Total support for the Salvadoran
ON 11 NOVEMBER, the Salvadoran people and their vanguard, the Farabundo Marti National
International Viewpoint #75 • December 11, 1989 ticularly the United States. The
NLY A FEW months after his becoming President, Liberation Front, began a nationwide offensive the government of which has severely tested the government of Cristiani has been so weakened the death squads headed by Alfredo Cristiani. that it is increasingly reliant for its survival on its principal ally, Beyond its strategic aspects, this confirms that the imperialist government of the FLMN remains profoundly revolutionary the United States.The Bush and committed to the overthrow of the administration, with the corrupt military grouped around the tandona (the name given to the military class from which many current leaders of the Salvadoran army emerged), now constitute the sole planks of support for this dying dictatorship. Without the material support and the millions of dollars which U.S. imperialism has supplied to the Salvadoran government to massacre the population, it is clear that the Salvadoran people would already have taken their destiny into their own hands.
The offensive, which has continued since November 11, has refuted the absurd claims of the Cristiani government and the High Command of the Salvadoran armed forces that the FMLN had been decisively weakened on both the political and the military level. On the contrary, if the FMLN could sit on various occasions at the negotiations table, to seek a political solution to the country's long and bloody war, this was due to its force and solidity, as well as its ability to build and project itself as the indisputable representative of the Salvadoran people.
Cristiani defeated at negotiating table
It was precisely at the negotiations table that the FMLN dealt a first defeat to the Cristiani government, in showing clearly that the ARENA government had nothing to propose other than the continuation of the murder of thousands of Salvadorans and the abandonment of the future of the country to the interests of U.S. imperialism.
The FLMN has indicated that this is the final offensive, unless Cristiani is ready to open negotiations on the basis of proposals which can genuinely end the situation of crisis and war in the country. For their part, Cristiani and the tandona have responded with bombardment of the civilian population, a veritable massacre which has led to the deaths of more than 3,000 people. Routed on the political front, the Salvadoran government seeks to overcome its isolation with vile and desperate military actions. Thus the assassination of the trade union 28 caders of the National Federation of Salv doran Workers (FENESTRAS) and th domination of the oligarchy. INTERNATIONAL VIEWPOINT repression exercised against the leaders of the mass movement has been followed by the massacre of the Jesuits at the José Simeon Canas University. With this brutal action, the Cristiani government has dropped its civilized mask, showing how far it is prepared to go along with the death squads which control the government and the highest echelons of the army. For them too it is the final struggle.
This situation has clearly been understood by U.S. imperialism. The Bush government has decided to throw all its weight against the Salvadoran people. Accordingly, despite the murders, it seeks to excuse Cristiani and has approved an increase in military aid to the government of the death squads. On this terrain, the Salvadoran people and their vanguard, the FMLN, have scored a great victory in exposing the hypocritical imperialist claim to support the growth of democracy in Eastern Europe, whilst its hands are stained with the blood of thousands of Salvadorans.
The interference and responsibility of the Bush administration are massive. It is known, for example, that U.S. combat pilots have mounted nocturnal bombing raids against El Salvador from the Ilapongo base in Honduras. At the same time, five U.S. battleships are now stationed off the Salvadoran coast. Bush, faced with the weakening of the Salvadoran military forces, has given the green light to the Guatemalan government to send to their aid the notorious Caibiles elite force. It is possible that the U.S. is tempted to regionalise the this manoeuvre denounced and fought. The FMLN's troops have shown their strength, not just through the losses they have inflicted on a much better armed and more numerous force, but also through the disorder which has been produced inside the Salvadoran army.
The situation in El Salvador urgent tasks for the revolutionary and democratic forces of the entire world, and par-
Salvadoran people and its vanguard, the FMLN, are doing all in their power to ensure victory. They need more than ever mass mobilizations against any U.S. intervention to frustrate the possibility of El Salvador attaining justice, democracy and national sovereignty. Only the mobilization of the greatest possible international solidarity will guarantee the right of the Salvadoran people to freely determine their own future. The Fourth International appeals for the redoubling of efforts to build a broad and united mass movement to stay the hand of imperialism, and make it aware of the cost of any massive and direct intervention on its part. At the same time, this mass movement must demand the ending of military aid to the Cristiani government, and the immediate departure from El Salvador of all U.S. advisers.
Basing ourselves on the Franco-Mexican declaration of 1981, we demand that the the FMLN is recognized by all governments as a belligerent force, that is a force with a legal personality, particularly so that its captured fighters are treated according to the Geneva Convention. The future of Latin America in the balance
Our international organization appeals to every worker and every democrat to solidarize with the Salvadoran revolution. The future of all the exploited and oppressed peoples of Latin America hangs in the balance in El Salvador now. Today the Salvadoran people need food, medical and financial aid but above all they need our mobilization and our solidarity.
The struggle of the Salvadoran people shows that the revolution remains more than ever on the agenda.
It cannot be stifled by regional accords between East and West, made above the heads of the people concerned. The Salvadoran revolution has shown the unshakable will of the masses to take their destiny into their own hands. Latin America's Pulgarcito (Tom Thumb — nickname given to El Salvador because of its size) has shown us the way. For the Salvadoran people's right to self-determination! Yanqui imperialism out of El Salvador! For the recognition of the FMLN as a belligerent force! Long live the Salvadoran revolution! *
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