Fabricio Ojeda was murdered testifies to the intensification of the armed struggle’ of the Venezuelan people, to the desperation of the U.S. lackeys running Venezuela, ‘and to the Hitler-like measures fostered by the U.S. government in a useless attempt to hold back the revolutionary . determination of the peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America. :
Who was Fabricio Ojeda?
_ Born in Boconé, in ‘the state of Trujillo, thirty-seven years ago, Fabricio’served as a schoolteacher for some years in the state of Zulia. Later he worked as a reporter on various Caracas dailies. —
“During the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez (who wasawarded the Order of Merit, the highest award that can be given to a foreigner by the U.S. government) , Fabricio was a reporter for El Nacional, Caracas' number one daily which at the time had a leftof-center orientation. His assignment was to cover the Presidential Palace. Hé happened at the same time to be president of the clandestine “Junta Patridédtica" which was to act as the coordinating center for the overthrow of the dictatorship on January 23, 1958.
In the elections that followed, Fabricio won a seat to the Chamber of Deputies as a candidate of the URD [Unién Republicana Democratica -- Republican Democratic Union]. a
By the spring of 1962, the FALN [Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacién Nacional -- Armed Forces of National Liberation] were in process of consolidation. When the uprisings of Cartpano-and Puerto Cabello took ‘place, Fabricio decided that the only way to:obtain | national liberation from U.S. imperialism was through armed struggle against both the foreign oppressor and its "national" representatives.
Babricid: joined the: guerrilla forces. On October 12, 1962, he was ‘taken’ prisoner after an encounter with government. troops... : At his trial, °the.prosecution démanded ‘eighteen years: imprisonment. .;-..: for him. On” September 17, 1963, along with other revolutionists being held in the Trujillo state prison, he made a spectacular escape and . ‘rejoined the guerrillas...
He. was given the rank of comandante and placed in charge of -. the "José Antonio Paez" front which operates in the states of = Trujillo, Barinas, Lara and Portuguesa.
When he was captured June 17, Fabricio was president of the General Command of the FLN [Frente de Liberacién Nacional -- National Liberation Front] and the FALN.
Minister of Defense Florencio Gémez announced June 21 that Fabricio Ojeda had committed suicide that day by hanging himself in his cell. The government's. cover story for his death while in the hands of the notorious SIFA was so flimsy that protests. and. demands for-a thorough investigation came from all quarters. Even the reactionary daily La_Esfera said that the circumstances of Ojeda's death "creates a delicate problem for the government."
The students at the University of Caracas did not. stop with simply voicing protests. They held demonstrations. which. spread
to many points in the city, including the "24 de Enero" workingclass district. On June 22, two policemen on Los Ilustres Avenue : were cut-down by machinegun fire from a.passing car. The next day. a police patrol car was hit by a hand grenade and automatic rifle. fire. Sporadic shooting occurred in various parts of the capital.” Protest leaflets were scattered throughout the city and the slogan, "Comandante Fabricio, your death will be avenged, " was painted on walls. — ; ve
"Meanwhile, -in the "José Antonio Paes", front, -four - government
soldiers were ainbushed and killed by guerrillas... ee
The’ pressure on the government has’ been such that it felt forced to: release eight leaders of.the Transport Workers: union who had been held for several days following a. strike protesting - the: sudden ‘firing of 140 workers on government. projects.
- Upon announcing the: "suicide," the government: barred: newsmen... from the headquarters of the: SIFA where. the body. was: being held. 2+); Fabricio's brother reported » that he had:seen Fabricio two days... -. before and that he was in good spirits. After identifying the body, .he reported seeing marks on Fabricio's chest. The results of the
autopsy were not made public.
In an apparent move to appease public suspicions, Attorney General Antonio Salcedo Lozada announced © that a "thorough investigation" of the death would be made.
Revolutionists throughout Latin America will see in Fabricio Ojeda a ‘figure who © ‘typified their own political course’ since the Cuban Revolution: His - ‘exemplary record and martyrdom will produce: thousands of new "Fabricios" i in Venezuela. The imperialists and their indigenous” ‘agents think they can stop the revolutionary movement by murdering its best representatives. They do not understand that the sacrifice made by these revolutionists will bring countless new recruits into the ranks of those who are determined to achieve the complete social and economic liberation of Latin America.