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Ill health prevents Jaruzelski standing trial

PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle 01.08.2011 13:41
Former communist leader General Wojciech Jaruzelski has been excluded from the trial of those responsible for the introduction of martial law in Poland in 1981 due to continued ill health.

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The Warsaw District Court has ruled that the state of health of the general, who initiated martial law (1981-1983 ) does not allow him to take part in the trial.

Doctors appointed by the court say that due to his continuing chemotherapy the 88 year-old Jaruzelski should not stand trial for at least a year.

The court case Jaruzelski and other officials responsible for introducing martial law has been in process three years now.

Those standing trial include Czeslaw Kiszczak, a former interior minister and Stanislaw Kania, former first secretary of the communist Polish United Workers Party.

The plaintiff, the state-backed Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) accuses them of taking part in a, “ criminal union of an armed character” against the Polish nation.

Another trial, which accuses General Jaruzelski being responsible for the events of December 1970, when 41 were killed in protests against the communist regime, has also been postponed. (ab/pg)

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