Poland protests at balloon 'invasion’

Press, 13 March 1982, Page 8

Poland protests at balloon 'invasion’

NZPA-Reuter ' Warsaw Poland’s, martial-law Government kept up a stream of protests yesterday against a Western propaganda balloon “invasion” and revealed that it had protested formally to both France and Denmark. The Polish authorities denounced the Danes for failing to prevent the launching of the airborne barrage last week from the Danish Baltic island of Bornholm.

They attacked the French because the 10,000 balloons and the anti-martial law leaflets carried by them were prepared in France. APolish Foreign Ministry official. Wladyslaw Klaczynski, told a news conference that the ambassadors of both countries had been summoned to his Ministry to receive formal protests.

He added that Poland would claim damages from both countries if any of the balloons, which he said en-

dangered air traffic, caused an accident.

The helium-filled balloons were launched by a French group calling itself the “Free Balloons for Poland Committee.”

The balloon invasion appeared to have had little impact. The leaflets generally told Poles what they already knew, and have provided the martial-law authorities with what appears to be a castiron propaganda case against their Western opponents. Mr Klaczynski said it was an unprecedented violation of .air-safety regulations and a flagrant violation of Polish sovereignty.

Meanwhile the Polish Community Party Politburo said only those who fully backed martial law and General Jaruzelski’s military Government could remain as party members. In an apparent attempt to

rid the organisation of factions, the Politburo said in the party newspaper “Trybuna Ludq" that only those who endorsed the resolution of the last party, plenum and decisions of the military Government by the end of June could continue their membership.

In February, the Communist Party central committee plenum backed martial law and General Jaruzelski’s military rule. The Politburo also, called for greater use of. non-party advisers in factories and other State enterprises to solve local economic and social problems. These people must work honestly, show initiative and be highly qualified, the text said. Members should also take an active part in discussing the future structure of trade unions, suspended under martial law.