Wujek, Dec 1981; photo - IPN
Thirty years ago today, police and soldiers stormed the mine in Katowice, Silesia, in an attempt to break up a strike by workers.
Seven of them died on the spot: Józef Czekalski, Krzysztof Giza, Ryszard Gzik, Bogusław Kopczak, Andrzej Pełka, Zbigniew Wilk, and Zenon Zając and then two more - Joachim Gnida and Jan Stawisiński - died later from their wounds.
The miners had gone on strike on 13 December, the day that martial law was declared.
They demanded the release of all those that had been imprisoned, not least their own chairman, Jan Ludwiczak, who was a member of the Solidarity Trade Union, which was pushing for democratic reforms.
The strikers called for the end to martial law, which had brought tanks to the streets, cut telephone lines, and introduced a strict curfew.
President Komorowski will begin today's commemorations by meeting with the families of the December 1981 victims.
Afterwards, Archbishop of Katowice Wiktor Skworc will lead a mass at the Church of the Holy Cross.
Following the service, wreaths will be laid at the mine's current monument, and a salute will be made to the victims.
It was not until 2008, nineteen years after the fall of communism in Poland, that sentences were handed out for the shootings.
The case had been drawn out over 15 years.
The sentences, upheld by the Supreme Court, were between 3.5 and 6 years in prison. (nh/pg)
Source: PAP