Walesa Berates Polish Leaders

On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the founding of the Solidarity labor union, Lech Walesa accused the Communist leaders of destroying Poland and challenged them to end repression and make fundamental political and economic changes.

“To the authorities we say, release political prisoners, end your policy of repression and come back to the road of agreement,” Walesa told reporters after he was cheered by more than 500 supporters outside the Lenin shipyard, where he works as an electrician. It was the largest crowd allowed to gather near the factory since the imposition of martial law.