COMMUNIQUE OF THE MR-13. MOVEMENT
[The following is a translation of the full text of a conmuniqué issued by the Movimiento Revolucionario 14 de Noviembre, the Guatemalan guerrilla movement headed by Marco Antonio Yon Sosa. It appeared in No. 20 of Voz Campesina, a supplement to Revolucion Socialista, organ of the "Alejandro De Leén" guerrilla front.
RO From the National Leadership of the Movimierito Revolucionario 14 de Noviembre to the masses of Guatemala, the Americas and the entire world:
THE MR-13 EXPELS THREE MILITANTS, MEMBERS OF THE FOURTH
INTERNATIONAL (TROTSKYIST) FOR DISLOYALTY AND SURREPTI-
TIOUS DIVERSION OF FUNDS.
THE FIRST PEOPLE'S REVOLUTIONARY COURT OF THE MR-13, consisting of the Political Bureau, representatives of the guerrillas, - Chiefs of the Militia and Presidents of the Peasant Committees, met in one of the camp sites of thé ALEJANDRO DE LEON GUERRILLA FRONT on the date of April 29 and 30, 1966, to consider acts committed by three members of the Fourth International, who were active Militants of the MR-1%.
The trial was characterized by the freedom, serenity, equanimity and impartiality of the members of the Court throughout the session and by the objectivity with which they judged the facts. The three defendants made full use of their right to defend themselves and the Court examined the proofs on which the accusation was based, free from pressure and emotional influences.
After the President of the Court, Comandante Marco Antonio Yon Sosa, opened the trial, comrade Ernesto -- on behalf: of the National Leadership -- proceeded to present the facts:with the objective of fully illuminating the problem, so as to make’ it possible to judge its exact dimensions.
From the explanations and: ‘the speeches, especially the replies by the defendants (the main parts of which were recorded
on. tape), the following. facts were fully established during the’ trial: (a) that in the month of Novémber' 1965, the MR-1%3 carried out the collection of forced levies on the: bourgeoisie, an operation that’ produced: some thousands of quetzales [one quetzal = $1] to be utilized to cover. expenses. incurred’ in the struggle to take power and in the development of the Socialist Revolution in Guatemala; (>) nevertheless, this entire sum of money was divided between the Fourth International and the ‘MR-13, without previously consulting © or getting approval’ from either the National Leadership of the “" Party: or. Comandante: Marco Antonio Yon Sosa; (c) that this division of the money was organized and carried out by the militants ~ Francisco Amado Granados (ex-member of the PB) and members of the’ Fourth International whose pseudonyms are: Tury, EVARISTO, TOMAS and ROBERTO; (d) that this distribution was the culmination ofa. plan which had been conceived and decided on by the International Secretariat (IS) of. the Fourth International almost a year ago, a plan which the members under trial today were ‘ready to carry out. Those named, upon integrating themselves. into the struggle in © Guatemala, took advantage of the confidence that had been placed:in them because of the way they had preoccupied themselves with advancing the Socialist Revolution in our country. This, along with their political abilities, brought them to membership in the PB, “ with the exception of Tury who in his visit to Guatemala usurped this position.
Due to circumstances connected with their activities in the ~ Party, at the time the trial was held only EVARISTO, TOMAS and - ROBERTO were present. —
The only one who knew about the diversion of ‘funds was companero Ernesto, who was opposed from the beginning to the plan. Because of this he was isolated, first, ‘separated from tasks involving the Leadership and then persuaded ‘to go abroad under pretext. of getting medical treatment, finally trying to tie him down with a petty-bourgeois. perspective and thus taking him away from the revolutionary. struggle and the party. At the beginning of the year compahero Ernesto rejoined the armed struggle in the "ALEJANDRO DE LEON," GUERRILLA FRONT, an occasion which he utilized to take up with Comandante Yon ‘Sosa everything that ‘had happened. The real leadership of the Movement was called together to be advised of the facts; this culminated with the setting up of the PEOPLE'S COURT. During the proceedings of the trial, two other instances of funds being diverted with the same aims were uncovered. Although less was involved, this, too, was fully proved.
The défendants: EVARISTO, TOMAS and ROBERTO did not deny, refute or minimize the essence of the proofs that were presented. They limited themselves to making political explanations which at no time had been brought into the dispute by the Court. They argued that this money was being used in all the sections of the Fourth International and that at no time did they take anything for their personal benefit. They tried to cover up and distort the facts by posing political considerations. Their sectarianism, haughtiness and arrogance prevented them from viewing the reason for the trial
objectively. The trial was the result-of the premeditated way in which they arbitrarily and dishonestly disposed of the money of the Guatemalan masses, which the MR-13 administers due to the necessities of the struggle, employing it for tasks’ leading to the conquest of power, the establishment of a Worker-Peasant government and the construction of socialism in Guatemala.’ In brief the reason why the defendants were submitted to trial was the disloyal, opportunistic and premeditated way in which, taking advantage of the confidence placed in them by the Party, they utilized our resources. At no tine.” were they accused of diverting funds for their personal benefit and there was complete. clarity about this in the Court. In thesr defense, no. matter how they tried, they could. not distort the facts.
The Court, after deciding that: ‘the: ‘motives. which led then to divert funds were. mitigating, RESOLVED: First: TO EXPEL EVARISTO, TOMAS and ‘ROBERTO FROM THE MR-13. Second: TO BREAK ALL TIES WITH THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL.
Not being in agreement with the sentence of the Court, the defendants appealed, declaring their attachment to the Guatemalan = masses. The verdict was unanimously upheld.
THE MR-14 DECLARES before the masses of Guatemala, the Americas and the world, that it is expelling the. Trotskyists and breaking all ties with the Fourth International and all its sections because of the opportunistic and disloyal conduct they displayed within the party and REAFFIRMS ITS UNSWERVING DECISION TO CONTINUE ARMED STRUGGLE FOR THE PROGRAM OF THE SOCIALIST ‘REVOLUTION.
IT APPEALS to all. the masses of. Guatemala, to. ‘the ‘workers, peasants, students and poor petty-bourgeoisie to struggle under the leadership of the MR-13 which with its program of Socialist. Revolu=_— tion is bringing the masses together in preparation for the seizure of power. IT APPEALS to the masses of all the Workers States: To the Chinese and Cuban masses and their leaderships to unconditionally support the MR-13 and to distribute its documents. IT APPEALS to the masses of the whole world to crush Imperialism and Capitalism and establish an Anti-imperialist World United Front.
WORKERS, STUDENTS, PEASANTS, ARM YOURSELVES!
Rebel Territory, May 15, 1966
| For the National Leadership
Marco Antonio Yon Sosa —
Cmdte. General
| oh 2, SEE TBAT CAN SOSAD TSE GROUS
“Tithe. following is a. “translation. of. ‘the. full text of a leaflet. distributed. dan.Mexico. City by the followers of. J.: Posadas, who call: themselves. the Partido. Obrero Revolucionario’ (Trotskista), Secodén - Mexicans Me: ta: Cuarta. Internacional. }. 5
TO THE ‘PROLETARIAT, THE STUDENTS, THE PEASANTRY , THE REVOLUTIONARY | MASSES OF MEXICO 7 a sen,
CS maUNTOUE
Comrades: |
Yesterday, the ‘twenty-third of June ,. ‘militants of. the Mexican Communist Party profusely distributed Number 20 of "Voz Campesina,". the supplement: of.."Revolucién Socialista," organ of the MR13 of . November of Guatemala. The document announces the expulsion of three. Trotskyist militants of the MR13, in whose leadership. they were + active, and the breaking of ties with the Fourth International on © the charge of disloyalty and the surreptitious diversion of funds for Trotskyism. The very fact that militants of the CP, which. always combated, sabotaged and fingered the actions of the MR13 in. Guatemala and combated and sabotaged it in Mexico,.are the ones distributing this document, is in itself eloquent with regard to the political meaning of the turn taken by the leadership of the MR14. The rejoicing of the counterrevolutionaries and their action. in distributing this document shows in and of itself, both fear of . the advance of the MR14 along the road of revolutionary Marxism, that is, Trotskyism, and fear that the present retreat of the leadership of the MR13 may not be permanent. With all their might they want to drag it back, widen the breach with Trotskyism, get it to abandon its program, drag it toward peaceful coexistence. -
The MR13, at its Conference in February. of this year, accepted the program of the Fourth International, saluted its oe action, resolved to constitute itself into a party. Since then, as _ a result of fingering by the Partido Guatemalteco del Trabajo (CP), the FAR, the conciliationist Cuban leadership, combined with actions of the Guatemalan dictatorship and imperialism, its best and most conscious leaders have been assassinated. Among others who fell were Francisco Amado, member of the PB, editor of "Revolucion Socialista" and political leader of the movement; David Aguilar Mora and his companion, Eunice Campiran de Mora, “'Chinto, "Tsmael" and. . other Guatemalan or Mexican cadres, Trotskyists or. semi-Trotskyists, who. were the base of the political leadership of the MR13. The preparation of the imperialist war, as the Chinese charge, unites the conciliationist bureaucracy, the CP's and the police in a conscious counterrevolutionary labor. The Venezuelan CP expels guerrillas as "adventurers" and ten days later Fabricio Ojeda, who refused to give up and capitulate, to "coexist peacefully," is. fingered and
3H
assassinated. The Guatemalan FAR supported Méndez Montenegro in the elections, it "coexisted." In order to stop the action of the MR14 and its socialist program on the Guatemalan masses and the ranks of the FAR, it was necessary to finger and betray its leadership and throw the Trotskyists out of the MR13. The anti-Trotskyist campaign of "Sucesos," "El Dia," "Politica" goes together with repression by the Mexican police and the CIA and its local agents. The preparation of the war requires blocking the construction of a world revolution-. ary Marxist leadership, blocking a united front between the Chinese,” the consistent revolutionary nationalists and Trotskyism, striking at Trotskyism.as the spearhead and motor of this united front. The Soviet bureaucracy, Fidel Castro, the CP's and the imperialist and national capitalist police move in common in this aim. Thus taking advantage of the assassination and imprisonment of the most ardent. militants in the political struggle, and of the political formation of the rest of the team of the Guatemalan leadership begun by Yon Sosa, which is insufficient to carry forward the struggle for the socialist program, in which they believe, and to apply the February resolutions to function as a party, the agents of the FAR utilized a comprehension of the struggle that is still nationalist, limited, particularist, and used false pretexts in order to expel the Trotskyist leaders of the MR13. And they have opened the road to an internal struggle in this movement which can cripple it, disrupt it and cause it to lose the prestige acquired before the masses precisely. through its socialist, Trotskyist program and action, but. which cannot withdraw from the masses, whatever the course. followed. by the majority of the MR13, what they have already acquired: the program of the MR13, fruit of the conscious action of Trotskyism, which coincides with the experience of the masses themselves, that the revolution must be socialist and must lead to a workers ... and peasants government, and not one of bourgeois democracy and a. government of alliance with the bourgeoisie, as the FAR and the PGT clain. :
The accusation of "@isloyalty" is false, because Trotskyisn. supported the MR13 from the very beginning, when it consisted of. six, sabotaged by the CP, alone, without perspectives and suffering demoralization. Because it helped the development of the MR14 with all its means so that it owes its positions and influence to the raising of the level of its best cadres and the adoption by the movement of the Trotskyist program.
By dint of militants and forces sacrificed at. ‘the expense of its own development, ‘by dint of means: sent to the MR13 when Trotskyism was hard-pressed, the Mexican section of the Fourth Interna-_| ‘tional: helped the MR13 to advance, because it was thus helping,. not rotskyism, but the Guatemalan revolution, which is part of. the world revolution, and not an isolated process. For this Mexican . - Trotskyist revolutionary militants struggled and died in Guatemala, together with Guatemalan Trotskyists and semi-Trotskyists who struggled and died for what was attacked by those who today publish and distribute this document, the Communist parties and other counterrevolutionaries. The Fourth International was the only. movement that publicized and supported the action of the MR14 and Ehe
only one that organized action to accelerate the triumph of the Guatemalan revolution, accelerating and organizing the triumph of. | the world :socialist-revolution. There can be. no. disloyalty when the MR13 enjoyed, and enjoys: every. ‘kind of support, political, material and organizational, despite the International's lack of means. and when, fundamentally, the action of the International was what per- . pom mitted the: MRL to, gain its two main strengths: its program, which is Trotskyist, and the support of. the world revolution and.the best — groups and tendencies in each country, when everyone was sabotaging it and is still. Sabotaging it and the. CP's are moving - now .in its behalf only to bury ate.w. . ae
And there ‘can, be. ‘no diversion of. funds when the document : itself proves that a majority of the leadership decided on the disposition of these funds and when these funds were. used for the MR13 and action, by the MRIZ in the action of developing the world revolution and the only parties and cadres that are defending it. And when the action.itself from which these funds originated. was organized . and carriéd out by militants of the Fourth International in the . . MR13. Ernesto, a minority within the leadership and its pro-FAR - a limping wing, the FAR that tried to get the MR13.to vote for Méndez Montenegro, was not "pulled — out" with preconceived | aims, as the ve document says, but simply went over to acting now as a leader act- _ ing, with the backing of the PGT, along the line of its opportunism and to get the MR14 to retreat from its program and objectives, when Lae formerly he could not do this because an entire team existed -- now... -:. physically ‘eliminated, by the police or by expulsions fron the MRIS. -- which in practice. carried almost the. whole leadership, because, it corresponded with the wishes and socialist orientation of. the MR13 and the Guatemalan and world revolution. —
The MR13.'s. break with the International is transitory. The triumph of the Trotskyist program does not depend on the comprehension of one or another leader, but on the process itself of the revolution which requires it. The honest revolutionaries come to it and action in accordance with this program signifies action. together with the only ones who are its consistent defenders and appliers, the parties of the Fourth International. Groups can retreat, some leaders can break themselves, but the revolutionary socialist, Trotskyist process advances and will triumph. The pressures are immense. The very advance of the Chinese, in practice, to Trotskyist positions increases these pressures by increasing the acceleration of the time limit for war. The repression of Trotskyism and the assassination of those opposed to peaceful. coexistence will increase. The anti-Trotskyist slanders as well as the assassinations, shows the weakness. and the desperation of the two who are. doomed -~ the bureaucracy of the CP's and capitalism -- over the advance of the world socialist revolution and Trotskyism. Due to lack of experience as a mass revolutionary world party, the advance of the revolutionary tendencies is contradictory, is subject to zigzags, to retreats, even to partial delays. But the world process always unites the front in a forward direction, never backward. Andthe advance of the MR13 to the Trotskyist program will not recede because it is- an advance of the masses of Guatemala’and the world.
This resolution of part of the leadership of the MR13 is a blow against the Guatemalan revolution, but much more a blow against the _.MR13. Through it. the. counterrevolutionaries of the CP, the PGT, the FAR, Fidel Castro, ‘have caused great damage to the revolution. But - they cannot rejoice much. Greater damage was caused by the extermin- ‘ ation of the Bolshevik party, the old Leninist guard, the liquida- _tion of the Third International. Nevertheless, the world revolution ~ and Trotskyism are triumphing and Stalin has been swept into the ashcan of History, where the. whole bureaucracy will shortly . follow him. The triumph of world socialism is an objective process. The attacks against Trotskyism, like the insults and attacks against the Chinese, cannot hold it back. The Fourth International will continue and is continuing to support the MR13 while it maintains its program. It calls on the revolutionaries of Mexico to repudiate this expulsion which opens the road for the abandonment of the program of the MR14, although its honest leaders want to defend it, because a program requires men to carry it forward, militants of one and the same substance as what they are defending. The Mexican section of the Fourth International calls on all the revolutionary militants to demand freedom for the members of the MR13 and ‘the Guatemalan revolutionaries in prison, the appearance of David: _ Aguilar Mora, Eunice Campirén de Mora, Francisco Amado and other revolutionaries presumably assassinated by the dictatorship. It: .. calls:on them to demand freedom for the Mexican and Argentine Trotskyists in prison in Mexico. It calls on them to impose the full right of freedom of tendencies within a United Front and repudiation of the anti-Trotskyist campaign of the Stalinist capitulators, who are helping the bourgeoisie and imperialism in trying to disarm the masses and their revolutionary vanguard.
The Political Bureau of the
Revolutionary Workers Party
(Trotskyist),