Romuald Szeremietew – opozycjonista w PAX
Romuald Szeremietiew - an oppositionist in PAX

Summary/Abstract: In the second half of the seventies in PAX Association (Stowarzyszenie PAX, an official Catholic association depending on Communist government) some members started to disagree with the binding political option represented by Bolesław Piasecki. It was quickly noticed by the Security Service, which in the beginning of 1977 began a controlling investigation under cryptonym „Burza” („Thunderstorm”). A group of young activists gathered round Romuald Szeremietiew, the speaker of PAX voivodship department in Leszno, was thought to be the most serious danger. The group was questioning the leader role of the party and postulated equality of citizens’ rights and independence of Poland. On 21st March 1977 Szeremietiew was put under investigation with cryptonym „Taktyk” („Tactician”), led as a part of „Burza” investigation. Despite a good examination of the case, the Security Service had many problems when invigilating Szeremietiew. The most important one was lack of agents in his environment. Bugging had to be the basic source of information. In the end of 1977 the group of young activists was working on introducing vital changes in the Association. Apart from Szeremietiew the most active were Tadeusz Stański and Maciej Pstrąg-Bieleński. The systematic development of the group resulted in strong counteractions by PAX authorities. On 7th April 1978 Szeremietiew and Stański were being questioned. Ten days later they resigned from their posts in the Association. According to Szeremietiew, PAX authorities convinced them that their voluntary resignation would guarantee that no-one else would be repressed. Nevertheless Szeremietiew was still a member of the Board of the Association. The final decisions were taken on 6th October 1978 on the PAX Board meeting. Piasecki (who was very ill at the time) decided to exclude Szeremietiew from the organization. Four days later Szeremietiew took part in a press conference, where he presented his views on situation in PAX. He also presented the text of declaration in which five main differences between the young and the group of Piasecki were underlined. The differences included attitudes towards democracy, Polish United Workers’ Party (PZPR), USSR, society and Church. Excluding Szeremietiew from PAX practically became an end of the group of young reformators.

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