At a recent meeting in London, arranged by the Movement for Colonial Freedom and the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, some 300 people braved the winter weather to hear Hilda Gadea speak. She is the first wife of Che Guevara and the sister of Ricardo Gadea Acosta, the valiant leader of the Pachacutec guerillas who held Central Peru in the lightning offensive of June, 1965.
The following is my Committee's record of her message to us now, a fresh contribution to our knowledge of Latin America's problems.
"It was soon after Russia's October Revolution that the progressive students of Cordoba University in the Argentine overthrew the repression of their reactionary dons and that the voice of Cordoba University was heard throughout the sub-continent. In Peru, Haya de la Torre formed the APRISTA revolutionary movement and workers popular universities were set up. As the APRISTAs gained power their spirit waned until today they are mere reformist groups. After 450 years of strong well organised Communist Parties their efforts have produced no notable results within the electoral machine, although they are not without some value.
It was only after the Cuban Revolution that similar movements took heart and started operations in San Domingo, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, Columbia, and latterly in Bolivia. In Peru, the guerillas opened up simultaneously on three fronts and came close to success. The reason why it will and must succeed is that 80% of the land is held by 3% of the people, and dispossessed peasants are quite happy to die fighting for land, their slogan being "Land or Death!".
In 1965, Lobaton and Velando led a strong movement and were initially very successful, but failed for the following reasons:
1. The napalm bombing of guerillas from the air.
2. The defection of traitors who gave away information.
3. The utter ruthlessness of the repressive forces who moved whole communities in order to isolate fighters.
4. The mistakes made by the guerillas (no doubt a reference to divisions of loyalty and lack of supplies and supply dumps.)
5. The CIA veterans from Vietnam who fought the underground movements in the towns. As trade is mostly with the USA the Americans were well-placed to act mercilessly against the movement for greater freedom, and thousands of sympathisers were killed or gaoled.
The offensive in the south was led by Hugo Blanco who captured huge tracts of land and set up union headquarters in the Sierras, distributed food, medical supplies and land to starving peasants. The infuriated landowners forced the generals to send blood thirsty troops to shoot children in neighbouring villages and to crush the spirit of freedom. Hector Bejar contracted a type of leprosy of the feet and his fighters were left without effective leadership.
We learn therefore that peasants' lives must be afforded protection from government troops and given arms to protect themselves before they can be expected to support freedom movements.
In the same way commandante Che Guevara, and Inti Peredo, in neighbouring Bolivia, started a struggle which is still glowing and may burst into flame at any time. Their failure was due to the necessity to attack before their plans were ready. Also to the failure of Mario Monje, the Communist, and of the Maoists to help at a critical time.
As far as the Russian and Chinese differences are concerned it is my personal opinion that the quarrel is a burden to the Latin American struggle. The pro-Peking sections of the Peruvian CP did little to help the real struggle.
We must all fight in our own countries for our own liberties and not depend too much on others for help. It is however most important that European spectators take more interest."
Committees exist for the defence of political prisoners in Peru, notably Hugo Blanco and Ricardo Gadea. Write to: 21 Comité de Defensa de Los Derechos Humanos, Apartado 10145, Lima, Peru. More information can be obtained from: Committee for Solidarity with the Victims of Repression in Peru, John Edmunds c/o 8, Aycliffe Rd., London W12.