The Interior Minister of Poland is Czeslaw Kiszczak, one of the four communist party ministers in the government headed by Solidarity. [ "Réfugiés discorde en Pologne," Libération [Paris], 12 October 1989. See also See John Tagliabue, "Poles Approve Solidarity-led Cabinet," The New York Times, 13 September 1989; "Anhänger der Marktwirtschaft prägen die neue Regierung in Polen," Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 9 September 1989,
pp. 1,2.] Kiszczak was briefly Prime Minister in August. Upon his confirmation by the Polish Parliament as Interior Minister, he vowed to dismantle the state apparatus responsible for monitoring telephone conversations, church officials and journalists. He also indicated that the size of para-military units within his ministry, as well as of border patrol units, would be reduced considerably. [ John Tagliabue, "Polish Cabinet Nominees Pledge Market Economy," The New York Times, 9 September 1989, p. 3.]

In July 1987, the government relaxed its strict control over passport, emigration and family reunification procedures. The refusal rate for issuing travel visas and passports declined from 6 percent in 1985, to 4.6 percent in 1986, and to 2.4 percent in 1987. [ Roman Debecki, "Paszport w Szufladi," Glos Robotniczy, 19 February 1988.] According to a November 1988 report from Radio Warsaw, Poles residing abroad are able to extend the validity of their passports to ten years and an amnesty was declared for most holding lapsed passports who would like to return to Poland. [Radio Warsaw, 12 November 1988.] This source also indicates that government had decided not to prosecute those who extend the duration of their trips to the West. [ Ibid.]

In recent days, a Polish sailor was denied refugee status in the United States. The immigration judge stated that the claimant would not be in danger under the Solidarity-led government currently in power. [ "Polish sailor denied asylum by U.S. judge," The Ottawa Citizen, 21 October 1989, p. A13.] The IRBDC has no specific information on the treatment of those returned to Poland. Meanwhile, according to information from the Department of External Affairs, there is no longer any penalty for overstaying an exit permit. [ Information received from the Department of External Affairs, 23 October 1989.] On the other hand, a spokesman for the Polish-Canadian Congress in Ottawa states that merchant seamen who jump ship and are returned to Poland would lose their passport and could face difficulties in getting a new one. They would also lose their right to travel on a ship. [ Information received from the Polish-Canadian Congress, Ottawa on 24 October 1989.]

While a number of liberalizations have taken place in the last 7 months, a source within the Department of External Affairs indicates that reforms are much slower in being implemented at the local level due to officials still loyal to conservative Communist Party members. According to this source, it is conceivable that at the local level, even Solidarity members face occasional harassment and brief periods of detention. [Information provided during briefing of employees of the IRB, by a diplomat of the Department of External Affairs, Montréal, 22 September 1989.]