Colombia: From Capitalist horror without end to the struggle for Socialism – Part Three In spite of the heroism of the guerrilla fighters, what they have lacked is an understanding of the role of the working class in the process of socialist revolution. What is required is a party based on the working class in the cities that can lead the peasantry. In this struggle the guerrillas would still have a role but as auxiliary to the working class, not as its substitute.
Colombia: From Capitalist horror without end to the struggle for Socialism – Part Two On more than one occasion the Colombian ruling class has entered into "peace talks" with the guerrillas, only to use these as a means of buying time and preparing even greater bloodshed. They used this situation also to conveniently cut across repeated waves of mass mobilisations.
Colombia: From Capitalist horror without end to the struggle for Socialism – Part One We start today a three part article, written in June, which looks at how the various guerrilla organisations emerged in Colombia. The bourgeois media present them as merely a bunch of criminals, conveniently ignoring the fact that they arose historically as an answer to the brutal repressive Colombian state at the service of the local oligarchy and imperialism.
After the death of “Tirofijo”: perspectives for the FARC and the class struggle in Colombia The death of Manuel Marulanda, the legendary leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), reopens a debate over the perspectives for the FARC and for the class struggle in Colombia. In recent months the FARC has received hard blows with the assassination of two of its principal leaders, Raul Reyes and Ivan Rios, numbers 2 and 4 respectively in the leadership of the organisation. Nevertheless, the FARC still control a good part of Colombian territory (mainly in the jungles) and maintain an active presence with more than 15,000 combatants.
On the assassination of Raúl Reyes and the Colombian government’s aggression against Ecuador and Venezuela - CMR statement The assassination of Raúl Reyes and 18 other FARC guerrillas exposes the real intentions of the Colombian state and the US government. With this massacre, the Uribe government and American imperialism aim to derail the negotiations over the release of hostages and thus deny any peace in Colombia, and at the same time prepare for more acts of aggression against the unfolding revolution in Venezuela and Ecuador.
Camilo Torres: 40 years after the death of a fighter for Latin American freedom February 15 marked the 40th anniversary of the death of Camilo Torres, that outstanding Catholic priest who broke with the Church hierarchy and actively took part in the struggle to overthrow capitalism.
Colombia: To organize and fight means death Ramon Samblas interviewed Juan Carlos Galvis from SINALTRAINAL, the Colombian food processing and beverages trade union. Juan Carlos spoke today at one of the recent G8 Alternative meetings.
Colombia: Massacre in pacifist peasant community exposes nature of far-right Uribe administration A vicious attack on the Peace Community in San Jose de Apartado left 8 people dead, including women and children. Witnesses reported that armed men who identified themselves as part of the 11th Brigade of the Colombian army were involved. The brutal actions of the army, and the government's denial of any involvment has led many to demand an enquiry into the matter. It is clear, no matter the outcome of any investigation, that the workers and peasants of Colombia can only rely on themselves for defence.
Colombian army and paramilitaries intensify offensive against trade unionists and leftwing activists During the last month the Colombian army and the paramilitaries have increased their campaign of threats and assassinations against trade union leaders. The offensive is particulary sever in the Arauca region, on the Venezuelan border.
Interview with Diego Escobar Interview with Diego Escobar, a Colombian Trade Unionist, a local representative of ASONAL-Judicial. Diego knows very well what it means to be persecuted by the vicious Colombian ruling class. We interviewed him while he was attending the UNISON Delegate Conference 2004.
Interview with Javier Correa, President of the National Union of Food Industry Workers of Colombia On September 16, there was a massive general strike of Colombian workers and peasants. Below is an interview with Javier Correa, president of the National Union of Food Industry Workers of Columbia (SINALTRAINAL), while he was on a speaking tour of Europe. He is appealing for the solidarity of workers and youth in other countries with his union’s struggle against the Colombian government’s brutal campaign of repression and to seek justice for the murders of trade unionists in the company in which he works: Coca Cola. (Interview by the Asturian supporters of El Militantein Spain, September 26, 2002). The original Spanish text is available...
Letter from Colombia on Breaking Down of Peace Dialogue This is a letter we have received from Colombia on the recent breakdown in the peace process in Colombia and the army offensive in the demilitarised zone.
Plan Colombia: Talking peace, preparing for war "When the peacemakers aim their guns, of course they shoot to pacify, and sometimes they pacify two birds in one shot." (Mario Benedeti, Ode to pacification)
The struggle of the masses in Latin America A review of the situation in Ecuador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina. From the Mexican Marxist paper Militante.
