Fighting for Its Life!

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Call for labour movement solidarity—p.3 disrupt production in other ways.

Solidarnosc has called for continuing disruption, and the one major Solidarnosc leader who has evaded arrest - Zbigniew Bujak, leader of the Warsaw branch - has called on troops and militia-men not to follow orders.

Only this Monday, 4th, did the regime venture to reopen the Gdansk shipyards and the schools. (Universities may reopen this week). At Gdansk, reportedly only half the workers turned up, the rest having refused to sign a statement disavowing Solidarnosc.

The military has just announced massive food price rises. Sugar and salt for example are to rise by 300 percent. The hostility of virtually the whole contry to Martial Law will become even more bitter.

Despite the bureaucrats* continuing talk of compromise, there is a risk of repression escalating even further.

Jaruzelski was supposed to be a 'moderate' replacement for Kania. As economic chaos, and a breakdown of political control, developed, he was pushed, probably by the Kremlin, into his clampdown.

But ion will Jaruz the West ed. In 1 'suspend The looking interest Kremlin will as a paid fc workers.

Alth banks a with the they wil they get the Poli further s the economic situatnow get worse. zelski cannot vet get tern debts reschedulfact talks have been led'.

Western banks are to Russia to pay the due. But even if the gives the money, it Iways make sure it is or by the Polish bugh the Western re no doubt happy e military takeover, I only stay happy if their cash - i.e. if sh working class is queezed.

So when deputy prime ninister Rakowski says in Nest Germany that the eforms will continue, it is i mockery.

Rakowski kgows that if he Solidarnose activists are eleased, they will be deternined to fight to overthrow he bureaucracy. They will ealise more clearly what a deadly enemy they face.

While the Iron Heel is ittempting to crush workers, he bureaucrats still want to ‹eep open promises of eform. The Church, worried about nothing but getting a petter position for itself in Polish society, is cooperative. The Pope's emissary wa! allowed in and out of Polanc and politely omitted to ask to see Walesa.

Lech Walesa is being pressurised and has report edly agreed to negotiate with the government.

But what compromise it possible?

The regime has announc ed that Solidarnosc will not be allowed to function agair as an 'anti-Socialist politica opposition' (read: independ etly). It has suggested exile for Solidarnosc leaders, anc at the same time announced the beginning of talks includ ing Solidarnosc 'activists having to purge the Communist Party of Solidarnosc sympathisers. Although one Politburo meeting has taken place, no statement came from it. They have not been able to call a Central Committee meeting because of hostility within the CP.

Ten million organised workers cannot be imprisoned. Walesa is reportedly demanding the release of the Solidarnosc leadership before he will cooperate, and the other leaders would no doubt demand the release of yet other members before they would compromise.

So the risk' remains high of a 'bloodbath' - an attempt by the bureaucracy Kremlin and the Pact forces.

In Poland the class are no doubt that you cannot with the bureauci political revoluti required to overth parasitic rule.

Many Solidarnos bers must now rea the path of com taken by Walesa wa Just before the cour Playboy magazine: not let the party very weak". With pr he said it would "de job"

These illusions defeat the Polish class.

Warsaw working learning coexist racy. A òn is IroW its sc memlise that promise s wrong. › he told We canbecome ompting • a good helped working ations of the labour movement to help us develop a labour movement campaign on a class basis (see page 3).

Actions such as the blacking of Polish ships (not food or medical aid should be taken - on the basis of workers' solidarity with the Polish working class.

The TUC has correctly tried to put pressure on the Polish authorities. This should be followed up by action. The trade unions should break links with the police-state unions, as an act of class solidarity not anti-communism. It is our responsibility to help the spread of Solidarnosc and the formation of trade union independent of the bureaucratic regimes throughout Eastern Europe.

The labour movement should declare its opposition to any Kremlin or Warsaw Pact invasion, and support self-determination for And we must explain our alternative: for Polish soldiers to support Solidarnosc and not shoot on the workers, for the working class to arm itself, for workers' power based on genuine workers' councils, and for an independent socialist Poland.

Down with the Martial Law! Release all political prisoners! Defend the workers of Poland!

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Socialisi Organiser no. 67 January 7, 1982 Page 2