I-famed contras are facing increasing difficulty getting their act together. Their failure has precipitated the worst crisis they ROBERTSON reports.
ARTURO Cruz has just resigned from the leaderof the United Nicaraguan Opposition, the umbrella that organises the contras.
Cruz is a former member of the junta government in installed after Somoza tell. Cruz is an ex. director of the Central Bank and ex-ambassador to UNO is led by a troika composed Cruz Maso elf, Alfonso Robello, User former member oi the junta government, and Lero who sents wing UNO.
alero is the only one of three who has real backing In the AFTER THE MISERABLE failure to seriously challenge the Sandinistas on the military terrain, the have ever had. COLIN form of the Nicaraguan.
Democratic Force.
The disputes between the three led to the resignation Calero from the UNO leadership.
Obviously the US administranon, Irangate fiasco, is being forced to change Coulse The major difficulty facing the Americans is the fact that the military performance of the contras extener unattractive option for US foreign policy vis a vis the Nicaraguan revolution.
Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, son of Pedro Chamorro, assassinated ov somoza and owner of the opposition La Frensa. had been substituted for Calero. The change is aimed at improving the image of the contras leaving leadership in the hands of anti-Somoza promellasts. designed to give the contras the 'respectability' they so badly need The change is designe to get the approval by US congress of more funds for the counter-revolutionary armed activities of the contras inside Nicaraguan territory The contras are highly unpopular due to the horrendous atrocities they have committed against unarmed civilians, in4t00l women. Their mance' makes it extremely difficult for would-be supporters to come out openly in their favour.
One of the main diffic ulties of UNO is the lack of control over funds and military activities by the olitical leadership, that i Cruz and over Calero has • Deen denounced by the 'fighters of the south front' of having received all the money coming from the US and not having given them a single cent.
however the prUblems have found no solution the racket continued unabated. The money comes the ayatollahs in Iran, straight LULU the pockets of the leaders of the contras courtesy of Oliver North, Donald Regan Admiral Poindexter, Cruz has openly acknowledged having received US$7000 monthly from the White House The leadership of the CORLE iter Rica and tried to heal the internal rift to no avail. Cruz has finally decided to resign from the leadership on UNO, main because despite all the efforts to bring the contras under the leadership of 'respectable', personalities, Calero remains strong.
The differences that have emerged bridgeablear Besides. uncertainty about getting more aid from the US administration after Irangate additional factor is acmoralisation This does not mean that American imperialism has decided to repsect Nicaragua's right to self-determination. means that US policy is tem. porarily in disarray.
will be found to attempt to crush the Nicaraguan revolution. Solidarity stepped up. must survive.
Solidarity Campaign rally, Stop Blood Money: 7.30pm, Westminster Central Hall, Storey's Gate, London SWI.
Socialist Action and the NCU dispute SOCIALIST ACTION carried material throughout the NCU dispute pointing to the role played in sabotaging that struggle by John Golding and the NCU executive. policies pursued by the Militant dominated Broad Left, Socialist Action called for building the Broad Left as the only alternative to Golding inside the NCU today — the forum in which militant workers seeking an alternative to Golding would organise. Articles submitted for publication by Socialist AcSocialist Action 19 March 1987 While not agreeing with all the NO no one sits at home until its all over. We have to build the strike with other unions June and make them understand that it's their tight too. We especially have to win support from women and from black people who come under particular attack from the Tories. All would gain from our victory. Only • Caterpillar
Last year the union settled for rises of between 23.5 per cent after originally submitting per Questioned as to whether the union would similarly cent this y cal Ramaphosa said I leave that your judgement. But 1986 is not 1987'.
In that time the union has been subject substantial growth. In just 18 months. since the toun ding CONCEI austerity economic policies peasants and aomeutura labourers itself. Sanctions now! of An impressive show of strength was staged by the Spanish working class when marches were organised to protest against redundancies and defend jobs from falling under the axe. . The demonstrations took place in at least 30 cities. They are an expression of the working class growing dissatisfaction with Felipe Gonzales . In Madrid the demands displayed on the banners of the demonstrators were detence of jobs, real wage increases and a shorter working week. Marches in the south involved thousands of landless The police clashed violently with the workers. The marches are widely viewed as a rehearsal for the general strike being prepared for April.
The Swedish Social Democratic government has decided to impose a total boycott on trade with South Africa. If followed through in all its consequences, this measure would deal a serious blow to the apartheid regime. In itself it represents a huge success for the anti-apartheid movement internationally and in South Africa