Frustration erupts into conflict with police as Solidarity protests in Warsaw

Around 10,000 miners, steel mills workers and PKP employees from the Silesian chapter of Solidarity came to Warsaw to protest against the government's policy towards their ailing sectors. "There is no dialogue between the government and unionists. The government is doing nothing to revive the economy," said Solidarity's new national leader Janusz Sniadek. Government spokesman Michal Tober told the unionists that the economic situation is due to the former government led by Jerzy Buzek. Tober added that he will give the copies of the unionists' postulates to former prime minister Buzek as well as ex Solidarity leader Marian Krzaklewski, since in Leszek Miller's opinion, Solidarity is protesting against the effects its their own four year government. The demonstration marched past the Prime Minister's Office where many protesters began to vent their frustration at the police with the use of pick-axe handles, sticks and fireworks. The police replied with small amounts of tear gas. The media noted that such an intense conflict has not been seen for a long time. The leader of the Silesian chapter of Solidarity told journalists. "This is just the beginning, we are ready to declare war on the government." Is this signs of a new radical Solidarity union is emerging, or will the protest fade out just as they did over the summer? (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) A.Z.