President Andrzej Duda commemorated the victims of the 1981 pacification of the “Wujek” coal mine in Katowice, marking its 43rd anniversary. The event, rooted in Poland’s struggle against communist oppression, claimed the lives of nine miners and left many injured. Laying a wreath at the Cross-Memorial of Fallen Miners, President Duda paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for a free Poland.
The Tragic Events of December 1981
The pacification began as miners protested the arrest of a union leader during martial law. On December 16, 1981, over 2,000 militia officers, soldiers, and ZOMO units, equipped with tanks and armored vehicles, surrounded the striking miners. By noon, special ZOMO units opened fire, killing six miners on-site and injuring dozens. Three more died in hospital.
Justice Denied
President Duda highlighted the failure of post-communist Poland to hold the perpetrators accountable. While some low-ranking officials faced punishment, those who issued the orders, including General Jaruzelski, escaped justice. He condemned the honoring of such figures, calling it a stain on Poland’s history.
Concluding his address, the President reaffirmed Poland’s commitment to remembering its heroes. “Their blood was not shed in vain,” he declared, emphasizing the importance of passing their legacy to future generations. “Glory to the heroes, eternal memory to the fallen miners of Wujek.”