Polish regime to propose some tough new laws

The Polish government intends to present proposals to the parliament on Thursday to tighten laws against protesters and extend censorship, government officials said.

The proposals were supposed to have accompanied the lifting of martial law, but parliamentary sources said they were put off partly because of pressure from Roman Catholic deputies, who argued against their severity.

One would introduce a maximum three-year penalty for spreading false information that could lead to disturbances. Another would broaden a law banning transmission to foreign centers of false information that harms Poland's interests. This change was interpreted by some foreign journalists as widening the possible scope of action against them.