Violent
repression
against
general strike
in Peru
On March 10 Peru was practically paralysed by a general strike. The initiative in calling the strike was taken by the Peruv-
Confederation (CGTP). This is by far the most powerful union federation, and is dominated by the Communist Party.
The other union federations, — including that linked to the American People's Revolutionary Alliance (APRA), never powerful, but now reduced simply to a skeleton apparatus — peasant organisaorganisations then associated themselves with the call.
The purpose of the strike was to proeconomic policy adopted of the International Monetary Fund by the former prime minister Manuel Ulloa, and taken over by his successor Fernando Schwalb.
The government responded to the detives - the Communist Party and the Alternative Slate for Austria (ALO).
The CP may indeed stand to the left of the SPO on a number of questions. On these issues, such as the thirty-five-hour week and the NATO missiles, collaboration with it is necessary, although diffi-
But as a Stalinist party, it will be shunned by Austrian workers, and correct-
A socialist alternative to the Social Democracy in Austria is certainly not going to come out of the CP.
The question of the ALO, which still resembles the Greens very much in its program and in its generational makeup, is more difficult. After the split from Fux and Tollmann, it is certainly going to be seen as a more serious force by a lot of people on the left. But outside Vienna, the ALO groups nowhere represent a left alternative to the SPO. They are oriented rather toward tapping a potential bour-
The ALO can stimulate the development of a left alternative in this country. But its party-building scheme and slate of candidates for the Nationalrat do not constitute such an alternative. emergency, and suspending constitutional guarantees in the region of the capital for five days. Moreover, the regime attempted to defuse the workers and popular mobilisation by proposing some concessions at the last minute (partial wage rises, delaying the rise in the price of petrol, control of the price of bread, etc.).
But these measures were insufficient general strike Broad sectors of the population remained have seen their conditions of life deterioractive population is condemned to unemployment or under-employment. Inflation has reached a rate percent in only the first two months of 1983, which means that it has more than doubled in relation to the pre-
The general strike of March 10 was a
In the capital, Lima, key sectors of industrial production were completely blocked, and in general, about 60 cent of the population took part in the strike. Transport was almost totally shut down. At Cuzco, in the south-east of the country, the mobilisation culminated in a meeting in the central square of around 10,000 people.
At Puno all activity was also halted, and 15,000 people gathered at the central square on the call of the FOP (Front of Popular Organisations).
The response to the strike call was similarly widespread in other towns such as Ayacucho, Tacna, Huancayo, Chim-
It is worth noting that the guerrilla group Sendero Luminoso did not participate actively in the strike, and took no initiative to prepare it in any region of the country. On this point it should also be remembered that Sendero Luminoso was opposed to the first general strike in 1977, explaining that it was 'social-imand 'urban', (cf International Viewpoint No 26, March 21, 1983, interview with Hugo Blanco The repressive course of the Belaunde Terry regime').
The Peruvian section of the Fourth International, the PRT, considers that the strike dealt a severe blow to the governconsiderably increasing its social isolation. For its part, the PRT threw all its forces into the mobilisation for the
The repressive attitude of the government led to violent confrontations between the police and demonstrators in several towns. In Lima there were four deaths and hundreds of arrests. In the days after the strike most of those arrested were released. But until now some fifteen, including members of the PRT, are still imprisoned.
Among the militants still held, five are accused of belonging to the PRT. include Oscar Wong Ortigas, and organisation secretary of the departarrested as he was returning home at the end of the demonstration (this comrade was already held under arrest for 45 days
The others were Pedro pinoza Garcia, electrical worker, general secretary of the Transervice Union, presently unemployed, arrested in the main street, and whose house has been seized; Fredy Joo Gonzales, pendent worker in Villa el Salvador who has been violently treated since his arrest; school teacher also from Villa el Salvador; and Pablo Cruz, 26 years old, arrested in Villa el Salvador, who has been severely beaten up since his arrest.
Actions are being organised in Peru to demand the release of all the militants still being held. These should develop as unified actions, despite the political differences between the organisations of the workers movement. If these activists are not promptly released, an intercampaign demanding their release should be organised.