Santiago
Along with the strengthening of the right wing inside the Unidad Popular government a strengthening of fascism is also occurring.
Of the two best-known organizations that represent fascism in Chile, Patria y Libertad [Fatherland and Freedom] and "Rolando Matus," it is the former that might have pretensions of being respectable.
Its full name is Frente Nacionalista Patria y Libertad [Nationalist Front for Fatherland and Freedom]. It was formed two years ago. Its founder and general secretary, Roberto Thieme, died in an accident last February 23 while (in the words of his cothinkers) "carrying out a patrol in the province of Concepción." Another of its "heroes," Héctor Castillo Fuentealba, is honored as having been "murdered by a socialist activist in Chillán on December 20, 1972."
This group has a higher degree of organization, discipline, armed preparation, and determination than any other Chilean party, whether of the left or the right.
In spite of its small size, it has publie headquarters (no one knows how many clandestine ones) and a newspaper, Patria y Libertad. Its "swastika" is a stylized spider.
It has already carried out many "actions," primarily against squatters in marginal areas, in cases where hoarding of goods had been uncovered, or when homeless persons have taken over unused land. In these cases, or when certain factories have been occupied, members of the group have functioned as shock troops for the capitalists. They also carried out a great deal of activity during the election campaign, storming the headquarters of left-wing parties or using firearms to attack propaganda teams of these parties. On such occasions, they were joined by members of other right-wing parties, such as the National party and the Christian Democ- гасу.
Patria y Libertad feels that "there is no political solution" for the present situation in Chile.
At the end of March it stated:
"With this second anniversary, we are holding the first national gathering of our leaders, with provincial heads from the entire country also in attendance. This will be the best opportunity for us to redouble our faith in nationalism and to prepare ourselves, with greater self-sacrifice than ever, for the great battle that awaits us in the immediate future. Every day brings the day of liberation closer. This is a day not to be waited for but to fight for. It will be we nationalists who will return dignity, freedom, and a future to our captive fatherland."
The gathering was dubbed the Expanded National Council. The main agreement reached was operation SACO [Sistema de Acción Civica Organizada - System of Organized Civic Action]. The internal document explaining this operation could not be kept secret- or (more likely) Patria y Libertad "leaked" it so that it would be given wide circulation.
The following are the main points of the "black commands," as they are now known:
• For professionals who work in the Social Sector of the economy (companies that have been taken over by the state):
"Make a brief report on the firm's financing and the banks where money is deposited, as well as the persons in charge of the depositing, and to the extent possible on the firm's monthly financial status. ... Draw up a list of stocks and supplies, and the names of the respective importers and the usual suppliers. ••• Draw up a list of the kind of machines that are used, detailing the sources of energy, water, or fuel and the emergency electrical plants. ...
"Do not teach their technological methods or their codes. ... Do not report their experiments to the UP. ... Do not train anyone in the UP. ... Remove plans and manuals dealing with their projected and present operations and maintenance, and in cases where this is not possible, create chaos in the archives. If you are involved in planning, raise the margin of certainty for every estimate and quantity. ... Call for the maximum possible number of accessories, and the minimum possible amount of information [memory]. ... Increase the personnel involved in 'dead work,' administrative aides, day laborers, and service personnel, without rationalizing activities or mechanizing the work that is performed...."
• For private contractors:
"Under legal pretexts, let the contracts of Marxist workers or employees lapse if they are constantly attempting to form cells that are pre- May 7, 1973
disago
ALLENDE: Can his "moderation" cope with growing fascist threat?
paring to take over the company.... Industrialists will have to win over their workers through pledges that involve small cost to the company... Lunch, coffee break, etc., and small breakfasts for those who live furthest away. ... Work shoes, vacation retreats, emergency funds, scholarships for children of the most outstanding workers, free time for going to school, help in paying for books and for enrolling to obtain training....
"The industrialist will have to do business preferentially, and later exclusively, with the democratic clients included on the list provided by the coordination center...