The military junta and its counterrevolutionary gangs, with the support of American imperialism, are committing more and more crimes against the Salvadoran people. The repression has claimed 10,000 victims since the beginning of the year. Juan Chacén, Enrique Alvarez, Enrique Barrera Escobar, Humberto Mendoza, Doroteo Hernandez and other leaders of political currents and of the mass organizations were recently assassinated. There has been savage reprisals against the peasants with the destruction of villages and harvested produce. The most elementary democratic rights have been suppressed totally and brutal intimidation is carried out against all those who do not line up on the side of the assassins. That has been the balance sheet of the regime set up in October 1979 and given political, economic, and military aid by U.S. imperialism, the “national” bourgeoisies in Latin America, and, particularly in Europe, by the Christian Democratic parties and their parliamentary group at the European assembly in Strasbourg.
The arrival of Reagan as president of the United States, who scarcely bothers even with the demagogy of his predecessor on human rights, is encouraging the unleashing of reactionary violence rarely equalled by the worst dictatorships.
However, the very painful losses suffered by the Salvadoran people and the increasingly open threat of intervention from imperialism and its lackeys, have not obtained the hoped-for results. On the contrary, the struggle of the worker and peasant masses, of the students and other oppressed layers, has continued to grow. Today the revolutionary organizations have more support than ever and, despite repeated difficulties, have succeeded in unifying at a much higher level against a junta which is increasingly discreditedeven in the eyes of sectors that had pre- ‘viously supported it. The number of liberation fighters now reaches into the dozens of thousands and whole areas, such as Morazdn, are under their control. New offensives against the regime are now being planned. The revolutionary forces are striking harder and harder blows against the junta and its imperialist masters. The setting up of a revolutionary government in the liberated zones is already on the agenda.
The leaders of American imperialism December 29, 1980 and their allies in Europe and Latin America are perfectly conscious of the gravity of the situation from their point of view. They know that the Salvadoran masses could win a historic victory in the relatively near future. They also know that Guatemala is a real powder keg and the relationship of forces in that country is also evolving in favor of the masses and their organizations. They realize that the Nicaraguan revolution is deepening and that the Sandinista National Liberation Front leadership, far from being intimidated by the bourgeoisie’s maneuvers and the criminal operations mounted by the imperialists, has decided to go forward and that no force can seriously resist it within the country. They know that the Cuban workers state ensures active solidarity with the peoples of Central America and the Caribbean who are struggling today.
The stakes are high for imperialism. If the Salvadoran revolutionary organizations are victorious, there is a risk that its strategic positions in a crucial region, already seriously weakened by the Nicaraguan insurrection of July 19, 1979, will crumble. It is precisely because they have estimated the importance of the present events and their possible dynamic that Washington and its allies have clearly increased their financial and military aid to the junta. They are going to do everything they can to avoid a defeat which would be even more catastrophic than the one they suffered with the Cuban revolution.
They still dispose of very considerable resources and it would be an error to underestimate them. If all the measures taken so far have proved insufficient, they could launch a_ military intervention, Name through an intermediary or even directly. The ensuing conflict could lead to a major international confrontation.
The international workers movement must become conscious of all the implications of the crisis in Central America. It must fulfill its internationalist duty by mobilizing to aid the Salvadoran people and their revolutionary organizations. An international campaign must be put at the top of the agenda. Trade union organizations, particularly in Latin America, in Western Europe, and the United States must commit themselves in the front ranks. The systematic massacre of a whole people must not be accepted without reaction.
Actions should be organized calling for: repression to be stopped immediately, democratic rights to be respected, the freeing of political prisoners, the punishment of those guilty of crimes, and the breaking by all countries of diplomatic relations with the assassins’ junta. Solidarity can be expressed at the same time by concrete financial and medical aid to the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) and its organizations. World opinion must be alerted to the real danger of an imperialist intervention. The strongest possible opposition to such an intervention needs to be expressed.
Down with the junta! International solidarity with the Salvadoran people and their fighting organizations!
Support the FMLN!
Against any imperialist intervention in Central America!
Solidarity with the struggle of the Guatemalan masses!
Hands off the Nicaraguan revolution and the Cuban workers state!