Build Soldiers Commissions
One of the results of the radicalization of the soldiers in Portugal today has been a questioning of the structures established by the MFA (Armed Forces Movement) in the barracks. For irstance, the ADU (Assembly of Unit Delegates — see INPRECOR, No. 35, October 9, Interview With a SUV Soldier) in the RALIS (Lisbon Light Artillery Regiment) has called for the creation of soldiers" commissions. This slogan, put forward in the manifesto of the SUV (IN-
PRECOR, No.35) is increasingly tending to be put into practice. We publish below a motion empowered to negotiate. When Fabião arrived on October 14 he reaffirmed what he had told our delegation: "Gentlemen, I am with you ideologically, but you almost got me removed by the Council of the Revolution. If you win, I will be finished; If you lose I'm the one who will have to get you." Nevertheless, he had retreated a little between October 11 and October 14. He agreed to reconstitute the CICAP in another barracks and not to apply any sanctions against the comrades in struggle. Obviously, he offered no date. As a sort of gift, he committed himself to set up - in the old barracks - a battalion that would be demagogically baptized "April 25 Battalion." Finally, he agreed to reintegrate the comrades of the CICAP, who were on indefinite leave, after an inquiry was conducted. The reformists jumped at this offer and raised the cry: Victory! Victory! It is a saying in Portugal today: "Victory, victory, the story is over. " But that's only a dream. In reality, the story is far from over, the struggle is continuing. The soldiers rapidly understood that they could not leave their struggle in the hands of a general and leave their fate to be decided by the shifting relationship of forces among various factions of officers. Fabião made his RALIS: adopted by the ADU in the RALIS barracks. The ADU of RAL IS, meeting on October 9, 1975, considering that the attacks on progressive units and the purges against the left constitute the elements of an atfack launched by the forces of the right aiming at the return of fascism; considering that against this reactionary offensive in the barracks only the independent organization of the soldiers throughout the country can provide an effective response safeguarding the interests of the exploited and oppressed, decides: 1. To demand the immediate reopening of the CICAP proposals and threatened to charge everybody with insubordination if they rejected them; then he quickly left the barracks before general assembly could be held to democratically decide on an answer. A little while later, a general assembly was organized and decided to accept the proposals, but to continue the struggle until all our demands are met. As of now, a limit of ten days has been set for Fabião's inquiry. During this time, we will mobilize in all the barracks to hold a general assembly of the RASP on October 24. This assembly will examine the situation and decide how to continue the struggle. Already, comrades who participated in the struggle are being hit with expulsion measures, which indicates how much the hierarchy intends to honor the agreement. The struggle of the CICAP takes on an exemplary aspect in face of the measures of massive removal of militia soldiers that the hierarchy wants to take now. Concurrently, the hierarchy is planning on using volunteers (ex-commandos) and on strengthening the police (the PSP-GNR). To end up, this struggle also points out the necessity of extending and structuring a real independent movement of soldiers on a national scale. That in itself is an important gain of our struggle. (Instruction Center for Military Vehicle Drivers in Porto); 2. To demand the reintegration into the CICAP of all the soldiers, including the seven who were initially expelled; 3. To call upon the soldier comrades of all units to hold general assemblies of soldiers and to elect soldiers' commissions in order to create an independent organization of soldiers on a national scale. For the immediate reopening of the CICAP! No purges against the left! Workers, peasants, soldiers, and sailors, united we will win! Forward toward the independent organization of the soldiers!
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