MARIANELLA Vilas is one of three lawyers in El Salvador who defend left wing political prisoners. Over the last few months she has received several anonymous letters.
The first informed her she being "tried" for 'subversion' in a 'patriotic' court. The second said she had been sentenced to death and the third that the sentence carried out. All letters were from the White Warriors Union (UGB); fascist execution squad rather more professional than our own National Front.
Marianella, a representative of the Commission for Human Rights in El Salvador, was recently in Europe to stress the need for solidarity with popular struggles affer 'cosmetic' palace October - ordered by Washington in a desperate attempt to head another Nicaragua.
Junta Already the new regime is in crisis. On 3 January all the civilian members of the junta and the bulk of the government resigned after the armed forces rerused to position in favour of 'democratisation'. Marianella explains.
This so-called regime' hasn't carried out any of its promises and is not accepted by the majority of the people.
It has passed decrees on amnesty for political prisoners, reform, minimum wage structure and dissolution of the fascist paramilitaries. Rust 13 pontical prisoners nave not been affected since the previous.
defined them as criminals. and 5ll brisoners aren'l covered because they are held without recognition prisons.
The law on land reform merely instructs anybody buying or selling land to inform the government. In the teeth of right-wing demonstrations by tbe landowners' organisations none promises on this Socialist Challenge continue to coffee fields because was demanded by a new law.
believe that would do this clandestinely!
tinting, continued appearing. coup of 17 off Democracy, the new coup. On the other (Revolutionary SOCIALIST public 'reformist problem has heen met. The peasants have occupy and workers have taken over the the proprietors have not paid the $5.80 minimum a day As ror disparamg cue rascals, Wi there is an unspoken agreement between the regime and fascist groups. The government pays a political price for repressing the left directly — far better to let the right The famous purge of the armed forces has resulted in onlv a lew administrative changes. Torture is con208 were killed in the two weeks after the coup and today people are still disappearing and corpses The reformist parties — Christian Social Democracy, and the Communist Party — rushed to after the side the BPR Peoples Block) the FAPU (United Peoples Front), the February Leagues and the Trotskyists CHALLENGE opera former can can Hote cob Monela, Tariy A HOKUM, all opposed it. revolutionary organisations do bave mass support and can take initiatives against the line of the reformists.
Many people about the armed actions of the left organisanons unaccrately alle coup. These had a negative because they miscalculated the rea social relation of forces, which did not permit an insurrection • time. But there was a positive side because the government repression showed that the regime represented continuity.
• Although there is a well organised vanguard, the majority of the masses react spontaneously one wav other - following the reformists or the revolutionaries at different times. We need to maintain clear opposition to the regime but patiently construct organisation and the revolutionary forces without wasting people in advemansi achons. right are looking for a coup if there is a provocation from the left.
but one thing is sure Salvadorian masses are CARDIFF: SC Koad, Cardit.
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Fullmarks, 110 Chellenham Road, Monipettier, Bristl COVENTRY: SC available from Wedge Bookshop, For ore into abour local activities phone 461138 Sarday Ti-4pn HUDDERSFIELD: SC SWINDON: SC on sak 11.1 every Sit., Regent si Cireens Bookstall, upstairs in Spencer Market, Stockto Whitechapel tube, Sunday 10.30-12.N9 Brick Lan These struggle of the ghove gill with the candinistas aren't so pleased with the Nicaraguan government's read colonels, but we make a distinetion between the practical attitude of the Sandinistas and the government. The side Sandinistas organisations.
No one in Central America can at that talk about a revolutionary being restricted to just one country. a Central problem. Yanomis this and so do most of us.
For us the victory in Nicaragua makes our struggle even more urgent. ' or [ne Historically our level of organisation has been more developed than theirs; so if they can do it, we certainly can too.
And for that we don't just want moral sympathy but solidarity. best sort is when workers in companies that have links with El Salvador take action in their factory All the the From the Chile Solidarity Campaign officials. the right of any detainee. with a warning cross.
Nicaraguans and recognition the popular process American, regional understamd
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