Martial law to end soon

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 8

Martial law to end soon

NZPA-Reuter Madrid The Polish Vice-Foreign Minister (Mr Jozef Wiejacz) said yesterday that most martial law restrictions would be lifted bj’ the end of this month. He told a news conference in Madrid that about 4000 people still remained interned in Poland, but that 20 to 30 were being released daily.

Mr Wiejacz could not say when martial law, imposed on December' 13, would be cancelled, but he said: “Most of the restrictions related to people will be lifted by the end of this month< He said that restrictions remaining would mainly be economic measures.

Mr Wiejacz, speaking during a lull in the European security conference, said he did not know when the interned Solidarity leader, Lech Walesa, would be freed, but that “informal” discussions were going on between him and Government officials.

Mr Wiejacz called his news conference obviously to answer allegations by Western officials at the security conference that Poland was violating human rights and other provisions of the Helsinki Act, which has set up international standards of

conduct in the 35-member States.

Pressed by newsmen about the fate of Mr Walesa, Mr Wiejacz said that he was being treated in a “special way” and that he was receiving visits by many people, including his family, his wite. officials of the Catholic Church, and Government officials. He said Mr Walesa may be released soon, but that he did not know this tor certain.

At least 20.000 people were still being detained in 50 Polish camps, the West German pacifist Catholic organisation, Pax Christi, said in Bonn yesterday. Pax Christi’s secretarygeneral (Mr Reinhold Lehmann) said the conditions of workers interned in 13 camps near Katowice m southern Poland were particularly bad. according to reports coming out of Poland.

He called on Western trade unions to support the detainees’ cause.

In Paris, exiled Solidarity members said yesterday that 10,000 helium-filled balloons carrying messages of support to union members and sympathisers would be launched towards Poland from a Danish island.