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Forward ever ckward never
Solidarity with the revolutions of CentralAmerica and the Caribbean
A Socialist Action pamphlet 30p
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FORWARD EVER.... BACKWARD NEVER !
THIS IS the banner of the people of the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada. since 1979, the People's Revolutionary Government and the mass popular organ— isations in Grenada have made massive strides to create jobs, education, health care, housing and democracy for the people.
THEY ARE NOT ALONE:
Twenty years before the Grenadan revolution, Cuba was rid of the despot Batista. Since then, the socialist revolution has defended itself successfully against the economic, political and military bombardment of United States imperialism. Four years ago the Nicaraguan people,led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front, liberated themselves from the butcher Semoza and set their country on the road tc socialism.
Now the workers and peasants of El Salvador are set to create another Nicaragua another Grenada, another Cuba in their own country.
This is what Reagan fears. Reagan and his Pentagon thugs don't really believe that the tiny island of Grenada, or the poor countries of Nicaragua and El Salvador will send tanks and troops to invade the United States. What Reagan fears is the example of these people struggling to control their lives against the interests of United States big business and banks.
US imperialism will stop at nothing to crush these revolutions.
The labour movement world-wide should mobilise in solidarity with these revolutions. They are an inspiration to us all. They need defending against US aggression, backed by governments like Thatcher's in Britain.
Today, supporters of Socialist Action are active in promoting this solidarity. We are joined world-wide by the Fourth International, which stands on the traditions of international solidarity founded by Marx, Lenin and Trotsky.
In this pamphlet, we reprint articles from two international journals of the Fourth International— International Viewpoint, produced in Faris , and Intercontinental Press, produced in New York.
ERREEEERAELEREE SEES SESS EREHEARESE HE ER SREAAAES REAR SE
International Viewpoint 65 pence every two weeks Fortnightly Review of News and Analysis Published Under the Auspices of the United Secretariat of the Fourth International.
For subscriptions write to: International Viewpoint. 2, Rue Richard-Lenoir, -93108 Montreuil, France.
Intercontinental Press sienainaney later pee ee For subscriptions write to: 50 pence every two weeks | interest to the labor, socialist, colonial indepen- | IPI 410 West St, New York, ments. se NY 10014 SociAlice Subscriptions: 6 months— £ 8 ; 1 year—£ 15 from: 320 Upper St, London Ni 2xP
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Washington’s new escalation of the war in Central America
By Mary-Alice Waters defend the interests of the workers and farm- The conflict is berween classes. ers, not the landlords. and capitalists or their President Ronald Reagan went on television It 6 the working class and its allies who are Washington allies. Since then, as Interconti- March 23 to propese another massive cscalamoving forward in Central America and the nental Press has repeatedly explained, U.S. tion of U_S. military spending. Central to his Caribbean today, struggling to take control of imperialism has followed a consistent counter- Justification of this arms buildup was the alletheir own countries and create a new society revolutionary policy, using the full array of gation that Soviet military power is now dimeeting the needs of the overwhelming majorweapons in its arsenal — politcal, economic, rectly challenging what he termed “our vital ity, not a tiny handful of the rich. and military. interests” in Central America and the Carib- The socialist revolution is advancing in our Tt has tried to prevent the extension of the bean. hemisphere.
To buttress his presentation, Reagan prorevolutionary tide to E! Salvador and That is why Washington must increasingly Guatemala. It has sought to undenmine and vided visual aids. These included a seemingly Tesort to military power, It is attempting to ominous aerial photograph of the construction prepare for the ecventual overthrow of the halt, and eventually tum back, the march of Nicaraguan and Grenadian governments. It has history. site of Grenada’s new airport — which any attempted to intimidate the people of Cuba into tounst to that Caribbean island can visit, camabandoning their uncompromising support for era in hand.
Two major obstacles their brothers and sisters throughout the region A similar “intelligence” photograph refighting to determine their own destiny free vealed three helicopters at the Managua, Although today’s sharpening military confrom Yankee domination. Nicaragua, airport. They were donated by the frontation is inevitable, its pace and its outsoviet Union to aid Nicaragua's literacy camcome are not. Since 1979 Washington's freepaign. One was used to transport the pope dur- ~ From the beginning, this has been the bipardom of action has been limited by two major ing his recent visit. tisan policy of the entire U.S. ruling class. obstacles.
Were the implications for working people Reagan has continued and deepened the course One is the uncompromising commitment of throughout the Americas mot so grave, the initially charted by the Carter administration. the Cuban people to defend Nicaragua and If the U.S. government is today relying more transparent fraud of the “threat” documented Grenada against imperialist aggression, deby Reagan would be laughable. heavily on the use of military force, it is only spite the consequences for Cuba.
But the U.S. rulers are dead serious. because Washington's political offensive has The second is the political price the U.S.
After months of careful preparation, a new failed to isolate “the enemy,” while its rulers would have to pay for any direct, largeescalation of U.S. military aggression agamst economic weapons have failed to corrupt or inscale military intervention in the region. the workers and farmers of Central America Throughout Latin America a-move by U.S. and the Caribbean is now in progress. forces would be met by an upsurge of anti-im- MASSES.
Reagan portrays the struggle as one of “U.S. penalist action that would dwarf the outraged Revolution and counterrevolution interests" combating “Soviet expansion” and response one year ago to Botain’s war om Ar Four years ago the people of Nicaragua and “Cuban influence.” But the attempt to. portray gentina. The survival of Washington's junior the conflict as one between contending “big (Grenada threw out bloody, U.S.-backed dicpartners in a good many countries would be selatorships and established governments that powers” is false. niously threatened.
GUATEMALA HONDURAS
NICARAGUA
PANAMA COLOMBIA
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In the United States itself, the growing organized opposition to Washington's military intervention in Central America, especially the deepgoing opposition within the working class, is a powerful deterrent. The U.S_ ruling ® ICA _ class, too, remembers what happened in the United States during the Vietnam War.
These factors, combined with the determi- NICARQ nation, courage, and leadership capacities of the revolutionary forces in Central America and the Caribbean, have so far limited the ability of the U.S. government to utilize its full NICAR military power for an all-out assault.
The U.S. nulers tirelessly work to throw off these political constraints by campaigning about an alleged “Soviet threat,” about Mascow's so-called Cuban proxy, about the “ter- NICARA ronsts” trying to shoot their way into power in El Salvador, about the “new tyrants” in Managua who are no better than Somoza, about the NICAR AGS Y supposedly sinister implications of an airport to encourage tourist trade to the island of Grei nada.
NICARAGUA The U.S. propaganda offensive began within days of the victory of the Nicaraguan revolution in the summer of 1979. Washington suddenly “discovered” an alleged Soviet combat brigade in Cuba.
But how can that be engineered? How can it This, too, was presented as if it were a pre- This barrage reached a crescendo in fall be politically justified both intemationally and viously undisclosed and sinister fact, gleaned 1981 when the Reagan administration charged before a U.S. working class that is decply susfrom U.S. intelligence operations. that some 500 to 600 Cuban troops had infilpicious and hostile to the Vietnamization of But the (Cubans have been broadcasting and trated El Salvador — thus explaining the adexplaining this to the world for the last three Central America? vances by the anti-imperialist forces there. years, ever since they launched the Ternitorial The U.S. rulers need a broader war.
The U.S. ruling class at that time was se- Troop Militia on May 1, 1980, in response to That is exactly the danger Nicaragua's Sannously weighing the risks and benefits of di- Washington's intensified threats. dinista leaders point to: the invasion of rect military action, including against Cuba.
As Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro Nicaragua by thousands of former Somoza Na- But a full-scale military mobilization in Cuba, explained toa mass meeting in Havana last Detional Guardsmen, armed to the teeth by combined with a powerful international politi- Washington, may be used to provoke a war becember, “preparations for defense are made cal offensive to expose U.S. intentions, connot only to fight off an attack but also to prevent stich an attack.” Fidel added that “pre- Already, in recent days, Honduran army high. serving peace will always be a victory. Howunits have, for the first time, crossed the border into Nicaragua. If a pretext for broadening ever, peace in the face of a treacherous enemy In spring 1982, military operations against Nicaragua and the Salvadoran liberation forces like imperialism is preserved when the enemy the war is desired, the possibilities are numerknows that any attack will cost him dearly.” ous.
A regionalization of the war in Central when Britain went to war against Argentina.
Time Is running out for imperialism America, which would include military actions Malvinas War in the Caribbean as well, would open the door But today the danger of a qualitatively new The Argentine military junta, along with the for a qualitative escalation of U.S. military escalation of Washington's war in Central operations. It would pose the danger of a direct Honduran regime, had been scheduled to play America and the Caribbean is once again clash with Cuba and even the Soviet Union. acentral role in training, organizing, and leadmounting.
The tactical course the U.S. government ing the Somozaist National Guard forces in- Time is running out for imperialism in will pursue is not predetermined. In fact, it is vading Nicaragua today. When the Malvinas Nicaragua. The U.S. rulers are concerned that it may already be too late to overthrow the Sannot yet decided. It will be determined, above War broke out, Washington backed the British all, by the political response to its probes and ‘aggression. An explosion of sentiment against dinista people in arms. ‘As the pope's recent trial balloons. tour once again demonstrated, the revolution’s and Nicaragua were the most vigorous defend- Toots among Nicaragua's toiling people are That is why the timely response by ers of Argentina's anticolonial battle. deep.
Nicaragua, including the international forum at The net result was that Washington's war His refusal to say a prayer for the youth murthe United Nations that exposed and isolated plans for Central America had to be revised. dered by counterrevolutionary bands was seen the U.S. government (see page 159) was so Political alliances had to be reorganized, and as a provocation and an affront to the dignity of important. ideological justifications for aggression hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans who see That is why the decision of the Grenadian against Cuba and Nicaragua had to be reformuno contradiction between their religion and government to broadcast its concer over an their revolution. Contrary to the hopes of imlated. imminent attack (see page 190) will make it The working people of Cuba, Nicaragua and périalism, the pope's action helped clanfy for more difficult for the Reagan administration to Grenada gained another breathing space. They many the reactionary role of the church hierarimplement such plans. won more time to build new housing. open chy. It strengthened mass support for the revolution and its leadership.
And that is why a broad and powerful refener. campaign, build roads, consolidate Repeated statements by U.S. officials also sponse by those inside the United States and the trade unions and other mass organizations, make clear that there is increasing alarm in around the world who oppose U.S. intervenand improve their defenses.
Washington over the advances in El Salvador ticn in Central America and the Caribbean is One of the charges Reagan made in his by the Farabundo Marti National Liberation decisive. Our vital imerests lie in solidariry March 23 television address was that Cuba has Front (FMLN). Despite the millions of dollars with our brothers and sisters there. We have a taken advantage of the respite to significantly of U.S. military aid and the frantic attempts to central role to play in staying the hand of the shore up both the army and its civilian facade, strengthen its defensive caparities. “The level U.S. aggressors. o the regime is clearly cracking. The U.S. milers of Soviet anms exports to Cuba,” Reagan asdo not believe the FMLN can be defeated withserted, “can only be compared to the levels out the intervention of non-Salvadoran military reached during the Cuban missile crisis 20 April 18, 1983 \ years ago.”
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El Salvador
New stage in revolutionary war U.S. congressman admits, ‘Our side is not winning’
lin in Usulutan Province highlighted the fact the night tactics in October and November,”
By Fred Murphy Enders told the Senate panel.“They. . . have that the U.5.-backed regime is losing the war The wounding of a U.S. military adviser in left themselves open to attack in the central and is growing desperate.
El Salvador February 2 underscored the growprovince of Usulutan.” ing tendency toward more direct intervention Pentagon aide Nestor Sanchez complained by Washington against the people of that coun- With a population of 35,000, Berlin is the to the Senators that because of congressional largest city yet taken by the rebels. It lies in El try. coticism, the Salvadoran rulers were “con- Salvador’s most important cotton-growing re- The admission by the U.S. embassy in San fused, totally confused.” Washington's credigion, The regime’s forces had been depleted Salvador that the wounded GI was on an “operbility, Sanchez lamented, “is very, very low.” there when thousands of troops were disational" rather than a traiming mussion On February 4, 81 members of the US. patched to Morazsn for a futile attack on one of bolstered earlier charges by the Farabundo House of Representatives introduced a bill to jhe FMLN's major strongholds.
Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) that declare Reagan's certification “null and void"
U.S. advisers are now directing government and suspend military aid to El Salvador.
As the rebel fighters advanced on Berlin counterinsurgency drives in the field.
The rectiminations in Congress not only refrom surrounding towns they had already flect the blows U_S. impenalism is taking in El taken, U.S.-supplied jets with U.$.-trained Salvador. Equally important, they point up the It also came as the Reagan administration pilots launched rockets and bombs into the rising sentiment among U.S. working peaple announced plans to more than triple military center of the city. Five square blocks were laid against further intervention in Central aid to El Salvador — from $26.3 million to waste and dozens of civilians were killed — a an it America. This is being fueled not only by ex- $86.3 million — in the current fiscal year. scene reminiscent of the tyrant Somoza’s tacand posures of the CLA’s role in anti-Nicaraguan And, as the February 6 Washington Post retics during his final days in Nicaragua. terror and the brutality of the Salvadoran reported, “senior administration officials also are The aim of the bombardment was to termn of gime, but also by the social crisis inside the pressing for an increase in U.S. military plantorize and disperse the civilian population of United States and the beginnings of a labor mers and trainers, particularly at the de- Berlin. Nonetheless, hundreds tumed out to fightback against the employers’ attacks. partmental and brigade levels.” welcome the rebel columns and attend the Working-class opposition to intervention FMLN'’s rallies. When the FMLN units withn of has begun to make an impact even at the high- U.S. intervention in El Salvador is being drew in an orderly fashion February 2, they a Naest levels of the U.S. trade-union bureaucracy. stepped up because a new stage has opened in were accompanied by hundreds of the city’s Three top officers of AFL-CIO unions — the war against the dictatorship there. Since youth who had signed up to fight the dictator- Douglas Fraser of the Auto Workers, William mid-October, the FMLN has conducted a susship.
Winpisinger of the Machinists, and Jack tained military offensive. In the course of this Sheinkman of the Amalgamated Clothing and drive, the rebels have:
Textile Workers — dispatched a letter to Sen.
The rebel victories are straining further the Charles Percy January 19 calling for “the ter- ® Withstood repeated efforts by up to 6,000 already shaky regime in San Salvador. Rival mination of all military aid to El Salvador.” government troops to dislodge them from factions in the Constiment Assembly have Sheinkman’s signature was particularly towns and villages they have occupied in the begun trading death threats and have launched noteworthy in that the bureaucracy of his union northem halves of Chalatenango, Morazin, anmed attacks on each other's deputies and has long been among the staunchest defenders and La Unidn provinces. headquarters. Defense Minister Gen. José of a reactionary, prounperialist foreign policy © Extended their military operations to the Guillenmo Garcia is under increasing fire for line in the AFL-CIO. economically key province of Usulutan. Behis failure to register gains against the FMLN.
The Reagan administration has its back to tween January 31 and February 2 they were the wall in El Salvador. Preventing a rebel vicable to seize and hold the province's secondtory will require greatly stepped-up intervenlargest city, Berlin, where they organized po- ‘Certification is a farce’ tion, even including the use of U.S. Gls. But litical rallies of up to 1,500 townspeople.
The FMLWN's victories have begun to be felt the political price the U.S. rulers would have e Attacked military posts in the Salvadoran in Washington, the source of the Salvadoran to pay for such a step is rising rapidly, Meancapital itself, including the main San Carlos indictatorship’s funds, weaponry, and guidance. while, as Congressman Bares complained, faniry barracks. These blows point to a more After President Reagan officially certified “the administration has no policy except to active role by the urban masses in the military that “the government of El Salvador has made keep the war going.” struggle. progress” in curbing human-rights violations, The revolutionary forces are determined to slated ® Gained control over lengthy portions of State Department Latin America chief Thomas meet this challenge. “We did not start this war, WHS 50 the country’s major highways, thus cutting off Enders faced sharp questioning from congresit was forced on us by the oligarchy and the the caste half of the country to land transsional committees. armed forces." Commander Fermin Ciennadian fuegos said in late January. * Captured large quantities of ammunition, Wer an Nonetheless, Cienfuegos went on, “the tide “Certification is a farce,” Senator Chrismilitary gear, and weapons, including heavy nake it of war is quickly nsing in our favor. Even the topher Dodd told Enders February 2. “We've artillery pieces. ution bo enormous amounts of North American armaspent $748 million there in three years, we're ® Taken prisoner hundreds of soldiers and ments sent to El Salvador’s elected dictators approaching one billion dollars, and what do officers, a sure sign of growing demoralization cannot contain us.” Oo we have to show for it?” riul reinside the dictatorship’s army. Up to 10 per- “Tt should be clear to anyone who reads the tes and cent of these prisoners are reported to be jomnnewspapers that our side is not winning this jterven- Intercontinental Press ing the revolutionary units; the rest are rewar,” Rep. Michael Barnes told Enders 2. bean is leased promptly to the International Red another hearing two days later. “Our current will give you a week by week lidariry (Cross. policy . . . makes a guerrilla victory almost have a analysis of the most important d of the inevitable.”
Civilian population bombed world events.
The January 31 victory by 500 rebels at Ber- Subscribe now!
Enders scarcely attempted to defend his own policy, and instead blamed his underlings in 410 West Sireel the Salvadoran high command.
New York, N.Y. 10074 “The army failed to react vigorously with February 14, 1983 5
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“We are and will continue being friends of FMLN defeats ‘gringo battalion’ the people and governments of Cuba and Nicaragua, and it does not shame us,” the Reagan rejects talks, pushes intervention broadcast said. “Completely to the contrary, we are proud to maintain relations with those people — bastions of the anti-imperialist strugple. The Reagan administration is not one to By Ernest Harsch The White House is seeking to increase miltell the FMILN who ought to be its friends and In one of the largest battles in El Salvador itary aid to the Salvadoran dictatorship to $136 who its enemies.” million — five times what has already been althis year, guerrilla forces of the Farabundo Washington's accusations against Cuba and located for 1983. The number of U.S. military Marti National Liberation Front (FMILN) in- Nicaragua and its call for tegional negotiations flicted a major defeat on the U_S.-trained personnel that Washington acknowledges are are an effort to provide same political cover for Ramdn Belloso Battalion — the “gringo battalin El Salvador has risen from 37 to 52. In addi- U.S. imperialism’s growing intervention in the ion,” as the rebel Radio Venceremos called it. tion, the March 20 New York Times reported, region. Part of this also involves attempting to “There are many more covert intelligence On March 30, FMLN fighters attacked govprovoke a war between Nicaragua and Honermment forces in San Isidro, a town 100 operatives and technicians in the region than duras that could serve as a pretext for sending kilometers north of San Salvador. Seventeen military advisers. . An exact total for inin U.S. combat troops. telligence personnel in El Salvador was not paramilitary troops were killed in the fighting, The Reagan administration's backing for available, but officials estimated that the and the rebels occupied the town. new elections in El Salvador is likewise an at- Units of the Ramdn Belloso Battalion were number exceeded 150.” tempt to justify its Increasing intervention, by then sent from nearby Osicala to try to retake But as Washington drives deeper into El giving the dictatorship a democratic face. San Isidro. They failed. According to Radio Salvador to try to shore up the nckety dictator- It also was a bid to try to sow divisions Venceremos, at least 67 government troops ship, it is facing increasing political opposition within the FMLN and FDR. According to arewere killed and 46 wounded. at home. port in the March 15 Washington Post, “One The rebel radio called the battle “a great vicpurpose of the clections, stated privately by tory we have won over the dictatorship's best Congressman Michael Bames, chairman of State Department officials, is to attempt to troops, trained in the United States.” the House Subcommittee on Inter-American woo the moderate elements in the leftist polit- “Affairs, said in early March that he had been Just a few days earlier, in an interview in the ical opposition away from their Marzistreceiving mail from around the country. “Lit- March 28 Mexico City daily Uno mds Uno, Leninist allies.” erally thousands of letters," he reported, “say FMLN leader Roberto Roca pointed to one of This attempt has failed. Representatives of they don't want to. send any assistance [to El the key factors in the rebels’ military gains. the various organizations within the FMLN Salvador], and maybe five say send it.” “The imperialist training, as technically and FDR have rejected participating in the sophisticated as it may be,” he said, “cannot The call of the FMLN and the Revolutionary electoral farce, since it would be impossible Democratic Front (FDR) for the opening of ungive the puppet army an essential element that for their supporters to campaign freely while conditional negotiations among all Salvadoran is contributing to our victory: the fighting the regime's troops and death squads continue forces has also won broad support intemnationmorale that is increasing among us day by day to have a free hand. “We would be slaughtered ally, including within the United States. because of the justice of our struggle.” like sheep,” one rebel spokesperson com- The White House has categorically rejected While the battle at San Isidro was one of the mented, the idea of such talks, Instead, it has attempted most spectacular displays of the FMLN"s A broadcast over Radio Venceremos, quotto deflect the impact of the FMLN-FDR dipstrength, it was not an isolated event. Since ing the official position of the FMLN-FDR, lomatic drive by proposing region-wide October, the liberation forces have been on a said that the elections would only “seek to major offensive in various parts of the country. negotiations involving all the governments in cover up the genocide” and that their outcome Central America. Such talks would serve as a Enjoying widespread popular support, they “has already been arranged m Washington.” have been able to expand their political and forum for Washington's propaganda campaign The FMLN-FDR proposed instead, as a solagainst Nicaragua and Cuba, which it has acmilitary influence significantly. ution to the war, “the total conquest of the four cused of interfering in El Salvador’s affairs by During the first three months of this year, historic demands of the Salvadoran people: a supplying arms to the FMLN. the guerrillas inflicted 1,000 casualties among new economic and social order, anew agrarian the dictatorship's forces, took 450 government tefonm, 2 broadly based: goveroment, and the According to a report in the March 14 Washtroops prisoner, and captured 900 guns and 35 recovery of our sovereignty. ington Post, a broadcast over Radio Venceartillery pieces. “That is what we have armed ourselves for, remos two days earlier defiantly reaffirmed the and that is what we are fighting for.” oO rebels’ political ties with Cuba and Nicaragua.
Lacking any real base of popular support, the dictatorship has continued to rely on military force and terror to rule the country. On March 23, the Human Rights Commission in San Salvador charged that another 32 persons had disappeared over the previous 15 days, including workers, professors, peasants, and students. It said that government security forces were implicated in at least a majority of the cases. —_ | a * Behind this terror stands Washington. Com- — iff He TP brates WAT aH ka a Pile ea menting on the March 20) assassination of Arta ih i Human Rights Commission President Ah de Marnianella Garcia Villas, a commission communiqué declared that “the bullets that murder ood a il! peace-loving people come from the arsenals of President Ronald Reagan.”
April 18, 1983
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International Viewpoint by Miguel Romero
First World Forum of Salvador Solidarity Movement
MEXICO CITY--The first International Forum for Solidarity With the People of El Salvador opened here March 26 in the DE SOLIDARIDAD Veriedodes Cinema, Some 2,500 people came to the imaugural rally, united in their solidarity with the CON EL PUEBLO Salvadoran revelution. They showed an enthusiasm that was to last throughout the dis— SALVADORENO cussions ot the forum that began the next day, March 27, Unity wos the dominant theme ond spirit ANTE LA INTERVENCION IMPERIALISTA. LA SOLIDARIDA ef the conference. This wos an extension of the achievement of the Salvederan revolutionists themselves. The message from the leadership of the Farabynde Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) mode this point clear: “Our struggle has left its mork. |t has Brought together differant political currents. It hes awokened the aspiration for liberty in other peoples. And above all, it has helped to unite many different forces Ground the need to confront the enemies of Presidium at Soldarliy Forum peace ond democracy.
In this spirit, the opening session worm- Ar the some time, the front will seek to took place in an atmosphere of friendly ly opplouded greetings from a broad range attention, as is necessary in such a meeting. breaden solidarity with all the struggling of forces and personalities. Among the The essential task was to forge an in~ peoples of Central America ond the Caribmessages most enthusiastically applauded bean ond to support the fight of the Salvastrument for mobilising international soliwere toped greetings from Bernadette Devdoran people now against the dictatorship dority: at a ervctal moment, when the Salvalin McAliskey, os well os statements by the doran people were facing the threat of and help them accomplish the tasks of na- Vietnamese ombassader and the Cuban and tional reconstruction after the battle is imperialist intervention and the electoral Nicaraguan delegates, and from the solidarfarce organised by Ronald Reagan and Nawon, . ity committees in the United States, poleon Duarte. |f was proper that differ- On the suggestion of the FMLN, Bill There was also an enthusiastic response ences should be subordinated to this central Zimmerman was elected chair of the perto greetings from a representative of the manent bureay of the Front. Zimmerman is objective. Communist Party of the Soviet Union; Hugo the chair of the Medical Aid for El Salva- ‘Btanco, the Peruvian mass revelutionary dor campaign. His election hod on impor- A WORLDWIDE SOLIDARITY leader and a leader of the Peruvian section fant symbolic value, since he is a veteran FRONT of the Fourth International; and representaaf the US anti-Vietnom wor movement, tives of the Honduran and Guatemalan sal- Zimmennon's election, thus, highlighted The forum, therefore, decided to se{ up icority committees. the other aspect of the Vietnamisation of a worldwide solidarity front. This front will Much appreciated greetings also come the Salvadoran revolution, For millions of be a coordinating body for all the solidarfrom the Western European solidarity comyoung people today, the Salvadoran revaity organisations that recognise the Faramiftees, groups of Latin American exiles in Jutian ts the source of inspiration and hope bunde Marti National Liberation Front- Mexico, and the organisations in the Mexithat Vietnam was for the youth of the Revolutionary Democratic Front (FMLM-FOR) con solidarity campaign. 1960s and 1970s, as the genuine representatives of the Among the other members of the prema- Ahighpoint was the ploying of the tope Salvadoran people. nent bureau are representatives of solidarity of o program broodcost over Radio Venece- The front will embrace al] the El Salvecommittees in Peru, Mexteo, the LIS, memos, the Iskra of the Salvodaeran revoludor Solidarity Committees, as well as the France, West Germany, Nicaragua, and tion, in which the FMLN transmitter an— political, religious, workers, peasant, and Puerto Rico, as well.os a number of indenounced the holding of the forum to the student organisations ond movements that pendent personalities, Selvedoran people. fight for peace, human rights, and nation- Over the two days of its sessions, the Organisations with an official diplameal self—determination. [t will include oll forum discussed four central questions: the tic status ore also represented, such os the institutions or personalities prepared to drofting of an appeal for the formatian of Polestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), show their suppert. on onti-interventionist compaign; the forma- Organisation of Solidarity of the Asian This will be on onti-interventionis' front, tion ond Functioning of a world front of and Latin American Peoples (OSPAAL}, and will work in the most democratic way and the World Federation of Trade Unions, solidarity with El Salvador; o general plan possible. [ts principal aims will be to fight headquartered in Prague. of action; and a campaign on behalf of the for the self-determination of the Salvadoran Soil vederon refugees.
Obviously, the forum's first decision people and to end intervention in El Salva- There were nearly two hundred contriwas to distribute the appeal that was drawn for by the US and its allies--Venezuels, up and adopted there and ta launch o cam- Getions fo the discussion, amending and Honduras, Argentina, Guatemala, Colompargn to geteas many signatures as possible feeroving the proposed documents. This bia, and the Zionist state of Isrcel. ij
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for it, especially in the workers movement.
International did not even send a telegram, It also decided to build o campaign to get although o number of them, in particular the truth out obout El Salvador, particuithe French SP, claim to sympothize with the Salvaderan struggle to one degree or larly ebout the electoral force staged on another. One well-known French SP mem- Morch 28, ber wos present, but he is attached to the The formation of the world front of soli- French diplomatic establishment in Mexico, darity involves new tasks for the existing and in no way represented his party. solidarity committees. Far from simply dis- The Communist Parties were also notable solving into the front, they should become by their absence. Only the Spanish and its most active and militant wing, leading US CP were present, and both were totally the united mobilisations, inactive during the plenary sessions.
The most immediate task in implement- The delegate from the Seviet CP who ing the plan of action is to develop a clear participated in the opening rally could properspective for building an onti-intervenperly be described os on observer. The tionist movement, This is necessary to pre- Soviet trade unions did send o telegram that pore o rapid response to imperialist interarrived shortly before the end of the convention. ference.
For example, at aon informal meeting of THE ROLE OF THE the West European delegations, it was de- However, in substance both the CPs and FOURTH INTERNATIONAL cided to aim for 100,000 signatures by June $Ps foiled to take any part in the confer- | fora statement of opposition to imperialence or in the launching of the campaigns.
Of the fifteen delegations from politiist intervention ond for recognising the lt is not hard to understand the abstencal organisations at the conference, ten FMLN-FDR as the legitimate representation of such forces, The forum hod a radical, were from the Fourth International, That tives of the Salvederan people. The target militant image. Those there understood reflects the activity of the Trotskyist movedote coincides with the beginning of Reoand supported the diplomatic efforts of the ment in the Salvadoran solidarity movement gan's visit to West Europe.
FMLN-FDR, their search for every possible However, it olso shows that our work is in “ally, their use of every political manoeuvre THE FORCES ACTIVELY an early stage. that might help.
INVOLVED A lot remains to be done to broaden But they also knew, ond that in partiunity in action in defense of the Salve- However, the solidarity movement is cular wos why they were there, thot the doeran revolution and to draw the big traonly beginning. The forces that teak an essential point is the demand for récogni— ditional organisations into it, and they will active part in building the forum ond in sing the FMLN os the genuine represantabe under more and more pressure to do working out the plan of action for a worldtives of the Salvadoran people. Along something to defend the Salvadoran people. wide solidarity campaign were a vanguard. with this goes the need te build mass soli- The Fourth International participated in They were the organisations that feel the dority. the solidarity forum for the same reasons strongest identification with the Salvoaderan that is has been active in the solidarity revolution and those most interested in Such o struggle is not the sort of thing committees. We understand the imporbuilding an intemational moss movement in CPs ond 5Ps like to get involved in. It is tance, not just of the Salvadoran revolusupport of it, not the natural habitat of bureaucratic tion in itself, but alse of its effects on From the list of signatories, it can be organisations. Wor is it a congenial enmillions and millions of people. seen that basically three currents were ot vironment for the Mexican government. As The Salvadoran revolution is another the forum. The first and most important far os the Mexican regime was concemed, exomple of a tremendous revolution ina was the Cuban, Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, the sole purpose for the forum wos to en- Hny country thot, while it in itself cannot Guatemalan and Central American revolu=dorse the "Peace Plan’ offered by President drametically change the world relationtionists in ganeral and those in other Latin Jose Lopez Portillo. Since the meeting ship of forces, can impell a rapid rise in American countries who identify with them. turned out to be o different sort of thing, consciouiness internationally and educate The second main component was the the Mexican press hardly mentioned it, Gg new generation of militants. solidarity activists from democratic and The trademark of the Salvodoran revelureligious organisations, They were nearly So, the forum organisers hod to poy for tion is the unity of all revolutionary curalways politically independent. On the ads denouncing the March 28 electoral rents in the struggle. And thot alone other hand, there were o lot of former memfarce, The greetings of the Fourth Internawould be sufficient reason for us to throw bers of far-left groups among the delegotional were also publicised in that way. ourselves entirely into building solidarity tions from the European committees.
The forces ot the conference thus were with if.
The third component was the Fourth considered to be ‘ultro-leftist'. But thet International, represented by delegates of Moreover, rebuilding the tradition of wos nothing to be ashamed of. For examsections ond sympathising organisations international solidarity among the workers ple, the great revolutionary Salvadoran from Lotin America, West Europe, the LS, ond oppressed is what the Fourth Interneand Australia, os well os from the interna= poet Reque Dalton wrote in his Stories and tional has stood for since its inception, Poems Against Salvadoran Revisionism: tional leadership. following in the footsteps of the revolu- This composition of the conference was.
Honary Third International and the originot-surprising, These are the three currents nal revolutionary Marxist movement. active in solidarity committees throughout This spirit wos expressed by o Mexican |the world, delegate, who said: ‘Todoy we feel like | What was more remarked on was the ab- "Ina country like ours, Salvedorans, just as yesterday we felt like |sence of the big traditional working class Where we ore so crammed together, Cubons, Nicaraguans, Guotemelons, or ‘organisations. The parties of the Second Where so much history is piled Dominicans,"
We also feel the obligation to empa— on top of us, Ultra-leftism that is not just thize with the Polish workers fighting the repression of the bureaucracy. That js the words, That can become action, woy we understand solidarity. We wont to help the Salvedoran revolution win, and Will strike deeper and deeper roots bring the day closer when other such forms In the hearts of the people, Which ere to be found, on the of international solidarity can be oangafor left of the chest’. nised on behalf of other workers and op- /pressed peoples wherever they may be struggling.
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El Salvador
Organizing international solidarity Interview with leader of World Front a A, Salvadoran people. The other level is the The following interview with Andrés Fab- Executive Secretariat, which has the concrete spected by the solidarity movement. This Tegas, executive secretary of the World Front task of ensuring that the decisions made by the means that everyone belongs in the movement m Solidarity With the People of El Salvador, World Front are respected and that the front’s of solidarity so long as they accept these basic was obtained in Mexico City following the plans of action are carried out. It also sees that political principles: that the FMLN-FDR is the demonstration of 20,000 people there called by the news bulletin of the World Front comes out sole legitimate representative of the Salvadothe World Front on January 22. The interview more or less regularly. ran people, unconditional solidarity, and was obtained in Spanish by Andrea Gonzalez, united solidarity. correspondent for the U.S. socialist biweekly Gains in solidarity movement By 1982 the situation had matured. The Perspectiva Mundial. The translation is by Jn- Q. Whar gains have been made by the inter- FMLN-FDR refined a plan that was broadly tercontinental Press.) national solidarity movement? discussed with solidarity committees. The plan was to build a world front in solidarity with the A. The World Front is itself a gain for the Salvadoran people that could bring together oliti= * * * solidarity movement. the worldwide movement of the peoples with Tf one looks at the composition of the World ten Question. Whar is the World Front in Solthe Salvadoran people. This is quite important: That Front, one is surprised by the breadth of the idarity With the People of El Salvador? the World Front is not a formation for doing forces that belong to it — forces that in other fomavwe= diplomatic work, but rather the body that Answer. In order to explain what the World wement . situations have never come to agreement. | Front is, we need to refer back to some earlier brings together the solidarity of the peoples at k is in Forces that are even antagonistic come todevelopments that led up to its formation. the international level. gether in the World Front as an expression of The conclusion we came to was that special- In 1980, when the Revolutionary Coordinatthe will of the peoples to oppose the imperialist jen ized organizations of solidarity with the Saling Committee of the Masses (CRM) was set system. vaup in El Salvador as the first body that unified vadoran people were not the only ones that 3 tra- Religious figures come together in the should be in this front, but rather that it should all the mass organizations in struggle against wey will World Front — not just Catholics but a broad the dictatorship, there was also a qualitative be as broad as possible. It should include all da range of religions. All kinds of political forces political forces that were willing to back unstep forward in the solidarity movement. It people. from all existing spectrums come together in conditionally the struggle of the people of El was now possible to point to the CRM as a ated in the front (except for fascist forces and proimunited vanguard of the Salvadoran people.
Salvador. In that sense, this is an experience penalist forces, of course). Revolutionary OMS that is. practically unheard of in solidarity In mid-1981, an international gathering of forces of all kinds come together with demoarity movernents with peoples in struggle. solidarity committees was held in Mexico cratic forces in the World Front. That is a big =or— At the end of March 1982, the assembly to City. A great many committees from throughstep forward. wolu= launch the World Front in Solidarity With the out the world sent representatives to this. meet- Second, the existence of the World Front on People of El Salvador was held in Mexico. A img. I think some 42 committees responded to has made it possible to move forward in coorgreat many political forces and organizations the call. dinating pressure on governments to get them ther attended. It was really an impressive gather- Committees even came from as far away as to take a position against U.S. imperialist aging ing.
Australia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, gression. cannot There were all kinds of forces represented. and France, as well as the United States. Prac- Inside the United States, the World Front is tion- Without fear of exaggerating, | would say that Geally all the countries in Latin America sent ise in becoming known. We are convinced that a all the political forces active today on the interdelegations. broad range of forces in the United States will Jucate national scene were represented there. From That First Intemational Gathering of Comjoin the World Front and build it once they that assembly came the principles that govern mitices in Solidarity With the People of El Salknow what it is and what its aims are. orevelu= the World Front that I spoke of earlier. wador was a success. From that meeting came In Mexico, the World Front has been funday cur= the idea of setting up a broader coordinating mental for revitalizing the solidarity movere So what is the World Front? committee for international solidarity. ment. The Mexican Committee in Solidarity throw Moreover, the fact that the Farabundo With the People of El Salvador, which is the darity It is a coordinating body for the solidarity Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) had most important such body in Mexico, together movement at the international level. It is not been founded was very important. Later, the with the National Standing Forum in Solidarity the political leadership of the solidarity moveon of alliance between the Revolutionary Democrat- With the Salvadoran Revolution, belong to the ment, because that is in the hands of the comworkers World Front. These organizations have been paferos of the FMLN-FDR. themselves. But it solidarity throughout the world. berna= strengthened since the formation of the World is a very important body for coordinating all The first intemational gathering ratified the ion, Front. solidarity work. punciples of solidarity work. These are: unity, Finally, a clear example of the potential of rol It is a body where all the political forces that Snconditional solidarity, and recognition of the the World Front and of the progress it repreorigiare willing to lend solidarity to the people of El FMLN-FDR as not only the vanguard of the sents, is the level of coordination that was F..
Salvador come together. process, but also the sole legitimate represenachieved in the January 22 demonstrations that exican It is a body that fully respects the autonomy tative of the Salvadoran people. These princijust took place. There were marches and rallies | Vike of each force that belongs to it. But at the same ples were widely publicized, and coordinated in many places throughout the world. elt like time, it is the expression of the fact that it is inactions were held for the first time. All this Tt should be 1%, OF deed possible for the solidarity movement to Grought together social and political elements clear to the American people that the solidarity be united, that intemational coordination of that pointed toward something still more ammovement has great sympathy for their strugmpathis movement is possible. gles. And that is another step forward, because ing the The composition of those who attended the To make such coordination effective, a team it has educated our peoples on how to differenat is the of people was set up with the responsibility to first intemabonal gathering was quite importiate clearly the imperialist, criminal, and wont tant. There were: the active solidarity forces, coordinate the work of the World Front. This genocidal attitude of Reagan from the tradivin, and team has two levels — first, the broad team but there were also many political currents, a tons of struggle of the American people. It has ch forms formed by the Standing Bureau of the World really broad spectrum. From that experience been made clear internationally that just as our rga= Front. This is made up of 18 figures who have we became convinced that it was indeed possiown peoples are the victims of aggression, so id opble to do solidarity work in a broad way, that been very much involved in solidarity with the too are the American people under attack. ‘be cs
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U.S. working people The fact that the FMILN can operate securely tacked by the dictatorship, not only in recent in San Salvador [the capital] is a demonstration times, but during its entire history. And that is @. How does the World Front see the solfor one reason — the university has always of the support the workers" movement gives idarity offered by the people of the United been linked to the struggles of the people. the struggle of the Salvadoran people. States?
Today the university is closed down physi- A. At the international level, our peoples cally. The campaign has the aim of showing I think that at this moment the workers" have understood that there is a tradition of that although the university's facilities are movement in El Salvador is playing a really struggle among the American people. In this closed, the university itself 1s alive. This big strategic role, and I would even say that in a sense the World Front values highly the solinternational campaign consists in enrolling very short time, as the victory draws near, the idarity of U.S. working people. people in the University of Fl Salvador. Those workers’ movement is going to be decisive. who enroll pay tuition in solidarity with it.
Why do we place such value on this solidar- The workers" organizations have not been de- This allows the university to stay alive. ity? Because we know that they are the siroyed. The unions still exist, the coordinatstrategic force that can change the conditions The university authorities have also made ing bodies among the national unions still of life of the American people. As the strategic agreements with many other universities. For exist, and there is day-to-day political activity force in U.S. society, the labor movement example, there is an agreement with the Auby the workers at the side of the Salvadoran needs to be well informed about imperialist agtonomous Metropolitan University of Mexico people. gression against other peoples. whereby Salvadoran students can take courses With all its social power, it is the U.S. labor there as though they were studying at the Unimovement that can bold back and halt once and versity of El Salvador.
Campaigns of World Front for all the imperialist aggression. It is the strategic force in solidarity work. I would dare say that this is the case not only for the Amer- Workers movement in El Salvador ican people but also on a world scale. They are OQ. What are the campaigns of the World 0. Could you talk a little about the workthe strategic force. The American workers are Front? ers’ movement in El Salvador? the ones who have to understand that their A. At present we have an ongoing camstrength, their intelligence, their sweat, their A. To keep this brief but at the same time labor, must not be used to kill, to commit these paign of mass mobilization. In this sense the not skip an essential reference point, I am tremendous genocidal attacks that the Salvado- World Front sees the plans im cach country as going to mention only one fundamental date, part of its own solidarity work. As for mass ran government commits with the arms pro- 1932. In that year a popular insurrection by the mobilization, two essential dates were set for vided by Reagan's government, workers and peasants took place in El Salthe world movement. One already took place, The U.S. labor movement, once it undervador. There was a horrible massacre. Around January 22. We are now working to put tostands this —and we are certain that it will un- 30,000 persons died, repressed by a fierce dicgether another big mobilization for next Ocderstand — will again rise wp as it did against tatorship that was truly blind to history. tober 10, which is the anniversary of the the war in Vietnam, We are certain that it will founding of the FMLN-FDR. Between these be the strategic force that, together with the The blow was tremendous, but from that two dates a great many mass actions are going struggle of the Salvadoran people, will stop intime on the Salvadoran people began to seek to be held as part of the World Front’s prognew forms of organization. Little by little, in rams, but these will not necessarily be coordi- And if we add to this the world spectrum of the 1940s, the Salvadoran workers’ movement nated at the international level, because it is solidarity, we think the prospects are very began to reorganize. Trade-union activity was difficult to get all countries to coincide. revitalized, until by the 1960s the workers” good.
There is also an ongoing press campaign. movement in E] Salvador had fully recovered.
The U.S. working class is quite complex — We have a bulletin that we are working to improve. This bulletin ought to reflect the broad it comes from a variety of ethnic origins and is potential for solidarity with the Salvadoran also made up of oppressed minorities. The There now exists, for example, the Tradepeople. We are working to increase its circulaworking class cannot be reduced simply to the Union Unity Committee (CUS), which brings tion and to make it better known internationworkers in the factories; it permeates the entire together the entire workers’ movement and structure of U.S. society. ally. which has had a fundamental role in support- Third, there are the financial campaigns, ing the struggle of the Salvadoran people. The which have two aims: to support the work of CUS is one of the pillars of this struggle. There Chicanos, Blacks, Indians the World Front; and to enable the World Front is also the National Federation of Salvadoran to aid the struggle of the Salvadoran people.
Workers (FENASTRAS), which is the union Together with all this the World Front has federation at the national level. It has also had The specially oppressed groups are also various meetings set for its coordinating comstrategic in solidarity work. We believe that an outstanding role. It is no accident that at this mittee to evaluate the work and suggest new the World Front has many possibilities for moment many of the leaders of FENASTRAS ideas. growth there as well — among groups of are in jail. Chicanos, among Black groups, among the North American Indians who have been de- There will be a meeting of the Executive prived of their land and cultural identity. This Secretariat of the World Front scon to discuss What is the crime of these jailed comcannot be reduced simply to the Chicanos, the the problems of solidarity work and how to pafieros, according to the dictatorship? Above Indians, and the Latin Americans, but must exall, to have led the big national strikes in 1980 bring greater pressure on governments by the tend to the whole range of oppressed groups, peoples to get them to express clearly — withthat served as a point of support for both the of the poor in the United States — that is where out hedging — their stance against imperialist armed and democratic movements of El Salthe vitality of the solidarity of the U_S. people averession. We think that it is also possible to vador, These were extraordinary high points in comes from. hold a meeting of the Standing Bureau around the struggle of the Salvadoran people. the middle of the year, as well as to see when We are certain that those are the strategic to hold another assembly of the entire World sectors for solidarity work, and that the World It is not true to say that the workers’ move- Front. Front must be built there as well. This power- That will depend greatly on the state of the ment is now in retreat. On the contrary, there ful force for the transformation of Amencan struggle inside El Salvador, which is now quite is a revitalization of the workers’ movement, society should be included in solidarity work. favorable. The Salvadoran army is practically which is being expressed in demands raised by in retreat, the FMLN is advancing, the Salthe trade unions against the regime of Presivadoran people are gaining a higher level of dent Alvaro Magana, as well as in the repres- Q. Could you say something about the camconsciousness, and in that sense the World sion with which the regime has responded, and paign for the University of El Salvador?
Front is also making gains, as the expression of also in the really massive participation of the the worldwide movement in solidarity with the workers’ movement in all forms of popular A. The National University of El Salvador people of El Salvador. oO struggle. is an institution that has been systematically at- 10
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United States
Unionists back struggle in El Salvador ‘International solidarity of workers really exists’
the Central Labor Council meeting? man did a beawtiful job. The item before it was [Salvadoran union leader Alejandro Molina Lara, an official of the National Federation of about layoffs at Bucyrus Erie, so she picked up A. You wouldn't believe it if you weren't on that and said, “While union members in Salvadoran Workers (FENASTRAS) and genthere. Compared to his speech to-UE 506 he Ene are fighting for their jobs, in El Salvador etal secretary of the Fishing Industry Union, just cut loose. He described why the working toured the U.S. states of Pennsylvania, West union members are fighting for their lives.
Last night Alejandro Molina Lara spoke at class in El Salvador had to turn to armed strug- Virginia, and Ohio last November and Degle. He explained how every other means for cember. He addressed numerous union audi- United Electrical Workers Local 506. . . ." working people to deal with their problems — ences. strikes, clections, etc. — had been blocked by QO. Alejandro returned to Erie a few weeks [In Ere, Pennsylvania, he spoke to hunthe government, which is controlled by 14 dreds of unionists. The coordinator of his tour later. You helped to organize that tour also, wealthy families. there was Al Hart, a worker in the Erie General right? Electric plant and an executive board member For example, he described how strikes are A. Yes. His first trip to Erie was organized of United Electrical Workers (UE) Local 506. met with armed repression. So to prevent strik- 50 hastily that there was no time to sct anything [The following interview with Hart was coners from being killed they adopted the tactic of else up. Myself and some other union people kidnapping the bosses and holding them in the ducted by Ginny Hildebrand, a comespondent and people I knew in the peace movement felt for the U_S. socialist weekly Militant. It applant with them. we could get him to meet with other conpeared in the February 18 issuc.] He also described how elections were stostitucncies and do more in the Erie media. The len. When candidates supported by workers L cd Cy dates. we were able to schedule him for turned were elected, the military voided the results. out to coincide with the December Erie Central Question. How did Alejandro Molina Lara Labor Council meeting. So a talk before the To my surprise that line of argument was come to address the November meeting of UE council was set up. well received by the delegates. The whole Local 506?
Then members of the local CARD [Commitplace was on its feet. The officers had their Answer. A few of us in the local helped set tee Against Registration and the Draft] and the pictures taken standing arm and arm with it up because we thought that the ideal way to Alejandro. Delegates all along the aisles shook nuclear freeze group planned a public meeting get our members to understand the situation in for Alejandro at Gannon College. A professor his hand. The hat was passed among the 50 E} Salvador was for them to hear a unionist people there and they donated $100. The counat Behrend College invited him to one of his from that country. This turned out to be even classes. He also had interviews on two more cil donated another $100 from its treasury. truer than we thought.
Also, they adopted a resolution calling for an TY stations. end to all U.S. aid to El Salvador.
Q. Would you describe the reaction of your One council member got up and said some- Q@. Whar was the reaction to Alejandro at focal members?
A. Well, Alejandro gave a good general Picture of the situation in his country. But what teally strack the crowd was when he described the “free trade zones.” That's where North American companies set up plants and pay no taxes and where unions have always been outlawed. There was an audible sound of dismay throughout the crowd when he told them that workers for these companies eam only $2.50 per day. When he described the disappearances and jailings of union activists, it had a moving effect on the membership.
When Alejandro was done speaking, everyone was on their feet applauding. We took up a collection to cover the expenses of his trip and aid the work of his union federalocal drawing at that meeting donated most of
(Gur Jocal treasurer Jeft the meeting when he beard that Alejandro had no winter coat. He Molina Lara spsaking at meeting In New York City February 11. Some 225 people tumed came back a little Jater with a brand new parka out despite worst blizzard in 36 years. During a weeklong tour of the New York—Northern that was to have been a gift for his father, who New Jersey area, Molina Lara spoke to members and officials of the United Electrical recently died. He gave the jacket to Alejandro.
Workers Union, Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union, International Ladies One other thing Alejandro did was have an Garment Workers Union, United Auto Workers, and to transit workers, hospital workers, imterview with Channel 35 TY. It was a short piece on the evening news but the anchorwogovernment employees, and teachers. 4
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allow them to exploit cheap labor. We as thing like, “I grew up in the coal country and Also, I saw that the reaction Alejandro got American workers are paying taxes that fiback in the "20s and “30s the state police used from the two union meetings was stronger than nance the repression of our brother and sister to come in on horscbhack and beat people down that at the campus mecting. There is a strong unionists, and that subsidize the export of our when they went on strike. And now these big emotional identity, solidarity that workers here jobs. cartels are doing the same thing around the have with another worker living under extreme “President Reagan's certification of human world.” repression. Things that American union memrights progress by the government of El Salbers would never tolerate here are being donc vador isa lie which completely ignores the true in counties where our government has a lot of I wish we had a videotape of that mecting to conditions in El Salvador. We urge Congress say, In our name, with our tax money. send to Lane Kirkland [president of the APLto hold hearings and reject Reagan's certifica- CIO, the U.S. trade-union federation] to show thor.
To hear Alejandro describe how and why him what unionists in Erie think of U.S. policy “AILU.S. military aid and intervention in El workers are fighting in El Salvador makes in El Salvador.
Salvador and Central America should be people understand. see, and feel that the workhalted. We need money for jobs here at home, ing class is a class. It breaks down internarot more guns and more bloodshed in Central tional boundaries. To hear him describe it you America.”
Q@. Why do you think unionists responded ta know that workers, no matter the country, are I'd like to see the labor movement as a on the same side and bosses are on the other Alejandro with such enthusiasm? whole oppose Reagan's policies. I'd like to see side. The thing that was so exciting to me us acting and demonstrating against U.S. polabout the Central Labor Council and UE 506 icy in El Salvador, Nicaragua, etc. The way to meetings was that you could see that intema- A. From the most immediate, self-interest tum labor in this direction is to let the rank and tional solidanty of workers really exists. point of view, we realize that our jobs are file hear workers from these countries explain Alejandro was really able to strengthen the being exported. Right here at General Electric what's gomg on and how U.S. policy is supclass consciousness of the people he spoke to. the company is planning to close the foundry porting the most antilabor forces in these counand some of that work is going to Brazil. The tries.
Q. What do you think organized labor cheapest labor they can get is in countries We're American workers and it is the U.S.
Should be doing to oppose U5. intervention? where workers have no nights, where nghtgovernment that is the major force holding up A. In January, my local sent a letter to our wing military dictatorships supported by the the Salvadoran dictatorship and every other congressmen and senators telling them about U.S. government create a business climate that dictatorship in Latin America. We have a Alejandro’s talk to our local meeting. Then the is best for runaway shops. When people in my greater responsibility than workers in Germany letter said: local read over the list Alejandro had of comor England because it is our government interpanies investing in El Salvador, they saw the vening. We have to oppose itand stop it. O “U.S. military and economic aid is supportconnection. ing this repression of human rights. U.S. based multinational corporations that operate a in El Salvador benefit from these policies that
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by Gerry Foley
The Importance of the Salvador Solidarity Movement
and there is o certain recognition of the The growth of a werld movement in solrecon to think that this con be broadened need for respecting different opinions and idarity with the people of E] Salvador remuch further. for political discussion in order to achieve flects more than the fears of a Vietnam- The Selvodoran revolution is 9 process both breadth and unity. that con appeal not only to the idealistic type wor developing in Central America youth looking for an example of courageous ond the danger to world peace ond human Such understanding was undoubtedly a volves that such a war would invelve. resistance to the power of the capitalist hord-wen goin for the Salvadoran move- Those dangers are real enough, and in ment, and it may be difficult to sustain rulers. themselves, moke mobilizing against the It can be populor with great masses of under the pressures of o growing wor. But people, even in the advanced capitalist threat of imperialist intervention an urgent it dees represent the development of a countries, with ordinary people, workers, trend that could be seen already in the Nitask of the workers movement, socialists, and trade unionists, [tts samething that and defenders of human and democratic coroguan revolution, If isa step toward rights throughout the world. they can identify with, see as relevant to renewing a very important aspect of the Washington's response fo the revolutiontradition of the Bolshevik party that led their own problems, as a positive example. ary upsurge in Central America hos already been to escalate the nuclear arms race in an attempt to deter the Soviet Linion from giving ony support to the onti-imperialist fighters in Central America.
What the U.5. is doing te make its threats more credible, beef up its arsenal of nuclear missiles in Europe, will in fact objectively increase the danger of atomic “ant A Pats os wor.
However, the movement in support of the Salvoderan people is not simply o reedition of the anti-Vietnam war movement, _———*9 | ony more than the course of the revelution hos been the same in El Salvador as in Vietnam.
The movement in support of the people cof El Solvador begins both broader and on ‘a higher political level than the onti- ‘Vietnam wor movement. It also comes in ‘the context of a deeper ideological crisis fof capitolist society.
FMLN-FDR controlled areas in El Salvador For example, it reflects the rodicolizofion in the Catholic church that developed That is because the Salvadoran revoluthe first socialist revolution in one of the in the U.S. only toword the end of the tion marks a significant step toward the world's largest and most complex countries. onti-Vietnom war movement. forms of mass mobilization that a socialist Ata time when the international capi- In fact, in the U.$., Catholic groups revolution will take in the advanced captelist system has entered another deep crisis, and members of Catholic religious orders italist countries, ' when the living standards and aspirations of were among the initiators of the movement This fact also tends to make the Salvathe workers.and youth in the central capiin support of the Salvadoran people. doran revolution more popular in the neofalist countries as well ore coming under This development illustrates in a dramacolonial countries, since it offers a greatattack, precisely the elements of a mass tic way the extent to which all idealism, er hope for achieving the aspirations of the democratic revolutionary movement that humanism, and culture--even the most masses of people everywhere, even the can be s¢en in El Salvador take on o cencomervative in its roots--now comes into poorest, for democracy and a humanistic tral importance. This means that the growth conflict with the struggle of a degenerate system of government, as well as for the of a.mass movement of solidarity with the right of national self-determination, This copitalist and imperialist system to prolong Salvedoran revolution will be directly iniit wnnaturol life. is particularly important in the larger tertwined with the processes that are pre- The rise of the Salvedoren revolution partially industriclized countries, such as poring the way for the emergence of broad ond the movement in solidarity with it also Maxico and Brazil. revolutionary currents in the advanced capcomncide with o worldwide economic crisis, The Salvedoran revolution grew out of Ttalist countries themselves. And the effects of that on the consciousness moss trade-union struggles and mass mobili- In this respect, despite the obstacles of millions and millions of people, in parzations for democratic rights. The revoluthot exist to mutual understanding and linkcular youth ond thoughtful trade-union tionary leadership has striven to organi.e Gctivists, ore interwoven with the growing the mages in the oreo: it controls and inup between the Salvadoran revolutionists wolwe them in political decision-making and Solidamosc in Polond, the two exam- Scss sympathy for the Salvadoran people. ples coincide very much in their effect and and in the solving of the economic problems [tis notable, for example, that there is the effect they con have on the workers they face. sore involvement of U.S. trade-union There is a strong element of pluralism in movement throughout the world, ectivists and trode unions in the Salvador Together they illuminate the way forward the Salvadoran revolutionary movement. movement than there was in the anti-Vietfor all humanity. a Different tendencies exist and cooperate, fem wor movement, And there is every 3
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Solidarity with the People of Central America and the Caribbean
As the May Day celebration in them that they dare not assert the right An imperialist war against the peo- Managua proclaimed: “We will defend to control their own lands, their own reple of Central America and the Caribbean the evolution, building Socialism.” sources, their own destinies. has begun!
Faced with these new advances, imperial- The Anglo-American imperialist Since the revolutionary overthrow ist aggression against Nicaragua has alaggression against Argentina and its conof the hated dictatorships in Nicaragua ready reached a qualitatively new level. sequences throughout Latin America has and Grenada three years ago, led by the created difficulties for the war plans of Daily battles are now being fought with FSLN and the New Jewel Movement, the the imperialists and their allies in the reworkers and peasants of Central America imperialist-armed counterrevolutionary gion. But the certainty of an ever larger and the Caribbean have been on the units operating out of bases on two and more direct Yankee intervention in march. Each day they are deepening fronts: Honduras and Costa Rica, Central America and the Caribbean has their struggle against the imperialist dom- A counterrevolutionary governination that has brought nothing but dement-inexile is being put together, trynot changed. - ing to establish itself on Nicaraguan ter- U.S. imperialism will not renounce cades of misery and suffering. ritory, where it can “legitimately” call for the use of a single weapon in its arsenal Faced with the revolutionary adfor blocking the extension of the socialvances throughout the region, the U.S. open imperialist intervention, Economic strangulation and saboist revolution in what it considers to be ruling class has no choice but to use its tage, diplomatic isolation—all weapons its own “backyard.” massive military power to protect its are being used to try to weaken and di- We are living through a decisive moimperialist interests, vide the Nicaraguan people and bring In El Salvador the people in arms, ment. led by the FDR-FMLN, have continued down the first workers and peasants gov- We must fight to prevent the imperialists war drive from achieving its ernment in Central America which is to strengthen their political and military capacities and expand their international moving to abolish capitalist exploitation objectives.
The revolutionaries of El Salvador, diplomatic offensive. Following the elecand oppression in Nicaragua.
In Grenada a similar process is un- Nicaragua, Guatemala, Grenada, and toral farce of March 28, the new govern- Cuba have not retreated a single step. On folding as the working people of that isment of Alvardo Magana was put together land nation deepen their economic and the contrary each day their authority by the Yankee embassy. The numbers of with the people and their capacity to take massacres and tortured has increased. social gains.
Destabilisation efforts and other initiatives on all fronts increases. New re- Even the miserable “land reform” of counterrevolutionary operations financed vyolutionary victories, new workers states Duarte has been annulled. The latest are being born in Central America and the batch of officers and special troops and directed by various imperialist interests have been accompanied by massive trained in the U.S. have returned. The Caribbean.
United, fighting international solilevel of U.S. aid has incressed to the naval maneuvers in the Caribbean, carrydarity with this forward march of the reving out simulated landings on Grenada. point where today only three other counolution will play a decisive role in the tries in the world receive more aid than In fact, the last months have seen a total struggles that are coming. Our brothers of four naval maneuvers involving all the the dictatorship of El Salvador. and sisters on the front lines of battle in principal imperialist powers of NATO.
In Guatemala the newly formed Central America and the Caribbean are Their goal has been not only intimidation unity of the revolutionary forces and the fighting in the interests of working peobut a dress rehearsal for a blockade and broadening popular base of antiple the world over; our struggle is one! landings wherever in the region imperialimperialist struggle amongst the Indian The solidarity committees must be ism decides to strike. majority of the Guatemalan people, has strengthened. The World Front for Sol- The problem for Washington is been met by the coup of last March that idarity with the Salvadoran People shows brought to power the military junta clear. the road to follow for the coordination of Behind El Salvador and Guatemala, headed by General Rios Montt. While the Nicaragua and Grenada, stands Cuba. solidarity work. demagogic declarations about the neces- The mobilisation of the broadest sity for (Christian love and) “‘civil peace”
Imperialism’s military escalation is forees in action against the escalating imhaye multiplied, they have served only as aimed at crushing the rise of revolutionperialist war moves in Central America a cover for the resumption of imperialist ary struggles throughout the region. and the Caribbean must be a central task. aid, With this support, General Montt is Today it is the Salvadoran people who are The Fourth International commits carrying out new and even more brutal suffering the harshest imperialist aggresits entire forces to continue and deepen sion in the region. But the ultimate obmassacres in the rural areas, especially jective must be the Cuban workers state, this solidarity work. | against the Quiche Indian people, and because imperialism knows that Cuba will stepping up his military offensive against support the struggles of the people of NO IMPERIALIST INTERVENthe UNRG.
Central America and the Caribbean to the While the revolutionary forces of TION! end. While the Cuban revolution lives, El Salvador and Guatemala are today INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY the current reactionary offensive cannot fighting to overthrow bloody pro- WITH THE PEOPLE OF CENTRAL imperialist dictatorships, the workers and triumph.
AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN!
The war which is today being peasants of Nicaragua and Grenada are waged by Anglo-American imperialism mobilising to fight to the last drop of against Argentina is intimately tied to the blood to defend their revolutionary gov- International Executive Committee imperialist offensive in Central America. ernments and the social, economic, and of the FOURTH INTERNATIONAL It too is intended to intimidate the workpolitical advances they have achieved over May 1982. 1h ing people of Latin America and teach the last three years.