Poland:
30,000 demonstrate in Warsaw

More than 30,000 protesters marched in front of the Finance Ministry, 
parliament and the main government centre in Warsaw on September 24 in a 
union-organised demonstration against the economic policies of the neo-
capitalist government. The protesters chanted "Don't sell Poland to 
foreigners" and "Reforms equal sabotage".

The rally included farmers, miners, nurses, railway workers and workers 
from the hard hit arms industries.

The government is pushing ahead with a destructive program of economic 
restructuring intended to prepare Poland for entry into the European Union.

State enterprises are being sold off to Western corporations, workers are 
being laid off, and industries shut down as state markets disappear.

Health services, once excellent and free, have deteriorated and are now 
expensive; people on pensions have been hard hit by price rises, education 
is in turmoil and the civil service is in disarray.

An alarmed government cordoned off government buildings and deployed 
several thousand riot police but organisers successfully avoided any 
provocation.

Truck drivers protested in early August over an increase in fuel prices, 
while farmers, who no longer have a guaranteed market for their produce and 
are facing financial ruin, have also called for cheaper fuel, higher prices 
for their grain, and protection to keep out imported cereals.

Two hundred nurses staged a hunger strike last week in southern Poland to 
protest against low salaries and poor conditions.

After ten years of capitalist "reforms" accompanied by pro-capitalist and 
anti-communist propaganda, Poles are increasingly disenchanted with post-
socialist society. They still tend, however, to blame individual 
politicians rather than the new system for their problems.

The demonstrators in Warsaw demanded that Premier Jerzy Buzek resign and 
called for Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz's immediate dismissal.

Significantly absent from the demonstration was Solidarity. Once super 
militant against the former Communist government, Solidarity is now part of 
the pro-capitalist coalition government.

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