THANKS THOSE WHOSE EFFORTS SAVED HIS LIFE
[The following letter to the Fourth International, asking it to thank all the organizations and individuals who campaigned to save Hugo Blanco from being executed and to secure his release, has been translated by World Outlook. Hugo Blanco overlooked putting down the date of his letter but it was immediately after the Supreme Military Court decided, on October 12, to spare the Peruvian peasant leader's life. However, they upheld the sentence condemning him to twentyfive years in prison.
[Although all the available legal channels to appeal the savage sentence have been exhausted, the campaign to secure his release through a presidential amnesty is continuing.
[His friends and comrades in Peru report that the conditions in El Frontén remain dangerous for Hugo Blanco and that the daily conditions of life are onerous, necessitating his devoting long hours to work for the small amount of money required to buy his food. He also has a family, including two children, in dire straits.
(Following the English translation of the letter, the Spanish text is provided for the benefit of those who may wish to refer to the original.]
* * *
El Frontén October, 1967
Comrades of the Fourth International:
I am asking you to express my gratitude to all the organizations and individuals who, through their struggle, succeeded in saving me from being assassinated.
The worldwide campaign against a death sentence triumphed, demonstrating once again the power of revolutionary internationalism and human solidarity. I am sure that this power will continue to in~ crease, supporting all the victims of the repression in Peru.
This same power is shaking the world with its solidarity with the Vietnamese people and will increase its support to suffering Bolivia. The blood of our great martyr, the giant Che Guevara, with its universal meaning, will inspire the entire world until victory is won.
Hugo Blanco G.
x * *
El Frontén,
octubre de 1967.
Camaradas de la IVa Internacional:
Pido a ustedes que extiendan mi reconocimiento a todas las organizaciones y personas que con su lucha han logrado impedir que se me asesine.
La campaha mundial en contra de la Pena de Muerte, ha triunfado, y ha demostrado una vez m4s la fuerza del internacionalismo revolucionario y de la soli-~ daridad humana. Estoy seguro de que esas fuerzas irfn en aumento apoyando a todas las victimas de la represién en el Perit.
Esas mismas fuerzas estén estremeciendo al mundo con su solidaridad con el pueblo vietnamita y aumentardn su apoyo a la doliente Bolivia. La sangre universal de nuestro gran m4rtir, del gigantesco Che Guevara, se erguird del mundo entero hasta triunfar.
Hugo Blanco G.
STRIKE APPROVED BY GOD
"If the escalation in Vietnam continues, the ministers of the American Council of Protestant Churches are in favor of unleashing a general strike.
"In short, unable to obtain a truce approved by God, you resort to a