Jaruzelski ‘appalled’ after martial law court verdict

December 1981, Warsaw: photo - IPN

Yesterday, 86-year old former interior minister General Czeslaw Kiszczak was given a two-year suspended prison sentence for his part in the imposition of the crackdown against the Solidarity trade union.

Jaruzelski, now 88, was withdrawn from the case on account of his ill health after being diagnosed with cancer.

Former first secretary of the Polish communist party Stanislaw Kania, who resigned from his post before martial law was declared, was acquitted by the court.

“I'm appalled by the verdict,” Jaruzelski told Onet,pl, “because the court knew material which I had provided, particularly the book Older by 30 Years, which clarifies many things which the court does not understand,” he said, referring to his new book.

For many years, Jaruzelski argued that the introduction of martial law – which came after Solidarity became the first free trade union in the then communist, eastern European bloc - staved off a Moscow-led invasion.

Thousands were imprisoned and approximately 100 killed during martial law, which was imposed on 13 December 1981.

However, speaking yesterday, Jaruzelski said that “the threat of civil war” was in fact the main reason for the clampdown.

When questioned about his health, he replied that it was “very bad” at present.

“I would like to recover, so as to take part in the trial,” he said.

General Kiszczak did not appear in court yesterday, and he may appeal against the verdict. (nh/pg)