The Battle of Chile: Part I (1975)

1. the fight of a people without weapons

2. In memory of Jorge Müller Silva

3. PART 1

4. Six months before the bombing of the La Moneda palace

5. The Chilean people face elections to renew Parliament.

6. The political forces are divided into two blocs:

7. On one side, the opposition formed from the Christian Democrat and National parties.

8. On the other, the left-wing parties in the Popular Unity coalition

9. who support Salvador Allende in parliament.

10. The left united will never be defeated!

11. Together.

12. Cut!

13. Clapperboard

14. Señor, good afternoon. What do you think of the Sunday elections?

15. Well, I'm not political so I don't have an opinion.

16. Señora, good afternoon. Who do you believe will win on Sunday?

17. - The opposition will win - The oppposition. Of course, then.

18. Frei, Jarpa, Labbé! Three hatched from the same egg!

19. Señora, who are you going to vote for in the next elections?

20. for Volodia Teitelboim and Eliana Aranibar.

21. What do you think will happen in the future?

22. That we are going to keep progressing and we have to keep fighting

23. much more, because comrade, of who we've been fighting.

24. What can I say about Frei?

25. In his government I had a farmhouse that fell down on me.

26. The water ran inside

27. to my four sons with bronchial pneumonia.

28. I asked for help here, I asked for help there and nowhere was I listened to.

29. Now, wherever I go I am listened to

30. and thanks to my President, I have a nice house. Not with great comforts,

31. but I've not gone without bread

32. Retired

33. I am retired.

34. No government is like this...

35. No government had done what this government did.

36. Who is going to win on Sunday?

37. I believe it'll be the Popular Unity

38. because the workers must decide the destiny of Chile

39. What do you think of the Christian Democrats?

40. I believe that the Christian Democrats are a party that have always

41. defended the interests of their own class

42. and not those of the working class

43. - Thank you very much. - Before I was skinny, now I've corn with huesillos.

44. Excuse me, pardon me, comrade.

45. Comrade, who is going to win on Sunday?

46. I couldn't say who.

47. - I couldn't say. - No, sir.

48. - You've no idea. - I've no idea. - Do you read the daily papers?

49. I don't read much.

50. Who is going to win on Sunday?

51. I don't know ... the UP

52. Us, the 45. The 45.

53. The Popular Unity is going to win by an overwhelming amount of votes.

54. because it is the government of the workers, the government of the people.

55. and the people have realised the benefits that come from socialism

56. for all citizens.

57. Thank you, comrade.

58. Señor, good afternoon.

59. What percentage do you think is going to go to the Popular Unity?

60. The truth of the matter is that the Popular Unity is going to win

61. Because now it has ... in 1970 our share was 36%

62. Now, with what we have,

63. and the folk who are with us, the people are with comrade Salvador Allende,

64. we're assured of 43% or more.

65. 43% or more.

66. Señora, good afternoon.

67. I'm going to vote for Volodia Teitelboim and Eliana Aranibar

68. What percentage of the vote do you reckon the Popular Unity will get?

69. more than 40%.

70. What do you think of the shortages?

71. I don't think there is a shortage, because I'm still not lost half a kilo.

72. Sir, what is your position about the elections?

73. That the Popular Unity gets less than 20%.

74. What do you think about the future?

75. All of the ways forward will be painful, Of that, I've no doubt

76. Sir, What's your position regarding the elections?

77. - Leave me in peace. - Thank you.

78. Señor, What's your position regarding the elections, this Sunday?

79. Everywhere victory for the opposition, the National Party above all.

80. What are your thoughts on the future?

81. That Chile must achieve, peacefully, freedom and democracy

82. Señor, good afternoon.

83. What do you think about the elections on Sunday?

84. I believe that it's a referendum

85. And that on Sunday, Chile goes to decide if it wants Marxism or if it wants freedom

86. What about the future?

87. Going forward, after the elections

88. I think that the only solution is to change the government

89. You believe through elections, or some another way?

90. Through elections

91. Sir, what is your position on the elections on Sunday?

92. That...

93. well, I believe that we'll give a beating to the Popular Front

94. That it's going to be made into ashes.

95. Do you believe in the electoral route, or in another way?

96. In the electoral way always.

97. What percentage do you give to the Popular Unity and to the National Party?

98. 30 to 70.

99. What do you think the future holds?

100. For the future. That Chile always has a promising future.

101. - Thank you very much - Don't mention it

102. Señora, good afternoon. What is your position regarding the elections?

103. Jarpa and Alessandri.

104. Who do you prefer?

105. The National Party, always.

106. Do you believe in the electoral route, or in another way?

107. I think that there should be a firm line

108. That we aren't playing any more tricks on the people or anything.

109. What possibilities do you see ahead, beyond the elections?

110. Do everything possible to rebuild Chile

111. Thank you very much

112. Señor, who will you vote for on Sunday?

113. for Jarpa, señor.

114. Who's going to win the election?

115. In the elections? The opposition by far.

116. What percentage do you reckon?

117. at least 65%

118. What do you think about after the elections? What'll happen in Chile?

119. After the elections, the government must respect the majority.

120. Are you in favour of the electoral way, or for other ways?

121. - For the electoral way, señor. - Thank you very much

122. - ... constitutionally, the President next. - How?

123. They impeach the President and we remove them on 21st of May

124. because they've destroyed, worn out...

125. and this is a corrupt and degenerate government, señor

126. Degenerate and corrupt. Impure.

127. Revolting communists must all leave Chile

128. On the 21st of May, we'll have, by the grace of God,

129. the cleanest and nicest government that we've ever had

130. winning with democracy and removing those rotten Marxist communists.

131. Damn them.

132. What are your preferences among the opposition?

133. Of the candidates? Jarpa and Gustavo Alessandri, señor.

134. What percentage would you give them?

135. Ideally, it would be 100%, but in reality it would be 60 and something percent.

136. Power to the workers!

137. Comrade, what do you think of...

138. What's your position on the elections on Sunday?

139. For me, that the Popular Unity wins, and that they'll bury the right.

140. Because we will win with the Popular Unity

141. Here and anywhere else, we will win.

142. And the rightists, they'll die.

143. Comrade, what is your position before the elections on Sunday?

144. To fight hard to remove a great majority.

145. So that we have a clear program

146. and that we realise this is the only way to get

147. power. We already have the government.

148. Now it's in our interest to get the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate

149. Basically, it means getting a little more power for the class

150. but in any case...

151. it's not the ultimate solution

152. We believe that ultimately, one more election

153. is not going to solve the problem of avoiding the confrontation.

154. the confrontation is inevitable and fundamental. One side is going to give

155. because at the moment the classes are becoming more and more polarised

156. One side the bourgeoisie, the other side the proletariat

157. And that confrontation is going to have to give way

158. Forward without compromise!

159. As is normal, the armed forces

160. guarantee order during the elections

161. The dependable, dull, opposition.

162. With two thirds in the Parliament

163. they would be able to dismiss Salvador Allende constitutionally

164. That needs more than 60% of the votes.

165. For the left this is the first ballot against all the opposing forces

166. since the triumph of 1970.

167. It is also an opportunity to measure its forces

168. After two and a half years of an economic boycott pushed by Washington

169. and the internal opposition.

170. Sunday 4th March, at 8am, Voting has started.

171. - Señora, good afternoon. - good afternoon.

172. We're from channel 13 and we'll be conducting interviews in the building.

173. We want to know who you're voting for and who you believe is going to win

174. - Sorry if we're bothering you - no, it's no bother

175. Me, I like Baltra. I voted for him.

176. - You voted for him? - yes.

177. And what percentage do you think he's going to win in the CODE?

178. - What's going to happen? - Enough, there's some light here.

179. - Excuse me. - Go on.

180. Sir, good afternoon. We are from channel 13 and we're making an interview

181. We want to know who, for what percentage, will win the CODE?

182. I have no idea. I didn't vote.

183. - You didn't vote? - No. - I didn't have a preference.

184. - No, nothing. - Thank you very much

185. You voted for Baltra. At what time did you vote?

186. - Voted for Jarpa? - for Jarpa.

187. - What time did you vote? - 11 in the morning.

188. - In what community? - Ñuñoa, the National Stadium

189. And what seems to be happening now? What impression did you have?

190. Splendid. It was a fantastic meeting and I think that democracy will triumph

191. What do you believe is going to happen in the future?

192. That he's going to go away to fix everything and we're going to rebuild Chile

193. What do you think? What is needed to dismiss the President, or to follow on, legally?

194. I can't say. We must fix everything that we find

195. because we can't go on like this

196. What do you think of the rally for Jarpa, that was here two days ago?

197. Fantastic. I was watching it here.

198. And what especially appealed to you about the rally?

199. Of course. Lots of people, lots of enthusiasm

200. and very orderly.

201. Well... and I think that it was wonderful and that we're going to win

202. Tell me, what do you think of the alliance with the Christian Democrats?

203. Well, I think it's splendid, very good.

204. It seems very good. I'm comfortable with that alliance.

205. I feel very comfortable. I think that everything's ready.

206. - You understand? - Thank you very much.

207. At 5 in the afternoon the first results are known.

208. The Minister of the interior, General Carlos Prats,

209. assures the maximum guarantees of honesty in all sectors.

210. Nevertheless, before the end of the count

211. there were claims of victory by the opposition parties

212. Without mentioning that more than 40% of the votes are for the left

213. And the opposition, which never doubted that it would win,

214. goes out to the streets to celebrate the supposed end of the Popular Unity

215. - What do you think of the election, señor? - We've won. We've won now.

216. We got over 60%

217. Señora, what do you think of today's election?

218. Phenomenal. We have won in every way.

219. - Señor, what do you think of ... ? - Nice, Frei.

220. I'm Argentinian and I am happy that Frei won. But it's very good.

221. Immense joy.

222. There are several Frei who are in Chile.

223. - ... of what happened today? - A triumph, excellent.

224. It's totally successful. We are happy, pleased.

225. What do you think will happen in future?

226. A referendum and we're going on to win the elections.

227. Mr Allende is going to have to leave the country immediately.

228. - you are in favour of impeachment? - Naturally

229. Anyway, see you later.

230. What do you think of today's election?

231. That it has been a triumph of democracy and that Chile will always be free.

232. - What will happen in the future? - God doesn't love those who do nothing

233. You support the constitutional allegation against Allende? - Yes señor, yes.

234. Do you believe that this will cause a civil war?

235. - It doesn't matter. - No, in no way It's the majority. We have the majority.

236. What do you think of today's election?

237. Finally, we took out the leader of these dicks

238. Sir, what did you think of today's election?

239. Very good, very magnificent.

240. Forgive me for saying so. It's a great thing, a splendid thing

241. The UP went to the trash, can't say that other word

242. Forgive me for saying so

243. - Which candidate did you prefer? - Frei.

244. I am Alfonso Carrasco Cerda, president of the pensioners of the Bank of Chile

245. I consider that we have defended democracy and the freedom of Chile.

246. - Thank you very much. I would like to add something else? - yes...

247. Greetings to all the people that have contributed to freeing our country...

248. Past midnight the results start to disconcert the opposition

249. The number of votes they dreamed about is marred by failure

250. and the Popular Unity not only doesn't lose its electoral support, but increases it

251. Without accepting the calculations, part of the opposition speaks of electoral fraud

252. and takes it's assault force out to the street

253. A day later, the Examining Tribunal of Elections controlled by the opposition

254. confirmed the official results.

255. The opposing parties are far from the two thirds that they needed

256. to dismiss Salvador Allende.

257. The Popular Unity raises it's vote to 43.4% and so increases it's number of parliamentarians.

258. obtaining an unprecedented support after a two and a half year mandate

259. For the opposition, the oath of the deputies

260. marks the end of the electoral phase.

261. Señores deputies, do you swear or promise

262. to uphold the constitution of the state

263. consult in the exercise of your functions

264. its true interests.

265. I declare you members of the Chamber

266. Having fulfilled the aims of the present session, it's adjourned.

267. From now on, the White House and the opposition

268. understand that the mechanisms of democracy don't serve them

269. The votes that the government coalition obtain

270. demonstrate that in Chile the yearning for change hasn't subsided

271. in spite of the millions of dollars that the North American government has invested.

272. After March, the strategy of the "democratic" opposition

273. will be, paradoxically, the strategy of the coup d'etat.

274. Thanks to the denunciation of a neighbour,

275. here in the local unit no 8 of the seventh commune,

276. in Copiapó 319, they discovered a hoard:

277. 20 tons of sugar 400 boxes of toilet paper,

278. 500 boxes of washing powder, 100 boxes of Nescafé, 100 cartons of condensed milk

279. 50 boxes of salmon, rice in great quantities.

280. Of course. This was to be sold here, to the neighbours in this sector

281. who had already accumulated a great amount.

282. This sale is surely going to last about three days.

283. The government strengthens the JAP, or Board of Supply and Prices.

284. In theory, the JAP are local organizations

285. to control food distribution and denounce speculators

286. When the JAP discover a hoarder

287. the government intervenes and puts the products on sale.

288. in Lirquén, in Mrs Rufina Moreno Díaz' warehouse

289. was the following merchandise:

290. 310 packets of tea

291. two boxes of 50 detergents

292. 53 boxes of food for children

293. everything eaten by mice

294. I bought sugar and OMO and two packets of tea

295. because I didn't have more than 100 escudos

296. That I had for goods. I didn't have any more, couldn't take more

297. Well, I have at least ten children, señor,

298. and spend whole mornings walking, looking for...

299. It's necessary to defeat the black market, what's needed is remove the leaders of these guysf.

300. Here it's necessary to come here and close their businesses, jail them.

301. That's really what is necessary so that these people are scared

302. and they can't continue speculating

303. And I think that there is a surplus of supplies, see

304. how many times it's not been released in our newspapers

305. for example, of so many tons of sugar,

306. so many things that have been found hoarded.

307. In the month of March there are 3000 JAP in all Chile.

308. In somes cases the JAP adopt ration cards

309. to make the distribution more efficient.

310. Which is the card? Show us a sample.

311. This is a ration card. Look. I have 14 rations

312. Here they give two cubes of stock, four cubes when it arrives, see?

313. Or in case more arrives, it gives more.

314. These are all equal: Nescafé, milk, all those things are rationed.

315. And you get them with that?

316. Yes, we get them. And if they don't arrive, we use them for buying other things,

317. other articles.

318. Look at the vegetable that I bought.

319. The main aims of the opposition are:

320. to break up the food deliveries, exhaust the reserve stocks,

321. and sabotage the sowing of crops to increase the shortages.

322. Sigamos this way?

323. Is there oil, señora?

324. Look, they've stopped giving me oil. I don't know if they have any today

325. but I bought oil 3 days ago.

326. Would you like to say something more to comrades from other provinces?

327. We are making a film

328. I, at least, I support whatever happens that is...

329. for a better future, at least for my sons

330. if I can't achieve it for myself.

331. I agree with this government.

332. Would you like to say something more?

333. No, nothing more. Thanks, no more for this interview.

334. For the opposition the example of the JAP becomes dangerous.

335. The Congress begins accusing Minister Orlando Millas,

336. Administrator of the JAP.

337. The opposition begins using their simple majority in Congress

338. to undermine the government.

339. Here are gathered the documents that register the accusations.

340. In this case, the opposition designates one of it's deputies

341. to interrogate a neighbour, member of the JAP.

342. What functions does it perform in practice?

343. How would you say the JAP organises itself?

344. The JAP organisation seems to me to be an organization made up

345. of people, of citizens, of workers, homeowners

346. that come together, through a meeting

347. They aim to be able to control, somehow,

348. more to see whether or not enough supplies exist

349. in a village.

350. That's what I want you to explain to me.

351. I have to say this so that you adapt yourself to what I want.

352. - Naturally. - You understand? It's not by...

353. Not, if for that reason, I am orientating this, without the implication,

354. that I'm saying this to induce you to say something.

355. You understand? Very well. I like be very honest in this.

356. It looks to me as though...

357. the function of this organization, JAP,

358. is to document

359. that the people receive enough supplies

360. for all the families that there are in the village.

361. In spite of the fact that the opposition is unable to prove anything

362. the proceedings will run their course

363. The mechanisms will be repeated with other high government functionaries.

364. or the ministers resign or are expelled.

365. By means of the accusation, the opposition starts a power struggle

366. between the Parliament and the President of the Republic

367. In each case, a representative of the left

368. goes to demonstrate the legal deficiency of these allegations

369. Consequently

370. The minister of state only answers for his acts and conduct

371. to the President of the Republic who appointed him and can remove him

372. and he is neither subjected to intervention from,

373. nor is at the convenience of,

374. the opinions of the majority of congress.

375. Political judgement over him is only granted,

376. in the Chilean system, to the President of the Republic.

377. And in the particular case of the minister, Mr Orlando Millas, head of the economics portfolio

378. that we've looked at in this impeachment proceeding

379. the accusation cannot be used to decide

380. whether the supply policy is good or bad,

381. whether the minister controls,

382. the management of the price control policy,

383. or the ways in which they think production tasks should be orientated,

384. supply and general distribution of the Chilean economy.

385. Therefore,

386. Not only is this impeachment invalid, ineffective and illegitimate

387. but it is an accusation that stifles, that overrruns, that violates

388. the ground that the Constitution cedes to the President of the Republic

389. so far as it's prerogatives and it's essential powers.

390. Days later, in the Chamber of Deputies

391. the vote to expel minister Orlando Millas takes place

392. in a period of three months

393. the opposition dismisses two aides and seven ministers of Allende.

394. That is to say, a top official of the Popular Unity every ten days

395. Certainly, they reject the fact we use

396. the laws that they had in their hands

397. and that they used against the people.

398. When we do it

399. to defend the legitimate government

400. and the advancement of the workers,

401. then that creates this attitude of resistance in these sectors,

402. that has all the guarantees, I repeat,

403. from the reality that our nation lives.

404. And this is a government

405. that is not socialist.

406. It is a popular, democratic, national, revolutionary government

407. That must fulfil a program

408. to widen and hasten the road to socialism

409. the transformation of our society.

410. Shortly afterwards, Congress begins a prosecution

411. against all the ministers of the government.

412. This would mean the dismissal of fifteen ministers at one time.

413. Nevertheless, popular pressure makes part of the opposition back down

414. and the maneouvre fails.

415. And the right has always been screwing the state backwards.

416. It's always us that has been urging the overthrow of the government.

417. But that will never happen

418. because we, the workers, choose this government.

419. And this government will follow us, because it is ours.

420. And we will defend it with our lives, be that as it may.

421. If they want to fight us on the street we will go out onto the streets

422. And if that fight happens, we will know to fight like the conscientious workers that we are

423. in defence of our worker's democracy.

424. On April 17, the government resolves to nationalise

425. 49 more industries that are boycotting production.

426. In reply, Congress presents a constitutional reform

427. that invalidates almost all the nationalisations that the government had made until now.

428. The Christian Democrats and the National Party

429. affirm that in this case, the head of state has no right to veto.

430. That is to say, it should enact the reforms and return the factories without discussion.

431. This means that for a simple majority

432. Congress wishes to cut out, from Salvador Allende,

433. powers that other premiers had.

434. And of these gentlemen of the right, it's good that they already realise

435. that they are receiving fabulous wages and they do nothing,

436. only making trouble for the country. And that that is what they're thinking, to agitate.

437. But they pay themselves fabulous sums

438. and we find with great surprise

439. to see that our factory, our source of work

440. was totally dismantled, in warehouses

441. because these gentlemen practically stole the machinery.

442. We want nothing to do with the boss. Absolutely nothing.

443. Because for a long time they have pulled, little by little,

444. until we have finally arrived at the end of our tether.

445. It's been shown that the owners

446. of these industries have begun boycott of production.

447. And we, the workers, are against that

448. Well, I can only hope that it will be resolved soon

449. and hopefully that government intervenes in industry,

450. because we can't continue working with the bosses

451. - And what's this factory called? - This is called 'the Prison'

452. Because of the feudal mentality of our bosses

453. and the comrades from other branches of industry,

454. because of this pressure they called us "the Prison" of saint Elena.

455. 23rd May, Eduardo Frei,

456. Christian Democrat and ex-President of Chile,

457. is chosen as head of the Senate

458. one of its tasks will be to exacerbate the power struggle.

459. If Allende refuses to enact the reforms and not return the industries,

460. the opposition parties will say that it's unconstitutional

461. and if he accepts, Parliament will have, de facto control of the State.

462. Allende considers this illegitimate

463. and puts the problem to the Constitutional Court

464. If we understand that at this time

465. The fundamental thing, the basic thing

466. is to strengthen the government in politics

467. and take over the instruments

468. granting access to the institutions

469. so that the opposition understand that they can't deny the government what it needs

470. to exist and defend Chile from economic realities,

471. which didn't arise from our own mistakes,

472. that's not to deny that we've committed them,

473. but there are international and national factors

474. that outweigh them when a government like ours

475. is confronted with imperialism

476. and with the landowning oligarchs and feudal bankers.

477. The deputies who reject the proposal are asked to raise their hands.

478. From now on, Parliament will look for the final blockade of government.

479. In the months of April, May and June

480. Congress declares a boycott against all Popular Unity initiatives

481. Result of the vote:

482. In favour, 52 votes;

483. Against, 81.

484. The proposal formed by the Executive stays rejected.

485. The law to punish economic crimes is rejected.

486. The law to create the ministry of the family is rejected.

487. The law for wage and salary rises for the workers,

488. is postponed and later approved without funding.

489. The law to regulate the participation of workers in factories is rejected.

490. The law to create the Ministry of the Sea is rejected.

491. The law to form autonomous businesses is rejected.

492. In a few months, 20 more bills are approved without funding.

493. Nationalism! Here!

494. Nationalism! Forward!

495. Fatherland and Liberty!

496. We are going to a shock squadron of the group "Fatherland and Liberty"

497. The institutional conflict, on it's own

498. Isn't enough to justify a coup d'etat

499. It is also necessary to provoke violence and civil disorder

500. This is the principal aim of this organization

501. Fatherland and Liberty makes up a small part

502. of the mass movement of the right

503. but it's fascist ideology hangs over some opposition parties

504. and the armed forces.

505. between its leaders and ideologues

506. there are former employees of the intelligence services of the USA in Chile.

507. Their main income comes from the National Society of Agriculture

508. and the Society of Manufacturers.

509. But much aid comes from the US State Department.

510. In 1974 some ex-officials of that department

511. revealed that in this period, the CIA maintained in Chile,

512. forty first-class agents,

513. many of them advising Fatherland and Liberty.

514. In April, the opposition finds an excuse to continue agitation.

515. The government has presented a project of educational reform.

516. to democratise the education system.

517. Feeling threatened, the opposition mobilises it's strike force.

518. For the first time in Chile, an appreciable quantity of students

519. are able to take with themf the more privileged sectors.

520. the opposition parties, the professionals,

521. the union of retailers support the street disorder

522. It's good to be on the defensive.

523. It is good that we're just reacting, as though we are puppets

524. because the questions, from now on, comrades,

525. we will have to make them reality

526. and the conflicting problems, we must face them hard.

527. and we must attack whoever puts themselves in front of us

528. and we're not going to leave the streets, comrades, to fight with the children of the right.

529. That is, those in charge of the carabineros.

530. and in charge of the military - there's too few in charge.

531. We are then going to see how we can face the state

532. It is a bourgeois state that we will someday have to defeat.

533. Yesterday, we have seen some sectors protesting for different things

534. and using class comrades,

535. the Chilean reaction in such situations, and rightly so,

536. That is, what the comrades suggest,

537. over the situation of distribution, over the law of agricultural reform.

538. over the nationalisation of hoarders.

539. I believe that they are fundamental matters

540. to which the workers must already consider

541. asking for a referendum over questions of this nature,

542. and not in the situation that the reactionaries are creating,

543. and with effective mobilization of the workers.

544. Because we cannot accept these escalations, day after day.

545. The situation we've seen coming, as we say, from October

546. and they're once more preparing for.

547. They're copying it because they don't have

548. the initiative to change the situation that they created in October

549. and now the workers should go, to definitively stop these people

550. and demand a referendum from the goverment over basic questions.

551. How are we going to address the question of transport?

552. Because each time that they need to attack the government,

553. they make the transport workers go on strike.

554. Really. Because they are manipulating drivers

555. because the majority of drivers are classless.

556. They don't recognise the union.

557. They are only worried about how much they are going to earn

558. They don't go to union meetings they don't want to know anything

559. So there are very few unions that are functioning in transportation

560. Those that function, still run badly

561. Before the threat of the shopkeepers to begin a general strike the next week,

562. there was the immediate nationalisation

563. of the hoarders

564. Before the threat to boycott manufacturing and the economy

565. There was ordered, once and for all, and in a single package,

566. the commandeering of the rest of the companies that were

567. among the 90 that still hadn't passed into worker control

568. and which were immediately integrated with the working class into the planned economy

569. It is doubtless that at this moment

570. the resolutions must turn

571. on the problem of the fundamental mobilization.

572. We of ANATE: like the public workers,

573. believe that in this moment we have everybody ready to march

574. before the Congress.

575. If there is anybody that objects to the proposal...

576. To the Parliament, comrades!

577. Comrades, we ask for the comrades in the public works,

578. if they count on modes of transportation - trucks, light-trucks -

579. so that they can transport

580. groups of workers who are going to leave the industries

581. There are trucks, comrades. There are trucks and buses.

582. There are trucks at our disposal. Forward, comrades, forward.

583. April 27th. The Main worker's office

584. summons a mass action in support of the government.

585. Through the presence of the workers,

586. they try to prevent the streets of Santiago

587. from continuing to be in the hands of the opposition

588. Power to the workers!

589. Build! Build! Worker's Power!

590. When a column of demonstrators

591. pass before the headquarters of the Christian Democrat party

592. They are attacked.

593. From the windows there are shots which kill a worker

594. and seriously wound six others.

595. Everything that happened is the responsibility of the people that came to provoke us.

596. And the dead and the six wounded?

597. Where? Which ones?

598. Do you believe that, señor?

599. We've already had to leave as we were knocked down over there

600. - Is it Christian to kill people? - Who was protecting us?

601. You justify the death of...?

602. You are speaking here in the offices of the Christian Democratic Party

603. and here, in the office of the Christian Democrat party...

604. Don't attack me because...!

605. No, but why ... why attack a journalist?

606. How was, from where? How was it? When did they shoot?

607. No... it's not clear. That's been handed over to a court invesigation

608. but in any case that is at the dispensation of the magistrate

609. it's the magistrate who's in charge here.

610. In this case the police,

611. Everything related to public order is the concern of the magistrate

612. the concern of the court

613. That is the Code of Penal Procedures.

614. The influence of the violent groups

615. is evident in the Christian Democrat Party.

616. Juan Hamilton, Senator of the conservative wing of the party

617. refuses to make a statement.

618. Moment of silence, please comrades.

619. Calm the mood.

620. Workers against fascism!

621. Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada! Present!

622. Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada! Present!

623. With your example! We will win!

624. 300,000 persons go, on the 30th of April,

625. to see off their fallen comrade.

626. Realising that they've still not attained the right conditions,

627. the opposition ends this phase of street agitation.

628. The proceedings to punish those responsible for the death of the worker Ahumada

629. don't go well.

630. Justice moves slowly.

631. The Supreme Court, in practice, ensures the impunity of those responsible

632. Again the union

633. arrives at this meeting convened for the national leaders,

634. to learn the records

635. and figures that represent our prices.

636. Firstly, there are speeches

637. The president of the Chilean National Confederation of Taxibuses and Minibuses,

638. Ernesto Cisterna Solís.

639. I believe that this assembly

640. stands up and says to the minister that we are also tired

641. of seeing so much inefficiency and so much incapacity for resolve...

642. During the three years of the Popular Unity

643. the American Institute of Free Labour Development

644. financed indirectly by the CIA,

645. orients it's work towards the Chilean unions.

646. In the month of April, 108 leaders principally from transport,

647. received training in the USA.

648. We don't need to confuse conscience with patience.

649. We don't want a policy for prices or of unions.

650. but we need to eat.

651. We must defend our interests.

652. and for those, to fight like one man

653. but with our national directive

654. and to go out and be seen in a manner

655. befitting the force of a road union

656. with bravery, with passion, but above all,

657. like Chileans and with dignity, colleagues.

658. Because we no longer can continue mending, nor riveting, nor welding

659. the aging machines

660. and aging too, the curved backs of so many industrialists

661. that have disgraced so many generations...

662. but in trying to fill the pots,

663. to be able to eat, to be able to resist

664. to be able to save this activity

665. because with it, we'll be saving the jobs of millions of people

666. that have faith and confidence in this, the working man

667. this maltreated transport worker, that yes, has built Chile.

668. It's he, himself who is one...

669. This shows us that the moment of the complete Chilean turnaround has arrived

670. without distinguishing between one and another,

671. in a single fighting platform,

672. we begin this national stoppage

673. In the month of May, one third of the transport collective

674. is immobilised, because they lack parts of North American origin.

675. In 1973 imports from the US dropped to 15% of the total.

676. To protest against this state of things,

677. but also to aggravate them,

678. the owners of private buses declare an indefinite strike.

679. With only 600 vehicles, the state enterprise have to perform, in one example,

680. the work done by the 5000 buses in Santiago

681. To partly combat the effects of the strike,

682. the workers use, for passenger transport,

683. factory trucks.

684. What do you think of this strike?

685. That everything we fight to achieve...

686. that the government has confidence in the workers

687. - It is necessary to fight no more strikes. - How must we fight them?

688. by being united these days.

689. How far did you walk?

690. 70 blocks, more or less, with my two boys that are back there

691. What do you think, señor?

692. Well, I believe that these times

693. are when the people must demonstrate

694. the capacity to fight that

695. has forged us, throughout this process.

696. and, as we're seeing here, sacrifice...

697. it doesn't matter what type of sacrifice you make, just do your bit

698. and keep producing.

699. Do you have any more opinions?

700. The campaign of the right against us is capitalism and...

701. and all the time we're going to be short of pay.

702. But we the workers, we should have confidence, and be conscientious

703. - What do you think of this? - See, in reality I think that...

704. in my estimation, it is paralyzing the country whichever way,

705. for whichever side.

706. With the inevitable result of a stoppage of all transportation.

707. here is the MOPARE: the Patriotic Recovery Movement,

708. which is a group of left-wing transport workers.

709. For their loyalty to President Allende, they suffer attacks and sabotage

710. in the name of union solidarity.

711. and loyalty to the people,

712. I will respond with the loyalty of a militant socialist.

713. and like the President of Chile

714. I will implacably see through the program of the Popular Unity.

715. We need more and better control

716. in the distribution of the products.

717. Because they make out

718. that I sometimes waver

719. that's sometimes necessary to strengthen the people's power

720. the Mothers' Centres, the neighbourhood gatherings,

721. the meetings of suppliers and prices, the community leaders,

722. it's necessary to strengthen them. It is necessary to strengthen industrial ties

723. but not as parallel forces to the government,

724. but as popular forces

725. next to the force of your government, the people's government.

726. 28th of May, retired Generals

727. send a public letter to President Allende

728. who affirm that the armed forces

729. will consider themselves independent in the case of the government breaking the Constitution

730. Shortly before, the High Command had made pronouncements against

731. the educational reform projects

732. On that occasion, Rear-Admiral Huerta declared:

733. "We cannot accept that future soldiers

734. will arrive in barracks converted to Marxism"

735. From 1950, more than 4000 officers had received training in the USA

736. and in the Panama Canal zone

737. during the two and a half years of Allende's government

738. They received 45 million dollars from the Pentagon

739. That is, more than a third of all the aid granted in the last 20 years.

740. of which, although it is certain

741. that all Chileans have the right to eat

742. it is no less certain...

743. for the first time the opposition takes along a sector of the proletariat

744. In the El Teniente mine, they have some of the workers

745. declare a strike for economic reasons

746. Traditionally well-paid, the copper miners

747. are the working aristocracy of Chile.

748. For the opposition, the object of the conflict is to paralyze the mine.

749. 20% of the wealth of Chile is produced here.

750. Comrade workers, as well as TV channel 13,

751. You'll find with us French television.

752. Comrades, take out your union cards

753. We show that here we are all workers

754. Teniente! United! Shall never be defeated!

755. First, we'll solve the problems of El Teniente's workers.

756. Not with money, not even with money can we solve

757. all the problems that exist across the country

758. but our problems come first, and afterwards, those of the rest of the country

759. We want solutions!

760. For that reason we have asked for, and requested the permission of union leaders

761. To have this tribunal.

762. like the workers of the Popular Unity

763. we disagree with the methods that they are using.

764. We have said, in every tone of voice

765. that for everything

766. worker's unity comes first.

767. We defend it here and inside the parties of the Popular Unity alliance

768. You will wonder why we are here

769. We are in favour of returning to work

770. but not by factions

771. we are in favour of returning to work...

772. Comrades...

773. Comrades.

774. Comrades

775. No politics! No politics!

776. Strength! Strength!

777. That same day, and at the same time

778. more than half of the 8000 miners continue in their jobs

779. the majority of them turn in extra hours to maintain and operate

780. the basic functions of the mine.

781. Caletones is a workplace

782. that has almost two thousand workers between white collar workers and labourers

783. and today we have 750 workers working.

784. that means that we will be almost normal in the industrial section

785. and it means that in some future date or on Monday

786. we'll be totally normal.

787. Here, what can be shown,

788. is that that sector is gluing to a wall

789. with respect to what they are proposing

790. in a theory totally beyond any jurisdiction.

791. History indicates that the workers working here

792. fought incessantly against the Yanks

793. until we took the industry from them

794. to nationalise it, we say, because now it is Chilean

795. it's not mine, nor anybody's in particular

796. if not all Chileans.

797. but we have first the responsibility to know how to run it

798. so now workers already are becoming almost totally aware of that,

799. only those that are in opposition are determined followers

800. believing that here there are other bosses.

801. No, there is no such thing.

802. because if there were other bosses, they themselves

803. the Christian Democrats, which at least has union representation here,

804. have representatives in the Council of Administration.

805. For that reason, we asked the left press, especially channel 7,

806. which has given very little importance to the workers

807. who are now working,

808. to come here and report what the numbers are,

809. so these gentlemen can stop themselves lying.

810. To begin with, you've done well,

811. for a very simple reason:

812. because you are arriving at the workplace, which is quite important.

813. Not sure? But the press, Channel 13, Mercury

814. and all these newspapers, they are based only in Rancagua

815. They believe that Rancagua is the El Teniente Mining Society

816. and that's bad.

817. This is what we need, the workers,

818. those that are now working,

819. what we want is that this situation is resolved

820. not for the personal benefit of the workers

821. but to benefit all Chileans

822. Take a worker who is here and ask him

823. whatever his opinions are.

824. What do you think? I believe that it is divisive...

825. That you are dividing the workers of Teniente?

826. - How? - the enemy is the one that's divisive, that is dividing us.

827. The enemy is dividing usf. Why do you say that?

828. - because they... - they are asking for a confrontation between workers.

829. Because the other day we saw that the national president publicly said that

830. if blood were to run, it had to run.

831. They are asking us.

832. So it's not... not at any moment have we wanted

833. to divide those on the workers side.

834. Because the reality of things... well, I'm 43 years old

835. and I have spent enough time with tools, 27 years.

836. so logically, I have come seeing previous governments.

837. They've given enough of a firm hand

838. with us, the workers, the working class

839. so, as the comrade from Puelma said,

840. I think that this government has been very soft;

841. that it is soft because it is the government of the workers.

842. but if we'd had a government with some other tendencies

843. then at this moment, several comrades, several of us would be dead.

844. And here in the company, we wouldn't have many left-wing comrades,

845. but it would be purely right-wing.

846. We have received threats.

847. We took to the streets. We weren't able to go down the other path

848. but we also went to work.

849. and we went down to make a stand. We were for Codgiua, others for whatever side

850. but the point is that we continued working.

851. Well, and we had comrades that did it for three shifts

852. and stayed there because there was work that couldn't be abandoned.

853. We've given up some benefits in the return to work

854. and the converters cannot be left alone

855. nor can we leave the thickeners

856. and that is a job with lots of responsibility.

857. Because there are many of our comrades

858. that do not know still, why they are on strike.

859. They don't know. It's the way things are

860. They're going to fight against public forces, because some gentleman

861. reminds them of a rooster and he shouts to them, and sings and dances

862. and they follow him, like he was Jesus Christ.

863. I believe that, that ... it's necessary to instill conscience in working comrades

864. and that's the work that our leading comrades now have.

865. That is the real reason for everything

866. And how is it possible to quickly prepare the comrades?

867. Well, like we are now, because, that's to say,

868. now, as we begin to act in this stoppage

869. We... I consider that I am doing right.

870. I am responsible for what I do.

871. I am equal and independent, like Mr Solis here. I don't have party politics

872. but my only interest is work for the progress of Chile

873. and not for by my pocket, nothing more.

874. I know that if I have good pay

875. I hope that the people who pay themselves with money from copper

876. have good pay also.

877. Now, we've already taken out more than 400,

878. in the shift from 3 to 11, we've taken out more than 300, so already

879. it's all returning to normal.

880. Attendance of workers increases by 61% on the 7th of May.

881. The mining trains work day and night.

882. Strike! Strike!

883. The striking sector, encouraged by the opposition

884. rejects two wage adjustment formulas

885. and continues asking for a repeat of the wage rises.

886. We demand the 41% that the company owes us.

887. How many strike days have you taken already?

888. We've taken 21 days.

889. What do you think will happen?

890. I don't know. We must have a solution today or tomorrow, I think.

891. Is this a union movement, or a political movement?

892. No, in no way, at no time, has it been political.

893. Because there has been no policy or...

894. Or a minister or politician or senator involved in this.

895. Because the workers are those that are defending our rights.

896. I believe that we must win because

897. our president, we removed him to defend the rights of workers.

898. and it's not that he came to be criticising us for

899. asking for something unjust.

900. - Are you for the president? - I am for the president.

901. But this strike is harming the government.

902. Of course it's doing harm, but I believe that in all this time,

903. all this time that we've been on strike, would have been

904. already resolved.

905. For the strike leaders,

906. it is important that there are victims to accuse the government of repression.

907. For that reason, the police force receives orders to act with caution.

908. In spite of stones, the carabineros back down.

909. This causes disagreement.

910. While some look to carry on fighting,

911. others think that it is better to seize the offices of the mining company.

912. I went to the supply store to speak with the workers.

913. because we didn't want them to die at work.

914. Who represents the workers, you or our leaders?

915. We do.

916. and also I ask, comrades,

917. I also asked comrades

918. who, with the same responsibilities as the workers of El Teniente,

919. we asked the carabineros

920. that they also keep the same attitude.

921. I asked them, please,

922. that they keep

923. the same... the same, comrades, attitude.

924. It's that way I want...

925. I want, this morning, comrades, to say

926. that in the meeting that we had with the president of the Republic

927. on Day 19...

928. And I said to them as an older brother would say to them...

929. as a comrade

930. And I made them see what a burden it was that...

931. copper production was stopped when we needed currency.

932. when we didn't have the necessary financing...

933. to be able to fulfil our essential financial commitments

934. At this time, right now, when the price...

935. of copper has reached satisfactory levels...

936. and now "El Teniente" becomes paralyzed...

937. those who have already achieved extraordinary salary levels.

938. I speak to them, like a comrade, with affection, with respect...

939. with warmth.

940. Nonetheless, from more economic criteria...

941. there is the stoppage of "El Teniente" and that means...

942. millions of dollars are lost from the country.

943. We could have reached a solution...

944. which surely would cost less than a day of production.

945. But that would have set an unfortunate precedent:

946. A wage rise on top of a wage rise, with full benefits.

947. Today, I ask my comrades from "El Teniente", who understand...

948. that to be a copper worker in this country is a privilege...

949. from a patriotic and revolutionary point of view

950. They are the ones who must preserve the essence of the nation.

951. Copper depends on us replenishing our purchasing power

952. raw materials, supplies food and medicines.

953. I ask those here, like revolutionary comrades...

954. to revise their attitudes...

955. so we can propose solutions that mean...

956. more income based on greater productivity

957. I maintain a revolutionary conscience, and I say to them...

958. that I have faith in the Chilean worker...

959. who cannot forget imperialist aggression...

960. and internal conspiracies. The copper worker...

961. must be united with the peasant of this nation...

962. to defend the future of Chile from threats...

963. from outside, and harassment from within.

964. In Chuquicamata mine, 16th May

965. the workers call off their solidarity strike with El Teniente

966. In the El Salvador mine, the same happens

967. The opposition fails in it's attempt

968. to extend the strike to other copper mines.

969. June 6th, the striking sector sends a delegation to Santiago

970. The Congress, that justified the repression of previous governments

971. opens it's gardens so that the miners receieve food and money

972. The Parliament publishes a declaration without legal force

973. that the strikers are right

974. and meanwhile continue sending the donations

975. to the the best-off sectors to help the striking miners

976. which becomes a commitment.

977. I am firmly convinced

978. that this conflict will have international repercussions.

979. because here is

980. the resolve of the workers to defend their conquests

981. and for the other side, it's the position

982. of the Supreme government that until now,

983. it has made itself deaf to the solution of this problem

984. and the only culprit for prolonging these 37 days of strike

985. has a first name and a last name.

986. This is a product of the inability

987. of the ministers of Mining, Work, and of the civil servants.

988. For the first time, a worker's leader is received in the Catholic university.

989. when in the mine already, 75% of the workers are working,

990. as well as 10% of the salaried employees.

991. leader Guillermo Medina

992. comes to receive the support of the children of the ruling class.

993. Workers and students! United ahead!

994. Get back! Get back! Inept government!

995. The students of the Catholic University

996. become the main strike agitators.

997. while in El Teniente, the strike backs down.

998. The opposition politicises the conflict.

999. In Santiago, the organisation "Women's Power"

1000. raises funds for the miner's spouses.

1001. A large section of the middle class adds itself

1002. knowingly or unknowingly, to the ranks of fascists.

1003. to the same time, in the city of Rancagua,

1004. Shopkeepers, professionals and transport workers declare themselves on strike

1005. in solidarity with the striking miners

1006. On 10th June the opposition forcibly occupies the city's radio station.

1007. As Rancagua the result barely manages to inflate the already receding political conflict,

1008. about to be resolved in the capital.

1009. On the morning of the 15th of June

1010. 3000 strikers arrive in front of the Christian Democrat party offices

1011. These are approximately 25% of the mine's personnel

1012. The opposition deploys it's assault groups.

1013. The government responds with police presence and with the mobilization of its people.

1014. Columns of workers collaborate with the police force to impose order.

1015. The agitators provoke the police

1016. while the left-wing workers disarm the barricades.

1017. Clear up here! Let's clear the streets, comrades!

1018. At noon, the sympathisers of the Popular Unity

1019. congregate in front of La Moneda palace

1020. The street battle will go on until nightfall

1021. Allende! Allende! The people defend you!

1022. I am here, comrade, because I have class consciousness

1023. because I am gathered here with my class comrades

1024. to defend the government of the workers.

1025. and I will be here until death, if necessary.

1026. Comrade, I've been here from 7 in the morning, comrade

1027. out of firm conviction. I am the father of twelve sons,

1028. I know clearly that this fight of this government is not for me.

1029. The days are few that I have left to fight and sacrifice.

1030. It is for my sons.

1031. What we defend is constitutional power.

1032. We are against fascism.

1033. We are with the popular government

1034. because we believe that it is a just fight that is happening at the moment.

1035. We've come to defend the position of all the workers

1036. across the whole movement.

1037. We don't want a group of privileged people

1038. like the miners of El Teniente. This government is going to have problems

1039. Against all of that, we're going to defend the position of the government

1040. until the ultimate consequences.

1041. Comrade, why are you here?

1042. Well, because I am Chilean

1043. and I have to defend the government of Allende because it is my government,

1044. the government of the people.

1045. I believe that fascism can no longer be tolerated.

1046. We have to stop it once and for all, since it's good for nothing.

1047. That is what the people want. You, wherever you go, ask the same, comrade:

1048. Enough of these idlers

1049. that are earning free money here in Congress, comrade.

1050. That is the opinion of all the workers

1051. of all the working population, comrade.

1052. And take a firm hand against the speculators,

1053. which will remove economic crimes so that once and for all we can fight

1054. and jail the crooks and hoarders.

1055. - Do you want to say something more? - I'm happy with what I've said, comrade.

1056. Popular Unity! We will win!

1057. The next day, the last strikers

1058. camp in front of the headquarters of the Christian Democratic party

1059. many of them return that same night to Rancagua

1060. Meanwhile, a symbolic group is transferred to the Catholic University

1061. In El Teniente, 93% of the personnel have returned to work

1062. 21st June. The main Worker's Headquarters

1063. summons a mass demonstration of force against fascism.

1064. Build! Build! Worker's Power!

1065. UP! No Compromise!

1066. Popular Unity! Against criminal perks!

1067. Build! Build! People's Militia!

1068. Power to the workers!

1069. The radio network which makes up Voice of the Nation.

1070. The first worker of the nation,

1071. the President of the Republic, comrade Salvador Allende Gossens.

1072. While in the center of Santiago half a million demonstrators,

1073. nearby, watching over the public force,

1074. the last strikers follow the demonstration from the roof of the Catholic University.

1075. Support

1076. that never in our history

1077. was there a demonstration of this magnitude,

1078. and which was made up like this.

1079. It was necessary to invent all of our methods

1080. to be able to have, at least and approximately,

1081. an extraordinary sized,

1082. energetic and enormous multitude

1083. which fills the streets of Moneda, Agustinas,

1084. Amunátegui, Ahumada, Morandé,

1085. Huérfanos, Teatinos, a great part of Alameda

1086. and still the column that left from Tajamar has not been able to arrive.

1087. like the one from Vicuña Mackenna.

1088. Never in the history of Chile

1089. were the people more spirited, and ready.

1090. Here we're building history.

1091. Here we strengthen

1092. our right to build ffa future

1093. of justice and freedom, to open a passage towards socialism.

1094. A week later, the copper strike ended.

1095. On the 28th of June the 500 miners that occupied the Catholic University

1096. withdrew in small groups.

1097. In total the conflict lasted 76 days and cost the state millions of dollars.

1098. At the end of the strike, we can say that the opponents of Allende

1099. had tried almost everything to overthrow the government.

1100. They only lacked a means of support.

1101. The next day, 29th of June, at 9 in the morning

1102. the 2nd armoured regiment attacked the Palace of La Moneda with 6 tanks.

1103. the Parliament, the judiciary, and the opposition parties kept silent.

1104. The rest of the armed forces didn't back the action.

1105. a little later, Leonardo Henricksen, an Argentinian cameraman,

1106. filmed his last shot.

1107. Not just recording his own death,

1108. also recording, two months before the final coup,

1109. the true face of part of the Chilean army

1110. Be careful! Be careful!

1111. Be careful! Be careful! I'm leaving!