Bionotes of detainees and Solidarity activists


Mr. Jacek KLAŚ

Member of ‘Solidarity’ branch at a construction company in Cracow where, on the introduction of martial law in December 1981, he became Vice-chairman and later chairman (in 1983) of the Secret Workplace Committee. Arrested in April 1984 for being the head of this organization and sentenced to one year imprisonment
Completed 2-year degree at the underground Christian Workers’ University run by a catholic parish church in a suburb of Cracow
Founder and editor of the inter-workplace unionist newsletter ‘WAZA’
Initiator of Community Resistance Group ‘Solidarity’ in his hometown
Participant in numerous protests and hunger strikes
Migrated to Australia in 1988
Actively involved in organizing support for ‘Solidarity’ activists in Poland
Member of Victorian ‘Solidarity’ Association until 1990
Member of Australian Trades Union AMWU


Mrs. Alicja PRZEWŁOCKA

Head of Distribution Section within the Inter-workplace ‘Solidarity’ Committee in the Lower Silesia Region
Confined in Gołdapia detention camp 13.12.1981 (first day of the martial law) despite having children aged only 6 and 7
Released 6.03.1982
Mother – Alicja Paciej - was also detained in Gołdapia


Mr. Janusz PRZEWŁOCKI

‘Solidarity’ member
After his wife’s (Alicja Przewłocka) arrest, was asked to join the communist party; upon refusal his work contract wasn’t renewed
Arrived in Australia in 1984
1984-1987 participated in providing assistance to ‘Solidarity’ members in Poland


Mr Grzegorz OCHNIA

Actively involved in the Radom strikes of June 1976 which were pivotal in the process leading up to the formation of ‘Solidarity’
Member of ‘Solidarity’ branch in his workplace
Arrested 30.04.1982 and sentenced under martial law to a 3-year prison term, later revised to 1 year. Released 30.04.1983
Continued his involvement with ‘Solidarity’ after it has been banned
Took part in numerous street demonstrations and protests in Warsaw and Gdańsk
Apprehended by the Civic Militia (equivalent of Police) on countless occasions; his home regularly searched 2-3 times a week
Arrived in Australia in January 1990


Mrs. Elżbieta SZCZEPAŃSKA

Founder of ‘Solidarity’ branch at the Sports Academy in Katowice
Member of several founding and coordinating committees within the ‘Solidarity’ structures in Silesia Region
Imprisoned 13.12.1981 (first day of martial law); released 6.03.1982
Expelled from her position as academic teacher on the grounds of “not giving sufficient guarantee to teach youth in the spirit of socialism”
Persisted in her work for ‘Solidarity’, which was now forced into the underground (press and pamphlets distribution, articles for illegal newspapers, Radio ‘Solidarity’)
Between 1985 and 1987 repetitively apprehended with her child by the Security Service
Came to Australia in 1987


Mrs. Zofia KWIATKOWSKA-DUBLASZEWSKA

Member of one of the ‘Solidarity’ Workplace Committees in Gdańsk
Took part in strikes in 1980
Arrested 14.12.1981 for organizing a strike and refusing to resume work
Sentenced to 5 years imprisonment – the second highest sentence applied to a woman under martial law (the highest was 10 years); later revised down to 3.5 years
Dismissed by her employer for not reporting to work (while in prison)
Arrested again 14.01.1986; released 21.08.1986


Mr. Ryszard PODGÓRSKI

Chair of ‘Solidarity’ Committee at his workplace in Szczecin
Interned 27.08.1982; released 19.11.1982
Frequently apprehended and called in for questioning until 1984
After his arrival in Australia worked towards the release of prisoners of conscience and legalization of ‘Solidarity’


Mrs. Grażyna PŁAWSKA

Organiser and participant in the strike at Katowice Metalworks; produced pamphlets about this strike
Member of the ‘Solidarity’ Intervention Commission for the Silesia Region
Directed underground press campaigns and continued to do so even under martial law
Arrested by 16 policemen on 23.02.1982; detained till August 1982
Threatened with having her children aged 10 and 13 deported to Siberia
Unable to find work for political reasons (unemployment was nonexistent in communist Poland)
In Australia since 1983


Mr. Edward WŁODARSKI

Detained on the 5.11.1982
Convicted by the magistrate court for participation in an illegal demonstration and for wearing a ‘Solidarity’ badge
Migrated to Australia in 1984
Energetically assisted in organizing help for ‘Solidarity’ members persecuted in Poland
Photographer of many street demonstrations in Gdansk during martial law.


Mr. Tolek NADSTAZIK

‘Solidarity’ member at the Fish Processing Establishments in Gdynia
Strike participant 15 - 31 August 1980
Delegate to the ‘Solidarity’ Convention for the Gdańsk Region
Remembers events of December 1970 when his colleague was killed by the Civic Militia


Mr. Wiesław GĘBOREK

‘Solidarity’ member since 1980
Advisor during negotiations with government on the coal mining industry reform
Chairman of Workers’ Self-government at a coalmine; initiator of a strike by the miners
Arrested after the forceful pacification of the mine on 20.12.1981
Detained for 2 weeks in Civic Militia Regional Headquarters
Underwent the so called “fitness trail” – a run between two lines of policemen who beat him with clubs and lead wire, resulting in head and facial injuries and broken teeth
Released due to poor health (beatings damaged his liver) and admitted to hospital
Left Poland in 1983
Returned to homeland in 1992 in response to Prime Minister Olszewski’s appeal but moved back to Australia after Olszewski’s government’s collapse


Mrs. Barbara NAWRATOWICZ-STUART

Arrested in 1952 by Security Service while in her first year at university and charged with anti-Stalin activities. Three other persons were arrested at the same time, two of them died during questioning and one received an 11-year imprisonment sentence.
Freed after Stalin’s death
Departed Poland in 1965
Worked for Radio Free Europe between 1965 and 1987


Mrs. Mirosława ZGIRSKA
(Deceased)

Nurse
(excerpts from verdict) “…participated in illegal organization under the name Regional Coordinating Committee and engaged in activities aiming at creating public unrest by obtaining radio transmission equipment”
Arrested 16.01.1986 and convicted for possessing the abovementioned equipment and broadcasting “Radio Solidarity” programs (2.5 year prison term)
Left behind 9-year old daughter while serving out her sentence


Mr. Aleksander KOCIĘGA
(Deceased)

Mining technician, Master of Business and Administration
Returned his communist party membership card in protest in August 1980
Consequently expelled from the party and demoted to inferior position at work.
Asked by co-workers to become spokesman for the ‘Solidarity’ Workplace Committee; later member of the ‘Solidarity’ Steering Committee in his region
Co-founder of the Workers’ Self-governments’ Network
Carried out illegal activities after the introduction of martial law
Arrested 7.03.1982; released 10.12.1982
After his arrival in Australia lobbied for the re-call of martial law and organized support for Polish prisoners of conscience
Originator and co-founder of Victorian ‘Solidarity’ Association Solidarity Victorian Fellowship


Mrs. Celina Slodowy

Founder of “Solidarity” organization in MERA–PIAP (Industrial Institute of Automatics and Measurements) in Warsaw.
Elected member of the committee of “Solidarity” organization in MERA-PIAP.
Member of the editorial team of “Gazeta” – news bulletin of Solidarity Trade Union organization in the MERA-PIAP Institute.
Decided to leave Poland in April 1981, arrived in Australia in October 1981.
Founder and Coordinator of “Support for SOLIDARITY Group” in Melbourne in 1982. An organization with the aim of helping families of imprisoned “Solidarity” members in Poland, and making the Australian public aware of the situation in Poland under Gen. Jaruzelski’s regime.
 

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