POLAND: CONTINUED RESISTANCE

Created: 2/24/1982

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

POLAND: Continued Resistance

reeietance to martial

atmoB-

volatile.

suggest

tre ie debateregime on

Walesa'

There have been several additional silent marches in and near Lublin, primarily involving students. The expulsion oftudents from the local universityhas prompted some to delay other protests until spring. Tn Torun, the police over the weekend brokelandestine student organization that allegedly was_ distributing antiregime and anti-Soviet leaflets.

inconfirmed reports

of sporadic, short protests in local factories and rumors of an impending student demonstration. He believes that the excessive use of force against students there onebruary has appalled most citizens and increased the chances of more serious demonstrations, assess1

Swedish radio recentlyapesmuggled out ofan alleged clandestine radio transmission, neither this "broadcast" nor those mentioned in previouaeports, however, have been monitored in the West. V

Comment: Although there evidently have been fewer incidents of actual resistance over the past week than during the first half of February, anger and frustration continue to run deep. In such an atmosphere, minor local protests could get out of control, especially if the police overreact. Despite government warnings of greater repression, there isidespread expectation of increased opposition in the spring.

In contrast, another senioris known fortan^defei^^jjf^Churchnoncommittal

(about near-termbishop, however, did not see any threat o; repression to the Church, saying that the party realized this would only further alienate it from the nation. He said that the Church would learn to liveegime not entirely of its liking.

Comment:about hardline

machinations and- ponsiblo Soviet military intervention reflects longstanding Church fears that have prompted it tooderating role. He also represents that part of the clergy which has been most critical of the regime and most pessimistic about the short-term outj

Press Statements on Walesa

Tho Polish now3 agency and the military daily have explicitly criticized Walesa for servingigurehead in an anti-Communist crusade and opposing the interests of the working class. Last Saturday, the party daily approvingly cited Walesa's statement to his priest that he had not authorized any leaflets calling for resistance to martial law.

Commenti The attack on Walesa indicates that some in the regime have given up on trying to get him to cooperate. The contrasting coverage, however, suggests

Original document.

---

---