During the last year the left in Britain has concentrated its attention on support for the miners' strike. That was correct. But across the Atlantic a class struggle which dwarfs the miners' strike has been On 19 July 1979 the FSLN overthrew the dictatorship of Somoza and established the political power, the state power, of the working dass in Nicaragua. For six years the United States has been waging government. It heightened that war last week with the announcement right at the top of priorities for socialists, and the entire left wing of the labour movement, must be building solidarity with Nicaragua against the attacks being launched It is socialists, and of the labour movement, to defend any semi-colonial third world countrv under attack ov imperialsm quite regardless of the nature of the government that is running that state. At times that has undoubtedly meant fighting on the same side of the baras Sonne had to defend Ethiopia against the atthough Ethiopia's ruler Hailie Selassie was a literal slave owner. In World War against attack by Japanese imperialism even though China's ruler, Chiang Kai-shek, was the leader of the massacres of rain's war for the Malvinas in 1982 the quivocably on the side of Argentina — even though its rulers were a murderous nave distinguish between the goals which are being tought for and the regimes in. volved. At the time of the Malvinas war popularised a wonderful slogan: 'the part of its national territory stolen from it by British imperialism was a completely just struggle. But the junta ruling Argentina were a gang or bloody murderers for whom the working class something far more than necessary support for a 'third world' country under Nicaragua's is no government to be op posed but one to be totally supported. The FSLN government of Nicaragua is one of the great examples of liberation that country but of the despicable dictatorships in the world. For 43 years the National somoza, when today lorms une core ol record of Hitler's SS and Gestapo, or the Shah of murdered, tortured and Somoza, turned himself into the richest man in Central America. He possessed fifty one cattle ranches, forty six coffee alr organised crime His successor in the family continued the tradition.
merely killed Somoza's enemies but reenage children, pouring petrol over Socialist Action even among their more notorious atrocities. Illiteracy and malnutrition were rife.
For the Nicaraguan people - and the entire civiliser FSLN victory was like a day following deep night. The FSLN, basing itself on the victory of the Nicaraguan people over the National Guard, launched a mass campaign to eliminate illiteracy more than Nicaragua's people to read and write. It campaign of vaccination was launched. Land was distributed to the peasants. More than 200,000 workers have been fought in Nicaragua in which the FSLN turn out to vote was eighty per cent -far higher than any American presidenNicaragua's is a regime which stands colonial world. It would be held up as a model by any semi-civilised country or force on the planet. It is this regime which the United States decided to try to smash and to replace with a dark literal physical annihilation of tens of thousands of Nicaraguan workers and Nicaraguan people back by To stop this murderous and cvnical assault is the task of the entire labour But for socialists something more even than that vital struggle against US successes of the FSLN are not accidental. And they have something to teach were stated by Carlos Fonseca -tional demands a progressive and socialist demand one titth ot class alliance of every exploited and op pressed layer in Nicaragua. The FSLN succeeded in utilising, on tactical quesbons, avisions win lne bourgeoisic while maintaining a clear strategic line itself to bourgeois forces. held hegemony throughout the revolurole of the working class, the peasantry, but taking in important sections of the 'popular' classes in Nicaragua such emendous power ana oopular dase lo the government and workers state in FSLN precisely flows from the fact that it is based on the free choice of the all expressed in the revolution but now confirmed also in the lower form of operation, which allowed the FSLN to gain that support and authority preciseConseca that the FSLN identify with socialism while retaining a critical atwith the 'socialist experience' meaning the bureaucratised states of Eastern dependently of, and in opposition to countries of Easern Europe against imperialism. It identifies with the Cuban revolution. But the methods and positions of the FSLN have nothing to do while retaining a critical attitude to the with in a phrase used by Marx, literally 'placed itself at the head of the Nicargua became focused through the around the leadership of the working with pride.
even more.
Latin America Defence DuLmust crush 1t -programme, and method of The FSLN developed completely inthe bureaucratic monstrocities of Eastern Europe -despite wrong positions it has on issues such as Solidarnosc in Poland.
FSLN revolutionary socialist organisation — one which has made an indelibie contribution to the international working class. One from which every socialist in the world can learn. This is a government with which every socialist in the world can identify indeed for this reason that Reagan hates the FSLN government Any government fighting for socialism and national liberation in is intolerable for the United States. But one that is popularis even more unacceptable. It is precisely November 1984 that Reagan has stepped up his assault on Nicaragua.
Nicaragua today stands out as an example to the entire population of the general, is today the central point for world scale. It is the most important class struggle taking place anywhere in the world. It is a third world country locked inan enormous battle with the greatest imperialist power on earth.
alliances, and strategy, are a school for the victory and defence of this revoluton is the task of every labour move.
of the Labour Party, every fighter fighter against racism, every fighter for day urgently to come to the defence of In the l960s a tremendous move. ment of international solidarity helped deal a crippling blow to American policy in Vietnam, secure victory for the NLF in the war in that country, and gain the liberation of Indochina from imperialism. A completely equivalent movement is now needed today to secure victory for Nicaragua.
Socialist Action appeals to every one ot its readers, and those they influence, today to come to the support of Nicaragua. We will be opening our Reagan's attack on the Nicaraguan revolution. It is 'an integral battle plan in the military, ideological, psychological fields; like the five fingers of a claw that crushes what it does not like' the reverses suffered by the US trade claws. The western partners gathered in Bonn gave it a cool reception; Reagan had to contradict his Secretary of State and claim that he wasn't looking fo their support anyway. Treasury qualms at home obliged Reagan to exempt US firms' existing contracts from the ban Felipe Gonzalez to take a tougher line in defence of the revolution than he has done for a long time. In turn, the Euro pean socialist group was bolstered in its spectacular 'No Star Wars', 'Hands off "regretting' the embargo gained all but unanimous support. The US was forced to use its veto; only Britain abstained. With their usual diplomatic verve