GIFTS, CHEERS Salvadorean trade unionists Rosa Rivas and Gerardo Anaya on their tour of Britain. More importantly acts of solidarity have come for their sister and brother trade unionists in El Salvador.
While Gerardo talked with officers at the National of Mineworkers in Sheffield a message cane trougi that his union congress in Salvador COCCI smashed up the National Police and his fellow leaders detained. Fearing for their lives Gerardo immediately began to gather messages telegrams the British movement to secure the release of the FSR leaders Thousands of pounds have been collected at metings in factories, canteens, shop stewards compublic rallies and at all the majo national rade The at County Hall in London on 23 January raised £600 after solidarity speeches from miners leader Arthur Scargill, Fire Brigade general secretar NGA and Ker Cameron, the the Parliamentary Labour The funds collected will cover the costs of br inging Rosa and Gerardo from El Salvador. The res will be sent back to EI Salvador to aid the wor of the mass movement in the cities and zones controlled by popular forces.
Their message of defiance and solidarity was communicated to leader Neil Kinnock and tears have greeted will feature in an interview in forthcoming Panorama television programme.
Gerardo explained to the London rally, 'On this tour we have met with love and respect for blems and struggle which we face in El Salvador.
'In March 1980 I was taken prisoner by the Na tional Guard and was 20 days in detention, shut up in a cell with no conditions for basic life. I was cruelly tortured. That was my first real step as a trade leader. I was set free as a result of a strike in solidarity by three factories. But once I came out I was persecuted and forced to leave my home, family and four children.
•We know we are confronting an enemy that is extremelv powertul and ar enemy that receives aid from the United States But we know equally that the workers of Salvador are not alone. We will carry on and with the solidarity that is given us by workers of the world we will win'.
This stirring message of defiance and hope wa: echoed by Rosa who has also experienced repression. 'The general secretary of my union was kidnapped, 13 days after he was found decapitated and cruelly killed.
'After this was followed a lot and they intended to kill me as well. So my colleagues got me out of the country and I had to leave behind my children.
'Because of this repression we are asking that this government does not send observers to the Salvadol cccuon. This will make legitimate Salvador. sene retlers Reagar demanding that the US get their bases : out of Hon duras leave Salvador to decide its own future.
'We will go back an‹ be able to tell our people the wonderful know that help of eople inrougno he world who love wor peace we will win.' Scargill speaks at solidarity rally