Editing Martial law (section)

===Poland===
{{Main|Martial law in Poland|Polish People's Republic}}
[[File:Stan wojenny w Polsce - 1981-1983 - 08.JPG|thumb|right|230px|Polish [[ZOMO]] squads with [[baton (law enforcement)|police batons]] preparing to violently disperse protesters during [[martial law in Poland]], 1981–1983. The [[sarcasm|sarcastic]] caption reads "outstretched hands of understanding" or "outstretched hands for agreement", with batons ironically symbolizing hands. 91 protesters died at the hands of the ZOMO and the [[Ministry of Public Security (Poland)|Secret Services]] (SB).]]
Martial law was introduced in [[Polish People's Republic]] on 13 December 1981, by General [[Wojciech Jaruzelski]] to prevent the [[Extra-parliamentary opposition|extraparliamentary]] opposition from gaining popularity and political power in the country. Thousands of people linked to the [[Solidarity Movement]], including [[Lech Wałęsa]], were arbitrarily arrested and detained. Approximately 91 deaths are attributed to the martial law, including 9 miners shot by the police force during the pacification of striking [[Wujek Coal Mine]]. Curfews, censorship and food rationing were in place. A nationwide travel ban was imposed. The martial law was eventually lifted on 22 July 1983. Contemporary Polish society is divided in opinion on the necessity of introducing martial law in 1981. It is viewed by some as a lesser evil that was necessary to stop a potential [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] military intervention as the [[Warsaw Pact]], which Poland signed in 1955, enabled other [[Eastern Bloc]] countries to intervene if they believed that communism was in danger.