Andrzej Czuma
Encyclopedia
Andrzej Czuma AUD is a Polish
politician, lawyer and historian, an activist of the Polish anti-Communist opposition in the Polish People's Republic
. Oppressed and imprisoned by the Communist authorities. In the 1980s he left for the USA where he became an activist in the community of Polish expats
. Since 2006 Czuma has been a Member of the Polish Parliament. Elected twice, a representative of Civic Platform
political party.
Studied law at Warsaw University
. He was one of the founders of Ruch - an anti-Communist organisation aiming at making Poland a democratic country. Imprisoned by the Communist authorities. In June 1970 sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for "an attempt to overthrow the Communist government by force". A spokesperson for and one of the leaders of the Movement for Defense of Human and Civic Rights
(Ruch Obrony Praw Człowieka i Obywatela, ROPCiO) as well as an editor of Opinia magazine. Sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment in March 1980 for organising a celebration of Independence Day in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw
on 11 November 1979. After the nationwide anti-Communist protests in August 1980 he became an advisor to the Solidarity movement in Silesia
region as well as the publisher and editor of Wiadomości Katowickie magazine. Imprisoned from 12 December 1981 to 23 December 1982 in internment camps in Białołęka, Jaworze and Darłówko.
In 1986 he came to Chicago
as a political refugee, where during the first two years he worked as a house painter and factory worker. In 1988 Czuma started to host his own radio show broadcast in the Chicago region
first on WNVR 1030 AM and next WPNA 1490
AM stations and was considered a prominent leader of Chicago's Polonia.
On 12 December 2006 sworn in as a Member of the Polish Parliament
. Re-elected in the next election on 21 October 2007, on 5 November 2007 sworn in for another term of office in the Polish Parliament. Czuma has been the Minister of Justice
of Poland since 23 January 2009. On October 7, 2009 he resigned from the position of Ministry of Justice.
Czuma was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by President Kazimierz Sabbat
and the Commander's Cross with Star of Polonia Restituta by the Polish President Lech Kaczyński
.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
politician, lawyer and historian, an activist of the Polish anti-Communist opposition in the Polish People's Republic
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
. Oppressed and imprisoned by the Communist authorities. In the 1980s he left for the USA where he became an activist in the community of Polish expats
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
. Since 2006 Czuma has been a Member of the Polish Parliament. Elected twice, a representative of Civic Platform
Civic Platform
Civic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
political party.
Studied law at Warsaw University
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
. He was one of the founders of Ruch - an anti-Communist organisation aiming at making Poland a democratic country. Imprisoned by the Communist authorities. In June 1970 sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for "an attempt to overthrow the Communist government by force". A spokesperson for and one of the leaders of the Movement for Defense of Human and Civic Rights
Movement for Defense of Human and Civic Rights
Movement for Defense of Human and Civic Rights was a right-wing political and social organization formed in People's Republic of Poland in March of 1977...
(Ruch Obrony Praw Człowieka i Obywatela, ROPCiO) as well as an editor of Opinia magazine. Sentenced to 3 months' imprisonment in March 1980 for organising a celebration of Independence Day in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument in Warsaw, Poland, dedicated to the unknown soldiers who have given their lives for Poland. It is one of many such national tombs of unknowns that were erected after World War I.-History:...
on 11 November 1979. After the nationwide anti-Communist protests in August 1980 he became an advisor to the Solidarity movement in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
region as well as the publisher and editor of Wiadomości Katowickie magazine. Imprisoned from 12 December 1981 to 23 December 1982 in internment camps in Białołęka, Jaworze and Darłówko.
In 1986 he came to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
as a political refugee, where during the first two years he worked as a house painter and factory worker. In 1988 Czuma started to host his own radio show broadcast in the Chicago region
Chicagoland
The Chicago metropolitan area, or Chicagoland as it is commonly called within the area, is the metropolitan area associated with the city of Chicago, Illinois and its suburbs. It is the area that is closely linked to the city through social, economic, and cultural ties...
first on WNVR 1030 AM and next WPNA 1490
WPNA
WPNA is a radio station licensed to Oak Park, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Alliance Communications...
AM stations and was considered a prominent leader of Chicago's Polonia.
On 12 December 2006 sworn in as a Member of the Polish Parliament
Polish parliament
Polish parliament is an expression referring to the historical Polish parliaments. It implies chaos and general disorder, and that no real decision can be reached during sessions...
. Re-elected in the next election on 21 October 2007, on 5 November 2007 sworn in for another term of office in the Polish Parliament. Czuma has been the Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland
Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Poland is one of the ministries of Poland. Each Minister of Justice since 1990 has been also Attorney General of the Republic of Poland.-Ministers of Justice :-External links:*...
of Poland since 23 January 2009. On October 7, 2009 he resigned from the position of Ministry of Justice.
Czuma was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by President Kazimierz Sabbat
Kazimierz Sabbat
Kazimierz Aleksander Sabbat , was President of Poland in Exile from 8 April 1986 until his death, 19 July 1989, after serving as Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile.-Early life:...
and the Commander's Cross with Star of Polonia Restituta by the Polish President Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
.