IMGpapers 1980–83

Newspapers of the International Marxist Group and its forerunners, 1980–83

AFTER THE GUATEMALAN COUP Will the US change course in

· Socialist Challenge No. 240, 1 April 1982 · p. 4 of the scan · 960 words

The scan: sc-no240.pdf (PDF, Marxists Internet Archive, opens at this page)

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page 4 of the scan

THINGS becoming United States in Central America.

D'Aubuisson, besides heading ARENA party, is also widely believed to be the leader of El Salvador's death squads. massive support in the middle class. Since the army coup in October 1979, which installed the junta which President Duarte leads, the United States have clung on to Duarte's reputation as a moderate to argue that the problem in El Salvador was 'communist subversion.

With fascist D'Aubuissian DowcI. the possibility of convincing American Coneven the gress that there something in El Salvador worth defending against Couns seems remote.

The guerrilla movements in El Salvador and Guatemala are becoming increasingly powerful, and it seems certain that the administration considering whether the time has come to change course, to try to reinforce front of demo, Salvador Moncada of the FDR speaking. E Socialist Challenge desperate for the Every last the fascist He has 'centre' Central American politics, at the hard right is incapable of defeating the guerrillas.

Debate

The Guatemala coup makes it certain that this is an active debate in the ruling oligarchies in Central America itself. The 'young officers' who are behind teneral Montt's coup against Lucas Garcia seem influenced not ov the ex treme rightist Sandoval Alacron, was first 15,000 march for El Salvador 15,000 people marched last Saturday to support the struggle of the people of El Salvador, in a demonstration called to coincide with the Salvadorean government's fraudulent 'elections'. Among the speakers were Labour Party leader Michael Foot, who denounced the elections as a sham, and the sending of British observers as a disgrace. Although not many trade union or Labour Party banners were present, the demonstration was a good start to the campaign to stop Youth, behind the slogan of 'Victory to the FMLN". Right, the rally in Trafalgar Square and below VE 1 April 1982 thought, but in favour of trying 're-centre" Guatemalan politics:

These terms in C'entral America all the major government factions and Partic. in both Guatemala and Salvador are politically very right wing. But for the United States question precise combination political forces is capable of defending and their interests. Clue A clue to the possible provided options looking at what occurred after the 1979 army coup Duarte's included Utila both the social democratio MNR. led by Guillermo Ungo. and the Salvadorean Communist Party.

The original programme of the Juild was one of limited reform' which . was sabotaged by the ruling oligarchy. When Duarte's original government fell apart. the MR and thi CP walked out and joined the opposition FDR (Revolutionary Democralic Front.

Member, of the Congress Foreign Relations Committee are openly advocating the possibility of drawing a section of the opposition into negotia tions in El Salvador. US Secretary Haig. ander despite denials, has accidently let it out that secret negotiations have been held about EI Salvador the Cubans.

the precise debate the administration, there is oban increasingly widespread view inside the US ruling class that simple military victory against the guerrillas impossible without a disastrous Vietnam-style adventure.

A turn in United States policy towards trying political manoeuvre towards the FDR would pose some acute tactical problems for the Salvadorean resistance. In we have to look at the ditTerent forces involved in the movement.

The Revolutionary Democratic Front is made up of the revolutionary Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMIN), the MNR and even some left wing' Christian Democrats.

Reform The FMLN includes four revolutionary armies, of which the FPL biggest, together with the armed wing of the Combut tally The is ran do the without doubt revolutionar!. explains that the basic problems of the Salvadorean masses cannot be solved without the rule of the workers and peasants True.

Salvadorean Communist Party has a different view.

but to incorporate its arm ed wing in the FMI.N. i has been forced to swallow the FMIN's revolutionary GUATEN MAN Revolution ommi Human ights programme.

lhe FDR does however have programme which could be described as revolutionary however. While stressing remove the LIC need 10 oligarchy and break the hold of imperialism. and forward Dullllly concrete progressive measures as lanc reform, nonetheless Had hack vocating a socialist solu tion tavour of formulas about a 'mixed economy and so forth It is by no means unprincipled for revolutionaries to participate in a joint imperialism and the oligarthy with forces which are politically bourgeois Nonetheless Ungo and the Salvadorean democracy are politically opportunist opponents of working class power.

For the moment however. the decisive say in the FDR remains with those who have the armed might - The AMIN guerrillas. It the Us offers negotiations with the guer* and Britain rillas, this could pose some problems.

A political solution in El Salvador must include elements of the occisive FMIN programme cluding the dismantling ot the army and national guard, the comple removal of all l's person nel. and a refusal to form id coalition with any of those in Duane's munta.

Solve Revolutionaries their solidarity Those fighting Salvador against irrespective Nonerheless, the FDR and EMIN have different pro grammes with porcoall!

It is the revolutionaries of the FMLN who have undersood the essence of permanent revolution that il Imposed d solve the basic problems of the masses in like Ml Salvador withou breaking from cantall nationally and tionallv acor

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hope of preserving a 'moderate' facade for the regime in El Salvador seems to be going out of the window, as it becomes more and more like- ly that the winner in El Salvador's presidential election will be Major Robert D'Aubuisson.

Reagan's visit to Britain. 800 people marched in the con- tingent organised by Socialist Challenge and Revolution

order to understand whi. Committee! SUPPORT DE. PEOPLES STRUGGLE

SO DARITY CAMPAIGN

USMANDS OF AN NT

← STOP TRIDENT NUCLEAR MISSILE BASE EASTER DEMOFMLN meets elections with widespread attacks →

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