Former Communist party chairman and defense minister General Wojciech Jaruzelski along with former interior minister General Czesław Kiszczak went on trial on Friday over the declaration of martial law in Poland in 1981. They are the two main defendants in the trial.

Kiszczak did not appear in court for health reasons, but the judge deemed his absence unjustified and decided to go ahead with the trial. Jaruzelski, Kiszczak and five other Communist-era officials are accused of Communist crime and for "leading a crime organization." The latter applies to Military Council of National Salvation (Wojskowa Rada Ocalenia Narodowego), which was declared an only authority in Poland during the martial law period.

The 84-year old Jaruzelski is also charged with abusing his powers and forcing unconstitutional decrees. If found guilty, he faces 10 years of prison, at most. The 82-year old Czesław Kiszczak is facing maximum eight years of imprisonment. On Friday, prosecutor from the Institute of National Remembrance read out the accusation.

Martial law was declared in Poland by the Communist government on December 13, 1981 to prevent opposition movements from gaining popularity and political power in the country, and to reduce the risk of Soviet intervention. Thousands of people were arrested without charge. Martial law was raised in July 1983.

Photo courtesy of: Chepry (Andrzej Barabasz) 2006