MEMORANDUM FOR: Special Croup (CI) Asuietants
Survey of Communiem in Latin America
Thestudy by CIA is provided for your information and retention. It contains useful background information on topics of continuing interest to the Special Group (CI). Distribution of this publication has previously been offected through U. S. intelligence community channels.
Special Croup pfflcer
Enclosure:
Memorandum, OCIntitled:urvey of Communism In Latin America".
8
DATE: 7
8
5
Survey of
Communism in Latin America
ci
copy no. gp
C C'RE T
a SURVEY OK COMMUNISM IN LATIN AMERICA
CONTENTS
Pages
Historical Development The Impact of Castroism Current Trends and Outlook
i iii v
ANNEXES
The Communist Party of Argentina
III dill
The People's Progressive Party of British Guiana
The Communist Party of Chile
The Communist Party of Colombia
Communism in Costa Rica
The Cuban Comounlst Party
Communism in the Dominican Republic
The Communist Party of Ecuador
The Communist Party of El Salvador
A History of Communism in Guatemala
The Communist Parties of Haiti
The Communist Party of Honduras
The Communist Movement of Jamaica
Communism in Nicaragua
Communism in Panama
The Communist Party of Paraguay
The Communist Party of Peru
The Communist Party*in Trinidad and Tobago
The Communist Party of Uruguay
Al-19
Bl-9
CI-10
Dl-18
El-15
Fl-12
Gl-12
Hl-14
Jl-13
Kl-13
H-12
Ml-13
Nl-15
Pl-13
Ql-9
Rl-11
Sl-9
Tl-21
Ul-9
VI-18
tfl-15
8
5
INTRODUCTION
1. Historical Development
Most of the Latin American Communist parties formally came into being in the decade following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia The Communist Party of Argentina is the oldest party in the hemisphere, having been founded Each of the parties has looked to Moscow from the start for its ideology and guidance. None has drawn on Latin America's heritage of communal practices and traditions which have stesuted from the area's great Aztec, Maya, or Inca civilizations.
The activities of Latin American Communisthave paralleled the international movement from the very beginning, although the Latin Americans frequently have been slow in picking up the latest "line" from Moscow. Ideological schisms ln Moscow in thethe splintering off of Trotsky and hisreflected in Latin America.
During thendatinCommunist parties followed Moscow's advice in isolating themselves completely from other working class parties. This tactic was later revorsod in theurn to "popular front" activities when the Communists sought alliances with socialist and left-of-center nationalist parties in Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, and Uruguay. In Cuba and Brazil. Communists made overtures to tbe early Batista and Vargas regimes. .
Latin American Communists followed the Moscow line in at first supporting the Stalin-Nazi pactnd then switched tactics when the Soviet Union was attacked by Germany The Communists basked in the light of their devotion to the anti-Fasclst cause ln most of Latin America for theof World War II, and made particular headway ln trade union movements. Their influence was especially strong at this time ln the labor movements of Chile,
i
Cuba, Ecuador, Argentina,
Peru, and Venezuela. The Latin American workers
Confederation (CTAL) was formed4 and
iated with tho Moscow-controlled World Federation of Trade Unions. The Communists were at their zenith6 in Influence and general public acceptance. Their parties were either legal or at least tolerated in every country. They had members of congress in nine countries; three Communists held cabinet posts in Chile in6opular frontbeaded by President Gonzalez Videla.
After the war the prestige of the Communiststo wane as they tended to become increasingly isolated from other popular, leftist parties. Only in Guatemala4 and in Cuba have they made great advances. However, the Communists were ainfluence in the Goulart regime in Brazil hefore the4 revolt. The Communists stillairly strong political position In Chile and serve as the power behind the terrorist forces in Venezuela. They are fully capable ofgrievances in every Latin American country to exacerbate smoldering local tensions. Themajor appeal of late has been to pose as the champions of social reform, saying that they could better carry out Latin America's social revolution if the workers, poasants, and intellectuals would but give them the power.
External Communist support is largely provided in the form of direct financial subsidies. The money usually is carried by special emissaries from foreign Communist countries. It is believed.the Venezuelan Communist Party has receivedillionear in past years. The provision of travel funds for courses of training given to local Communists in European and Asian Communist countries is anothersource of aid. Soviet guidance to localleaders is givenomplex system of personal contact and correspondence. Meetings are held in various East European capitals such as Prague. Some regional meetings are held in which Soviet party officials are present. Coordination for theseoften is arranged through Czechoslovak embassies in Mexico City for Communists from Central America, and in Buenos Aires and Montevideo for South American Communists.
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2. The Impact of Castroism
Fidel Castro's rise to power has greatlythe orthodox Communist parties of Latinbut lt has also caused them problems. Castro's adoption of Marxism-Leninismowerful boost for Communism throughout Latin America,untilut his brandery different one from that adhered to by most orthodox party lenders. The heart of Castro's revolutionary theory is that social justice can be attained by guerrillaview which runs directly counter to the teachings of orthodox Marxism-Leninism as propounded by Soviet ideologists and traditionally followed by most Latin American Communist parties. Traditional Communist Party doctrine maintains that to be successful acannot be launched before the mass of theclass has rallied to the party. The Latin Amer-ical Communist parties haveeneral rulethe line that "objective conditions" have not been "right" for revolution in this hemisphere. They have followed the "via pacifica" route ofand infiltration, although novorthe alternative of "armed revolution."
Castro-Communism runs directly counter to this tactic. Che Guevara, in his famous book onwarfare (which is still widely circulated in Latin America) states:
"We consider that the Cubancontributed three fundamental lessons to the conduct ofmovements ln Latin America. They are:
Popular forces canar against the enemy.
It is not necessary to wait until all conditions forrevolutions exist;ection can create them.
In underdeveloped Latinthe countryside is the basic area for armed fighting,"
iii
In effect, Castro's revolution andery real challenge to theof the orthodox Communist parties of
America. Party leaders can ill. afford to antagonize innumerable Castroites inside and on the fringe of their parties; nor do they want to pick anquarrel with the Soviet Union's sole Latinally. However, most have done little more than pay lip service to the Castroist tactic ofby guerrilla warfare (Guatemala and Venezuela are two notableesult, most party hierarchies are being challenged to some degree by militant dissidents who are inspired by the Cuban model. Many of these are also Influenced by the example of Peking.
It may well be that the major impact thatrevolution has had on the Latin Americanmovement has been to set inadical revolutionary effort led by militants who areyounger and more activist than mostCommunist leaders, and whoort of
Communist "wave of thes prospects-
meaningful gains under the "via paclfica" strategy grow dimmer, these impatient militants will be even more convinced that "armed struggle" is the only way to achieve power in Latin America. They willto receive inspiration and probably someassistance from Cuba in this effort. They are not under the control of Castro (or-Peking),in the sense that the Communist "old guard" leaders are bound by discipline to Moscow. Some of the more radical militants appear to bemore formal lines of communication with Peking, feeling that the Cubans have become "revisionist" and moved closer to Soviet ideological positions.
The Cubans and the Latin American "soft-line" Communists are taking steps to remedy some of their friction producing differences. The highly unusual meeting of Latin American Communist party leaders held in Havana in4 had as one of its major purposes the seeking out of means forthe divisive tendencies, which have so long
hampered the Latin American Communist
The meeting alsoledge of a
strengthening of "national liberation
in the hemisphere and an agreement to"
8 v
5 >'
"solidarity with Cuba." Cuba's agreement to stop meddling with local extremist groups not ondorsed by the orthodox Communist parties may be followed up by greater initiatives on the part of the "soft-line" Communists toore active part in those revolutionary activities presently well under way in the hemisphere. This trend already seems to be well established in Venezuela, Guatemala,and Panama.
3. Current Trends and Outlook
The orthodox Communist parties do not pose the most immediate threat to the existing governmental structure in most Latin American countries. Rather, militantparticular those in Venezuela, Peru, Guatemala, andare inspired by the example of Castro and many of whom have had guerrilla training in Cuba constitute the most serious threat. These extremists may haveague understanding of Marxism-Leninism, but believe that the road of terrorism and violence is the only workable means for displacing oligarchic social systems and instituting popular reforms. These are thewithin but most outside the regular Communistare putting pressure on the traditional Communist leaders for more activist revolutionary tactics. Thus it seems likely that over the next year or two the localmight be forced toomewhat "harder" revolutionary line in the hopes of bluntingfrom the parties' left wing that the leaders-are "do nothing" revolutionaries. At the same time, the parties will probably suffer accelerated frac-tionalization as the militant left-wing extremists become less and less satisfied with the parties' mild approach to revolution. If the Cubans uphold their part of the Havana conference bargain andonly those groups endorsed by the local parties, the left-wing splintering may be confined to small extremist fringe groups.
In addition to taking steps to mollify their critics from the militant left, the local Communist
NND (IlllSS
ppear to be trying to stimulate theelopnent of broad "popular front" typecalled "national liberation fronts" into which they hope to pull elements of theleft in each country. This two-prongedwill enable the Communists to manipulatewith the left hand while at the same timeespectable "nationalist" pose with the right hand. This would enable them to be on the ground floor and perhaps more subtly control "popular" insurrections such as that which occurred in the Dominican Republic.
It Seems likely that Havana increasingly is going to be faced with an intruding competitor in the form of the Chinese Communists in bidding for the loyalty of some of the more militant leftist-extremists. This has already happened in Colombia and Ecuador, and both Havana and Peking arethe'Peruvian guerrillas as "examples" for other revolutionaries in Latin America to emulate.
For the short-run at least no Communist party in Latin America is likely to challenge seriously the existing governments. However, prevailingeconomic, and social conditions and the. widespread demand for revolutionary changemost of the continent are ripe for Communist manipulation and exploitation. The greatest danger is apt to come in situations where the traditional society and institutions give way completely in the faceharp, spontaneous, and populargainst the old order. In the fluid aftermath, Communist elements would be likely to rise quickly to the fore and threaten to dominate the revolution.
NATIONAL CONGRESS
COMMITTEE
Central Committee Members
Control
co'i-.TniM'tin
COMMISSIONS
Finance lobo: Studies Press ond
Propaganda Educotion Women'* Affolrs land and
Indions Electoral
Affairs
Orgoniiation Commission
SECRETARIAT
Secretary Generol Assistant Secretory General Head of Administration ond a' Notionol Finance Commission
Youth Central Committee
REGIONAL COMMITTEES
CELIS
]
Regional Youth Committees
159 LOCAL
Yauih
Youth Cells
Responsibility
YPICAL COMMUNIST PARTY
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF ARGENTINA
1. Introduction
The Argentine Communist Tarty (Fartido Comunista de lais the oldest and lnrgest in South America. It has never, however,arge mass following, due largely to its failure toworking class support away from the Socialists, and, since the, from the Feronists. The Roman Catholic Church has generallyactor inhibiting its growth. The PCA remains influential because of its ability to cooperate with other groups and movements, both political and subversive, and its readiness to exploit all signs of dissension and unrest. Though influential in labor unions and ethnic groups, the party's greatest success appears to be its penetration of Argentina's intellectual community, the universities, and othor educational and cultural institutions.
In the past the classical ideology of Moscow-based Marxism attracted the intellectuals and Recently, however, the more "revolutionary" versions of Chinese and Cuban Communism havean ability to draw adherents, particularly FCA members and others impatient with pursuing legal roads to power. Tbe PCA has tried to maintain ties with many leftist extremist groups whichastro-Mao line, such as the Peronist Revolutionary Movement (Movimiento Revolucionarioand the leftist-oriented wing of the ultranationalist anti-Semitic Tacunra organization. The growth of these groups, reportedly financed by funds from Cuba and possibly the USSR, recently forced the FCA to assert that all support for Argentine Communists should come through the PCA.
Unaided Communist agitation efforts have noterious threat to stability. However, when theallied with the Peronists to exploit economic and political unrest they have caused serious Such actions in the past led to drasticon the PCA's activities9 and its eventual banning PCA successes have been limited, largely because the PCA has not been able effectively to blunt the strong anti-Communist bias
A-l
of the military or tohe strength andof the Peronlst movement.
Currently the PCA is not under legal restrictions, but the national electoral court denied itto run candidates in the5 election. Party activities have been stepped up, and Communist propaganda is becoming easily and more extensively available. Sinceeveral pro-Castro "guerrilla" training camps have been discovered ln the interior of the country, alongumber of Communist arras caches in the larger cities.
The rise ln Communistfrom the removal of restrictive political party laws--mayerious issue between the government on the one hand, and the military and opposition parties on the other. The government appears recently to have decided to take repressive measures againstorganizations, including the Communist Youth (FJC).
2. History
osult of upheavals in the international Communist movement after Worldnd the Russian Revolution, year-old Argentine Socialist Partyn common with most Socialist parties,severe splitting. One dissident faction Joined the newly formed, Lenin-oriented Third Internationalnd0 adopted the name "Argentine Section of the International." The early years of the party were threatened by factional disputes,strong opposition from both rightist ond other extreme leftist groups, and publicoward its espousal of violence andho major issue behind party divisions was proposed reunification with the Socialists.
After the overthrow of President Irigoyenilitary dictatorship outlawed the Communistwhich was periodically repressed and denied electoral privileges Acquiring greater freedom, the movementoderate domestic policy to sustain its status. It also used totho dissolution of the Comintern in 3 which gave "independence" to national Communist parties.
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"*
The Argentine group then organized itself as theParty of Argentina (Partido Comunista de la
Argentine Communist policies and programsthis period and up to the end of World War IIchanged toariety of widely varying situations. During the Spanish Civil, the party capitalized on anti-Axis sentiment, butpro-Axis during the period of the Nazi-Soviet pact. Reversing itself when Germany invaded the Soviet Union inhe PCA fought against the pro-Axis sympathies of the Argentine Government while the US nnd USSR were allies. At the end of the war, the PCA returned to attacking any signs of pro-US attitudes.
A new military dictatorshipowever, severely reduced the freedom of operation extended the PCA since. It was in fact repressod and its leaders forced into exile. The new secretary of labor and social welfare, Colonel Juan Peron,ato attract the Argentine labor movement to his support nnd to usurp control of organized labor from other union leaders, in particular the Communists and socialists, by organizing rival "official" unions, coercingand Jailing recalcitrant union leaders.
hortly after Feron was electedfor the first time, tbe PCA announced at its lltb Nationaltrategy based on aand social liberation front." This strategy included support of Peron and eventually evento him in breaking the independent unions and handing over Communist-controlled unions to the state-run labor confederation. The ConmunistR lost ground, however, despite catering to Peron forecade and sometimes acting as 'radical" Feronlsts. Peron granted the party legal status but carefully restricted its activities. Generally the FCAthe government's policies, except any evidenceriendly attitude toward the United States.
After the fall of Peron, many Communiststhemselves directly with the Feronlsts.in the labor movement. Despite theorientation of the post-Peron provisional
5 Page
government, the PCA enjoyed considerable freedom of operation, and was allowed to participate in7 constituent assembly8 nationalelections.
Permitted complete freedom8 under the new Frondizi, the party soon reached its poak strength. Inowever, thewith the Peronists--were blamed for instigating public disorders. PCA actlvltios were proscribed by decree, although the party and most of Its front organizations were not outlawed until Then President Guido abolished the party when it attempted to take advantage of Peron's "swing to the left" directive to hishe PCA was also seeking to capitalize on growing economic difficulties and unrest after Frondizi's overthrow.
In the PCA held itsh National Congress, under the slogan: "For mass action leading to tbe conquest ofhe PCA was not permitted to enter candidates In the5 national deputy elections, but the party greatly Increased its othersince repressive political party legislation was annulled by congress in
3. Party Membership and Leadership
Untilhe membership of PCA was neverat more 8 estimate rose sharplyembers plusympathizers. Tho rapid gain apparently was accounted for by the freedom of action enjoyed under the post-Peron provisional governments and theinitially extended by President Frondlzi. recurrent recruitment drives, PCA membership diminishedut rose again to its current level. Estimates of sympathizers stand, considerably lower than8 high. In recent years, the PCA has hadin retaining new dues-paying members. Many who enroll as membersecruitment campaignfail to renew their membership or pay their dues.
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5
Another Index of Communist strength and support has been the party's voting strength. The peak year of electoral strength By then the PCA's strength, although negligible in terms of totalvotes,ercent increasehough figures are not completely reliable in each instance, the PCA voting record88 was:
attrength levels, support only amounted toercent of th* total national vote.
The PCA, like the Socialist and other working class parties, draws its strength largely from the urban Industrialthirds of PCA support is concentrated in the city and environs of Buenos Aires. The remainder is largely in the cities of Rosario, Mendoza, andlittle PCAin the rural areas.
PCA leadership has remained largely in the handsew party stalwarts since its establishment. The result has been the perpetuation of offices andleading to antagonistic reactions from some second- and third-lovel party leaders. Tho major point of contention appears to be overemphasis on idoology to the detriment of uncovering other means to reach power. Ath National Congress Victor- he party's major figure, was named president of the PCA. Thisewlypost, probably instituted to allow moreon programs and policies by making it possible to broaden the decision-making base of party
5
The PCAtructurally similar to the general character of most Communist parties. The central committee, rather than the party executive committee, is the top decision-making body. The party statutes call for biennial national congresses, but ln the lastears there have been only two: 6 The nationaleeting of regional officers between sessions of the national congress, has seldom beensixth and last being held The present central committee, elected byh National Congressonsists ofoting memberslternates. Tables at the end list tho members of the central committee and thecommission heads.
Financial support for the PCA usually comes from annual duos, donations, and campaigns. Reportshave indicated that the party has beenexploiting credit "cooperatives" for funds. There is no information on the size of funds from external sources, although such support is highly probable. It has been estimated that less than one quarter of PCA expenses could bo covered by visible resources.
Groups and Ideological Disputes
The PCA has been continually rent by splits since its founding. Various other workers' parties were established, Including several of Trotskyitewhich still have nominal support. The more important of these groups currently aro the orthodox and dissident Trotskyite groups: the Trotskyite Worker Party (Partido ObreroWorker Word (Palabrahe Movement of theLeft (Movimiento de IzqulerdaMIR) and the Socialist Party of the National Left (Partido Socialista de Izqulerda
Generally the dissident Marxist parties-and groupsoro revolutionary terrorist line than tbe PCA and continuously criticize the PCA as nonactivist. Although snail in number, their support of the Chinese Communist line in the Slno-Soviot dispute has gained them the allegiance of dissatisfied PCA members and
Page
other leftist and nationalist extremist groups. The differences among the dissident Marxists themselves concern largely methods to be employed to bringocialist revolution, and not objectives.
In the future the PCA may be seriously threatened by the effects of the Sino-Soviet ideological Although the party's central committee has frequently reiterated the position supporting the USSR taken ath Congress ineveral individuals and groups have defected, or have been expelled. Other groups, including the Communist Youth Federation (Foderacion Juvenilhave vociferously supported Peking's line. Various provincial committees, as in Ente Rios and Mendoza, have suffered splits and expulsionsesult of internal differences on this issue. losses by Communist labor leaders in unionare also attributed partly to the dispute.
6. Communist Party and Peronlsm
Since the advent of Peronhe FCA's history has been bound up with Peronism, Peronlsm, in fact, has been the most serious threat to the success of the Communist Partyorking class party. Peronism more readily appealed to thenationalistic and Catholic attitudes of the people. Once in power it succeeded introng labor base, usurping traditional Communist and Socialist support. Peron also attracted several Communist leaders out of the party.
The PCA hasillingness to cooperate with the Peronists, especially to exploit commontoward the government in power, but alliances have not lasted. Each side has expediently sought its own advantages. There are at present some Peronist union leaders who appear to be associated with theand, at times, "hard-line" Peronists assert objectives and tactics which differ little fromaims. The Communist labor front, the Movement for Trade Union Unity and coordination (Movlmiento deoordinacionhas remained in the Feronist-dominated General Confederation of Labor (CGT).
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The major ties between Peronists and Communists, however, remain in the subversive revolutionary groups. Although the relations between the PCA and various extremistsomeis not known, several of the lattertrong pro-Castro, pro-Chinese line and are linked up with extreme-left Peronist groups such as the MRP. These groups are usually small but have some leaders who were in Cuba and China.
The Communists apparently recognize that alone they could never overthrow the government. In place of that, their main objective has been tounited front" which they could later exploit to their own advantage. Since the Peronists apparently have the broadest mass supportpercenfof theCommunists have made everyto associate themselves with the Peronists. This tactic will probably continue although the Peronists appear to be very aware of Communistof operations.
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SEtt&P
TABLE I
LEADERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF ARGENTINA (PCA)
PARTY POST
President Sec'y-Gen.
Gen.Counsel
MEMBERS OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Victor Codovilla
Geronimo Arnedo Alvarez
Rodolfo Ghioldi Benito Marianetti Victor Larralde Vincente Marischi Alcira de la Pena Pedro Tadioli Florindo Moretti Angel Araoz Orestes Ghioldi Faulino Gonzalez
Alberdi Tirma Othar Hector Agosti Ernesto Guidici Alberto Ferrari Jorge Bergstein Erailio Troise Fanny Edeiman Alfredo Varela Jose Maria Garcia Rubens Iscaro
OF
POLITICAL SECRETARIAT
MEMBERS OF
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ENLARGED
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
* Member named inolds additional office per asterisk
DOC:age
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5 !Vp: V
COMMUNISM IN BRAZIL
Tho Brazilian Communist Partyowwith restrengthenlng the party apparatus, has long been an active albeit secondary force ln Brazil's political life. Although the PCB hasonly two years of legalince its foundingt generally hasopenly and has exerted an influence farthat which its relatively small size would indicate. Communist Influence has been especially strong within the labor movement and among students, Journalists, and Intellectuals.
Until the overthrow of the Goulart regime in4 the Communists and their supporters were steadily increasing their power through propaganda, by manipulation of unions and student groups, and by penetration of all levels of government and tha armed forces. Adhering to the Moscow-directed lino of promoting "peaceful revolution" the PCB concentrated on infiltration and united front tactics.
Since tho installation of President Castello Branco's administration, the PCB has been forced to function essentially as an underground party. Tho government has suppressed most of the PCB front groups and clamped down on party activities ln Nevertheleas, the PCB is reasserting itsparticularly in organized labor and ln tho universities.
The setback suffered by the extreme left with the overthrow of Goulart aggravated the deepthat had existed in the Communist movement for several years. Some PCB members now were inclined to support the line of violent revolution promoted by the pro-Chinese Communist Party of Brazilhich2 had boon formed by dissidents who split from the orthodox partyispute over basic policy.
History of Communism
The Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) was founded2andful of intellectuals who were
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unknown in politics. Shortly after its formation the party was outlawed (inlong with other subversive movements in the aftermath of an abortive revolt by elements of the armed forces. Operating underground the party gradually gained influence in urban labor, and among students and professional groups. The Communists had littleon national politics, however, until after0 revolution that brought tho dictator Getullo Vargas into power. 4 the PCB joined with other opposition groups toairly strong political movement known as the National Liberation Alliance. Tho following.year the head of theparty, Luiz Carlos Prostes, led anattempt which the Vargas government quickly suppressed, with Prestes and most of the otherleaders being imprisoned for long terms. For the next ten years the Communist movement in Brazil remained virtually inactive.
During World War II tho party gained prestige and in5 elections polled more thanillion votes, fourth highest of the parties The election gave theotal of one federal sonator,eputies, andtate Outlawed again7wo-year period of legitimacy, the party's prestige dropped andlow until5 elections in which the PCB openly supported the winning presidentialJuscellno Kubitschek. From that point on the Communist movement in Brazil continued on the rise.
The Communists benefited from the politicalof Kubitschek's vice president, Joaoduring his ten years as labor minister,and finally president was generallyto cooperate with the Communists in returnsupport. Communist sympathizers held aof key positions in Goulart'aposts in his Immediate office. Hisaide during the last months of hisinstance, was strongly pro-Communist. press secretaryong-timeParty member. From time to timerelied on his leftist, ultranationallstLeonel Brizola, for counsel. to be Communist sympathizers sat onNational Security Council and the
Court. In the congress some half
held seats under other party labels. In Pernam-buco theonfirmed Marxist, hadumber of Communists and pro-Communists to his administration.
Ineriod the Communists graduallyominant position in labor, gainingof leadership in four of the country's six national labor confederations, including theWorkers Confederation, the most important and wealthiest labor organization in Brazil. With collaboration the Communistsural workers'confederation which was given official recognition as the spokesman for the country's four or five million agricultural employees.
In student affairs both the leading university students' organization and the major secondaryassociation were Communist dominated. Federal funds were funneled for political purposes to such groups as the Marxist-controlled National Students Union. The Communist influence also reached into the armed forcesumber of party sympathizers held command posts and the "Sergeant's Movement" often served the Communist cause.
The Communist movementeverewith the overthrow of Goulart and theof President Castello Branco as his successor. Communists and fellow travelers lost their posts in the federal government and in the major labor organizations, and Comi.iunist influence in themovement was reduced. National partywere curtailed and spurious Communist labor entities such as the Workers Command were abolished.
3- Present Status of the Communist Movement
The Communists are renewing their subversive effortsear or so of relatively little activity, following the ouster of the Goulartand the anti-Communist crackdown that followed. At the same time, the Communist Party (PCB) isits organization. PCB membershipis still well below the estimatedn its rolls before the4 revolution, and the number of party sympathizers presumably is also
C-3
8
down from thettributed to the PCB during the Goulart period.
. .
A meeting of the PCB central committee inhe first held since the revolution,umber of resolutions that restated the policy guidelines for future party activities. Onestressed the leadership's intention to continue the general political line adopted by0 fifth party
congress, which emphasized the need'forroad united front with leftist and nationalist forces. It was emphasized that although preparations for the use of paramilitary methods were to be encouraged, this was not intended to lead to open andrevolution. Further development of the PCB strategy was to be considered at the sixth party congress scheduled for sometime during the next year.
There have been developments in the PCS that suggest that the power of long-time party head Prestes has weakened. Prestes has been removed from the national secretariat, for example, and now has little responsibility or direct supervision over the day-to-day party-affairs which that organ manages. Prestes has been under heavy criticism, particularly from the important Sao Paulo faction of the party, for allegedly failing to properly implement the party's policies and for allowing important records to be discovered by the police.
. As in the past the PCB seems to be focusing its main effort in the industrial southernstates although party units exist in most regions of the country. The PCB has begun to reassert its influence in the urban areas, particularly ih the unions and universities. Recent labor elections in Guanabara and Sao Paulo have resulted inby Communist-backed slates. Similarly, the Communists and their allies have demonstratedstrength in student elections in several states, where extreme leftists now control key university organizations. The PCB has also been active in promoting student and worker demonstrations andagainst the government.
The gradual resurgence of Communist influence is reflected in the willingness of some non-Communist
political leaders to accept PCB support again. indicated that Mayor Faria Lima of Sao Paulo aod5 Laborlte candidate for governor in Guanabara, Francisco Negrao de Lima, were among those who have recently received PCB campaign back-ing.
Communist efforts totrongamong rural workers have had only moderatedue partly to stiff competition from othergroups such as the Peasant Leagues, and from the church-sponsored unions. Meagerresources have limited the party's activities in this area.
4. Schisms
The strnins caused by Internal friction among top party leadors continue, compounding the effects of the serious split which led to the expulsion1issident faction and the formation soon thereafterewCommunist Party of Brazil (CPB). Extremists elements who oppose Prestos' policy of "peacefuleek toore aggressive line of action.
The smaller CPB, which follows the Peking line, has been an ineffective organization with very resources and lessemberslargely in the states of Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, and Guanabara. CPB leaders believe that recent events in Brazil have discredited theparty and boosted the CPB's recruitmentamong disillusioned PCB members and otherleftists. In any event, the dissidentprobablyew opportunity to promote their line of violent revolution.
Both the PCB and the CPB have collaborated with other leftist groups often by participating in fronts. The degree of Communist control has varied butthe Communists have acquiesced in the formal leadership of others whiletrongon front policies. All elements of the extreme left are continuing to seek alliances along the lines of the now defunct Popular Mobilization Front. differences overexample, the
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8
PCB regards the exiled Leonel Brlzola as toolikely to deter close collaboration among the extremist groups.
5. Foreign Influences
In recent years the PCB has tended to soft-pedal Its roleember of the international Communist movement, fearful that this would tend to Jeopardize the party's accoptance within Brazil. Nonetheless, it has cooperated with all majorinternational front groups such as the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). Thein Brazil of diplomatic representatives of most European bloc countries has facilitatedcontact.
esser extent,their attention on the more activist groups, such as the pro-Peking dissident Communist partyhe now defunct Peasant Leagues of Francisco Juliao, and the forces of the radically anti-US Leonel Brizola. Havana has furnished funds and training to such groups from time to time. Communists also maintain ties with them Inundertakings. However, the PCB's position among the other parties in the hemisphere hasrelative to past years when the Brazilian party served as somethingodel.
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5
Table 1
Brazilian Communist Party Leadership
Secretary-General
Luiz Carlos Prestes
Secretariat
Glocondo Alves Dias
Mario Dinarco Reis
Orlando Bonfim, Jr.
Notional Executive Commission
Luiz Carlos Prestes
Giocondo Alves Dias
Mario Dinarco Reis
Carlos Harighella
Orlando Bonfim,
5 Page
THE PEOPLE'S PROGRESSIVE PARTY OF BRITISH GUIANA
1. IntroductIon
There is no Communist party per se in British Guiana, but the People's Progressive Party (PPP) led by Cheddl Jagan is Communist-oriented and maintains close ties with Cuba, the Communist Party of Great Britain, and other foreign Communist groups and The PPP was formed0 and won every general election until its defeat4 by aof tho two major opposition parties. Sincepower the PPP hasoderate-extremist split which has weakened the party. AboutPP members have been trained in Cuba and although there is no large-scale insurgent activity at this time the PPP's youth organizationlosely alliedwing, the virtually defunct Guiana Liberation Armyould conceivably activate an organized force of trained, armed Insurgents.
Today the PPP Is characterizedarxist-Socialist party whose leader, Cheddl Jagan, commands the loyalty, If not the absolute control, of almost the entire East Indianercent of the population). The East Indian sugar workers, forcredit Jagan with singlehandedly forcing the plantations to improve their working conditions and they are eternally grateful to him. When in office the party, in its flirtation with the bloc, went quite far in trying to supplant private trading and distributing facilities in order to make the economy ever more dependent on bloc goods. The East Indians, who are essentially petty capitalists, do notsupport these policies and without Jagan the PPP would lose much of its appeal.
The PPP is the largest and best organized party in British Guiana. Its extensive network ofoffices, women and youth groups, and staff of paid organizers are the envy and model for every other party in the colony. Itass ratheradre party and the bulk of its0 members cannot be considered to be indoctrinated Communists. Many of its top leaders,however, can
8
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definitely be so labeled and the party, recognizing its problem, has rocontly stepped up Its political indoctrination classes.
Although the PPP has depended mainly on itssuperiority to bring it to power through the electoral process lt has often used terrorism to keep its members in line. In the past lt has used sabotage and passive resistance to harry the British and it is now employing both these tactics against the Burnham government,
2. Brief History of the Party
The PPP was formed0 by Cheddl Jagan and Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham out of the British Guiana Labor Partyolitical education group called the Political Affairs Committee which had been started6 by Jagan and his American born wife Janet. Both Cheddi and Janet viewed the British Guiana situation in the Marxist terms of classand it was rom its foundation that the PPP drew such of its doctrinal inspiration from Communism. Its alms, openly declared at its first party congressere absolutely clear. These were self-government, economicand the creationocialist society.
The Jagans maintained as many contacts aswith Communist organizations, especially the British Communist Party from which they received financial aid. The party weekly newspaper, Thunder, often printed articles sent out by the British Daily Worker and the Jagans frequently attendedcongressos, and rallies of Communist and left-wing organizations in Europe.
Other PPP members, led by Burnhas--hinself an aspirant to partytheseas ill-advised because they could be seized uponeans of proscribing the party and denying the colony its Independence. Despite these latent antagonisms the PPP held together, grew in popularity and membership and won3 elections, capturingercent of the vote. Nevertheless, internalwas growing and the non-Communist faction,
5 Pagei
drawn largely from Negroes in the professions-and government service,"chafed under the control of the Jagans and their allies.
Meanwhile the PPP was notood job of governing. Its leaders rejected the existingas an improper instrument for achieving independent government and attempted instead totheir own policies of accelerated progressfull self-government and the establishmentocialist state. They had no well-thought-out development program and no capital was forthcoming from the Vest. Furthermore they had antagonized the unions by pushing through legislation aimed atfull control of the labor movement. Strikes, in which PPP parliamentary representatives and ministers were involved, bomb outrages and otherroke out. The Jagan government clashed with the colonial administration and the British became fearful lest Jaganoup against their authority andommunist state. Infter only five months of PPP rule, the British suspended the constitution.
With the party out of office intrapartycontinued to grow, culminating in5 when the Burnham factionarty conference and installed Burnham as party leader, ousting Jagan. The rssutt was an open split in the party and theof racial politics, becauseegro, was supported by his fellow Africans. Jagan's East Indians refused to recognize Burnham and until he founded his own party both men claimed to be the head of theBurnham faction calling itself the PPP (B) and Jagan's group calling itself the PPP ew Negroes stood by Jaganew East Indians followed Burnham but the damage was done.
The constitution was restored7 and in the elections that followed Jagan was returned as premierf thelective seats and carryingercent of the vote. In October, after theion, Burnham's group adopted their present name, People's National Congress (PNC) and the PPPainly East Indian party.
9 the PPP suffered another internal shock when Edwardell-to-do^5Indian businessman,
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who had been minister of natural resources and vice chairman of the party, was forced by Jagan to resign from the cabinet and was expelled from the party. Beharry had openly opposed Jagan on economic issues and on what he asserted was the Communist Influence within the PPP. Beharry's ouster probably caused some dissaffectlon in the conservative wing of the party and cost it some financial support but lt was not followed by any substantial defections.
A new constitution, granting thearger degree of internal self-government, was promulgated1 and elections were held in August. In this election the PPP got its mass support from the East Indian sugar workers and rice farmers and was also backed by small- and medium-size East Indian Jagan was again returned as premier withercent of the vote andf theeats.
Ineneral strike accompanied by racial violence nearly brought down the regime. Government employees struck to obtain better wages and leave conditions and were joined by the largest trade union, whose leadership, encouraged by theparties, had become alarmed by certain anti-free enterprise aspects of the Jagan government's budget. In the rioting which ensued Negro mobs burned the stores of East Indian shopkeepers in Georgetown andesult the East Indians joined ranks more closely behind Jagan. Although thesurvived, the riots showedubstantial number of people were unwilling to be governed by it.
After the riots, the senior vice chairman of the party, Balram Singheligious Hindueputation for non-Communism and independent-minded-ness, was ousted from the PPP. Rai's charge that the Jagans were leading British Guianaan respected for his honesty andshook some of Jagan's supporters. Protests were made to the PPP leader but other than that little more came of the Rai affair.
Inill designed to give the PPP government control over the labor movement was blocked
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by meansday general strike and inay sugar workers* strike resultedovernment-supported attemptro-Jagan union to unseat the large Man-Power Citizens(MPCA) as the recognized bargaining agent for the sugar industry. The PPP's attempt to gain control of the sugar workers showed that while the MPCA's sugar workers voted for the PPP in purely political matters they intended to conduct their union affairs free from party interference.
In the meantime two constitutional conferences, held in23 respectively, had been unable to decide on the form of government for an independent "Guyana" and on the means by whichovernment should be elected. Rather than seetalks come again to naught, all three leaders of the raain political parties asked thetoolution. The British decided that new elections should be held4ystem of proportional representation. The simple majority or "first past the post" voting system was thereby discarded and the way paved for the PPP's fall from power.
In4 elections the PPPlurality (winningercent of the vote andf theegislativeutajority:so the British governor asked Forbes Burnham to form the newand he was able to do so with the help of the United Force. Burnham then became the new.
Out of power for the first timehe PPP disdained to take its opposition seats in the legislature until The party wasand discouraged. Immediately after theJagan had left the colonyour of bloc countries and without his leadership dissension broke out again. The inner party council divided overwhether to use pacific or violent means against the Burnham government. At the annual party conference held in April an open split in the party over whether to return Brindley Benn, an avowed extremist, to the number two party position or replace him with Ashtonas narrowly avoided by angiving Jagan all party administrative power for
D-5
a year. Despite the papering over attempt, however, the moderate-extremist split continued. In July, Moses Bhagwan, the extremist chairman of the PPP's youth group wasix-month suspension for anti-party activity. He subsequently resigned from thend is now threatening toival East Indian party.
The PPP is fearful that independence will be granted while Burnham is still in power and Cheddi Jagan is now encouraging his party activists toin sabotage activities in order to prevent the conveningonstitutionalovember. Bhagwan and his supporters in the youth wing of the party have stated that they are in favor of independence now, even under Burnham, and unless Jagan can find an acceptable compromise the issue, if rightly exploited, could cost the PPP some of its youthful membership.
3. Strength and Supporting Groups
The PPP is the largest single party in British Guiana and has0 dues-paying Ofallots cast in the4 election the PPPercent) and woneats inmember assembly. The PPP's success was based mainly on exploiting the Eastfear of the African and an African government.esult virtually all East Indians voted for the PPP. furthermore, an analysis of the voting showed that the PPP's support came almost exclusively from the East Indian community. Non-Indian support for the party was only somewhereotes.
Most of the support for the PPP comes from the rural districts where the East Indians have settled. The0 rice farmers0 sugar workers make up the backbone of Jagan's mass supportood number of East Indian businessmen in the cities contribute to the PPP coffers out of fear of reprisal. Although these people support the PPP financially they would probably prefer to voteess socialistic East Indian party.
The PPP Is also supported by its youthMembership figures on the Progressive Youth Organization (PYO) rangend it is from this sector of the party that Jagan gets his activists. Some PYO members have received guerrilla training in Cuba and almost all have been instructed in sabotage techniques at home.
The Guyana Liberation Armyecretforce of the PPP, hasembers. It has been inactive tor sometime although it could be reactivated. However, this would requireeffort.
The ladies support the PPP through the Women's Progressive Organizationeparate body formed in2 and affiliated with the party. Ho membership figures are available but in2 numbers verb reported to be increasing and the WPO hadroups functioning throughout the colony. The WPO is affiliated with the Women's International Democraticommunist front.
There are four major East Indian religiousin the colony, two Hindu and two Muslim. Although from time toew leaders of all four mass organizations have come out against Jagan, the rank and rile'have continued to support him. Those who might have tended to break away returned to the security of the PPP Indian community afteracial riots shook the colony. Although they are not all of voting age, the PPP can count on the support ofindus and Muslims.
East Indians also predominate in the smallfield, particularly in small shops in the rural districts. This group, however, isetty capitalist one and leary of the PPP's socialism and communistic leanings. Before the February riots the East Indian businessmen showed signs of defecting from the Jagan camp but after the racial violence they too returned to the fold. Jagan has recently found it necessary to reassure them that hisesign for British Guiana does not includever of small businessmen.
Trade unions with predominantly East Indiantend to support the PPP at the polls. These
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Include the Guiana Agricultural Workers* Unionhe Guiana Public Service Workers' Unionhe British Guiana Rice Marketing Board Workers'i.Union (no longer recognized and has littlend, although itsis anti-Jagan, the Man-Power0 members). The Sawmill and Forest Workers Unionnd the Sugar Estates Clerks Associationhe Guiana Air Transport Trade Unionand the British Guiana Seafarers Unionembers) also give the PPP their support.
4. Foreign Influence
Although Cheddl Jagan .denies, that he is anCommunist the PPP has long-established contacts with Communist world front organizations such as the International Union of Students and the Women's International Democratic Federation. Both Jagans are passionate supporters of the World Council of Peace and in5 Janet traveled to Helsinki to take part in the Preparatory Committee for the World Congress for Peace, National Independence and General Disarmament.
Both Jagans know personally leading members of the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) and one of the PPP leaders was an active party membertudent in the United Kingdom. While premier, Jagan limited himself to clandestine meetings with CPGB members but Janet was less discreet and is known to have consulted CPGB officials on questions ofeducation. The PPP hasamaicanresident in Englandontact man with the CPGB but recently, with the helpritish Communist, the partyondon office.
On their visits to the United States the Jagans are known to have met with members of the USParty, and both US and Canadian Communists have come to British Guiana to consult with the Jagans and other PPP leaders.
The PPP has close ties with Trinidadlan The latter formed the Friends of Guyana, a
front group,2 and Jagan often addresses its members when he Is ln Trinidad.
A Soviet trade delegation visited British Guiana in2 at the request of the PPP. As well as discussing trade problems the PPP asked theto provide doctors and also machinery for its printing presses. PPP members have been provided scholarships to study in tbe Soviet Union and as late as5 Cheddi Jagan was thinking of naming one of these Guianeso students as the PPP's officialto the USSR.
In their aftfbntB to obtain aid from and trade with bloc countries, PPP leaders, most recently Cheddi inave toured satellite countries, and trade delegations from Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and East Germany have been invited by the PPP to visit British Guiana.
The ties between Cuba and the PPP are very close. Fidel Castro is reported to have funded the party to tbe tune0 ln5 and at leastPP members have received guerrilla training on the island. When he was premier, Jagan arranged to sell much of Guiana's rice crop to Cuba. Probably onJagan's orders this trade was not continued when Burnham came to power and its loss continues tohis government with one of its most serious economic problems.
Janet Jagan visited Communist China in August
had an interview with Mao Tse-tung. PPP leaders have also visited China. Init was reported thatisit toBenn, leader of the extremist wing ofwas0 ln Algeria and Tanzaniaan0 was available infunds, Benn claimed, actually originatedChina (where Bennnalso visited) butthrough African channels. Benn alsothat the Chinese Communists areto break with the PPP and establish theof British Guiana.
esult of contacts made by both Jagans by
number of Guianeso students in bloc countries
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had increasedow of1 ton the USSR,n Cuba,n East Germany, ten inand one in Rumania. As of5 it was estimated thatuianese were studying in the bloc. The recently stepped-up bloctill larger Guianese studentbehind the Ironood probability.
5. ent Croups
Almost from the beginning there have been marked differences of opinion within the PPP over strategy and tactics. The Jagans' espousal of the Marxist ideal appealed to the poorer elements in the party while the more well-to-do-members, led by Burnham and composed mainly of Negroes, have been pragmatic and more apt to compromise their socialist principles in favor of the more immediate goals of independence and economic stability. Although Burnham, Beharry, and Rai can be accused ofi aspiring to partythey were also opposed to Jagan's radicalism. Only Burnham, because he took the Negroes with him,ignificant political force after the break. Due to their poverty and the charismaticof Jagan, the majority of East Indians found the conservative line of the dissident East Indians unattractive and remained loyal to the PPP.
Jagan's triumph over the conservative wing has proven toixed blessing because it left the partyignificant counterweight to the truly radical element. After his fall from power inagan proposed that the PPPolicy of nonviolent obstructionism. Party lod by Brindley Benn, opposed this tactic and found support for their views among members of the PYO. The extremists were so successful intholr cause that party militants beganon Jagan as too moderate and eventually Jagan was forced to state that he wouldabotage campaign calculated to prevent independence fromgranted under the Burnham government.
Although this move may have helped Jagan rogain prestige it also caused further dissension within the
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party. Moses Bhagwan, East Indian leader of the PYO, felt that the party should push for independenceegro was in office or not. He saw Jagan's stand for independence when he was in power and against independence when he was not as anof hypocrisy on Jagan's part. These views, contrary to PPP policy, aroused Jagan's ire? Bhagwan wasix-month suspension for his anti-party, activities. Instead of meekly accepting his suspension, Bhagwan and ilU' of his supporters in' the PPP and PYO resigned from the party in In July Bhagwan had been consideringew political movement and while it is now too early to see what following he will have, his continued public statements could widen splits within the PPP.
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7. Members of tho House of Assembly
Cheddl Jagan
Fenton Harcourt Wilworth Ramsahoye
Brindley Horatio Benn
Beepu Daman Persaud
Cedric Vernon Nunes
Yacoob Ally
Ramkarran
Joseph Rudolph Spenser Luck
Eugene Martin Stoby
Bernard Caldeira (Resigned because of
poor health, replaced by Mooneer Khan.)
Earl Maxwell Gladstone Wilson
Maccie Hamid
Ranji Chandi Singh
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Moses Bhagwan*
Lloyd Linde
Subhan All Ramjohn
Charles Ramkissoon Jacob, Jr.
Ashton Chase
Henry Jocelyn Makepeace Hubbard
Mohendernauth Poonai
Sheik Mohamed
George Bowman
Derek Chunilall Jagan
Harry La11
8. TABLE I
Trend in size of PPP Assembly representation:
out Of 24
out Of 14
out of 35
out of 53
Note: The number of seats in the Assembly has varied with the constitutional development of the country.
from the PPP in5 buthis seat as an independent.
rrExpelled from the PPP in April but retains his seat as an independent.
D-14
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHILE
1. Introduction
The Communist Party of Chile (Partido Commu-nista deis, in proportion to the country's population, probably the largest and best organized of any Marxist party in Latinexcept that in Cuba. Through skillful use of popular front tactics over the past three decades the PCCh has probably made more progress than any other Latin American CP in obtaining fairlyacceptance in Chileegitimate leftist party, not viewed by many as linked withCommunism and potentially subversive. PCCh acceptability has also been encouraged by aemphasis in Chile on civil liberties andenerally apolitical role of the armed forces. Mounting socioeconomic problems and popularin the last decade have alsothe standing of the PCCh and other leftist groups.
The PCCh, in order to preserve the legalit regainedas thus far adheredolicy of the "peaceful way" (via_pacifica) and has generally avoided provocatory subversive action, in contrast with the view of small dissidentand minority Socialist elements favoring the Chinese Communist line of violence (although none of significance has been mounted). The PCCh via pacifica, however, conceivably could be modified in' tne event that the Christian Democraticis able to carry through its ambitiousprogram over the direct opposition of the far leftists. There is no hard evidenceCChto abandon its via pacifica; however, there are indications that the "October congress will bring changes.
8 the PCCh has strengthened itsand has attempted to to reinforce its image of respectability byorking component of the Popular Revolutionary Action Front oalition with the Socialist Party. The Na-
E-l
tional Democratic Parties were members of the coa lition until the5 elections after which they withdrew their support.
2. Brief history of the party
The PCCh was founded2ember of the Communist Third International by Luis Emilio Recabarren, veteran labor organizer, propagandist, and militant, who had formed the Socialist Worker Party An outgrowth of the SWp, it did not develop effective strength until. Previously it was rent by the appearance ofand Trotskyite factions; the latter group eventually declined and was forced out of the party, and some of the Trotskyite leaders even entered the Socialist ranks. Moreover, suppression during the Ibanezthe Communists. After the return of liberties the Communists extended theirespecially in labor circles and among some intellectuaIs.
The PCCh congressional delegation greweputies2eak ofeputiesenators1 before the party was outlawed roportion of the total legislature this representation was uniquely large in Latin America, but it did not fully reflect the party's gains, especially among labor unions. Even non-Commmunists concede that the PCCh has excelled both in discipline and in adaptability to circumstances. Like Western European Communist parties it veered to "popular front" tactical cooperation with other leftists--and even middle-class elements (thethe mid and. Despite theof the frontho PCCh did not revert to its earlier position of political isolation and uncompromising extremism. The PCCh, adhering closely to shifts in the Soviet party line, has declaredomestic movement, and has found itto ally itself with other leftist and even centrist forces for electoral purposes. This policylimax6 when the PCCh gave the margin of victory to the popular front RadicalGonzalez Videla. In return three PCChwere appointed to the cabinet as ministers of
E-2
agriculture, lands and colonization, and public works.
The PCCh was soon using its strategicposts to promote disorder in the coaland rural areas. Int was ousted from the cabinet, and8 the party wasby the Law for the Defense of Democracy. The passage of this law also reflected thefear that the continued legal existence of the PCCh would prejudice US capital investment and aid. The PCCh functioned mainly underground8 until the law was repealedargely'esult of its ineffectiveness and itsto non-Communists. During the proscription period the PCCh regrouped and regained much of its strength. It was represented directlyhose holdover terms were allowed to beand unofficially by extremist fringe groups; it thus remained active and influential.
8 the PCCh contributed significantly to the strong showing of the FRAP presidentialAllende (who lost by0nd in1 congressional election the PCCh won four seats in the Senate andn the Chamber of Deputies. In popular vote strength it was fifth and4 percent. The number ofas more than six times that of its then estimated membership 3 municipal elections the PCCh8, even though historically it has done less well in local contests which generally tend to be personality contests. Municipal governments traditionally have been mostly controlled byand rightist politicians, but the PCCh has made inroads in some areas.
4 Socialist Salvador Allende was again the FRAP presidential candidate. Although decisively beaten by the Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei, he polled nearly one million votes. Inlections the FRAPotes with the PCCh8 percent of the total vote. This gave the partyeputies and five senateain of two each, and the PCCh emerged as
the strongest party in Chile on the basin of percentage of total vote.
3. PCCh Strength and Supporting Groups
The PCCh has an estimated membershipard carriers who belongell, attend meetings, and pay dues. TheYouth (JC). Partynumber probably morehose who do not desire to become card-carrying members but who tend to support the party's program and its candidates in labor union and political elections. The present mombership is somewhat smaller than that preceding the party's proscription During the first part of the clandestine, membershipdeclined but in thendt Increased somewhat.
The PCChecruitment drive in3 to convertard-core groupmass party"egular0 JC members. Applicants (asprlantes) were issued provisional cards and could attend open meetings of the party. In the past many aspirantes haveetriment and dropped out. Secretary General Luis Corvalan, in an article In the Moscow Pray daeclared that from2 to3 "the ranks of the party have grownhile those of our komsoraol (youthhaveie did notthe numerical base. There is Littlehowever, that the recruitment drive had much success. Less thanercent of thejoined, according to one report. The great gains of the Christian Democrats in the Lost elections have led the PCCh toewdrive and to reinvigorate its organization.
In its composition the PCCh restsabor base, although lt alsoonsiderableamong Intellectuals and members of theparticularly teachers. In recent years it has sought growth in the countryside among farm workers and native Indians, and these efforts have Droduced some electoral results. The party has labored
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in rural areas against traditional influence exerted by rightist farm owners (declining sharply; difficulty of communications, requiringexpense and manpower for new propaganda campaigns; and the indolent and independent nature of the average farm workers, who have been lessto Marxist propaganda than the urban In recent years the Christian Democrats have also registered considerable gains in this area.
The PCCh has had relatively little success in attracting women, possibly because of the deterrent influence of the Catholic Church. Not only does the PCCh not draw strong voting support among women, but also few Communist women have filled electoral posts. For example, only nine of theCCh womenwere successful in the municipal elections of4 male candidates were presented, ofere elected). In5 congressional elections, however, two female deputies and oneelected.
The age composition of the party is not known, but the percentage of young members is believed to be high. The PCCh has long given special emphasis to organizing youth. The PCCh political commission has emphasized that while labor support is mostbacking from youth is also basic. lenary session of the JC ina rapporteur declared that the membership had triplede admitted, however, that the Christian Democratic Party was attracting the greatest number of youths. In the universities the PCCh has lost control of student organizations to Christian Democrats in all seven of the Chilean universities.
4. Foreign Influence
With regard to foreign policy, Corvalan said that the PCCh stands for Chilean neutralism asthe two militarySoviet bloc and the NATO powers. This view differs with that of the Chinese Communists, and of Fidel Castro, who has proclaimedart of the "socialistastro has also asserted that armed insurrection is the only way to achieve social reform. Corvalan has paid tribute to Castro's "great-contribution" to world
Communism ln demonstrating that such revolution is feasible ln Latin America. He has conceded that the Cuban road is the correct one for some Latin American countries but has asserted that themethod has been worked out for Chile. These views were published in tbe World Marxist Review, indicating
were suggesting to Latin American Communists they do not necessarily have to follow the Castro road to socialism. Later inowever, implicitly acknowledged the seriousness of the doctrinal dispute by assuring the moreCommunists that the via pacifica does not preclude street demonstrations and strikes. Hethat the PCCh is engagedevolution whether or not arms are used.
The PCCh lenders, however, maintained until4enerally deferential attitude toward Castro on the assumption that he and hishad considerable propaganda value. The PCCh, mainly through the use of front organizations, sought to organize large pro-Castro rallies, demonstrations, and strikes. The most recent attempt In this line is the Cuban Solidarity Conference which wasslated for Uruguay and is now scheduled for Santiago, although with foreign attendance reduced by government restrictions. Such past efforts have not had great success. The rallies generally have been poorly attended and no general sympathy strikes have been carried out. Tbe party now sees less value ln Castro.
The PCCh has long been troubled by the Sino-Soviet split. For the most part, the PCCh's reaction had been to do nothing and hope that the Soviet Union and the Chinese Peoples Republic would resolve their problems which were described as no more than asquabble. Party leaders maintained this line in the few public statements they made on the subject and in the limited internal'party discussion that was allowed. The gravity of the conflict was brought home to tho Chilean CP with the breakdown of the Sino-Soviet talks in In that year the PCCh leaders also learned or took cognizance of thesympathy for the Chinese position which existed
E-6
in the rank and file of the PCCh, especially in the provinces where party estimates had it that as high asoercent of some regional committees had pro-Peking leanings. rip to Moscow in3 to obtain reassurances that he was following the correct tactic, Luis Corvalan returned and the party finally began taking punitive action; several members of the PCCh were expelled. The Espartaco group was founded during this period. With the(which have continued to the present)onstant reiteration of the necessity for party unity in order to assure the victory of the FRAP presidential candidate, Corvalan was able toparty discipline. The PCCh's relatively good showing in the5 congressional elections has also helped silence party critics nnd "Pekinis-tas" though the movement is still active and isfor the more belligerent line the PCCh has been taking internally and somewhat publicly since
There hasecent change in PCCh tactic! as regards its attitude and relations with the Frel government.1
5. Dissident Marxists
Several dissident Communist party groups have been formed in Chile. The mosta Chineseriented group apparently led by Jorge Palacio with Senator Jaime Barros as the most prominent spokesman. i
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sixnougn asparmcu uua uiuinieu iuuu mem-
bers, it as yet has negligible political power. It did, however, seem to be directing PCCh student groups who rioted over bus fare increases in early Implicitly Espartaco action squads are well trained and are able to exploit an advantageous situation.
As of5 there werehileans in Peking, China, constituting the largest Latin American nationality group in the city. Most of the men belong to Espartaco and werene-month training course in guerrilla warfare.
The other major splinter groups are theRevolutionary Party and the MarxistVanguard, (VRM) both were also formed by dissident elements of the PCCh. These groupsa hard line, and are opposed to the regular Communists and Socialists as well as the Christian Democrats. Recently, attempts have been made by Espartaco and the VRM to unify the splinter groups. Little success has been noted to date.
The PCCh is also confronted with the problem of preserving unity with the Socialist Party in the FRAP coalition. Socialists have occasionallysharply with the PCCh for workers' andsupport. Influential minority leaders and sectors in the allied Socialist party havethe PCCh's pro-Moscow position and itsof via pacifica.
8
DOC:age
embers of Legislature A. Chamber of Deputies.
Juan Acevedo (Santiago)
Santiago Agurto (Concepcion)
Jose Cademartori (Santiago)
Manuel Cantcro (Valparaiso)
Arturo Carvajal (Tarapaca)
Victor GallegulUos (Antofagasta)
Cesar Godoy (Santiago)
Luis Guastavlno (Valparaiso)
Maria Maluonda (Santiago)
Gladys Marin (Santiago)
Galvarino Melo (Concepcion)
Orlando Mi lias (Santiago)
Jorge Montes (Concepcion)
Cipriano Pontlgo (Coquimbo)
Hugo Robles (Antofagasta)
Carlos Rosales (O'Higgins)
Luis Tejeda (Blo-Blo)
Luis Valento (Tarapaca)
B. Senate
Julieta Campusano
Victor Contreras
Carlos Contreras
Luis Corvalan
Volodia Toitolbolm
TABLE I
Trend in size of PCCh congressionalelected,
5
otal)
5
2
6
6
otal)
1
0-1
3
3
TABLE 2
9. Leaders of the Communist Party of Chile (PCCh)
POST
OP
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS OF SECRETARIAT
MEMBERS OF
POLITICAL
COMMITTEE
'y-Gen.
Asst. Secy-Gen.
Luis Corvalan Lepez*#
Jose Gonzalez Gonzalez ff
Luis Corvalan Lepez*#
Jose Gonzalez Gonzalez
Luis Corvalan Lepez*#
Jose Gonzalez Gonzalez
of Overall Laborrs
Astudillo Gonzalez*
Oscar Astudillo Gonzalez#
Org. Manuel Cantero Manuel
Zor-
Orlando Mil-las Correa
Cesar Godoy Urrutiafr
Jorge Montes Moraga**#
Alejandro Torotf
Gen.esearch
Carlos Contreras Labarca**
Volodia Teitel-boim Volosky*&
Julieta Campu-sano Chavez*"
Jose Cademartori Invernlzzi**&
Zor-illafc
Orlando Millas Correa**#
Jorge Monteslejandro Toro#
(Alternate)
Volodia Teltel-boimulieta Campusano Chavez*"
Alejand)
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continued)
PARTY POST
Cfeief, Natl. Agrarian Comm.
OF
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Cesar Domingo Cerda Cuevas
Bernardo Araya
uan Garcia
antos Medel
ipriano Pon-
tlgosvaldo Araya Luis Figueroa
Mazuela
Lara
Roberto Olate
OF
OF
POLITICAL
COMMITTEE
Cesar Domingo Cerda Cuevas (Alternate)
MEMBERS OF
LABOR COMMITTEE
Bernardo Araya
uan Garcia
Romero**
Osvaldo Araya Luis Figueroa
Mazuela Roberto Lara
Olate
Natl
Control
Comm.
Rafael
Cortez Enrique Paris Pablo Neruda Jose Balladares
Gonzalez
Pascual Barraza B.
Luis Barria
Torres Juan Luis
Campos C.
Juan Chacon
Corona Gaspar Diaz Victor Diaz Emma Gomez de
Cuello
Pascual Barra: (Alternate)
8
PARTY POST
OF
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
MEMBERS
OF
MEMBERS OF
POLITICAL
COMMITTEE
MEMBERS OT
LABOTi COMMITTED
Natl
Control
Comm.
Jorge Insunza Andres Lazo Maria Maluenda Gladyslberto Molina Fernando Navarro Jose Oyarce Victor Manuel
Quijon Alberto Rozas
Gen. JC
Zamora no Leopoldo Zuniga
Mario Zamorano
THE COMMUNIST PARTV OF COLOMBIA
I. Introduction
Except for tbe Conservative Party and theParty, both foundedhe Communist Party of Colombia (Partido Comunista deis tbe oldest political organization in the country. It is the principal instrumentality for implementing Communist domestic and international policies, and therefore it has the basic responsibility forand coordinating Communist efforts to penetrate non-Communist targetsubversive, labor, peasant, student, and Intellectual. The party youth auxiliary, the Communist Youth of Colombia (Ju-ventud Communistaumber of controlled front organizations supplement the party machinery in carrying out this priority task, which is designed to expand popular support of the PCC and its potential for subversion.
Tho PCC at present has no independent capability for seizing power by force in Colombia and itsfor winning control of the government by the electoral process are nil. Communist voting strength has never exceeded about three percent of th* total vote cast in any national election.
Communist paramilitary resources are largelyin rural areas andewrural bandit leaders and caudillos. Although small in total numbers, these rural forces arewell trained, well armed, and could bepromptly. The PCC has demonstrated onoccasions throughout its history that it is capable of fomenting serious labor disturbances and sporadic social disorders and student violence, but by itself it cannot sustain protracted, widespread unrest, cabotage, or guerrilla warfare. On the other hand, In combination with othsr opposition groups, the PCC is potentially capable of promoting all forms of insurgency, of disruptingNational Front, and even ofhreat to the stability of the government.
2. Briof History of the Party
The PCC was formally established and admittedember of the Communist Internationalhe year which marked the return of the Liberal Party to power afterears of unbrokenParty rule. The origins of the PCC date back to the,arxist group composed of intellectuals and labor elements was formedthe aegisoviet emigrant. This movement was organized6 as the RevolutionaryParty (Partldo Sociallstaand affiliated with the Comintern as early When the majority Liberal membership of the PSR returned to the Liberal Party after the electoral victoryhe minority elements reorganized as the Communist Party of Colombia.
The major growth of PCC strength in both labor and politics coincided with the period of Liberal, when the PCC was allowedfreedom to conduct its activities. Thesupported President Alfonso Lopez and made notable advances during his two The Communist vote increased from5 to0 in the elections3hen the Communists won prestige and several seats in local legislative bodies as well as in the National Con-
Communist influence declined sharply6hen the PCC suffered considerable government suppression under Conservative rule and the Rojas dictatorship. During the final three years of this period, the PCC was outlawed.
After the overthrow of the Rojas dictatorshiphe PCC regained legal status and apolitical atmosphere for its activities. The party recovered considerable following amongzed labor, advanced its political position through penetration and support of the dissident Liberal Revolutionary Movementndtronger influence over student and intellectual groups than it had been able to establish before. However, it cannot participate in elections under the National Front system.
Page
Since the victory of Castro in Cuba, the PCC has been increasingly troubled by divergencies overthe question of the timely anduse of force and violence. Party policy, while endorsing an eventual recourse to armedrejected the use of violence as "inappropriate" ln Colombia. The party stand was based primarily on fear of government countermeasures but also stemmed from the belief that political action (through the URL) would be more effective ln the long run.PCC leaders anticipated an adverse reactionublic already disgustedecade and more of fratricidal violence In the countryside.
Younger and less cautious members of the PCC and its affiliates disagree with the pacific policy, claiming that the "old line" leaders are too passive and lack vigor. Probably egged on by the propaganda of Peking-sponsored groups ln Colombia and otheregment of th* PCC splintered off late4 to become the Communist Party ofMarxist-Leninist (PCC/ML). Inhe PCC/ML decreed that Gilberto Viero White was expelled from the post of secretary general and from the Communist movement. The regular PCC greeted this decree with sarcastic scorn, but acknowledged that the PCC -FCC/ML split was formalized by it and probably wouldasting division of forces and effort.
3. Strength and Supporting Groups
ostwar low of, the PCCits membership to0 byecent reports0 membership cards are outstanding, butembers areactive. The JCC Is estimated to haveembers, but its membership tends to fluctuate widely and rapidly. Communistwho would actively support one or more of the party's policies in umber ofalso tends to fluctuate frequently andide range.
The Communist central committee is composed ofembers andlternates. The executiveis made up of three members and two alternates.
There areegional committees located throughout Colombia.
he PCC has been prepared tomanipulate, and cooperate with most leftist-oriented dissidents, but has generally refrained from association with Conservative factions. The party particularly seeks to undermine the National Front and its socioeconomic reforms and to exacerbate the frictions within and between the two traditional
PCC political policy leans heavily on the success of the MRL and seeks the supremacy of pro-Communist elements within this dissident Liberal faction. The party supports MRL candidates in elections and strongly opposed any tendency of rapprochement between this group and the majority or "official" element of the Liberal Party. Because the PCC attempts tothe stability of government in Colombia, anyof the MRL In support of the National Front would be contrary to Communist objectives. The MRL, as recognized tacitly by the PCC, offers the Communists their best opportunity for legallytheir influence in government at both the local and national level. The National Popular Vanguard (Vanguard Nacionalis made up of the remnants of the disbanded United Front forAction (Frente Unito de AccionWeak and ineffective on its own, VNP is atseful sounding board of leftist opinion. TheMovement (Movimiento de Obreros, Estudientes, yis useful in the same way. MOEC is more directly oriented toward violence, but it is opposed to PCC leaders and eople are members of MOEC, but VNP membership is still not known to Colombian or US authorities. The old FUAR hadearlyutraction were active.
The Youth of the Revolutionary Movementot associated with MRL, and the Army of National Liberation (ELN) have made their appearanceoth groups secured considerable publicity during the year, but neither has accomplished very much in the insurgent movement.
In the labor area. Communist-dominated unions speak for somewhat more0 loosely organized
8
5
workers, or more than ten percent of the totallabor force, principally in the nation's majorCali, Medellin, and Bar-ranquilla. The Communist-dominated FEDEPETROL union of petroleum workersesult of government action following Communist instigated strikes in The leader of therominent Communist, was jailed, its charter was suspended byew non-Communist petroleum worker's union was started. The Communists traditionally havetrong-to-dominant position amongtransport, sugar, and construction
4. Foreign Influence
Foreign aid is provided directly and indirectly to the PCC in the form of cash grants, travelpropaganda, scholarships, and subversiveand guidance. The annual sums allotted to these categories cannot be estimated accurately; specific sources of aid and the methods of distribution are similarly difficult to Identify. Although foreign support of Communist subversive activity is impeded somewhat by the lack of formal diplomatic relations between Colombia and the Sino-Soviet-Cuban bloc, several instrumentalities are available forassistance. These include the Czech Consulate General and the East German Trade Mission; branchin Bogota of TASS, the New China News Agency, and Prensa Latina, as well as bloc and Cuban bi-natlonal centers or friendship societies, which are not currently active. In addition, travel between Colombia and the bloc is relatively unrestricted. Hence, Communist or pro-Communist travelers areused to transmit bloc guidance, money and
Bloc countries place their major overt emphasis on promoting subversion indirectly throughespecially subsidized travel and The short-wave broadcasts of Radio Moscow and Radio Peking stress news of violence in Colombia and are consistently antigovernment. Bloc cultural delegations are another medium of the blocprogram, although very limited.
F-5
8
The largest bloc expenditure is apparently for travel of Colombians to international Communistor to bloc countries and for study atunder the bloc scholarship program. The purpose is primarily to Indoctrinate the recipients and to win their support for international Communist An average ofoolombians annually have been studying at bloc universities in recentin Czechoslovakia, East Germany, and the USSR. The level of other travel to the bloc has been relatively high7 and has included professional, artistic, youth, congressional, and labor groups, as well as several leftist politicians.
The bloc also provides training and direction for leaders of the PCC, many of whom have beenin labor and political agitation lnCommunist schools. Secretary General Viera White, for example, hasumber ofof the Communist Party of the Soviet Union as well as the special meetings for Latin American Communist leaders ln Moscow and Pekingccasional visits of foreign Communists to Colombia areeans of instructing the PCC on bloc-sponsored International activities. Bloc messages of "fraternal greetings and solidarity" sent to PCC congresses and the timely radiobroadcasts fromand Peking on Colombian political eventsthat communications between the bloc and the PCC are relatively frequent.
The Castro regime in Cuba sponsors the principal foreign subversive program against the Colombian Government. Cuba also servesase for bloc support of Colombian subversive elements. Not only istaging area for Colombians traveling to bloc countries and Communist international meetings, but bloc diplomatic missions in Havana have access to Colombian subversive groups whose representatives are visiting or studying in Cuba.
The Castro regime apparently considers that tho protracted rural unrest in Colombia offers thepotential for encouraging Insurgency andin the latter country. umber of Colombians have received training in Cuba in methods ofguorrilla warfare.
8
Page
Cuban ties with the PCC were firmly established by the Cuban Embassy in Bogota prior to the break in Cubaii-Colonbian diplomatic relationshe Communists have been closely associated with tbe establishment and operation of Cuban binationaland other pro-Cuban organizations in Colombia, and they have been beneficiaries of considerable Cuban propaganda and possibly financial aid.
Cuba has considerable potential for promoting insurgency in Colombia, particularly throughaid to dissident political organizations and in training Colombians in guerrilla warfare. However, its propaganda program and relatedhave placed the Colombian Government on alert andajority of the Colombian public, including the traditional political parties, the non-Communist labor movement, and other influential groups. Colombia's break of diplomatic relations, government charges of Cuban intervention in Colombian affairs, the Colombian initiative in convening the meeting of American Foreign Ministers at Punta del Estend strong Colombian opposition to Cuba's application for membership in the LatinFreo Trade Association demonstrate tho strong anti-Castro orientation of the Colombian
In addition to its ties with Cuban Communists, tho PCC maintains relations with several LatinCommunist parties, in an apparent effort to exchange information and coordin&t* activities in the hemisphere. The closest hemisphere liaison, however, Is conducted between the PCC and theParty of Venezuela and the Communist Party of Ecuador and dates back to the. The PCC has also published considerable propagandaVenezuelan Communist subversive activity, but denied allegations in the Colombian press that lt was directly cooperating in the revolutionary and guerrilla tactics of its fraternal party in.
F-7
8
Page
The most important mass defection from the PCC is that of the Communist Party of(Partido Comunista Colombiano Marxista Under the leadership of Pedroormer member of the central committee of theroup of pro-Chineseo criticize the Soviet line of the party andew, hard line advocatingrevolution. They were dismissed from theVasquez inthers during the following yearalf.
The dissidents naturally banded together,vitriolic criticisms of the leaders of the regular PCC, whom they described on at least one instance as hampered by "old age, inaction, andbourgeoislsm." PCC rebuttals accused Vasquez and his followers of "blabbering nonsense" and termed them "infantile terrorists." This intellectualcontinued with escalating passion on both sides untilt which time Vasquez hurled the ultimatecalled PCC Secretary General Viera aset up his own'party, the PCC/ML.
The first plenary session of the PCC/ML was held in September insite was chosen so that Communist power would be "drawn away fromasquez told his fellow members at the plenarythat Communist China had promised financial aid and would recognize them as the voice of Communism ln Colombia as soon as the PCC/ML openly declared against Moscow.
There is no reliable evidence that the Chinese have yet supplied significant material aid to the PCC/ML, but the group has grown in strength and vigor. It is now believed to havedherents, although no reliable figure is available andtend to vary widely. The PCC/ML has assumed major proportions as the political guide of insurgent violence in Colombia.
Inogus national congress, the PCC/ML claimed to be the "singular" Communist party
8
Page
in Colombia and "dismissed" the leaders of the PCC from their posts. The PCC leaders rejected the PCC/ML claims, but for the first time publicly acknowledged that the party had split and that the split probably would be long lasting.
8
5 Page
The following members of the House ofelected onave been cited as Communists or Communist sympathizers:
Bernal Castano Hernando Garavito Monoz Jaime Velasquez Toro Ciro Rios Nieto
From the Department of Caldas
From the Department of Cundiamarca
From the Department of Antioquia
From the Department of Santander
Alvaro Echandiarom the Department
of Rolima
RamlroFrom the Department
of Valle
Virgilio VargasFrom the Department
of Antioqula
F-12
ET
5 Page
COMMUNISM IN COSTA RICA
1. Introduction
-
Although now of minor importance, theParty of Costa Rica, the Vanguardia Populars the oldest and most sophisticated in Central America and was at one tine veryin the government. It is well organized but its following is small and it has little control over the domestic political scene. It was declared illegal after the civil warut it has been permitted considerable freedom in thepolitical climate of Costa Rica. It has not, as yet, experienced the split between pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese factions that has affected many other Latin American parties, but younger party activists are beginning to grow impatient with the nonviolent policies of the party "old guard." The Communists hope to participate in6 presidential election under the auspices of their political front, the Partido Alianza Popu-
lar Socialista (PAPS).
2. History of Communism in Costa Rica
The Communist Party of Costa Rica (PCCR) was founded9 by Manuel Mora Valverde, who is still,he party's secretary general. At that time, Moraoung university student, barelyears old. ecade after it was established, the PCCR was virtually the onlyfor the rights of workers, the snail peasants and the down-trodden among Costa Rica's lower class. Mora and the party captured the support of the intellectually curious and socially conscious university students and succeeded inase of support among the artisans of San Jose and the provincial towns. Their labor base was centered among the banana workers of the ubiquitous United Fruit Company, well known for its harsh antilabor policies.
During its formative period, the PCCR began organizing trade unions in San Jose, the first of these being the Carpenters' Union. ora
8
SESRE3L
was able to setentral trade union group, the Union General de Trabajadores, but it did not last long. Mora's successes were greatest among the banana workers, Costa Rica's only real proletariatation of small farmers. United Fruit opposed the organization of the workersnion, and the government was also suspicious of Mora's Rivalry among the workers was keen and spurred by racial and national differences. Most were foreigners, Jamaican Negroes or Nicaraguans, and had little feeling for the country itself or its people. Despite these difficulties. Mora and the PCCR were able toanana Workers' Union.
The first test of union strength came 4 when the country's first major strike hit the United Fruit Company, and nearly all0 inin the walkout. The strike was actually led by Mora, who wasember of the Costa Rican Congress, winning his seat the previous year. As leader of the strikers, Mora met several times with President Jimenez, who finally ordered the company to negotiate with the workers. The strikers named Mora as theirand at first the company refused to meet with the nation's leading Communist, but eventually the strike was settled.
At this time, the PCCR was recognizedfraternal member" of the Comintern, but wasull member. The party was one of ten that signed the manifesto supporting the Cubanwhich overthrew Gerardo Machado. he PCCR was acceptedull member of the Comintern at the Seventh International Congress.
In addition to Mora, one of the leaders of the PCCRenezuelan exile, Romuioetancourt had been exiled by Juan Vicente Gomez for his activities, and since heew years older than Mora, he was able to exert considerable influence on the party. Betancourt urged theof the party from the Comintern andompletely national party without ties to the Soviet Union. This heretical stand was finally rejected by the party membership andresigned.
G-2
After its very successful role in the banana strike, the party made little progress. Theof United Fruit from the Atlantic Coast prevented the PCCR from consolidating its gains among the workers. Mora was re-elected to the legislature but it wasecade before other party members were able to gain seats.
In the, the party again began to make strides. Rafael Calderon Guardia was elected presidentasing his support in part on his reputation among the pooroctor. The President began to lose supportime in office because of charges of corruption, and he began to look for additional political backing. He turned to the Communists, who were already strong supporters of the Calderon regime, because of the Comintern World War II policy of backing governments who were fighting against Faclso. (Costa Rica had declared war on the Axis powers before the US). alderon and Mora spoke from the same platformar rally soon after Costa Rica had made its war declaration.
Under Calderon, and his successor, Teodoro Picado, the Communists became advisers to theon political, social, and economic affairs. The PCCR was influential in the propagationabor code, establishmentocial security system, enactment of workers compensation andof an income tax. They not only proposed these measures, but set up and administered theto carry them out. here were four Communist members in the legislature, andhey had seven.
In addition to backing the Calderon regime, the PCCR followed another trend among Latin American parties and changed its name, becoming the Vanguar-dia Popular (PVP). Onhe PCCR po-litburoational conference, at which the PCCR was dissolved and the new Vanguard Partyas its successor. Mora was named secretary general, and most of the PCCR leadership retained their posts in the new party. It was hoped that this change would be more acceptable toleft-wing and moderate elements in the country. The program of the "new party" was moderate and
G_3
avoided mention of the "class struggle." The party also announced Its support for Calderon and for the United States. The party's program stressedreform, guarantees of agricultural prices, and launching of an economic development plan and acode. This new policy won wide acceptance, and the Archbishop of Costa Rica gave the PVP his The backing of the church gained the PVP the support of the workers and the party was able toational labor organization, the Confederacion de Trabajadores de Costa Rica (CTCR) In October
The relationship between the PVP and the CTCR was clear, since tbe secretary general of the CTCR was also the trade union secretary of the PVP.
The CTCR claimed that it hadnions and0 workers during Its prime.
The Communists formed part of the governmentthat elected Picado to succeed Calderon The reaction among the opposition was strong, as Otlllo Ulate, editor of Diario de Costa Rica, an opposition respected daily, accused-the government ofictatorial regime in which the Communists shared authority with the elected leaders of the country. This attack on the government was echoed many times during Picado's term of office, and,as the election8 grew closer, tensions Increased.
8 election resulted in the surprisingof opposition candidate Ulate at the polls over Calderon, who was tryingecond term. The Cal-deronlsta Congress nullified the vote and civil war broke out. Joseealthy coffee planter, led the Ulate forces against Calderon, who was backed by Manuel Mora and the Communists. At first Mora fought hard against Figueres forces, and in fact, became the chief defender of the entrenched When lt became obvious that the government was collapsing, Mora tried to bring tbe Communists over to the side of the Figueres forces, but the Communists were forced to give up their arms as the rebels moved into San Jose and took over the government.
Tho Junta set up by Figueres quickly took action against the Communists. The PVP was dissolved and the CTCR was broken up by the Supreme Court. ew
NND
Page
constitution was written which banned the Communist Partyolitical organization, and the PVPwent into exile.
With the Inauguration of Ulate9 and the end of the rule by the junta, the restrictions against the Communists were relaxed. Exiled Communists,Mora, roturned to the country and soonregional trade union organizations. The PVP, itself, however, remained underground. he Communists were finally able to organize another national Labor body, the Confederacion General de Trabajadores (COT). Their efforts to form afront organization for3 presidential election failed. The electoral tribunal denied the participation of the Partido Progreslsta Independlente, the front group, lo the election because itommunist organization and thus proscribed by the constitution.
During this period, and especially ofter the election of Jose Figures, the appeal of the party began to wane,ie PVP lost much of its The National Liberation Party (PLN) had developed an 'jeological platform, socialist inwhich had captured the imagination ofts support.
The fragmentation of the PLN before8 election led to the victory of Mario Echandi, the opposition candidate, and again the PVP was unable to develop an acceptable front party that couldin the election. One of the groups that broke from the PLN, that of Marcial Agulluz, became the vehicleommunist-front group that could be politically active and was acceptable under the This party, the Partido Acclon Democratlca Popularas formed1 andyear campaign by theto take part in national elections. Tbe PADP leadership, most of them PVP members,ro-Castro policy and were able to elect one to the Legislative Assembly, Jose Sunoi Leal, who claims he Is no Communist.
Since2 election, in which the PLNto power with Francisco Orlich gaining the presidency, the PADP has faded and been replaced by still another front, again led by Marcial Agulluz.
NAD01II8S
5 Page
_ secret
This group, the Partido Allanza Popular Socialistaas been inscribed, but party leadersit to be challenged and possibly stricken from the rolls by the electoral tribunal before6 election.
3. Present Status of Communism
The PVP has neverarge membership, but has often attracted sympathetic support fromleftists. Prior to World War II, partyprobably did not0 people, and even during the party's most active period during the Calderon and Picadoctual dues paying members probably amounted to. Party strength declined tofter the party was declared illegal,ecent upsurge has taken place, and lt is believed that there are againembers in the PVP. In5 the partyecruitmentaimed at addingew militant members to PVP rolls. Estimates of party sympathizers range as high This figure is derived from membership in front groups and the electoral support received by the PADP in2 election, when it garnered moreotes. The PADP was said tonscribed voters prior to the election.
Despite the fact that lt is Illegal undor8 constitution, the PVP is permitted to operate without sevore restriction by the government. Party publications are permitted and Secretary General Mora hasadio program for several years. The PVP concentrates most of its activities among labor and student groups and occasionally attempts tointernational situations, such as thecrisis. The PVP prints its own paper, Llbertad, on presses provided by East Germany. The paper Is freely distributed andirculation of.
Tho PVP works in labor through two federations, tho Confederacion General de Trabajadores Costarri-censos (CGTC) in urban areas andanana workers' federation in rural areas which bolongs to the CGTC. CGTC isehicle for theof low-level propaganda, Communist agitation
8
of316
and the sending of workers to the bloc countriesCuba for study and training, FUTRA wasin an embezzlement scandal3 andfourths of its membership. Recentconditions in the province of Limon haveinterest of the banana workers inlot and the PVP hopes to be able to,
The PVP has been unsuccessful in building any firm base of support among Costa Rica's students. Generally, students at the University of Costa Rica are anti-Communist and in the past have taken great pleasure in harassing the hard-corero-Communists on the campus.
The Costa Rican Socialist Youthouth wing of the PVP, is estimated to haveembers. Most of the present leadership hasor is now receiving training in either the USSR or Cuba, and in some cases both countries. Although the JSC has so far followed PVP discipline, there are continuing indications that, if allowed, the organization wouldore militant stand on many issues.
The PVP has had some success in penetrating the National Federation of Progressive Juntas, which is made up of civic improvement groups, but they have made no apparent mark on the group's policies. Other PVP front groups include the Alliance of Costa Rican Women (AMC)eachers' front- All these organizations are small and lack any real
The PVP's most significant political activity Is centered around the PADP, now clothed in its new title as the PAPS. The Leader of this front group is Marcial Aguiluz, who broke from the PLN before8 election. The PAPS basocal point forhinese Communists andrevolutionaries as well as the moreoriented Communists. Aguiluz Is probably Costa Rica's most dangerous left-wing revolutionary leader and has been involved in antigovernment plotting at home as well as in Honduras and Panama. The PAPS has offically given its support to neither
se6ret
tho PLN-government presidential candidate, Dnniel Odvibor, nor the opposition conlition candidate, Irofcssor Jose Joaquin Trojos.r
I'M 1W3 win pruuamy ping one seat in the
concentrate on nt leai
Legislative Assembly now held under the PADP banner by Jose Sunol and perhaps gaining one each fron San Jose and Puntarenas. The PAPS still faces the danger of being challengedomraunist-frout party and Losing its place on the electoral rolls before
Despite its snail size, the PVP Is the most sophisticated and best organized Communist party in Central America and is capable of providingand logistical support to parties in neighboring countries. Costa Rica has served in recent yenrs as atrnining ground for Communists from Pnnnmn, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Recently, there haslowdown in this sort of activity, but it may resume after6 election.
The principal source of funds for the PVP comes from the USSR and salaries for party leaders as well as other expenses have come from Moscow for many years. The present PVP monthly budget runs In the neighborhood0 colones, of whichr less, Is raised Locally. The top party Leadership has received training in Moscow and younger party members have been trained in Cuba.0osta Rican students have been sent to Communist countries for schooling. Losta Rlcans traveled to Havana at the expense of the Castro government.
Because of its democratic tradition and the Lack of repression of the Communists, Costa Rica has been usedistribution point for Communist propagandi
SfirTBET
in Central America for many years. Principles, the Spanish-Language version of Problems of Peace and Socialism, is printed in Sar. Jose lor^istrl button to Manama. Nicaragua, and Honduras, Recently, party secretary Mora was reportedly experiencing difficulties in sellingopies that are printed each month. The party0 yearly for publishing Prlnclpios.
Both TASS and Prensa Latina have representatives in Costa Rica, but the New China News Agency (NCNA) office was closed3 after the localthrew his support behind the pro-Soviet stand of the PVP. The NCNA stillocal stringer in San Jose.
Costa Rico maintains diplomatic relations only with Poland, whose ambassador is resident in Mexico City. Trade relations have been meager in the past andessn goods was exported to Poland and none to other Communist countries.3 import figure was somewhatrom Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia. Sincehen severaldeputies visited the bloc area, pressure on the government to increase trade with Easternhas increased. Inrade treaty was signed with Poland. rade treaty is pending with Yugoslavia, and East Germany has tried twice, both times unsuccessfully, toommercial office in San Jose. Czecholovakla presentlyour-man unofficial trade mission in Costa Rica, The East Germans offered toignificant amount of Costa Rican coffee and in fact didrivate purchaseommercial dealer. The coffee growers can be expected to put pressure on the government to permit further sales toEurope if their sales in the West diminish. The recently passed Barter Law will allow trade deals with Communist countries.
The youth of the Costa Rican Party isincreasingly impatient with the leadership of the party old guard, but the PVP has not split into pro-Chinese and pro-Soviet factions. There is no guerrilla movement in Costa Rica, but some of tho hard-line revolutionaries may be found in
8
the PAPS of Marcial Aguiluz. The Chinese Commu-nists have had little success in Costa Rica but their tactic of training young revolutionaries may eventuallyeparate movement that could break away from the PVP. Aboutosta Ricans have received guerrilla training in Cuba.
m
5
THE CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY
1. Fidel Castro and the Cuban Communist Party
In tha autumn5 Fidel Castro took the first significant steps to establish the authority of Cuba's Communist Party on tbe national level. Byoliticalecretariat and five standing committeesan central committee, Castro made it clear that the party will be ontrustedide range of powers. As ahis regime will become even more
Betweeneptemberastro announced the formation of the now national party organs, declared that the drafting of Cuba'sconstitution had begun, changed the party's name to the Cuban Communist Party, and also said that its first national congress will be heldlate
The party, which was known for about three years as the United Party of the Socialist Revolutions the smallest In the Communist world. 0 members are drawn from an elite core of Castro's most militant supporters and are therefore Intrinsically loyal to him and obediently responsive to the regime's policies. With most of its representation from the Cuban masses, however, the party is grounded more in unsophisticated adulation for Fidel Castro thanomprehension of Communism.
A. The Central Comaitt&e
Fidel and Raul Castrc continue as first and second secretaries, and Armando Hart, formerly the minister of education, has moved up to the third slot in the party hierarchy as its secretary of President Dortlccs, chairman of the economic comalttee, is also cn both the political bureau and the secretariat. These four will probably control virtually all activities of the party. Their only colleagues on the eight-man political bureau for example are four army majors with scant experience in government who were seemingly included tc give a -strong representation to the military.
8
The six-man party secretariat will apparently assume wide responsibilities for administering policies set by the political bureau. Most of its members are able political technicians with long government experience. Both Bias Roca and Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, veteran Communists and ableare members. Raul Castro is the onlyrepresentative and also heads the secretariat.
Most of the responsibilities allocated to the five standing committees within the central committee concern matters which were not previously under party control. The most significant policy shift isln tbe composition of Dortlcos' five-mancommittee, which is made up of four otherof "liberal" economic principles. Theviews espoused by Ernesto "Che" Guevara have no proponents ln tbe Cuban leadership. Armando Hart heads the education committee which Includes the new education minister and the head of the party schools.
The new foreign affairs committee is headed
a young revolutionary with little experience in foreign relations rather than by Foreign Minister Raul Roa, who is only tho second member. Theof Manuel Pineiro, the head of Cuba's in-telllgonce and subversion service, is apparently meant to emphasize the regime's interest in"anti-imperialist" revolutions ln Latin America and elsewhere. Although the committee will probablyeorganization of the Foreignand assume some of its powers, the conduct of foreign affairs will remain predominantly under the direct control of Fidel Castro and President Dortlcos.
The constitutional studies committee is
by Bias Roca and includes the Justice minister. The committee is charged with drafting Cuba's "socialist" constitution and withew court and judiciary systom patterned after Soviet bloc examples. It may also study-changes in the lower partyand will probably plan the first Communist Party congross.
The revolutionary armed forces and state security committee is headed by Raul Castro and staffed by the interior minister and army chief of staff. About one fourth of the party ranks and two thirds of the central
5
t I
committee'members are in the armed forces. Bythe party and military establishments, theis ensuringolarization between its two most important bulwarks. Moreover, because of the wide representation in the central committee, it appears that factionalism in the Cuban leadership is at its lowest point since Castro came to power.
The central committee comprises nearly the entire top civilian aad military leadership of the Castro regime. Inclusionumber of veterans of tho pre-Castro party suggests that the conflict between the regime's "old" and "new" Communists nowead issue. In addition to both Bias Roca and Carlos Rafael Rodriguez more thanther important "old" Communists have gained added influenceesult of central committee membership. The bitter disputes which characterized the early years of the party's' development appear to have given wayenerally united program.
B. Outlook
The accelerated development of the Communist Party5 reflects several important trends in the political evolution of the Castro regime. The party has assumed wide powers and is clearly meant to function as the regime's inner bureaucracy and control most affairs of government. Manyof government ministries will probably be shifted to the party, but control over the economy, foreign affairs, and education will remain essentially in the hands of the same men. The composition of both party cadres and higher councils indicates that veteran followers of Fidelfrom hisulya pre-eminent position. The party therefore, can profaaTtfty be expected to remain indefinitely as the personal political machine of Fidel Castro.*
2. History-of.the Pre-Castro Commur.ist Party
The Cuban Communist Party was founded5 andecadetrictly proletarianpolicy. Although outlawed almost froavthe outset, the party was already an important force in Cuban politics in thehen Communists achieved power in"the labor movement and helped to
overthrow the Machado dictatorship ear later concerted Communist oppositionrincipal factor in the fall of the Grau San Martin government. With unabated vehemence the partyFulgencio Batista, the new Cuban strong man, who ruleduccession of puppet presidents until he was elected president himself It was with Batista's assistance, however, that the party became one of tbe most important and powerful Communist parties ln Latin America.
5 the party began to adopt popular front policies in accord with world-wide Communist policy. Perhaps to emphasize the change In the party's line, CesariVllar, who had been secretary generalas replaced by Bias Roca. Theodification in Batista's attitude toward tho Communists vas whan he permitted them tofrontUnited Revolutionary Party (PUR) Juan Marlnelloroup of prominent Cuban writers and Intellectuals who Joined with the Cuban Socialists in tbe PUR. Although the Communist party was still illegal, Batista allowed It topublicationaily newspaper lnwo months later' the party completed its turnabout and declared that Batista had become antifascist and "an integral part of the progressivehe new amity between Batista and the Communists was sealed when they called the dictator "theof democracy."
Batista legalized the party in8ear later it merged with tho PUR and became the Communist Revolutionary Union Partyhe Communiststrong Influence at the constitutional convention which drafted0 constitution. In terms of labor and socialit was one of the most advanced In the hemisphere. In the0 elections, thesupported Batista's candidacy for thoand Joined in his Socialist Democratic
esult of this collaboration with Batista, tho Communists elected ten members to the Chamber of Deputies and moreembers of citythroughout the Island. Communist mayors were elected in Santiago and Manzanlllo.
The Nazi-Soviet Pact9ewtho Cuban party, but had little effect on itswith the government. The partysupport Batista and tooderate policyreform, but directed Its propagandaAllies and assisted in the dissemination of This new position led the Socialistthe PURC to split with the Communists andIndependent Socialist Party. Whenho Communists shifted theirthroughout the war they pursued the popularavoided all talk of violence, andcriticizing the United States. he first time established diplomaticthe Soviet Union. Tho party again changedin preparation for4 elections andPopular Socialist Party (PSP). Itcandidate who lost to Grau Sanparty gained considerable strength duringyears and polledotes in the Two of its prominent leaders, JuanCarlos Rafael Rodriguez, served at differentministers without portfolio in Batista'swere the first Latin American Communists to
72 however, the PSP steadily lost strength. In8oters registered ashighest yetbut actual voting strength was below that46 because the party had failed to form s In addition the administration of Prio Socarras took stronger action against the Communists than had Grau. 0 few unions remained under Communist control, and in the congressional elections of that year the PSP registered0 voters. Although the core of the organization was never broken the PSP remained isolated
The party was publicly critical of the military coup which returned Batista to powernd in October of the following year it was againillegal. Batistaureau for the Suppression of Communist Activities within theand most of the top PSP leaders were arrested or went into exile. The underground organization continued to operate, however, and Batista apparently used some of the loss prominent Communists tohis own labor support.
H-5
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The PSP did not actively join in the*struggle against Batista even while lt was being persecuted. Fidel Castro wis scornfully looked uponputsch-ist" and "adventurer" and not until the sumner8 when Carlos Rafael Rodriguez traveled to the Sierra Maestra, did the Communists attempt to make official contact with blm. Rodriguez was with Castro during the final months before victory, and probably concluded an agreement with him permitting tbe PSP to re-emorgoegal party upon Batista's fall. Once the Castro regime was committod to its radical program, the PSP began to quietly urge theof revolutionaryn order to maximize its strength and to neutralize other political factions.
3. The Development of Castro's United Party
Since the united party first began to form it bas passed through three distinct organizational phases and has twice changed Its name. Itumultuous power play, suffered apurge,and finally was completely reconstructed. Through all these changes, however, Fidel Castro has uniformly stated that "the role of the party is to govern." As early as1 be promised that the regime would be institutionalizedroletarian party.
The development of the united party began in tho spring1 when the Integrated Revolutionary(ORI) was formed as an amalgamation of tbe three political groups which survived the Batista regime. h of July Movement and theDirectoratetudent faction) were merged with the PSP. The ORI, however, was formedlear definition of its powers or role ln tbe Cuban regime, and inastro revealed that it was to be only the preliminary stop in the formation of the United Party of the Socialist Revolution (PURS).
Although various regime officials described theORIommunist party, ltomewhat equivocal course until Fidel Castro publiclyMarxism-Leninism in During tbe first year of its organization, therefore, tbe OBI had no meaningful program or national executive organ, and no effective party organization.
Tbo "old" Communists of the PSP Inevitablythe ORI. Theymall and well-organized club of professionalgeneration older than the young Castroites. In each of the sixand in most of the municipios (municipal"old" Communists controlled the ORI butto express primary loyalty to the PSP In2 the ORI national directorate was announced, and itsembers included about an equal number of "old" and "new" Communists. Fidel Castro as first secretaryix-man It appeared, however, that Castro was no longer in control of the regime and that the PSP was freely implementing its own policies. Tensions mounted as "new" Communists in the regime becamecritical of the PSP.
Castro struck at the "old" Communists lato in March. Ho sensationally denounced Anibalrominent PSP leader, for "sectarian tyrannies" and accused him of creating "absurd and monstrous" confusion because of his "madness for power." was purged from his post as organization secretary. Moreover, Castro bitterly railed against the "old guard" Communists for squandering political power and forgetting the masses, and calledervasive purge to remove the undesirable elements. Escalante was the only "old" Communist removed from the national directorate, but tbe purge extended to four of the six provincial party chiefs, to most of the local bosses, and was not completed until all the party cells were completely reconstituted.
The restructuring of the party cells begin in2 and continued for about two years while commissions appointed by Castro held nominatingin work centers and state farms throughout the island. ystem of popular assemblies,by Castro to generate party cadres among the masses, haa been acclaimed by the regime as aninnovation in Communist procedure. At the worker assemblies, "model workers" were selected on the basis of their demonstrated devotion to the regime, and party commissions subsequently selected those suitable for PURS membership. In addition the former ORI members were individually reconaidered but probably at least half of them wero purged. By the end2 the Cuban press was beginning to
8
refer to the part; as the PURS and the transition was effected by3 without official notice.
The PURS national directorate'was composed at first of theemaining ORI leaders but by4 was reduced As tho party's main organ, however, lt wae limited mostly to educational and organizational matters and did not have clearly established responsibilities. The PURSoverning party and was important mainly as an intermediary stage inulingunist party. For almost three years the PURS slowly augmented its membership and powers as lower party commissions and cells were formed andarge degree of autonomy. 4 the provincial party organizations were granted extensive supervisory and administrative duties. They continue toas the centers of authority in the six provinces.
4. The Structure and Rola of the Cuban Communist Party
A. Provincial and Local Party Structure
In each of the provinces there is adirectorate made upmall secretariat and an executiva bureau. The secretary general, the highest provincial officer, is assisted by aof organization who also exercises considerable power. The number of additional members of thesecretariats.varies, but there are usually secretaries for education,nd revolutionary orientation (COR). Other members of the executive bureau include representatives in charge ofactivities with the mass organizations and with secondary party organizations.
Regional party directorates were3 to provide tho Intermediatebetween the provincial and local levelssupersede the old municlplos. Regionalare directly subordinate to theapparatus and are similarly organized. of the regionsIs was one of the majorreforms of the Castro regime. egionals in Cuba with between six andin each
Sectional and municipal committees weroto administer andarying
CONFf&ENTIAL
of party cells. They generally conform to thepattern of other party committees, but are limited to applying higher party decisions and coordinating cell activities. In4 thereunicipal committeesectional Although municipals generally are in more populous areas, it is not clear why two such similar, structures have been retained.
The party cell or NBA (Nucleo de Reyolucionarlos Activos) is the lowest party organ and i's composed" of "militants" and candidate members. Inhere were moreells varying in size from five to as manyembers. Probably at least half of the party members are laborers and farm workers who were chosen as "model workers" by assemblies ln their work centers and state farms. The cell has no administrative role. Its primary functions are to mobilize workers and maintain an exemplary work standard.
Members and candidates pay dues ranging from one to four percent of their monthlysalarie3,but they are probably more than compensated through favors and special considerations. Candidates who share all the responsibilities but none of the benefits of full members,ne to two yearafter which they are considered for party
Party committees below the provincial level were "elected" from within their own jurisdiction by sectional and regional assemblies, butist of candidates suggested from above. Nohas been established for provincial assemblies, and provincial party officers continue to be appointed by the national organization.
B. Indoctrination and Education
The committee for revolutionary orientation (COR) is attached to the central committee andsupervises and coordinates partyItulletin at regular intervals and controls the Cuban Institute of Radiowhich operates all radio and television stations. The COR probably also maintsins direct control over the press. Each lover party committeeOR
H-9
representative, who Fidel Castro insists "isommissar"revolutionary Instructor." The COR chairman is Raul Garcia Pelaez, previously the Matanzas Province party chief. Xsldoro Malmierca, the former COR chief, now is editor of the party daily. Grappa, and will apparently function mainly as Its political overseer. It is not clear how the COR Is related to tho new education committee.
The party also maintains an extensive system of morearty schools including the Mico Lopez National Party School, five national schools for the mass organizations, and six provincial centers, as well as day and evening basic schools specifically created to bring revolutionary instruction to peasants and workers. The schools hive graduatedtudents and are supervised by the national directorate of the schools of revolutionary instruction which is apparently attached to the.party's education committee. Courses attempt to integrate classical Marxism with the Cuban revolution. They include theoreticalstudies, Cuban history, and the works and speeches of Fidel Castro, Lionel Soto is the head of tbe schools. The party also stimulates andproper political indoctrination ln the nation's regular scbool system by maintaining delegates on . provincial and municipal.education boards.
C. The Union of Young CoEjrunlsts
The.Union cf Young Communists (UJC) is the party's youth organization and its nationalis guided by the party ln grooming the "mostCuban youth, for party membership. The L'JC had its origin in the former Association of Rebel Youth, which changed its name ln2 andfive separate youth groups. The UJCembership of0maller number of candidates. The regimeotalofubans between the ages The UJC publishes the weekly magazine Mellaaily nowspapor Juvontud Robeldo (Rebelt controls ths Federation of University Students (FEU) and supervises two other organizations for younger Cubans.
The Union of Pioneershe Junior version of the UJC, was established to organize andchildren betwe.cn the ages-of- six and thirteen.
0 members intesignedto prepare young Cubans for the UJC and to organize recreational activities. The Union of Secondary Studentsormed inow has0 members.
D. The Party ln the Armed Forces
With more0 members of the Cuban armed forces also members of the party, the military is rapidly developing its own political cadreloyal to the regime, Raul Castro has personally supervised the construction of the party ln the military by appointing all politicaland by staffing all party offices with trusted supporters of the regime. 4 he said that the military will have the highest percentage of party members in the country, because the "armed forces are the political and military vanguard of the revolution."
According to Castro,hird of thewill eventually be admitted as full or candidate members of the party and the Union of Young As armed forces minister and second secretary of tbe party, Raul Castro is building the regime's largest unified political force within its strongest and most faithful institution.
Tbe organization of the party ln the armed forces was initiated in3 with the formation of the first cells in the Army of the East. he process began in the Central Armyear later in the Western Army. The navy and air defense forces have also organized party cells.
Military colls are constructed ln essentially the same manner as in civilian work centers. That is,the membersilitary unit gatheropular assembly to choose the "model combatants" who are later reviewed by the party commission appointed by Raul Castro. Those acceptedell and elect their own officers-. Thereew Intermediary party structures which coordinate and direct the activities of lower bodies,'but the hierarchy is kept weak because military channels maintain the line of command.
Military advisers from the Soviet bloc countries served as consultants and were largely responsible
8
5
for tha system that has been crested. The central committee directs the military cadres through Raul Castro's military committee. Tho principal duties of the military cadres are to drum up support for regime policies, to advance the Communist doctrine, and to provide the example for high military and political performance. In so extensively construct lng the party in the armed forces the Castro regime has taken another Important step in assuring its tight hold on power in imitation of the othorof the Communist bloc.
5 Pagell8of316
THE CENTRAL CCS/MITTES CUBAN COMMUNIST PARTY
FirstFidel CASTRO Ruz
SecondRaul CASTRO Ruz
Secretary ofrmando HART Devalos
BUREAU
Fidel CASTRO Ruz Raul CASTRO Ruz Osvaldo DORTICOS Torrado Juan ALMEIDA Bosques Ramiro VALUES Mer.endez Armando HART Davalos Guillermo GARCIA Fria Sergio DEL VALLE Jimenez
SECRETARIAT
Raul CASTRO Ruz Osvaldo DORTICOS Torrado Fidel CASTRO Ruz Bias ROCA Calderio Faure CHOKON Mediavilla Carlos Rafael RODRIGUEZ
CCM-HTTEB
Osvaldo DORTICCS Torrado Faure CHOKON Mediavilla Carlos Rafael RODRIGUEZ. Raul CURBELO Morales Joel DOMENECH Benitez
Armando HAHD Davalos Lionel SOTO Prieto Jose LIANUSA Gobel
Osma.-ii CIENFUEGOS Gorrtaran Raul ROA Garcia Manuel PINEIRO Losada
REVOLUTIONARY ARMEDSTUDIES
AND STATE SECURITY
Raul CASTROROCA Calderio
Ramiro VALDESNARANJO Morales
Sergio DELL VALLEYABUR Maluf
Jose ABRANTES Fernandez Maj. Rogelio ACEVBDO Gonzalez Maj. Armando ACOSTA Cordero Maj. Juan V. ACUNA Nunez Severo AGUIRRE Cristo Maj. Jose M- ALVAREZ Bravo Maj. Efigenio AMEIJEIRAS Delgado Cfcpt. Emilio ARAGOIIES Navarro Capt- Jose ARTEAQA Hernandez
Maj. Flavio BRAVO Fardo
Ramon CALCINES Gordillo
Maj.- CAMACHO Aguilera
Maj. Lino CARRERAS Rodriguez
Maj. Ernesto CASILLAS Palenzuela
Maj. Belarraino CASTILLA Mas
Maj. Leopoldo CINTRAS Fria
Maj. Abelardo COLOME Ibarra
Maj. Angel Joel CHAVECO Hernandez
Kaj. Mar.uel DIAZ Gonzalez Kaj. Victor E. DRAKE Cruz Vilmu ESPIN Guilloys do Castro Kaj. Manuel E. FAJARDO Sotomayor Marcelo FERNANDEZ Font Kaj. Oscar FERNANDEZ Moll Kaj. Harold FERRER Martinez Kaj. Calixto GARCIA Martinez Kaj. Julio A. GARCIA Olivers Kaj. Pedro M. GARCIA Pelaez Raul OARCIA Pelaez Elena GILabio GROBART
Kaj. Raul GUERRA Bernejo
Orestes GUERRA Gonzales Secundino GUERRA Hidalgo Kaj. Joel IGLESIAS Leyva Kaj. Omar H. ISER Mojena MftJ. Rlenerio JIMENEZ Lige Kaj. Rolando KXNDEIAN Bles Kaj. Antonio E. LUSSON Botile Manuel LUZARDO Garcia Maj. Joae R. MACHADO Ventura Isidoro HAIKIHRCA Paoll Juan KARINELLO Vidaurreta Miguel MARTIN Perez Jose MATAR Franye Capt. Joaquin MENDEZ Cooinches Maj. Raul MENENDEZ Tonaasevlch Arnaldo MI LI AN Castro Kaj. Carlos MIR Marrero
edro MI RET Prieto
Maj. Jesus MONTANE Oropeso
Kaj. Arnaldo OCHOA Sanchez
Maj. Mario OLIVA Perez
Kaj. Flliberto OLVBRA Moya
Maj. Ramon FARDO Guerra
Lazaro PKNA Gonzales
Maj. Faustino PEREZ Hernandez
Capt. Antonio PEREZ Herrero
Maj. Waifredo PEREZ Rodriguez
Kaj. Llzardo PROHNZA Sanchez
Jcse RAMIREZ Cruz
Capt. Eliseo REYES Rcdrlguez
Capt. Jorge RISQUE? Valdea
Maj. Orlando RODRIGUEZ Puerta
Basilio RODRIGUEZ Rodriguez
Ursinio ROJAS Santiesteban
Kaj. Antonio SANCHEZ Diaz
Cella SANCHEZ Kandulay
Kaj. Aldo SAHTAMARIA Cuadrado
Eaydec SAHTAMARIA Cuadrado de Hart
Maj. Rene de los SANTOS Ponce
Clementina SERRA Robledo
Maj. Joae R. SILVA Berroa
Kaj. Eddy SUNOL Ricardb
Lt. Julio TARRAU Castillo
Maj. Dlocles TORRAIBAS Gonzalez
Felipe TORRES Trujillo
Capt. VEIAZ Suarez
Maj. Roberto VIERA Estrada
Maj- Luis A. ZAYAS Oehoa
COMMUNISM IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
1. The Pro-Hebollion Period
The Communist Party of the Dominican Republic originated in thendroup of Spanish Communist exiles who came to the country after the end of the Spanish Civil War. In the Dominican Republic, these Spanish Communistsetwork of front organizations and publications and began to proselytize. They appealed mainly-to anti-Trujillo intellectuals, particularly among the university students. Although Trujillo courted the Soviet Union during world War II,Communists were jailed or kept under surveillance, and operated underground2 5 the Dominican Communist Party was formed under the leadership of such men as Pericles Franco Ornes, Francisco Henriquez, and the DucoudrayJuan Bautista and Felix Servio Ducoudray Mansfield. Inhe police prohibited Communistactivities and leading Dominican Communists sought diplomatic asylum and exile. Most sought refuge in Cuba.
Latexiled Communist leaders returned to the Dominican Republic at the invitation of General Trujillo, who was preparing an "election" which would permit him once again to become chief executive. The Communists supposedly were to be allowed freedom of operation while the Trujillo government could take credit for furthering democracy by allowinggroups to take part ln the life of the nation. The Dominican Popular Socialist Party*(PartidoPopular Dominicano -active in thelegally established as theCommunist party in the country and beganpublic campaign meetings. This recognition scheme, which was toavorite Trujillo maneuver, was short-lived. The PSPD was suppressed shortly before7 elections and its principal leaders were put in jail and then exiled.
The Dominican Communist exiles established their headquarters in Guatemala and began publishing Orien-taclon, which was smuggled back into the Dominican Republic. After the fall of the Arbenz government
*Changed to Dominican Communist Party (PCD) in
8
in Guatemalahe Dominicans moved their headquarters first to Mexico and then to Cuba, whore it remained until after the death of Trujillo. The PSPD played an important role in tho attemptedbased from Cuba, which took place onuringumber of the top PSPD leaders were killed.
Prior to the assassination of Trujillo inhe Cuban-based PSPD members were negotiating with bia in an effort tooamunist organization ln the Dominican Republic. During the months of negotiations, there were no Cubanattacks on the Dominican dictator. Immediately after his assassination the Cubans reacted withof US Government complicity in the deed.
With the relaxation of controls that followed tho death of Trujillo, exiled Communists beganthe returning Dominican exiles. Byxtremist propaganda leaflets signed by the central committee of the PSPD began appearing in the Republic. The PSPD alsoaily radio program to tho Dominican Republic from Cuba. Communists becameactive ln the labor field and suspected Communists headed both the United Workers' Front for Autonomous Trade Unions (FOUPSA) and the National Federation of Public Employees and Autonomous Institutions (FENEPIA). The Communists were also active ln organizing or infiltrating women's and professional fronts such as theWomen's Federation (FMD) and tho Dominican Lawyers' Association (ADOMA).
Although the central committee of the PSPD in2 declared Itself opposed to the Council of State government and the forthcoming2 elections, it cautioned leftist forces in the Dominican Republic against being drawn into armed insurrection in which they would probably be defeated This stand against violence reflected the PSPD's quarrel over tactics with the more extremistof the farisagreement which impeded the unification of leftist forcespopular front" movement.
The election of Juan Bosch raised expectations within the party that the new government would be
1-2
8
initially loft of center, followedefinite swing to tho left that wouldolitical situation favorable to Communist actlvitios. By the time Bosch had been inaugurated as Prosident inost Communist Party leaders hadto the Dominican Republic loudly praising Communist Cuba and expressing conditional support for Bosch. Although still illegal, the PSPD was able to organize clandestinely without much restraint and El Popular,tho party newspaper, circulated openly for Tho first time during the short Bosch Bosch refusod to take repressive action against the extreme leftist groups so long as thoy pursued their ends by peaceful means. He apparently wanted to avoid forcing the extreme leftosition where thoy would probably resort tohad happened in Venezuela under President Betancourt. The PSPD, for its part,oublo-faced policy toward tho Bosch government. On one sldo theymost of their propaganda resources onthe line that the government was in Imminent danger from an ultrareactionary plot, Involvingof the military and the "imperialists." tbo Communists emphasized the desirability of protecting the "democratichoy made almost no mention of tho Bosch administration, Thoalong with other extreme leftist groups, hoped to lead the antlcoup forces without committingtoo much to the regime. The other side of their position involved exerting pressure on the government for more "revolutionary" measures, with the intont to exploit for their own benefit Bosch's failure to deliver on his promises.
Shortly after the military coup which ousted the Bosch regime, onhegovernment declared all Communistand activities illegal, and forced the PSPD under ground once again. 45 the Communists have intensified their efforts onwith and organizing new labor unions. ThePRD-domlnated labor confederationESITRADO has now been successfully infiltrated by Communists who are clearly attempting to seizecontrol. Communists dominate the relatively small Dominican Workers' Union, known as "Land are particularly strong in the cement, paint, and textile industries.
Communist indoctrinators and recruiters have concentrated their efforts in the schools with marked success. Communist and Cuban propaganda is distributed more or less freely in the schools. The average worker or peasant ln the Dominicanis semi-illiterate and incapable of absorbing Communist doctrines quickly, while the students are usually avid readers and, as in other Latin American countries, become involved in politics at an early age. Fraguahe pro-Communist studenthas, since its founding inargely dominated campus politics at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. General student apathy toward campus elections and the militancy of the pro-Communists help Fragua control the Dominican Students' Federation (Federacion de Estudlantes Domlnlcanoshe official organization of the student body.
2. The MPD
The Dominican Popular Movement (MPD) (Movimiento Popular Dominlcano) was organized6 byexiles in Cuba, where MPD members activelyFidal Castro. In0 Trujillo, in hopes of favorably influencing opinion in tho Western Hemisphere, allowed MPD leaders to return to the Dominican Republic tooken Within two months the Dominican government arrested MPD leaders Maximo Lopez Molina aod Andres Marcelino Ramos Peguero and had the party headquarters looted by mobs. Lopez had been expelled from the PSPD He was accused of following tbe "Chinese heresy." Although the MPD operated forhort time and at Trujillo's ploasure, it gainedpopularity and established itselfide anti-Trujillo
Lopez and Ramos were released in1 and tbe MPD was given new guarantees by Trujillo, who was again making overtures to the OAS. Following theassassination at tho and ofopez and other party leaders reactivated the MPD amid extremist speeches filled with anti-US and pro-Castro propaganda. Party leaders denied favoring violence or Communism, but the MPD created disorders ln Santo Domingo and their public declarations contained an unmistakable note of class warfare. The MPDred and black flag with an upraised
the extremist impression. Although mobs organized by the government repeatedly sacked MPD headquarters during the summerythe party had anembers and sympathizers and was penetrating other opposition groups in the Dominican Republic. During the period the MPD, in cooperation with the PSPD, unsuccessfully attempted to unite all leftist partiesommon political front. Inesult of mob violence instigated by the MPD, the government of Joaquin Balaguer declared the MPD illegal.[
Until the Inauguration of Juan Bosch inhe MPD was subjected to sporadic harassment by the government and went underground. It lost most of its popular following and increasinglyto provoking riots and mob violence led by disgruntled youth drawn largely from the lowest urban classes. When MPD leaders returned from exile in the spring3 the party tried once again to setnited front of leftist parties. Although the party was still outlawed, Lopez was allowed to travel throughout the country publicizing the ideas ofliberation" and the popular front, which were echoed in the clandestine party news organ, Liber tad.
Shortly after the3 military coup the MPD, along with the PSPD, was declared illegal by the governing triumvirate. Arrests of MPD leaders more or less eliminated the party from the guerrilla campaign of Maximo Lopez Molina and nine of his followersupply of weapons werenear Cotui in In earlygovernment forces captured several high-ranking MPD members during an attempted landingoat called the Scarlet Woman and discovered an arms cache nearby.
MPD strength is found among members of the poor urban classes. Most of the leaders are lower middle-class university students or professionals with laboring-class family backgrounds. Without close
family ties, often without employment, they and their largely unlettered followersighly combative group of the dispossessed.
The Cuban Government has presumably supported exiled MPD members while they were in Cuba and faclli' tated their travel to and from Cuba.l
3. The Fourteenth of June Political Group
The extremeh of June Political Group (Agrupaclon Politica Catorcero-Castro political organisation which came into existence ln thelandestineaimed at unseating Trujillo. As an antl-Trujillo organization, the APCJ originally attracted membersroad political spectrum, many from wealthy and socially prominent families. Theh of June, commemorates an abortive invasion attempt mounted from Cuba In0 the APCJlot to kill Trujillo, with the result that many of its members were Imprisoned and tortured. The APCJ was not involved ln Trujillo's assassination on Shortly after Trujillo's death and apparently at the insistence of the extreme leftist faction of the movement, the APCJ assumed the roleunctioning political party. In1 the APCJ refused to enter the Council of Stateproposed by President Joaquin Balaguer. The increasingly pro-Communist orientation of the APCJ caused moderate leaders to resign from the party ineaving the APCJhe hands of By2 the APCJ was organizing armed groups, and stocking arms caches for future guerrilla activities. The party's public pronouncements became
1-6
^Segret
increasingly anti-US and pro-Castro, reflecting the dominant position of pro-Communist forces.
The APCJ did not participatearty in the2 elections, basing their abstention on the accusation that the Council of State wasthe repressivepolice and thethe Trujillo dictatorship. After theof the popularly elected Juan Bosch, the APCJfor recognitionegal political party, which was granted in3 by the superior electoral The party continued, however, to organizecells, and party leaders appeared to be in full agreement with Marxist-Leninist solutions to the economic and social problems of the country.
3 extreme leftist groups, especially the MPD, attempted to unite all Dominican leftistsopular front. Personal rivalries, however, doomed the proposed front.
After the3 coup the APCJto rally non-CommunistPRD nnd thea national front to "struggle for the restoration of By lateowever, when it became apparent that anticoup forces would not join forces with the pro-Castro APCJ, party leaders decided to commence the much discussed but poorly planned armed insurrection.
The APCJ temporarily joined forces with theleftist MPD under the banner ofh of June (Movimiento Revolu-cionarioeand inorce estimated aten took to the mountains. Leaders of the MR-1J4 apparently hoped that the uprising would point out the instability of the triumvirate government and make the MR-1J4 the leader for the presumed growing discontent with the government in the Dominican Republic. They failed in both hopes. The MPD guerrilla contingent was quickly!captured, and the uprising attracted little sympathy. PSPD leaders, who continued to counsel against violence, withheld their support.3 the government, using an3 ontlsubversion decree, declared tha APCJ Illegal. Campesinos in the zones of operation refused to aid the guerrillas in spite of efforts to win them over. Dominican Army leaders crushed the uprisingonth.
The death of several leaders and the imprisonment or deportation of others such as Jaime Duran, Fidelio Despradel Roques, Juan Roman Diaz, and Pablo Johnson Ortiz, left the APCJ disorganized and divided. 4 some wanted to rehabilitate the APCJegal political party, others wanted to continueubversive group aiming at the violent overthrow of the de facto government. ByCuban-trained APCJ leaders began returning clandestinely to the Dominican Republic andore active APCJ became manifest.
or afuj tunas, tne party prooauxy supijui
itself by contributions from members, sympathizers, businessmen hoping to buy protection, the sale of the party newspaper Elnd bonds. Some funds also come from sympathizers in New York.
The most important group in the APCJ is thebureau, and the organizationxecutive commission or committee, provincialand cells. Leaders of the APCJ before the recent rebellion appeared to be:
Rafael Baez Perez
Norge Botello. Fernandez
Fidelio Arturo Despradel Roque
Jaime Duran Hernando
Roberto Duverge Mejia
Luis Genao Espaillat
Juan B. Mejia
Daniel Ozuna Hernandez
Juan Miguelnow dead)
Rafael Francisco Taveras Rosarlo
1 the aim of the APCJ has been afor national liberation from what they term the domination of the landowners, the oligarchy, the upper bourgeoisie, and US imperialism. The Castro revolution in Cuba is its model.
The APCJ Is openly pro-Castro and maintains representatives in Havana, Paris,and Moscow. The
Cuban Government is known to have trained APCJ
bers in guerrilla warfare, sheltered APCJassisted them to infiltrate back into theRepublic. Radio Havana has furnishedto the APCJ as well as to other
leftist groups in the
Beginning last autumn, the Communists and allied extremists who had been deported following thoguerrilla effort bogan filtering back into the Dominican Republic. Thoy carao backariety of circuitous routes and used various clandestine means of entering. Some were caught by the Dominican authorities. Most were not. Even some of thosewere not sentenced because Communist lawyers were able to intimidate and Influence theew were released on bail and never appeared for trial. By early April of this year, on the eve of the insurrection, there were nearly SO Communists or allied extremists back in the country afterperiods in exile.
The returnees who came back during the six months that preceded the outbreak of tbe insurrectionmany who were to take very prominent parts in tbe fighting. Among the more prominent were Juan Miguel Roman Diaz, top APCJ militant who was killed onay leading an attack on the loyalist-held national palace; Jaime Duran Hernando; Daniel Ozuna Hernandez, an APCJ militant active during thoCayetano Rodriguez del Prado, top MPD leader also active during tho fighting; Baldemiro Castro Garcia, an MPD leader who was reportedly killed while taking part in the rebel raid on San Francisco de Macoris onune; Tanas Erickson Alvarez, an MPD activist who was captured by loyalist forces during the early stages of the fighting; Felix Servio Ducoudray Mansfield, top PSPD leader who is playing an active political role in the rebel camp; Franklin Franco Pichardo, another ranking PSPDwho has been particularly close to rebelralnlstor Jottin Cury; and the PSPD militant fighter Antonio Isa Conde. Many of the returnees had boon active in the abortive guerrilla effort of
training, maiei mi, ahd intelligence advisers naa oeen provided to the police and security organizations of the Reidthey had to the Bosch government before
om-
the Dominican
it.
secunxy urgHiiiznciun uiu hui ucvciu
petent service. Capable and educated men could not
1-9
SMS"
f316
be Induced to serve in it and Bold insisted on diverting its few trainod men oway from theirtask of controlling Communist subversion and instead continually assigned them to investigate smuggling and to collect information on his non-Communist political opponents. Reid never seemed to take the subversive threat as seriously as the facts would seem to have justified.
One factor that made tho situation particularly vulnerable in the case of the Reid government was tho fact that the Communist parties had found an exploitablewhich placed them on the same side as the non-Communist political parties which had the greatest popular support. That issue was the one of "constitutionalism" and antlmilltarism, reflecting the public's opposition to the military coup of3 and tho unpopular governments thnt had followed.
4. The Rebellion
In its earliest moments, the rebellion appeared tooup by antl-Reid officers, some of whom had old scores to settle with their superiors, and some of whom were intent on returning Bosch from exile In Puorto Rico. Many PRD members who had not beenin the plotting quickly threw in with the rebels;rovisional government headed by PRDRafael Molina Urena was proclaimed and Bosch was asked to return.
It now appears, however, that extremist andgroups had advance word of the revolt, not surprising in Santo Domingo where plotting had been endemic and the subject of frequent gossip. Some lowor level PRD members aro reported, moreover, to have been in contact with some extremist leaders and seeking supportoup effort.
In any event, once news of tho revolt became public on the afternoon ofpril, these extremist groups moved quickly to participate. Leaders of the three Communist parties began collecting arms,their forces, and establishing strongpolnts in Santo Domingo. The PSPD established its principal strongpoint, or garrison, at the bouse of party leader Buenaventura Johnson Plmentelalle
nnd ou188
Espaillat. Crudely fortified machine-gunwere set up on the roof of the house. PSPD activists, Including Buenaventura Johnson Pimentel, Nicolas Pichardo Vicioso, Manuel Ortiz Delangres, Ignaclo Perez Mencia,and others were observed onpril making Uolotov cocktails and crude grenades at the house, which continued to serve as an arsenal and as headquarters for the main PSPD paramilitary forces untilpril. The PSPD moved itsto the house of Rafael Esteves Weber on the night ofpril, probably for security reasons, but the Johnson house has remained an important stronghold and arsenal.
A building on the corner of Arzobispo Portes Avenue and Sanchez Street also servedSPD stronghold during this period. Diomedes Mercedes Batista, Jose Rodriguez Acosta, and other PSPD leaders were observed there and were seenaramilitary force armed with submachine guns and rifles, Molotov cocktails, and hand grenades.
The APCJ is known to havetrong-point during this same period on Jose Gabriel Street near the Malecon in the Ciudad Nueva section of the city. eavily armed paramilitary force vas seen using this buildingase. eadquarters and strongpoint of MPD guerrillas was established in the Ciudad Nueva area.
Shortly after the rebellion began the military rebels, fearful that the high command would move rapidly against them, opened the arsenals of Santo Domingo and began passing out weapons to civilians. One such arsenal was atebruary" camp on tbe outskirts of the city. This and similar actions elsewhere provided the leaders of the variousand extremist groups with the materiel they needed to supplement their own collection of arms andignificant factor in the rebellion.
1
Buenaventura Johnson Pimentel, Juan Ducoudray Mansfield, Jaime Duran Hernando, and Fidelio Despradel Roquc were particularly active in acquiring weapons and equipping their followers ln both the PSPD and
APCJ -
"Ull these
"men-appeared to db responsive to airwction irom Manuel Gonzalezpanish Communist veteran of the Spanish Civil War.
By the afternoon of Sunday,hein Santo Domingo had become chaotic and confused. Violence had begun but there was more feinting and jabbing than significant action. Some of the rebels, particularly among the military, were tempted byfrom the loyalists for the establishmentew junta which wouldolution, presumably along traditional compromise lines. The forces of General Eliasessin, apparently taken by surprise, were reacting slowly and not effectively. In this situation the Communists were Intent on strengthening popular participation in the revolt. Public address cars manned by identifiable PSPDprowled the city directing the crowds topositions.
At this point the PRD leaders appeared to share the initiative with rebel officers; the Communists were busying themselves with organizing theof weapons to "reliable" groups and rounding up manpower for civilian militia units. It was in this period that the various Communist partiestheir weapons depots and set up disbursing controls.
As they established their organizations to
the military effectiveness of the civilian rebels, the Communists apparently also began to turn their attention to the political ends of the revolt. On the night ofh and the early morning hours of Aprilebel leaders consulted in the captured National Palace on strategy and on the compositionrovisional government. To these meetings came PSPD leaders Milvio Perez Perez and Silvano Lora Vicente, as well as Antonio Isa Conde.
These conversations in tho palace showed for tho first time not only that the Communists were intent on winning influence in the-rebellion, but that they alreadyegreo of bargaining power. The gov- rnment formed by Molina after theso consultations
included as attorney general Alfredo Conde i-
who had two sons in the PSPD. The director of the
et
5
National Department ofsecurityto be Luis Horaero Lajara Burgos,to be involved ln intelligence activities for the Trujillo government while in the USaval attache. The subdirector was to be Lajara's son, an APCJ militant.
PSPD leaders, and particularly Diomedes Mercedes Batista, commented during the early days of thethat they were very pleased with theof Captain Mario Pena Taveras, one of the army rebel leaders, whom they describedfriend of the party." Another rebel leader, the lawyer and retired army officer Rafael E. Saldana Jimenez, was acting as legal adviser to the rebel militaryoccupying the National Palace betweenndpril. Saldana is closely connected to the APCJ and is reported to have used his military connections3 to obtain weapons for the APCJ. APCJ and MPD leaders are known to have been inwith Saldana onpril and at other times.
Thus by the night of Aprilhe rebellion wasapid evolution. The Communistamong the rebel forces had established their credentials as effective and ruthless leaders. They were recruiting supporters with sound trucks and manufacturing Molotov cocktails for use against Wessin's tanks. This latter taskpecialty of PSPD members. APCJ activists organized in patrols were arresting "political prisoners" and often meting out rough justice on the spot.
Monday,as the last full day of the short-lived Molina rebel government. The day began with sporadic bombardments of the downtown area of Santo Domingo by loyalist planes and naval guns. While casualties were being sustained in the rebel sectors, ten members of the PSPD were meeting to plan the destruction of the city by fire if Wessin's troops entered. This was apparently characteristic of the Communists' doggedness during this bleakest hour for the rebels. Before the night was over it had become the dominant mood of the workers' quarters embittered by the bombing raids. Some of therebels apparently had had enough, but they were relieved of their weapons by rebels before being allowed to defect to the loyalists.
The principal defections at this stage of the rebellion besides that of Molina were those of Jose Pena Gomez, Colonel Hernando Ramirez, and Antonio Martinez Francisco, the secretary general of the PRD. After he had withdrawn from the rebel camp and taken refuge, Jose Penarominent PRD leader,S Embassy officer that hehis movement to have been defeated. He admitted that the Communists who joined the rebel force had infiltrated into positions of importance and that it was very difficult to stop them. Pena Gomez later returned to the rebel zone and played an active part in Caamano's government. Molina, who took asylum in the Colombian Embassy, is reported to have saiday that he wanted to get the truth of Communist infiltration across to the world, but that he could not face furtherhis and his family's safety. He reportedly said that he was already under intense attack by thefor opposing them. Also, he was reluctant to make any statement that would force him to give up asylum.
Martinez made his way out of the rebel lines and onh addressed the nation over San Isidro radio, controlled by the forces of Generalessin. In that broadcast, Martinez said: eg all to lay down their arms; turn them in to the nearest military post, because this is noight between political parties."
Communists did, in fact, clearly dominate the rebel movement betweenprilay. They were in obvious control after havinghe vacuum created when moderate non-Communist political leaders who had been in control lost heart for tho fight and abandoned it. The moderate-led rebel government of Rafael Molina Urenaonpril and most members of Juan Bosch's Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) went into hiding or took asylum in Latin American embassies. Most of the rebel military officers who had initially sparked the revolt also wont into hiding. Even Colonel Caamano was briefly in asylum. The collapse was brought on largely by the movement of loyalist army troopsthe rebel strongholds and recognition on tbe part of the non-Communist rebel leaders that their forces could not have prevailed over the superior
8
military power then moving toward them undor Generalessln and other loyalist commanders.
The Communists and their extremist allies had no place to hide and they prepared onndpril to defend the rebel stronghold to the last ditch. The Communists,in short, upheld rebel resistance when it otherwise would have completely collapsed. This is what they are unlikely to permit the non-Communist rebel leaders to forget. This la ansource of their present strength and their Influence in the Caamano government.
Actually, the Communists were not brought to the ultimate test. Tbe expected loyalist onslaught on the city did not come during tha crucial days ofndpril, Tbe "gutless generals" on the loyalist side were unable or unwilling to bring their well-equipped forces into action against the rebel The much-vaunted Dominican militarywas. Id fact, on the point of utterby the evening ofpril when the first US Marines landed. It was not untilay that loyalist forces became sufficiently stiffened to take theoffensive. By that time, US troops worebetween them and the main rebel stronghold.
Betweenpril and the first two days of May the Communists and their extremist allies wore the only effective rebelwith the naive youths manning the barricades under Communist leadership. ay, however, various of the moderate PRD leaders had come out of hiding and asylum, returned to rebel headquarters, and began resuming at least nominal control. Tho presence of US troops and the continuing Impotence of the loyalist military gave them at least some confidence that there would be no all-out loyalist onslaught on the city. ay, the non-Communists of tho rebel movementovernment under Colonel Caamano and composed of non-Communists, including some highly respected moderate leftists. Thus, tbe robels were able to re-establish the pictureoderate leftist regime dodicated to the fulfillmentopular revolution. Communists ware not obvious in the rebel camp by the time tbe bulk of US and other foreign newsmen arrived on tho scene. The Caamano government proceeded to try toespectable front and to try to enhance
its bargaining position for the political discussions, and the negotiations with the UN and the OAS that wore to follow. This is, in general, tho situation as it has prevailed since that date.
There is voluminous testimony as to thecontinuing important role in the rebel This was acknowledged even by Antonio Guzman, who was under considerationew presidentRD-weightod government. Guzman repeatedly stressed in his conversations with high-level US officials < hat he could not afford to act against thein the rebel movementrecipitous manner. He seemed to be honestly convinced that he would be unable to lead the kind of government that wouldhave the supportignificant portion of tho non-Communist rebel movement if he were required first to deport or take other strong action againstunists and other extremists who were with the rebels. Such action, he said, would only have the effect of creating more Communists.
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF ECUADOR
Introduction
The Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE)mall Marxist party, divided into two rival organizations on the basis of the Sino-Soviet ideological Through popular front tactics over the past three decades the party has at times attained some influence by organization and drive in the political lifeountry which has never developed strong and effective political parties. The PCE has always been primarily an intellectual elite which exerts inconsistent influence over the proletariat in part due to frequent dissension and ineptitude. he hard-line party has generally advocated and plotted violent popular revolution, while the Moscow-line regulars have pursued their traditional program of fronts and infiltration. While both PCEs pay lip service to the necessity for adapting the revolution to prevalent "objectiveor them as for all Ecuadorean political parties, these dependegree upon the nature and course of the junta's transition to constitutional government expected to take place by
2. Brief History of tha Party
The Ecuadorean Communist Party (PCE) emergedroup of intellectuals who began publishing an avant garde newspaper, La Antoreha, at Quito late The editor, Ricardo paredes, published articles on advanced socialism and provided ancenter behindevolution. Similar socialist groups sprang up in other cities, and the revolution brought to power briefly as first junta president Luis Napoleon Dillon,.a member of the Antoreha group. TheParty (PS) was founded by them
Within the party, Paredesoctrinairethe "Friends ofho published Comintern proclamations and those of other internal Communist bodiesew journal. La Prague. As Socialist
Party secretary general, Paredesear ln Moscow,, and represented both the "Friends of Lenin" and the PS at the VI Congress of theInternational. The.Socialist Partyadjusted its program to conform withCommunism, and as early9 its youth group took the name Juventud Communists Ecuatoriano (JCE).
The PS splithe Communist portion joiningroup of GuayaquilGrupo Communista--led by Carlos Guevara Moreno. The followingew, traditionalist Socialist Party appeared. Initially denounced by the Communist Party (PCE) as "socialhe Communists into the sinuosities of the Cominterntoopular front with them and the Liberals. This front helped overthrowJose Maria Velasco Ibarra. In generalrelations remained friendlyand the PCEeputation for accomy pllshlng much with little strength through other In coalitions, the Communists have generally been the more aggressive, better organized, andfinanced.
4 the PCE participatedevolutionary front whichiberal government and brought back Velasco Ibarra. For ayyear, they were Included in his administration, but he turned against the far left in6 and removed them from the cabinet. The PCE has never been legally registered with the Supreme Electoralequisite to inclusion on the ballot. It has operated under other labels and its secretary general, Pedro Sadd, was elected to the Senate2 and retained office
At the VII Party Congress inhewithin the ranks of international Communism surfaced in Ecuador. Jorge Rivadeneiraoastal youth leader, sustained the thesis that "cuatro gallos audaces" (four bold roosters) would be sufficient to resolve the problem of revolution. The congressevolutionary line which Saad's dominant pro-Moscow wing failed to implement. Quito's provincial committee, led by Rafael Echeverria Flores, assumed the lead of the activist group and the split widened ln3ember of the centralJose Maria Roura Cevallos,.was arrested while
J-2
bringing in money provided by Chinese Communists to finance pro-Peking propaganda and guerrilla Roura was expelled from the PCE for having gone to China without permission. The expulsion was arranged by Saad, who has consistently opposedactivity andore cautious approach. Saad then attempted unsuccessfully to remove Echever-ria from the Pichincha Provincial Committee
The Echeverrla group increased its strength,and was able toationalapparatus of its own. ime it grew in influence and virtually took over the party while Saad and his fellows languished in prison. cheverriaump party congress, expelled the pro-Saad central committeemen, andational organization to plan androgram which included early guerrilla actions in the countryside. Theapability for such operations rose duringut declined after Echeverria went to China and Cuba for medical care and training. Echeverria returned in5 and immediately announced his intention to open guerrilla operations, but onctober he wasand is awaiting trial,
Saad's regular party meanwhile received some impetus when he was released from prison for New It has continued with some successefforts against student and laboras well as the government itself.
3. PCE Strength and Supporting Groups
The PCE presently has an estimated membership among its factions of no morective "card carriers" who take any part in Communist activities. Prior to3 military coup, its strength wasto be as highuring the permissive regime of drunken Carlos Julio Arosemena. At that timo the JCE had, and associated extreme left groups claimed an; since the coup, these organizations have been relatively
Party financing was apparently irregular oven before it was outlawedues collected were small then, and negligible since. The PCE formerly raised funds by raffles, sale of party publications, and importation of Communist-made products for sale.
J-3
Recruiting bas largely beenaphazard basis In Ecuador, and only5 did the hard line set' out tolandestine inner party to which one could not gain membership merely by self-proclaimed adherence to international Communism. The party has throughout Its history influenced associated groups, especially youth and labor, and thereby has hadfar greater than its own small membership would suggest.
Most youth are non-Communist but virtually all their organizations are Communist controlled. The JCE has exploited the extremist intellectualwhich existed in many schools and universities prior to repressive measures taken sincey the military government. This success isto the frustrations of increasingly ambitious youth, and to the good organization and discipline of the Communist minority. Communist gains also stem from the naivete and passivity of most non-Communist groups, which have allowed them to pose as thegroup. The physical poverty of the universities has exacerbated this situation.
Heavy Communist and "fellow traveler"of the university faculties prior to the junta's reforms certainly made many students receptive to Communism. In many cases, incoming universityalready have had six years of Marxistin the secondary schools. Furthermore, theof these students are from the aspiring middle and lower classes whose impatience influencesttitudes.
The Ecuadorean National Union of Teachers has alsoarget of PCE infiltration. Thehave generally dominated or heavily infiltrated the Federation of University Students (FEUE),of local student delegations'of the five state
J-4
RET
universities. Tho degree of this penotration has fluctuated, and there have been splits at theFEUE congresses between pro-Communist and pro-democratic delegations. The Communists dominated the5 congress, whereupon therom Pretovlejo's small university withdrew, but the Communists remained firmly in control ofeadermall terrorist organization, Desta-canientos de Organizaclon Secretaas electedational office.
Other youth fronts include the Union Revolucionarla de Juventud Ecuadorianauban-influenced revolutionary group which has lost most of Its once-substantial following: the Juventud Sociallsta Revo-lucionariomall youth arm of the fellow-traveling Revolutionary Socialist Party; and the Federacion do Estudiantes Secundarias dol Ecuadorigh school students' organization which is under FEUE influence.
The PCE from its founding has sought toIndians. Paredes was an avid student ofaffairs and4 organized the Federacion de Indios Ecuatorlanos (FIE). Campesino work has been erratic, however. 8 the PCE attempted tosuch efforts,believing the poverty-stricken Indian sierra was fertile ground for Infiltration and the developmentommunist-oriented native movement. Tho Pichlncha Provincialto become the hard-linethe position that the revolution would be primarily agrarian and anti-feudal, and that the Indians would ultimately begin it. The direction of Indian affairs early passed to several of tho "hard-line" leaders, Jorge Kivm1teeI'--vt neira, Jose Maria Roura, Carlos Rodrlquez Paredes, Rafael Echeverria, and especially Cesar. Munoz,who prepared to mobilize the Indian campeslnos against the government.
The Communistsational campesino conference at Quito in0 attended byelegates, mainly sierra Indians. After the meeting, violence broke out along the sierra as armed men seized haciendas; in1 there woreover wages and working conditions. Tho PCEto exploit grievances, exhort further vlo-lence, and direct the operations. [
Plans were made in1randof the Indians for land reform, inwith the Third National Congress of the FEI.
A few days later, the PCEecond congress of the Coastal Federation of Agricultural Workers (FETAL) in Milagro, Guayas Province. The Comriunists have been active among coastal rural labor mainly to promote violence and agitation over conditions of labor and land tenure. ampesinosthis meeting.
The Communists, however, have encountered real difficulties in their rural program. Indians could be persuaded readily enough to seize lands, but have been unresponsive to revolutionary doctrine. They basically prefer to work their land unmolested by "whites" regardless of orientation. Duringeeting of Communist peasant leaders was held at Guayaquil to consider the organizationalof the PCE in the countryside. They called for renewed emphasis on Indian affairs, for the creationew PCE campeslno committee, and organization of cells among Indians. Since3 coup, the hard-line PCE has continued efforts to preparefor revolution, but its success has been limited by the inability of most would-be organizers toto'rural life and people.
Communists have been more successful intheir domination of artistic and intellectual activities to influonce the entire national society. Moscow-line Communists and their sympathizers virtually control the artistic, literary, and economic-fields, in part through the government-supported Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana. Economists tend to support the proposition that government-directedanner similar to that of the USSR, is the only answer for Ecuador's problems. Theseare hostileito US free enterprise and they
SE
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haveervasive influence overeven of the supposedly anti-Communistjunta. In part this has been carried out through the infamous "Cracko-called sportsmade up of pro-Communists, which included junta president Admiral Castro Jijon, and which has been engaged ln efforts not only to infiltrate but actually to control the operational levels of the government.
The oldest and largest labor confederation in Ecuador, the Confederation de Trabajadores del Ecuadoras founded4 by Communists and Socialists. Thereafter the Communists quickly took control and have maintained it ever since. The CTE is an affiliate of the Soviet-dominated WFTU, and some of its national affiliates are similarlyto Communist-front international labor Before3 golpe, the CTEthe labor scenelaimed (but highly doubtful) membership When the military junta took power, the CTE central committeeeneralwas universallyand then fled into hiding. Byheseall but one of whom are members of the PCE or the fellow-traveling Revolutionary Socialist Party, began to emerge and to resume operations withboldness. As ofheir Pichincha and Guayas provincial affiliates wereopenly and the CTE central committee had begun to make demands on the government, mainly for publicity purposes. The central committee, asat that time, consisted entirely ofCommunists and professional people such as lawyers and teachers, but no workers. The two-year near-quietus (largely self-imposed)35 caused rifts in the CTE national The provincial organizations in Manabi and Esmeraldas provinces became inactive and virtually disappeared, while in some other provinces discipline and organizations sujEatened'to lesser degrees. [She strongest organizations remained in Pichincha and Guayas provinces. Thsre were reports, ashat the PCE hadeneral campaign to restore its control and discipline in certain CTE provincial organizations. The government, if aware of these efforts, showed no inclination to prevent their success. In other respects the regime'stoward the CTE has been mixed but for the most
SEGRET
part benign. Fromof social security and labor was Luis Jaramilloormer legal adviser of the CTEelf-proclaimed "extreme leftist" who exerted efforts both to protect the CTE leaders and to restore the CTE to respectability. He was largely successful. Asubsidy0 sucres per year hasto flow into the CTE treasury.
4. Foreign Influence
Cuba, Communist China, the USSR, and some other bloc countries have been in contact with the PCE and other far leftists in and from Ecuador despite the absence of diplomatic relations. Younghave studied at Friendship University in Moscow. Cuba and Communist China have providedancial support and training, particularly intactics, for hard liners. Both have givon safe haven to exiled or escaped Ecuadorean subversives.
Cuban aid to the revolutionary groups mainly bas provided training In subversion and guerrilla Cuba reportedly has supplied small amounts of arms. In2 and3 anen bad received subversive training; information sinceecrease. Training has been given both in Cuba and In Ecuador; In4 Echeverria reportedly was seeking to locateCuban-trained men to further his guerrillaplans, and thore have been persistent reportsew such personnel in'coastal Ecuador. small groups oftotaling aboutsent to Communist Chinaor political and guerrilla instructions.
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6. Leaders of the Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE) (hard-line)
Central Committee
Rafael Echeverria Flores, Secretary General andof the Secretariat Hugo Salazar Tamariz, Franklin Perezario Cardenas Villegas Bolivar Washington Alvarez Fiallo Jorge Arellano Gallegos Luis Napoleon Vargas
Cesar Munoz ember of the Secretariat Celso Fiallooises Robalino
Jose Maria RqurA Cevallos, Member of theAtarihuana
Jose Barriaga Delgado Carlos Rodriguez Paredes
Byron Alfonso Ordonez Paz, Alternate Member
Jorge Ron Rodriguezy Alternate^.Member <
Jose Efrairi Barriaga Delgado, Alternate Member
Executive Committee
Rafael Echeverria Flores, Chairman
Hugo Salazar
Cesar Munoz Mantilla, Secretary of Indian Affairs
Franklin Perezecretary of Propaganda
Mario Cardenas Villegas
Luis Napoleon Vargas
Bolivar Alvarez Fiallo
Jose Maria Roura Cevallos, Secretary of the Executive Committee
Pichincha (Quito) Provincial Committee
Miguel Rosero Herrera, SecretaryMunoz Munoz de Carrera, Secretary ofVega Avila, Secretary of PoliticalBahamonde Caceres,Anlbal Chiriboga Quijaro
8
5
HEX.
Ouayas (Guayaquil) Provincial Committee
Hugo Salazar Tama'tftz, Secretary General
Moiscs Roballno
Ney Ernesto Barrlonuevo Sllva
Colon Ellas Ramirez Morejon
Enrique Verduga, Treasurer
Guayas (Guayaquil) Executive Committee
I
Hugo Salazar Tamariz, Chairman Mario Cardenas Villegas Franklin Perez Castro
Bolivar Alvarez Flallos, Secretary of Organization Enrique Verduga, Secretary of Youth Affairs
Los Rios Provincial Committee
Jorge Andrade Julio Marclllo Patricio Gomez
Carchl Provincial Committee (provisional) Guillermo Passos Perez
Esmeraldas Provincial Committee
Javier Cardenas, Secretary General Clro Aparicio, Secretary of Propaganda Uanelao Jara, Secretary of Organization Mado Wilson Nioves, Treasurer Wilson Edmundo Burbano Burbano Santiago Santlllan Jimenez
Azuay Provincial Committee
Jorge Roura Cevallos
Hernan Sarmiento Montesdeoca
Benjamin Cordero Ordonez
Luis Monsalve
Jose Barrlaga Delgado
Melquiades Sucre Ortega Rodas
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5
Loja Provincial Committee
Jorge Castro
Manuel Ruiz
Fausto Maldonado
Celso Atarihuana Carrion
Arturo Silva
Bolivar Provincial Committee (provisional) Angel Paredes Miranda, Secretary General
7. Leaders of the Communist Party of Ecuador (PCE) (Moscow-line)
Executive Committee
Pedro Saad Niyalm, Chairman
Enrique Gil Gilbert
Rene Alejandro Idrovo Rosales
Milton Jijon Saavedra
Alba Calderon de Gil
Manuel Leon Mora
Victor Nieto
Solon Guerrero Motz
Guayas (Guayaquil) Provincial Committee
Manuel Leon Mora, Secretary General
Juan Pio Narvaez Garcia
Aquiles Valencia
Gonzalo Vizueta Marurl
Guillermo Canarte Canartc
Carlos Basto Castillo
Luis Cardenas
Antonio Morales Rlvas
Luis Soils Castro
Deleg Pacheco
Adolfo Nieto
Solon Guerrero
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Pichincha Provincial Committee
Gonzalo Villalba Coloma, Secretary of Organization
Emmel Alvarez Fiallo, Secretary for Youth Affairs
Mario Isaac Valencia Valencia, Treasurer
Cesar Endara
Laurto Gordillo
Manuel Eduardo Nieto Aviles
Tungurahua (Arcbato) Provincial Committee
Alfredo Reynaldo Mino Vaca Jorge Morales Fausto Enrique Moreno Neva Jorge Enrique Calero Ortiz
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5
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF EL SALVADOR
1. Introduction
Although the Communist Party of El Salvador (Partido Comunista de Elhas been illegal for allew months ofyear history, it was one of the first Central American Communist parties to gain enough influence into give the government cause for concern. It was also one of the few Communist parties in Latin America to seriously undertake an armed revolution. Despite restrictions placed on the Communist Party by most Salvadoran governments, the party has shown remarkable powers of recuperation. it has utilized every opportunity to spread its influence, especially among students and la-
bor.
El Salvadorountry which provides afield for Communist propaganda. The extremes of wealth and poverty are greater in El Salvador than in any other Central Americaniddle class is emerging at an average pace. The economy is dominatedmall group of coffee planters. There isarge rural proletariat who have no land of their own and, therefore, work as wagearge.
2 the picture bas improved. Many of the previously landless peasants have been resettled on land of their own, but many more remain landless. New industry has been introduced to absorb aincreasing population. One of the mostsigns has been the success of the Rivera government in securing the cooperation of theupper class in promoting economic and social reforms. On the whole, tbe present government has been more energetic an attacking the problems which have given Communism its influence than any of the previous governments. Rivera appears to enjoy enough support to finish out his term and, hopefully, to effect an orderly transfer of power
2. History
K-l
Tho Communist Party of El Salvador (Partidode Elwas founded5 as
ci r? tf*
a resultisit by delegates from the Communist party of Guatemala, which had been instructed by Communist leaders in Mexico to extend its activities into neighboring republics. Its first adherents were groups of students and workers from San Salvador.
One of the first steps taken by the smallgroup was to organize an Anti-Imperialist League, which was active throughout the rest ofnd was particularly effective in rallying support among the intellectuals. However, most of theenergies were concentrated in the labor The labor activities of all the CentralCommunist parties were directedonsejo brero Centro Americano, with headquarters in To this werecattering of unions in the various countries of the isthmus.
Communist activities in the unions werewith their activities in other fields. al-vadoran section of International Red Aid was organized for the legal defense and financial assistance ofwho got themselves into difficulties. The name of the Salvadoran section was the League for the Defense of Persecuted Fighters (Liga Pro-Luchadoresnd it was through this group that close contact was maintained with the Comitern.
The Communists participated in the presidential electionacking Dr. Arturo Araujo, theParty (Partido Laborista) candidate. Araujo,did not allow himself to fall under theof the Communists, and early1 he ordered the arrest of three Communist leaders. esult the Communistsiolent denunciation of Araujo's government. Subsequent agitation by the Communists coupled with growing discontent within the army caused Araujo's overthrow ine was succeeded by first vice president, General Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez.
At first Hernandez Martinez sought support from the Communists and permitted them to presentunder their own name in the municipal andelections held in Theclaimed to have won elections in severaland to have been denied victory, but
General Hernandez Martinez refused even to see their representatives and hear their protest. Havingthe armyonsiderable degree, thedecided to make use of their influence among the enlisted men and noncommissioned officers totthe government. The central committee of the Communist Partyevolutionary military committee and sets.the date for the insurrection. The revolutionary militarywas to function as the general staff of theed army. "Commanders" were named from among the Communist soldiers, and detailedwere sent to them. General Hernandez Martinez found out about their plans and began moving against the plotters. tate of siege was proclaimed,umber of Communist leaders were arrested. Other leaders attempted to call off the uprising, but not all "commanders" received such-notification. small but uncoordinated revolts occurred, and the whole insurrection failed miserably.
General Hernandez Martinez was ruthless inthe remnants of the insurrection. Thousands were killed and virtually all Communist leaders were captured, court martialed, and shot. Only three leaders escaped to Guatemala where they were jailed by Ubico. The suppression of this revolt destroyed the Communist party, all its front groups, and the labor movement.
The Communist party did not attempt to reorganizend even then members operated at the risk of groat personal danger. Little opportunity for activity existed, since Hernandez Martineznothingabor movement to 2 the regime allowed the reactivation of the mutual benefit societies, and the Communists were again able to conduct their undergroundwith some degree of success.
Between May and4 the Communistsa brief period of feverish activity and temporary success. General Hernandez Martinez was ousted in Mayeneral strike of students and workers. residential election was planned, and the Communists, then in the full bloom of wartime "collaboration" with other left-wing forces,ildly leftist teacher, Arturo Romero of theUnion Party (Partido UnionPUD). In addition to political activity, trade
unions wore rebuilt almost overnight. The National Union of Workers (Union Nacional deUNT) vas founded and, byembershipargely under Communist in-fluence.
Communist activity, as well as other political and trade union activity, was again suppressed in4 when Colonel Osmin Aguirre, who had been chief of police under Hernandoz Martinez, seized power andictatorship. Most Communist leaders went into exile in Guatemala. Elections wereew months later, and,tho resulting government under President Castaneda Castroilder dictatorship, themovement was not allowed to revlvo.
Castaneda Castro was overthrown ln8roup of young officers who were somewhat more conscious of the nation's social and economic problems than previous regimes had been. One of these officers was Major Oscar Oaorlo, who was elected president in The Communist party remained illegal throughout tho Osorio The labor movement was not allowed to reviveational scale, but Individual local unions wore allowed to function. Osorlo's chief instrument for suppression of tho Communist party was the Law in Defense of Public Order passed Unfortunately, the law was also used by Osorio for suppression of all political opposition.
Lieutenant Colonel Jose Maria Lemus vas elected president esture of national unity, Lemus rescinded2 law shortly after he took office. He also permitted the return of allexiles and, although the Communist party did not obtain legal status, allowed Communistsational labor congress int was at this time that the General Confederation of Salvadoran Workers (Confederacidn General de Trabajadoreswas formed andCommunist controlled. During the Lemustho Communist party doubled infromembers6 tolnits capability increased as well, probably duo to assistance from Cuba after Castro cane to power.
5
Ineftist junta overthrew Lemus; during the brief three months this junta was in power, the Communists operated even more openly. Thejunta was ousted in1ilitary junta which arrested and exiled most of theleaders. Colonel Julio A. Rivera emerged as the chief of government and was elected president2ive-year term. His government has been active, not only in suppressing Communist activity, but in promoting economic development and socialdesigned to weaken the appeal of Communism.
3. Present Posture
In5 the PCES had anembers (active members numbered no more) and maybe as manyympathizers. About half of the party members, most of the militants within tho front organizations, and the majority of* the party's sympathizers are located in the Sanarea. The PCES has little influence over other political parties but cooperates with some of them from time to time on specific issues. Since the PCES has been illegal during most of its existence, its potential voting strength is unknown but it isto be very small. There arc no knownin high government positions; the rector of the National University, Dr. Fabio Castillo Figueroa,eftist, however, who frequently furthersefforts, especially at the university.
The PCES conducts its overt political activity hrough its political front, the Revolutionary Party of April and May (Partido Revolucionario Abril y The PRAM originally was organized9 as the Movimiento Civicoayoembership ofersons. In0 it adopted the name now being used. PRAM currentlyominal membership of, but is largely inactive, and only its directorate meetsegular basis. It has been unable to date to achieve legalityolitical party and isto be granted legality in the foreseeable The PRAM is currently exploring theof forming an alliance with one of theleftist parties being formed in preparation for6 municipal and legislative elections. Raul Castellanos Figueroa, Gabriel Gal legos Valdes, and Raul Padilla Vela, all Communists, are the principal leaders of the PRAM.
The labor front of the PCES is the Generalof Salvadoran Workersrabajadoreswhich was formed7 and has been under Communist domination since its beginning. It comprises nine labor unionsotal membership of. 3 the CGTS affiliates joined with independentunions to form the Labor Union Unity Committee (Comite Unitario Dominated byleaders from the nine-union CGTS bloc, the CUS comprisesabor unionsotal membership of (By contrast, theoriented General Confederation of Trade Unions (Confederacion General dehasnionsotal membership The CUS and CGTS are planning to mergeingle labor federation ln
There is no general student front at theUniversity although the General Association of Salvadoran University Students (Asociacionde Estudiantes UniversitariosAGEUS) is occasionally dominated by Communist The leftist but non-Communistoting majority in the AGEUS. However, in the three most politically activelaw, economics,articular student group. At present they dominate the University Student Action (Accion Estudiantil Universitaria--AEU) in the law school, the Student Revolutionary Front of Humanities (Frente Revoluclonario Estudiantil deFREH) ln the collegeumanities, and theUniversity Front of Economics (Frente Uni-versitario Revolucionario dein the college of economics. The latter two are the strongest student groups in their respective col^ leges. -
The organization which most nearlyouth front is the Vanguard of Salvadoran Youth (Vanguardia de la Juventud. Its activities are not, however, confined to the' The VJS hasembers divided intoells. It is an adjunct of the FUAR (see below).
The militant action front through which the PCES operates is the United Front for Revolutionary
Action (Frente Unido de Accionwhich was organized The FUAR has adivisionilitary division. The political organization consists of ten specialized groups called columnsith eachirectivesubordinated to the national directorate. The groups or columns include those of the VJS,workers, students, peasants, women, bankprimary school teachers, plus theRevolutionary Movementpril) and the 9th of May columns. The total membership of the FUAH is, although many are presently inactive.2 the FUAR overtly has confined itself to disseminating propaganda and participating indemonstrations with other Communist fronts.the military commission of the FUAH has been selecting specially qualified FUAR members and organizing them into clandestine, paramilitary cells capable of carrying out terrorist activities. As of2 of those cells have been organized in various areas of El Salvador,otalof. Under the tutelage of the five-man national militaryof whom have received guerrilla warfare training indepartmental military commissions, the cell members are receiving intensive politicaland military training. The members of the military organization are continuing theirwith one of the regular FUAR columns and have been adjured to keep their nonmilitary FUAR colleagues unwitting of their military role. The FCES timetable for activating these units isbut it will undoubtedly wait for what ita propitious political climate; underpolitical conditions active insurgency would be suicidal.
4. Foreign Communist Influences and Assistance
The PCES in general is Moscow, rather than Peking, oriented. There is,trong tendencyviolence in tho revolutionary approach of younger members. This is particularly noticeable in such organizations as the VJS and the FUAR. This may be the result of training many have received in Cuba, The number of Salvadorans who were trained
Regret
in Cuba2 is unknown; there wereal-vadorans given guerrilla training in Cuba between April3 and Despite this there has been no terrorist activity in El Salvador as yet, although as previously indicated the PCES isa terrorist apparat under FUAR, itsaction front.
Most Communist groups in El Salvador appear to be usually short of funds, and aro apparently not receiving any sizable financial assistance from Cuba or other Communist countries. The only large sum of money reportedly given to Salvadoran Communists wasent from Cuba1
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5of316
SEGRET
A HISTORY OF COMMUNISM IN GUATEMALA
1. Introduction
A forerunner of the Guatemalan Communist Party was first organized soon after Worldhe overthrow ofyear dictatorship of President Estrada Cabrera. At first called the United Workers (UnificaciunO) and then tho United Socialist Workers (Unificacion Obrerahis groupommunist Party with the guidance and instruction of theCommunists3 and joined the Communistat the Comintern's Fifth Congressn spite of constant government persecution, the party maintained contact with and participated in international activities of the Comintern. Theconcentrated much of their energy on work among trade unions, and throughouthat small portion of the labor force that was organized was heavily influenced by the Communists. The regime of General, however,emporary end to Communist activity in Guatemala. he Communist International reported that theparty had collapsed.
For all practical purposes. Communism inwas born with the revolutionhich ousted the dictator Ubico. The handfull ofwho survived the firing squads and years in prison under Ubico played no important part in the revolutioninor role in subsequent events.
Among the many Guatemalans returning from exile4ew who had become associated with the Communist movements in their country of exile. They were joinedizable group of Communists from other Central American countries whoaven in "revolutionary" Guatemala. President-Juan Jose, tolerant towardactivity in the labor movement, forbade the open organization of the Communist Party; but his successor, President Jacobothe party to participate openly in national politics. Under Arbenz, Communists were able to
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8
move into positions of leadership in laborand gain influential posts in tho government agencies which shaped public opinion and administered social welfare programs.
During the early years of the revolution the fact that one couldCommunist" without having to meet the demands of party membership facilitated the indoctrination of young revolutionary leaders. Onmall group of confirmedwhich included most of the future leaders of the party,landestine organization called the Guatemalan Democratic Vanguard (Vanguardla DemocraticaDG). During the next twoumber of front groups were established and functionedeans of drawing other leftists into the work of the Communist movement, but the existence of VDGell-kept
At the March convention of theAction Party (Partido Accion-he Communists received atheir slate, headed by incumbent SecretaryJose Fortuny, was defeatedoalitionleaders. After the assassination inof the anti-Communist Col. Francisco Arana,moderate candidate for the presidency,henchmen, the election of Col. Jacobobecame almost certain. The Communistsconsidering ways for coming at leastthe open. ecret meeting of thehe Communists adopted theParty of GuatemalaCG) for use among themselves. later referred to as the First CongressCommunist Party of Guatemala,marked ain the development of Communism in thethisispute broke out betweenand "labor" factionsemandManuel Gutierrez that the PCG come fullyopen, actively champion the interests ofand becomeorkers'number of labor leaders broke away from theearly in the following year founded thonot legally registered Revolutionaryof Guatemala (PartidoROG). 0
servedchool for the training andof the most militant and active sector of the working class.
Onuring the electoral campaign, the majority Communist group (the clandestine PCG) headed by Fortuny broke with the pro-administration PAR which it felt was not sufficiently militant. The following month the PCG began publicationeekly newspaper, Octubre. from which its sponsors received the nickname Octubristas. The PCGactively in the campaign of Jacobo Arbenz and after his election began to operate more openly. Inonth after Arbenz1 inauguration, the Octubre group publicly assumed the name of the Communist Party of Guatemala (PCG). Onhe first anniversary of the founding of Octubre, PCGublic rally attended by high government officials and leaders of theparties.
Under Arbenz Communism in Guatemala came of age. Although their position was far from securereat deal depended upon the continued good will of tho President, the Communists were able to operate freely and were part of the government 1 the Communists completed the task ofnified labor federation which would be under their control and healed the split in their ranks which had existed between the unregistered Communist parties, the PROG and PCG increasednd in December Gutierrez wrote from Moscow that hethe need for unity to override anyor tactical differences with the PCG leaders. Upon his return to Guatemala in2 the PROG was dissolved, and most of its members swelled the ranks of the PCG. As part of the merger, the line of the PCG was adjusted toward closer links with the masses and full support for agrarian
By the end2 the Communists were able to set their sights uponass party. At its second congress inhe partyew name, new statutes,ew program, all designed to facilitate the transition to full
legality and rapid growth. Onho Guatemalan Labor Party (Partido Guatcmalteco dolCI) was granted full legal status despite the existonceonstitutionalagainst "political organizationsoreign or international character" and the public statement by top PGT leaders that the work of the congress wns inspired and shaped by the decisions ofh Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
The Guatemalan Communists made their greatest gains Two of their most prominent loaders, Fortuny and Carlos Manuel Pellecor, were Included on tbe government's coalition ticket for congressional elections ln January. Thisof the PGTull partner in the regime was institutionalized in the National Democratic Front (Frente DemocraticoDN) made up of representatives of the four government parties, organized labor, and the peasants' confederation. The General Confederation of Guatemalan Workers (Confederacion Gonoral de Trabajadores do- CGTG) was completely controlled by thoand the National Peasants' Confederation (Confederacion Nacional Canpesina de Guatemala -CNCG) was subject to increasing Communist influence. The PAR, the largest government party, was weakened by constant dissension and leaned upon tho Communists for support against the pretensions of tho Party of the Guatemalan Revolution (Partido de la Revo-luclonRG). The PRG itselfan Influential group of Communists and sjra-pathlzers who prevented it from developingerious rival of the PGT. Tbe final member of the FDN, tho National Renovation Party (Partido RenovacionRN) was so weakened bycorruption, and dissension that it was noignificant force. Its secretaryJaime Diaz Rozzotto, wasommunist. Undor these conditions the Communists came to exert an increasing and often decisive Influence over tho policies of tho Arbenz government.
The most distinctive characteristic .of the Arbenz regime was the close relationship oxlsting
L-4
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brought Arbenz roadily mobilized popular support, furnished badly needed organizational andtalent, and provided ideological underpinning for his orogran. Arbenz in turn accepted then as the spokesmen of the aassos, considered then his most trustworthy and honest collaborators, and entrusted them with the administration of certain keyagoncies and programs. Hisof the Communists effectively prevented the other parties from attempting to isolate the POT. Competition of tho PAR and PRG over the spoils of office enabled the Communists totrategic balance of power position. ime when these parties were divided and hositant, the Communists had tho advantageystematic doctrine andto political action, discipline, coheslveness, and organization which the others lacked. Combined with control of organized labor and the favor of the President, this was sufficient to enable the Communists to soizo leadership of the national social revolution and turn it to their ends.
By tbe end3 they were able to shapepolicy and influence the course of national affairs to an extent unknown at that time to any other Communist party outside the Soviet orbit. Largely through Its control of the administration of agrarian reform the PGT had builtass basealf dozen of Guatemala'separtments, and elected mayors in four towns.
With the successful anti-Communist revolution Inhe Communists, whose future had been bound to that of the Arbenz regime, found themselves faced with an entirely new and difficult situation. They were suddenly confronted with the problem of survivalostileof Carlos Castillo Armasleaders were pledged to eradicate Communist influence and destroy the party. Throughout tbe Castillo administration, PGTelatively ineffective clandestine organization. Most of the Communist leaders left the country for exile in other Latin American Membership fell fromo less
. During the Castillo regime slow but steady progress was made in rebuilding the party, but it was kept well in check by the government.
After the assassination of Castillo7 the Communists had an opportunity to improve materially their capabilities. However, they were not able to exercise any significant effect upon the elections of either7 or
Under President Miguel Ydigoras, the Communists, their front groups, and other leftist elements steadily became more active,following congressional failure totrong anti-Communist law after the lapse1ransitory constitutional article which had permitted the President to refuse admission into the country of certain Guatemalanew compromise law enacted in deference to leftistrepealed the Castillo legislation that bad established severe penalties for Communist activity. With the weakening of institutional controls, the party began to reorganize under the direction of returned exiles including most of PGT's principal leaders. Emboldened by relative indifference on the part of the government and by Fidel Castro's success in Cuba and the Bay of Pigs disaster, the party and its front groups began operating more openly. The party was successful in infiltrating government institutions, securing increased funding and arms shipments from Cuba, and sending PGTto Cuba for training.
The resurgence of leftism was at its height3 as political parties prepared for November elections. However, while the leftists were numerous and vociferous, their potential was lessened by their lack of unity. The prospect of Arevalo's candidacy loomedhreat to both conservative elements and to the Communists. The Communists felt Arevalo had made too many concessions to the "imperialists" in recent years, and would beif elected. With the3 coup, events overtook the party's quarrel over which
candidate to support and confirmed for many PGT members the futility of pacific struggle.
SinceGT has beenontinual state of reorganization. The military regime has administered the government for the most part under state of siege, with stringent controls to counter subversive activity. Raids, armed battle, and general harassment directed against PGT had practically ruined the party's hierarchic structure formed during the Ydigoras years.
Forced inactivity in PGT's usual spheres of operation has seriously affected the party but has by no means destroyed it. Instead, the party has turned its attention increasingly to violence. rowing demandGT commitment to armed struggle was inspired by the survivaluerrilla movement begun1 in northeastern Guatemala and led by army defector Lt. Marco Antonio Yon Sosa. This group, theovember Revolutionary Movement, at first committed only to the overthrow of Ydigoras, has since evolveduerrilla and terrorist organization supported by and politically aligned with Cuban and Mexican Communists described by the PGT as espousing the Peking line. The PGT has2 tried to control theovember group and in the process became itself heavily committed to violent tactics. 4 relations, between the PGT and Yon Sosa fluctuated between extremes of cordiality and hostility, and in5 the guerrilla movement split. The PGT in Its most recent reorganization has given priority to military work in the form of the Rebel Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadasow the guerrilla arm of the PGT.
Guatemalan security forces effected several significant raids against Communist safehouses during the summer Many PGT members,two high-level officers, have been jailed. These actions curtailed most PGT plans for terrorist action in July and August. Isolatedandin the capital and in the northeast, but whether they areto the PGT or to Yon Sosa is uncertain. PGT has been damaged not only by the government's anti-Communist action, but alsoplit within its
L-7
own ranks. entral committee member, Ricardo Ramirezon, disenchanted with PGT's adherence to the Moscow line, defected from PGT in5 with the intention ofival partyarder line.
2. Position of tho PGT
The swift and effective government action taken against the Communists following Guatemala's "Liberation"4 by Castillo Armas and theminimal Communist influence in the country4 indicate that Communism did not take deep roots during the revolution. Political gains reaped by the party under President Ydigoras were lost with the impositionilitary regime in The incumbent administration, not bound by constitutional guarantees of civiland operating under its own anti-Communist decree-laws which provide for rapid action against and stiff penalties for subversives, has been fairly successful in its repression of the PGT.
Although tho party's organization has been severely damaged, it has been characteristic of the Guatemalan Communists that they have been able to survive under very adverse conditions. Theirof violence, particularly terrorist activity in tho capital, has been maintained through most of Chief of Government Peralta's tenure and continues at present.
he PGT experienced the defection of some low-level members who were unable to cope with their fear of police repression, of somemembers who joined Yon Sosa'sovember group in tho northeastern mountains, and of severalevel members who objected to continued PGTto Moscow. The numerical loss to PGT is Over the past few years, PGT membership had beon fairly static at, so that its current membership is estimated at.
reluctance of certain central committee and other high-level members to commit the PGT wholeheartedly to violent struggle has causedInternal dissension and criticism of the
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8
old guard leadership. Available informationthat the party's main strength has recently shifted from the revolutionary era leadersard-core middle level which has displayed its dynamism and willingness to employ its paramilitary training in guerrilla and terrorist activity.
In addition to its regular members, PGT can count on the willing collaboration ofympathizers, chiefly found among workers, students, teachers, and white-collar employees.
Many PGT leaders and members are in exile, mainly in Mexico and Cuba, but they continue to contribu% to the direction of the party and participate in the making of policy, dome of the exiles clandestinely travel back and forth from Mexico to Guatemala to take part in meetings, to conduct training classes, or to fill temporaryoccasioned by the arrest orey leader. Border-crossing for purposes of moving both men and arms appears not to be difficultecurity point of view; the border is not effectively patrolled.
A split is known to have occurred in the party inut there is little information available on which to .judge the seriousness Of the break.
3. PGT Influence in National Affairs
The PGT has been unable to participate openly in Guatemalan political affairs since the ouster of the Arbenz regime Communisthave been illegal since that time. PGT's main political effort3 has been to coordinate and control (in the guise of support) the activity of the non-Communist revolutionary groups. It has attempted tonited resistance front composed
of all parties opposed to the regime, emphasizing the need to overthrow the reprosslve government of the armed forcos and working at convincingcollaborators that Peralta will not permit honest elections. Essentially, the party can do little more than capitalize on unpopular actions of the government, exploit nationalist and anti-Yankee sentiment, and strive to infiltrate non-Communist leftist organizations. Because thegovernment has tightly controlledhere is no open evidenceinsight on the effectiveness of PGT's
The party has had its greatest successes in the field of labor. Its ability to solzo theof tho labor movement during Arovalo'sserved as tho foundation for its riso to political importance and influence under Arbenz. Although its control of organized labor was upset by the fall of Arbenz, the PGT hasroportionately greater influence among the urban workers than over any other sector of Guatemalan society, with the possible exception of the middle-class intellectuals. The working class was more adversely affected by the liberation4 than any other group. After having been favored by the governmentecade, the workers suddenly found themselves the object of official mistrust and suspicion. Bocause the liberation occurred before most workers had begun to doubt theof Communist promises, there hasendency for labor to look upon the Arbenz oraeriod when it enjoyed Just recognition. Good prospoctsavorable labor response to Communism are somewhat offset by recent gains made in the trade union sphere by democratic organizers. However, only0 outotal work force ofillion are organized, and the continued slow pace of democratic trade unionism could work for the Communists.
The tendency of many Guatemalan students to take an ultranationalist and radical position, combined with memories of the "glorious" role of the university students in4 revolution, makes them receptive to the proposals of the
8
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Communist minority. Communist influence among the students at San Carlos University continues to be significant. Although moderates have beenground in student organizations, the over-all student organization AEU is still dominated by
r
The party has low-level penetrations of the government who provide warning of government moves. There have been unconfirmed reports of some high-level official collaboration with the PGT and
The clandestine nature of PGT activities and the tendency on the part of the government and conservatives to use the label "Communist" indiscriminately against any opponent from the left make it difficult to judge the extent of true Communist influence. An important source of Communist influence is theaid to the PGT given by extremely conservative military officials, businessmen, and landowners who tend to equate trade unions, peasant organizations, and cooperatives with Communist organizations. The proximity of Cuba is another asset for the party. Transistor radios, readily available to illiterate campesinos, receive Radio Havana with ease. Cuban propaganda serves to reinforce their impression that only Communists are interested in their problems.
Regret
The Communist Parties of Haiti 1. Introduction
Haiti has two Communist parties, the Party of Popular Accord (Parti d'Ententeand the Popular Party of National Liberation (Parti Populaire de LiberationBoth are illegal, small, and relatively poorly organized. They engage in very little activity for fear of government reprisals, since Duvalier tolerates their continued existence only so long as they are not overtly antirogime. The Haitian Government does little to counter their limited clandestine anti-Duvaller activity and propaganda.omplete breakdown of law and order, their capability of causing the regime anytrouble is limited.
The main strength of the PEP and the PPLN lies Infact that they constituteonly internal opposition with any degree of organization. Opposition political parties are banned; the only party permitted to exist is Duvalier's own Party of National Unity (PartinitePUN). Similar situations have existed throughoutarge portion of Haiti's history that non-Communist political forces have never been able to align themselvesermanent basis. The Communist movement, on the other hand, has had the ideological incentive to survive underground for long periods of time and reappear under various names and complexions.
2. History
The Haitian Communist movement was begun0 by two intellectuals, Max Hudicourt and Jacques Roumain. Illegal in the beginning, it remained an illegal underground party for the first sixteen years of its existence. Roumain, one of the country's leading poets and novelists, was deported to Mexico, where he died. Hudicourt, also exiled, spent much of his time in the United States.
With the overthrow of the dictatorship of Elie Lcscot inhe countryhort period of relatively democratic government under
tho presidency of Dumarsias Estime. Estirae's administrationegree of political freedom which had previously been unknown in Haiti. It launched ambitious programs ln the fields of oducation and economic development and allowed the developmentrade union movement for the first time. Political parties were permitted to form, among which wore the Communist Party of Haiti, (Parti Comunisteand the Popular Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste Populaire
The PSP grew out of the movement founded by Hudlcourt and Roumain; this was apparent when Hudicourt arrived from New York soon after the fall of Lescot to take over its leadership. Its nature was also revealed by the position lt took on international issues, and by the way it was viewed by International Communist authorities. Tho PSP began an intensive propaganda campaign against the Marshall Plan, dwelt incessantly on the dangers of "Americannd attacked the Estime government for being subservient to the Americans. The Cuban Communist newspaper. Hoy, ontated that the PSP was based on the principles of Marxism with an immediate program which was conscious of the pressing needs of tho Haitian people. Hoy. criticized the PCH as "filled with infantile concopts." The PCH supported the Estimo regime, Including itswith tho United States, and was not openly acceptedart of tbe international Communist movoment.
There are two possible reasons for theof two Communist parties in Haiti. The basic reason is perhaps the traditional inability of the Haitian Negro and mulatto to workPCH wasegro party, while tho PSP was formed by mulatto intellectuals. The second reason is believed to haveactical consldor tion on tho part of the international Communist movement. Dual parties have been encouraged in sevoral countries, one supporting the Incumbent government and one in opposition to it. In this way no mattor what direction domestic politics should take, one party would beosition to
work with, and porhaps control, the
In the electionSP founder, Max Hudicourt, was elected to the Senate, and another party member was electod to the Chamber of Deputies. Even though Hudicourt wasew months after his election, the PSP survived0 when President Paul Magloire declared lt Illegal. The PCH had become Inactivend many of the leading Communists of both parties began leaving the country Most of them remained in exile until During that decade, those Communists who remained in Haiti worked largely through labor and student groups, attempting to dominate them or lnfluonce their
4 the group of PSP members whoin Haiti split into two factions, one of which was the predecessor of the PPLN, the name which they adopted The PEP was formedroup of Communist intellectuals who were pormitted, and in some cases invited, by Duvalier to return to Haiti Recent efforts to unite the two parties have been unsuccessful. The main obstacle to unity has been personalitybetween the leaders of the two groups, with ideological differencesinor role. Racial differences are noactor, since both parties havo Nogro and mulatto menbers.
3. Present Posture
A. Popular Party of National
The exact size of the PPLN is not known. The most recent, and probably the most accurate, information or membership was published In the PPLN internal bulletin, Bulletin-Liberation, in At thathe PPLN claimed toembers organizedells. The PPLN also has anympathizers, most of whom have at one time or another beon members of PPLN study groups or fronts. Tho PPIN's major front activity has been concentrated in aof short-lived youth fronts. One of the most
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recent, taking its nameype of peasant attire,
was called the Caracoa Bleu. It was organized
onrtndear.l
The-BRFin activityouruuuu
Bleu was that oi sponsoring lectures, concerts, and art exhibits through which those attending received considerable Communist indoctrination. Members of the Caracoa Bleu were organized into brigadesembers each (the use of the word "cell" wasavoided). Those members who showed promise and interest were recruited into the PPLN, This front became increasingly inactive toward the end4 and5 was believed to have been reorganized, taking the name Popular Youth League (Ligue de Jeunesse This group continues to sponsor much of tho same typo activity carried on by the Caracoa Blou.
The PPLN has no members presently participating in the Haitian Government. The party publishes no newspaper; tho most recent effort of this natureublication called Haiti-Demain (Haitiwhich appeared23 somewhat irregularly, but approximately ona monthly basis. The segments of tho population which this paperto influence were chiefly the urban workers, peasants, and the small middle class. The PPLN's propaganda line has for several years been much more activist than that of the PEP. The PPLN has
concentrated heavily on indoctrination of tho
literate lower classes using such emotional themes
as anti-imperialism and anti-Americanism. Since
3 the PPLN has advocated armed struggle
against the government, but it is not believed to
be capable ofuccessful revolt at this
time. Leaders of the PPLN include Max Chancy, Yves
Barbot, and Roger Gaillard.
B. Party
There is no precise information available concerning tho number of PEP members and sympathizers.
Most estimates of the membership are around
while estimates of the number of sympathizers range. The PEP manifesto plays down
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the theme of class warfare, does not mentionemphasizes that Haiti's major problems are caused by foreign ownership ofS "capitalists." The leader of tho PEP was bollevod to be Edris Saint-Amand, about whom nothing has been hoard The exact identities of current lcadors are not known.
The major front activity of tho PEP wasin tho Intersyndlcal Union of Haiti (Union Intersyndicalaa now dormant labor federation over which the PEP exercised considerable control. Tho UIH was affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unionsinternational Communist laborwith its regional the Confederation of Latin American Workers (Confederacion de Trabajadores de AmericaCTAL), Tho UIH was banned3 and is believed to have been replacedlandestine front group.
In addition to trade union nembors, PEP propaganda and influence is directedmall group of leftist intellectuals. Tho PEPVolx du Peuple, appeared24 clandestinelyonthly basis ;it now appears
C. Communist infiltration of the government
There are no members of either party known to be participating ln tho Haitian Government. There are, however, several government officials who, while not affiliated with either party, have been members of an earlier Communist party or areCommunist sympathizers. The most prominent of these are Herve Boyer and tbe Blanchet brothers, Paul and Jules, each of whom has hold several cabinet posts. The minister of labor, Max Antoine, is not believod toommunist, but heersonal friend of some of the leading Communists in the UIH.
4. Inter iinal contacts and assistance
The PEP is the party recognized by international Communist authorities as the Haitian Communist Party. It is Moscow oriented; the amount of financialit receives from Moscow, if any, is unknown,
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but it is believed to be receiving Soviet guidance which is passed via Mexicoaitianexile, Gerard Piorre-Charles. The PPLN is not known to have any direct contact witb Moscow; it is more Cuban-ortented and receives its guidance over Radio Havana which beams two programs daily to Haiti, one in French and one in Creole, to which PPLN members are instructed to listen. Recent Radio Havana broadcasts' have been admonishing Haitians to overthrow Duvalier and have been assisting their preparation by reading excerpts from Che Guevara's guerrilla warfaro handbook.
Most exiled Communists are located either in Europe or Mexico. Tbe largest group is in France where they have formod an organization oftudents (most of whom are Communists orsympathizers) called the Association of Haitian Studonts in Paris (Groupement des Haitiens Etudlants aor the Federation of Haitian Students in Europe (Federation des Etudiants Haitiens en Very little is known about thisit may actually be two separate The next largest group of Communist exiles is located in Mexico. This group is believed to number the name of their association is not. known, but they reportedlyulletin called Halller.cnt which is also circulated ln Europe. In addition, there are probablyexiles studying ln bloc countries.
At?.*
eaders of the Haitian Communistthrough the years
early days,
Jacques Roumain Max Hudicourt Pierre Hudicourt Anthony Lespes Max Sam
Felix D'Orleans Juste Constant
Antonio Vieux
Albert Mangones
Jean Brierre
Jules Blanchet
Loon Sahous
Roussan Camilie
Popular Socialist Party (PSP),political bureau
Etienneharlier Jules Blanchet Max Sam
Regnord Bernard Anthony Lespes Fritz Basquiat Max Hudicourt
Communist Party of Haiti (PCH),political bureau
Felix D'Orleans Juste Constant
Roger Mercier
Edris Saint-Amand
Max Menard
Jacques Alexis
Andre Bistoury
Odnel David
Popular Party ofo present
Yves Barbot
Antonyn exile in Africa Maxn exile
[-7
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5
Yvesn exile Roger Gaillard Marceln exile Micheln exile Clauden exile Frantz Loffuial Alexandren exile Rodelln Charles Guy Lominy
Party of Popular Accord (PEP),
Jacques Alexis (executedosephn exile Edrls St.ocation unknown OUNDERS Rodolphe Moise (may have joined PPLN)
Intersyndical Union of Haiti (UIH)
Ulrlch Joly Andre Leroy
Bleu and Popular Youth League
Albert Frederick Claude Plerre-Antolne
8
SETmEU^
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF HONDURAS
Introduction
Tho Communist Party of Honduras is illegal. Its present strongth is estimated to beembers andympathizers. The central committee of the PCH was located ln San Pedro Sula until the3 coup when most of the Communist leadership as well as many leaders of the non-Communist opposition went into exile. The PCH became so disorganized that, by tho endnly two of the ten municipal committeesew cells were functioning. In4 an amnesty decree permitted the return of all exiles except ten of the Communist leaders whom theconsidered dangerous, while the list of ten is still formally maintained, the present lenient policy of the government toward political exiles suggests that no attempt would be made to prevent any of these ten Communists from entering the country. Recentindicate that two and possibly throe of the ten aro presently in Honduras.
The PCH was founded on While the PCH isell-Indoctrinated party itairly well-disciplined organization. It has been retarded in its development by Internal dissension, particularly among the top leadership, and has been criticized by the Communist parties of Guatemala and El Salvador for its lack of militancy and revolutionary zeal. On the other hand, the constant political instability and general underdevelopment of Honduras provides the PCHlimate relatively favorable to the expansion of its influence. Furthermore,0 its capabilities have been strengthened to someby assistance from Cuba.
2. History of Communism
Like most Central American countries, Honduras has suffered from an almost interminable series of dictatorships. Little opportunity for theof political parties, Communist or any other
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kind, has taken place. eriod of relative freedom in thend,year-long dictatorship of General Tiburcio Carlas Andino virtually stopped all political activity. When Juan Manuel Galvez was installed as presidentbe political atmosphere began to clear andactivity of all kinds became possible once again.
In such an atmosphere, the Communist Party of Honduras was not able to achieve the size orof its fellow parties in neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador, thoughew years int made some progress, and under Galvez the Communists again became active.
Communism in Honduras began in the, and the first labor organization in which thewero reported to have gained some influence was the Railroad Workers Union, established and recognized by the government In this period thewere also active among the banana workers in the north coast area.
The most picturesque leader of these early Hon-duran Communists was Juan Pablo Wainwright, thoson of an English fatheronduran mother.oung man he had gono to the United Statos, where various misadventures had landed him in jail. Some time later he enlisted In tho Canadian Army during Worldnd fought in France. After his discharge he wandered widely in Europe, Africa, and tho Far East, returning home
The misfortunes of Honduran politics, however, soon had him on the move, this time visitingGuatemala and El Salvador. In the latterheommunist, and8 he returned home to organize the banana workers. Afteriolent strike among them0 he was Jailed, but succeeded in escaping to Guatemala.
Throughout this period horincipal figure in Communist activities in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. He was implicated in tho Communists' revolutionary attempt in El Salvador inut succeeded in making good his escape to Guatemala.
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However, there he was captured once again, and was finally oxocutod by the orders of General Ubico.
Duringhe most important laborln Honduras was the Honduranho local affiliate of the Workersof Central America (COCA). Tho Communists at first worked inside this group, but unlike their comrades ln Guatemala and El Salvador they wereto gain control of the organization. ThoFederation refused to join the Communist-dominated continental labor group, the CSLA, andhe Communists in conformity with tho Comintern's Third Period policy organized their own nationalgroup, the Honduran Sindical Federation (FSH).
Tho Sindical Federation was established by aheld on May9 ln Tela on the north coast. It claimed to have all the important unions ln the country "among them the embattled Railroad Workers Union" (UFH) within its ranks. The hoadqunrtors were established in Tegucigalpa although most of itswore on tho north coast. The chief officials of the Communist union group were Abraham Ramirez, secretary general, and F. Armando Amava, secretary of internal affairs.
A second congress of the Honduran Sindicalmot on May0 and resolved to concentrate activities in the banana fields, where "actionwould be established, since full-scalo trade unions wero impossible because ofbe congress also resolved toelegate to the "world congress ln Moscow."
Soon afterward the Communistseriousto carry out the decisions of their trade union group. Theyeneral strike in the banana fieldsuly. But onune the govornmont cracked down on them, and most of the leaders of the Federation were jailed or exiled to desolate orparts of tho country. In spite of this temporary setback, tho Communists continued their work. They coordinated their activities closely with theparties ln neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador.
Whether in conjunction with the Salvadoranor not, the Communistsecondstrike among the banana workers of the north coast of Honduras early in President Colindres declared martial law and rushed troops to the area. The troops and the United Fruit Company's police rounded up the strike leaders and deported them to El Salvador, from where they never returned.
2 President Tiburcio Carias Andinoto power. His regime ruthlessly crushed not only the Communists but all dissident politicaland completely destroyed the trade union movement. For more thanears the Communist movement in Honduras was driven so far underground as virtually to cease to exist.
It was not until the inauguration of President Juan Manuel Galvez in8 that the political situation in Honduras began to change once more.slowly, Galvez took steps to allow theof the political parties. The opposition Liberal Party returned to lusty life,ow party, the Honduran Revolutionary Democratic Party (PDRH),on the political horizon.
In the beginning many left-wing Liberals Joined this new group, but it soon came under the control of the Communists. Although it was not an avowedly Communist party, the PDRH became tho front behind which the Communists worked to rebuild their forces. As usual, they were active in the labor movement. Although President Galvez did not allow theof trade unions until the summerumerous mutual benefit societies did appear. One of these mutualist groups, the Society of Graphic Arts, was organized in Tegucigalpa9eriodical, Voz Obrera (Voice of the Worker). Early0 Voz Oorera undertook toa labor-organizing committee undername of Workers Committee for Organization (CCO). Itin its ranks the printing-trades workers, the shoemakers, the tailors, and other groups.
Voz Obrera, meanwhile, became Increasingly pro-Communist' in its orientation. Articles by Vicente Lorabardo Toledano appeared, and in various issues the
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paper announced its adherence to the Communisttrade union group, tho CTAL, and the World Federation of Trade Unions. It also gave publicity to events in neighboring Guatomala.
Inresident Galvez moved against Voz Obrera and the PDRH. Tho nowspaper was suppressed; its principal editors took refuge in tho Guatemalan Embassy and left the country, while the party was
Meanwhile the Communists had once again beenactive among the banana workers. There is no doubt that many Hondurans crossed the loosely guarded frontior between Honduras and Guatemala, and received training in the Communist schools inCity. There they were taught the basicof trade union organization, weretcoached in public speaking, and were Indoctrinated withideas and ideology.
The Honduran Communists got what seemed like their great opportunity in tho strike which broke out in the banana fields along the north coast in Itubject of controversy whether or not the Communists were responsible forthis walkout. President Galvez asserted that he had proof that the banana strike was originallyas an attempt to overthrow his government. He claimed that Guatemalan Communist leaders Jose Manuel Fortuny, Victor Manuel Gutierrez, and Carlos Manuel Pollecer were in Livingston, near the Honduranfrom where they directed the movement. While President Galvez and the officials of the United Fruit Company maintained that the spark was lit by the Communists, the strike leaders, Communists and non-Communists alike, maintained that the movement was spontaneous.
Whether or not they began it, there is little doubt that pro-Communist elements became the first leaders of the walkout. However, after tha strike had been in progress foronth, thosewore deposed from the central strike committee and thereafter the leaders of the strike, and the negotiators of tho final settlement early in July, wore strongly opposed to tho Influence of thoand the PDRH.
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After the strike was over, the struggle forof tho newly organized banana workers The Central Trade Union Committee (the old central strikeirmly ln the hands of theonference in order formally tonion among the United Fruit Company's employees. Its efforts were opposed by the PDRH faction.
The PDRH loaders controlled the workers' groups in the principal company towns scattered throughout the United Fruit Company (UFCO) holdings. Theat tho union convention was do arranged that the plantation workers, who make up the great majority of tho company's employees, wero adequately represented.
The founding conference of the new bananaunion met on Most of the PDRH elements boycotted the meeting, and it was completely In tho hands of the non-Communists. The PDRHmeanwhile, had set about tbe organization of what would amountival union among tho United Fruit workers. The control of the banana workers of the Standard Fruit Coapany remained firaly ln tho hands of tho non-Communists.
Innother threat to tho nation's political stability aroseesult of theelections touccessor to President Juan Manuel Galvez, There were three candidates: ex-dictator Gonoral Tiburcio Carias Andino of the Nationalist Party; Abraham Williams of tho Reformist Party; and Joso Ramon Villeda Morales of the Liberal Party.
The election campaign took placeense Threats of civil war if they lost emanated froa ail three parties. It seemed almost certain that the election would deteriorate into armed Although the Liberal Party received aore votes than either of its opponents, and nonyfolt that it had really elected its candidate, no nominee was recognized as having received theofercent of the popular vote which was
required by tho nation's constitution. The election was then thrown into congress, but no party had the two-thirds majority of the house which was necessary for election.
A deadlock occurred. President Galvez took "leave" and went to Panama, leaving the presidency in the hands of the vice president, Julio Lozano. When the constitutional time limit for the election of the president was reachod, Lozano declared adictatorship." Announcing that no new chief executive had been elected, he declared that the newly elected congress was dissolved and that he would continue in offico for two years after which ho would call now elections for both the presidency and congress. The solution of the crisis wasby all parties. Lozano was able tohree-party cabinet in which the key posts were held by members of the majority Liberal Party. ational consultative assembly, also composed of members of the three parties, was set up as afor congress.
Kith the inauguration in4 of the Julio Lozano, the Communists were subjected to the same political suppression which affected all opposition to the government.
A new crisis, however, occurred inresident Lozano had decided to stay in power, ln spite of his promises not to do so when he originally took over two years previously. He presided over electionsonstituent assembly, which werewon by Lozano's supporters who had announced in advance that thoy intended to name the provisional president as constitutional chief executive.
ew days of protest by the forcestoLiberals and the Nationalist followers of GeneralPresidentilitary coup. Tbe members of the new junta announced that they had seized power because of the fraudulent nature of the elections presided over by Lozano and the fact that the majority of thewere opposed to his regime.
The Communists played no part in this political crisis. The peaceful resolution of the situation
8
"SfBGRET
prevented then from capitalizingivil war, which might well have givenhance to offer "aupport" to one faction or another, thus enabling then for the first time toignificant factor in thepolitical life. Membership in the rCil at the end of the Lozano regime was estimated to be no morelus an equal number of sympathizers.
3. Communism at Present
A Liberal Party administration, under theof Dr. Jose Ramon Villeda Morales, took office in During the six years Villeda held office, opposition groups, including the Communists, were permitted considerably more freedom of action than in tho past. The PD1 made significant gains, not only in expanding its influencetudents and labor groups, but also in infiltrating theostecially the Ministry of public Villeda, while admitting his concern over the possible danger of Communism to Honduras, continued to display what many observerssoft" attitude toward the PCH. He maintained thatcould not be destroyed by negative suppression, but rather by constructive governmental action which would rob Communism of its appeal. Villeda sought the support of as much of the leftist element asapparently in the belief that he couldand use the PCH for his own purposes. Hehold occasional meetings with PCH leaders in order to inform them just what degree of opposition his government would tolerate.
3 coup brought to power agovernment supported by tho Nationalist Farty, the more conservative of the two major Honduran Since that time the government hasore restrictive policy toward Communist activity, including the expulsion from Honduras of most of the party leaders. Most of these exiles,rty first secretary Dionlsio Bejarano Ranos, went towhere they were able to establish international Communist contacts with greater facility than had been possible in Honduras. Since the amnesty decree ofost Communists who had not already returned to Honduras clandestinely have been readmitted to the country and are attempting to rebuild the PCH organization.
The Communist Youth of Honduras (JCH) wasby the PCHL as part of its policy of emphasizing the recruitment of youth.
Tho JCH is the youth section of the Communist movement but its members are not under partyor control. The leading members of the JCH are Jorge Arturo Rcina Idiaqucz, Carlos Fa Ik, Oscar Melera, Hodll Rivera Rodil, nnd Ismael Matute The JCH is not orgonizedolid coll basis as is the PCH. It is composed of youngas well as students, and has followers in Labor unions, schools, and in the National University of Honduras. The JCH may hove as manyctivists and sympathizers. Through these followers itsome control over student and youth groups. Prior to the3 coup, Reina reportedly had formed the JCH groups into assault brigades and was conducting classes in military and paramilitaryat his ranch near Tegucigalpa. Reportedly the JCH has received considerable assistance from Cuba, especially in the form of scholarships.
The principal youth front is the UniversityFrontU) formed8 by Reina. The FRU has controlled the Federation of Honduran University Students (FiUlI) during only one school year, , but it has lost other electionsmall margin of votes; it consistently shows strength in suchfaculties as lsw and economics. Factionalism among tho non-Compunistgroups at34 hau oLso contributed to the strength of the FRU. One such group theIntegrated University Frontupposedly affiliated with the Liberal Party, is believed to be heavily infiltrated by JCH members. The principal strength of the FRU is in the school of economy in the university, whose student oody organization has been controlled by the FRU for several years. The dean of the school of economy is Ceciiio Zelaya Lo-zano, whoommunist nnd belongs to perhnps the outstanding Communist family in Honduras.
The concentration by the PCH on recruitment of youth starts at the secondary school level. Theat this level, however, appears to bo placing Communists in teaching positions rather than onactive front groups among the students. Theline and Marxist theory were taught in manyschools during the Liberal Party administration
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of VllLoda Morales. The most notable success of the PCH on the secondary school level wasarxist high school, the Alfonso Guillen Zelaya High School in Tegucigalpa. This school is namedeftist Honduran poet and is Largely staffed by teachers of Communist persuasion. The application for its establishment was approved by tbe pro-Communist Director of Secondary Education, Manuel Antonio antos, before hisfrom that post in late Since the coup inome effort has been made to correct this situation. The minister of public education from3 tor. Eugenio Matute Canizales began dismissing some Communists from teaching positions before the endatute devoted most of his dismissals to members of the Liberal Party in order to provide more Jobs for Nationalists.
FECESITLIH, the Central Labor Federation inis Communist controlled. However,ew directorate of FECESITLIH In5 resulted in the election of an anti-Communistro-Communist slate. Both factions havetheir slates to the Labor Ministry forand the indications are that theslate will be approved as the new directorate. Should this take place the Communist control of FECESITLIH will have been eliminated. Its total membership of represents less than ten percent of organized labor. Formerly the PCH's most valuable labor asset was SITRASFRUCO, the Standard Fruit Company labor union in La Celba. Thecontrol of SITRASFRUCO was eliminated at the union elections in The union, now called SUTRASFCO, has nowembers and iswith FESITRANH, the large north coast labor union.
Tbe PCH hasotable lack of success in organizing peasants and women. In the case of the small farmers this lack of success was due to the organization of the National Association ofCampcslnos (ANACH). This organization was foundedraining program held in2 sponsored by the FESITRANH, inotaleasant leaders were given orientation courses in agrarian reform, community development, andmovement and related subjects. ANACH later
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received legal recognition from the government and eventually was admitted to the North Coast Labor Federation, FESITRANH. The original effort of the PCH toront through which they couldthe farmers began1 with the formation of the Central Committee for the Unification ofFarmers, Comite Central de Unificacion Campesina (CCUC). 2 the namo of thewas changed to tho National Federation ofSubsistence Farmers, Federacion Nacional de Campesinos Hondurenosn an attempt to take advantage of the organizational name of ANACH by confusing the peasants into believing that FENACH and ANACH were the same. FENACH leaders failed in this maneuver and then made overtures to ANACH to consolidate their efforts under the banner of ANACH, the legally recognized union. When the ANACHrefused even to talk to FENACH leaders, theorganization eventually ceased to exist.
Women, except for the female members of the PCH, have manifested even less interest than the subsistence farmers in joining PCH front groups. Since9 the PCH has attempted on an avorage ofear toomen's front, each one of which was dissolvedew meetings because of lack of interest. The main reason for this lack ofis that Honduran women traditionally do not like to appear in public as rabble rousers. Only the most dedicated Communist would allow herself to assumeole; therefore, the nucleus around which each of these short-lived organizations was formed appears to have been the same handful ofPCH members. Because ofew approach was tried3 with the formation of the Libera-tlonlst Women's Confederation (COFELI). Membership in this group was intended to be drawn predominantly from those women who were already members of the PCH. Nothing further has been heard of COFELI, and lt is, therefore, assumed to have gone the way of its predecessors.
The government of Villoda Morales had taken steps to control the inflow of Communist propaganda through the mails and customs and with some success. It was less effective in the restriction of subversive travel because resources for border and coastalwere inadequate. After the successful coup of
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ho Lopez military regime cracked down hard on the PCH, which resulted in many of itsgoing into exile. However, since the amnesty decree ofith the exception of sporadic arresting of Communist Party members and sympathizers, the Lopez government has,arge extent, left the Communists, alone. Lopez hasthe policy of the Villeda Morales government in restricting and controlling the flow of Communist propaganda through the mails and customs. It isthatercent of the propaganda entering through the postal system is intercepted by Honduran authorities, but border and coastal surveillance facilities still appear inadequate. Semana Popular has been considered to be the official PCH pubilca-tion for some time. Itimeographed paper which appears infrequently and is clandestinely Inew clandestine publication of the PCH, appeared. In5 Pedro Brizuela informed tho Municipal Committee in San Pedro Sula that the PCH would againewspaper in Honduras and that this periodical would be ready for distribution in The FAP began publishing Avance, its official paper, in Avance is considered an official party publication and is openly distributed. El Cronista, the left-wing Tegucigalpa daily, which formerly slanted its news coverage to show the United States Government in tho most unfavorable light possible, has toned down its anti-US position considerably. However, its Sunday editionuch more violent anti-US position and maintains its status as it did previously. While there are no bookstores indealing exclusively in Communist literature, several are noted for their ability to provide such literature on request and are operated by Communist party members or sympathizers. There are the Librerla Mexico in Tegucigalpa, theNavarro in Comayaguela, and the Libreria Atenea in San Pedro Sula,ranch in Other bookstores which deal in Communist literature are La Idea in Tegucigalpa, El Faro in Comayaguela, and Books in America in San Pedro Sula. The Libreria Ramon Rosa in Tegucigalpa dealsin Marxist and Communist literature, but lteading room ratherookstore.
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Radiobroadcasts originating in Honduras are not closely regulated by the government, but there are no Communist-oriented broadcasting stations in Honduras. Reception of broadcasts from Cuba on medium wave is poor except on the north coast; Radio Havana reception is excellent, however, in short nave in most aroas of Honduras. Radio Havanais slanted toward the subsistence farmers, plantation workers, and unskilled laborers, using such themes as "Yankeehe need for revolution in Latin America, how the Cuban revolution has benefited the Cuban people, and attacks on the Alliance for Progress. Radiois received only on the more expensive andshort-wave sets. However, Radio Moscow ison any moderately priced radio with the proper short-wave bands of which many Japanese models are roadily available in Honduras.
During the period4omeondurans were in attendance at the Marxist/Leninist Cadre School in Moscow. boutondurans were attending tho Patrice Lumumba Friendshipin Moscow. r more Hondurans are presently studying in schools in Cuba, East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Poland.
The potential for terrorism, sabotage, and other violence rests with three revolutionary organizations: the pro-Castro Francisco Morazan Movementhe Popular Action Fronthe revolutionary front of tho PCH, and the United Front of Liberal Unity nnd Action (FUAL). The MFM was formed in Cuba3 by the more militant members of tho group of JCH members who had received scholarships to study in Cuba. Upon the return of Oscar Simeon Martinez and Mariano Aguilar Ouyela, the MFM began to recruit members in the late summer Since the abortive attack on the Rio Lindo Hydroelectric Plant inhe MFN has not pursued any militant activity. The arrest and detention of Martinez and Aguilar
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along with other Cuban-tralnod MFM members hasenigrating effect on the MFM and its present activ-ties do not include overt acts of violence. The MFMembershipn the Tegucigalpa Central District with anembers and/orin the Department of Francisco Morazan which encompasses the capital. The estimated strength of members and supporters in San Pedro Sula and the north coast area is claimed tohich appearsexcessive. The MFM believes that their greatest potential for support lies ln the Department of Olancho' Concentrated attempts to organize the MFM in Olancho have not been very successful, however. The MFM is not controlled by the PCH and its leaders aro notCommunist Party discipline. The FAP, on the other hand, isCH organization. The party wants this organization to be Its united front of national liberation. Most of its leaders and activists are members of the military command (commando milltar) of tho party and have rocolved training in Cuba and the USSR. Thoy are now training Honduran cadres in sabotage, street fighting.tactics, demolition, bomb making, guerrilla warfare, and other methods of The FUAL is comprised of an unknown number of leftist monbers of the Liberal Party of Honduras, and is led by Dr. Rodolfo Pastor Zelaya, adoctor in San Pedro Sula. FUAL support isln the north coast. The organization is small but vocal and has published leafletsrevolutionary acts against the Lopez government.
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SECRET -
the communist movement of jamaica
There is no Communist party in Jamaica, but rather several Communist front groups. These groups have been unable to unite into an effective coalitionhaving received considerable outside urging and havingumber of abortive attempts. Should they be able to unite, however, an inviting area exists for them to exploit among tho large body of unemployed and underemployed, particularly in tbe slums of Kingston.
Jamaica has long been free of the instability which has troubled other Caribbean countries. trong tradition of parliamentary rule exists, basedorking two-party system. The ruling Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and the opposition People's National Party (PNP) both are essentially conservative parties with broad popular support based primarily on their respective labor unions. The large rural population iseparate political force, but findsalong with other well-defined interest groups, in the two major parties.
Jamaica's long-term prospects for continuing stability are not all bright, however. The rapid economic growth of, which was basedon bauxite development, has leveled off. is estimated to be betweennd is coupledapid population expansion. Extremely bad living conditions exist for manywhorime target for Communistand organizers.
Brief History of Jamaican Communisn
For many years the Communists in Jamaica worked inside the PNP ond its associated trade union group, the Trade Union Council (TUC). The leaders of the TUC were from the beginning tho left wing of the PNP. The TUC joined the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) at its founding congress, and remained in that body long after its democratic membership had withdrawn. orman Manley, head of the PNP, and other party leaders were highly concerned
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with the possible influence of the pro-Comraunist element on the PNP's chances for winning the coming election and for conducting an effective government after the election. Party leaders became convinced that the left-wing group was trying toartyarty. Charges of disloyalty to the PHP and its principles and of trying toommunist group within the party were made by the PNP executive, and the left-wing group was expelledublic trial.
Those expelled from the PNP split into twoone headed by solicitor and intellectualRichard Hart who founded tho Jamaicanof Trade Unionsnd the other led by Ken and Frank Hill which retained the TUC name. The PNP established another trade union which quickly attracted most of the following of the dissension-torn TUC. Tho TUC sponsored the formation of the National Labor Party which, however, became defunct following its failure to elect any candidates in5 elections. The TUC joined tha Federation of Christian Trade Unions, but in4 merged back into tho PNP's labor organization.
Ferdinandell-known Communist in the international labor movement and an officer of tho WFTU, returned to his native Jamaica He teamed up with JFTU leader Richard Hart, andpresident of the union, which subsequently affiliated with the WFTU. Hart and Smith formed the People's Educational Organization (PEO)hich they later reorganized and renamed the People's Freedom Movement (PFM) The PFM failed to elect any of its candidates to tho House ofin5 or to municipal office inut maintained its overt operations. However, police raids4 effectivelythe PFM's activities. The party attempted to organize groups in both Kingston and rural areas but had little success in attracting members. Party leaders tried tougar workers' unionactory workers' union to affiliate with the JFTU. The WFTU recognized the JFTU, but both the government and employers ignored it completely. Its scantquickly evaporated when it became apparent that tho union could not help them.
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The Jamaican Youth Movement, originally formed by the government during the early years of World War II, was taken ovor by Hart, but it, too, failed to produce any appreciable results. Smith became ill, ond the PFM sufferedebilitating lack of leadership. Membership lagged and funds were almost invariably insufficient to undertake any major projects. ow party chairman was as unsuccessful as his predecessors in spurring recruitment. Smith continued to receive some funds from the WFTU and tried to take some credit for9 sugar strikes, but his failing healthrestricted his activities.
Inhe PFM seemed to be benefiting from the impact of the Cuban revolution, and some members were thought to be receiving funds and guidance from Cuba. Activity picked up nnd members attempted to exploit the Rastafarlanlack supremacist, back-to-Africa cult which,proved to be too Internally disorganized and individualistic to lend itself to Communist.
2 the PFM split into two factions. The original and more moderate group, headed by Hart, took the name of the Socialist Party of Jamaica (SPJ). The other faction contains more radical members who retain the PFM name but preferront, the Unemployed Workors Council (UWC). Winston Monroe heads the UWC and the PFM. Tbe UWC has participated with members of major party trade union organizations in demonstrations, usually exploiting such economic issues as unemployment. In addition they haveew small pro-Castro, anti-US demonstrations which have never been able to attract moreew onlookers. The UWCin its role as the militant arm of the PFM and reportedly hopes to send some members to Cuba for guerrilla training. ome WC members evidently did not find its policies sufficiently revolutionary, and they broke away to establish the embryonic Youth Force for National Liberationhe YFNL has become practically defunct since its leader, Keith Miles, returned to England.
The SPJ also apparently suffers from considerable intrapovty dissension. 4 Richard Hart moved
to British Guiana to assist his close friend Cheddi Jagan and to serve as editor of the Mirror, the organ of Jagan's People's Progressive Party"! Shortly after Jagan's failure to win4 elections, Hart moved to Great Britain. He appears more interested in British Guianese affairs than in returning to Jamaica. Purcol Lawson who currently heads the SPJ has borne the brunt of considerable criticism from fellow SPJ members. The SPJ has been inactive in recent months and the party seems likely to remain in its present state of disarray for the immediate future.
Both the PPM/OWC and the SPJ openly espousedoctrine. They have jointly supported and publicly shared in the activities of suchas the Friends for Cuba Committee, which is now virtually inactive. Both British and Cubanhave exerted considerable pressure on tho two groupsepresentative leftist front. They have been promised assistance if they can combine with the left-wing of the PNP and the militant youth organization of the PNP known as tho Young Socialist League (YSL).
Although the YSL was created by the PNPt is no longer responsive to the moderate leaders of the party. YSL President Hugh Small has led the group's drive to organize followers and to spread Marxist teachings into rural areas. The YSL has been quite effective in attracting members. It is not fully Communist controlled, but many of itsmembers are known Communists. Leroy Taylor, one of the party's loading figures has been to Cuba and is activelyro-Castro party orientation.
Because of the YSL's espousal of extreme leftist doctrines, it may soon be expelled from the PNP. YSL leaders attempted to take over tho PNP during the5 congress. Although they were notin getting the PNP to accept extreme socialist measures in the party platform, their strength and organization were surprising, and the YSL is athreat to party moderates. The YSL willingly lends itself to Communist purposes and probably justi-fiedly deserves its characterization as the best hope of the far left for eventually taking power in Jamaica.
There are probably not more than thirty or forty hard-core Communists in Jamaica, andympathizers. The membership and sympathizers are divided fairly evenly between tho PFM/UKC and the SPJ. In addition, the YSLollowingto be, and although most of these persons could not be considered Communists, they are certainly sympathizers with extreme leftist causes and rosponsive to the diroction of extremists.
Lack of funds hashronic problem for Jamaican Communists, and when combined with their internol disorganization and lack of effective leadership, has made it almost imposslblo for the party to produce significant political action either alone or in concert with other groups. The various fronts have attempted to exploit0 or so members of the Rastafarian sect, but so far have had little, or no, success. At the present time the YSL seems the most likely source of support for the goals of Communism in Jamaica, particularly if the YSL includes prominent members of the left-wing of the PNP in its ranks.
In addition to the supporters of Communist causes mentioned abovo, thereew self-styledCommunists, such. (Roily) Simms, Vincent Green, and II.G. Sinclair. Sinclair has been identified with the SPJ and has been ln and out of the PNP as well.
The Communists appear to have fow adherents among either trade union or student groups, but theytheir efforts to penetrate such organizations and to exploit dissatisfaction with tho government's conservative policies.
4. Foreign Influence
The various Communist fronts have no established international ties and receive neither direction nor important financial or materiel support from abroad. They do, however, remain in close contact with Cuban, British, and British Guianeso Communists whoonsiderable Interest in Jamaica and its strategic location. All of then continuously oxhort the
Jamaicans tonitod front; the Cubans reportedly have promised substantial financial assistanceront be formod which Includes representatives of the SPJ, UWC/PFM, YSL, YFNL, and the left-wing of the PNP.
tbe lnitia little direct benefl Jamaica's Communists ing regime.esident in Cuba, so prudent to maintain with Castro. Social changes have beenenerallynllv controlling tr
impact of the Cubanppears to have accrued to
from Fidel Castro's neighbor-re0he government has found it cool, but correct,ultural, and athleticand the government has
policy of restricting andvel to and from
Communist bloc country other than Cuba has been allowed toiplomatic presence in Jamaica and trade relations are negligible. The Sino-Soviet split appears to have had little effect on Jamaican Communists who are not really responsive to either party. Thereairly sizablo Chinese community in Kingston, and in5 it was the object of mob violence by envious members of the economically hard-pressed Negro community. Although some propaganda from Rod China is circulated and some citizens have apparently visited the mainland, there is little to tie the island's Chlnoso toChina.
5. Dissident groups
Because there is no official Communist Party in Jamaica, it is impossible to name any of the fronts
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as mors dissident than any other. There does not seen to be any question of the Communistof any of these groups, it isatter of tho choice of leaders under whose directiont. activities shall be conducted. Should aimportant issueharismatic leader with real popular appeal arise, there seems nothing to preclude the unification of the splinter groupsohesive party.
Members of Legislature None
Trend in Size of Congressional Representation None
Leaders of Comnunist Party
Socialist Party ofHart
Peoples Freedom Movement/
Unemployed WorkersMonroe
of the
No official party exists, and the front groups do not havo formal organizational structures.
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COMMUNISM IN NICARAGUA
Communism has neverajor force inbut assistance from the Soviet Union and Castro's Cuba has enabled the.party toossible, if weak, threat to stability. The party is small and operates effectively only through front groups. Its appeal is limited and the recent boom in the Nicaraguan economy has reduced its attractiveness to Nicaragua's growing middle class. The Communists have sought for many years toroad-based political front to oppose the dominant Liberal Party, but has met with almost no success. However, the political ambitions of General Anastasio Somoza Debayle, son of the late dictator, soon may produce unrest in the country and provide tbe Communists their long-sought
History of Communism In Nicaragua
In the, the leaders of theCommunist movement began to take morein Latin American affairs and found ina man that they could consider as anexample of "anti-imperialism." This man,Augusto Cesar Sandino, was fighting theof his country by US Marines and hadguerrilla campaign to force them out of the The Comintern set out to "capture" Sandinocause and at the Sixth Congress of thein Moscowesolution wascalled on the proletariat of all countriesSandino,Hands Off Nicaraguawas founded. The Comintern tried,to raise funds to back Sandinothe same time, discreditgent inthe general had little interest;in the Finally, the Communists kidnaped
brother to pressure the general into acceptingand Sandino would have nothing-further to do with the Reds. andino agreed to meet with the government and end his guerrilla campaign, as the US occupation was ending. The Comintern then
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brandedraitoretrayer of Nic-araguan Independence. When Sandino surrendered, President Sacasa alsoumber of the nation's few Communists arrested.
Throughout, the Communists operated within the Partido de Trabajadores de Nicaraguahich maintained friendly relations with the he PTN split over the presidential candidacy of General Anastaslo Somoza Garcia and the Communists withdrew, forming their own party, the Partido Socialists (PS). The party's leaders at that time, including Juan Lorio and Manuel Perez Estrada, are still the policy makers within the party today.
resident Somoza closed down the PS and many of its leaders fled into exile. Armandoartyrfdurider, became active in theParty of neighboring Costa Rica.
A rapprochement between Somoza and the PS took place during World War II, as the party took theCommunist line of supporting regimes who supported the United Nations. Somoza agreed to give the PS more freedom of action and supported theof the Confederacion de Trabajadores de Nicaraguahich the Communists eventually came to Somozaumber of "Workers' Houses" to serve as union meeting places and it is ironic that he was assassinated in the Casa Obrera in Leon
After the conclusion of the war, Somoza sought to continue to deal with the PS to gain support against the liberal reaction to his dictatorship. He even went so far as to permit public meetings of the PS
"Tme Pbtrengthuuoers inand support ofercent of theinflated figure. Despite histo retain Communist support, Somoza resisted party pressure for legislative seats and government jobs.
During the campaign for7 election, the opposition Conservatives sought the support of the
PS against Sonoza, but were unsuccessful. Somoza's candidate, Leonardo Arguello, was electedixed vote, but Arguello turned against him and tried to follow an anti-Somoza and independent poLicy. The PS quickly supported Arguello, but Somoza removed the President and relations between tbe PS and tbe ruling Liberal Party declined rapidly.
eeting of the PS executive committeen Managua, Somoza henchmen moved ln and arrested almost the entire PS leadership. At the same time, tho CTN was dissolved by the government and its leaders arrested. Tho party was thus forced to go underground, and has continued to operate tasemlclandostine fashion ever since.
8 the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) was formed to replace the CTN; the Cosaunists soon dominated the new labor group, as they had its predecessor. evolt against Communistin CGT ranks succeeded io ending theirof the organization. 3 the Confederation of Nicaraguan Workers (CNT) was formed from non-Communist elements of the CGT and this organization still exists as tbe Nationalist Confederation of Democratic Workers (CNTD). The Communists formed their own trade union central organization, the General Union of Workers (UGT) which, however, was unable to get legal recognition and was the smallest of the country's central labor groups. he Communists concentrated most;of their efforts on the labor movement, since the party wassmall and weak. It was estimated that at the time the Communists lost control of the CGT, the party had onlyotal membership, andympathizersountryillion people.
The assassination of General Somoza6 further restricted party activitiestate of siege was imposed on the country by the newthe general's son, Luis. he party has become slightly more active, but the strong anti-Communist stand of the Somozas andRene- as limited its
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he Movllizacion Republlcana (MR) was fornedolitical front for the PS, since the PS--now known as thelegally proscribed. It has had little success in attracting antl-Soraoza political elements or inroad-basedopposition. The Communists have alsoouth group, the Juventud Socialists Nlcaraguonsehich is very active among Nicaraguan students.
The rise of Castroism, caused the creation of an activist exile guerrilla group called the National Liberation Front (FLN) and later the Frente Sandlnista de Llberacion National (Sandlnist Liberation Front, in memory of the old anti-US general). This group tried four times to invadethe way Castro started his Sierra maestro campaign. All four attempts were poorly organized and poorly led, and easily wiped out by the National Guard. Despite, these setbacks, the FSLN has managed tomall cadreuture guerrilla effort within the country.
3. Present Status of Communism
A. Strength and Supporting Groups
The party itself is outlawed. Its influence is strongest in labor and Important among the youth and students. Its role in politics is negligible. The PSN now hasembers and countsympathizers. There has been littlein party membership in theorld War II period. The partyeekly paper, called Orlentaclon Popular,vwhlchirculation of.
Politically, the PSN operates through the MR, formed With anembers, the MReputation of Importance it has never merited. The MR strongly influenced the platform of the united coalition Nicaraguan Opposition Front formed2 to pppose the candidacy of Rene Schick, but this effort collapsed before the election. The MR capitalizes on its reputation by door-to-doorand registration and4 it wasthat the MR could mobilize0 votes in an election. arty propaganda sheet, "MRI* is
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published weekly. KocentLy, the MR has been trying to unite the FSLN, PSN, and the Independent Liberal Party (PLI) to oppose the candidacy of General Sonoza for the presidencyut with little success.
Although the labor movement in Nicaragua has little strength, it is growing very rapidly in size and itsportance. The principal operational goal of the PSX continues to be the development of alabor movement of such strength that it wouldhreat to the stability of the The Communist-controlled faction of the General Confederation of Laborhich is not recognized by the government, has been until recently theorganization in Nicaragua in terms of ioadcrship, organization,and financing. It is led by dedicated Communists, at least two of whom have studied in tho USSR. The known strength of the illegal CGT with its strongest component, the Managuas. The Illegal CGT appears to have lost ground4 and has not been able to match the rapid growth of the Social Christian Autonomous Trade Union Movement , nevertheless it still possesses considerable potential for disruptive activities.
Communists have longominant force among Nicaraguan students, but, as in the labor movement, are being challenged by the Social Christians. The Juventud Socialists Nlcarguense (JSN) is the official youth arm of the PSN and is the most active youth group in the country. The pro-Castro Revolutionary Student Front (FER) was formed in2 and provides support for the Communist line. The FER lost considerable ground at tbe National University in the elections of5 to an "independent" backed by the Christian Democratic Federation (FDC).
The Nicaraguan Patrioticoncegroup, ceasedndno known attempts to reviveactive in the Student CenterNational(CUUN) but are not knownmembersexecutive board.
While PSN leaderselief in eventual revolution against the Nicaraguan Government, the
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party has traditionally opposed violenceactic and has no paramilitary organization. Militantamong the -supported youth and laboradvocate immediate revolution, but the split between pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese factions that has developed in other countries has not yet affected the PSN.
The FSLN, while directed from Cuba in itsefforts to invade Nicaragua, has nowadrearamilitary organization in Nicaragua. The FSLN failed completely to develop an internal subversion and terrorist guerrilla front at the time of the armed incursions from Honduras int is now attempting to work within thestructure of the PSN and MR. Communists are dominant in the movement, which also includesextremists, self-seekers, and revolutionaries of little philosophical bent. While weak, the FSLN is believed capable of organizing sporadic acts of terrorism. Upicaraguans have been trained inumber in guerrilla warfare.
B. Foreign Influence
Nicaragua maintains diplomatic relations with only one Communist country, Poland, whose ambassador Is resident in Mexico City. Diplomatic relations with Cuba were broken Trade with the bloc is negligible and total imports from4 amounted toercent of the year's total. The Communist countries have made no effort to try tooothold in trade relations with Nicaragua, since the anti-Communist view of the government is well known.
Inolio outbreak attracted aoffer of vaccine and technicians. President Schick accepted the vaccine, but declined thedespite pressure from the left to do so. The USSR has not made any further effort to exploitin Nicaragua.
In general, the government under the Somozas and Schick 'has been outspokenly in favor of US foreign policy in regard to world Communism. The opposition Conservatives, who strongly oppose the candidacy of
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Anastasio Somoza are also pro-US in orientation and would undoubtedlyimilar foreign policy If they ever came to power.
Nicaraguan Communists have had many ties withCommunism. PSN members have attendedCommunist-front congresses and have traveledto the USSR and the eastern Europeanfor orders and training. Students selected by the party attend the Patrice Lumumba Priendshlpin Moscow, and other bloc schools. FSLNand JSN hard-core followers receive training In Cuba in ono of Castro's guerrilla training camps.
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D. Communists In Government
Nicaraguan Communists have been able toa number of government entities, such as the ministries of economy, agriculture and education, the Social Security Institute,and the National Sports Commission. Very few have reached positions of The Nicaraguan Office of Nationalestimated2 thatommunists orwere holding government positions. leading Communists are personal friends of the Somozas and it has been reported that some of these people hold top jobs, although there is no confirmed evidence to prove these statements. President Schick's right-band man, Pedro Jose Qulntaniila Jarquin, the minister of the presidency, is thought by some toommunist or sympathizer, and it is known that hearty member8 He denies-his membership in the party, but lt is suspected that some Communist job-holders got their positions through Quintanilla's influence.
The vice minister of education was also thought toommunist sympathizer, but he was removeda minor cabinet crisis in Someat the university are known to be sympathetic to the Communist cause, but their influence over the students is not believed to have ledignificant upsurge in support for the party youth arm, the JSN.
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COMMUNISM IN PANAMA
Communism has never found fertile soil in Panama despite the opportunities afforded it by theof the US-administered Canal Zone and aand economy controlled by one of themost dogenerate oligarchies. Three factors might explain this paradox: the small size of the Panamanian urban working class; the importance of workers of the zone, who are reluctant to Imperil their Jobs by becoming involved in Communistand finally, the inclination of mostto support the country's traditional non-Communist movements which promise most of the things the Communists offer,
The first Communist group In Panama, the Labor Party (Partido Labor 1st was organized5umber of labor disputes andoccurred lo Panama City and Colon. Itcandidates in the national elections8 aodotes in the city of Colon. the Communists claimed that they received enough votes to elect two members to the National Assembly, no Labor Party candidates were certified, as having be.On victorious. 9 the Communist Party took the lead inew labor group, tho Slndlcal Confederation of Workers and Peasants of Panama (Confederacion Slndlcal deampesinos deand most of the country's small unions joined the new
Tbe Communists used the trade unions under their control to give more of an appearance of solidity to their political activities. Thus inhe CSOCP joined with the Communistsewunions toorkers and Peasants bloc, for political purposes. During the same period theParty (Partido Comunista--PC) of Panama was officially organized and one of its loaders, Eliseo Echevez, was sent to Moscow to confer with theof the Comintern.
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3 the Socialist Party of Panama was formed and immediately began to challenge Communist control of the country's small trade union movement. both sides resorted to violence. In thetill another political group appeared on the scene to steal much of the Communist's thunder. Arnulfo Arias' Panamanist Party (PartidoPP) gained widespread supporttridentlyprogram closely akin to fascism. 0 Arias was elected president andhort while the Communists cooperated with him because of his anti-US attitudes and his sympathy for the Axisthe policy adopted by international Communism during the Stalin-Nazi pact days.
During World War II the Panamanian CommunistsMoscow's line of cooperating with regimes who supported the United Nations. 3 the party was disbanded upon tbe dissolution of the Third The party then had an estimated membership. The next year it was reorganized and followed the lead of brother parties of the hemisphere in changing its name to the Party of the People (Partido del.
The last two years of World War II saw thegain considerable ground in Panama, especially in the trade union movement. In4 alabor congress was held ln Panama City under the auspices of the Communists. During the congress the party's labor arm,theSyndical Federation of Workers of the Republic of Panama (FSTRP) was formed and EfrainDP labor leader.was elected secretary general.
For the first time Communists also made substantial headway among the workers of the Canal Zone. This penetration was not achieved by the PDP itself, but rather by the United Federal Workers (UFW) aUS union, at that time affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO). 6 the UFW's Union of Workers of the Canal Zone claimed to0 members. For three years this union remained in the CIO and represented about one half of0 Panamanian workers employed by the Canal Zone administration. fter the UFW was expelled from the CIO as being under Communist control, the Communists lost their hold on Canal Zone workers.
During this period the party operated as arather thanational party because it was unable to secure the large number of signaturesto permit it to functionationwide The party managed to elect candidates tocouncils in some instances, but could never name candidates for the National Assembly. "Fellow travelers" did win seats in the Assembly from time to time and through its control of various front and infiltrated organizations and its close ties with leftist and nationalist groups, the PDP was able to bring considerable pressure to bear on the Panamanian Government.
Conforming to the stronglyolicies of the USSR after World War II, the Panamanian Communists used their influence over workers and students to encourage and support anti-US demonstrations. The PDP attained its most effective point in7 when it joined forces with nationalistic elements to defeat renewal of the US-Panama Defense Sites
With the return of Arnulfo Arias to powerhe Communists found rougher sledding. Idrias and' his cabinetesolutionthe PDP. However, the decision was laterunconstitutional by the attorney general and it was suspended. By thehe Communists had lost most of their support in the trade unions. The FSTRP was split several times after World War II, and4 it was virtually reduced to threerecognized trade unions.
The decline of the Communists' support in the unions was matched by the general decline of their popularity. First Arnulfo Arias and then Jose Remon, who became president at the endaptured the support of many who might otherwise have been subject to Communist influence. Remon'sappealed to local nationalism by seeking aof3 treaty.
In3 the Remon administration passedrbhibittBgithe Communist Party and allactivities. This move marked the culmination of an anti-Communist campaign conducted throughout
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the year by Bemon even before passage of the law. Lawccelerated the disintegration of tbe PDP. Official harassment caused fear and distrust anong party members, limited attendance at PDP meetings, and resulted in disorganized performance and gcn-eral ineffectiveness.
The over-all strength of the PDP This decline was not noticeably reflected, however, among hard-core, militant members whosomewhat underhroughout this period. It appears that party membership declinedeako
The party's weak position rarely permitted lt to seize the initiative ln fomenting unrest. it tended to move cautiously afteror other developments had been set ln motion by other groups. The partyinor role ln the anti-US student riotingommunist Involvement in the anti-US demonstrations ofhile still limited, occurredonsiderably larger scale than tbe riots earlier in the month and bore evidence of calculated planning. Inj)
The events9 demonstrated, as they did again lnhe PDP's capability forinfluence far out of proportion to Itsby making common cause with ultranationa-llsts and other anti-US groups. Although the party was afforded'1 an excellent opportunity to exploit nationalism aroused over the Canal issue, itonly small membership gains. ad dropped tond in February of that year ten individuals were said to besomeosts in the party and its laborthe FSTRP.
Communists or extreme leftists have controlled the leadership of Panamanian student groups much of the time during the pastears by capitalizing on the apathy of the majority of the students. Tbe PDP's influence among student organizations and the country's educational system represents perhaps its most significant accomplishment.
0 moderate student leaders united toong period of leftist and Communistof the Union of University Students (UEU) and,
by extension of UEU influence, of its parentthe Federation of Panamanian Studentshe non-Communist leaders did nothing, however, totrong following. Resentment over the serious deficiencies throughout the educationalcameead lo student riots inuicklyound and popular reform program, the Communists attracted the great majority of the university students to their newly organizedReform (FRU). The FRU swept student elections throughout the University of Panama, including the UEU, in the fall2 with tha help of thenMinister Alfredo Ramirez. Ramirez wanted student support in his drive to bocomo president This FRU triumpbntnas followed in2 by the election of PDP militant Victor Avlla to head the FEP and the selection of other Communists for key posts.
With student affairs the most active field of Communist Influence, leaders at the universitythe key figuresivision of Communistwhich started in the. The advent of Castro, and later the Sino-Soviet ideological dispute, split the Panamanian Communist movement. The PDP's doctrinaire Leadership has consistently looked for guidance and financing to Moscow andthe Soviet position of transition toby peaceful means. 1 pro-Castro elementsand non-Communiststhe Vanguard of National Actionn organization which advocated immediate and violent revolution in Panama. Its leaders, who included some former and present PDP members, were trained in Cuba andcontact with Havana through frequent travel and members resident in Cuba.
Despite unity agreements, thevVAN were continually at odds. PDP loaders were deeply concerned over the VAN'S influence In Cuba to tbe detriment of the PDP and resented the fact that Castroltes rather than PDP members were the chief recipients of training in Cuba.
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In2 and3 the PDP began to show increased sophistication in itseflection of training of PDP members inschools in the USSR and China. In addition, the party may have been spurred by competition from
8
the VAN. The result of training began to show ln many PDP activities, particularly insofar asand sustained effort were concerned. of party work ln all fields, provided in the past only by National Executive Committee (CEN)was delegatedarge extent to mid-level members. Security was increased markedly withcompartmentatlon of party cells ln all areas.
Party finances improved to the extent that even key aild-level party leaders became paid functionaries who devoted ail of their time to PDP affairs. The PDP in2 changed its political line from peaceful co-existence to violence. This line was kept flexible and subject to tactical changes,as evidenced in the elections4 when the PDP inserted or supported candidates in the Socialist Party.
The nationalistic upsurge in4 gave considerable impetus to the extreme left and the PDP may have regained its preillegallzation strength ofembers. The membership revival resulted largeLy from its ability to foment and prolong the serious anti-US riots. In so doing, the PDP once again demonstrated its capability for exertingfar out of proportion to its membership. 4 the PDP virtually came out into the open and the leftist extremists blatantly boasted of their controL over student organizations and their consequent influence on President Chlari and the-.in. genera 1.
In spite of their rivalry nnd quarrels, the PDP and VAN collaborated effectively throughout the riots and exhibited shrewdness in recognizing the sudden wave of nationalismong-sought opportunity for exploitation. Success in exploiting the crisisboosted morale on all levels ln the PDP. following the riots, the party began the training of special "action brigades" designed to effect acts of violence and sabotage.
After the events offewer Panamanian looked upon the Communistsangerous clement, and more saw them as useful allies. Among groups where they were already active--studonts,Labor andCommunists expanded
their influence. Extremists and pro-Communists who had influential positions in government and in news aedia became an Invaluable asset.
President Johnson's announcement4 that the US intended to replace the Canal treatyew one encompassing; Panama's major demands robbed the PDP and extremist groups of their most useful issue. The statement cut away most of the common ground between the extremists and the more moderate Panamanian nationalists.
Communist student leaders at the university again became the key figures in the struggle"hard-line" pro-Castro activistwho favored violence and the i'soft-line" PDP members who preferred to discredit the oligarchy by political action. The divisions between the two groups prevented unanimity and President Robles'uso of the national guard preventedagitation from gettingooat of hand.
The widely publicized arrest in5 ofembers of the PDP central committeechecked party activities even though the men were held only one week. Fearing widespread government repressive measures the Communists for several months remained in tho background and carried on their activities under extreme security precautions.
3. Current Status of Communist Party
The Panamanian Communist movement is smallsplintered. There are estimated to beactive members with
tive supporters. The movement suffers fromsplit between the Moscow-orienteda small activist group known as the UnitedMovement (MUR) which, like itsVAN, favors immediate terrorist actionRobles government and the U8 presence inZone.
In5 PDP secretary general Ruben Dario Souza returnedisit to Moscow where he is believed to have sought more funds and help against the growing threat of the pro-Chinese MUR. Hewith plans to inject new vigor into theew recruitment drive was initiated and Souza threatened to remove inept party bureaucrats. Very little in this direction has been accomplished,and in August the party was described as going through the throesevere organizational crisis.
There are indicationslandestinecongress will be called soon to revise party leadership and programs. Souza is said to feel that emphasis should be placed on the croatlon of popular mass organizations which the party can later exploit rather than try to penetrate and direct existing In addition, Souza believes that too much time and effort is expended in working with student groups whose activities are sometimes hard to channel In thecrlght direction. Instead, Souza favorson the creation of new labor unions.
The PDP still controls Just one Labor federation, the FSTRP, and it has almost no strength and exists primarily on paper. The FSTRP leaders are vocal in pursuing tho Communist line, but have little support and no real control over most Labor unions. The Large and well financed labor union of the Chiriqui Land Companynited Fruit subsidiary, isbut often influenced by its labor adviser, radical Socialist Carlos Ivaneputy to tbe National Assembly.
The PDP continues to try In fits and starts to proselytize the peasants and Indians with little or no success. Endeavors to form peasant Leagues have been met with distrust or apathy. Recent reporting indicates the PDP-dominated Union of University(UEU) is planning to assist in organizingLeagues in Panama Province.
Although PDP strength is not great, lt Is well placed to obtain maximum effectiveness. Theand their allies hold key positions.In student movements, on the university faculty, in Someministries, in press and radio and in thefield as lawyers.
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The PDP's greatest current asset comes from its ability to incite national emotions over the Canal Zone. In this regard thereoincidence ofbetween Communists and non-Communists; and in fact many so-called Communists may be motivated only by extreme nationalism and the call to action over the Zone issue.
PDP NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Vice
Secretary
Secretary for
Secretary for
Secretary for
Secretary for Press and
Secretary for Labor Affairs: Secretary for Youth Affairs:
Escala
Carlos Francisco Chang Marin
Ruben Darlo Souza Batista Miguel Antoni6 Porcell Pena Jorge Armando Ferrera Eugenio Barrera
Ruperto Luther Thomas Trotroan
Jose del Carmen Tunon
Cleto Manuel Souza Batista
nmm:*im
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THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF PARAGUAY
1. Introduction
The Communist Party of Paraguay (Partido Comu-nistnCP) has' neverajor olumont in national politics. Approximatelyercent of its members and sympathizers live in exile. They hnvo had little success in persuading other exiles to join themnited front, despite repeated Those who romain in Paraguay are severely repressed by the efficient government security forces. They arc largely ineffective and have no seriousfor overthrowing the government of President Alfredo Stroessner.
ong history of dictatorship and bloody strife, Paraguay has found stability under therulo of Stroessner. The three traditional bases of power in the country have been the strong, partisan military establishment, the police,ell-defined security function, and the political organization of the ruling party. The only real source of political leadership in the country is found among the small number of loading farailios, who have strong partisan ties. Tho President has maintained his regime in power for ten years by carefully balancing Colorado Party, police, andinterests. Political and press freedom have gradually increased, but Stroessner still firmly holds the reins.
In tbe highly conservative and isolatedsociety, it bas been extremely difficult for Communism toertllo field for growth. Parnguay haseasant society and its intornal oconomy is based on subsistence farming. Most of the people, however, aro economicallythere is no hacienda or plantation system to exploit tho peasants, most of whom have access to more land than thoy can cultivate. In addition, Paraguay hasow light Industries andthere is no large mass of industrial workers to become dissatisfied and who might respond to the appeals of the PCP.
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2. Brief history of the party
Founded8 and admitted to tho Comintern later that year, the PCP originallyew former anarchists activo in tho small labor movoment in Asuncionmall group of young intellectuals. The PCP opposed the Chacotand which offended the patriotism of most Paraguayans and cost the party considerable popularity. During World War II it was Implacably pursued by the government. In5 it attempted tooneral strike; many Communists were jailed and deported after the strike failed. In6 tho PCP was allowed freedom of operation, although lt was not fully recognizedegal political party. It held public meetings andewspaper, but the excesses ofpropagandaising tide ofand in7 the PCP was again outlawed.
When dlssatisfiod military elements and members of tho opposition Febrerista and Liberal partiosagainst the government inhe Communists, while never dominant, were able toconsiderable influence in the ensuing civil war. Several hundred Communists Joined the rebel forces at Concepcion, where they controlled the radio, and they were responsible for some propaganda andin Asuncion. With the collapse of the revolt inCP loaders went into hiding and exile.
During tho, the ruling Colorado Party was preoccupied with tho opposition Liberal and Fobrerista partios. esult tho Communists achieved considerable success In penetrating many governmental, political, university, and laborespeciallypolice and one faction of tho Febrerista Party. Since Stroessner took powerCP activities within Paraguay have been severely curtailed. The Communists havoto lead several guerrilla invasions which have been easily routed.
3 the PCPetback whon pro-Chinese members who had been expelled from tho party decidod toival organization, the Paraguayan Leninist Com-unist Party (PCLP) . Another serious reverse came inolice crackdown
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resulted in the arrest of numerous low-lovol party members, primarily in rural areas. It was reportod that thoy were attempting to organize cadres for the creation of now guerrilla groups. The govornment immediately initiatod investigations to determine whether or not thore were links between tho PCP and other exile groups nnd whether any army officers were involved in subversive activities.
In5 another rebellion split PCP ranks as many of tho party's leaders, hoaded by Obdulio Barthe,Committee for the Defense andof thend denounced theof Secretary Ceneral Oscar Creydt. Partymany of whom have chafed at his autocratic methods and his failure to support insurgent may find that their attempt to remove him will result in an even further roduction of the party's already limited capabilities.
Government harassment and repression of the PCP has successfully seen to it that theolitical party is practically nil.
3. Stength nnd Supporting Groups
f thearaguayan Communists live in exile, most of them in tho neighboring countries of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. There is little formal partyoutside Asuncion, and much of tbeof tho PCP exists mainly on paper. Within the country, most of the party members are peasants or laborers, though some are students, intellectuals, and professional people. esult of frequent exhortation by the exiled Socretary General Oscar Creydt, thoreonstant drive to recruit new members. Most of these withdraw subsequently,by the continuing government harassment.
The party has been in poor financial condition since at Income from duos is modest and the party receives little, if any, support from wealthy sympathizers. The PCP receives funds from tho Soviet Union, Cuba, and other Communist countries, but the amounts are not known.
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Tho principal effort of the PCP outside Paraguay has been tho maintenanceront, the United Front for National Liberationesigned to coordinate the activltios of all opposition olomonts in an effort to overthrow the Stroessner regime. Thisprimary objective of the PCP, It hopes todemocratic government" over which it can gradually achieveULNA grew out of the non-Communist exile organization United Front for Liberation, which was taken ovor by FULNA headquarters are in Montevideo where ltollateral front, the Paraguayanocial club. In addition, FULNA hasregional committees in several Brazilian towns and probably in sevoral Argentine cities.
FULNA has.almost completely failed insecure the cooperatlon-of.other exilefor the extreme: left wing of thowhoso propaganda line is now almostfrom that of the PCP. FULNA hasorganize invasion forces to overthrowwith very limited success.. Betweenand1 exile groups made six armedinto Paraguay from Argentina. Thesesmall-scale, tho largest involvingen. FULNA, however, played aonly three..operations. ho: crossed the upper Parana River inalmost-all killed, and very smallraided two police stations in February
At the present time there aro no effective guerrilla operations within Paraguay. Small groups of from four to eight men.have been reported in central Paraguay, but have-won little popular Tho recent government arrests probablywiped out the, nuclei of tho guerrilla groups which were trying to build cadres to form new columns.
Front activity within Paraguay is. weak. omen'sawyers' front,ational propeace commission aro virtually defunct and The Democratic Revolutionary Students' Front (FEDRE) has engaged in sporadic wall painting and occasionally has attempted to stir up the
SEGRET
university students. It is not an effective group, and has suffered from continuing governmentand repression.
Influence
There is no official mission from any Communist country in Paraguay. PCP leaders in Montevideo, however, maintain contact with the Soviet and other Communist ombassies. PCP delegations frequently visit the USSR, whose leadership the party diligently follows. Members also occasionally visit othercountries for training, meetings, or other purposes. Cuba and Czechoslovakia have giventrainingumber of .Paraguayans. Cuba has additionally furnished propaganda material and funds, and may have furnished some arms. Reportedly some labor leaders have also received training in Cuba. Radio Havana shortwave broadcasts in Spanish and Guarani are regularly directed toward Paraguay. As previously mentioned, the USSR, Cuba,and other bloc nations provide some funds for PCP activities and travels.
PCP leaders in Montevideo work closely with the Uruguayan Communist Party, which is also predominantly pro-Soviet. Paraguayan Communists in Argentina and Brazil have received some cooperation from those partlos, and there is evidence to suggest that Brazilian Communists havo assisted in training Paraguayan The Brazilian and Argentine governments have become increasingly cooperative with tho Stroessner government, however, in preventing assistance to the PCP.
groups
The PCPevere setback3 when the rival PCLP made its appearance. In3 the PCP expelled) members fortho authority of Secretary General Creydt and his pro-Soviot position and for supporting the Chinese Communist line. Further expulsions have brought the total to in3 some of the expelled members proclaimedeparate party. eeting in Montevideo4 they formallyall Creydt's decrees and declared thatthe PCLP would compote with the PCP in Paraguay.
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Not all of the expelled PCP mombers joined tho PCLP, which probably only has aboutembers and has not gainod any substantial nuobor of adherents sinco the original split. The PCLP is reportedly controlled by Alfonso Guarra, Marcos Zeidn, and Sevastian Querey, who is secretary general. Obdullo Barthe, the number two nan in the PCP hierarchy, was reported to be associated with the PCLPut ho has since recanted his pro-Chinose views andto PCP activities. PCLP representatives have reportedly been promised financial assistance by Chinese Communists whom they met ln Montevideo, but there is no conclusive evidenco to indicate that such help has been forthcoming. The PCLPis attempting to increase its operations within Paraguay but has so far been relatively
Inew group made an appoaranco, and the PCP appears to have been torn even further asunder. Committee for the Defense andof the PCP"eclaration in tho Argentine Communist Party weekly magazine rejecting tho leadership of Oscar Croydt and calling for armed insurrection to overthrow tho Paraguayan Government. Tho declaration, signed by many of Paraguay'sCommunists, including Obdulio Barthe and Agusto Canete, accuses Creydt of denouncing party members to the police and of plotting toarty based only on tboso who servo him unconditionally. This furthor division within the PCP seems likely only to decrease its already slim rosources and effoctiveness.
The sarao factors which have prevented tho PCP fromajor role ln Paraguayan politics, however, will also operate against the PCLP and tho new party grouping. Tho principal effect of the creation of rivals has been to spread distrust within the PCP. Tho extent of this disruption is ovldonced by the continued postponement of the third PCP congress, originally scheduled for The widespread dislike of Creydt and hismethods and the existence of somehinese Communist sentiment within the PCP are likely toa reconciliation.
Members of Legislature None
Trend In size of PCP congrosslona1 representation None
Leaders of the Coamunlst Party of Paraguay PARTYOP CENTRAL COMMITTEE*
General
Creydt Corazon Aguilar Enciso Celsoampo Obdullo Barthe Callxto Bogado Augusto Caneto Carlos Luis Casablanca Emilio Gomez Hlpollto Gonzalez Efraln Ibanez Apolonlo Lezcano Arturo Lopez
Rlcardo Menendez Torres Ortigoza Juan MoraO Efrain Morel
Olazar (fnu) (Higlnio?)ff3
Quiroz (fnu) (Dario?)
Justo Ramirez
Teodulo Rlvoros
Carmen Soler de Casabianca
Dalila Soler de Quevodo
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PARTY POST
OF CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Acostagnacio Benignoivio Enrique Gonzalez Santander Ireneo Eliodoro Averlro Insfran* Ananiasntonioulio Rojas**
SECHE'l
THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF PERU
J Introduction
In rccont years, Communism has displaced the Peruvian military and oligarchy as the primary
threat to government stability. This threat doos not aou Involve tho inssibilityakeover in Poru. It doos include the potential ef Communist and or.troMO leftist groups to prevent tho Bclaunde [lovoriH.-. from achieving much-neoded economic and saeiol reforms by peaceful nnd constitutional moans. Tho Comnunist strategy, therefore, is to sow popular distrust of or opposition to tho government and Its policies, to create discord within the government itself, and to disrupt tho economy. From this point on, oach Communist organization proceeds differently and separately toward tho common long-range objective
It is this fragmented character of tho far left in Poru which cripplos it most. The PeruvianParty (PCP) is split into two factions or groups, one of which follows tho Moscow line of peaceful coexistence and the other, Communist China's thesis of violent revolution. Each group claims to be the only Peruvian Communist party. This split has lowered the prestige and influence of the PCP almost to the levol of the other numerous small parties of the for left which aro also split into two, oven throe, competing factions. rominent exception to all these parties is the pro-Castro, Chineseeaning Movement of theLeft (MIR). The MIR has not experienced tho same dogree of internal dissension and is now actively engaged In guerrilla warfare aimed at revolution.
In addition to the internal dissension rampant within far-leftist parties, the far left has boon unable or unwilling to find any general basis for cooperation or unity. Personal rivalriesajor factor hero, but difforing interpretations of Communist doctrine alsoarge part. Unltod, the Communist left could seriously challongestability.
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SECRET
Articlef the3 Constitution reads "The State does not recognize the legalof political parties of International Persons who belong to such nay not fulfill any political function." This article, originallyto outlaw the American Popularould seem to make the Communist Party illegal also. However, tho PCP has been allowed to participato in most elections under various cover names,even though the letter of the article has been periodically Invoked by Peruvian governments.
. The attitude of the present government toward the PCP and other Communist groups has varied. Fernando Belaunde Terry tacitly acceptedsupport for his candidacy and party during3 pro-electoral period. esult, two senators and.twelve deputies who aro avowed Communists or Cpmmunist sympathizers wore elected to Congross. All but two of thoso congressmen wore elected on the Popularhristian Democrat Party ticket.
In its first few months, the Belaundewas qui to tolerant of the Communists, using their support to undermine Aprista strength in tho labor, student, and peasant fields. This policy, however, only encouraged the Communists and thus Communist-inspired strikes and land invasionsin numbers and intensity. eries of several very serious incidents, conservative elements and the military pressured tho administration intoirmer line. oundup of known agitators, coupled with passage of tho agrarian reform law lnemporarily ended Communist disturbances. With the outbreak of guerrilla activity directed by the MIR lnhe government took oven stronger measures. tate of siego was decreed, the armed forces have been committed to the counterinsurgency effort, suspoctod Communists are under arrost, and Belaunde has been provoked into condemning Communist intervention in Peru.
2. Brief history of the party
The history of organized Communism in Peru begins with the Peruvian Socialist Partyoundedroup of Marxist intellectuals and labor leaders
ssear later, PSP members differed over tho issue of dropping the socinlist labol in favorommunlet title. Unable to reconcile thoissenting minorityto function as socialists while thechose to become the Peruvian Communist Party (PCP) .
Knrly PCP activity centered around theof labor unions, at first in cooperation with the Uaixlst-oriontcd American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) but soon contending with APRA for domination of the labor movement. The PCP-APRA labor struggle reached its climax4 when all cooperation between the two parties endod. Anto ronow general cooperation with APHA was made by tho Communistss they attempted towith tho Comintern's line of the popular front, but APKA rejected all PCP proposals and the two parties continued to compete with each other to the extent that their illegal status permitted.
During the period from the fall of0he PCP enjoyeddogroe of toleration. Successivegenerally regarded APRA as thothreat and seldom interferedPCP activities. owever,APKA-insplrcd general strike, both Communistleaders wero imprisoned and theirorganizations supprossed. PCP fortunesduring tho national doctoral campaign oftho party was able to exploit thoto attract labor support for itsProdo. The Communists won from thorecognition of tho Chauffeurs Federation.luan P. Luna, Communist leader of theto tho Chanher of Deputies.. Followingtho PCP was permitted considerablea major role in the revival of anPoru. Tho party was strong enough,
in fact, Lo eluct Luna as tho first secrotary genoral of tho now Confederation of Poruvian Workers (CTP) although APP.A, the PSP,umber of independents were also active andignificant number Of moinbor unions.
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In tho electionshe PCP supported the administration's candidate for the presidency in coalition with APRA and Independents. Therunning under the name Socialist Vanguard of Peru, won four seats in tho Chamber of Deputies; throe Communist-supported senators were also elected. Nevertheless, the real victor was APRA, whichajority to each house of Congress. Despite an increasing membership duringeriod, PCP fortunes were adversely affected by tho unprecedented and overwhelming growth of APRA. Aprlsta captured control of the CTP as wellumber of other labor organizations run by tho PCP.
The anti-APHA military revolution8 was only of temporary benefit to the Communists who in turn were suppressed by tho junta government. ajor split was also developing in the party, bo-twoen Luna and tho central committee, over policyis APRA. Luna broke away from the party and managed toeasure of cooperation with tho Odria, but the official wing of the PCP was outlawed and persecuted. The hostile atti-tudo of the government toward the regular PCP, plus increasing factionalism, was primarily responsible for the collapse of its national organization and the appearance0 of no less than sixCommunist groups throughout Peru. Many old guard PCP leaders were Imprisoned or exiled, party membership dwindled, and natlonwido contacts and communications wore severod.
Preparations for6 national electionore open political cllmato and asmeasures against tho PCP lessened, the party was ablo to rejuvenate its organization andegree of order from the chaos which had developed. Following tho re-establishment ofcommittee authority, the PCP decided to support the candidacy of Fernando Belaunde Torry who was running as an Independent. Although Belaunde was unsuccessful ln the election, the PCP continued to work closely with the Popular Action (AP) party established by the candidate shortly after elections. Tbe PCP enjoyod great freedom during the early years of President Prado's secondntil in0 anti-Castro Cubans raided the Cuban Embassy ln Lima and seized documents dealing
Communist infiltration into Peru and Cuban subsidization for antlgovernment elements. esult, diplomatic relations with Cuba were broken off and tbe Peruvian Government, prodded by the military, took forceful measures against theimprisoning many leaders.
Againmpending elections resulted inletup of anti-Communist activity; in response the PCP organized the National Liberation Front (FLN)ehicle for Communists and other leftists toin the elections. The FLN candidate fordrew only two percent of the total votes cast. The election was annulled by the armed forces, however, and the new military Junta proceedod to devote its attention to repression of its traditional foe, APRA. Communist activity increased alarmingly as the party prepared to hold its Fourth National Congress, the first lnears without government harass-mont. ising number of Communist andpeasant land invasions, howevor, caused the junta to reverse its policy of toleration and in3 itolice roundup of suspected
subversives.
New national elections were scheduled for3 and the PCP decided to back Fernando Belaunde as it had During the campaign, Belaunde neither renounced nor acknowledged his Communist supporters, but following his election he evidently tried to repay tho Communists byery lonlent attitude toward certain Communist-led labor unions and peasant federations. Again Communist-inspired strikes and land Invasions began to increase in numbers and intensity until military andpressure forced the Belaunde government to take stricter measures. Constitutional guarantees wore suspended and the Civil Guardarge-scale roundup of subversives. Comblnod with passage of an agrarian reform law inhese steps rosultededuction in the number of landanderiod of relative
A more important factor in tho decline ofagitation, however, has been tho division of the PCP into pro-Soviet and pro-Chinese factions. Tho split, as it developed, came out in the open at
5
the party's National Congress inas exacerbntod by the Cuban missile crisis in October, and became more pronouncod in tho following months as each faction strugglod for control of the party's various committees. In3 the18th central committee plenum met ostensibly to discuss party differencos. Tbe old guard pro-Soviet leadership managed to recapture control of the central committee from tho pro-Chinese loaders, and during the plenumeclarationMoscow's peaceful coexistence line. Pro-Chinese members of the central commlttoo and the important Lima regional committee denounced the declaration and rofused to recognize the nowly elected pro-Soviet political commission. The split was finallyin4 when the rival factions held separate conferences in which each faction expelled the leaders of the other, and members of tho pro-China faction raided the offlcos of their rivals. Each faction now claims to be the only Communist party in Peru.
3. PCP strength and supporting groups
PCP membership, estimated at0 divided almost equally between the two factions, hasmarkedly ovor the years since the party's founding. Fluctuation in tho past has been related closely to tho degree of tolorance toward Communist activltios of the government in power. Since tho inauguration of President Bolaunde, the PCP has lost strength due in part to the appoal of his loftlst-reformist government, and in part to disillusionment caused by tho schism within the party. Betwoonercent andercent of PCP strength is bolloved to be Located in southern Peru, principally in Apuri-mac, Aroquir-a, Cuzoo, nnd Puno. National party control has consistently been centered In Lima. Northern and eastern Peru, whore the PCP ia relatively weak, contain no more thanercent of thomost of it very poorly organized.
The majority of PCP members cone from urban labor, student, professional, and intellectual circles. In Lima the centors of party strength are in the labor movement and among the students at San Marcos Although Communism has made some progress among tho Indians of the Sierra in southern Poru, lt Is
T
still relatively weak in this segment of theas is the national party among agrarianthroughout tho country. Other small leftist-extremist activist groups have made more inroads among the Indian peasants.
Although information on tho financial condition of both factions of tho PCP is limited, it isthat neither is woll financod. Thishas evidently boon chronic since the party was founded. Party duos, calculated proportionately according to each member's salary and place ofaro believed to be the major source of funds available to the PCP for use within Peru. Many party members, however, do not pay regularly or in the amounts required. hronic problem faced by the party is misappropriation and theft of funds byentrusted with financial responsibilities. olected to congress are said to be required to contribute their entire salary to theage from tho PCP in return. Other devices for raising funds have included: semi-public raffles and dances, the sale of bonds and "coupons" to party sympathizers, and book and periodical sales. Tho party is also reported to haveortion of the proceeds of some Soviet and Communist bloc cultural activities held in Peru.
Given its poor domestic financial support, the PCP could not operate even at its present level of expenditure without significant outside assistance. Absence of Communist diplomatic representation in Peru, however, makes transfer of foreign fundsdifficult. The major portion of bloc-supplied funds is believed to bo brought in by travelersfrom visits abroad. The pro-Chinese faction of the PCP appears to be in worse financial straits than tho orthodox faction despite its claims that Communist China and Cuba are supplying funds. from Cuban and Chinese training courses have probablyimited amount of money into Peru.
PCP front activity has generally been limited to the establishmentumber of small general-purpose organizations,ew groups intended to appeal to specific elements of tho Peruvianhave also boon created. None of thesohas been particularly successful in generating
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5
any large-scale support, and most tend to be One of the nost successful front groupsby tho Communists in recent years was tbeRevolutionary Frontounded2ehicle for Communist and extreme leftists to participate in the national elections. Since that time the FLN has fallen into disarray, nowlittle moreaper organization.
The PCP controls only two front organizations of any importance. One, the "Patriotic Front for the Recovery of Laas formed in5 by the pro-Soviet faction of the party. The purpose of the group is to carry out agitation and propaganda against the US-ownad International Petroleum Corporation (IPC) in favor of theof the company's assets in Peru. Tbe other front organization, tho Jose Carlos HariateguiInstitute, was founded inultural organization, but in fact has been the front for tho national headquarters of the PCP in Lima. Genaro Ledesma Izquieta, Communist deputy for the Department of Pasco, currently heads the institute.
The revolutionary left in Peru, which includes both PCP factions and numerous other Communist and extreme leftist groups, is presently seeking to unite students, workers, peasants, and disaffected members of APRA and AP into one mass organization. Theofnited front would be to promoteobjectives and to rally support forof tbe Revolutionary Left (MIR) guerrillas. The MIR initiated limited guerrilla activities in Unity themes center on popular issues such as nationalization of the IPC and radical land reform. No general agreement on this proposed front is yet in sight, however, primarily because ofamong the leftist groupsontrolling voice in any unity organization. Thus, the front is being promoted under various names, the mostof which are the Single Anti-Imperialist Front and the Patriotic Front of National Liberation.
Despite the pro-Soviet PCP's decision to support the MIR openly, its slowness to act hasebellion among pro-Soviet youth. Pro-China youth are similarly disenchanted with thoir parent Both youth groups have adopted new
5
the pro-China group is known as the Armed Forces of National Liberation and the pro-Soviets aro thoRevolutionary Movement. These two, along with the Revolutionary Vanguard which claims to represent socialist youth, joined the MIR in issuing an October manifesto. Calling for armed struggle, the paper also proclaims the formationingle National Anti-Oligarchical and Anti-Imperialist Front of Political Youth. APRA, AP, and Christian Democrat youth aro invited to join.
Youth: tho Communists have considerable strength among youth and are the strongest single political force among university students. It is estimated thatoercent of Peruvian youth inand secondary schools support the Communist cause, due primarily to the system of university autonomy and the natural middle-class radicalism of most students. Enthusiasm for Communism, however, is not based in intellectual response to Marxist-Leninist theory but to an uneducated dosiro to cure personal and national troublesadical fashion. While many students eventually lose their radicalism, or even retain their extreme views but drop ties withmall, hard-core elementremains.
For more than three decades, APRA dominated university student organizations in Peru. owever, Aprista dominance began to weaken as party collaboration with the elite Prado governmentits appeal to student radicals. The waning of APRA's appeal coincided with the rise ofin Cuba and with the founding in Peru of the reformist, popular-based Popular Action (AP) and Christian Democrat (PDC) parties, both of which opposed the Apristas. ntl-Apristaof Communist, AP and PDC students, often dominated by Communists, succeeded in gainingof all public university student federations and the national student organization, theof Peruvian Students (FEP).
Aprista students regained control of theiritional stronghold, the University of Trujillo,ut their narrow victory at San Marcos in Lima4 was won only because of President Belaunde's personal intervention. At the last moment, Belaunde
ET
ordered AP students to withdraw their support for the Communist-backed candidate. Theowever,eturn to tho tactic ofwith the Communists to defeat APRA. Thus, Communist-backed candidates captured the federations in the universities of San Marcos, Cuzco, Cajamarca, and Huacho plusvice-presidency at Trujlllo.
The Peruvian Communist Youthhich is theoretically responsible for PCP youth activities, has probably never been much moreaper organization. 80 there wereof slight JCP activity, but it appears that from the latter year9 the group was completely inactive. During the, PCP efforts to revitalizeJCP apparently met with some success (draft statutes.for the organization wore drawn uporut activity was limited. The split in the PCP damaged the JCP .as well and eventually caused it to split into pro-Moscow and pro-Chinoso factions.
Labor: Capture and control of the Confederation of Peruvian Workers (CTP) has beengoal of both Communists and Apristas since the labor confederation was foundedhe Communists were able to name Juan Luna as the first CTP secretary general. Ono year later, however, Apra won the top office nnd continued to hold undisputed sway over the majority of Peruvian unions and labor federations5 Whan General Odria attained power8 he imprisoned or exiled the principal Aprista labor leaders, and duringeriod the vacuum created by the absence of these leadersthe PCP to recapture many labor organizations. Tho CTP was abolished and tho separate nationalbecame the centers of trade union organization, Juan Luna againower in the labor movement.dria decided to permit the reorganization of the CTP in tho mistaken belief that ho could usenew organization to mobilize labor support for his chosen candidate in6 elections. to his plans, the Apristas rallied to regain control of the re-established CTP, and have held on to it ever since.
Communist influence in the labor movementsignificantly during the tolerant second Pradond was strengthened
8
further by tha military takeover Until the series of Communist-inspired strikes and violent labor clashes which precipitated the3 roundup of all known Communists, military attention was fixed on weakening the traditional APRA foe. The roundup ended Communist hopes of control over Peruvian labor.
PCP inability to capture tho CTP since6 has generated attempts toan independent national labor federation under Communist control to compete with the Aprista national organization. Inf the Bank Clerks Federation, CivilFederation, and Chauffeurs Federation metongress thoy characterized as the National Trade Union Conference in an effort to take over theunions. The effort failed and so theunions formed an executive committee for the unification and reorganization of tho CTP. Ovorercent of the officers elected by the reorganization committee were Communists. The committee reportedly received some governmental support both from thejunta and at least during the early months of tho Belaunde administration, probably reaching its peak of power and importance in3 or The three principal bulwarks of tho committee were the motal workers, construction workers, and bank workers, all Communist led. During the first halfowever, the Communists lost control of the bank workers and ton of the major metal workers unions broke away from their Communist federation and affiliated with the CTP. By4 Communist influence in the urban labor movement had probably reached its lowest level In years and prospectsecovery are not good.
4. Foreign Influence
The PCP has relied heavily upon its contacts with international Communism for guidance. Before World War II its principal contact was with the South American Bureau of the Comintern; then,during the war, contact was kept by moans of Coainform and personal meetings mainly with nembers of other Latin American Communist parties. World War II the Legation of Czechoslovakia in Limaain source of international communication.
It provided funds for and arranged many of the trips made by party leaders to the Soviet Union and other bloc countries, and is presumed to have servedocal point for the issuance of directives to the PCP. Peru broke diplomatic relationsap in internationalwith the PCP until it was satisfactorily filled by the Cuban Embassy. This outlet was also denied by the break in relations between Cuba and Peru in0 and since then it has beenfor Peruvian Communists to maintain closeties. Travelers to and from Cuba and the Sino-Soviet bloc now account for the bulk of propaganda and funds brought into the country.
Some members of the PCP, most of themmembers of the pro-Soviet wing, have received political and labor organizational training in the Soviet Union. The FLN and the pro-China PCP have members trained in guerrilla warfare or political indoctrination in Cubaew in Communist China. Several hundred more Peruvians, belonging to various leftist extremist groups, have also received guerrilla warfare or other types of training in Communistprimarily in Cuba, but also in Communist China and North Korea.
5.- Other Communist Subversive Groups
In addition to the two factions of the Peruvian Communist Party, there are numerous other Communist or crypto-Communist parties. All have varyingfor militant action, but none yetpossosses tbe broad popular base essential for successful national revolution. Most aro badlyand, at least untilad notin unitingingle revolutionary
The best organized and best trained of anygroup in Peru is the Movement of theLeft (MIR). The MIR hasatf whom have received extensive guerrilla training in Cuba, Communist China, and North Korea. The MIR has the potential toery serious insurgent threat. In5 it began its long-planned guerrilla activity in the remote regions of east-central Peru, with plans.to initiate similar activity in other parts of the
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country. Support for the MIR by the peasants, while not overwhelming, bas exceeded expectations. MIR guerrilla activitiesevere setback in5 when Peruvian Army troops succeeded in killing national MIR leader Luis de la Puente Uceda and four other hard-core guerrilla leaders.
Apart from the MIR, tho other extreme leftist groups are very small and their lack of ideological convictions causes members to drift rather freely from one group to another. It is estimated that tho total strength of all these groups is not more. There are three separate Trotskyito groups in Peru, all of which appear to be quite loosely organized. The Revolutionary Workers Party (POR/T) is the official Trotskyito party in Peru and is affiliated with the Fourthinuscule splinter group of the POR/T, theParty of Workers and Campesinosas been trying touerrilla group, but lack of funds has hampered this effort. PROC loader Ismael Frias Torrico, however, has merged his forces with tho MIR guerrillas. The third group is the Workers' Party (POR) with strength in the south, particularly in the Cuzco and Puno areas.1he PORuerrilla armin Cuzco Department, called tho Front of the Revolutionary Left (FIR). FIR also included the Peruvian-Leninist-Communist Party mall pro-Castro group.
Inhe PCLP pulled out of the FIRisagreement with remaining Trotskyites over str&logy. The FIR has since been Laterhe PCLP began an attempt to organize guerrilla groups with the assistance of the National Army of Liberationand of someuerrillas who were trained in Cubahis combined group which calls itself the Fifteenth of May Movement) claims to have one guerrilla band and to have received funds from Cuba andChina. ELN leader Alain Ellas Caso committed this band to the MIR in Both the PROC and ELN guerrillas are operating from base camps in the vicinity of Andahuaylas, Apurimac Department.
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SENATORS
Lino Martinezelected on AP
ticket, Communist)
Jorge Dieguezelected on AP ticket,
Communist)
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8. Communist Party Leaders
Because of the PCP split and the disorganization of both factions which hasomplete listing of prominent party officials is unavailable. ist of PCP leaders by faction with official position If known.
PCP
Victor Raul Acosta Salas Jorge Del Prado Chavez
Edgar Ruben Mollcapaza Bilbao
Enrique Camarra Contreas
Alfredo Abarca Abarca Juan Barrios do Mendoza Augusto Chavez Bedoya
Slxto Miguel
Betty Abarca de Cuerra
Manuel Diaz Salazar Carlos Vega
Gustavo Esplnoza Monte-sin OS
Gustavo Valcarcel Velasco
Cosar Leva no La Rosa
Jose Ismael Reccto
Raquel Bocangel
Cesar Augusto Jimenez Ubillus
Vloleta Hoke de Valcarcel
Roberto Vlllajuan Asageles
Secretary General Central
Centralational Financial Secretary,
Central Committee entralentral Committee
CentralGeneral, ArequlpaCommittee
Central
Central, Lima Regional Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee
JCP representative on Central
Committee Central Committee alternate;
editor of Unldad Secretary, Lima
Regional Committee
Lima Regional Committee Lima Regional Committee
Lima Regional Committee Lima Regional Committee Lima Regional Committee
Cesar L. Mendoza Yactayo Moises Perez Medina Cesar Alva
Jose Asuncion Suarez Ter-rones
Felix Antialon Espinoza Victor M. Salas Rodriguez Ventura Zegarra Arana Teodoro Aspilcueta Car-rasco
Maruja Roque de Carnero Ernesto More Barrionuovo
Maria Salazar Moscoso Edmundo Cruz Vilchez
Oscar Jara Salcedo
Jorge Carlos Vega
Mario Anibal Ugarte Hurtado
Huancayo Regional Committee Huancayo Regional Committee Huancayo Regional Committee
Huancayo Regional Committee Huancayo Regional Committee Arequipa Regional Committee Arequipa Regional Committee
Front group activist
Front group activist and wife of Genaro Carnero Checa
Head of peace movement, senior adviser to Political
Active in peace movement
JCP leader, editor of Joven Guardia
JCP leader, member of National
Executive Bureau JCP leader, member of National
Executive Bureau
Youth leader being trained in Moscow, possibly involved in illegal support activity.
Pro-China PCP
Paredes Macedo Danti Cunti Aviles Jorge Barreto Rodriguez
Edwin Bastos Giron
Jorge Valdez Salas Jose Elias Sotomayor Perez
Juan Ubaldo Soria Alarcon Manuel J, Chambi Lopez
Secretary General
Central Committee
Central Committee, AncashCommittee
Organizational Secretary,Commission, Central Committee
Central Committee
Central Committee
National Secretary on Central Committee
Central Committee alternate from Cuzco, importer offilms from China
Wilfredo Alvarez
Miguel E. Carrlllo Natteri
Enrique Zapnter Ballon
Alberto Delgado Bejar
Hector Ballon Lozada
Vlctro Julio Ortecho Vil-lena
Estuardo Coronado Zelada Brureilda Quesada (viuda) de Atala
Luis Andres Ferrer Reano
Alejandro Romualdo Valle Palomino
Alfonso Barrantos Lingan Vicente Mendoza Diaz Juan Bautlsta Sotomayor
Perez Filomeno Rodriguez
Hugo E. Caceres Guzman
Rodas, (FNU)
Noe Gallo
Francisco Hanguy Kyo Augusto Cespodes
Donato Alberto Izarra Palonino
Lima Regional Committee Lima Regional Committee Secretary General, Arequipa
Regional Committee Arequipa Regional Committee Arequipa Regional Committee
La Libertad Regional
JCP leader
Front group activist and cell leader
Secretary General, Huancayo
Reglona1 Committee Organizational secretary, Huancayo Regional Committee Financial Secretary, Huancayo
Regional Committee Peasant secretary, Huancayo
Regional Committee Education Secretary, Huancayo
Regional Committee
Press and PropagandaHuancayo Regional
Secretary of Pross andfor the Confederation of Peruvian Peasants.
fob release
date:
Little is known about the organizationalof the pro-Chinese faction of the PCP, but it is believed to parallel closely that of the orthodox party. (See party organization chart.) Thereentral committee headed by Secretary General Satur-nino Paredes Macedo, but the total membership of the committee is unknown. At the Fourth Nationalof the pro-Chinese faction, held int was decided that those members who hadserved on the Lima Regional Committee would make up the new political commission, while cell leaders in Lima constituted the Lima Regional It was also reported at the conference thategional committees have been formed, some of which include two or three departments.
THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
1. Introduction
There is no organized Communist party in Trinidad and Tobago, but the so-called West IndianParty (WIIP) is Marxist oriented and probably maintains ties with international Communism, Although the WIIP itself is virtually defunct, many of Itsmembers are in positions of influence, particularly in the important trade union field, and theya potential threat to the island's stability.
Trinidadian politics have long been dominated by the People's National Movement (PNM) led by Prime Minister Eric Williams. The opposition Democratic Labor Party (DLP) is badly fragmented and indisarray. The two parties have tended toon ethnic lines, with the PNM being predominantly Negro and the DLP predominantly East Indian. At the present rate of population increase, the moreific East Indians will become the majority ino IS years, and the tensions inherent in this reversal may well upset the island's traditional calm. the PNM can be expected to intensify itstoward the inclusion of Grenada into thestate of Trinidad and Tobago, to offset thepopulation increase andredominantly Negro majority.
So far Communism has notoehold inbut all of the elements for trouble exist, waiting to be exploited. Racial tension, higha rapidly growing population, and limited possibilities for economic expansion could easily combine to produce an explosive political climate, and provide opportunities for Communist agitators and organizers.
2- rief History of Communism in Trinidad
7eries of strikes, oftenin nature, swept through the British colonies in the West Indies, In Trinidad these strikesin the oil fields and were led by Uriah Butler who struck out violently against the abuse of laborers and the evils of the colonial system. Butler's
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prestige declined rapidly, however,acuumin Trinidadian politics which was onlyfilledlethora of small parties which were quite unable to provide meaningful leadership. Had the Communists been able to take advantage of this situation, they might well have boon asin Trinidad as they woro in British Guiana during the. It was nothon Dr. Williams founded the PNM andoll-defined political program, that any party received widespread enthusiastic support.
At least five organizations existed0 which could be termed left wing. These Included the West Indian National Partyhe SanStudy Group, tho Point Fortin Study Group, the Workers' Freedom Movementnd tho WestProletariat Group. Tho WINP was evidently the parent body and membership in the groups was often overlapping. None of these organizations had much success despito the holding of numerous meetings and many attempts to expand their membership. The WFM, which was establishedas probably tho most active ond Influential of these groups.
Inusion of the WFM with tho Trinidad and Tobago Labour and Socialist Partythe West Indian Independence Partyost prominent Trinidadian leftists were associatod with this new organization which was headed by solicitor Lennox Pierre, and included other pro-Communists such as John LaRoso, Jack Kelshall, Georgo Weekos, John Poon. and labor loaders John Rojas and Quintln O'Connor.
The birth of tho WIIP also marked thethe nonunion basod WFM and the left wing ofand Tobago Trades Union Congressand Rojas wore among the first oftrade unionists and woro active instrong unions among government employeesworkers respectively. On this base theyTTTUC which was affiliated with the Worldof Trade Unions and remained in this long after tho withdrawal of the The decision of Rojas and O'Connormembership in the WIIP was theirarxist organization. Rankunion members, however, soon broughtbear, and forced them to withdraw from the
8
SEGRET
This proved to be only the first of the manywhich the WIIP has suffered. Membership has consistently decreased, and the publicationonthly magazine "Freedom" had to be quickly erious rift developed when John Poonissident faction out of the WIIP. The break was formalized7 when he founded the Youth's National Congress (YNC) (also known as the Progressive Youth's Organization). For the next five years the WIIP struggled along making little headwayontinuing series of executiveorganizational meetings and sporadic study classes. 8 WIIP Secretary John LaRose moved to Venezuela, and party activity dwindled tonothing. 0 an attempt was made to heal tho breach between Poon and party leader Pierre. However, the YNC retains considerable autonomy and continues its separate but ineffective approaches to the youth of Trinidad. The WIIP tried tothe ranks of the governing PNM and theDLP during the, but mot withsuccess. After Trinidad achieved independence inno thanks to thethat the party's announced raison d'etre no longer existed and official activities ceasedentirely. 5 party activity ia mainly confined totudy group which meets ln Port of Spain.
It would nontholessistake to discount the effectiveness of individual members of tho WIIP. In. L. R.ell-known extremereturned to Trinidad from Great Britain andbegan maneuvering to take over the DLP. Acting DLP leador Stephen Maharaj led the move aimed at ousting party moderates who had voted with the government to pass the controversial Industrial Stabilization Act. MaharaJ received enthusiastic support and coaching from James, Kelshall, and George Weekes, president of the Oilfield Workers' Trade Union (OWTU). The bid to assume control of the DLP failed and MaharaJ was road out of the party.
Undismayed, the group began talking ofew socialist party which would include elements from the left wing of the DLP and the tradearty has been discussed before,
8
s7kzret
but the possibility of its establishment in the near future seems likely. teering committee, including James. Keekes, Piorre, and Kelshall, bas boon chosen to organize the new group which, toeftist stigma at least for the time being, has been named the Workers and Farmers Party, with MaharaJ aschairman.
The leftists obviously hope to base this new party on tho quasi-urban Nogro members of the OWTU and the rural East Indian sugar workers. If thoy aro able to putoalition together, it wouldajor break in Trinidad's de facto racialism in politics and couldeal challenge to theof Prime Minister Eric Williams.
Strength and Supporting Groups
The WIIPembership high3 Since that time membership has declined steadily, particularly after the defection of union leaders Rojas and O'Connor. 5 the membership isto be between Members have not displayed any interest inecruiting drive, being content to lie dormant and to exorcise their influence from within other organizations. Should the new socialist party be established, former WIIP members could be expected to push for positions of influence and to seek to increase party
The WIIP does not hold elections, and there is no officer except Lennox Pierre, who continues to be known as the party chairman. No secretary general has ever been appointed to replace John LaRose who moved to Venezuela The party does notdues, and no memborship cards are issued.
Despite the lack of popular support for tho WIIP itself, organized labor has long been aof support for Its Marxist views. Prior7 Trinidad had two trade unions which federated in that year to form the Trinidad and TobagoTrades Union Congress (TUC). John Rojas, president of the OWTU, became tho first president of the TUC. Internal power struggles plaguod the unions, and when Rojas decided to support the ruling PNM in the generalebel group, headed by WIIP member George Weekes, forced him out
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ot office. Weekes becamo president of the OWTU and served as acting president of the TUC. relations began to deteriorate as workers ro-sorted to frequent strike action rather than using the well-established negotiation machinery. In5 Weekes encouraged and abetted sugar workore to rebel against thoir long-time leader, and in effect attempted to take over tho important sugar workers union, to which many of the island's East Indian workers belong, Weekes' unauthorized foray into the sugar unions resulted in the withdrawal oflarge unions from the TUC and led toew progovernment National Federation of Labor. The sugar strikes and accompanying labor unrest caused the government to demand passageough Industrial Stabilization Act. Weekesas president of tho TUC, but retains hisofOWTU and has used the power of histo obtain an appropriationrom OWTU funds to test the constitutionality of the act and its strict antistriko provisions. Of-this0 is being paid to John Platts Mills, British Queen's Counsel, who has arrived from England to plead the OWTU case before the highest court of Trinidad. If necessary he will appealcase before the Privy Council in London. In addition, Weekes isto lend his support to the newly formed Sugar Workers Trade Union (SWTU) created mainly toase for C. L. R. James and other political extremists. Should the SWTU succeed in pushing out the established sugar union, James and others plan to utilize both the SWTU and the OWTU toi-racial base for their proposed political grouping.
The Youth's National Congress, which hasbeen discussed, is probably the onlywhich could qualifyront group.aribbean Women's National Assembly (CVNAJjT-
4. Foreign Influences
The WIIP and YNC have no established international ties and receive neither direction nor finance from
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abroad. WIIP leaders have alwaysery close relationship with Cheddi Jagan's People'sParty (PPP) in British Guiana and alsocontacts with the Communist Party of Great Britain and some Venezuelan Communists. The Frionds of Guyanaormedas attempted to drum up support for Jagan and the PPP in Trinidad, but has not had notable success..
Trinidad does not maintain diplomaticwith any Communist country. Should thecourtship between Prime Minister Williams and the Soviets result ln the establishment of apresence in Trinidad, members of the WIIP and their supporters would prove willing assistants for any Soviet plans.
The Sino-Soviet rift has had little, if any, effect on Communists in Trinidad, most of whom would probably support the Soviet line. There has been little contact with the Castro regime, which does not appear to oxercise significant influence ln Trinidad. There have been occasional visits to Communist China by members of the TTinidadiancommunity, but most of their activity seems concentrated ln distributing propaganda.
5. Dissident groups
There is no dissident group among Trinidadian Communists and extreme leftists. Jhe breachPoon of the YNC and Pierre of the WIIP has been at least papered over, and the two groups ap pear to work together.
Members of Legislature None
Trend in Size of Congressional Representation None
Leaders of West Indian Independence Party
Party Chairman Lennox Pierre
10. Organization of the West Indian Independence Party
formal organization
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Secret
GMMUNiWrSART^
1. Introduction
Tho Uruguayan Conununist Party (Partido CoDunlsta del Uruguay--PCU) is legal, vociferous, and relatively large. Tho party has never been forced to operate underground, andesultell-developed organizational structure. The party enjoys full domocratic freedom andin elections through its front organization, the Leftist Liberation Front (FIDEL). The PCU has substantial influence among students andorganizations, and controls or influences much of organized labor. In addition, PCU members hold positions in most levels and branches of tho government. The party is well placed to exploit tho increasing malaise and public discontent asand more Uruguayans feel forced to lookthe traditional partiesolution to their burgeoning'problems.
Uruguay, once the model democracy of Latin America, has become increasingly unstable mainly because of inept leadershipumbersome Bine-man executive and an extended period of economic deterioration. There is little prospect for stronger national direction; the administration tends to drift along the path of least resistance as'determined by political pressure groups. The probable inability of tho government to halt tho economic deterioration and take significantmeasures will provide further opportunities for leftist exploitation of the labor force and will also increase dissatisfaction ln Uruguay's largo middle class.
Although public disillusionment with the plural executive system is increasing, progress toward constitutional reform of the system has stalled as party factions are unable to agree on the form change should take. Under Uruguayan electoral law, politicalthe two large traditional parties, the ruling Blancos and the oppositionbecome severely factionallzed. This results ln complex lnter-and
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intraparty maneuvering, and patronage and individual self-interest have proved more the rule thanfor the national welfare.
As progress toward legal change slows down, pressures for extralegal change increase. Military officers have been increasingly willing to speak out in political matters. Business and commercial leaders, long staunch defenders of democratic processes, are increasingly reluctant to support the current system. Crippling strikes or ain public order couldoupthe forces working for reform are able to produce an acceptable alternative.
The heavy cost of Uruguay's overextended social welfare system together with inefficient government enterprises has produced an excessive burden on an economy characterized by industrial recession, rising unemployment (nowndpiraling cost of(which is expected to rise aboutercent, and growing budget deficits. Fluctuating world market prices and loss of markets for the principal exports, wool and meat, havo contributed to the decline. Most of the population is nowthe economic pinch, and tho PCU isoptimistic that many more Uruguayans will be susceptible to their approaches.
2. rief History of the Uruguayan Communist Party
The PCU had its originarge-scaleof members of the Socialist Party, anof the Second International, foundedt the EigbthCongress ofSocialist Party inhree quarters ofdd members voted to affiliate with the Communist Third International. Inhis majority group, led by Eugenio Gomez Carreno, was formallyas the Uruguayan Communist Party.
From its inception, tho PCU had to contend not only with the splintered Socialist Party, but also with the dominant social democratic Colorado Party which went far towardemi-socialist system in Uruguay during itsears of
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uninterruptedBlancos have governed. The new Communist Partyappealed for the support of labor, intellectuals, and youth groups, but its success inas largely limited to elements among the foreign-born sector of the population.
Itomewhat wider audience in, capitalizing on depression conditions and the popularity of antifacism among all groups, especially intellectuals. 9 the Uruguayan Communists helped to organize the Latin American Trade Union Confederation which was headquartered in Montevideo and was the forerunner of the now nearly defunct Confederation of Latin American Workers (CTAL) as the Latin American sector of tho international Communist labor front. The PCUuccession of labor fronts during, but with little success. The party was equally unsuccessful in its efforts to form ties with non-Communist political organizations during the popular-front period of tho.
PCU efforts to extend its influence first achieved significant results during World War II. In this period the Communists emerged from their positionegligible splinter party toore important positiontrongerin the national congress, although still remaining
a marginal factor in the country's political and social life. Thereevere crisis in the party and its leadership during the period of the Nazi-Soviet. In the climate of thealliance between the United States and the USSR, tho PCUemarkable recovery which was also based on their appeal to labor groupsfrom the economic effects of wartime
The PCUeak just after World War II, and its labor front, the General Union of Workersecame the leading national labor federation. The party won five percent of the national vote in6 elections, seating one senator and five deputies in thehe Communists successfully exploited mass discontent with rising prices anderies of strikes for higher wages.
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Id Congress, parly deputies.Joined with anti-US nationalists ln condemning the government's policy of cooperation with the US.
The combination of factors which strengthened the Coeununistsas short-lived. As the party more and more obviously revealed itself to be the creature of International Communism, itsamong the workers and the middle classes began to drift away. The party followed all the twists and turns of Soviet policy, and the stubborn pursuit by party leaders of the militant international party lino ledteady deterioration ln both the PCU and its front organizations.
The PCU again started on the upgradethe death of Stalin and the subsoquent changeolicy in favor of exploiting domestic issues appealing to organized labor and other masshorough revision of the party program and strategy was undertakennd long-time Secretary General Gomez was charged withdeviations and expelled from the party. An indication of successful internal PCU discipline is the fact that he was able to take only aof sympathizers out of the party with him.he party has followed the policy of trying tonited leftist political front which it could dominate and-especially has sought the cooperation of the Socialist Party. Inhe Communists were successful in attracting some smaller revolutionary leftist groupsommunist-dominatod front called the Leftist Liberation Front, popularly known by Its Spanish acronym, FIDEL., The Socialist Party has agreed to cooperate with the PCU andingle slate of candidates in6 elections because it found to its dismay that all of FIDEL's electoral gains2 were made at the Socialist's expense. However, the PSU and PCU are still having troublo in using FIDELommon political instrument and will probably continue to have difficulty lnthis problem so long as the present'electoral laws remain unchanged. FIDEL activity ln the legislature in characterized by slavish following of the party line and the use of delaying tactics to sidetrack any legislation which does not suit party purposes.
8
The PCU has successfully exploited domestic economic issues, particularly in the labor field, although it has generally been unable to get sizable numbers of workers to turn out for political demonstrations. Although the party has the ability of calling crippling strikes, In recent years lt bas exercised considerable caution In keeping strikes and demonstrations within acceptable bounds. PCU leaders do not wish to provide any right-wing group with an excuseoup which they probably rightly believe would resulteduction of their present considerable freedom of operation. For defensive purposes, the PCU has prepared plans to go underground and has also organizedunits ofeople to serve as cadresoup force the party to call Its supporters into the streets.
The Communists conduct extensive propaganda activity In Uruguay. The party newspaper, El Popular, (formerly known as justlcla)ation ofnd apparently considerable outside financial support. Estudlos, another PCU publication, does notarge circulation, but doesumber of students and Intellectuals. o-called "third positionlst" but blatantly pro-Castro and pro-Communist newspaper, Epoca, hasalso appears to receiveoutside help from bloc sources. Ina weekly mngazine. Marcha, frequentlythe Communist viewpoint, although lt Is owned and operatedon-Communist. Marchaide circulation and influence among students, professionals, and intellectuals. onthly publication of FIDEL, appeared for tne first time inoviet and otherbloc publications reach Uruguay in large numbers, both for local and continent-wide In addition, at least one local publishing house specializes In Communist literature,ubstantial number of local bookstores distribute this material. The PCU and FIDEL use Radio Na clonal extensively to present programs aimed at workers, -with, particular emphasis on the party's newest target group, the rural workers,
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3. Strength and Supportln% Groups
In50 PCU carnets were issued in Montevideo andhroughout the rest of the country. Thisof0 includes onlyctivists who spend the major portion of their time and energy in party work. In addition, the Communist Youth Organization (UJC) has anembers and is probably experiencing arise in membership.
The PCU is constantly pressed for funds, according to its own statements, and it has heavy deficits and chronic indebtedness. Revenues raised in Uruguay comeultitude of sourcesfinancial campaigns, party dues, El Popular sales, kickback of salaries by PCU deputies, and througb raffles, dances, etc. The party alsomoney from the government to reimburse lt for certain national election expenses into the number of votes polled. In view of the magnitude and variety of party operations, however, it is evident that it receivessupport from the USSR and other Communist countries.
One of the major sources of party strength has been its remarkably stable leadership. the overthrow of Gomez, who founded the party and led itodney Arlsmendi emerged as its principal leader, and he remains first Secretary Many of the top party offices are filled by tho same people who filleden, and in some casos twenty, years ago. Party organization is highly centralized with most of the power concentrated ln the handsew leaders in the executive committee.
The PCU has campaigned ln national elections under its own name since lt broke away from the Socialistsut has never enjoyed great success. The high-water mark was6 when the Communists3 percent of the vote; in the most recent electionshoy won9 percont of the vote. Communist ability toollowing has improved whenever Uruguay's economic
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position has tended to deteriorate, but at the same timo their appeal has been conditioned by the requirements of world Communist policy. Theseverity of tho economic decline which has boon going on since tho end7 has made party leaders highly optimistic about their chances to increase their electoral strength and congres--sional representation. FIDEL has begun another house-to-houso campaign in Montevideo, and members are encouraged with the early results, particularly among people formerly affiliated with the Blanco and Colorado parties. They hope that at least ten percent of all householders will agree to sign cards pledging them to support FIDEL. Although this estimate soems overly optimistic, there is some reason to believe that the party will improve its showing in6 oloctions. In addition, the PCU plans to expand its organizational efforts in the interior of the country and hopes toonfederation of salaried rural workers towith theCentral of Uruguayan Workers (CTU). PCU leaders apparently believe that the time is now ripe to broaden their base In rural areas that have traditionally favored the Blancos.
In the past, the PCU has been based almost entirely in urban areas,eavy concentration in Montevideo, The party finds its mainnmonj workers, and exerts its major efforts in tho field of labor. Tho PCU operates through theorganization which replaced the UGT during 0 and which has0 members. Tho CTU has wado progress among workers in important government-owned enterprises, such as public utilities, banking, and petroleum. Rural laborew target group, and the PCU has had some success among workers in western andareas, although tho generally well-off Uruguayan agricultural worker is not traditionally responsive to Communist appeals.
4 the PCU organized the Nationalof Workersoping to attractwho would not respond to the openly pro-Communist CTU. The CNT, with the support of the CTU,uccessful "Congress of the
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People" lnS which attracted delegates fron annumbei of non-Communist organizations. These people gave their supportlatform whichthe oft-repeated Communist demands forof private banks, expropriation and redistribution of land,expropriation of foreignand industrial enterprises, and expansion of trade relations to include all countries.
The many Uruguayans who belong to independent unionsut of the organized labor force) frequently cooperate with the CTU and the Ch'T in pressing economic demands on government and industry which are no longerosition to grant large, or sometimes even moderate, wage and social benefit increases. CTU-led or strikes have been effective ln getting employers to meet tholr demands, andesult independent unions have found cooperation with the Communists beneficial for their The Communists have not, however, been able to exploit this cooperation in economic issues by turning lt to political support. In addition to the independentemocratically orientod labor federation has0 members. Itsleadership has been corrupt and has lacked militancy,ecent change of loaders naypur to its lagging efforts.
The PCU has also boon successful lnprofessional teacher organizations, dominating tho major primary school teachers' union, andtho most active secondary teachers' union. The Communists have devoted great energy to the student movement ln Uruguay's only university and lnschools. Although Communist youth Organizations exist ln most high schools, they have not beensuccessful. The University of the Republic, however, ell-organized Communist youthwith cells in all faculties. The secretary general of tho federation of Uruguayan University Studentsommunist. Despite their limited numbers, the Communists dominate student policy through the use of classic Communist parliamentary maneuvers, through their militancy and suporlorand by virtuo of the fact that most Uruguayan students are inclined toward Marxism and poorly Informed about democracy.
NND Oil IBS
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There are undoubtedly Communists, as well as many sympathizers, in the vast wasteland of Uruguayan bureaucracy, but to date they have not exerted great leadership. There are no identified Communists in the police, navy, or air force. There are,ew army officers, including one general, who are certainly Communist sympa-thizers, if not outright party members.
The PCU utilizes other front groups whenever it serves their purposes. Professional organizations, peace fronts, women's fronts, press groups, and bi-national centers with Communist countries have all played varying roles in the party's activities. These groups are reactivated or phased out as party lino and current interest demands.
4. Foreign Influence
The PCU long ago proved itself toevoted servant of the Soviet Communist Party line. Itso today. Party leaders have repeatedly stated their support for tho Soviet Union and criticized the Chinese Communist position in the Sino-Soviet rift. PCU leaders and other partymake frequent trips to the USSR and other bloc countries and maintain close liaison with Communist diplomatic missions in Montevideo. The USSR and all other Eastern European countries maintainin Montevideo, except East Germany which hasrade mission. The PCU receivesand undoubtedly considerable financial and materiel support from the Soviets and other bloc nations, and in return provide foreign Communists with an ideal base of operations for activities in much of South America. In addition, Montevideo is usedtaging point to facilitate travel to* and from the Soviet Union, Cuba, and the bloc for. Communists and sympathizers from many Latin nations. The PCU has hosted international congresses and front-group meetings; high-level Soviet officials have attended PCU anniversaries and congresses, and PCU representatives are in attendance at most important international Communist meetings.
The present leadership of the PCU has shown no inclination to shiftore militant stand.
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NNDOllISS
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fearing it mightightist take-over and subsequent crack-down on party activities. Thoy have no illusions about their present ability to bring down the government by themselves, andhave little desire to do so if they could. The Uruguayan atmosphere simply is not conducive to violence; Uruguayans are by temperament talkers, rather than fighters, and militancy has practically no appeal to the ordinary Uruguayan. Instead, tbe PCU seeks to present itselfespectableparty, attract other groups into fronts, infiltrate key organizations, but avoids violence.
esult of this policy, tho Chineseline has found few adherents, but pro-Chinese splinter groups do exist and aro discussed below. Tho Chinese have not been able toiplomatic presence in Uruguay, but thejf.vpress tho government for permission to open Tho North Koreans doemiofficial trade office in Montevideo, butather precarious existence since their visas must bo renewed everyays.
Uruguay reluctantly broke diplomatic relations with Cuba in The removal of the Cuban Embassy cut the PCU off from one of its sources of support, but the departure was probably moreto Cuban interests than to those of the PCU. Party leaders continue to visit Cuba, but the PCU generally follows the line of praising Castroationalist ratherommunist boro without endorsing his wanderings from tho party line.
Geography has inevitably made Uruguay sensitive to pressure from its two large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. The PCU is no less susceptible to such pressure, and lt maintains close relations with both the Argentine and Brazilian parties. In tho PCU provides some assistance to exiled Brazilian leftists who have been in Uruguay since tho fall of the Goulart regime innd to exiled Paraguayan Communists.
5. roups
The divisive .effects of the Sino-Soviet split have taken some toll of PCU ranks. There are sevoral
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pro-Chinese Communist political croups in Uruguay, the largest being the Leftistomposed mainly of former PCU and UJC members. It hasembers, although many could not be considered party activists. The MIR was originally formed inthe name Revolutionary Action MovementPCU members who had been expelled because of their pro-Chinese activity. ortion of the MAR came under the domination of pro-Cubans who had broken away from the Uruguayan Revolutionary Movement (MRO) headed by FIDEL Deputy Ariel Collazo. In3 the MAR and MIR both gained considerable notoriety and generated internal group conflicts by conducting robberies to obtain food and clothing to distribute to the poor. Other FIDEL components also split over the Sino-Soviet rift, with pro-Chinese groups operating sometimes alone and sometimes inwith the MIR.
One thing about which all of these groups could agree was the need for violent revolution as opposed to tho PCU's continued emphasis oncoexistence. Ineries oftook place in which the groups agreed tonified Marxist-Leninist Communist party, which subsequently agreed to uso the MIR name. They further agreed to coordinate attacks against the PCU and tho Uruguayan Socialist Partyothe principles and practices of the Soviet Communist Party and support those of the Chinese, and to support any rural organization which showed potential ofeasant militia. The new MIR has reportedly sought Chinese Communistand members who had been in China haveto Montevideo to guido party activities. The MIR is planning to publish an eight-page tabloid twice monthly.
The pro-Chinese segment of the PSU haswith the MIR, although its leader, Raul Sendic, has come under fire from MIR leaders because of his endorsement by the PCU and PSU, Sendicilitant socialist whose revolutionary ardor usually puts him far to the left of the PCU. He has been active primarily in the northern sugar cane growing province of Artigas, where he has led
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rural workers in annual "inarches" on Montevideo, seeking to dramatize their poor working conditions. The marches have attracted some attention, but the Sendic-supported union has not made significant strides ln overtaking tbe democratically oriented union in tbe area. The5 arson in cane fields in Artigas Province is attributed to Sendlc's followers and has resulted ln public opinionstrongly against this group. Sendlc himself is in hiding bocause of his earlier involvement in armed robbories, and the active leader, of his group is Washington Rodriguez.
vnl10minh
of Deputies
Rodney Arismendl
Jose Luis Massera
Ariel CoUazo
1. Enrique Rodriguez Trend in Size of Congressional Representation
1 total)
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9. Loaders of the Uruguayan Communist Party
Members of
Central
Committee
Members of Secretariat
Members of
Executive
Committee
Gerenuni Perez
Rosario Pietrarroia
Jaime Gerchuni Perez
Rosario Pietrarroia
Jaime Gerchuni Perez
Rosario Pietrarroia
Rodriguez*'Enrique Rodriguez**Enrique Rodriguez**
ges
R= lations with Cuba
Suarez Vignolo
Julia Arevalo de Roche
Alberto Altesor Mezquita
Jose Blanco Mondez
Leopoldo Bruera
Felix Diaz Clavijo
Jose Luis Massera*
Cesar Reyes Daglio
Gregorio Sapin
Eduardo Viera
Ricardo Mario Acosta Baladon
Juan Acuna
Hector Betancurt
Gerardo Cuesta Vila
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Alberto Suarez Vignolo
Julia Arevalo de Roche
Alberto Altesor Mezquita
Jose Blanco Mendez Leopoldo Bruera Felix Diaz Clavijo Jose Luis Massera* Cesar Reyes Daglio Gregorio Sapin Eduardo Viera
Membersof
Edison DePascua
Hormos Gadda
Armando Gonzalez
Juan Mujica
an
Irene Perez de Acuna
Raul Rezzano
Raul Tealdl
Jose Tomasicb
UJCWainsteln
General
Estoban Fernandez Ruggiero
Eduardo Bleior Horovitz
Walter Sansevierofl*
Salomon Scbvartz Alexandrowitchi?
Luis Sllva Rehermannff
Simon Krausov#
Severino Alonso#
Henerson Cardosos'
Luis Fernandez**
Godofredo Fernandez*
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DOC:
Members of .'
Central
Committee
Members of Secretariat
Members of Executiveommittee
Francos Juan Jesus# Francisco R. Pintos#
KEY: * Deputy
**
# Alternate Central Committee member, non-voting
Original document.
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