Walesa ends Polish massacre trial evidence

Former Polish leader Lech Walesa today finished giving evidence in the trial of the country’s ex-military ruler General Wojciech Jaruzelski for his part in the murder of 44 protesters in 1970.

The one-time Polish President and Solidarity leader appeared before the Regional Court in Warsaw as one of the key witnesses of the massacre during the strikes in Gdansk in 1970.

The 1970 massacre trial has been in progress for seven years and Jaruzelski is one of seven defendants, including a former Defence Minister and former Deputy Premier of the Communist government.

On December 12, 1970, the Communist government in Poland announced drastic increases in food prices, which provoked a wave of demonstrations across Poland, mainly in Gdansk.

According to the official records, in an attempt to silence the protesting workers in Gdansk, Gdynia, Szczecin and Elblag, 44 people were killed and 1,160 wounded by the militia.