BITTER STRIKE STRUGGLE IW BOLIVIA
a entree
LA PAZ -- Bolivia's mine workers engaged in a big struggle for several weeks in August. The international press seems to have given it little coverage although it was one of the most important in years.
The basic reason for the struggle was the so-called "rehabilitation" problem; that is, the application of measures demanded by the Triang gular Plan (Bolivia, Germany , the United States) for modernizing mines faced with economic and technical aifficulties which have affected production for some years. What the management (Comibol) of the nationalized mines wants, in agreement with the government of Paz Hstenssoro and the
imperialists, is that the miners should bear the cost of "rehabilitation" by giving up, among other things, some of the conquests..of the revolution of 195e. : The struggle began with a work stoppage on the "650 level" ‘ of the Siglo XX mine, ordered by the local trade-union leadership , under the influence of the Communist party. Comibol's reply was | rather violent, the suspension of 1,051 miners, the expulsion of ' two local leaders, Pimentel and Escobar, the modification of a © system of contracts in the mine, the elimination of overtime work, etc.
A special meeting of the general secretaries of the union at Catavi cecided that work should be resumed on the "650 level." But Comibol @id not withdraw its measures. The strike then spreac by chain reaction.
A congress was “eallea which decided to continue the strike and to elect a national strike committee. A seneral mine strike was the next step. The COB ceciced to suppox rt the action of the miners by national strike action. This affected Tarija, Tupixa , Potosi, Cochabamba, Oruro anc. La Paz.
The struggle was headed by 25,000 miners and developed ina very militant mood. Rather serious conflicts took place following brutal attempts by the government at repression.
Thus at the beginning of the struggle, the government sent police agents and soldiers in civilian clothes to an area near Catavi with the aim of nobilizing peasants against the miners through the offices of certain trade-union bureaucrats at the heac of union locals of the peasants.
The militia of the miners at Catavi and Siglo XX mobilized and opened a real battle against the sovernment forces of repres~ sion. There were deaths on both sides.
The head of the official group was taken prisoner and shot by the miners in revenge for the death of Octavio Torricos, secretary of the militia of the union at the Siglo XX mine.
The seneral strike of the miners lasted fourteen days. According to a circular distributed by the Executive Committee of Revolutionary Workers party (POR), Bolivian Section of the . Fourth International, the strike suffered several weaknesses. It was ill prepared. and even the beginning was improvised. There was no genuine organization of the ranks. ‘With some exceptions there were no meetings, no election of strike committees nor mass demonstrations. The national leadership set no common goals that could unify the miners in their struggle.
ssentially as _a cefensive Conseauently the strike appeared ¢ :
ce miners et Cctavi and Siglo XX. struggle in solicarity with t:
This explains the outcome of the strikes. The reinstate- ‘ment of Sscobar and Fimentel vas not won. Still worse, workers control wes suspenacc.. The avthority of the unions was brushed aside. Overtine work vas eliminated. As for Tiguiday tion of jobs, this will teke place in. a less brutal wey put it will be applicc in greencnt with the FSMTB. Job ratings will de revised but in ecco; e with whah management ‘vents y not accoraing to the cemenc the workers.
"This signifies," concludes the Gocument of the FOR, "that nothing was won and government blows were not warded off. The masses of the miners were hit anc their conquests restricted. Responsibility for this falls on the Lechin tendency and the Communist party who provoked a dispersion of power of the masses and capitulate d to Comibol and the government."
"FORWARD TO LENIN!"
An analysis by E. Germa in of the ‘article "on
the Question of Stalin" written by the joint editor-
ial boards of the Peking People! Ss “Daily end Red: Flag.
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A half million people paraded in Peking on the fourteenth anniversary of the establishment of the Feople's Republic of China. The narade filed past a reviewing stand of top government figures, including the rarely seen Nao Tse-tung. Huncreds of thousands of pcople “Linea the strects in observance of the | national holiday October 1.
The keynote for th 1G speeches was sounced by Peng Chen, mayor of Peking. Ee att tackec the "aggressive policy of Kennecy ana his nuclear blackmeil. He stressed that China had often proposed "the complete destruction of nuclear arms." °
"We are convinced," he said, "that a new world war can be prevented. World veace can be preserved if, with this aim in mind, a common strugesle is opened up by all "the socialist countries, the nations of Asia, Africa anc Latin America, as. well as the Western Countrics, including the American people."
Mao Tse-tung also appeared briefly at a banquet staged for 5,000 people in the evening. The main speech, however, was made by Chou En-lai. It was mild in tone.
Messages of congratulations were received from. many countries, including those workers states with which Peking is at present in hot dispute.
In hailing the victory of the Chinese Revolution fourteen years ago, the Central Committee of the Communist party of the Soviet Union, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, -and the Council of llinisters of the USSR in a common messace paid tribute to the Chinese people. ;
"In the course of the past fourteen years," the message said, "the Fecole's Republic of China bas achieved big successes in the construction of socialis Mae Chinese people have displayed a spirit of sacrifice and senuine heroism in the task of overcoming the economic backwardness of the country, in bvilcing the bases for socialist incustrialization, in completing the socialist transformation of agriculture and accomplishing sreat progress in the field of the cultural revolution.
In fourteen “years: China has indeed displayed its enor-mous potential as a risinz world power. Althouck American imperialism tries to banish revolutionary China by shutting it from sight, the majority of humanity are keenly aware of the existence of this young giant and wish it maximum success in the coninz years. ‘
Peel ee nent en senate ARERR ei ent nt ie
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