Politics of memory

"On August 31, the government and the opposition were divided not only by politics but also geography. The leaders of PO and Nowoczesna were in Gdańsk, while President Andrzej Duda and PM Beata Szydło were in Lublin," writes Michał Kolanko in Rzeczpospolita. In his speeches, PO leader Grzegorz Schetyna opposed PiS's appropriation of Solidarność, while Nowoczesna leader Ryszard Petru said that "PiS fears civil society in the same way that the Communists feared Solidarity". The president and the PM avoided references to politics, emphasising the importance of Solidarność on Poland's road to freedom. (page A27)

A mass at the Saint Bridget Basilica and a march from the church to the Solidarność Square are the main official events of the commemoration of the 37th anniversary of the signing of the August agreements which resulted in communist authorities legalizing "Solidarność" union. Senate Marshal Stanisław Karczewski and deputy head of PresChan Paweł Mucha will take part in the celebration. PO, with legendary "Solidarność" leader Lech Wałęsa, will hold a competing event. The governing party and the current "Solidarność" leaders are seeking to play down Wałęsa’s role in the strike that led to the agreement and are presenting him as a collaborator of the communist services.

"We have chosen different ways. After what Solidarność said, it would be strange for me to be insulted first and then lay flowers together," former President Lech Wałęsa told Jacek Nizinkiewicz at Rzeczpospolita. "Solidarność did not plan an anniversary event. It started organising one when it found out that KOD wanted to commemorate the shipyard workers who lost their lives. The anniversary event should be organised by the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk. Unfortunately, the matter is poorly regulated, but it is good that somebody is organising an event at all," he added. (page A7)

The Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) is checking whether the former president provided false testimony on the TW "Bolek" documents. Lech Wałęsa testified that the documents found in Gen. Czesław Kiszczak's home were not written or signed by him, but the IPN claims that they are genuine. Wałęsa's office says the Institute lacks proof and that a specialist opinion indicates that the material is too limited to be deemed genuine. The IPN's actions will prompt criticism of PiS's historical policy and accusations of underplaying Wałęsa's role in history.

"After the Supreme Administrative Court's ruling, MinCult immediately appointed Dr. Karol Nawrocki acting director," write Emilia Stawikowska and Krzysztof Katka in Gazeta Wyborcza. Nawrocki, who previously worked at the IPN, is a patriotic activist and likely PiS candidate for mayor of Gdańsk. Former director Paweł Machcewicz was offered a lower post. Nawrocki's appointment aims to build political capital before the local elections.

At the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), Krzysztof Szwagrzyk dealt with searching for victims of communism. In 2014 he led the team that found remains of "Inka" and "Zagończyk", soldiers of the anti-communist underground who are important figures on the Polish right. Onet reports that his resignation results from conflicts within IPN between people linked to Joachim Brudziński and associates of Antoni Macierewicz. Szwagrzyk belonged to the second group; in recent weeks tensions rose between the MinDef and Jarosław Kaczyński's circle. The resignation has not been accepted yet; IPN's collegium will consider it today.

"I am convinced that Lech Wałęsa's legend will continue, simply because it is true. It is the legend of a man who was not born a leader, but becomes one. Despite his weakness, he can rise up and lead a movement," historian Jan Skórzyński told Paweł Wroński of Gazeta Wyborcza. "The experts' opinion on the matter is clear and the analysis of the documents itself showes that "Bolek" was Wałęsa. I would prefer it if the former president kept quiet on the issue," he added. (page 3)

Based on an opinion from the Institute of Forensic Research in Kraków on the "Bolek" files, the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) claims that Lech Wałęsa signed the statement on cooperation in 1971. According to head of the IPN's investigative pillar Andrzej Pozorski, Wałęsa's signature under 17 receipts for money and 29 hand-written reports from 1971 to 1976 signed "Bolek" are authentic. The opinion was requested after new documents were found in the house of communist-era MinInt Czesław Kiszczak in February 2016.

"IPN is to announce the results of graphology analysis on the personal file of the secret police agent known as Bolek. According to PAP, the analysis suggests that some of the documents were written by Lech Wałęsa," writes Wojciech Czuchnowski in Gazeta Wyborcza. The file was found in early 2016 in the house of a former communist-era MinInt, Gen. Czesław Kiszczak. The documents allegedly confirm that Wałęsa cooperated with the secret police (SB) from December 1970 to 1976. The former president denies having signed any papers as Bolek. In 2000, the lustration court decided that Wałęsa did not cooperate with the SB. (page 4)

"The Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) will declassify the files with restricted access," writes Wojciech Czuchnowski in Gazeta Wyborcza. The main supporters of doing so are MinDef Antoni Macierewicz and deputy head of the IPN collegium Sławomir Cenckiewicz. The move is planned for March 31, 2017. The collection is around 361 metres long, 217 of them currently owned by the Internal Security Agency (ABW) and 54 by the Intelligence Agency (AW). According to IPN archivist Witold Bagieński, there may be little cause for sensation as the records only contain isolated cases of Poles still active in political life. (page 4)

"Even among PiS voters, just half believe the crash was an assassination, and barely 20 per cent support the exhumation of all the victims," writes Piotr Pacewicz in Gazeta Wyborcza. 60 per cent of Poles and 25 per cent of PiS voters believe the crash was an accident, according to an Ipsos poll for OKO.press. 27 per cent of respondents say it was assassination and a mere 10 per cent want all the victims exhumed. (page 3)

"Historians at the University of Warsaw have called an Extraordinary Convention of Researchers of Modern History on November 5 to debate the politicisation of history by the ruling party," writes Adam Leszczyński in Gazeta Wyborcza. The scholars are concerned by the merging of the WWII Museum with the Westerplatte Museum and the dismissals of IPN historians by the new authorities. The speakers will include Prof. Andrzej Friszke and Prof. Marcin Kula. Historians linked to PiS will probably turn down the invitation; Prof. Andrzej Nowak and Prof. Jan Żaryn have criticised the idea. (page 5)

"MinCult is to combine two museums because it is the only way to remove the director of the WWII Museum in Gdańsk and change the exhibit criticised by PiS," writes Krzysztof Klatka in Gazeta Wyborcza. MinCult Piotr Gliński has decided to merge the museum with the Westerplatte Museum he created and make Zbigniew Wawer, head of the Museum of the Polish Army, the new institution's director. According to Paweł Machcewicz, head of the WWII Museum since 2008, the ministry wants to get rid of him and change the idea behind the exhibit; PiS wants it to support the Polish historical narrative. (page 1)

"PiS has made the Smolensk myth its official ideology, a tool to strengthen its power and intensify political revenge. Much suggests that the situation is coming to a head," writes Grzegorz Rzeczkowski in Polityka. Smolensk, a film claiming that the crash was an assassination, has just come out. MinDef Antoni Macierewicz is to reveal new evidence concerning the causes of the crash, while MinFor Witold Waszczykowski will present documents proving that "Donald Tusk was plotting against the president". PiS wants Poles to believe it was a plot; hence more monuments and plaques commemorating the victims are being unveiled. (pages 12-15)

"We have a president who violates the truth about history in an incredible way to please Jarosław Kaczyński," said Rafał Grupiński. The PO MP cites Andrzej Duda's words at the funeral of anti-communist fighters Danuta Siedzikówna "Inka” and Feliks Selmanowicz "Zagończyk", where he said that the ceremony returns dignity to the Polish state, which did not honour its heroes although the "rule of traitors" "theoretically" ended in 1989. The funeral was attended by the president, PM and ministers.

"We want to deepen young Poles' historical knowledge. That is why, on September 1, we will announce a programme of excursions for students to sites relevant to the history of our country and individual regions. These tours will be financed from the central budget," MinEdu Anna Zalewska told Artur Grabek at Wprost. "In my opinion, one cannot point to those responsible for the crimes in Jedwabne and the Kielce pogrom without giving the historical context. The content of textbooks will be decided by experts; we have signed a letter of intent with IPN about cooperation in historical education," she added. (pages 20-23)

Danuta Siedzikówna, pseudonym Inka, and Feliks Selmanowicz, pseudonym Zagończyk, were buried with honours in Gdańsk. These so-called cursed soldiers were murdered by the communist secret services in 1946; their remains were identified by experts from the Institute for National Remembrance. The funeral was attended by President Andrzej Duda, PM Beata Szydło, the marshals of the Sejm and Senate, and ministers. Duda said that the ceremony restores dignity to the Polish state after many years. During the funeral members of ONR attacked KOD leader Mateusz Kijewski.

"I want the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) to initiate historical conflicts. We cannot think, look and act alike. We cannot all become Europeans all of a sudden. I don't want to live in such a world; it is boring and empty. We must impose debate, also on Jedwebne. There are more such historical conflicts, for instance, Volhynia," IPN head Jarosław Szarek told Jacek Nizinkiewicz of Rzeczpospolita. "If we had dealt with Polish-Ukrainian issue in the early 1990s, we wouldn't be having the problems we are having with Volhynia. If we had completed lustration and decommunisation back then, we would be in a different place historically and politically." (page A5)

The first commemorating events took place on Saturday by the Warsaw Rising Museum, where president Andrzej Duda granted orders and national awards. Yesterday a commemorative mass took place by Krasiński Square, followed by the roll call of the fallen - it included, for the first time, also the names of the Uprising commanders who died from natural causes, as well as those of Ryszard Kaczorowski and Lech Kaczyński. Today at 5 pm the emergency sirens will be set in motion, while representatives of the veterans and national authorities will pay tribute to the fallen at the Powązki military cementery.

"One of Jarosław Szarek's first decisions was to sack Krzysztof Persak, the author of two-volumes of documents on the Jedwabne massacre," writes Adam Leszczyński in Gazeta Wyborcza. Persak was the deputy of Szarek's predecessor, Łukasz Kamińśki; after the changes in the IPN management, he asked to be moved to the academic department, but was fired instead. He will be replaced by Mateusz Szpytma, who worked with Szarek on a book on the Ulm family that rescued Jews during World War II. This could mean that IPN will place greater emphasis on promoting Poles' heroic actions towards Jews. (page 8)

At the events marking the 72nd anniversary of its start, the roll call of the fallen will be replaced by a call of memory, with former president Lech Kaczyński among those named. The text of the call was agreed on by MinDef representatives and organisations of people who took part in the uprising. The dispute was triggered by MinDef Antoni Macierewicz, who wanted the roll call of the fallen to include the names of people killed in the Smolensk place crash. Some people protested, including the former president's daughter, Marta Kaczyńska.

"Perhaps the lack of greater activity by the Institute of National Remembrance in recent years, including failure to deal with some difficult subjects, was caused by the fact that IPN was sharply attacked from the outside. We need to do a great job when it comes to educating young Poles. If we want to remove communist patrons from monuments or street names, people need to know why, and who these people were," IPN's new head Jarosław Szarek told Piotr Czartoryski-Sziler at Nasz Dziennik. "One of my dreams is to revive the spirit of Polish 'Solidarity'," he added. (page 3)

"Jarosław Szarek has not yet become head of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), but he has already undermined the state's position on the Jedwabne massacre," writes Wojciech Czuchnowski in Gazeta Wyborcza. At a hearing before the parliamentary justice committee, Szarek said that "Germans did it, using Poles by force". In 2002, IPN's prosecutor said that the massacre was perpetrated by at least 40 Poles and that there was no evidence that Germans forced them to do it. What Szarek said was not true, but PiS liked his answer; the party questions existing findings on the massacre in Jedwabne. (page 2)

It is Jarosław Szarek, who holds a PhD in history from Kraków's Jagiellonian University and works in the Institute's branch there. His candidacy was recommended yesterday to the Sejm by the IPN college. According to the college deputy head, Sławomir Cienckiewicz, the selection was unanimous, and Szarek convinced the college with his criticism of the current IPN management. During yesterday's hearing of the candidates he added that the words "memory" and "nation" were recently treated as burden and it should not be taking place. Read more on PiS's politics of memory in our analysis.

On the 73rd anniversary of so-called Bloody Sunday, PiS chairman Jarosław Kaczyński said that the massacre of Poles by Ukrainian nationalists amounted to genocide. He said that the Sejm would honour the victims with an appropriate resolution. According to MinFor Witold Waszczykowski, Poland and Ukraine need to clarify historical matters and the conflict with Russia cannot be an excuse not to do so. PSL wants the Sejm to make July 11 a day of remembrance for the victims of genocide. For background on Volhynia, see today's analysis.

The Institute of National Remembrance's (IPN) College gathered for the first time yesterday, after being chosen in recent days by the Sejm, Senate and president. Its members include Sławomir Cenckiewicz, Bronisław Wildstein and Andrzej Nowak. Applicants must apply by 18 July, when public interviews with candidates will be held. The decision will be made by the College by secret ballot. The frontrunners are historians Jarosław Szarek and Krzysztof Szwagrzyk. On the changes at IPN, see our analysis.

The new members of the Institute of National Remembrance's (IPN) College are Sławomir Cenckiewicz, Jan Draus, Piotr Franaszek, Józef Marecki and Krzysztof Wyszkowski, all nominated by PiS. Nominees who failed to get enough votes include Andrzej Friszke (PO's candidate) and Henryk Wujec (Nowoczesna and PSL). The other four members will be chosen by the Senate and president. The new College will carry out a competition for head of the IPN; Jarosław Szarek and Krzysztof Szwagrzyk are mentioned as possible candidates. On the new law on the IPN, see our analysis.

On July 11, the 73rd anniversary of the bloody Sunday in Wołyń, the Sejm is to convene for a special session commemorating the victims. PiS wants July 11 made a "day in memory of the victims of the genocide of citizens of the Second Republic by Ukrainian nationalists". Earlier, 200 PiS politicians signed a letter rejecting a Ukrainian proposal for a day of mutual reconciliation. PiS does not want to agree to a joint declaration by both parliaments, as it claims the Ukrainians' proposal "falsifies reality".

"PiS wants the head of the National Rememberance Institute (IPN) to publish all classified documents," writes Andrzej Gajcy in Rzeczpospolita. These are the files of the communist-era special services, which have not been published yet. According to PiS, making the documents classified allowed former agents of the communist services to be hired by the special services after 1989. MinDef Antoni Macierewicz has already expressed his willingness to make the documents public, but PiS plans to do it along with the reform on the IPN. The documents will probably be made public by the IPN's new head because Łukasz Kamiński's term ends in June; historian Sławomir Cenckiewicz is a favourite to replace him. (page A6)

IPN head Łukasz Kamiński said that analysis of the "TW Bolek" files by graphologists will take six months. In his view, it is highly unlikely that Lech Wałęsa's file was forged. He also defended the decision to release the documents before they were checked by graphologists; his intention was to cut short speculation on their content. Kamiński confirmed that the IPN will soon release the remaining materials from the home of General Czesław Kiszczak, which in his opinion can have a significant impact on the public debate in Poland.

The Institute's investigators will be able to open the proceedings on the basis of provisions now sent for consultations by MinJus. For claiming Poland's involvement or joint responsibility for Third Reich crimes a person could face up to five years in prison, while unintentional actions on the matter could result in fines or curtailments of personal freedoms. IPN will also be able to claim compensations through civil law procedure.

The search at the home of the widow of the late first secretary of the Communist Party in 1981-1989 is linked to the one at the home of the late Czesław Kiszczak, a communist-era MinInt, on February 16. Investigators were looking for documents that could confirm that Wojciech Jaruzelski was a secret informer for the Stalinist services around 1950. After the search, 17 packages of documents were secured. If they contain information about Jaruzelski, leading communist-era figures or the pre-1989 opposition, they could become a major topic.

The Institute of National Remembrance released the acts of secret police agent "Bolek", found in the home of Czesław Kiszczak. They include his personal and professional files from 1970 to 1976, with a handwritten statement committing to work with the secret service, signed "Lech Wałęsa 'Bolek'" and dated December 21, 1970. Moreover, the files include a catalogue of payments made to "Bolek", as well as the agent's denunciations and notes from talks with him. Wałęsa has not admitted to working with the secret police, and his defenders emphasise that it ended before "Solidarity" was formed and did not affect his later actions.

They will be available to researchers and journalists. On Thursday the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) announced that the documents found in the home of Czesław Kiszczak include the personal and professional files of secret collaborator "Bolek" and a handwritten statement committing to work with the secret police, signed "Lech Wałęsa 'Bolek'". The documents span the years 1970-1976. On the impact of the Wałęsa files on Polish politics, see our analysis.

EVENT: According to a statement by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) a personnel and work files of a secret cooperator pseudonym „Bolek” of the Security Service (SB) was found in former communist MinWew, general Czesław Kiszczak’s house.  Amongst the documents from the 1970-76 period there was a handwritten obligation of cooperation signed Lech Wałęsa „Bolek” and a signed receipt and notes from meetings with a SB officers. According to head of IPN Łukasz Kamiński, expert analysis have authenticated the documents.

"Apart from PiS's main political focus, there is another less obvious one, as the party has been careful to conceal it," writes Janina Paradowska in Polityka. Ryszard Terlecki announced that he has prepared a draft reform of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), which will make it "the main institution of Poland's historical policy"; IPN would take over the powers of the Council for the Protection of Remembrance of Struggle and Martyrdom and the Veterans' Office. Strengthening the IPN means that PiS wants to conduct an institutionalised historical policy, a fact not mentioned in its election campaign. (page 7)

According to MinInt, procedures concerning the protection of the most important people of the state were not fully applied in Ukraine. During his visit in Łuck to participate in commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Wołyń massacre, President Bronisław Komorowski was hit on his shoulder with an egg. MinInt and BOR said that it was too early to discuss the possible consequences for personnel. On Monday, the president stated that the incident should not be given too great a meaning.

Following the incident in Wołyń when a young man approached Bronisław Komorowski and threw an egg at him, MinInt has demanded detailed explanations from BOR (the Government Protection Office). Unofficially, BOR's employees are blaming the Ukrainian side.

"We are gathered here together, Poles and Ukrainians, to pay tribute to all the victims of the Wołyń massacre and ask God's forgiveness for our crimes," said Bronisław Komorowski in Łuck on Sunday, during a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Wołyń massacre. Ukrainian nationalists murdered about 100,000 Poles in Wołyń; about 20.000 Ukrainians were killed in retribution. After the mass, a Ukrainian threw an egg at the president.

PO and Palikot's Movement (which together have a majority) have voted in favour of a draft resolution on the Wołyń massacre which describes it as "ethnic cleansing with elements of genocide". "The parliament's statement needs to say the truth about the massacre, but also has to help future cooperation and reconciliation between Poland and Ukraine," argued Rafał Grupiński, head of PO's parliamentary caucus. PiS, SLD and Solidarna Polska want an unequivocal description of the massacre as genocide. 70 years ago, Ukrainians killed about 100,000 Poles, mostly in the region of Wołyń.

On 14 July Bronisław Komorowski will pay tribute to those killed in the massacre in the Wołyń province, Ukraine, PAP reported yesterday. The Polish side hopes that the Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych will attend the celebrations. Tomorrow Yanukovych will hold talks with Komorowski at the latter's residence in Wisła. This year is the 70th anniversary of the massacre of Poles by UPA, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.