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Walesa Among Ex-Leaders at Funeral of Political Enemy Walesa Among Ex-Leaders at Funeral of Political Enemy
(3 months later)
WARSAW — With demonstrators chanting on the streets outside and the three surviving Polish presidents in attendance, perhaps the most polarizing figure in modern Polish history was honored on Friday at a funeral Mass in the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army. WARSAW — With demonstrators chanting on the streets outside and the three surviving Polish presidents in attendance, perhaps the most polarizing figure in modern Polish history was honored on Friday at a funeral Mass in the Field Cathedral of the Polish Army.
The three presidents sat side by side in the front row at the funeral for Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski: the current president, Bronislaw Komorowski; Aleksander Kwasniewski; and Lech Walesa, whose political duel with the dictator general led to the birth of democratic Poland.The three presidents sat side by side in the front row at the funeral for Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski: the current president, Bronislaw Komorowski; Aleksander Kwasniewski; and Lech Walesa, whose political duel with the dictator general led to the birth of democratic Poland.
“I think it was a good signal that we were together,” Mr. Kwasniewski said in an interview later. “We are not from the same political camps.”“I think it was a good signal that we were together,” Mr. Kwasniewski said in an interview later. “We are not from the same political camps.”
Just a few blocks from the city’s tourist-choked historic district, several hundred gray-haired protesters held up signs denouncing General Jaruzelski as a “traitor,” a “murderer” and a “servant of Moscow.” Many carried banners from Solidarity, the trade union led by Mr. Walesa, who said he had agreed to attend the funeral because, among other reasons, a Roman Catholic Mass, celebrated by Bishop Jozef Guzdek, was included. (During the Communist years, General Jaruzelski would not have gone to a Mass.)Just a few blocks from the city’s tourist-choked historic district, several hundred gray-haired protesters held up signs denouncing General Jaruzelski as a “traitor,” a “murderer” and a “servant of Moscow.” Many carried banners from Solidarity, the trade union led by Mr. Walesa, who said he had agreed to attend the funeral because, among other reasons, a Roman Catholic Mass, celebrated by Bishop Jozef Guzdek, was included. (During the Communist years, General Jaruzelski would not have gone to a Mass.)
“It was a lot of noise, a lot of provocation,” Mr. Kwasniewski said. “A funeral is not a time to organize demonstrations. It is a time for silence.”“It was a lot of noise, a lot of provocation,” Mr. Kwasniewski said. “A funeral is not a time to organize demonstrations. It is a time for silence.”
The protesters followed the funeral to the Powazki Cemetery complex, the most prestigious in the country. Many were angered that the general was being buried there. Nearly a thousand people clustered in the narrow pathways between the headstones, some whistling and shouting against the general, others offering support.The protesters followed the funeral to the Powazki Cemetery complex, the most prestigious in the country. Many were angered that the general was being buried there. Nearly a thousand people clustered in the narrow pathways between the headstones, some whistling and shouting against the general, others offering support.
A small group from the National Movement, a far-right party, staged a mock funeral across town at the cemetery where 20,000 Soviet soldiers who fought the Nazis in World War II were buried, saying the general did not deserve to be interred at Powazki.A small group from the National Movement, a far-right party, staged a mock funeral across town at the cemetery where 20,000 Soviet soldiers who fought the Nazis in World War II were buried, saying the general did not deserve to be interred at Powazki.
General Jaruzelski died Sunday at age 90 in a military hospital in Warsaw of complications from a stroke he suffered in early May.General Jaruzelski died Sunday at age 90 in a military hospital in Warsaw of complications from a stroke he suffered in early May.
The decision to attend the general’s funeral was not universal. Prime Minister Donald Tusk chose to stay away, for instance.The decision to attend the general’s funeral was not universal. Prime Minister Donald Tusk chose to stay away, for instance.
Many still refused to forgive the general for establishing martial law in 1981, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of people and the imprisonment of thousands more, including Mr. Walesa. General Jaruzelski later maintained that he did so only to prevent the Soviet Union from invading and more brutally quashing Poland’s democratic forces.Many still refused to forgive the general for establishing martial law in 1981, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of people and the imprisonment of thousands more, including Mr. Walesa. General Jaruzelski later maintained that he did so only to prevent the Soviet Union from invading and more brutally quashing Poland’s democratic forces.
Some were more willing to accept that explanation than others. A Polish radio interviewer asked Mr. Walesa whom he was saying goodbye to at the funeral: a statesman, a traitor or a dictator. “Partially, every one of them,” he replied. “I will leave it to the Lord.”Some were more willing to accept that explanation than others. A Polish radio interviewer asked Mr. Walesa whom he was saying goodbye to at the funeral: a statesman, a traitor or a dictator. “Partially, every one of them,” he replied. “I will leave it to the Lord.”
Others decided that General Jaruzelski’s decision to permit the nation’s first partially free elections in 1989 — an event that will be celebrated next week in Warsaw, drawing President Obama, among other dignitaries — softened their view of his harsh rule. Those elections resulted in the collapse of Communism and the election of Mr. Walesa.Others decided that General Jaruzelski’s decision to permit the nation’s first partially free elections in 1989 — an event that will be celebrated next week in Warsaw, drawing President Obama, among other dignitaries — softened their view of his harsh rule. Those elections resulted in the collapse of Communism and the election of Mr. Walesa.
“He is the representative of a very special generation,” said Mr. Kwasniewski, who was among the speakers at the Mass. “It was a generation of drama and tragedy. I said that we are together again, the soldiers led by Jaruzelski, people from the former Communist state and also his opponents. We are together.”“He is the representative of a very special generation,” said Mr. Kwasniewski, who was among the speakers at the Mass. “It was a generation of drama and tragedy. I said that we are together again, the soldiers led by Jaruzelski, people from the former Communist state and also his opponents. We are together.”