Slogans for amnesty on wall in Madrid talk about democratic changes.
Of course this is only talk: they don't call for free elections, and for this reason we demand universal suffrage for all those over 16, a free vote for a constituent assembly, and the right of all political parties to operate freely.
changed?
A No, apart from the talk. The amnesty that many people thought Juan Carlos would announce at Christmas never came. The persecution of political parties continues. One worker, Ricardo Tellez in Barcelona, is near death after his torture by the DGS (Direccion General de Seguridad).
Still, it is a two-sided picture because the Government has been too weak to stop the mobilisations after the death of Franco. During the past two months activists of the Workers' Commissions have been able to speak openly as members without being arrested - radicals as well as people like Camacho.
• the recent demonstrations for Can you say something about amnesty? What about the indulto (pardon) of Juan Carlos?
The pardon is a sham, a reaffirmLation of Francoist legislation. The jails still fill up with people charged under the 'anti-terrorist legislation of last August. (Under this, anyone even speaking or writing about an organisation like the Basque nationalist group ETA can be imprisoned.) In December alone, 1,000 people were arrested for violating this legislation.
About the demonstrations: the most important was at Carabanchel, a district of Madrid where upwards of 50,000 people demonstrated tor amnesty. The police had cordoned off the area around the prison, so it is difficult to get exact figures.
Thousands of workers have gone on strikes and demonstrations in practically every Spanish city.
What is the exact position of the Liga Comunista on the question of amnesty?
Our party supports the fight for amnesty. We have led actions for it. But we don't view amnesty as a step towards national reconciliation' for all Spaniards, as the Democratic Junta (Communist Party-dominated bloc) does.
Although we fight for amnesty, from one or two slight modifications. This is important, especially in view of the situation in Portugal. One of the first actions taken by the people after the overthrow of Caetano was to demand that the PIDE (secret police) be brought to trial. The Junta simply cannot recognise this democratic impulse. • democratic rights differ from How does your position on that of the Democratic Junta and the Democratic Convergence (the other main class collaborationist bloc, dominated by the Socialist Party - PSOE)?
Well, the working class needs a democratic rights. The bourgeoisie only needs to talk about them. And the Junta may say it's for democratic rights, but that is not true. •For example?
A Catalonia they call for the retur Take the national question. In to the Statute of 1932 which was set up by the Republic; this Statute recognises the legitimacy of the central Madrid Government, and its right to legislate in crucial areas like the Army and foreign affairs.
We say that the peoples of Euzkadi (the Basque country), Catalonia and Galicia should be able to decide for themselves through national constituent assemblies what relationship they want to have with Madrid. Anything else would be undemocratic Furthermore, the Junta and the Convergence view the Army as part of the 'democratic process', and believe that it can be called upon to support democracy. We say that it is intrinsically undemocratic. We are for democratic rights inside the Army for all soldiers; we favour setting up soldiers' assemblies.
What is the difference between the Junta and the Convergence? Could there be a coalition?
They are both cross-class forces;
but by calling for the democratic break' the Junta appears to offer a democratic alternative. vergence has the same programme, but is viewed by some sections of the bourgeoisie as a potential threat to the CP. The big capitalists who do not support the dictatorship belong to the Convergence.
Faced with the recent mass struggles, however, the Junta and the Convergence have combined to try A in every major city, especially in Seville. ber have caused great confusion in the vanguard here.
it is still very important.
presence in Spain?
in Portugal. On 25 April, when HOLLIS for a 'return to law and order' in public support, the ELP (fascist Fences inside the Spanish CP Workers' Commissions?
The Conin Madrid?
skirts of Madrid.
The Democratstruction.
against shutdowns. issue was amnesty.
They want to not centralised.
What has been the effect of recent events in Portugal?
In general the mass movement has grown in strength since the overthrow of Catano on 25 April 1974. There were demonstrations But the events of 25 Novemyet.
We are trying to resolve this. But if the struggle in Portugal continues it will serve as a stimulus here, thus What about the American Spain has had ties with Yankee imperialism for a long time. Americans supported Franco and they hope to remain in Spain, especially in view of what is happening 2,000 US marines landed in Seville, a local journalist who happened to write about their arrival was put in prison for I don't know how many The Americans intend to help the counter-revolution in Portugal. The last time Franco spoke, I think in October, he expressed the wish Portugal. And despite their lack of Portuguese Liberation Army) and the Spinolists maintain bases here.
Hasn't the situation in Portugal provoked some differabout Intersindical (the centralised trade union federation in Portugal) and the role of the There is a tendency in the Spanish CP which opposes the almost total support given to the Fifth Provisional Government. Nuestra Bandera (the CP's theoretical organ) has run a public debate between Carillo (the CP Secretary in exile) and Camcho (CP leader of the Workers' Commissions). Carillo says that the workers should continue to work through the state-controlled unions, the CNS; Camacho thinks that the Workers' Commissions should be reconstituted.
What about the recent events There was an important strike on December in the construction industry, over 80,000 on the outThe Liga Comunista led some of the workers' commissions Where are the LC's forces A youdo, university and secondary We do a lot of work among the school students as well as young A workers. We are beginning work among the soldiers (not with officers but with young draftees). But we have not got very far with this In the working class our priority is the metal industry, where we have workers in all of our branches. Next in importance is the construction industry, then textiles. Many of our members are bank workers and Workers' Commissions leader Camacho on his release from jail This is the first printed edition of a paper in Spanish put out by comrades of the LCR-ETA(VI) in London. It is available price 10p plus postage from Red Books, 97 Caleconian noac. concon N.
There will be a fund-raising party (with disco) to launch the paper on Saturday 17 January at 7.30 in the Bank, Tolmers Square, NW1. teachers Are you considering more work among the youth?
We are discussing the formation of a Trotskyist youth group, in sympathy with the Fourth Interna tional. We are planning a conference soon, and other points we shall discuss will be tactics for building our party as part of the Internation al. The debate taking place in the International now is very important to us; we have recognised the need for the Fourth International since our formation in 1971.
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