Bishops take tough martial law stance

Press, 1 March 1982, Page 8

Bishops take tough martial law stance

NZPA-Reuter Warsaw Poland’s Catholic bishops yesterday made their most, decisive call for an end to martial law since the military crack-down more than two months ago. and demanded an amnesty and the revival of Solidarity. - The bishops, whose demands were listed in a statement read from the pulpit in . churches across the country, also warned the ruling Communist military establishment that there would be a catastrophe if they did not reach agreement with society. ; In demanding the inclusion of Solidarity in a national dialogue, the Church leaders openly opposed the authorities who appear- to believe that they can by-pass the union and its'elected leaders. . Most of z Solidarity’s leaders were jailed or in-

terned after the military take-over on December 13. The Church and the State authorities talk of the need ■ for national unity; and reconciliation but. .disagreement over ■ the Solidarity issue highlights the fundamental gap between the Communist vision of the ■future and that of the Church which commands the loyalty .of most of Poland’s 36 million inhabitants. * The bishops yesterday used the words “social covenant" rather than the term “national accord” favoured by the Communists. The episcopate considers its mission at this moment is to call for the creation of a social covenant for the good of the entire nation. “The temporarily-sus-pended -trade unions cannot be absent, including Solidary ity which enjoys wide public support,” tiny said.

The bishops, meeting for the first time since the Primate (Archbishop Jozef .Glemp) held talks in Rome earlier this month with Pope John Paul, were unequivocal in their demands for the end of martial law and the release of all people interned and jailed because ofJt.The new toughness appeared to reflect the Pope’s own thinking. “The bishops, together with all society, await the earliest revocation of the state of war, the release of internees, an amnesty for those convicted of acts connected with the state of war," the communique said. Resolutions last week of the ruling Communist Party’s central committee and the Sejm (Parliament) made no mention of any dialogue with Solidarity and fully supported the imposi-

tion of . martial law and the military crack-down. Offi'cal propaganda has continued to accuse the union of coming close to provoking civil war and endangering the very existence of Poland, and the mass media has stepped up attacks on Solidarity’s leader, Lech Walesa. Warsaw Radio said yesterday that the Polish military authorities had lifted tough martial law restrictions clamped on the Baltic part of Gdansk in January. Public assemblies organised by recognised bodies could again be held, and curbs on travel between the city and other parts of the province were removed. Gdansk, birthplace of Solidarity, had been put under tighter control after street clashes on January 30 between the police and thousands of young people.