October 10, 1985 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 27315 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON tion, and I look forward to its speedy pas­ ers union, known as Solidarity, and the Gov­ HUMAN RIGHTS IN POLAND sage. ernment of Poland; I insert the text of the resolution in the Whereas the historic accords offered the RECORD: promise of a new era in Poland with in· HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI creased respect for human rights; [From the Washington Post, Oct. 1, 19851 OF PENNSYLVANIA Whereas the imposition of martial law in VOICES OF POLAND December 1981 by the Government of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Vote in his elections, Gen. Jaruzelski told Poland abrogated the accords and led to the Thursday, October 10, 1985 restive Poles in an interview published in arrests or detention of thousands of Solidar­ ity leaders and other citizens of Poland and Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, early next this newspaper on Sunday, and perhaps he'll let pro-Solidarity prisoners out of to the denial of basic rights of the people of week the people of Poland will be asked to prison. Lech Walesa, leader of the banned Poland; vote in parliamentary elections. When they Solidarity, which has appealed for a boycott Whereas, under the period of martial law, do they will be able to vote only for candi­ of the vote, immediately denounced the the citizens of Poland were denied their dates chosen by the Polish Communist offer as "blackmail," noting that Poles rights, abducted, threatened, assaulted, and Party. As they vote, activists in the Solidar­ cannot choose independent candidates for murdered for their activities in support of ity movement continue to suffer persecu­ the elections to "parliament" on Oct. 13. human rights; The general is the hard and determined Whereas the Government of Poland de­ tion. clared an amnesty for most political prison­ At this time, it is highly appropriate for enforcer of martial law and its stem after­ math. But Mr. Walesa, still severely restrict­ ers in 1984; Congress to restate its concerns about the ed in his political activity, has a superior Whereas some progress has been made on course of action the Polish Government claim to speak for the Polish people. Having behalf of human rights in Poland since the has chosen. For almost 4 years, this Gov­ weighed the trade-offs, he rejects paying amnesty, but officials of the Government of ernment has pursued a policy of subjection Gen. Jaruzelski's price-popular acquies­ Poland have criticized and attacked citizens of a great number of its citizens. When the cence in his brand of communist rule-for of Poland who speak out on behalf of Solidarity movement was at its height in cracking open the jails. The foreign friends human rights; of Poland should not second-guess Mr. Whereas Father Jerzy Popieluszko, a lead­ 1981, it claimed the membership or allie­ ing spokesman for the rights of workers, gance of 10 million Poles, a third of the na­ Walesa on this decision. There is a harder issue-sanctions. It goes was abducted, beaten, and murdered in Oc­ tion's population. Since December of that to the heart of the traditional attempt of tober 1984; year, the Government of General Jaruzelski American policy to deny legitimacy to un­ Whereas officers of the Internal Affairs has employed force, intimidation, and im­ elected communist regimes without unduly Ministry of Poland have confessed to the prisonment to disrupt and shatter Solidari­ hurting the people living under them. As he crimes; ty. denounced the elections, Mr. Walesa urged Whereas human rights monitoring com­ Washington to end the remaining economic mittees are being established throughout Although Poland has not been much in Poland to collect and publish data on abuses the news lately, these same tactics contin­ penalties it imposed when martial law was declared in 1981. He said sanctions had fu.1- of human rights and to grant legal, finan­ ue. As recently as this summer, three Soli­ filled their purpose and now are "bringing cial, and medical aid to the victims of perse­ darity activists were convicted for disturb­ more harm from the propaganda point of cution; ing the public order. Their trial was subject view than good." His words followed a simi­ Whereas the Government of Poland is in­ to heavy censorship, and was open to the lar appeal by Cardinal Jozef Glemp, an­ timidating members of the Polish human public in name only. other unquestionably authentic Polish rights monitoring committees and is seeking Now, General Jaruzelski would like to spokesman, who called the sanctions to prevent their activities on behalf of use these parliamentary elections to give "unjust ... it is the people who suffer, not human rights; the government." Whereas the Government of Poland has his regime a "stamp of approval" from the threatened legal prosecution against Jour­ Polish people. He has even cynically sug­ It is easy to say no to Gen. Jaruzelski, who served a Soviet purpose by crushing demo­ nalists who meet with such committees; gested that if Poles vote in his elections, he cractic Solidarity-"there is no Solidarity as Whereas it is the stated policy of the law may release jailed Solidarity members. such," he says-when he asks the end of of the United States, including section We in Congress must now make clear sanctions. It is much more difficult to say 502BCa><l> of the Foreign Assistance Act of that elections conducted in this manner are no to the leader of Solidarity and to the 1961 and section 402 of the Trade Act of a compromise of democracy, and a mock­ Roman Catholic primate of Poland, brave 1974, that human rights considerations are ery of the free spirit of the Polish people. and clear-thinking men who know and share a vital element of the foreign policy of the the burdens of the Polish people. United States; To that end, I have joined my colleague, Whereas, with the imposition of martial Senator SIMON of Illinois, in introducing a On the strictly domestic Polish issue of participation in what Mr. Walesa describes law in Poland in December 1981, the United concurrent resolution expressing the sense as "inauthentic" elections, the Poles will States imposed economic sanctions on of Congress concerning the human rights make their own choice, and Americans must Poland; situation in Poland, and calling upon the respect it. On sanctions, where unavoidably Whereas, when the Government of Polish Government to live up to its obliga­ the United States plays a direct role, Ameri· Poland demonstrated increasing respect for tions under the various agreements on cans have no less an obligation to listen to human rights, the United States eased the the true voices of the Polish people. The sanctions accordingly; human rights which it has signed. Whereas the Final Act of the Conference At a time when General Jaruzelski would West should demand assurances that new loans will not be misspent, Mr. Walesa says. on Security and Cooperation in Europe like to prove to the world his own legitima­ "Poland should be helped as quickly as pos­ <commonly known as the Helsinki Accords>. cy as ruler of Poland, it is incumbent on sibly when such a certainty exists." to which Poland is a signatory, states that Congress to make clear that we see the the participating nations "will promote and abuses which have happened, and which H. CON. RES. - encourage the effective exercise of civil, po· litical, economic, social, cultural, and other are persisting today. We must make clear Concurrent resolution expressing the sense that we believe the rulers of Poland have rights and freedoms, all of which derive of the Congress with repect to human from the inherent dignity of the human obligations to their people, and that they righ~ in Poland person and are essential for his free and full should live up to them. Whereas the Gdansk Agreement and development"; and I urge all my colleagues to join me in other social accords were signed in August Whereas the Helsinki Accords state that supporting and cosponsoring this resolu- 1980 by respresentatives of the Polish work- the signatories to the accords will make it e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member of the Senate on the floor. Boldface type indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 27316 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS October 10, 1985 their aim to <1> "facilitate the freer and Lee Chen on behalf of the people of Cali­ To all of this we say amen, and we also wider dissemination of information of all fornia as she receives well-deserved honors join in commending President Kennedy kinds"; <2> "improve the conditions under today from the Anti-Defamation League as himself for having espoused the idea and which journalists from one participating helped push it into law. The Peace Corps, State exercise their profession in another its 1985 recipient of the Distinguished Serv­ with its youthfulness, its energy and excite­ participating State"; and <3> "increase the ice Award. ment and commitment, became a kind of opportunities for journalists of the partici­ Certainly the League could not have symbol of the Kennedy administration at its pating States to communicate personally chosen a more worthy individual for this early best, and this was fitting. The agency with their sources, including organizations special recognition and honor. She has got its momentum and its enduring person­ and official institutions": Now, therefore, be served on the Monterey Park City Council ality in those years, and it reflected what it since her election in 1982 when she re­ was most innovative and idealistic about the Resolved by the House of Representatives ceived the largest number of votes of any Kennedy administration.