The Tenth World Congress of the Fourth International (Fourth World Congress Since Reunification) was held in Sweden the last week of February. Some 250 delegates and fraternal delegates, representing forty-eight sections and sympathizing organizations in forty-one countries, took part in the proceedings.
The delegates paid their respects to the memory of the cadres of our movement who have died since the Ninth World Congress. These include Comrade Tomás Chambi, member of the Central Committee of the Bolivian section, killed while leading the La Paz peasant column that took part in the August 21, 1971, battle against the Banzer coup; Luis Mamani Limachi murdered by the Bolivian military dictatorship; Eduardo Merlino, murdered by the Brazilian military dictatorship; Nelson de Sanza Knoll, murdered by the Chilean military dictatorship; Luis Pujals, Pedro Bonnet, the other Trotskyist leaders of the PRT-Combatiente [Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores—Revolutionary Workers Party], and their comrades, including those in Trelew, murdered by the Argentine military dictatorship; Peter Graham (Ireland), murdered; José Zuniga, peasant leader of the FIR [Frente de Izquierda Revolucionario—Front of the Revolutionary Left] in Cuzco, Peru, murdered; Georg Moltved (Denmark); Renzo Gambino and Libero Villone (Italy); Edith Beauvais and Charles Marie (France); Joe Baxter (Argentina); Lazaris (Greece); Maureen Keegan (Ireland); Kenth-Ake Andersson (Sweden).
The congress elected to its place of honor the Trotskyist comrades in prison in Spain, Chile, China, Bolivia, and Uruguay. As its honorary chairman, it designated Comrade Luis Vitale, prisoner of the junta in Chile and symbol of the revolutionary victims of repression around the world.
The following points were discussed by the congress:
1. A general resolution on the international situation. The reporter for the majority of the outgoing International Executive Committee was Comrade E. Germain. Comrade Hans reported for the minority, and Comrade Luigi gave the report for a third tendency.
2. A resolution on "Bolivia: A Balance Sheet and Line of Orientation." Comrade Serrano gave the report for the majority of the outgoing IEC, and Comrade Lorenzo gave the report for the minority.
3. A resolution on "The Political Crisis and Revolutionary Perspectives in Argentina." The reporter for the majority of the outgoing IEC was Comrade Saoul; the reporter for the minority was Comrade Arturo.
4. A resolution on the problems of armed struggle in Latin America. Comrade Roman gave the report for the majority of the outgoing IEC, Comrade Juan gave the report for the minority, and Comrade Willi for a third tendency.
5. A resolution on the problems of building revolutionary parties in West Europe. The reporter for the majority of the outgoing IEC was comrade Livio Maitan, the reporter for the minority was Comrade Roberto, and the reporter for a third tendency was Comrade Herb.
The resolutions presented by the majority of the outgoing IEC on each of these questions were passed by a majority vote. The congress elected a new International Executive Committee in which the tendencies present received proportional representation.
The Congress also adopted unanimously the statutes of the Fourth International and appeals for solidarity with the striking British miners, the Chilean workers in struggle against the military dictatorship, and the workers and students in Greece. It also passed unanimously a statement of solidarity with Rohana Wijeweera and the comrades of the JVP [Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna—People's Liberation Front] imprisoned by the Sri Lanka government.
The Tenth World Congress of the Fourth International registered the significant gains made by several sections since 1969, as well as an increase in the number of sections and sympathizing groups. It concluded a long period of lively internal debate—marked by the publication of 150 discussion articles—with the unanimous acceptance of organizational decisions confirming the unity of the Fourth International in accordance with the rules of democratic centralism.