THE PERUVIAN workers' movement passed a new milestone last week, writes BOBJOHNSON. paratry an Monday paralysed Tuesday comes only seven nontha after th coentry's econd ever general strike last July.
It reflects the movement's growine abilty te transtorm a traditionally localised combativity into nationally centralised actions with widespread support At the same time it marks a new stage in the fight between the Peruvian Communsr Party aind class struggle tendencies in the main trade union federation, the CGTP.
UNDEMOCRATIC The fact that the strike took ethack for the CP. leadership bf the CGTP, The stoppage was originally called by the confederation's national assembly Hunger sirikere in a church in Lima. 300-strung delegate body — for 23-24 January.
Ar the last minute it was Gala Oula undemocratic fashion by secre tary general Eduardo Castilio, who continues to believe in and usue win the matar! TREACHERY Castillo provided the movement as a whoie with an object lesson in Stalinist teachery that WI DoL De quicKiy torgoten The CGTP TATIK showed their disgust by overruling the leadership and renewing the strike call for the end of February The workers" main damend was for the reinstatement of the 5000 who lost their jobs at government instigation the July general strike. They are also démanding board pay rises to offset the 50 per cent decline in the buying power of wages since 1973.
signiticant such as Castillo's own Bank Employees Federation, failed to join the strike, Acne H was IU PEr cent solid, The upward trend of popular straggles In Peru continues.
Whether any immediate con a agrantly cessions will be Torlicoming emaim to be seca san IMi delegation is currently visiting Bither way the strike will have the widening the limited margins for working LASSUD constituent assembly elections and file In particular the forces to the left of the CP — who recently formed a common front for intervention in the lections -can expect to make a somew hat AFSLEE BELOGEE MANIPULATE In Peru, as in neighbouring across-the- Bolivia and Ecuador — which 8x0 have lections this year degree to which the regime is wons, able proceedings current relation of forces. hut in the Last week's strike will have The bod to shill this balance in the workers" favour.
police.
positive effect of group affered bo ta chass embassy The The hunger Februars DBATY-SOORSC - the precise manipulate the to divulge depends ontbe The seven Marchand two, Torres, hospital. treatinent strikers.
Fither way STEUST SIMTE THE BRITISH Embassy in Lima has handed & group of militant workers over to the The embassy claims that the Again politicul asylum, though the worker say they went to the to. stage a hunger Britsh reluse to say wether Peruvian police entered embassy premises, which are technically Britshterritory.
A wave of hunger strikes surted on 28 January in protest at the muss sackings which had followed last July's general military governme hure scrers un n SUTHErS Czechoslavak party crisis SUSIAY HUSAR: SOon s0 dupar SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 9 March 1973 page 11
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Brits boot out