ON FRIDAY 28 October the Grenadian and Nicaraguan flags flew over Lambeth Town Hall in an act of solidarity.
Over 500 people crammed into an anti-intervention rally called by Vauxhall Labour Party, with a further overspill meeting.
Among the speakers were Fennis Augustine the Grenadian High Comme FOR MIN of E Salvador and Francisco D'Escoto the Nicaraguan ambassador. We publish extracts from their speeches.
THIS IS not a time for tears. This is a time when we have to reinforce the \JM motto 'Forward ever! Backward never"" I want to tale the opportunity to thank you for the support which has been given to the Grenadian revolution from March 1979, and hopefully the support that you will continue to give us, because comrades the struggle continues!
have heard President sayıng television night that he had saved Grenada just in the nick of time. You will remember sallle Reagan who we mounted a because of in carefully because carefully planned rehearsal, COok named 'Amber', which we at Grenada. Then some people believed us. some didn't.
British government didn't know There are very pressing reasons for President to find DULLIC means of justification.
He has discovered a major arms storage depot.
Comrades, it would have been irresponsible of the People's Revolutionary Government, given the threats of invasion in 1981 after, not to have prepared themselves!
Comrades, we have arms, we nave bullcts and we have a militia of 20,000 strone are told that the Cubans are there in force It is interesting that from the very day of the invasion, the figure of 1000 Cuban troops was quoted.
Then we were told that 200 were disarmed and taken to Barbados - but there continued to 1000 Now the purpose of that is clear. It of the heroic struggle being waged by OU! comrades the towns, in the houses, in the hills.
It is a clear indication of the strength and committment to a system that the Americans did not want to see exist in that part of the world.
I was. called to the participating in an Foreign Office to be told that Her Majesty's governMerl SUCCES that the lives and property of British nationals in Grenada will be protected. ine lollowillg day the Foreign Office received those assurances in the form of a broadcast The very day I was summoned was the day that issued lives of American naI find it extremely difficult to believe the tionals. should be protected.
Comrades, in politics there is no such thing as an accident. I find it extremely difficult to belleve that the Government did not know or were not consulted.
Let us suppose
disapproved. But if the didn't make this public it that they quietly agreeeing.
I don't want to have a long discussion on our 'friends' in the Caribbean who either appealed to the United States, or the United States appealed to them to appeal to them.
These countries conpired in a disgusting way They feared the one coun try in the English speaking Caribbean where the people could make a comparison. The Americans have come up, despite their size against a determined people. We ask for your assistance to see what pressure can be brought to secure ceasefire, American and carl beal American and forces from the Island and Commonwealth force, the Commonwealth forces involved in the conspiracy. the United States.
the challenge for us, we must organise ourselves. the realities of the United States Europe.
The same people who oppose democracy in Central America are the people who oppose demodeveloped countries.
It is necessary for the people to understand that unite, because the enemy is the same enemy. NICARAGUA condemns the unjustified military occupation of Grenada by interventionist troops of This proves without any doubt the clear desire of administration for war. There is a THE SITUATION in Central America and the Caribbean region has changed so suddenly and so much in the last couple of weeks. It has been defined by naked imperialist aggression towards Grenada. We strongly believe that what is happening in Central America and in Grenada is not so far away from and Western We of course know full well what United States Guatemala in 1954, it is Cuba in 1961, is is Santa Domingo in 1965, it is now Grenada and it probably will be, if we allow them to do it, Central America in the near While the invasion of Grenada was taking place Guatemala, el Sa of Salvador and Honduras were having a meeting to activate their military alliance and see if they will invite Reagan's troops into Central America.
Our intelligence has confirmed that in the near future you will be reading in the press that we, the sandinistas, nave carrice out sabotage in economic sectors in Costa Rica and future.
We have destroyers, aircraft carriers, planes, helicopter gunships military advisors ana thousands of soldiers on the Honduran Nicaraguan border. They have organised joint military manoeuvres with the armv of Hondura. military manoeuvres that will last from August 1983 to March 1984. Honduras.
The reason is to arouse the people of Costa Rica Honduras against Tonight we would like to pay tribute to the heroic people of Grenada and to the inter nationalist spirit shown by the Cuban workers We in Nicaragua have Cuban workers in the education health fields. We are very proud nave them in You have heard many Honduras has now become plattorn for launching attacks against Nicaragua and ine lorce. of the FDR-FMLN in El Salvador. situation has to be stopped.
The same people who oppose We are fighting, we are continuing struggle, but we are completely conscious of the fact that it is necessary also to have your understanding. proposals for peace ment. There can peace without justice Peace is impossible a long as the powerful mair tain their arrogant stand c demanding the developin countries act in acco with imperiall interests.
This is the hour of un ty in action for the defenc of our country and revolu tion. Our people are read to fight and resist.
We need to talk an share experiences in orde to be able to find the bes way to fight the commo Cuculy I want to pay speci tribute to those fighters i vrenada wno al tne mo ment are in the hills an still resisting. Every Cuba who has given his life fo the defence of the territor of Grenada is a hero doing what they are doin they are showing that ther is no possibility of givin up the fight We have to continu and we have to tino ti most effective way to carr on this fight. want t finish by saying what th Grenadians always forward ever, backwar never!
----- pull-quotes -----
Fennis Augustine, Grenadian High Commissioner
Fransisco D'Escoto, Vicaragua Ambassador
Salvador Moncada FDR-FMLN representative
democracy in Central America are the people who oppose democracy in the developed countries.
Nicaragua t for United state guar