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Title: Ten Years After Author: Trafik Date: 1983 Language: en Topics: Chile, anarchist movement Source: Scanned from original: No Middle Ground, Anti-Authoritarian Perspectives on Latin America and the Caribbean, No. 2 Fall, 1983 Notes: Scanned from original.
Note: The following article about libertarian socialists/anarchists in
Chile is translated from the Summer, 1983 issue of the German magazine
Trafik.
It's encouraging to realize that the anarchist movement is reborn, even
in Chile, where a U.S.-backed military coup and dictatorship had seemed
to have completely obliterated it, along with everything else. Yet, in
spite of the pitiless, on-going repression, accompanied by deep economic
depression--for which the military authorities are, to a large extent,
to blame--Chilean anarchists have begun to organize together.
In 1979, a new federation of various anarchist tendencies was founded.
It goes by the name Socialist ideas and Action (PAS). Here, long-time
anarchist militants were joined by libertarian socialists who, during
the presidency of Allende (1970-73), had been independents in the Unidad
Popular coalition and later members of the socialist party called MAPU.
Immediately following the economic and military destruction of the
Chilean revolution and reform government, the socialist movement
completely collapsed and broke down into various factions. Some of these
factions, having experienced the break-up of the Unidad Popular and
their inability to organize effective resistance to the dictatorship in
the years immediately following the coup, decided to unite with the PAS.
In July '82, at a national conference, held in Santiago, the PAS worked
out a "Declaration of Principles" which clearly addressed libertarian
themes. They declared their goal to be "the destruction of the
capitalist State and the abolition of capitalism's mass misery through
the creation of a new social order based on the free federation of the
people for mutual aid and cooperation in the production of social
wealth, its collective distribution and egalitarian consumption, and its
public control."
The PAS remained flexible as to strategies and tactics. They left it
open how and where to intervene or propagandize. They also made clear
that no individual who doesn't agree with an action decided to by a
majority would be required to participate. In the section of their
declaration entitled "International Experiences of Revolutionary
Unionism," the PAS proclaimed the necessity of a break "with the
political bullshit of bourgeois democracy," as well as "with the crap of
the traditional, bureaucratically-structured unionism." The PAS defines
their own unionist strategy as "collective action; on-going, critical
analysis of real social development; direct action, which requires each
person to be a responsible activist in struggle; the continual oversight
and immediate recallability of all brothers and sisters who take on
leading roles in elective bodies."
Given the existing conditions, Chilean anarchists are forced to carry
out an underground struggle. And the requirements of this struggle have
imposed on them the "choice" of a secure type of organization.
Collective decision-making takes absolute precedence over spontaneous
actions by individuals. None of the PAS militants can permit themselves
the luxury of individual political initiatives, which may endanger the
safety of the other members.
In a document worked out in Nov. '82, the PAS analysed the current
situation of the Pinochet regime. They concluded that the junta has
marched to a crossroads. They must either accept bourgeois democracy and
a new capitalist social consensus or else heighten the potential for a
new Chilean revolution by continuing on the road of intensified
oppression and exploitation. Without pretending to have a crystal ball,
the PAS militants feel that an attempt at re-establishing bourgeois
democracy is most likely. Even if this direction is taken by the junta
and the bourgeoisie, it will not undermine the movement to destroy
capitalism. The PAS feels that it may simply lead to a greater
explosion, as the revolutionary movement re-emerges into the open, as
the flame hits fresh air.
The PAS is decidedly opposed to all so-called "democratic" politicians,
who would make deals with the junta while they ride on the backs of the
people.
The PAS appeals for the further development of the autonomy of the
people in their unions and neighborhood groups, in the struggle against
the junta.
"No to Fascism! No to Phony Bourgeois Solutions! Strengthen the Popular
Organizations! The people must organize themselves to fight for a
socialist, revolutionary and free Chile!"