40 years ago - on December 13, 1981 - Poland's communist government led by General Wojciech Jaruzelski imposed martial law on the country's territory. The decision was meant to stifle the "Solidarity" opposition movement which united millions of citizens. The coup carried out by the military junta cost the lives of dozens.
On early morning on December 13, 1981, General Wojciech Jaruzelski announced in his famous televised speech the imposition of martial law, aimed at stifling the growing opposition movement led by the "Solidarity" trade union. Already on the first day, more than 6,500 people were arrested and placed in internment facilities.
The communist military regime introduced a curfew and banned all political or workers' organisations.
During this dark period of Polish history thousands of dissidents were persecuted and imprisoned.
According to a parliamentary report compiled in the early 1990s, at least 90 people were killed in that time, with some sources claiming that number to be higher than 100. The exact number of deaths under the martial law remains unknown.
On December 31, 1982, the martial law was suspended, and on July 22, 1983, it was formally ended, but with some repressive regulations still in place.
Top Polish officials marked the 40th anniversary of these tragic events on Monday.
In Warsaw, President Andrzej Duda lit candles at the memorial plaque dedicated to Grzegorz Przemyk - a high school student brutally murdered by the communist militia on May 14, 1983.
Autorka/Autor: gf
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: Jerzy Undro/CAF/PAP