GDANSK | Socialist Action 1983

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SOLIDARITY activists have utilised the Pope's visit to show their strength. The open-air masses were a for the underground resistance to mobilise support, and to hearten the millions of followers whose contact with the moveHe gave the activists the chance to hasten the reof 60,000, and many other journals had a circulation of 20-30,000. The Solidarivaluaure source of infor- journals were an mation and co-ordination. 1982 the Interim Committee (TKK) of nosc was formed, with leaders from four of the regions of Solidarnosc, including Bogdan Lis Zbigniew Bujak. The TKK became the effective leadership of the underground.

On 1982 workers the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk staged a fifteen minute strike call- 6. ing for the release of all detainees. THESE mass demonstrations against martial law took place on 1 60,000 people demonstrated in Gdansk, and large demonstrations . Ially OLICI towns. Further demonstrations took place on 3 At the appeal of the TKK, more demonstraLOTS LOOK place on Over 2,000 people were arrested in this wave demonstrations, many more were. sacked after the 13 May strike.

Solidarity began to suffer from the effects of the repression. Moreover. the repeated demonstrations and the repression which followed them threw up a debate about the perspecLIVe Lne movement.

Solidarity bring COWE governmen through a general strike?

Would of organising 'counter: SUCICLY. be necessarv!

Solidarity force some sort of accord on the government?

These problems of perspective became centrated in the TKK apSolidarnosc activists take to the streets peal for a strike on November 1982 - the second anniversary of the registration of Solidarity.

The strike was not success, demonstrations were small. Workers knew that they would face sacking and perhaps worse if they came out on strike. Without doubt, the failure of the TKK caused widespread demoralisation.

The day after the failure of the Jaruzelski announced the release of Walesa who was 'a private citizen and no longer a threat to public order'. What role would Walesa play? At first he said little.

Rumours abounded that his release had been part of a deal between the Church governHad Walesa sold