an cat cic - nité correspondent, _ distances .°. ~ UPSURGE UNITES FIGHT FOR FREEDOM IN HAITI By BETTIE MARTIN For the first time since 1966, the peasants of Haiti have risen against “Papa Doc” Duvalier’s brutally oppressive regime in major confrontations. In one incident, battle near the capital was so fierce that even the government had to ad- mit its occurrence and — the death of one officer. These and other events this year point to the existence of a revolutionary vanguard inside the country — not merely among exiles on the outside. This group, fighting under the most repressive conditions to be found anywhere except perhaps in South Africa, has shown its bravery. Its members have a strong, Marxist-Leninist revolu- tionary ideology. Although the founders are mostly of urban background, the group has not merely established a relationship with the peasantry but has helped develop peasant leadership. : For years, the Haitian revolu- tionary movement has _ been plagued by internal problems, lack of resources, and oppres- sion by Duvalier, who does not stop at the murder of children. Last January, the two Commu- nist parties (PUDA, Parti Union Demokrates Aisin as called in Creole, and PEP, Parti Entente Populaire) merged in one—the PUCH (Parti Unifié des Commu- nistes Haitiens) . Duvalier’s response to this uni- fication was, in the words of the Feb. 12 issue of Boukan, the new party’s organ, “a vast repression against the Haitian Communist movement. Several comrades and sympathizers have been arrested. The Tonton Macoutes (elite po- lice corps) have been conduct- ing searches, and taking advan- tage of this to steal.” wis BY. iA A fay News item: “GOD K Somewhere in the province of Cordoba, the Communist Party of Argentina held its congress, a congress organized in strict underground conditions, as often in the past, according to l’Huma- borde. The 12th congress was held in 1963. His description of the Congress is as follows: In spite of the repression of General Ongania, the 13th Con- gress, from last March 25 to 29, had been well prepared. The texts of the Congress theses, the program and statutes had been widely studied and discussed: more than 3,000 meetings with altogether tens of thousands of members, and 45,000 copies of preparatory documents. The Party’s organizational secretary Fava, was able to say: “Some of these meetings took place under the very nose and right in the teeth of the class enemy, others on the estates of the oligarchy and the big imperialist mono- polies, in torrid heat and torren- tial rains, in spite of enormous .” From these dis- NN : ? NOW WHERE IT GOES,”’ Underground Communist Congress in Argentine Julio La-. AND, ‘ee WORLD i, %, eA ut foreign aid. i ey? 2 cussions came hundreds of re- ports, enriching the initial pro- posals. All the dictatorship’s appar- atus was mobilized to prevent the holding of the congress. Police surveillance was thwart- ed: 116 delegates, elected by regional conferences in the pro- vince and capital, came together. For a week in the building where the congress was held, there were some two hundred people: delegates, guests and support- ers 6 6 In his report, General Secret- ary Arnedo Alvarez analysed the country’s political situation. He summed it up this way: “The government of the mono- polies’ dictatorship, imposed on the country by a coup d’état, is that of a pro-imperialist, olig- archic minority. Few gevern- ments have sucha record of dis- content and of general protest, extending to all levels of the po- pulation. It is a power without a mass base, racked by recurring PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MAY 30, 1969—Pa Boukan said: “The majority of those threat- ened have been able to escape. Our comrades have not let them- selves be captured like sheep. Thus, one of our members, who met the detectives with his pis- tol, was able to escape with the help of the people. This was right in the middle of the street near St. Gerard, in Port-Au- Prince. Another, after threaten- ing two Macoutes with his wea- pon, was able to escape into the carnival crowd. “Everywhere the population helped the militants by warning them of danger or refusing to give information when question- ed by the authorities. In perform- ing their dirty task, the Ma- coutes have been helped by American CIA agents.” The question of how to obtain : arms has always been a hard one for the revolutionary movement. One answer was demonstrated on the night of March 3-4, in the town of Cape Haitien on the northern coast of Haiti. A Ma- coute was executed by local members of the PUCH, and his gun and ammunition were liber- ated. On March 25 came the peasant battle. At Cazale, about 25 miles from Port-Au-Prince, a group of peasants revolted, according to the description published in Lambi, an exile publication, driv- ing out the lieutenant on duty and the guards. They forced the Macoutes to take down the pho- tographs of Duvalier, burn the flag of the tyranny, cry “Down with Duvalier!” and raise the red-and-blue flag. They posted the slogan “Long Live the Parti Unifié des Com- munistes Haitiens” everywhere. Three peasant leaders addressed a gathering of the people, ex- plaining the purpose of their ac- tion: “to take the lead in an armed movement against tyran- ny and misery.” The group then went back into the mountains with the support of the people for continuing the struggle. Militiamen in the area refused to pursue them. internal crises, but which—tak- ing advantage of division in the anti-dictatorship forces — con- trols a movement supporting it.” For the majority of Argenti- nians, the dictatorship has meant misery and famine, while the profits of the monopolies, of the agrarian oligarchy and of the big bourgeoisie are fabulous. The large landowners possess more than 100 million hectares and, thanks to decrees by the dicta- torship, have expelled thousands of peasants from the land, ruin- ing them; sugar refining centres are closing, and small producers are being eliminated from them; the closing down of factories, of ports and other sources of work, is the order of the day. The re- sult is that workers are leaving whole areas; in the province of Tucuman, 50,000 workers found themselves brutally deprived of their jobs. Industry is operating at 50 percent of capacity. Cultivated areas are being reduced. Impe- rialist capital, Yankee above all, is more and more concentrating in industry, commerce, banking “new policies... with Latin America. Rockefeller in Panama Latin America ‘greets’ Rockefeller U.S. viceroy sent to Latin America fell, MEXICO CITY — New York Governor Nelson Rocke sa who personally has extensive imperialist holdings " America as well as family holdings there, is on 4 to Latin America for President Nixon which will include 2m every country—except Socialist Cuba. He will submit 4 port to Nixon in July which is supposed to be t new concepts” regarding U. In Mexico, President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz insisted Mexico should be given favored treatment in trade. Demonstration against Rockefeller TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Police fired on’ students ie monstrating against Yankee imperialism as New York ernor Nelson Rockefeller met with Honduran dicta dent Osvaldo Lopez Arellano and fatally wounded one. to extend “exploitation of our people by the Yankees.” cratic organizations demonstrated, assailing Rockefel an ally of “the big landowners.” protested New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller’s pres and Guatemala. In Panama City the National Guard $4 monstrations would not be permitted. Important Cc tional guarantees were suspended by the military junta, ment of President Arnulfo Arias last October. Latin ur of Imost he basis fof s, relations | ; that Daily World, May }* tor presi- 4 The i roe students yelled “Rockefeller, go home!” and charged the a : r pose of his mission to Latin America for President Nixo? 4 0° ae The day before, when Nelson was in San Salvador, Hes: : ; ; C Daily World, May 3” | | ° ig - tS i PANAMA CITY — About 2,000 persons, mostly stude™ f as | | in San José, Costa Rica. This followed protests in Hondur *. sue a onstity | 4 c a ed by Col. José M. Pinilla, which ousted the elected goVe™ | | ( \ Daily World, May m me Duvalier maintained silence about the incident and the popu- lar resistance movement. Two and a half weeks later, on Duvalier’s birthday, he got a surprise greeting. On April 14, in a settlement called Boutiliers about 10 miles north of Port-au- Prince, there was an armed clash with government forces. The government censored news of the event. Apparently Duvalier had sent Macoutes to a house in the area to arrest certain persons— and they defended themselves. Duvalier later claimed he wip- ed out “‘the citadel” of the PUCH, killed 30 Communists (no names given) and confiscated arms, do- cuments, and printing equipment. The dead were all buried im- mediately, it was stated. This and even in agriculture, at the expense of the petty and middle bourgeoisie. The working class is suffering absolute and relative improver- ishment. In 1958, wages were 46.4 percent of the national re- venue; in 1968, only 35.6 per- cent. But the monopolies were able in fifteen years to take six billion dollars out of the country. The middle classes are becoming proletarianized. Thousands of . technicians, scientists and intel- lectuals have been obliged to emigrate. The sovereignty of the coun- try, the democratic rights of its people, are now but a memory and a hope. But the Argentinian people are resisting and struggling against the dictatorship. In ‘spite of Pe- ronist and “independent” trade union leaders who impede unity in action of the workers and people, a common front is forming in the demonstrations, the strikes and the “hunger marches”. Dozens of individual e suggests that Duvalier had | thing important to lie is pol since it has always been ve jm cy to parade the bodies — ape portant murdered opponer qi government itself admit was) | the local press that it e off serious battle and that OM cer was killed. a kel One report said that was member of the rebel grou orsel woman, who defended red: bravely until killed or CaP" tom A wave of new and of pat’ arrests followed the April F tle. ; Boukan commented: “We % not cease our efforts '? aides throw Duvalier and his ® ne abolish the domination aa and rican imperialism in Hal ent Of bring about the establish™ ‘socialism.” ei igi hit ae bk Le Ae cipiagi cise igen” Cina ie egw cag eee a, ee si stab” organizations have been ae lished within the General opi federation of Labor. fact wing trade union leaders gy: support the dictatorship by nas ing up the co-ordination © — it, actions. They cannot SY* ini however. In factories a0” neh versities, “cities of uré professional and peasant izations, the movement !§ Bal ing, always with the strone of ticipation of Communists their initiatives. ly on The congress unanimous! for dorsed the Party’s program, iti a democratic, agrarian and @ men ae ection of socialism. Bean mind that the immediate ° jl the Argentinian people 9 dic social classes is to end ag Z tatorship, the congress Fy med the Communist “min™ program.” This is a progt fens. immediate demands, of 9 afd | of the rights of the peoPle ‘pe ZS PIR el yy nd of struggle to overthro military dictatorship. The congress the unity and the capaDl” the Communists of Argent!