AUGUST 24, 1979 25 CENTS VOLUME 43/NUMBER 32

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE

Carter stalls aid, seeks to strangle freedom fi9ht

-- Mit;t.. ntll=rArl MANA~UA, August 3-Thousands of Nicaraguans from working-class and poor neighborhoods rally in support of revolution. on-the-scene reports Fidel castro -Workers & peasants calls lor rebuild country -PAGE 2 ·Sandinista leader appeals SOlidaritY for support -PAGE 16 wnh Nicaragua ~Statement by Full text-Pages 10-14 Fourth International-PAGE 6 In face of U.S. imP-erialist threat orkers and peasants By Pedro Camejo, Sergio Rodriguez and Fred Murphy MANAGUA, Nicaragua-The social­ ist revolution has begun in Nicaragua. Under the leadership of the Sandi­ nista National Liberation Front, the workers and peasants have over­ thrown the imperialist-backed Somoza dictatorship and destroyed its army and police force. Basing itself on the power of the armed and mobilized masses, the San­ dinista leadership has begun taking a series of radical measures-a deepgo­ ing land reform, nationalization of all the country's banks, seizure of all the property held by the Somoza family and its collaborators, the formation of popular militias and a revolutionary

Pedro Camejo, a leader of the Socialist Workers Party, and Sergio Rodriguez, a leader of the Revolu­ tionary Workers Party of Mexico, went to Nicaragua to gather first­ hand information for the United Secretariat of the Fourth Interna­ tional, the world Trotskyist organi­ Victorious Nicaraguans drag statue of Somoza's father through streets of Managua zation, and for Trotskyists around the world. Fred Murphy is a corres­ and what kind of society they want to property relations in the countryside. The youth of Nicaragua are being pondent for the 'Militant' and 'Inter­ construct to replace the Somoza ty­ For now, the Sandinistas say they integrated into a new revolutionary continental Press/lnprecor,' who ranny. are limiting the land reform to the army. And the people in the workers has been in Nicaragua covering the The Nicaraguan workers, peasants, Somocista (Somozaist) holdings. How­ districts and in the countryside who revolutionary developments there. and semi-proletarian masses are com­ ever, when reporters asked INRA direc­ carried on the anti-Somoza struggle ing onto the center stage of history. tor Wheelock what they will do if the are being organized into militia units. They are led by a revolutionary cur­ lands run out and there are still needy The Sandinista leaders are trying to army, the organization of commmit­ rent, the Sandinista National Libera­ peasants, he answered: "We'll take the move as rapidly as possible to build a tees in the factories and neighbor­ tion Front (FSLN). rest of it." strong, well-equipped, and well-trained hoods, and other steps. The land reform is crucial for the army to meet the threat of foreign An active solidarity campaign Land reform Nicaraguan revolution, because sixty intervention and to put a stop to terror­ among working people throughout the A high percentage of the arable land percent of the population lives in the ist snipers. world is urgently needed. Supplies of in the country was owned by Somoza countryside. Nicaragua's main export In the cities-especially in the food, medicine, and other basic necessi­ and his immediate circle. This land products are all agricultural-cotton, working-class and poor districts­ ties are critically low. Massive aid is has been nationalized. Under the direc­ coffee, sugar, and beef. Sandinista Defense Committees are needed to begin the process of recon­ tion of Sandinista leader Jaime Whee­ In addition to all the Somocista prop­ being formed on a block-by-block basis structing the country. lock, the Nicaraguan Institute of erty, the new government has also to oversee the distribution of emer­ The imperialist powers, most notably Agrarian Reform has been set up. nationalized all of Nicaragua's banks. gency food aid, organize the recon­ the United States, are implacable ene­ INRA is supervising the distribution of This gives it control over the vast bulk struction of housing and other build­ mies of this revolution. They are with­ these vast holdings to the thousands of of the country's industrial wealth. This ings destroyed by Somoza's bombings, holding material aid, seeking weak Nicaraguan peasants who have histor­ will be ·crucial for reactivating the and work with the Sandinista militias. points in the revolution, and preparing ically eked out a subsistence on tiny economy, providing jobs, and meeting Workers in the factories, stores, their countermoves. plots. the needs of the workers and peasants. banks, and other workplaces are also An immediate military threat exists. Those sections of land best suited for The Ministry of Social Welfare, forming committees. These are usually Entire units of Somoza's National large-scale farming are being used to headed by Lea Guido de L6pez, has elected by assemblies of all the Guard left the country and are being set up state enterprises that will pro­ announced decrees against all kinds of workers. They are to form the basis of maintained intact in neighboring Hon­ vide permanent employment for thou­ speculators and profiteers, decrees a new United Federation of Sandinista duras and El Salvador. The slogan sands of agricultural laborers. characterized by a detJply egalitarian Workers, which will integrate the trade "Hands off Nicaragua!" should now The land reform is being enthusiasti­ spirit. The large number of buildings unions that existed under the dictator­ become the international rallying cry cally welcomed by the peasants and formerly owned by Somoza and the ship with the new workers committees. for all those who support the right of farm workers, who have mobilized in Somocistas will not be monopolized by It is to include the agricultural prole­ the Nicaraguans to determine for large demonstrations. Peasant militias private individuals or government ad­ tariat as well. themselves what kind of government are being organized to defend the new minstrators for personal use. Instead, The government has decreed that all they are to be transformed into wages lost by workers during the June­ schools, child-care centers, sports cen­ July insurrection must be paid in full. ters, museums, and cultural centers. The workers committees are organiz­ Subscribe to Perspectiva Mundial Government control has been estab­ ing to see that this is enforced. lished over all important exportable The FSLN has called on Nicaraguan 'Perspectiva Mundial' Is the agricultural commodities, including youth, who were in the front lines of Spanish-language sister publication cotton, coffee, sugar, and fish. the war against Somoza, to organize of the 'Militant.' It, like the 'M illtant,' Is Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega has themselves in the "July 19 Sandinista launching a campaign to get out the announced the refusal to pay the debts Youth." There are also plans to form truth about the Nicaraguan revolu­ 1•1 LIIITERIEICIOI that the Somoza dictatorship accumu­ the "National Union of Nicaraguan tion. Fidel Castro's speech, along with YIIQUI El IICIRIOUII lated in buying arms used against the Women," which is to be based on other material that Is in this special people. AMPRONAC, a group that mobilized issue of the 'Militant,' Is available In women against the dictatorship. Spanish in the new special Issue of Army and militia 'Perspectiva Mundial.' 'PM' will con­ The capitalist army and police Literacy campaign tinue its coverage of Nicaragua with force-Somoza's National Guard-was The revolution's leaders have also eyewitness accounts from reporters completely routed by the popular insur­ announced some longer-range plans to on the scene, reprints ·from 'Barrlcada' rection. There is nothing left of the improve the living conditions of the (the Sandinista newspaper) and more. Guard inside the country except for Nicaraguan people. Chief among these 'Perspectiva Mundlal' also contains terrorist bands that continue to stage is an ambitious campaign against news and analysis of interest to work­ IOUDIRIDID COl nighttime attacks on unarmed civili­ illiteracy modeled on the example of ing people, a special emphasis on LA LUCRI SIIDIIISTI ans and on Sandinista patrols. This is what was done in Cuba after the 1959 news of the workers movement In the similar to the terrorist policy Washing­ revolution there. U.S. and Latin America. ton carried out against Cuba, but it is Some 60 percent of Nicaraguans do D $5 for 5 months far more intense. Firing can be heard not know how to read and write. To D $12 for 1 year nightly in the center of Managua. remedy this situation, 1980 had been D $25 for 1 year (air mail, Latin Amer­ Send check or money order to: 'Pers­ But outside of these small bands, the declared the "Year of Education." Bri­ ica) pectiva Mundial,' Box 314, Village capitalists have no armed forces with­ gades of teachers-many of them high­ D $30 for 1 year (air mail, rest of the Station, New York, New York 10014, in the borders of Nicaragua. The entire school and college students-will soon world) USA. military apparatus has been dissolved. begin being trained to carry out the The masses are being armed. literacy drive. They will fan out to all

2 fight for new Nicaragua the cities, towns, and villages of Nica­ ragua to teach basic skills. Other steps being planned include the construction of clinics and child­ care centers, and the introduction of family-planning programs to make safe methods of birth-control available to all women.

Revolutionary mobilizations The way for all these revolutionary measures was opened by the mass upheaval that brought down the imperialist-backed Somoza dictator­ ship. In the course of the struggle, the Sandinista National Liberation Front came to the head of the insurgent masses. The upsurge that brought forty-five years of Somoza tyranny to an end Sandinistas In Masaya gather for tribute under portrait of slain liberation fighter began in January 1978. Outraged by the assassination of opposition news­ Movement (a coalition of trade unions, stones, which are easily removed and "Throughout the night there were paper editor Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, working-class parties, student groups, used for barricades. As a matter of bonfires, demonstrations, the clanging the urban masses of Managua and and other organizations), committees fact, these stones were all produced in of pots and pans. People went right other major cities carried out street and militia units were set up, arms Somoza's cement factory. They were into the Guardsmen's houses and took demonstrations and a two-week gen­ were gathered, emergency food sup­ indispensable for the building of barri­ their arms. The Guardsmen were des­ eral strike against Somoza. plies were stashed away, and courses cades throughout the city. perate. In March 1978, uprisings against the were taught in street fighting, "The National Guard followed the "Desertions from the Guard num­ National Guard took place in the com­ barricade-building, and the use of wea­ same tactics it had used in September, bered in the thousands, while the bative Indian communities of Mo­ pons. regrouping in its central barracks, masses marched forward, And if the nibmo in Masaya and Subtiava in At the same time, hundreds of youth abandoning the smaller posts and people didn't collect all the arms from Leon. Strikes by students and workers, who had fled the cities after September entrenching itself in others. Many the Guard in their homes, they took protest marches, and clashes with the were given military training and orga­ smaller barracks were attacked and away the rest of them in their bar­ National Guard went on constantly nized into fighting units of the FSLN. destroyed by the insurrectionary forces racks." during subsequent months. in struggles that lasted one or two Urcuyo and the remaining generals In August 1978, the Sandinista days. The final offensive fled early in the morning on July 19, Front staged a spectacular raid on the "What took place here was a popular while their army was collapsing under­ National Palace in Managua. They The final offensive against the dicta­ insurrection, in the fullest political and neath them. Thousands of Managuans held dozens of Somocista politicians torship began May 29 when Sandi­ military sense of the term. The masses gathered at the "bunker" a short time hostage for several days and secured nista columns launched attacks on participated actively; they found ways later, along with an FSLN column that the release of all Sandinista National Guard positions near the to make arms-contact bombs and had just arrived from Leon. Wallace prisoners-including central leader To­ Costa Rican border. molotov cocktails; they recovered small continued: mas Borge-and the payment of a On June 4, a general strike called by arms, .22 caliber pistols, and so on. "At first, the people stopped about large sum of money. the FSLN shut down nearly all indus­ "As the insurrection unfolded, the 200 meters from the bunker, still cau­ The raid captured the imagination of try, transportation, and commerce m Guard began to concentrate its at­ tious. There were rumors that the the Nicaraguan people and greatly Nicaragua. tacks, preceding them with 'aerial sof­ bunker had been mined, that there enhanced the FSLN's popularity. City after city fell to the rebels in tening' with bombs weighing 150 to were still snipers posted there, that Thousands tur:ned out to cheer as the subsequent weeks. The noose tightened 500 pounds. Some fell on inhabited some Guardsmen would still put up victorious commando unit drove from around Somoza, who was holed up in areas and caused severe damage." resistance. But this did not happen. the National Palace to the airport with his "bunker" in Managua, the capital. On June 28, the organized Sandi­ "The Sandinista troops from Leon its hostages. An eyewitness to the struggles in nista forces were obliged by the Guard marched into the bunker behind a The August raid was quickly fol­ Managua, journalist Melvin Wallace, counterattack to retreat from Mana­ small tank. They asked the people to lowed by uprisings in several major described the events there in an inter­ gua. wait, but the people paid no attention. cities. Civil war raged for three weeks, view with the Militant: Wallace continued: They went in, broke down doors, and only by brutally bombing the "The insurrection in Managua really "The situation partially returned to poured through the offices, the arse­ civilian population was Somoza's Na­ began on June 10. As always, the 'normal.' But the general strike [of nals, everywhere. Some were curious, tional Guard able to achieve a tempor­ eastern districts of the city-the shopkeepers, artisans, and workers] others sought arms, others came ary victory. working-class districts, the areas continued. The Somocista forces were simply to be able to say 'I was there.' As a result of the September expe­ where the poor population lives-were impotent; they couldn't e.ven restore There must have been more than rience, the masses became convinced the ones most active in the insurrec­ basic public services." 10,000 persons who went into the that only an all-out military drive tion. Elsewhere in the country, the Sandi­ bunker that morning. could dislodge the dictatorship. "Barricades were built with what­ nista offensive gained momentum. M­ "The bunker was not just Somoza's Under the leadership of the Sandi­ ever materials available. The streets ter failing to gain any support from residence; all the major military instal­ nista Front and the United People's of Managua are made of paving Latin American regimes for a military lations were located there. The people intervention, Washington decided to went in, the militia went in; there was force Somoza to resign in hopes of euphoria, happiness. Many weapons preventing the revolutionary over­ were confiscated by the people; they For the truth throw of the dictatorship. Somoza and found high-caliber arms, and uniforms. many of his top generals fled to Miami Their joy is difficult to put into words. on July 17. Francisco Urcuyo was "Little by little, order was restored. about Nicaragua named president and a new general By two in the afternoon, other guerrilla staff was designated for the National columns were entering the city­ Each week the Militant will feature exclusive, on-the-scene reporting from Guard. · from Masaya, from Esteli and Mata­ Nicaragua. If you want to know the truth about what's happening there, and It was widely believed that Urcuyo galpa, from Rivas. All hurried to be the about the solidarity movement with Nicaragua in the U.S. and Internationally, would simply hand power over to the first to enter Managua; all were take advantage of our special offer to new readers. provisional government already cheered and applauded by the people. named by the Sandinistas. But in­ They began to take up positions, to For new readers only: Ten weeks for $2.50 stead, Somoza's successor declared take charge of the military installa­ Four months for $5 over nationwide television that he tions, and to organize themselves." intended to stay until 1981. Wallace D $2.50 for ten issues (new readers only) explained what happened next in Ma­ The Sandinista Front 0 $5 for four months (new readers only) nagua: In the course of the ninteen-month D $12 for six months "Mter Urcuyo's speech, skepticism upsurge that finally brought down the D $20 for one year turned to popular anger. That same Somoza dynasty, the Sandinista Na­ night you could hear the clanging of tional Liberation Front came to be the Name pots and pans, the sound of small undisputed leadership of the revolu­ Address demonstrations. tion. Its bold actions against the dicta­ City ------"As word spread the next day that tor's armed forces and its determina­ State ______Zip rebel forces were on the march toward tion to destroy Somozaism root and Managua, people came into the streets branch led the masses to view it in this Mail to: The Militant, 14 Charles Lane without fear. I saw many demonstra­ way. New York, New York 10014 tions, thousands and thousands of The FSLN is rooted in Nicaragua's people in the middle-class and work­ long tradition of anti-imperialist strug­ ing-class districts, even while the Na­ gle and plebeian radicalism. It takes Subscribe now tional Guard was still confronting the its name from Augusto Cesar Sandino, people in the streets. Continued on next page

THE MILITANT/AUGUST 24, 1979 3 a former oilfield mechanic and mine sion in Nicaragua for three days in a worker who led a seven-year guerrilla row and became a favorite topic of war against the U.S. Marines from discussion. 1927 to 1934. When all the bourgeois­ The immediate tasks now facing the nationalist forces capitulated to the FSLN and the entire Nicaraguan imperialists and their puppets, San­ people-feeding the population, getting dino and his worker and peasant production under way, rebuilding the forces continued to fight. country-are enormous. Sandino was assassinated on the The effects of the civil war were orders of General Anastasio Somoza qualitatively more devastating than Garcia in 1934, but the memory of his what the Cubans faced in 1959 after struggle lived on in Nicaragua. In the overthrow of Batista. Many of 1962, Sandino's tradition fused with Nicaragua's factories were destroyed. the fresh wave of radicalism that Cities were left in ruins. Many crops swept Nicaraguan youth after the vic­ were not planted because of the fight­ tory of the Cuban revolution. ing. Some estimates run as high as Founded by Carlos Fonseca Amador 40,000-50,000 people killed-2 percent and other young rebels who broke with of the country's population. the reformism of the Stalinist Nicara­ There is hunger inside Nicaragua guan Socialist Party, the FSLN re­ today. There just isn't enough food and grouped those who wanted to learn the international aid isn't sufficient. from the Cuban experience and end the Alfonso Robelo, a member of the imperialist domination of Nicaragua. five-person Government of National One of few portraits of Somoza left Intact hangs on fence at Managua military The Sandinistas experienced many Reconstruction, told the July 26 rally Installation. 'Perro' means 'dog.' setbacks in their repeated efforts to in Holguin, Cuba: "We have found a defeat Somoza's National Guard country destroyed. Destroyed by the patible with continued capitalist rule sectors that would, under economic through guerrilla warfare. Most of the bombs dropped by Somoza's air force, in Nicaragua. pressure, begin to bend to Washing­ original cadres lost their lives-Carlos which bombed our cities indiscrimi­ What the U.S. capitalists fear most ton's demands and help strengthen Fonseca himself was murdered by the nately. Destroyed as a result of 45 is that the FSLN and the Nicaraguan and consolidate the capitalist forces Guard in 1976. But when the masses years of plunder by a corrupt regime. workers and peasants-organized, that still exist in Nicaragua and that began to move against Somoza in In fact, what we have now is a com­ armed, and determined-will follow are part of the formal government, the pletely bankrupt country: our reserves the example of Cuba. Government of National Reconstruc­ were plundered; the people's money, Nicaragua under Somoza was a bas­ tion. down to the last cent, was spent on tion of U.S. domination over the entire Here too, judging from the actions of weapons to use against the peo­ region-the launching pad for the CIA­ the FSLN leadership, the imperialists ple ...." sponsored invasions of Guatemala in are not meeting with success. Far from Robelo also outlined the goals the 1954 and Cuba in 1961. Nicaragua drawing back, the FSLN leaders are government has set for itself: "We under the FSLN has already become moving forward in mobilizing and must rebuild our economy; we must an inspiration to the workers and arming the masses to fight for their provide food for our population that is peasants throughout Latin America, interests. presently suffering terrible shortage-s; especially in neighboring Honduras, El we must carry out a gigantic literacy Salvador, and Guatemala, all suffering Countering imperialists campaign so that the more than 60 under U.S.-backed dictatorships. The FSLN leaders are fighting to percent of our people who are now Thus, while the governments of the gain time to counter the imperialist Pacific Ocean illiterate will learn how to read and United States and the European capi­ maneuvers and to win broad interna­ write; we must see to it that every talist countries pretend to be sympa­ tional support. They are fighting to get Nicaraguan child has a school, no thetic to the needs and aspirations of as much material aid as they possibly 1978, the Sandinistas were there to matter how humble, to begin the next the Nicaraguan people, they are can for the Nicaraguan people. And provide the revolutionary leadership school year; we need doctors to go into scheming to block the revolutionary they are trying to make it as difficult necessary to oust the dictator. our countryside for the first time and process and to roll back the gains it as possible for the imperialists to find Throughout their history, the FSLN provide medical care for our peasants. has made. pretexts to intervene. fighters have enjoyed the active solid­ And for all these tasks we need the One side of their counterrevolution­ This means making concessions. For arity of the Cuban revolution. Cuba assistance of all the sister peoples of ary plan is military: maintaining Som­ example, the Sandinistas have an­ provided military training and mate­ the Americas, and the people of Cuba oza's forces in Honduras, El Salvador, nounced that they do not plan to rial aid to the guerrilla struggle from have a special place in this process." and Miami. It takes a lot of money to execute any of the captured National the beginning. Now, with the revolu­ The masses of Nicaragua want a keep these troops armed and organized Guard, not even the worst murderers tionary victory, Cuba is sending medi­ society of equality. They want an end for any length of time, and that money and torturers. This concession has cal teams, teachers, and other aid to to the plunder of their resources and can have only one source: Washington. made it harder for the imperialists to help in the reconstruction of Nicara­ the exploitation of their people by U.S. But overt military action by Wash­ mount a lying propaganda offensive gua. corporations. They want to build a new ington against Nicaragua faces big claiming that the revolution has re­ Throughout Cuba, the workers and Nicaragua in which-as in revolution­ obstacles. Working people in the Uni­ sulted in a bloodbath, the way they did peasants have celebrated the victory in ary Cuba-the needs of the workers ted States are adamantly opposed to when the Cubans executed a few Nicaragua as if it were their own. As and peasants come first, not capitalist any new Vietnams. They don't want to hundred of Batista's police torturers. Fidel Castro put it, Cubans "see our­ profits. And they have shown that be sent to fight and die to impose As Fidel noted in his July 26 speech, selves mirrored in [the Nicaraguans], they are ready to do whatever is neces­ dictatorships subservient to Washing­ the "magnanimity and generosity" of because nothing reminds us more of sary to achieve these goals. ton. the Sandinistas will "deprive the reac­ our own struggles, our sacrifices and Moreover, even a camouflaged U.S. tionaries of arguments, it will deprive our own image in those early days of What Washington fears military operation would provoke a them of weapons, it will deprive them the revolution." That is why Washington hates and massive protest in the United States of fuel for slander and defamation." fears the revolutionary process under and throughout Latin America. What Fidel added, "Of course, we are not 'Workers & peasants to power' way in Nicaragua. Those who have is even worse, from Washington's going to deceive ourselves. We're not Since coming to power, the Sandinis­ profited from the misery of the Nicara­ point of view, is that such a limited going to imagine that the reactionaries tas have continued to mobilize the guan people for decades know that full military move might not succeed. It is will leave the Nicaraguan Revolution workers and peasants. On August 3, employment, higher living standards, likely that a Bay of Pigs style invasion in peace, despite its magnanimity, for example, the FSLN called for a land for the peasants, democratic of Nicaragua would confront not only generous attitude and democratic march and rally to dedicate a highway rights for the masses, and freedom the armed people of Nicaragua, but the aims." in Managua to the martyrs of the from foreign domination are all incom- battle-hardened combat forces of revo­ The composition of the official Gov­ struggle. The march was built through lutionary Cuba as well. ernment of National Reconstruction the Civil Defense Committees. As Fidel warned on July 26, U.S. represents a concession. Three of its Fifty thousand people turned out, military intervention would mean "a five members are from the procapital­ from Managua's total population of gigantic Vietnam ... throughout Cen­ ist forces that opposed Somoza. Only about 300,000. The vast bulk of the tral America and in the rest of Latin one is a leading Sandinista. So in form marchers came in organized conting­ America, a gigantic Vietnam." it is a coalition government with the ents from the poor and working-class Before playing that last desperate Sandinistas in a minority. neighborhoods, with handwritten card, the U.S. imperialists are first The reality is different. The reality is signs in support of the revolution. trying economic blackmail and ma­ that Nicaragua today is being run by They chanted slogans like "Workers neuvers. The aid coming from the U.S. the Joint National Directorate of the and peasants to power" and "Somoza government-a tiny amount, grudg­ FSLN, made up of nine Sandinista and the Yankees-they're the same ingly given-is intended to make it commanders. All nine are Fidelistas. thing." There was a hig}:l conscious­ easier for Washington to demand polit­ All have lived in exile in Cuba. ness that this revolution belongs to the ical concessions from the Nicaraguan Real power is in the hands of the poor, to the workers and peasants. government. FSLN. With each capitalist minister in Such consciousness is being encour­ Instead of the 300 tons a day of food the government they have put a Sandi­ aged by the FSLN. Radio Sandino and desperately needed in Nicaragua, as nista commander. And the ministers the Sandinista National (television) little as 40 to 80 tons a day are report­ do not act unless the Sandinistas ap­ Network broadcast revolutionary edly arriving. FSLN leader Tomas prove their actions. songs and speeches and carry news of Borge charges that Washington has Even within this context the Sandi­ anti-imperialist struggles in other already gone back on what was prom­ nistas have taken certain further steps. countries. The FSLN's daily paper, ised. After all the devastation the U.S. For example, they removed the origi­ Barricada, serves a similar purpose. It government has brought on Nicaragua nal minister in charge of agrarian places special emphasis on the impor­ in the past decades, Washington's aid reform, who was a landowner. In his tance of organizing the popular com­ for reconstruction so far amounts to a place they put Jaime Wheelock, a mittees, the trade unions, the militias, mere $5.4 million, of which $1.2 million central FSLN leader-one of the nine. and a strong army to defend the gains was spent to get the aid there. The officially designated minister of of the revolution. The U.S. aid has still another pur­ defense is a former officer of Somoza's Fidel Castro's July 26 speech hailing pose: to drive a wedge into the Sandi­ National Guard who switched sides the revolution was broadcast on televi- AUGUSTO CESAR SANDINO nistas, to split them, to try to find some before the civil war. But he has no

4 army or police. Those are run by the FSLN. Sandinista political leaders are in every battalion of the new army. In the struggle against Somoza the Sandinistas consciously tried to create the broadest possible front, including bourgeois forces who were opponents of Somoza. That was obviously the correct, intelligent, and revolutionary policy. But once they came to power, they did not want that same coalition run· ning the government. They express this in their own way. Right after Somoza fell, Henry Ruiz, one of the top nine FSLN leaders, tried to explain to the Costa Rican weekly Puehlo who should govern Nicaragua. He said: "I believe that effectively we have to take the composition of the Provisional Government junta with caution. Be­ cause it appears to me that the initial mechanism is not complete. . .. Other mechanisms have to appear that are the real base of power. The govern­ iii ment junta can represent those forces, Masaya, August 2: Sandinista singing group Pancazlm performs for crowd at rally honoring those slain in anti- Somoza but the decisions will be taken at struggle. another level. "I'm inclined to think that we should have the representation of the workers, to mobilize the workers and peasants ment. Nevertheless, the direction in Sandinistas will consolidate the power as well as representation of the pea­ to deepen this revolution, to defend which the Sandinista leadership is of the workers and peasants and sants, who were those who have car­ and move forward the interests of the moving is toward deepening the revo­ deepen the revolution into a socialist ried the weight of the war in these Nicaraguan masses. lutionary mobilization ofthe masses to transformation, or they will be beaten times." defend their interests. back by imperialism in a counterrevo­ Talking about what individuals A revolutionary power The Sandinistas have proven them­ lutionary blow that will drown in blood should be put in government positions, The power that exists today in Nica­ selves to be a revolutionary leadership the entire generation that has made Ruiz said: ragua is a revolutionary power. The in overthrowing the Somoza dictator­ this revolution. There is no third road. "To say, how should I say it, that X road is open to move toward the estab­ ship and destroying the old armed In this historic battle the Sandinista person because he has written three or lishment of a workers and peasants forces of the capitalists. And they are leadership will be tested many times four books, or X person because they government-that is, a government proving themselves in action after over-their ability to mobilize the own a business, or that person because independent of the old ruling classes, taking power, by mobilizing and arm­ masses, maneuver and fight intelli­ I like him, or I consider him an honest which mobilizes the power of the ing the masses to defend their own gently, move the revolutionary process person, . . . It appears to me that workers and their allies to implement interests. forward, and be decisive when it is would be to disconnect the question of progressive social measures that more There is no way of knowing in ad­ necessary. class. Here we have to have our and more challenge the economic pre­ vance how far the Sandinista leader­ Nicaragua is also a test for the workers, our peasants, and also the rogatives of capital. ship will go in changing the character Cuban leadership, the Fidelistas-a revolutionaries represented." A workers and peasants government of the state, or at what pace. There are test of their ability to give revolution­ And in conclusion he said: "We have has not yet been established. While no guarantees. But the only way for ary leadership in Latin America. to have representative figures that capitalism has been dealt a stunning revolutionary socialists around the Finally, Nicaragua is a test for the really will not betray the interests of blow, it still exists. The capitalists and world to help advance the Nicaraguan Fourth International-whether the the revolution." those determined to defend their inter­ revolution is to recognize the revolu­ world Trotskyist movement can mobil­ The Sandinista leadership is trying ests still remain a factor in the govern- tionary capacities of this leadership, to ize an international campaign of solid­ identify with it, and to join forces with arity and defense, and thus help the it in the struggle to defend and extend Nicaraguan revolution advance. No the revolution. sectarianism or factionalism can be on Nicaragua The working class of the entire world allowed to stand in the way of our Forums will see the Nicaraguan revolution as identification with and defense of the reception; 9 p.m., film. Center for Dialogue, 2675 its own. Nicaragua will gain enormous Nicaraguan revolution. ILLINOIS NW 22nd Ave. Donation: $2. Ausp: Miami Com­ solidarity from the workers of other CHICAGO mittee for Non-Intervention in Nicaragua. For The Sandinistas have a slogan, a THE UNFOLDING NICARAGUAN REVOLU­ more information call (305) 635-4085. countries, including the United States. quote from Sandino, whose meaning TION: ITS MEANING FOR AMERICAN Revolutionary Cuba has set the ex­ they feel very deeply. They say that WORKERS. Speaker: Malik Miah, Socialist ample by its self-sacrificing support "the sons of Sandino neither sell out Workers Party National Committee. Sat., August OHIO and by calling on all countries to nor give up. They will be free or dead." 25, 7:30 p.m. Donation $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. TOLEDO For more information call (312) 939-0737. THE UNFOLDING NICARAGUAN REVOLU­ compete in sending reconstruction aid That is the commitment they are TION: ITS MEANING FOR AMERICAN to Nicaragua. The Cubans have been making here inside Nicaragua. They WORKERS. Speaker: Peter Archer, member waiting and working for this victory are organizing and educating the United Auto Workers Local 14. Sun., August 26, ' FLORIDA for twenty years. For the first time, workers and peasants, the entire MIAMI 7 p.m. 2120 Dorr St Donat1on: $1. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information call (419) 536-0383. they are not alone in this hemisphere. young generation, to prepare to give NIGHT OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE NICARA­ GUAN PEOPLE: DEMAND UNCONDITIONAL Their dedication to the Nicaraguan their lives to free Nicaragua and AND IMMEDIATE AID TO NICARAGUA! TEXAS cause should inspire a w'ave of solidar­ through that to help the Latin Ameri­ FREEZE SOMOZA'S HOLDINGS AND RETURN ity throughout the Americas. THEM TO NICARAGUAN PEOPLEI EXTRADITE DALLAS can and world revolution. SOMOZAI Speakers: Franklin Chavez, Nicara­ DEFEND THE NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION! They must know that they will have guan Consul in Miami; Prof. Mark Rosenberg, U.S. HANDS OFFI Speaker: representative of the The choice in Nicaragua the Fourth International at their side, Dir. of Caribbean and Latin American Studies Socialist Workers Party. Sat., August 25, 8:00 The choice in Nicaragua is either to Council, Florida International Univ.; and repre­ p.m. 5442 East Grand. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: that Trotskyist parties around the sentative of the Haiti Kobit Libete. Also film: Militant Forum. For more information call (214) move forward to the victory of a social­ world will organize to help them and "Patria Libre o Morir". Sat, August 25. 7 p.m., 826-4711. ist revolution, as in Cuba-or to s-uffer stand with them along the road to the a bloody defeat, as in Chile. Either the second workers state in Latin America. Bank workers: 'Strike like a sledge hammer' The following article appeared in the Au- workers. Moreover, workers at each banking or productive activities. gust 6 issue of the Managua daily 'Barricada,' financial institution will name a representative to Statements by the union were frequently pre- official organ of the Sandinista National Lib- the board of directors of the institution where they sented to the communications media-both radio eration Front. The translation is by Harvey work. This means that the workers will play an and the press-to inform the people of the demands McArthur. active and decisive role in the decisions that our being raised. But despite the good will of innumera- country's banking system will take. ble journalists, the union was never able to express In response to a call by the Union of Workers in itself freely through the mass media. Banking and Finance, more than 600 of the thou­ From clandestinity to legality Today, thanks to the nationalization of the bank­ sands of bank workers throughout the country met The Union of Banking and Financial Workers ing system, carried out by our revolutionary govern­ Saturday afternoon [August 4] in the Casa del (SITRABANIF), which emerged a little more than ment, the banking and financial employees can not Obrero. Their aim was to get the banking system in two years ago under the leadership of the United only express their concerns and aspirations freely operation again and to form Sandinista Defense People's Movement (MPU), is one of those union but can also participate in the administration of the Committees. movements in the history of our country that was institutions in which they work. The workers from the various banking and finan­ forced to work underground in order to survive. cial institutions named representatives to form an While other unions, some federations, and some CGT representative speaks internal committee that will be responsible for political parties had access to the means of com­ Sebastian Castro of the General Workers Federa­ organizing the banking and finance workers into munication to report on their activities and the tion (CGT) spoke at the meeting of the bank one federation-a workers front that would subse­ attacks they suffered at the hands of the dictator­ workers. He stressed the importance of the triumph quently affiliate with the United Federation of ship, this door was closed to SITRABANIF. It was of the Nicaraguan people led by the Sandinista Sandinista Workers. gagged and persecuted not only by the dictatorial National Liberation Front, and how that victory The organization of the banking and financial regime but also by the groups in power, including affects everything that happens in the country. employees is of great importance, since it will be the financial oligarchy whose tentacles of control He spoke of the different definitions of a union, one of the unions with the largest number of and exploitation reached into all the country's Continued on page 14

THE MILITANT/AUGUST 24, 1979 5 Statement of Fourth International For world campaign to defend Nicaragua The following statement was issued by the United Secretariat of the Fourth Interna­ tional on August 15, based on reports from its observers in Nicaragua (see article on page two). On January 1, 1959, the Batista dictatorship was swept away by the military offensive of the Rebel Army and the mobilization of the Cuban masses led by the July 26 Movement. On July 19, 1979, the bloody Somoza regime in Nicaragua, installed and maintained by American imperialism for more than forty years, was overthrown by a massive nation­ wide popular insurrection that capped a coordinated offensive by the rebel armed forces of the Sandi­ nista National Liberation Front (FSLN). The popular insurrection led not only to the overthrow of the dictatorship but to the dismantle­ ment of the old regime. The mobilization of the masses in popular committees as well as the revolu­ tionary measures already taken in the short time since the overthrow of the hated regime, indicate the proletarian and plebeian dynamic of the process now unfolding. The toilers of the entire world could not have hoped for a more magnificent celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the Cuban revolution ! The road has been opened that can lead to the victory of the second socialist revolution of the Americas. But imperialism will be doing everything possible to try to prevent the toiling masses of Nicaragua from moving forward on this road. Militant/Fred Murphy Somoza's air force rained U.S.-made bombs on Nicaragua's cities. Emergency aid Is needed to repair massive With the same cold-blooded brutality with which destruction. they propped up Somoza to the bitter end, the imperialists are now bringing into play diplomatic, economic, and military resources to try to stop the trust-have refused to send the 300 tons of food a mined with obstacles. Imperialist pressures and revolutionary upsurge. day necessary to feed a people that they have attacks will oblige the FSLN leadership to ma­ There is no more urgent task for the world helped plunder. neuver. The difficulties created by the lack of food workers movement than to mobilize in opposition to But imperialism depends above all on its own and goods of all kinds will compel this leadership to them. military striking force and those that it closely try to gain time. The American people demonstrated during the controls. It demonstra~d this by organizing the But these obstacles can be overcome, as the Vietnam War that Washington no longer had a free retreat of well-armed units of Somoza's National example of Cuba has shown, if the tremendous hand to use its murderous military machine. Today Guard into Honduras and El Salvador. It is cur­ power and energy of the masses is organized. the American working people can play a decisive rently preparing for a possible military intervention The example of the Cuban revolution showed the role in staying the hand of the Pentagon in Central along the lines of Guatemala in 1954, the Bay of close relationship between the upsurge and mobili­ America. This would weaken the imperialists and Pigs in Cuba in 1961, or Santo Domingo in 1965. zation of the exploited and oppressed classes, the strengthen the working class of the United States. Fidel Castro's government raised a warning even development of their consciousness according to the It would be the greatest possible aid to the Nicara­ before the victory against Somoza: "The interven­ rhythms imposed by the revolution, and the evolu­ guan people. tion of the United States would create a Vietnam in tion of consciousness of the leadership of the mass the very heart of Latin America. The Nicaraguan movement itself. * * * people and those of Central America would un­ This will also be the factor that determines the doubtedly rise up against such foreign intervention, future of the Nicaraguan revolution. and their other brothers in Latin America and the The Fourth International calls on the mass par­ Devastation by civil war Caribbean could not remain indifferent to such ties and organizations of the workers movement to Nicaragua has been devastated by the civil war. genocide." build the broadest possible international In his ruthless attempt to maintain power, Somoza On July 26, in front of representatives of the movement-united and nonexclusionary-in sup­ ordered the bombing of neighborhoods and facto­ FSLN and the Cuban people, Fidel Castro pointed port of the struggle of the Nicaraguan people and ries. He plundered the monetary resources of the to the road that must be taken by all the workers the fighters of the FSLN, whose courage has be­ country. states, in the framework of a call for aid from all come a most precious heritage of the world proletar­ More than 1 million people are in need of food. countries: iat. More than 300 tons of food are required per day. "We invite the United States, we invite all the Immediate aid to Nicaragua! Tens of thousands of refugees are seeking to return countries of Latin America, we invite all the coun­ Imperialist hands offl to the country, and will have to be cared for. tries of Europe, the countries of the Third World, ou"r No threats against Cuba! Agriculture has been totally disrupted by the sister socialist nations, everybody, to take part in Solidarity with the Nicaraguan Revolution! months of civil war. Industrial investments were an emulation campaign to help Nicaragua. This is blocked. Hundreds of factories stopped production. our position, in order to make a really human, really To defend the revolution and solve this crisis is constructive effort, based on a spirit of emulation." The Militant This kind of massive aid-which has already an enormous task. Editor: STEVE CLARK begun from Cuba-combined with the construction Associate Editors: CINDY JAQUITH * * * of a massive international solidarity movement ANDY ROSE with the Nicaraguan revolution, would be a power­ Business Manager: ANDREA BARON The American imperialists have been weakened ful weapon against the criminal maneuvers of impe­ Editorial Staff: Nancy Cole, Fred Feldman, David Frankel, Jim by their defeat in Vietnam and by the blow they rialism. Garrison, Suzanne Haig, Osborne Hart, Shelley Kramer, Ivan received by the downfall of the shah's regime in Licho, Janice Lynn, August Nimtz, Harry Ring, Dick Roberts, Iran. But they are attempting to take advantage of * * * Priscilla Schenk. Arnold Weissberg. every weak spot in the Nicaraguan revolution to try Following the Cuban road outlined by the Second Published weekly by the Militant(0026-3885), 14 to prevent a new Cuba. They will intensify threats Declaration of Havana, the road of permanent Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone against revolutionary Cuba itself for its support to revolution, is the way for the Nicaraguan toilers to Editorial Office, (212) 243-6392; Business Office, (212) 929-3486. the Nicaraguan revolution. consolidate their victory. Imperialism's goal is to try to restore the weight In order to resist the pressures of Washington, to Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addre11ed to The and decision-making capacity of the bourgeois assert its complete independence of the imperialists, Militant Business Office, 14 Charles Lane, New elements in the "Junta of the Government of to press forward the agrarian reform, to expropriate National Reconstruction" and other points of sup­ York, N.Y. 10014. all imperialist property and the big holdings of the Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y. port for the bourgeoisie. national bourgeoisie, to assure control by the It is trying to utilize the European Social Demo­ Subscriptions: U.S. $15.00 a year, outside U.S. workers over industry and over domestic and for­ $20.50. By first-class mail: U.S., Canada, and crats and some of the bourgeois democrats of Latin eign trade-to do these things the Cuban revolution America as intermediaries for this policy. It seeks to Mexico: $42.50. Write for surface and airmail rates had to break with the bourgeoisie, put an end to the to all other countries. pressure the FSLN leadership to renounce the coalition government installed in 1959, and set out For subscriptions airfreighted to London then posted to Britain economic inroads on capitalist property necessary on the course charted by the new workers and to satisfy the elementary needs of the masses, and and Ireland: £2.50 for ten issues. £5.50 for six months(twenty-four peasants government based on the armed and issues), £10 for one year(fourty-eight issues). Posted from to stop the arming and mobilization of the masses, mobilized masses and organized by the July 26 London to Continental Europe: £4 for ten issues, £8 for six in return for economic aid. months(twenty-four issues). £13 for one year(forty-eight issues). Movement. In this way the Cubans were able to Send checks or international money order (payable to Interconti­ The imperialist bourgeoisie, supposed defender of carry the revolution through to the end-the expro­ human rights, is using dribbles of the needed nental Press account) to Intercontinental Press (The Militant) priation of the bourgeoisie and the establishment of P.O. Box 50, London N1 2XP, England. economic and food aid as blackmail. These a workers state. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent the imperialists-who have made famine into one of the Militant's views. These are expressed in editorials. most lucrative businesses for the agribusiness food The road to socialist revolution in Nicaragua is

6 For massive aid SWP demands: U.S.Ilands off Nicaragua! The following statement was ·.·. ·· "'~r~ is the same government that controls issued August 15 by the Political our wages, breaks our strikes, and Committee of the Socialist helps the oil barons hold us hostage. Workers Party. American workers' stake Mter forty-five years of bloody ty­ American working people have a life­ ranny under the U.S.-imposed Somoza and-death stake in blocking any moves family dictatorship, the Nicaraguan by the Carter administration that people are beginning to take their could tum Nicaragua into another destiny into their own hands. Vietnam. We should sound the alarm Led by the Sandinista National Lib­ against any invasion, blockade, or eration Front, the workers and poor other aggression against Nicaragua. peasants are building unions, militias, Working people in this country a rebel army, peasant committees, and should demand that Carter stop stall­ neighborhood committees to carry out ing and provide the 300 tons of food a the reconstruction of their war-tom day that the Nicaraguan people des­ country. perately need. In addition, we can Working people in the United States organize through our unions, groups in readily identify with the Nicaraguans' the Black, Chicano, Puerto Rican, and fight for food, medical care, education, Cuban communities, and on campus to jobs, basic civil liberties, and_ other raise food, clothing, and medical sup­ human rights for all. plies for Nicaragua. But not the U.S. rulers. They have Our top priority must be to get out never wavered in their determination the truth about Nicaragua. The big­ to crush this heroic people. They armed business news media are suppressing the Somoza regime to the teeth, provid­ the facts about what the Nicaraguan ing the bombs and planes with which UPI workers and peasants are fighting for, the dictator's National Guard pulver­ U.S. troops occupy Santo Domingo In 1965. Carter Is just as determined today to crush Nicaraguan revolution. how they are organizing, and what ized the country in the months before progressive changes they are already Somoza fled to Miami. Washington making. bears full responsibility for the devas­ Through special issues of the Mili­ The response of revolutionary around the Nicaraguan workers and tation and suffering in Nicaragua to­ tant and Perspectiva Mundial, the Cuba-itself a small and poor poor peasants, forcing them to devote day. Socialist Workers Party pledges to help country-has set an example for the massive resources to self-defense. The Carter administration remains break through the news blackout. The world. The Castro government is not After nightfall in Managua and determined to strangle the Nicaraguan first-hand reports in the Militant and only providing food but offering thou­ other cities, bands of pro-Somoza ter­ revolution-just as Carter's predeces­ PM will be an important contribution sands of doctors and teachers to help rorists strike from ambush against sors Eisenhower and Kennedy tried to to the educational effort that is needed. build a new Nicaragua. working people and Sandinista fight­ smash the Cuban revolution as it In addition, we are moving up the But the Carter administration, ers. In Honduras and El Salvador, unfolded. If Carter thought he could starting date of our fall campaign to get away with it, he would send thou­ which governs the world's leading thousands of U.S.-and Israeli-armed sell 150,000 copies of the Militant and sands of troops to occupy Nicaragua food-producing nation, has offered troops from Somoza's National Guard, Perspectiva Mundial-the circulation only a tiny fraction of what is needed. including entire organized units, are today, just as Lyndon Johnson sent drive starts now! 25,000 U.S. troops to the Dominican And even this pittance is being with­ being readied for new assaults on Forums, meetings in union halls and Repubhc in 1965 when its people rose held. Nicaragua. What holds these mercen­ communities, and teach-ins on cam­ up against a despotic regime. Red Cross officials report that "the ary forces together is Washington's puses can all help spread the truth But there is widespread support amount of foreign food entering the support. about the Nicaraguan revolution. among working people here and country had been dropping, from 150 The military dictatorships in Hondu­ We appeal to readers of the Militant tons a day a few weeks ago to only 40 ras, El Salvador, and Guatemala share around the world for the Nicaraguan and Perspectiva Mundial, to unionists freedom fighters, who are seen as to 80 tons a day now," according to the Washington's determination to drive and students, to all those who support August 6 New York Times. back the revolution in Nicaragua. heroic opponents of a brutal dictator­ the right of the Nicaraguan people to ship. And workers in the United States Alfonso Robelo, a member of the new They know that every advance by the determine their own destiny, to join in government, exposed Carter's duplicity Nicaraguan masses inspires workers are deeply opposed to any new Viet­ this historic solidarity campaign. and the reasons behind it: "In Wash­ and peasants throughout Central nams, any use of U.S. military forces U.S. hands off Nicaragua! ington they claim they are sending 120 America to take on their exploiters. against such struggles. For massive aid with no strings at­ "Defense Department and intelli­ For this reason Carter is trying to tons of food a day for the Nicaraguan tached! people but that is not exact, since the gence· officials are urging that the U.S. conceal his hostile moves against the Stop the threats against Cuba! shipments by sea have not arrived and resume arms shipments to the three Nicaraguan revolution behind prom­ Fair play for Nicaragua! ises of aid and a pose of open-handed could be delayed just when we need nations," reported the August 13 Time generosity. them most.... magazine. Meanwhile, the Carter ad­ Carter wants to persuade U.S. public "There seems to be an attempt to ministration has turned a cold opinion that Washington is doing all it hold up the aid with the idea of alter­ shoulder to Nicaragua's requests for Help sell can for Nicaragua, and that the diffi­ ing the nature of the process that seeks arms for self-defense. Washington's culties faced by the masses there are to establish a more equalitarian so­ moves to beef up reactionary regimes caused by the unreasonable actions ciety. But anyone who intends to do in the region pose a direct threat to the Militants and demands of the Sandinistas. Then, that is mistaken since we are fighting Nicaraguan revolution. Any move against Nicaragua will The big business news media is by labeling the Sandinistas as "ex­ for liberty and dignity for Nicaragua lying about Nicaragua to aid Wa­ tremists," Carter hopes to gull Ameri­ and in no way are we going to accept also mean a threat against Cuba, which has clearly placed itself in the shington's reactionary drive. Help can workers into accepting more direct conditions on our sovereignty." spread the truth by selling the Mili­ U.S. intervention against the Nicara­ The response from Washington has forefront of helping to defend the revo­ lutionary victory of the Nicaraguan tant. guan revolution. been to threaten a cutoff of all aid: "If Order a big supply. Bundles of masses. Already the U.S. rulers are intensify­ the criticism of the U.S. aid efforts five or more cost only 15 cents per ing economic and military pressure or continues, one official said, they're American working people have every copy. Nicaragua. going to put us out of business," re­ reason to come to the aid of our Nicara­ We'll rush your order. Call or More than a million of Nicaragua's ported Charles A. Krause in the Au­ guan brothers and sisters. Our aspira­ write: Militant Circulation Office, 2.4 million people are living in the gust 7 Washington Post. tions for a better life are the same. We 14 Charles Lane, New York, New shadow of hunger as a result of Somo­ share a common enemy. The billion­ York 10014. Telephone : (212) 929- Tightening military noose aires' government that is withholding za's scorched-earth policy. The new 3486. government has asked for at least 300 Washington is also working behind food from the Nicaraguan people today tons of food a day to block starvation. the scenes to tighten a military noose in order to starve them into submission Young Socialist Alliance hails revolution The following statement was who have exploited the Nicaraguan imperialist power-will intervene to against the reactionary acts of the U.S. issued by the Young Socialist Al­ workers and peasants for decades, stop the revolutionary process now rulers. One of our first campaigns was liance National Executive Com­ provide all the material aid needed to going on in Nicaragua. defending the Cuban revolution mittee on August 13. rebuild the country. American youth of this country will against the threats, blockade, and invasion by U.S. imperialism. We American youth have been inspired be in the forefront of the campaign to Mter forty-five years of suffering and defend the Nicaraguan revolution helped to mobilize support for Cuba by the Nicaraguan revolution. We have exploitation under the U.S.-backed been inspired by the heroic role of the against the maneuvers of U.S. impe­ and educated about the moves of the Somoza dictatorship, the Nicaraguan American government against it. Sandinista youth in bringing down rialism. The Young Socialist Alliance will be We believe that the Nicaraguan people are now on the road to freedom. Bomoza. And we have been inspired by And it was the Nicaraguan youth who the pledge of Nicaraguan students to campaigning in the factories, among workers and peasants should deter­ our co-workers, to defend the revolu­ mine for themselves how to run their led the fight in toppling the &moza help educate and provide health care tion. And we will be educating a.nd country. And we will campaign to dynasty. for the masses of people. We pledge to make every effort to organizing on the campuses to halt the educate and mobilize the American stop the U.S. government from inter­ The greatest danger to the Nicara­ threats against Nicaragua. public to see that the U.S. government vening to drive back the revolution. guan people today is the threat that The YSA has a long history of de­ keeps its hands off the Nicaraguan And we demand that the U.S. rulers, the U.S. government-the mightiest fending revolutionary struggles revolution!

THE MILITANT/AUGUST 24, 1979 7 Nicaraguan sugar workers By Fred Murphy workers' homes, robbed the bank, and CHICHIGALPA-The huge Ingenio sacked the commissary of food, liquor, San Antonio just east of here is the and appliances. largest sugar mill in Central America Many workers and their families fled and one of the biggest industrial sites to Chichigalpa or to the surrounding in Nicaragua. The mill employs 4,000 countryside. permanent workers and up to 8,000 A stronger Sandinista force attacked during the sugar harvest. the mill again on June 27. By July 1, I visited the Ingenio San Antonio on the National Guard detachment was August 5. Besides the mill itself, the defeated and driven out. site includes the workers' barracks-like The workers and the Sandinistas housing, a hospital, a bank, a com­ then turned the mill into a munitions pany store or commissary, and a Na­ factory. tional Guard post now under the con­ "There is great potential here for trol of the Sandinista army. making war materiel," Silvio Ruiz At the building that once housed the said. "We have laboratories, mechani­ company-controlled "trade union," I cal shops, and so on. So we were able found three leaders of the sugar to manufacture about 500 grenades workers-Silvio Ruiz, Juan Martinez and bombs, five cannons, two bazoo­ and Jose Ramirez. They took me on a kas, and fifty fragmentation mines." tour of the mill and explained how the The Sandinistas organized the sugar Ingenio San Antonio became a key workers into guerrilla units and dis­ bastion in the Nicaraguan people's patched them to the main Western uprising against the Somoza dictator­ Front battle zones in LeOn and Chi­ ship. They also told me how the sugar nandega. workers have begun to organize to A mechanics brigade was organized defend their newly won gains. to repair Sandinista vehicles, and a The sugar workers, headed by a unit of electricians helped keep power column of guerrillas from the Sandi­ Leaders of workers committee at San Antonio sugar mill. From left: Silvio Ruls, Juan Mat flowing in the areas that were under nista National Liberation Front rebel control. (FSLN) laid siege to the National Guard barracks at the mill on June 2. After Somoza fled and the dictator­ delegate from each of the mill's depart­ had been fired shortly before the insur­ Somoza quickly sent in troop reinforce­ ship collapsed, the workers at the ments. rection, and another demand was that ments and tanks. The air force began Ingenio San Antonio began holding The demands presented to Pellas they be immediately reinstated. bombing the mill. meeting to decide what to do next. called for repayment in full of all Management personnel, who had all wages lost during June and July and Much of the workers' housing was On July 29, 2,000 workers gathered fled the mill when the insurrection destroyed by the indiscriminate bomb­ the immediate resumption of produc­ began, returned at the beginning of to discuss and approve a list of de­ tion at the mill. The workers declared ing, along with part of the hospital mands that would be presented to the August. They were confronted by a and some of the mill's valuable ma­ that if Pellas did not start up the mill, militant, well-organized, revolutionary­ mill's owner, Alfredo Pellas (a big they would do so themselves. chinery. Some ninety civilians lost minded work force, one steeled in the landowner who belonged to the capital­ The workers also demanded aboli­ their lives, and about $6 million worth ist opposition to Somoza). battle against the dictatorship. of damage was done to the mill itself. tion of the "blacklist" they found in Mter three days of heavy fighting, Representatives of the FSLN leader­ one of the mill's offices. Photographs Pellas had no choice but to grant all ship visited the mill and spoke at the the Sandinista column was forced to of workers with X's drawn through the workers' demands-especially withdraw. The Guard then imposed a July 29 meeting. At their suggestion, them were accompanied by such labels since the new government decreed the workers elected a Provisional Com­ reign of terror. They searched the as "dangerous" and "subversive." August 2 that wages due to all Nicara­ mittee of forty-nine members-one Some fifty of these worker militants guan workers for the period of the

By Larry Seigle public trials were used to educate and Will the revolution in Nicaragua mobilize the masses. follow tht! path taken twenty years It was this mass determination to earlier by the Cuban workers and establish revolutionary justice that How Cubans wo peasants? Will capitalism be over­ provoked the initial howls of pain and thrown? This question is on everyone's hypocritical outrage from Washington mind. about the "reign of terror" taking place To understand what is going on in in Cuba. Nicaragua today, it is helpful to know what happened in Cuba after the July Coalition government 26 Movement overthrew the Batista A coalition government was set up. dictatorship. While it included leaders of the July 26 The July 26 Movement in Cuba had Movement, the most important posts begun as a petty-bourgeois formation went to bourgeois figures. Castro took with a radical democratic, anti­ no post at first. Manuel Urrutia was imperialist, and nationalist program. named president. He had voted, as a But what distinguished the Fidelistas judge, against the convictions of some from every previous radical petty­ of the rebel fighters who had been bourgeois formation in Cuba was that captured by Batista's police. Jose Miro the Fidelistas meant what they said. Cardona, who was the president of the Once in power, as they faced more and Havana Bar Association, was named more intense pressure from Yankee prime minister. imperialists and resistance from the This coalition government then pro­ Cuban capitalist class, they relied in­ ceeded to implement some of the mea­ creasingly on mass mobilizations of sures that had been promised and the Cuban workers and peasants. fought for by the July 26 Movement As Fidel put it in his speech on the and the Rebel Army. Fissures within twentieth anniversary of the revolu­ the government and within the July 26 tion, "Before January [1959], a van­ Movement itself immediately began to guard was the main protagonist in appear. events; since that January, the main The cutting edge of the revolution protagonist has been the people." was the radical agrarian reform law The Cuban workers and peasants adopted May 17, 1959. Prior to the were the only force in Cuba that could revolution, 75 percent of the land had defeat the imperialists. And it was been owned by 8 percent of the popula­ Volunteer team of sugar mill workers In Cuba during third harvest after Cuban revoll only by overthrowing capitalism and tion. Seven of the ten largest latifun­ establishing a workers state that they dios were American-owned, as was 40 could bring their full power to bear in percent of Cuban sugar production. ance, but not sold. All cane land be­ within the government. the struggle against imperialism and The agrarian reform law invoked the longing to the giant sugar mills was INRA and the Rebel Army, backed for the economic and social advances provisions of the 1940 constitution expropriated, along with all land by the workers and poor peasants, the masses were demanding. forbidding the holding of more than a owned by non-Cubans. All land was to acted more and more as a "dual How did this come about? tJtousand acres in a single property. be compensated for by long-term gov­ power" to the moderate elements in the Having learned the lessons of the tloldings beyond that were exprop­ ernment bonds. government. 1954 CIA-organized coup against the riated and distributed among the Other measures were implemented. Arbenz regime in Guatemala, the rebel 700,000 landless peasants and agricul­ Institute of Agrarian Reform Government corruption was wiped out. leaders moved immediately after com­ tural workers, with priority to any The National Institute of Agrarian Home and apartment rents were re­ ing to power to disband the Batista tenants, sharecroppers, or squatters Reform (INRA) was established to duced by 30 to 50 percent. Mortgage army and police. They put some of the living on the land in question. Each oversee the implementation of the pro­ rates for small homeowners were low­ most notorious police torturers on trial, f-amily was guaranteed a minimum of gram, which provoked growing dismay ered. Havana, which for decades had and executed some 600 of them with sixty-six acres, free, with the right to and hostility in Washington and been used as a gambling den and swift justice-although most of these buy another hundred acres, which among the wealthy Cuban land­ brothel by the Yankees, was trans­ butchers had escaped to Miami. The could be passed on through inherit- owners. This in turn deepened the split formed.

8 A history of U.S. domination ' story By Harry Ring Among the ranks of the Nicara­ U.S. companies have various com­ The victory of the Nicaraguan guan army, forced to fight alongside mercial and agricultural holdings. r' revolution brings to an end genera­ the U.S. Marines, there were ten Despite this relatively small finan­ tions of U.S.-sponsored repression. mutinies in seven years. cial stake, Washington has-from The struggle for independence has But the U.S. succeeded in develop­ the outset of its imperialist been long and bitter for the Nicara­ ing the Nicaraguan National Guard, expansion-seen Nicaragua as a guan people. Back in 1821, Nicara­ a well-trained and-equipped force of linchpin in the structure of its con­ gua gained its independence from murderous repression. In its first trol of Central America. Spain, only to have British imperial­ years it was directly led by U.S. The Somoza dynasty proved to­ ism establish domination. Toward officers. tally reliable. In 1954 Nicaragua was the end of the nineteenth century, In 1933, Washington found a local the staging ground for the CIA­ Washington helped Nicaragua oust candidate for the job of heading up organized overthrow of a reform the British-so that U.S. interests the Guard: Anastasio Somoza Gar­ government in Guatemala. And in could move in. cia, father of the recently deposed 1961 Nicaraguan camps were used to In 1912, U.S. intervention was tyrant. Somoza had once been a train counterrevolutionary Cuban direct. The U.S. Marines were sent in used-car salesman in Philadelphia. exiles for Washington's ill-fated in­ to police the country. They remained His principal qualifications for vasion of Cuba. until 1925. heading up the Guard were his flu­ In return for their services to In 1926 a rebellion began to de­ ency in English and his total subser­ Washington, the Somozas were per­ velop among the Nicaraguan people. vience to U.S. policy. mitted to steal Nicaragua blind. The Marines were sent back in to put In 1934 this U.S.-installed gang­ When Somoza split for Miami he it down. Washington won a "peace" ster arranged the treacherous was reputed to be worth more than agreement among the different Nica­ murder of Sandino after Sandino half a billion dollars. The Somoza raguan political factions. accepted an invitation to negotia­ family owned vast areas of land, Only one Nicaraguan leader re­ tions. cattle, a fishing fleet, the only air­ fused to accept the U.S.-dictated In 1936 the elder Somoza had line, TV and radio

"interventions," putting their stamp of Revolution, p. 67., Pathfinder Press, approval on, and consolidating, the Inc.) revolutionary measures taken. This was the key challenge. And it n their freedom One by one the bourgeois ministers was met decisively by the Castro lead­ resigned from their posts. Huge mass ership. Facing the escalating threats mobilizations played a decisive role in and offensive moves by Washington, driving key bourgeois forces out of top the Castro government itself initiated posts, and in strengthening the Fidel­ the next steps and mobilized the Cu­ ista forces. In February, Miro Car­ ban workers to carry them through. dona stepped down and Castro became They used the governmental power to Prime Minister. In July, Urrutia was organize and lead the masses in expro­ replaced by Osvaldo Dorticos as Presi­ priating the bourgeoisie and opening dent. By November 1959, when Che the door to a planned economy, thus Guevara became head of the national bringing about a revolutionary trans­ bank, almost all of the remaining formation of the class character of the bourgeois figures had been removed state. from the government. The nature of this revolutionary government can be seen from the way Workers & farmers gov't it responded to the major moves of the It was clear by then that a point of imperialists. qualitative change in the nature of the government had occurred, and a Imperialist campaign workers and farmers government was Following the promulgation of the in the saddle. first agrarian reform law, the imperial­ Among the most significant steps ists escalated their preparation for a taken by this government was the counterrevolutionary offensive. They organization of a workers and pea­ charged that there had been a "Red" sants militia. takeover in Havana. They began to But the dominant property relations complain that there were no free elec­ remained bourgeois. The capitalist tions, although they had ne':er com­ class had not yet been expropriated. It plained about the lack of free elections still hung on to positions of power in under Batista. the economy, from which it could work They waxed indignant over the pro­ to regain the initiative and use its visions for compensation in the agrar­ power to roll back the gains of the ian reform law, which, they whined, tn. revolutionary upsurge. In other words, weren't fair because the value of the Cuba was not yet a workers state. land was assessed at the value listed The private homes and clubs of the Currency and import controls were In July of 1960 Joseph Hansen, a for tax purposes by the landowners wealthy who had fled were confiscated introduced. leader of the Socialist Workers Party, under the Batista regime! and turned into schools and dormito­ As fissures within the July 26 Move­ wrote: "What has been established is a The White House grumbled that ries. Taxes were reduced by two-thirds ment and the coalition government highly contradictory and highly unsta­ nothing was working the way it ought for most citizens, while those who had deepened, the Fidelistas moved further ble regime, subject to pressures and to; the new officials in the government previously evaded all taxes found and further to the left, relying more impulses that can move it forward or wouldn't even take bribes. The impe­ themselves pursued by zealous collec­ and more on massive revolutionary backward." There remained the contra­ rialists denounced Fidel as a demo­ tors correcting years of fraudulent tax mobilizations in the cities as well as diction between the workers and gogue because he talked on television evasion. the countryside. In tum, the Castro farmers government and the economic for so long. Of course, · they never leadership itself was further trans­ power of the native capitalists and reported on the content of what he Gas, electricity, and telephone rates formed as it more and more reflected their imperialist senior partners. What said. were reduced after committees of and responded to the deepening radi­ was needed was "to carry the revolu­ A campaign was launched in Con­ workers opened the books of the giant calization of the toiling masses of tion forward to its culmination by gress and in the capitalist press to cut American-owned utilities and docu­ Cuba. The masses entered directly into toppling bourgeois economic and social Cuba's sug~r quota. In January 1960, mented the criminal price gouging. the political process, initiating factory relations .. ."(Dynamics of the Cuban Continued on page 15 9 Text of July 26 speech ur solidarit to 1cara•

Heroic Sandinista Fighters; (Applause) Comrades of the Party and Government Leader- ship; (Applause) Jubilant Cubans hail Sandinistas People of Holguin; (Applause) By Jose G. Perez manders present, surrounding them with the rest Compatriots: (Applause) HOLGUIN, Cuba-The overthrow of the hated of the Nicaraguan delegation. Two weeks ago we thought that in this rally Somoza dictatorship electrified all of Cuba. For Meanwhile the crowd repeatedly shouted, "Ni­ various topics would be discussed, among them the days before his downfall, the Cuban press had caragua, Nicaragua, Nicaragua!" and Cuba and successes and the merits of this province; the been filled with reports of the fighting. The Nicaragua united will win!" enormous transformation to be seen throughout the situation in Nicaragua was the number one topic The chants were started on the speakers plat­ province and the city; its tremendous march for­ of discussion everywhere on the island. form and were led by Raul Castro, minister of ward and its progress, its new buildings, its new When news came of the crushing of the last Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces. factories, its work spirit, its production successes. pockets of Somocista resistance, jubilation No sooner had the shouting died down than it The great merit of having produced 764,000 tons spread throughout the island. As one former again broke out as the announcer introduced the of sugar in this year's harvest: (Applause) 150,000 commander of the Cuban Rebel Army told me, different members of the Sandinista delegation. tons more than last year, bringing this year's "You have to understand, we have been waiting The strongest cheers were for the women com­ national sugar production to 7,992,000 tons, 96 base twenty years for this." manders. (Applause) only 8,000 tons short of the eight million Nowhere was this jubilation expressed as The first three speakers all were Nicaraguans: mark (Applause) and surpassing last year's produc­ enthusiastically as at the July 26 rally held here Alfonso Robelo, a member of the Government of tion figure by more than half a million tons. in commemoration of the 1953 attack on the National Reconstruction, and FSLN command­ (Applause) And all this under adverse weather Moncada Barracks. The rally was attended by ers Humberto Ortega and Bayardo Arce. conditions and working the sugar mills right up twenty-six commanders of the Sandinista Na­ In his talk, Robelo described the ruins in which until yesterday, which was when the last one tional Liberation Front (FSLN) as well as by the Somocista tyranny had left the country, stopped. representatives of the Government of National appealing to all countries of the Americas to aid This is what we were thinking. But when we Reconstruction of Nicaragua. Nicaragua in rebuilding the country, especially learned less than 48 hours ago that our people were I attended the rally as part of the Second in the fields of health and education. to receive an extraordinary honor, that a large Contingent "Carlos Muftiz Varela" of the Anto­ Ortega described the FSLN's twenty-year contingent of fighters, of heroic and self-sacrificing nio Maceo Brigade. The brigade is a group of struggle to overthrow Somoza and appealed for leaders, leaders of the sister people of Nicaragua, young Cubans living in the United States and solidarity against any imperialist attack against wished to be with us on this July 26, (Applause) I other countries who oppose the U.S. govern­ the Sandinista revolution. Arce presented Fidel realized that today's rally would inevitably turn ment's hostile policy toward the Cuban revolu­ Castro with an Israeli-made machine gun cap­ into a Sandinista rally. (Applause and shouts of tion. tured from Somoza's forces "to show our admira­ "Cuba, Nicaragua, United Will Win!") It was shortly before 6 p.m., after virtually all tion and appreciation for the Cuban people's solidarity." What should we talk about, what else could we of the dignitaries and rally participants had talk about, what more extraordinary event of our arrived, that the first Sandinista commanders Castro was the final speaker. His speech, like times, what act of greater historical importance, of made their way onto the platform. A huge roar those of the Nicaraguans, was repeatedly inter­ rupted with cheering, applause, and chanting. greater significance and implications has taken went up from the crowd of 20,000 as the Sandi­ place in recent times than the victory of the Sandi­ nistas raised their weapons in greetings to the But the high point came toward the end of his rally. nistas in Nicaragua? What has touched us more speech, when Fidel proposed Cuba send Nicara­ deeply, what has captured our attention more The uproar still had not died down several gua all the doctors and teachers it asked for, as during these weeks, what could have excited or minutes later when Fidel Castro emerged on the well as help "in any other field," to which the inspired us more tha:n this popular and heroic vic­ platform. Pandemonium broke out as Fidel em­ rally participants responded with repeated, braced the Nicaraguan heroes, and started to thunderous ovations. tory? rearrange the seating of the more than one Following is the text of Castro's address to the What greater honor? hundred dignitaries on the platform. Cuba-Nicaragua solidarity rally held July 26 in And what greater honor could we have received, He took a large section of the front row and Holguin. The English text is from the August 5, what greater splendor for this revolutionary day of seated there the several women Sandinista com- 1979 issue of Granma Weekly Review. ours, what greater honor for this city and this province than the warm, fraternal visit of solidarity from this contingent of heroic, valiant, intelligent and capable commanders and fighters of the Sandi­ Gir6n, when the B-26 bombers left from there to come to Cuba. They did not have to explain them­ nista National Liberation Front of Nicaragua? (Ap­ bomb our homes, to kill peasant families, women selves to anyone, nor worry about what anyone plause) and children, to drop tons of bombs on our militia would think. (Applause) and soldiers. I say solidarity, because we too need solidarity; I Political honesty say stimulating, because we also need that stimula­ How can we fail to see in this gesture of the This is proof of political honesty, because they tion. Solidarity, stimulation, because for a long time Sandinistas, in this spontaneous gesture. . . . Be­ don't go about pretending; they don't go about it was almost a crime ~visit Cuba; for a long time cause it was not our initiative, since we know the denying that they are friends of Cuba, that they feel imperialism tried to cut the ties with our sister tremendous amount of work they have at this respect for Cuba, that they are in solidarity with peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, and moment, the enormous job they have to do, the Cuba. They are open, they don't harbor fears. for a long time blockaded us, prohibited and great need for their presence in the country, espe­ thwarted the coming together and development of cially in these early days. We would not have been For this reason, I believe that they inspire confi­ the natural, historical and logical ties between the able to ask them for this honor, this immense, dence not only in our people but in all peoples and Nicaraguan and the Cuban peoples. infinite honor that came entirely from them. (Pro­ in world political opinion. They are not prejudiced, For so many years we have remembered and longed· applause) in spite of the gossip, the intrigues, the fact that mourned those brothers of ours who died fighting at now the campaigns will begin, that now the accusa­ Playa Gir6n, because of the invasion that left This is proof of the political valor of Sandinism, tions will begin, once the victory honeymoon has precisely from Nicaraguan territory, in one of the proof of revolutionary valor, because we know this ended. most infamous services which the tyrant offered world of ours and we know that political and They do not harbor prejudices, because they are revolutionary valor do not always abound. imperialism, given that this same Somoza-now but not afraid of the Nicaraguan and Cuban revolu­ a shadow of his former self-was the head of the They were not prejudiced, they were not afraid. tions being confused, because they are way beyond General Staff of the Nicaraguan army at the time of They didn't have to ask anyone for permission to those prejudices.

10 Nicaraguan liberation fighters presented Castro with Israeli machine gun captured from Somoza's National Guard

Yet they themselves will by no means say that cles for 20 years. Twenty years to gather the fruits South Mricans, the Rhodesian racists' bombings of the two revolutions are exactly alike. (Applause) of the seed sown, cultivated and irrigated with the refugee camps of the people of Zimbabwe, using They are both profound revolutions, alike in many blood for such a long time, to achieve victory in the the most modern planes, the most deadly weapons, ways and in many ways different, as all true midst of a truly popular epic. sophisticated bombs that spread thousands of revolutions must be. (Applause) Who among us has not seen at the movies, on pellets that are often not even made of steel, but of television, in books and magazines pictures of the rubber, so that surgeons can't spot them in X-rays. 'Every country has own road' incredibly brutal repression, the ruthless, genocidal, Examples of this kind are the genocidal acts This is important for our people, important also unscrupulous war unleashed against the people of perpetrated against the Palestinian people in the for world opinion. Every country has its own road, Nicaragua by the Somoza dictatorship? Middle East, the constant bombings against the its own problems, its own style, methods, objectives. Who has not seen pictures of mothers weeping for Palestinian camps in Lebanon, against Lebanese We have our own; they have theirs. We did things their children, for their loved ones; pictures of communities in Lebanon, bombed practically every one way, our way; they will do things their way. children crying for their parents, of homes that day by Israeli planes, symbols of crime. Similarities; they achieved victory by means similar have been destroyed, of-piles of corpses, of torture, to ours; we both achieved victory by the only means murders, bombings of the cities? But it was not only the Israeli bombs falling on by which we could free ourselves from imperialist Where else has such barbarism been seen? Where the Palestinians, the Lebanese, the imperialist tyranny and domination: gun in hand, (Applause) else has there been an air force dedicated to drop­ bombs falling on the Namibians and the Zimbab­ fighting fiercely, heroically. ping tons and tons of bombs on the cities of its own weans; it was also the imperialist bombs, Israeli And we should say, we should stress, that the country? On Managua, Masaya, Leon, Esteli, on bombs falling on the Nicaraguans. Nicaraguan Revolution was noted for its heroism, this group of martyred cities. for its perseverance, for the tenacity of its fighters, They did not hesitate to give orders to drop 500- Israeli-U.S. conspiracy because it is not the victory of one day; it is the pound bombs on populated and even overpopulated When the imperialists wanted to pretend that victory of 20 years of struggle, 20 years of struggle! areas, acts that really filled the world with anger they were not furnishing arms, they furnished them (Applause) and amazement and that, in their own way, contrib­ through their allies. And who is going to believe Because in the same year that our Revolution uted to creating the huge campaign and the unshak­ that the Israeli state would have sent Somoza those triumphed, there were already groups of fighters led able feeling of solidarity with the Nicaraguan arms, those Galil guns, those bombs, those planes by that extraordinary and marvelous fighter Carlos people and the Sandinista fighters. without the consent of and approval of the Govern­ Fonseca Amador, follower of Sandino (Applause) These are the fruits of imperialist intervention in ment of the United States? And with those bombs and founder of the Sandinista National Liberation Nicaragua. These were the fruits of intervention, and guns tens of thousands of people in that Front, the people's guide in those terrible days when the bitter fruits of imperialist policy in our hemis­ country were murdered; we were told that 40,000 victory was so far away, leader fallen in the phere. Because they were the ones who shaped, people died, that is to say, twice the number of struggle, as so many fell in our own land; like aided and abetted those sanguinary, repressive, people attending the rally this afternoon. Marti, Maceo, Agramonte; like Abel and Frank Pais reactionary, tyrannical, fascist regimes in this hem­ These are the fruits of the conspiracy that led to from our generation, who fell without being able to isphere. the cowardly murder of Sandino, to the implanta­ see the victory but certain that victory would be And it is said, it has been said-and I think even tion of that disgraceful regime that governed the achieved! Somoza himself said it-that in the United Nations country for almost 50 years and has disappeared the government of Somoza never once failed to vote Young fighters thanks to the heroic struggle of the Nicaraguan with the Government of the United States. · people and the Sandinista fighters. The young fighters took up Fonseca's struggle. Throughout the world, U.S. policy was to create Yes, it was said that the average age of the fighters this type of political regime, throughout the entire From now on, the people of Nicaragua will also be was 20 years; but the leaders, what's their average world! Not only in our America, but in each and able to meet together as we have done since our age? Some of the oldest are in their thirties-those every continent! Revolution; I also think that one day, in squares who began to fight when they were only 15, 16, 17 As for the bombings, we see similar cases: the such as this one, the portraits and images of the years old, and who faced the difficulties and obsta- bombings of the Namibian camps by the racist heroes mentioned here by Commander Humberto Ortega will appear alongside the people, ennobling and dignifying revolutionary rallies, and depicted there will undoubtedly be Sandino, Fonseca and all the patriots that over 150 years-as has been said here-fought for the independence of Nicaragua. (Applause) 150 years of domination The Sandinista victory is not only a vi,:tory over 45 years of Somoza-ism; it is a victory over 150 years of foreign domination in the country, (Ap­ plause) it is a victory over many centuries of conquest, exploitation and foreign domination. If anything is certain it is that for the first time, for the first time in all their history, the Nicaraguan people became completely free and independent on July 19th, when the columns of hardened Sandi­ nista forces entered Managua, (Applause) because our peoples-and especially Central America, which became a hunting ground for pirates, filibusters and interventionists-passed from Spanish to Yankee domination. So that day not only marks the day of the victory of the Revolution, but also of the triumph of Nicara­ guan independence, (Applause) two great and im­ portant historical objectives achieved in one battle. It is in this that we see the importance and the Nicaraguan people celebrated with victory march In Managua August 3. Militant/Fred Murphy Continued on next page

THE MILITANT/AUGUST 24, 1979 11 Continued from preceding page significance of the victorious conclusion of the struggle led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front. International solidarity But this Sandinista victory, this struggle, means even more. A great degree of international solidar­ ity developed around this struggle, and a great degree of unity in all the Central American and Latin American left; around the Sandinista struggle what we could call a great democratic, pro­ independence and anti-interventionist front devel­ oped tacitly in Latin America, something of historic significance and enormous importance. · In Latin America and the Caribbean, in this hemisphere, the Sandinista movement encouraged the pro-independence and anti-interventionist feel­ ings of Latin American peoples. This reached its high point, its moment of culmination, at the last meeting of the Organization of American States. Let's refer to this Organization for the first time without adding any epithets, because for the first time, for the first time, there was outright insubordi­ nation on the part of the Latin American states. This is very symptomatic, since the most reaction­ ary and aggressive sectors in the United States advised the present U.S. administration to pursue a policy of intervention in Nicaragua, and at this meeting the United States advocated an Inter­ American Peace-Keeping Force, supposedly to bring peace to Nicaragua, when peace in Nicaragua, the peace imposed by imperialism since it began its no longer president of his country, contributed a Some of the characteristics we have noted in our many interventions and set up that reactionary great deal to the development of this solidarity with Nicaraguan revolutionary comrades are worthy of regime was the peace of the grave. In reality this the Sandinista struggle: the former president of mention. Firstly, the people's militant spirit, their was the kind of peace they wanted to continue Venezuela, Carlos Andres Perez. (Applause) heroism, their bravery. They have distinguished upholding in order to prevent revolutionary peace, And let me stress that there was not a single themselves as great fighters, but they have also to prevent the Sandinista victory, to deprive the party or organization of the left in Latin America distinguished themselves as great political tacti­ people of their victory. that did not express its willingness to struggle; not cians and strategists. They have displayed great We know what these Inter-American Peace­ a single one failed to express its solidarity with the wisdom, great ability to unite, great ability to act in Keeping Forces amount to, who supplies the wea­ struggle of the Sandinista people. (Applause) difficult, complex circumstances. pons, who leads them, who supplies them and who It is very important for all the peoples still makes up their forces. We have seen these so-called suffering from fascism and the bloodiest tyrannies Military and political strategy Inter-American forces more than once before. that this climate, this front and this spirit should be They fought heroically, but they have also been The imperialist aim was really a sinister one: it maintained. This is a duty-in our opinion-of the able to be flexible and when they needed to nego­ was to intervene in Nicaragua. The imperialists Sandinistas as well; it will be their contribution, the tiate in a certain way to avoid the risks of interven­ were used to having all the Latin American govern­ contribution of the victorious people of Nicaragua, tion, they were not afraid to negotiate. And they ments say, "Yes!" but this time a sufficient number toward maintaining that spirit and that broad showed great ability, great talent both in military of Latin American governments said, "No!" (Ap­ front. and political strategy. Needless to say, had it been plause) Many questions are now being raised, and there otherwise their victory would have been inexplica­ And, as always, the pretexts were very noble: "to are many people wanting to establish similarities ble. bring peace to the suffering people of Nicaragua." between what happened in Cuba and what has Even during the final stage, when the Somoza They did not want this moment to come, they did happened in Nicaragua. regime was in its death throes, they discussed how not want the 19th of July to come. A month later the end would be, the graveside protocol, as it were, the Sandinistas brought real peace, the peace of a Pretexts for aggression Somoza's funeral. Several countries took part in happy and victorious people; a people that had Some of these questions are not being posed in these talks, the Government of National Recon­ suffered to the full, true, but a people that was also good faith, inspired by the wish to start creating struction took part, the Sandinista leadership took full of hope and optimism in the future. justifications and seeking pretexts to apply aggres­ part and even the United States took part. We, our people, cannot help but note the full sive measures against the people of Nicaragua as And as Granma briefly explained, Somoza's magnitude and significance of this historic event: well, blockades against the people of Nicaragua, the defeat of the U.S. interventionist scheme in the aggression against the people of Nicaragua-all heart of the Latin American states. There was a those filthy measures and all those crimes they majority which resolutely opposed intervention and committed against us-and we must be careful defended the principle of non-intervention, of sover­ about this. eignty, of absolute respect for the sovereignty of our The Nicaraguans have given a magnificent peoples, as something sacred. answer for those people with this sort of aim in It must be said that the U.S. proposal was mind who have made assertions or expressed fears isolated. In the end they adopted an intelligent to the effect that Nicaragua would become a new position. If they had voted in favor of their own Cuba. The Nicaraguans have replied: No, Nicara­ proposal, that is, in favor of the proposal for gua will become a new Nicaragua! (Applause) And intervention, they would have ended up in the this is something quite different. company of Paraguay and Somoza, because the They do not see themselves in us, as if they were only one who advocated intervention, who openly looking in a mirror. Rather, it is we who today see voted for intervention, was Somoza, and I think ourselves mirrored in them, because nothing re­ Paraguay as well. minds us more of our own struggles, our sacrifices The Leninist Strategy Of course, intervention was in Somoza's interest, and our own image in those early days of the of Party Building for the time being at least. Such a course would Revolution. The Debate have preserved the National Guard and would have on Guernlla Warfare 1n Lat1n Amenca preserved his interests, along with those of the 'No two Revolutions the same' monopolies. If the United States had abstained, it There are no two revolutions the same. There Joseph Hansen would have found itself together with Chile, Uru­ can't be. There are many similarities-as I said-as guay, El Salvador and Guatemala, and they did not to spirit, heroism, combat. But our problems are not think it was very honorable to be seen in that kind exactly the same as their problems; the conditions of company. And so they too voted with the major­ under which our Revolution took place are not ity. An interesting phenomenon. exactly the same as the conditions under which their Revolution is taking place, including the fact A great victory that in our case this front I mentioned did not exist In our opinion the decision, the result of the and that the imperialists launched their campaigns meeting constituted a great victory for the people of and their aggressions immediately. our America and it helped develop the spirit of The imperialists knew less then, and now even solidarity with Nicaragua. And in the position the imperialists have managed to learn something. maintained at the OAS, we must stress the role of Not much, but something. Panama, Costa Rica, Venezuela and the other The conditions under which their struggle was Andean Pact countries, (Applause) and that of fought, its characteristics, were different. For in­ Dynamics of the Mexico, Jamaica, Grenada and others. (Applause) stance, the unity of the entire people, which was an Cuban Revolution paper, $5.45 In the cre.ation of this democratic, anti­ essential condition for victory, the participation of The Leninist Strategy all social strata, the organization of various popular interventionist front which has formed, we must of Party Building paper, $7.95 mention the names of people as well as countries: movements, which joined ranks, reaching certain Add 75 cents for postage the names of Torrijos, (Applause) Carazo, (Ap­ compromises, creating certain circumstances that plause) LOpez Portillo, (Applause) Manley (Ap­ differed from ours. In other words, in Nicaragua Pathfinder Press plause) and Bishop. (Applause) And it is also only and Cuba things are not going to be exactly the 410 West Street, New York, New York 10014 fair to recall the name of a person who, though he is same, quite the contrary.

12 demise was supposed to occur at four in the morn­ ing; then somebody called Urcuyo-at first I found it hard to remember the name, even now I do not remember it very well, and I daresay in a couple of weeks I will have forgotten it again (Laughter and applause)-then somebody called Urcuyo was sup­ posed to take over at eight in the morning and finally hand over to the Board of National Recon­ struction at one in the afternoon. In the interim period I believe that someone was to be appointed head of the National Guard, something like that. The Sandinistas made some concessions. And it was wise of them to make these concessions, those they thought they should make. At the same time they were firm and did not make concessions they should not have made. It was assumed, of course, that there would be a new army. The country could not remain in the hands of those genocidal maniacs. Basically, the new army would be made up of the Sandinista fighters and, it is said, also some National Guard members who were not guilty of corruption, repres­ sion and crimes. Now, this may be all right in principle, in theory, but it is hard to imagine there could be even one of them who was not guilty of corruption, repression and crimes. However the Sandinista attitude was a generous one. We were too, in our own struggle. We repeatedly appealed to the army. At the end we even held talks Cuban schoolchildren. 'Only a revolutionary government can carry out a great ftealth and education campaign. with them, and they said to us: "We've lost the war, how do we bring it to an end?" We gave them our opinion on how to proceed. In any kind of election, under any kind of Consti­ Even the United States has stated that it's ready We told them that the forces in Santiago should tution that allows a citizen the right to vote and the to send food and organize other kinds of help. We're surrender and that they should neither discuss citizen does vote, the Sandinistas would win. (Ap­ glad to hear it. They said they were going to start things with the U.S. embassy, nor stage a coup plause) an airlift and send 300 tons of food a day. We think d'etat in the capital, nor help Batista escape. And so This is why-and this is what I'm explaining to that's a very good idea. we came to an agreement. We waited for the 31st (of our people-it's the circumstances in which the Marti said that heaven wanted tyrants to be wise December, 1958) and we did not attack the Santiago Nicaraguan victory was won that determine that only once. Needless to say, Somoza wasn't wise garrison, waiting for the agreement to be honored. the ways they adopt be different from ours. Further­ even once; the Government of the United States, But they did the exact opposite; they staged a more, the fact that right now Nicaragua is in ruins, however, has been wise at least on this one occa­ coup in Havana, they came to an agreement with completely destroyed, calls for a national recon­ sion, because it's much better in every sense, more the U.S. embassy, and they saw Batista off at the struction program with the participation of every productive, and makes for better relations among airport. So that was the end of the agreement and sector of Nicaraguan society. the peoples and for a climate of peace all over the we had no choice but to disarm the army, which we world, to send food instead of sending bombs and did in 48 hours, as you all know perfectly well, so 'Realists make best revolutions' Marines, like they did in Vietnam and so many there is no need to repeat it here. The Sandinistas are revolutionaries. We don't other places. Well, something similar happened in Nicaragua; deny it, nobody denies it, they don't deny it. But when this Urcuyo character had been appointed they are not extremists, they are realists. And it is 'A gigantic VIetnam' president, he said no, he intended to stay there until realists who make the best revolutions, (Applause) Naturally-since I mentioned Vietnam-if the 1981. (Laughter) So the Sandinistas gave the order the best and most profound revolutions. United States had intervened in Nicaragua it would to attack, and in less than 72 hours they disarmed I predict that they will go far because they are have been an act of suicide for United States' policy the National Guard, and now there is no National taking their time, because they're not extremists, in this hemisphere, because we haven't the slightest Guard. (Applause) It turned out that the U.S. because they're taking things slowly. They know doubt that the Sandinistas would have continued Government could not even honor its own part in what to aim for at each stage of a political and fighting in spite of U.S. intervention. There's no the agreements. revolutionary process and the means that corres­ question about that. Nonetheless, the Government of National Recon­ pond to these aims. I'm sure of that. We're extremely happy that it didn't happen­ struction and the Sandinista leadership have done They used their heads, too, the Sandinistas, who knows how many lives have been spared for a very correct thing, in our opinion, in maintaining because they closed ranks at just the right moment that very reason-but we are also convinced that the generous attitude they displayed in these talks. and the result was victory, fruit of the wisdom with had there been an intervention it would have met Of course, the U.S. Government was not concerned which they acted. And our greatest hope is that this with tremendous resistance on the part of Sandino's about the tens of thousands of people killed by the unity becomes ever more solid and closer as an people. And not only that, but also that a gigantic bombings; but they were very concerned about the essential requisite for the future. The people, wea­ Vietnam might have developed throughout Central lives of Somoza's thugs, his poor little thugs. But pons, unity. That's all they need to go as far as they America and in the rest of Latin America, a gigan­ the magnanimity and generosity displayed by the want for as long as they want. tic Vietnam. (Applause) Sandinistas has been extraordinary, exemplary, They are now faced with a tremendous job, Intervention would have been an act of sheer exemplary! tremendous, much worse than the one that faced us stupidity, but also an act that would have meant a Needless to say all this was just to pave the way when we won; because our war, and the develop­ great deal of bloodshed for our peoples. for launching a campaign against the Sandinista ment of the columns and the guerrilla fronts, was So an intervention in Nicaragua wouldn't have movement, which has won so much solidarity and different. They combined the development of the gone unpunished, of course-we must be quite clear sympathy all over the world. columns and the guerrilla fronts with insurrection about that-but we are glad that the firm struggle And so the Sandinistas have not only been heroic in the cities, an infallible system that neither waged by the people of Nicaragua, international and efficient in war and flexible in politics; they Somoza nor the National Guard could beat. solidarity, the support given by the Latin American have also been extraordinarily magnanimous in peoples and the realism and flexibility of the victory! I am sure that this will earn the broadest Destruction of cities Sandinistas prevented the perpetration of one of the sympathy and will strengthen feelings of solidarity The enemy had no qualms at all in shelling and most mistaken acts imaginable, and which was a throughout the world. It will deprive the reaction­ bombing the rebellious cities with every available real possibility. aries of arguments, it will deprive them of weapons, weapon, mercilessly destroying entire cities and We are glad to know the United States is sending it will deprive them of fuel for slander and defama­ facilities of all kinds and leaving behind an enor­ food to Nicaragua. We are glad to know that tion. mous wake of destruction, the country's finances everybody is sending food and giving aid of all It also shows the enormous influence the Sandi­ bankrupt with not a single reserve left. kinds to the people of Nicaragua. nista commanders and the Government of National Engineer Alfonso Robelo was telling me that We are not rich; we cannot compete with the Reconstruction have over the masses, because the there were some three million left in the treasury, United States in numbers of planes and tons of masses have not forgotten-nor will they ever with an immediate debt of 250 million and an food. But we will send something, because even forget-the crimes, torture and bombings. They will overall foreign debt of 1,200 million dollars. There though we are poor we can always spare some of not forget. But they have also given proof of their wasn't a single cent left. Such that one of the first what we have. (Applause) great trust in the leadership by holding back when things they had to do was nationalize the banks, And something very important: we may not have it was necessary for th_em to hold back. among other things, as a measure to protect deposi­ great financial or material resources, but we do tors from ruin, because the banks were bankrupt have human resources. (Applause) Imperialist intervention and nobody could guarantee the savings held in Engineer Robelo said here that they need doctors, We hope that in Nicaragua's case the imperialists them. that they need campaigns to wipe out illiteracy. will not repeat their interventionist ventures or try So that's one of the first measures they've had to And we know our doctors and teachers. (Applause) fostering counterrevolution. Of course, we are not take. There's much hunger in Nicaragua. I believe They'll go wherever they're needed. If they have to going to deceive ourselves. We're not going to that Nicaragua needs help from everybody. In the go to the mountains, they go to the mountains; if to imagine that the reactionaries will leave the Nicara­ past few weeks, a large number of leaders have the countryside, the countryside. In Cuba and in guan Revolution in peace, despite its magnanimity, expressed their readiness to help Nicaragua. Ethiopia, in Vietnam, in Yemen, in Angola, any­ generous attitude and democratic aims. I think that's very good. where. They have said that if an election is needed it's Governments of different hues, of different ideolo­ Nicaragua is much nearer, right nearby. There's fine with them to have an election. In any election gies, of different political systems have expressed practically the same distance between Cape San held in Nicaragua, no matter how many resources their readiness to assist the people of Nicaragua on Antonio and Managua as between Cape San Anto­ are supplied to the reactionary bands, the Sandinis­ a large scale. And Nicaragua certainly needs this nio and Maisi Point. So it's really close. tas will win with an enormous majority. (Applause) help. Continued on next page

13 Continued from preceding page Even in the midst of destruction and ruins, a Therefore, I believe that we are expressing the revolutionary government can wage a great cam­ feelings of our Party and of our people when we say paign in these fields, and since our country has to our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters that, if they plenty of experience in these things we can offer plan to put into effect a broad health and medical some advice in both the health and the education care program and there aren't enough Nicaraguan campaigns. And, I repeat, if they don't have enough doctors, we are ready to send all the doctors they teachers in Nicaragua to put this education cam­ need to support this health program. (Applause) paign into effect, we are ready to send them as Of course, we do have more than 1,000 doctors many as they need. (Applause) working abroad, but we still have some to spare. We It's not for nothing that we have more than have our commitments and we can meet them. 30,000 students in our primary education teacher How would we be able to do it? By asking our training schools, and tens of thousands-50,000 I hospitals and our doctors for their collaboration. We think-training as teachers in the pedagogical have done it on other occasions, for example, in the institutions. We're doing all right. (Applause) matter of time off following guard duty. We've said We also know that our teachers go wherever they wait for the future, a splendid future because some are sent-to the most remote places, to the farthest 4,000 students are already entering medical school mountains, to the most forgotten little town. (Ap­ every year and we are building medical schools in plause) practically every province. We would need the They're not interested in being in the capital. We collaboration of the hospitals, People's Power, the know our teachers and our doctors and we know public health sector and especially the doctors how much they can do. This is why our country can themselves, to cover the work of those who go. make quite a valuable contribution in these two We've already sent the first medical brigade of 60 fields. people, 40 of them doctors. It was done quickly, in a Needless to say, we are also ready to collaborate, matter of hours. (Applause) within the scope of our modest resources, in any We sent a large medical brigade when Nicaragua other field. was hit by an earthquake, even though Somoza was Militant/Fred Murphy It is not a case of our going to engage in politics Sandlnlsta woman In Managua. 'The young fighters still there. And I remember that the colonel they in Nicaragua-and there will certainly be some who took up the struggle. It was said that the average age mentioned today, who wasn't yet a colonel at the will say that we are. was 20 years.' time, that son of Somoza's who they say was the Who's going to engage in politics, who's going head of the EBI (Basic Infantry Training School), to influence the Sandinistas? On the contrary, our was waiting at the airport to steal the shipments teachers and our doctors will be influenced by the beautiful gesture, their unforgettable gesture, for that came in. (Laughter) Sandinista spirit, and we are very pleased and the great honor they have conferred on us with their So they stole the medicines we sent. They couldn't happy about this. (Applause) The revolutionary presence and their affectionate and fraternal words. steal our doctors, however, (Laughter) and our spirit of the Sandinistas will have a great effect on We also thank them for stimulating us in our own doctors did a good job, offered their services to the them. Everyone knows our technicians' dedication efforts, in our own struggle, because they help us to people and the people were very friendly toward to their work. improve, to overcome our own shortcomings. them. If we did it when Somoza was there, we can They stimulate us in our task of perfecting our certainly do it now. Campaign to aid Nicaragua work, perfecting our Revolution, in the uncomprom­ We have doctors now and we'll have more in the I repeat that we're glad that the United States ising struggle against weaknesses, against errors, future. But we're not going to wait for those. The and other countries are to help Nicaragua. What's against things badly done; this struggle is not a ones we send will come from those we have now. more, we're ready to enter an emulation campaign temporary campaign, a matter of one day, one If our doctors collaborate-and of course I'm sure with the United States, an emulation campaign week, one month, or one year but rather a struggle they will-if our hospitals, the heads of hospitals, (Applause) to see who can do the most for Nicara­ that we must go on waging for many years. the health sectors, everybody collaborates, we can gua. We invite the United States, we invite all the Now they are faced by the problem that all those find all the doctors we need to tell the people of countries of Latin America, we invite all the coun­ who begin a process on the ruins of their country Nicaragua that we will send them all they need if tries of Europe, the countries of the Third World, our must face, while here, with 20 years of revolution they haven't enough themselves. sister socialist nations, everybody, to take part in behind us, the conditions are different, the circum­ This means that if they need 100, we'll send them an emulation campaign to help Nicaragua. (Ap­ stances are different. 100. If they need 200, we'll send them 200. And if plause) This is our position, in order to make a What better way to celebrate this July 26, to pay they need as many as 500, we'll send them 500. No really human, really constructive effort based on a tribute to our martyrs, what better way to honor our trouble at all. (Applause) spirit of emulation. visitors than for everyone of us to promise and The need for a large-scale education campaign Of course, when I mentioned who could do the commit ourselves to make more effort, to struggle has also been mentioned here. And it looks as if most you all stood up. What do you think? What do harder, to work harder, to become better! there are some teachers here who are quite enthusi­ you think? (Shouts of "Yes!") And that we're willing Long live the revolutionary victory in Nicaragua! astic at the idea. A great educational campaign. and ready to do it? (Shouts of "Yes!") Then, we ask (Applause and shouts of "Long Live!") (Applause) you to raise your hands, on behalf of all our people, Long live Sandino! (Applause and shouts of as an expression of this feeling of solidarity with "Long Live!") Health and education campaign the people of Nicaragua. (All hands go up. Ap­ Long live the FSLN! (Applause and shouts of Only a revolutionary government can carry out a plause) Our feelings, our response couldn't be other­ "Long Live!") great health and education campaign. Who knows wise. (Applause and shouts of "For whatever and Long live the Government of National Recon­ how many lives they will save, especially how however it may be necessary, commander in chief, struction of Nicaragua! (Applause and shouts of many children's lives they will save, with cam­ we await your orders!") "Long Live!") paigns against polio, tetanus and tuberculosis. The Sandinistas have set a further example of Long live the friendship and solidarity between Many lives will be being saved in just a few years. how much a revolutionary spirit can accomplish. the peoples of Nicaragua and Cuba! (Applause and In fact, many lives will be being saved in but a few Weak men never achieve any goals; timid souls shouts of "Long Live!") weeks. I know how much people appreciate a health never get anywhere. But a revolutionary spirit can Patria o Muerte! campaign; I know how much people appreciate an achieve even the most incredible goals. Venceremos! educational campaign. We thank the Sandinistas not only for their (Ovation)

financial workers that in turn could organize a Near the end of the session, Antonio Jaenz M., strong union, responsive to the needs of the secretary of grievances of SITRABANIF, spoke. He ... banks workers. pointed out that the projects that they would carry Continued from· page 5 Workers from different banks and financial insti­ out from today on are social ones. "The technocratic pointing out that the simplest of these is the tutions spoke, bringing up their concerns and mentality has come to an end. If investments are continual and ongoing organization of the workers praising the victory of the Sandinista people's revo­ made, it will be to aid the workers. Who says that to to defend their interests. "One of the tasks that the lution. administer a bank you have to have a title?" union organizations have in this country is to He pointed to three aspects of the bank nationali­ defend the revolution no matter what the cost," he zations. First, he showed that this was an obliga­ said. tion of the revolutionary government, because it is here that the power groups, the capitalist structures The compaiiero from the CGT also spoke of the of exploitation, found their highest expression. Civil Defense Committees and the Sandinista De­ fense Committees. He said that these forms of Second, he presented the step as necessary to save organization were developing block by block, neigh­ the banking and financial system, so as to prevent borhood by neighborhood, house by house. He the loss of small savings accounts. added that the more Defense Committees we have, Third, he said, nationalization was the only way the more secure the revolution will be. to guide the economic plan of the Junta of National A representative of the Sandinista Front also Reconstruction, because-as no one should forget­ spoke at the meeting, urging the workers to union­ the banking system still has Somoza supporters ize all banking institutions, to form committees in within it. each bank and in each section of each bank. "We He stressed that nationalization simply meant must strike like a sledgehammer so that when we giving to the workers that which really belongs to strike, we smash the enemy." he declared. "This them-not only the banking workers but all the union will raise the people's demands. All those workers of Nicaragua. who have held back this process must be thrown "The formation of the banking and financial out." institutions is the product of the labor of the people," he said, "especially of the workers in the The Sandinista compaiiero recommended the countryside and the cities· who produce the eco­ formation of a Provisional Committee, leading to Militant/Fred Murphy nomic surplus, which until recently was taken by the holding of an assembly of all banking and Stacking 'Barrlcada' as It comes off the press. the oligarchy for their own enrichment."

14 of the first Latin American Youth Congress meeting in Havana, Fidel ... Cuban road announced the nationalization of all Supermarket workers organize Continued from page 9 the American-owned sugar mills, oil President Eisenhower announced that refineries, and the power and tele­ By Fred Murphy a balance of $50,000-more than he would seek authority to reduce the phone companies. Again, compensa­ MANAGUA-The workers em­ enough to pay the wages owed the sugar quota. Havana responded by tion would be paid out of future re­ ployed by the Mas Por Menos (More workers for June and July. denouncing this as blackmail and an· venues from sugar sold to the United for Less) supermarket chain here The workers' committee took its nouncing that Cuba would sell sugar States. faced a problem similar to that of findings to the Ministry of Labor. elsewhere on the world market. many other Nicaraguan workers. Officials there agreed that the funds The next month, Soviet First Deputy 'Down to the nails . . During the anti-Somoza insurrec­ in the now-nationalized bank should Premier Anastas Mikoyan visited Ha­ And this was followed by further tion, the owner of the stores declared be allocated for the back wages. vana and signed an agreement for the expropriations, including the holdings bankruptcy and fled to Guatemala, On August 7 the Mas Por Menos Soviet Union to buy Cuban sugar. The of the Cuban national bourgeoisie. leaving the workers in the street. work€rs held another meeting and government began to prepare a law to Fidel put it: "We will nationalize them After Somoza fell, the Mas Por decided that since there was no sign expropriate the sugar mills. Fidel an­ down to the nails in their shoes." By Menos workers began to hold meet­ that the owner would be returning, nounced: "As they cut our sugar quota the end of October 1960, virtually every ings to decide what to do. They they should take over the stores and pound by pound, we will seize their major capitalist holding had become elected a committee and sent it to the run them themselves. Plans are now mills one by one." public property. With the expropria­ bank where the store owner had his being made to do this in collabora­ Hand-painted posters went up in the tions came state control over foreign accounts. The bank records showed tion with the Ministry of Labor. windows of houses throughout the trade and the ·expansion of economic island: "Sin cuota, pero sin bota." planning. (Without the quota, but without the These expropriations were not boot.) merely administrative acts, easily re­ The government passed a law autho­ versed at a future date. Each step was rizing the expropriation of American­ explained to the Cuban workers, and owned property, stipulating that full they were mobilized in actions that For the very best coverage compensation would be paid out of consolidated and carried through the future income from sugar sold to the expropriation of an entire ruling class. Intercontinental Press

some peasants, I believe in Leon, were A. For many years the peasants It is enough to recall a single exam­ ... peasants demanding arms to defend their gains. have participated directly in the strug­ ple, although there are many. Somoza Continued from back page Will you be encouraging the develop­ gle for democracy and freedom, for launched a wave of brutal repression This is the consciousness that we ment of peasant militias? progress in Nicaragua. against the peasants in the north in hope to instill in the workers. They will 1975-76 and 1977. Towns like Barial, know that their production helped to A. Yes. In fact, there already are This has been going on since the Sofana, Boca de Lulu were totally build hospitals for the whole depart­ peasant militias. They were built dur­ days of General Sandino. The peasants leveled. Barial ceased to exist. ment, as well as to provide homes, ing the war, and within our army there were the most important numerical The Somocista gangs killed thou­ educational programs, and literacy is a high percentage of peasants. So force in that struggle for national sands of peasants. But despite all that, programs. The aim is to incorporate this is not something we still have to liberation. But in this new stage as the peasants have always been in­ the workers socially, as producers, in develop. well, the first nuclei of the Sandinista volved in combative and patriotic ac­ decision-making both in the plant and Front grew in the mountains with the tivity. For that reason we have a great in the entire society. Q. Could you explain what role the support of the peasants. The peasants debt of honor to the peasants. More­ peasants played in the struggle here have been the social layer that over, the peasantry is the motor force Q. Several days ago there was an against Somoza and in the insurrec· has been hit hardest by the blows of of this revolution, and it is the first article in 'Barricada' that reported that tion? the repression. beneficiary of this revolution . .. If You Like This Paper, Look Us Up o Where to find the Socialist Workers Party, Young Socialist Alliance, and socialist books and pamphlets

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THE MILITANT/AUGUST 24, 1979 15 TH£ MILITANT Nicaragua leader asks solidarity of U.S. people

This interview with Nicara­ financial, and material aid from the tionary sectors in the United States. In addition, we need economic aid gua's new minister of agrarian American people. It is important to maintain this to rebuild the country. The United reform, Jaime Wheelock, was At the same time that they were consciousness of the American peo­ States told us that it was going to conducted by 'Militant' corres­ aiding us, they were protesting the ple in order to oppose any aggressive send 300, 400 tons of aid daily. So pondent Fred Murphy in Mana­ aid given to Somoza. plans. far only one plane has arrived. gua on August 6. Wheelock, a This has given us a great deal of That's all. member of the Joint National optimism about the consciousness They are playing around with the Directorate of the Sandinista that exists among the American aid, perhaps to put pressure on us. National Liberation Front, ex­ people regarding the right of other But the fact is that the aid has not plains the steps the new regime peoples to their self-determination. gotten here, although the American is taking to meet the needs of It has also given us confidence people are in favor of giving it to the Nicaragua's peasants and farm that the American people will ac­ people of Nicaragua. workers and to reorganize agri­ tively participate in defending those cultural production. rights and in giving solidarity and You have seen what it is like here. At the end of the interview, aid to those who are struggling for There is no food, there are no seeds Murphy asked Wheelock what just causes. to plant, there is no money. The workers in the United States We are optimistic regarding the Somocistas left us a state in ruins, could do to help defend the Nica­ future of the struggle in the United and now they are trying to paralyze raguan revolution. The Sandi States, and in the heightening of the international solidarity. nista leader's answer follows: consciousness of the American peo­ So in the first place we need imme­ ple and the American workers. diate aid-food, clothing, medicine, First I want to use the Militant to Today there is one big job, one help in reconstruction. salute the people in the United immediate task, and that is to pre­ And in addition, we need pressure States who have understood and vent and actively oppose the plans to grant loans to Nicaragua, long­ been in solidarity with our struggle. for political aggression that are be­ Militant/Fred Murphy term low-interest loans so that we Moreover, we have received medical, ing cooked up by recalcitrant, reac- JAIME WHEELOCK can rebuild our country.

Interview with sector of agricuture and a sector we oligarchy, combined to disp'lace the frastructure, and land that is not very could call poor and medium peasants. small producers, the small peasants. productive, we want to carry out a Jaime Wheelock In fact, between 40 and 60 percent of In Chinandega, for example, almost program of enlarging the landholdings Question. Could you begin by des­ the arable land was controlled by the all the land is covered by sugar, cotton, of the peasants, combined with techni­ cribing the situation in agriculture in Somoza family. And the figure rises to and banana plantations; the peasant cal and development assistance. recent years under the dictatorship? about 70 percent if we add the holdings masses have been driven from their On the other hand, in the center of of the Somocistas. land. the country-in the Managua valley, Answer. We have two basic types of The remaining land is controlled by The peasants lead miserable lives in in Masaya and Carazo-where we production. One is cereals for the do­ about 60,000 peasants who have very the countryside; the phenomenon of have strong one-crop production, we mestic market; the other is production small holdings, and some 100,000 pea­ marginal neighborhoods that have want to solve the land problem by for export. sants who do a combination of paid arisen in the cities, is also taking place giving the land to the peasants. Most production for export was car­ labor and labor on their own small in the countryside. It is incredible. You But in other parts of the country, for ried out under conditions that left plots. Many workers, even middle pea­ find people living miserable lives in example in Le6n, in Chinandega, and agricultural workers idle a large part sants with family farms, had to work the countryside, suffocating on the in Rivas, we do not plan to turn the of the year. Export production was during ·the planting or harvesting sea­ land. land over to the peasants. There we are mainly aimed at fulfulling the needs of sons on the large farms. A separate development has taken going to set up big state farms, which a very small layer of owners who held place in which peasants who h11ve lost will at the same time be the basis for large tracts of land. In the case of the cotton-growing industry alone, more than 250,000 agri­ their land have moved to the outskirts the economic and social development Two families-the Somozas and the of the cities, where they live in shanty of the area. Pellas-controlled more than 500,000 cultural workers are employed at the towns. You also have the case of some So, in some cases we will solve the acres of cotton, about 250,000 acres of height of the picking. The coffee indus­ peasants, like those in the Chinandega problem of the landless peasants by coffee, 200,000 head of cattle, some­ try needs 150,000 workers during the area, who have almost been driven giving them land. In other cases we what more than 35,000 acres of sugar height of the season. into the sea, where they eke out a are going to solve the problem of the cane. Large holdings in tobacco and All this means that there is a prole­ living through fishing. landless agricultural laborers by in­ rice were basically controlled by the tarian mass in agriculture, but it is a corporating them into production and Somocistas. seasonal proletariat, a fluid pro­ Q. What measures are being taken giving them stable year-round work Along with the division between letariat-sometimes working in cotton, to resolve this problem? while providing big social and eco­ production for export and production then in coffee, then in sugar. nomic benefits. for internal consumption, there is also In short, the capitalist export sector, A. In the northern part of the coun­ And in the case of the Indian com­ a division between a highly capitalist as well as the wasteful agricultural try, where there are no roads, no in- munities based on traditional systems of production, the land will be given not to the individual producer but to the whole Indian community. They will get sufficient land to increase their production and raise their standard of living.

Q. What type of administration is planned for the big state farms? A. The workers on these farms will participate in the management and help make the major decisions. But a large portion of the production of each farm will also go toward social development-health, education, hous­ ing, and so forth-for these workers and for the whole region as well. Take, for example, the case of Rivas, where we have a large sugar mill called Dolores. Part of the production from this mill will probably be used to Barricada help solve the problem of the lack of C•razo Province, July 29. Nicaraguan peasants mpblllze to support agrarian r,fprm. Sign reads: "The assassins' land to the hospitals in the entire province. 1)4ta.. nt.." . Continued on page 15