This hearing focused on the events in Poland, resulting from martial law, as direct violations of the human rights and other provisions of the Final Act and to determine what can be done to preserve human rights gains in that beleaguered country. It is clear now that the aim of this harsh crackdown was the suppression of the Polish workers’ movement, Solidarity, as well as the rollback of the unprecedented political reforms and social renewal which that movement had stimulated during the past 16 months. Also discussed was the strategic importance of Poland to the U.S.S.R. and how these developments may show signs of vulnerabilities among the Soviet states.
Members
Hon. Robert Dole
Co-Chairman
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Patrick Leahy
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Orrin Hatch
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Don Ritter
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Steven Palmer
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Moderator
Spencer Oliver
Staff Director/General Council
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Witnesses
Ambassador Zdzislaw Rurarz
Former Ambassador to Japan
Poland
Ambassador Max Kampelman
Chairman
U.S. Delegation to the CSCE
Stanislaw Baranczak
Founder of the KOR
Committee for the Defense of Workers
John D. Scanlan
Deputy Assistant Secretary for European Affairs
Department of State
Tom Kahn
Assistant to the President
AFL-CIO
Relevant Issues
Relevant Countries
Leadership

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