crushing the overt opposition to Communist rule in Poland. As a sign of its self-confidence, the government last week announced that...