40 years ago - on December 16, 1981 - Polish communist militia and army brutally quashed a protest against the martial law imposed three days prior. After being initially fought off by protesting miners from the Wujek Coal Mine in Katowice, the armed forces received a shoot-to-kill order. Nine miners were killed and dozens injured during this tragic event. Official commemorations were organised at the mine and other places in Poland.
On December 16, 1981, miners at the Wujek Coal Mine in Katowice organised a protest against the country's communist government and its decision to impose martial law, announced three days earlier by General Wojciech Jaruzelski.
The strike was brutally suppressed by a special platoon in the communist riot police.
The miners initially fought off the militia and army, using work tools, but soon after the state forces opened fire with live ammunition.
Eight miners were killed on the spot, and the ninth died weeks later in hospital from heavy head wounds. At least 23 protesters were injured.
The nine victims were: Jan Stawisiński, Joachim Gnida, Józef Czekalski, Krzysztof Giza, Ryszard Gzik, Bogusław Kopczak, Andrzej Pełka, Zbigniew Wilk and Zenon Zając.
Commemorations
The Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland said in a tweet that the pacification of the Wujek Mine was "deadliest event in Poland under the martial law".
Many state officials, including President Andrzej Duda, and speakers of the Sejm and Senate, Elżbieta Witek and Tomasz Grodzki took part in official commemorations in Katowice mine. They laid wreaths at the monument to the fallen miners.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP