"THE BATTLE OF CHILE" "The struggle of an unarmed people a Patricio Guzmán Film" "In memory of Jorge Müller Silva" "Part One:" "THE INSURRECTION OF THE BOURGEOISIE" "Six months before the bombing of the La Moneda palace the Chilean people are voting to renew Parliament." "The political forces are divided in two blocks." "On one side, the center right opposition made up by the Christian Democrat and National parties." "On the other, the left wing parties grouped together in Popular Unity and supporting Salvador Allende." "The left, united, will never be defeated!" "Synch!" "The left, united, will never be defeated!" "Cut!" "Clapper!" "Sir, who do you think will win the elections on Sunday?" "Well, I'm apolitical." "Ma'am, who do you think will win?" "The opposition has to win." " The opposition?" "Yes." " By what percentage?" " I've got no idea." "Frei!" "Jarpa!" "Labbé!" "All three are rubbish!" "Frei!" "Jarpa!" "Labbé!" "All three are rubbish!" "Who will you be voting for in the elections?" "For Volodia Teitelboim and Eliana Aranibar." "How do you see the future?" "We'll continue to progress but we must keep fighting much more than we have done." "What can I say about Frei?" "When he was in government" "I lived in a shack that was falling down." "It was damp all the time and my four children had bronchopneumonia." "I asked everywhere for help and nobody listened to me." "But now, wherever I go, I'm seen to and thanks to Allende, I've got a lovely house." "I don't have many comforts, but we don't go hungry." "I'm retired." "I'm retired." "No government has ever done what this government has." " Who's going to win?" " Popular Unity because the workers have to decide Chile's fate." "What do you think of the Christian Democracy?" "I think that the Christian Democracy is a party which has always defended the interests of its class but never the interests of the working class." "Thank you." "Over there, Flaco." "Film the drinks seller." "Excuse me, comrade." "Comrade, who's going to win on Sunday?" " I couldn't say." " You couldn't say?" "No, sir." " I've got no idea." "Do you read the papers?" "Not a lot." " Who'll win on Sunday?" " We will, the PU." " We've got the majority." " We'll get 45%." "Popular Unity is going to win by an overwhelming amount." "It's the workers' government, the people's government." "The people have seen the benefits that socialism brings for all the citizens." "Thank you, comrade." "Cut!" "Sir, what percentage do you give to Popular Unity?" "The truth is" "Popular Unity is going to win because we started out in 1970 with 36% and at the present time, with all that we've seen and the people who are with comrade Salvador Allende" "we're guaranteed to get 43% and more." "43% and more." "Good afternoon, ladies." "Who will you vote for?" "I'm voting for Volodia Teitelboim and Eliana Aranibar." "What percentage do you give Popular Unity?" "Over 40%." " And the food shortage?" " I don't think there is one." "I haven't lost an ounce of weight!" "Recording!" "Sir, what do you think about the elections?" "Popular Unity are going to get less than 20%." "How do you see the future?" "Whatever happens, we'll still have lots of problems." "Sir, what do you think about the elections?" " Leave me alone." " Thank you." "What do you think about the elections?" "The opposition will win, especially the National Party." "And the future?" "Chile has to rise up with freedom and democracy." "Sir, what do you think about the elections on Sunday?" "I think it's a plebiscite and on Sunday Chile is going to decide if it wants Marxism or freedom." "How do you view the future, after the elections?" "The only solution is a change of government." " Do you believe in elections?" " Yes, of course." "Sir, what do you think about the elections on Sunday?" "I think that the Popular Front is going to get a hammering and it's going to be wiped out." " Do you believe in elections?" " Yes, absolutely." "What percentages for Popular Unity and the National Party?" "30% and 70%." " How do you see the future?" " The future?" "Chile's always had a promising future." " Thank you." " You're welcome." "Ma'am, what's your position as regards the elections?" "Jarpa and Alessandri." " What's your preference?" " The National Party." "Do you believe in elections or in other methods?" "I think there has to be a firm line." "There must never be any question of playing with the people." "How do you view the future, after the elections?" "We have to work hard to rebuild Chile." " Sir, who will you be voting for?" " For Jarpa." "And who'll win the elections?" "The opposition will, easily." " And with what percentage?" "65% at least." "And what will happen in Chile then?" "The government will have to respect the majority." "Do you believe in elections or in other methods?" " Elections." " Thank you." "They should impeach the President!" " What?" "They should impeach him and throw him out on May 21!" "He's destroyed the country, ruined it and this is a corrupt, degenerate government!" "Degenerate, corrupt, filthy!" "All those dirty communists should get out of Chile!" "On May 21, thank God, we'll have the cleanest, finest government we've ever had!" "Democracy will win and we'll get rid of those rotten Marxist communists!" "Who do you prefer among the opposition?" "Candidates?" "Jarpa and Gustavo Alessandri." "And what percentage?" "My idea would be 100% but really I think it'll be around 70%." "Power to the workers!" "Comrade, what's your opinion about the elections?" "I say Popular Unity will win." "And to hell with the "mummies" on the right!" "We'll win with Popular Unity." "Here and everywhere else." "The "mummies" can drop dead!" "Power to the workers!" "What do you think about the elections?" "We have to fight to get a big majority." "We who can see things very clearly realize that the only way to get power given that we've got the government is by winning the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate." "What it really means is getting a bit more power more power for the class." "But, even so it isn't the definitive solution." "We believe that one election more or less won't solve the problem and avoid the civil war." "The civil war is inevitable and fundamental." "And it's going to happen, because at present the classes are becoming more and more polarized." "On one side, the bourgeoisie, on the other, the proletariat." "That confrontation will come." "Forward without compromise!" "As usual, the armed forces guarantee order during the elections." "The opposition votes, confident of victory." "With a two thirds majority in Parliament it could remove President Allende by impeaching him." "For that, they need more than 60% of the votes." "For Popular Unity, this is the first ballot with all the opposition forces since the presidential victory in 1970." "It's also a chance to measure their electoral strength after two years of an economic boycott imposed by Washington, and internal opposition." "On Sunday, March 4 at 8:00 a. m., voting has started." "Good afternoon, ma'am." "We're doing interviews for Channel 13." "We'd like to know your views and who you think will win." " We're sorry to bother you." " No, it's no bother." "I like Baltra." "I voted for him." " Baltra?" " Yes." "What do you think the percentages will be?" " Do you want to come in?" " Yes, if we may." "Sir, we're doing interviews for Channel 13." "Could you tell us how you think the percentages will be?" " I don't know, I don't vote." " You don't?" " You've got no preference?" " None." "You said you voted for Baltra." "At what time?" "It's Channel 13." "No, I voted for Jarpa." " You voted for Jarpa?" " Yes." " At what time did you vote?" " At 11:00 a. m." " In what commune?" " The National Stadium." "What do you think of the elections today?" "I think it's great and I think that democracy is going to win." "What do you think will happen in the future in Chile?" "Everything will be sorted out and we'll rebuild Chile." "Do you think the President should be removed or not?" "I couldn't say, but all this has to be sorted out." "What did you think of Jarpa's meeting here two days ago?" "Fantastic!" "I saw it from here." "Did it really catch your attention?" "Of course!" "The crowds and the enthusiasm and all very orderly." "Well, I thought it was great, and we're going to win!" "And what about the alliance with Christian Democracy?" "I think it's splendid, really good." "You feel happy about that alliance?" "Yes, I do, because I think it'll fix everything." "Thank you very much." "At 5:00 p. m., the first results start to come in." "The Interior Minister, Genera Carlos Prats ensures the maximum guarantees of honesty for all the sectors." "Nevertheless, before the count is finished some media are announcing a victory for the opposition." "They don't say that over 40% of the votes are for the left." "The opposition, who never doubted their victory celebrate the supposed end of Popular Unity." "What do you think of the elections?" "We're winning!" "We've got over 60%!" "What do you think of the elections?" "Fantastic!" "But we were bound to win!" "Sir, what do you" "Great!" "I'm Argentinean and I'm delighted that Frei has won!" "It's terrific!" "Chile needs a few more Freis." "Over here!" "Come on, Flaco, move it!" " How do you feel about it?" " It's a great victory!" "It's a fantastic success!" "We're delighted!" "How do you see the future?" "A plebiscite, and we'll win the elections." "Allende will have to leave Chile immediately." " Would you impeach him?" " Yes, of course." "Anyway, so long!" "What do you think about today's elections?" "It's a triumph for democracy and Chile will always be free!" " What will happen now?" " God forbid anything does." "All we ask is that Chile is always free!" "Are you in favor of impeaching Allende?" " Yes, sir." " Yes." "You don't think that could cause a civil war?" " It doesn't matter." " We've got the majority." "What do you think of the election?" "We finally beat those bastards!" "What do you think of the election?" "Very good, magnificent." "I'd just like to say that it's really wonderful." "The PU ended up in the garbage to put it politely!" " Who was your favorite?" " Frei." "I am Alfonso Carrasco Cerda president of the Bank of Chile retirement club." "I believe that we have defended democracy and freedom in Chile." "Would you like to say anything else?" "Yes!" "Greetings to all the people who have helped to free our country." "After midnight, the final results spread confusion among the opposition." "The dreamed-of number of votes evaporates in disaster." "Against all predictions" "Popular Unity doesn't only not lose electoral support it increases it." "Rejecting the calculations, one sector of the opposition talks of fraud and sends its troublemakers onto the street." "A few days later, the Election Examination Tribunal controlled by the opposition is obliged to confirm the official results." "The opposition parties are very far from the 2/3 they'd dreamed of in order to remove Salvador Allende." "Popular Unity increase to 43.4% of the votes and increase their numbers in Parliament." "They obtain unprecedented support after two and a half years in office." "For the opposition the swearing-in of the new deputies marks the end of the electoral phase." "Honorable deputies do you swear or promise to protect the Constitution of the State and defend, in the exercise of your duties its true interests?" "Yes, we do." "I hereby declare you incorporated." "The aims of the present session being completed it is now adjourned." "From now on, the White House and the Chilean opposition realize that the mechanisms of representative democracy are of no use to them." "The votes won by the Government coalition show that the desire for social change has not decreased, despite the millions of dollars invested by the North American government." "After March, the strategy of the democratic opposition will be, paradoxically, that of the coup d'état." "HOARDING AND THE BLACK MARKET" "Thanks to a complaint lodged by a neighbor it was discovered that here in 319 Copiap Street the following stocks were being hoarded." "20 tons of sugar, 400 boxes of toilet rolls 500 boxes of detergent, 100 boxes of Nescafé" "100 boxes of condensed milk, 50 boxes of salmon large amounts of rice." "This will be sold to the neighbors in this sector a large number of whom are gathered here." "I'd say this sale will last for approximately three days." "The Government strengthens the Councils for Provisions and Prices." "In theory, these are local organizations to supervise food distribution and report any speculating by shopkeepers." "When the Councils discover any hoarding the Government intervenes and the products are put on sale." "In the warehouse belonging to Mrs. Moreno Díaz the following goods were found." "310 packets of tea 2 boxes of"350"" "53 boxes of baby food." "All of it had been eaten by mice." "I bought detergent and two little packets of tea because I didn't have any more money with me." "I couldn't buy any more." "Well, I've got ten children and I have to waste the whole morning looking" "We have to put an end to the black market." "We have to close the shops and jail the owners." "We have to do that to scare those people so they stop speculating." "I think there are lots of provisions." "Look at how often we've seen in the newspapers here about all the tons of sugar, all that stuff that's hoarded." "In March, there are 3,000 COPPs in all of Chile." "In some cases, they introduce ration cards in order to improve distribution" "What's the card?" "Can we see it?" "It's my ration card." "I've got 14 rations." "I've got 2 stock cubes marked down." "No, 4 cubes, when they arrive." "If more come, they give you more." "It's all rationed." "Coffee, milk, everything." "Can you get by on that?" "Yes, we can get by." "And if we don't then we try to buy other things instead." "Will we collect the the vegetables you bought?" "The main aims of the opposition are to disrupt food supplies exhaust the reserve stocks and sabotage harvests so as to increase the scarcity of basic necessities." "Is there any oil?" "I don't know if there's any today but I got oil three days ago." "Would you like to say anything to other comrades?" "We're making a documentary." "I'll put up with everything that happens so that at least my children can have a better future." "I approve of this government." " Would you like to say more?" " No, that's all, thank you." "PARLIAMENTARY BO YCOTT" "For the opposition, the example of the COPPs is getting dangerous." "Congress begins an indictment against Orlando Millas the minister who promoted the COPPs." "The opposition is using its simple majority in Congress to discredit the government." "Here are all the documents which record the accusations." "In this case, to comply with the regulation procedures the opposition appoints one of its deputies to interrogate a neighbor, a member of the COPPS." "What do they actually do?" "How does this organization COPP work?" "As I think I already said" "COPP is an organization of people, residents, workers, housewives who join together and, by a group decision are given the authority to control, or rather to oversee if there are sufficient provisions or not in their neighborhood." "That's what I'm trying to get you to explain to me." " Yes." " You understand?" "I'm just trying to guide you." "That doesn't mean that I'm trying to get you to say something." "I like to be very honest in my dealings." "If I can just explain, I think that the function of this organization COPP is to fulfill the role of ensuring that people receive sufficient provisions for all the family groups living in the neighborhood." "Although the opposition fails to prove anything the accusation is maintained." "The procedure will be repeated with other top officials." "The ministers either give in or are expelled." "Through the accusations the opposition provokes a conflict of powers between Parliament and the President of the Republic." "In all the cases, a representative of the left will demonstrate the legal fragility of the accusations." "Consequently the Minister of State is only responsible for his actions to the President of the Republic." "And he cannot be subordinated, as regards the appropriateness of his actions to the view of the majority in Congress." "That political judgment is only granted to the President of the Republic." "In the specific case of Mr. Millas" "Minister of the Economy, who is being indicted here the process of indictment cannot be used to pass judgment on the provisions policy promoted by the minister on his price control policy or on the way in which he is guiding" "the work of production, provisioning and genera distribution of the Chilean economy." "Therefore not only is this indictment invalid, ineffective and illegal it is an indictment which adulterates, disregards and violates the area which the Constitution grants to the President as regards his essential prerogatives and authority." "Days later, in the Chamber of Deputies the vote is held on expelling Minister Millas." "In a period of three months, the opposition remove two of Allende's intendants and seven of his ministers." "That is, one high ranking Popular Unity official every ten days." "And they refuse to let us use the laws which they had in their hands and used against the people." "But then when we do it to defend the legitimate government and the progress of the workers an attitude of resistance appears in those sectors which have all the guarantees" "of the reality being experienced by our country." "And this is a government which isn't socialist." "It is a popular, democratic national, revolutionary government which must carry out a program to open, as broadly and as quickly as possible the path to socialism and the transformation of our society." "LEGALITY OR ILLEGALITY" "GOVERNMENT MUST RESPECT COURT DECISION" "Shortly after, the opposition begins an indictment against all the ministers in the government." "This means the dismissal of 15 ministers at one time." "However, popular pressure forces one sector of the opposition to pull back and the maneuver fails." "It's the right who've always been interfering trying to get us to bring down the government." "But that'll never happen." "The workers elected this government and it will continue and we'll defend it with our lives if necessary." "If they want us on the street, we'll be there and if we have to fight, we'll fight, as workers in defense of our workers' democracy." "On April 17 the government decides to expropriate legally another 49 industries which are boycotting production." "In reply, Congress presents a constitutional reform which invalidates almost all expropriations already made." "The Christian Democracy and the National Party say that the Head of State has no right of veto in this." "He has to promulgate the reform and hand back the factories without argument." "This means that Congress, by simple majority wants to deprive Salvador Allende of an authority which other Chilean leaders had." "Those men on the right are getting huge salaries and all they're doing is wrecking the country." "Wrecking the country and getting well paid to do it!" "And we got a big surprise when we saw that our factory, our workplace had been completely dismantled because those gentlemen had stolen all the machinery." "We don't want to have anything to do with the bosses." "They've been dragging their feet for a long time to such an extent that the companies ended up being expropriated." "It's been proved that the industrialists here had started an open boycott on production." "And we're against that." "I want this to be sorted out." "The government should expropriate the industry because we can't work with the bosses." "What did they call this factory?" "They called it "the jail"" "because of the feudal mentality that our bosses had." "And fellow workers in other industries called it "the Santa Elena jail" because of the pressure." "On May 23, Eduardo Frei" "Christian Democrat and ex-President of Chile is elected Head of the Senate." "One of his main tasks will be to aggravate the conflict of powers." "If Allende rejects the reform and doesn't return the industries he'll be accused of overstepping the constitution." "If he accepts, Parliament will then have effective control of the State." "Allende considers this position to be illegal and appeals to the Constitutional Tribunal." "We understand that at this moment what is fundamental" "is to reinforce government policy and conquer the instruments ensuring that there is institutional permeability so that the opposition understands that they can't deny what is vital to a government" "to be able to defend Chile in the face of an economic reality which is the result, not of errors made by us without denying the ones we've made but of international and national factors which weigh heavy especially when a government, like ours" "is confronted with imperialism and with a landowning, banking and feudal oligarchy." "Those deputies who reject the proposal, raise their hands." "Parliament will now seek a definitive blockade of the government." "In the months of April, May and June" "Congress declares a boycott on any initiative by Popular Unity." "Result of the voting." "In favor, 52 votes." "Against, 81." "The Executive's proposal is rejected." "The law to punish economic crimes is rejected." "The law to create a Ministry for the Family is rejected." "The law on readjustments and salaries for workers is deferred, and then got out of the way." "The law on workers' participation in factories is rejected." "The law to create a Maritime Ministry is rejected." "The law to set up self- managing firms is rejected." "In the course of several months another 20 projected laws lose their financing." "Nationalism!" "Present!" "Nationalism!" "Forward!" " National Front!" " Homeland and Freedom!" "This is a shock squadron from the fascist group, "Homeland and Freedom"." " Chile!" " One!" " Chile!" " Great!" " Chile!" " Free!" "Forward Chile!" " National Front!" " Homeland and Freedom!" "Institutional conflict alone is not enough to justify a coup d'état." "It is also necessary to provoke violence and social chaos." "That is the main aim of this organization." ""Homeland and Freedom" constitutes a tiny part of the right-wing mass movement but its fascist ideology is found in some opposition parties and the armed forces." "Its leaders and ideologists include former employees of the U.S. information services in Chile." "Its patrons are the big employers' associations the National Agriculture Society and Manufacturing Development." "But their biggest helper is the North American State Department." "In 1974, some ex-officials of that Department reveal that at that time the CIA had 40 first-class agents in Chile many of them instructors for "Homeland and Freedom"." "STUDENT DISTURBANCES" "In April, the opposition find a pretext for continuing the social agitation." "The Government has presented a bill on Education Reform to democratize the old educational structure." "Feeling itself threatened the opposition mobilizes its troublemakers." "For the first time in Chile, a large number of students let themselves be used by the more privileged classes." "The opposition parties, professionals and retailers' associations support the street disturbances." "We won't be on the defensive anymore." "We won't be the puppets of reaction anymore." "Because from here on, comrades we have to make the questions into reality." "And we have to tackle conflictive problems." "And we have to attack whoever gets in our way." "And we're not going on the streets to fight with right-wing kids." "The police and the soldiers can see to them and put them out of action." "We have to see how to confront the State." "It's a bourgeois State which we have to overthrow." "Yesterday we saw various groups making demands for different things and using class comrades, the Chilean reaction in what were really subversive situations." "In other words, what comrades think about the distribution situation about the law on agrarian reform about the nationalization of monopolies." "Those are fundamental questions which we, as workers, should consider and which we wish to resolve with a plebiscite and not be dragged along by the reactionaries with effective mobilization of the workers." "We can't accept this escalation day after day." "We've been observing this situation and we said in October that they were going to prepare another one." "They're repeating themselves, they don't even have the initiative to change what they did in October." "And we, the workers, must go out now and stop these people for once and for all and demand a plebiscite on fundamental issues." "How are we going to resolve the transport problem?" "Every time they have to attack the government they bring transport to a standstill, don't they?" "Because they control the drivers." "Most of the drivers have no class awareness." "They aren't in any union." "All they worry about is their percentage how much they'll earn." "They don't go to union meetings." "So there aren't many unions doing well in transport." "Even the ones doing well are doing badly." "Given the threat of a national commercial stoppage next week there should be immediate nationalization of distribution monopolies." "Given the threat of a boycott on production and economy the government must issue an expropriation order against those companies which form part of the group of 90 still not in the hands of the workers." "The working class should be integrated immediately into the planning of the economy." "There is no doubt that at this moment the resolutions must deal with the problems in the transport section." "We, the workers in the Public Works Department have, at this moment, got everyone ready to march and parade past Congress." "Any objections to that?" " To Parliament!" " To Parliament!" "We ask our comrades in the Public Works Department if they can obtain means of transport, trucks, vans in order to transport groups of workers who will be leaving the factories." "There are trucks and buses, comrade." "The left, united, will never be defeated!" "On April 27, the Trades Union Council calls a mass meeting in support of the government." "They try, by means of the workers' presence to prevent the streets of Santiago from being taken by opposition agitators." "Power to the workers!" "We want popular power!" "The left, united, will never be defeated!" "People!" "Consciousness!" "Arms!" "We want popular power!" "Demonstrators passing the offices of the Christian Democrat Party are suddenly attacked." "Shots fired from the windows kill one worker and seriously injure another six." "The people who provoked us are responsible for this." " And the dead and wounded?" " Who are they?" "Where are they?" "One person was shot dead and six wounded." "We saw it all." "Are we supposed to let people come and walk over us?" "Who protected us?" "You're justifying that death." "And you're speaking in the Christian Democrat offices!" "You can't push me around in the Christian Democrat offices!" "Senator, why did you hit a journalist?" "Fascists!" "Where did they fire from?" "At what time?" "That isn't clear." "It's being investigated." "Anyway it's the magistrate who's in charge here." "In this case the police and everything to do with public order is subject to the magistrate and the court." "That's what the code on penal procedure says." "The influence of the violent groups is obvious in the Christian Democrat Party." "Senator Juan Hamilton, from the party's conservative wing refuses to make a statement." " A moment's silence, comrades!" " Everyone keep calm!" "Everyone move back a bit, please, move back!" "We're all right here!" " Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada!" " Present!" " Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada!" " Present!" " With your example" " We shall overcome!" "Please, comrades, don't push!" "Don't push!" "Popular Unity against the criminal "mummies"!" "Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada!" "Present!" " Who killed him?" " The "mummies"." "300,000 people turn up on April 30 to say farewell to the dead worker." "Reckoning that conditions still aren't right the opposition ends this period of street disorder." "The attempts to punish those responsible for Ahumada's death are unsuccessful." "Justice acts with obvious slowness." "The Supreme Court ensures that the sentence is never enforced." "OFFENSIVE BY THE EMPLO YERS' ORGANIZATIONS" "Once again, our organization is gathered together summoned by the national leaders to study price increases and establish our new tariffs." "Our first speaker is the president of Chile's National Confederation of Taxis and Buses, Ernesto Cisterna Solís." " An eye for an eye!" " A tooth for a tooth!" "I think that this assembly should say to the minister that we are tired of seeing such ineffectiveness and such inability in solving our problems." "During the three years of Popular Unity the American Institute for Free Trade Unionism financed indirectly by the CIA directs its work towards the Chilean organizations." "In April, 108 managers mainly from the transport sector receive training in the United States." "We mustn't confuse awareness with patience." "We don't want politics with the tariffs or with the organization but we need to survive." "We have to defend our interests and to do that we must fight as one man with our National Board of Owners and go out on the street in such a way that they see us and feel the strength of our organization" "with bravery, with fervor but above all else as Chileans, and with dignity." "We can't keep on patching and mending and wearing ourselves out." "The vehicles have got old and the bent backs of many of the owners have grown old too!" "Generations of them!" "It's a matter of putting food on the table of surviving, of holding out of being able to save this sector because with that we are saving the jobs of millions of people who have faith and confidence in this working man" "in this ill-treated transporter." "He's the person who's building Chile!" "He's the revolutionary!" "Who can deny that the moment has come for the entire Chilean transport sector without distinction fighting on a single platform to propose this national stoppage!" "In May, one third of collective transport is immobilized by a lack of spare parts from North America." "In 1973, importations from the United States drop to 15% of the total." "To protest against this state of affairs but also to aggravate it the owners of private buses call an indefinite strike." "During the conflict, the state company, with only 600 vehicles has to do the work normally done by Santiago's 5,000 private buses." "To help ease the effects of the strike workers bring factory trucks onto the streets." "What do you think of the strike?" "We all have to fight so that the government can have confidence thanks to the workers." "We must fight the strike." " How do we do that?" " By staying united." " How far did you walk?" " About 70 blocks, with my two kids." " What do you say?" " I think that this is the moment when the people have to demonstrate the capacity for struggle which they have developed in the course of this whole process." "And it doesn't matter what kind of sacrifice we have to make as long as we can keep working and producing." "Anyone else want to speak?" "The "mummies" are waging this campaign against us." "We're living on very poor wages but the workers must have faith in this and be aware." "What do you say?" "I'm a student and I think they're trying to paralyze the country by any means they can." "In case of a possible total transport stoppage the left-wing carriers join together and create the Patriotic Recovery Movement." "Because of their support of President Allende they are attacked for being blacklegs." "I will respond to the loyalty of the people with the loyalty of a militant socialist and as president of Chile" "I will resolutely carry through the program of Popular Unity." "We need better and greater control in the distribution of produce." "Listen carefully." "This is for those who believe that I hesitate at times." "We must strengthen popular power centers for mothers, neighborhood groups the Councils for Provisions and Prices the community commandos." "They must be strengthened!" "The industrial belts must be strengthened not as parallel forces to the government but as popular forces united with the forces of your government the popular government." "On May 28, retired officers of the high command send a public letter to President Allende stating that the armed forces will consider themselves autonomous should the government violate the constitution." "Shortly before, the high command had spoken out against the proposed educational reforms." "On that occasion, Rear Admiral IsmaeI Huerta declared" ""We cannot accept that future soldiers arrive at the barracks converted into Marxists. "" "Since 1950, more than 4,000 officers have been on training courses in the U.S and in the Panama Canal area." "Over the two and a half years of Allende's government the Pentagon has given them" "45 million dollars in military aid." "That is, more than a third of all the aid received in the last 20 years." "COPPER STRIKE" "For the first time the opposition wins over a sector of the proletariat." "In the "El Teniente" mine a group of workers go on strike for economic reasons." "Traditionally well paid the copper miners are the aristocracy of Chile's workers." "For the opposition the aim of the conflict is to paralyze the mine." "20% of Chile's earnings are produced here." "Fellow workers, as well as Channel 13 television we have French Television with us." "Comrades, hold up your employment cards." "Let's show them that we're all workers here." ""El Teniente", united, will never be defeated!" "First, let's solve the problems of the "El Teniente" workers and then, if there's money left we can solve the other problems in the country." "But the people we represent come first then the rest of the country." "That's all, thank you." "We want a solution!" "We requested permission from the union leaders to use this stage." "As workers for Popular Unity we disagree with the methods you're using." "We have said at all times that above all other things the most important is workers' unity." "We defend it here and within the party alliance of Popular Unity." "You will be wondering why we're here." "We support a return to work but not in factions." "Comrades" "We support a return to work" "Comrades" "Comrades" "We can't accept that you continue to use the policy of division." "No politics here!" "No politics here!" "Strike!" "Strike!" "That same day, and at the same time more than half of the 8,000 miners continue working." "Most of them work overtime to ensure that the basic work in the mine is done." "Caletones has a staff of almost 2,000 workers between office staff and laborers." "And today, we've got 750 workers working." "So the industrial part is almost normal." "And that means that tomorrow, or Monday there will be total normality." "What should be pointed out here is that there is a sector which is fighting against a wall." "Their thesis is completely out of all jurisdiction." "Even history shows that the workers here fought tirelessly against the Yankee until we took the industry from him, nationalized it and now it's Chile's." "It belongs to the Chileans, not to any individual." "But it's our responsibility to run it." "The workers are assuming an almost total awareness." "It is only those in opposition who insist on believing that there are left-wing bosses here." "No, there aren't." "The Christian Democracy has got trade union representation here and a representative on the Board of Directors." "So we're asking the left-wing media, especially Channel 7 who have given very little importance to those still working to come and see for themselves so that they'll stop lying." "You've started very well, for a simple reason." "You've all come here to film, and that's important." "But the press, Channel 13, "El Mercurio"" "all those papers, are just looking at Rancagua city." "They think that's "El Teniente", and that's bad." "Those of us who are working at present need this situation to be sorted out not for the personal benefit of the workers but for the benefit of all Chileans." "You can take any worker here and ask him." "Ask any of them." "Do you think you're dividing the "El Teniente" workers?" "No, none of us want to divide them." "It's the enemy who's dividing us." " The enemy?" " The right." "They want us to fight among ourselves." "The other day, the strike leader said that if blood had to flow, blood would flow." "They want confrontation." "We have never, at any moment, wanted to divide the workers." "The fact of the matter is, I'm 43 now and I've spent a long time, 27 years, in the mines." "I've seen all the governments we had before and they all acted very harshly with the working classes." "As that comrade said, I think this government has been soft." "It's soft because it's a workers' government." "But if we'd had a government of another tendency at this moment a few of us would be dead and there wouldn't be many left-wing comrades here." "They'd all be right-wing." "We received threats, they blocked the roads we couldn't get down the other day but we turned up for work." "We came down on foot, went cross-country but at least we managed to keep working." "There were even comrades who worked three shifts because you have to keep the mine going." "We had agreed to keep on working because there are certain machines which can't be allowed to stop." "This job's got a lot of responsibility." "We've got a lot of comrades who still don't know why they're stopped." "They don't know." "That's a fact." "They're fighting with the police because some guy sets himself up as leader and he puts on a show for them and they follow him like he was Christ." "I think we have to make our fellow workers more aware and that's what our leaders have to start doing now." "That's the reason behind everything." "How can you prepare people?" "Well, just by doing what we're doing now acting as we are in this stoppage." "I think I'm behaving well." "I'm responsible for what I do." "I'm independent, I don't have any political party." "My interest is in working for the progress of Chile not for my pocket." "I'm aware that if I have a good wage then it's only fair that other workers should have a good wage too." "Today, over 400 workers have turned up." "On the 3:00-11:00 shift, we had over 300." "It's getting back to normal." "The number of workers turning up at their job goes up to 61 % on May 7." "The mine's trains are working day and night." "Strike!" "Strike!" "The strikers, encouraged by the opposition reject two settlement proposals and demand a doubling of salary readjustments." "Why are you striking?" "We're demanding the 41 % that the company owes us." "How many days has it been?" "It's been 21 days now." "What's going to happen?" "It'll have to be settled today or tomorrow." "Is this to do with unions or with politics?" "It's never had anything to do with politics." "There's never been a politician or a minister or a deputy involved in this." "We're just workers defending our rights." "And I think we have to win because we elected our President so that he'd defend workers' rights not so that he'd come and criticize us when we ask for something." " You support the President?" " Yes, I do." "The strike is damaging the government." "Of course it's damaging it but I think that in all these 21 days of striking they should at least have settled the strike." "Into the square!" "The strike leaders need to have victims so they can accuse the government of repression." "For that reason, the police get orders to act with the greatest caution." "As the police retreat despite the stone throwing there is confusion." "While some want to continue the fight others think it better to seize the mining company's offices." "Let's seize the company!" "I spoke to the governor because I don't want any death." " Who represents the workers?" " We do!" "The leaders are over there!" "And I also" "I also requested" "I also requested, comrades that with the same responsibility as that of the "El Teniente" workers we are asking the police forces here that they should maintain the same composure." "I asked them that they should maintain the same composure, comrades." "And now" "I want" "I want to say here this morning that in the meeting which we had with the President of the Republic on the 19th" "I spoke to them as an older brother or a comrade would have done and I told them clearly how serious it was to stop the production of copper now when we need more earnings when we don't have the financing we need" "when we may not be able to fulfill some essential commitments." "At this moment especially when the price of copper has reached a satisfactory level at this precise moment, "El Teniente" is paralyzed just when it had achieved an extraordinary output." "I spoke to them like a comrade with tenderness, with respect, with affection." "Nevertheless economic criteria were stronger and so "El Teniente" is at a standstill and that means the loss of millions of dollars for the country." "There could have been a solution that certainly would have cost less than a day's production." "But that would have set a fatal precedent." "A readjustment on top of a readjustment." "Today, I ask them from here to understand that being a copper worker in this country is a privilege from a patriotic and revolutionary point of view." "They are the workers who must preserve the essence of our country." "We depend on copper to be able to buy spare parts, raw materials inputs, foodstuffs and medicines." "I ask them from here, as revolutionary comrades to reconsider their attitude." "We will propose solutions which will mean more income on the basis of producing more copper and greater productivity." "I uphold our revolutionary awareness and I tell them that I have faith in the Chilean worker who cannot forget imperialist aggression and internal conspiracy!" "The copper worker and the agricultural worker have to unite to defend the future of Chile threatened from without and hounded from within!" "In the "Chuquicamata" mine on May 16, the workers reject a stoppage in solidarity with "El Teniente"." "The same happens in the "El Salvador" mine." "The opposition fail in their attempt to spread the strike to other copper mines." "On June 6, the strikers send a commission to Santiago." "Congress, which had justified oppression of workers in other times opens its gardens to give the miners money and supplies." "Parliament issues a statement, which has no legal basis saying the miners are right." "And meanwhile, donations continue to arrive." "For the wealthy sector helping the striking miners has become an obligation." "I am firmly convinced that this conflict will have international repercussions" "because here what is at stake" "is the firmness of the workers in defending their conquests." "And on the other side is the position of the Supreme Government which, until this moment, had turned a deaf ear to solving this problem." "And the only culprits of the prolongation of these 37 days of strike have got names." "It is a product of the incapacity of the ministers responsible for mining and labor and of the copper bureaucrats." "For the first time a labor leader is received in the Catholic University." "When 75% of the miners at "El Teniente"" "and 10% of the clerical staff are back at work the leader Guillermo Medina comes to receive the support.." "of the children of the well-to-do." "Workers and students, forward together!" "Down with incompetent government!" "The Catholic University students become the main agitators of the stoppage." "While the strike eases in "El Teniente"" "the opposition politicize the conflict." "In Santiago, the organization "Feminine Power"" "starts to gather funds for the miners' wives." "A large section of the middle class consciously or unconsciously starts to join the ranks of fascism." " Nationalists!" " Present!" " Nationalists!" " Forward!" " National Front!" " Homeland and Freedom!" " Chile!" " One!" " Chile!" " Great!" " Chile!" " Free!" "Forward Chile!" "At the same time, in the mining city of Rancagua shopkeepers, professionals and carriers call a stoppage in solidarity with the strikers." "On June 10, the opposition occupy the city's radio station by force." "As Rancagua is too small to cause any stir in the now lessening conflict they decide to move to the capital." "On June 15, 3,000 strikers arrive at the head office of the Christian Democrat Party in Santiago." "They make up approximately 25% of the mine employees." "Christian Democrat Youth!" "The opposition calls out its troublemakers." "The government responds with a police presence and the mobilization of its militants." "Workers collaborate with the police to impose order." "The agitators provoke the police." "The left-wing workers dismantle the barricades." "Come on, we have to clean up the streets, comrades!" "How long are those "mummies" going to fuck us up?" "At midday, the Popular Unity supporters gather in front of the La Moneda palace." "We support the popular government!" "The street battle will go on until night." "VIOLENT CITY" "Allende, Allende, the people will defend you!" "I'm here because I've got class consciousness." "I'm here with my class comrades defending the workers' government to the death, if necessary." "Let's create popular power!" "I've been here since 10:00 a. m firstly because of my convictions." "I'm the father of 12 children." "I know this government's fight isn't for me." "I don't have many days of struggle and sacrifice left." "It's for my children." "What we're defending is constitutional power." "We're against fascism." "We support the popular government." "We think that what's going on now is a just struggle." "We're here to defend the position of all workers." "We don't want that, because of a privileged group like the "El Teniente" miners this government should have problems." "We'll defend this government's position to the last consequences." "Comrade, why are you here?" "I'm Chilean, and I have to defend Allende's government." "It's the people's government." "We can't put up with fascism anymore." "It has to be stopped now, for once and for all." "It's what the people want." "Wherever you go, people want the same." "We've had enough of those idlers getting paid for nothing in Congress!" "That's the opinion of all the workers of all the people in the villages." "And we have to be tough on speculators!" "They have to approve the law on economic crimes so we can jail the thieves and hoarders!" "Do you want to say anything else?" "I've said enough." " Popular Unity!" " We shall overcome!" "The next day, the last strikers are loitering outside the Christian Democrat offices." "Many are returning to Rancagua tonight." "A symbolic group goes to the Catholic University." "In "El Teniente", 93% of the staff have gone back to work." "On June 21, the Trades Union Council organizes a demonstration of force against fascism." "Let's create popular power!" ""PU", and no compromise!" "Popular Unity against the criminal "mummies"!" "Let's create a popular militia!" "Forward with "PU"!" "Power to the workers!" "If you don't jump, you're a "mummy"!" "Via the "Voice of the Homeland" transmitters we have the first worker of the nation the President of the Republic comrade Salvador Allende." "While half a million demonstrators gather in the center of Santiago nearby, watched by the police the last strikers watch the event from the roof of the Catholic University." "I maintain that never in our history was there an event of the magnitude and content of this one." "One has had to innovate in all methods to be able to have even approximately" "a dimension of the extraordinary spirited and enormous multitude which is filling the streets" "Moneda, Agustinas" "Amunategui, Ahumada, Morandé" "Huérfanos, Teatinos most of the Alameda and the column which set out from Tajamar has still not been able to arrive likewise the column from Vicua Mackenna." "Never in the history of Chile were the people more combative and more present!" "We can feel history here!" "We are reinforcing our right to build a future of justice and freedom to make our way towards socialism!" "A week later, the copper strike is over." "On June 28 the 500 miners occupying the Catholic University withdraw in small groups." "In all, the conflict has lasted 76 days and has cost the state millions of dollars." "With this strike over" "Allende's adversaries have tried almost everything to topple his government." "They have one last resort." "The next day, June 29, at 9:00 a. m the Number Two armored regiment attacks the La Moneda palace with 6 tanks and several transport vehicles." "At 9:30, Parliament, the Judicial Power and the opposition parties are silent." "The rest of the armed forces do not back up the action." "A little later, Leonardo Henricksen an Argentinean cameraman, films his last shot." "He doesn't just record his own death." "He also records, two months before the final coup the true face of a sector of the Chilean army." "Watch out!" "Watch out!" "Over there!" "END OF PART ONE"