Jaruzelski too ill for trial, say doctors

Wojciech Jaruzelski may be too ill to stand trial, doctors say. Photo: PAP/Adrian Starus

The general is currently embroiled in two long-running cases, most prominently for declaring Martial Law on 13 December 1981, and secondly, for allegedly clearing the use of live ammunition against protesters in Gdynia, northern Poland, in 1970.

In March this year, it was made public that the 87-year-old had been diagnosed with cancer. The poor health of Jaruzelski and his co-defendants has already stalled the process on several occasions.

It has now been postulated that Jaruzelski, who has been declared unfit to participate in court for at least a year, could be tried separately, so as to allow the procedures against his co-defendants to continue.

Regarding the imposition of Martial Law, which was a stark response to the Solidarity protest movement at the beginning of the 1980s, Jaruzelski has always argued that he set the process in motion to prevent an invasion from Moscow. About 100 people died in the crackdown, and thousands were arrested.

Meanwhile, the general denies green-lighting the use of gun-fire in 1970, describing the events, which left 44 dead, as a tragedy.

Poles remain divided about whether Jaruzelski should be tried for the imposition of Martial Law. Some subscribe to the notion that the action prevented a larger invasion from Moscow, whilst others hold that the general has blood on his hands.

Every December, on the anniversary of the declaration, protesters camp outside the general's house, bearing placards accusing the former leader of murder. (nh/jb)

Source: PAP