In reply to my detractors ONE OF the most influential advisors of the Solidarnosc leadership, Jacek Kuron wrote the following article for Tygodnik Mazowsze (No. 247, April 20, 1988), the central journal of the independent union, in order to clarify his position. JACEK KURON R ECENTLY, I made the following statements in this publication (Tygodnik Mazowsze 240): • A spontaneous explosion of social anger is increasingly likely.
• In the present conditions, Polish society will not benefit from this. Our situation will, perhaps, be made even worse, and that is certainly going to cost us dear. is certainly going to cost us dear.
• These conditions are probably going to be modified by developments in the USSR and the other Eastern countries. This is why an explosion must not be precipitated today. Rather, we must prepare ourselves for decisive confrontations in the future.
My document aroused numerous challenges. But on the fundamental question, none of my critics said clearly what they expect from such an explosion today. That makes the discussion difficult. As we know, if the reality does not fit our schemas, we try to adjust it to them. In my article, I directly confronted at least three such schemas: 1) any explosion is beneficial for the society; 2) we should never trust the reds; 3) the USSR's interests are contradictory to the national interests of Poles. I frankly opposed the first schema, which pained many of my readers, although it was hard for them to say that they favored a bloodbath.
By referring to perestroika as a process of disintegration of the regime and an awakening of social opposition in the Eastern countries, I upset the two other schemas. However, and I have been repeating this for at least two years, the question is by no means what objectives the Soviet Communists set for their reforms, but the fact that these reforms will lead to a weakening of the central government and to increased pressure from the society. Anyone who does not see this today is blinded by a schematic perception of things.
"The threat of popular
Danger"
David Warszawski has written (Tygodnik Mazowsze 243): "An opposition can fight and negotiate effectively only if it bases itself on the threat of popular anger." I like that formula because it demonstrates a political way of thinking. The effectiveness of a policy depends in fact on the relationship of forces. But a spontaneous explosion is not the appropriate way to pose this threat to the established power, because such an explosion can neither be turned on or turned off, and the government is well aware of that.
You can only push for such an explosion, thereby making it more probable. Or else you can explain to people, in particular to activists, how ineffective it would be, the risks that it involves and — more impor tantly - propose other forms of action, thereby making it less probable.
I say that we are not able today to launch a general strike. But conditions can change quickly, and such an action could prove effective. A premature explosion can deprive us of that chance. That is why I am speaking out. But I am by no means saying by this that it is necessary to wait, because a social movement cannot wait. A new dene H OW DID the trial go?
It is still going on. Today we went through the second round. The judges let us talk — Borowczyk, Skiba, Sarata and me — without interrupting us when we explained the reasons why we were in the Dolmel grounds that day.
We said that we were members of the Polish Socialist Party (PPS), which was founded to defend the interests of the economically and socially oppressed, and which aspires to become the force that will lead Poland out of the totalitarian system to political democracy. We managed to to say all that without being interrupted by the presiding judge by referring to our "Principles of Action" (see /V 137), which
- - -
POLAND
Mobilizations have to be organized behind wage demands. The January 31, 1988, statement by the National Executive Committee of Solidarnosc (KKW) played an important role in this regard. Throughout the country, people are now fighting for a 12,000 zloty increase. However, the defence of living standards obviously has to be taken up in a general way — the problem cannot be resolved by particular actions.
We may be forced to call for a boycott of the municipal elections. I take no pleasure in that, because we need this school of democracy in the cities, towns, at the local level. But the government has done everything possible to discourage the society from taking part in these elections. So, let the society take part now in this boycott demonstration. It is necessary to organize the fight to defend the environment, for better working conditions, for the right to organize independently of the regime. Solidarnosc organizing committees can take on most of these tasks and at the same time build the movement.
The problem is, through these reformist activities, which are not very effective in present conditions, to organize the social movement. The existence of this movement in itself makes it possible to avert spontaneous explosions. If things take a bad turn, it makes it possible to limit the damage. Finally, it makes it possible to take advantage of every opportunity that turns up. * ration stipulate that the PPS recognizes workers' rights of self-defence.
Then, the tribunal heard witnesses for the prosecution, that is members of the Dolmel factory police. On leaving the tribunal, we unfurled a big banner saying "Stop the political trials." It was signed by the PPS and the Warsaw Solidarnosc Workers' Interenterprise Committee (MRKS). Immediately the police went into action and arrested me, along with two other PPS comrades. We were held for an hour, and our banner was confiscated. • At the previous hearing, on June 27, the police did notintervene against the 21 protesters? July 25, 1988 • #146 International Viewpoint
ARRESTED on May 5, when he was involved in an attempted strike at the Dolmel factory in Wroclaw, Jozef Pinior was charged - along with comrades Czeslaw Borowczyk, Jolanta Skiba and Aleskandra Sarata - with obstructing the police. His trial began on July 4. After a day-long hearing, the tribunal postponed further hearings to July 29.
Pinior gave the following interview by telephone to Cyril Smuga the night of the first court session.
ARRESTED on May 5, when he was involved in an attempted strike at the Dolmel factory in Wroclaw, Jozef Pinior was charged - along with comrades Czeslaw Borowczyk, Jolanta Skiba and Aleskandra Sarata - with obstructing the police. His trial began on July 4. After a day-long hearing, the tribunal postponed further hearings to July 29.