For I have been asked to write an article on the Cordobazo. I think you have to write about this fact real historic significance, especially for Argentina and Latin America, is a book. For there are many, varied and complex, distant and immediate causes that led to the fact Cordobazo sociological and political.
During the months of prison in Rawson fill five books on the subject. The transcription of four leaves in a report in the magazine "Unpublished", motivated, according to public broadcasting, that it was closed. Still, over time, this work is to appear, without pretending to be a totally objective, but if at least one personal interpretation on the basis of union membership and the positions taken by our own union, the Union of Luz y Fuerza de Cordoba, Cordoba Regional of the CGT, the group of unions led by SMATA (Union of Mechanical and Allied Automotive Industry) and the permanent contact with student groups from both the University and the Catholic University. Also with the Priests of the Third World and people of different professional groups and politicians.
This following clarification and understanding to contribute in a modest range to the reaffirmation of popular demands, I write these lines related to this major event happened popular classes 29 and May 30, 1969.
WHY HAS OCCURRED THE CORDOBAZO?
This is a question that is not repeated, fails to consider and promote research, imagination, and particularly the interest of all Argentines, from the humblest worker to the sociologist unravel social phenomena, or politicians from conservatives to revolutionaries.
In criminal Rawson visited us at thirteen convicts who came from Cordoba, a Solidarity Committee, composed of Fellows of the various guilds of the city of Trelew and other towns of the province of Chubut. They asked us what we needed for our health, from food to clothing. We replied that we needed militant solidarity. Pronouncements. Struggle against dictatorship. We told our employees, their aspirations, their anxieties, their sacrifices. We told them that the fires that lit the streets of Córdoba emerged from the center of the earth and burning driven by our youth studies and work and never be extinguished because they feed on the life and ideals of a people revolting against the oppression to bear on him and was ready to break, spend the time it happened. Told the truth, the truth of what we wanted. Thirteen were convicted of extraction Rawson, status and heterogeneous condition. But everyone agreed. No exaggeration to say that several members of the Committee for Solidarity and they are to testify, felt tears run on her cheeks. At the end of this tense conversation, raised the question: Why has the Cordobazo?
responded with what I believe is the essence of the answer to both question and many speculations that lying around and conclusions: Cordobazo the militant expression of the highest quantitative and qualitative level of awareness of a people regarding who is oppressed and who wants to be free to build a better life, because he knows that it can live and prevent speculators and benefit from its delay and frustration every day.
Córdoba Why exactly? Because Cordoba was not deceived by the so-called revolution Argentina. Cordoba did not live the "hopeful expectation" of other cities. Córdoba never believed in the plans for modernization and transformation promised Ongania Paz Martínez, and Ferrer Salimei Deheza and then Borda, Krieger Vasena and Caballero. Awareness of Cordoba, but eloquent, progressive, well before the regime is Ongania. But he expressed most strongly in July 1966.
The demand for human rights, whatever the source, in particular of the papal encyclicals from John XXIII, find in us an extraordinary responsiveness and so are reported especialmente en la juventud y en los Sindicatos. Si hay receptividad es que hay comprensión, y la comprensión deriva en entusiasmo, en fe y en disposición al trabajo, al esfuerzo e incluso al sacrificio para consumar los ideales que ya tienen vigencia en el ámbito universal.
Para reducir la cuestión a sus aspectos más cercanos, las grandes luchas previas al Cordobazo amanecen antes de los dos meses de la usurpación del poder por parte de Onganía. Y estas, tanto como las que posteriormente se plantearon ya que siguen en vigencia, bajo distintas características, obedecen a la toma de conciencia de la necesidad de liberación que es el patrimonio principal de Córdoba dentro del panorama nacional.
MAJOR BACKGROUND AND IMMEDIATE
mid of August 1966 our organization issued a statement to be a "Requested" whose title was "negative signs." It was the first union in Cordoba position against the series of repressive measures that cut net to establish the dictatorship. That statement had wide repercussions, not only locally but also nationally and we could say that almost opened the rebel position against the policy of Onganía and his team.
Pampillón Santiago's death at the hands of the repressive apparatus, highlighted the historical student resistance. No one can forget struggles and protests of all groups, hunger strikes and the actual unemployment in a time of Cordoba labor movement in solidarity with fellow university. I had the honor of a delegation of Association of the CGT de Córdoba who attended the funeral of Santiago Mendoza Pampillón. Here we discuss with Geronimo Cordoba Izzet - who was rebuked him casually and the passivity of the National CGT. At the same time that showed the rise of the fighting spirit of union and student bases against the regime, the leaders of the national union would justify, in attitudes, subsequent proclamation to all the winds of the "philosophy participation." Both
the repression grew, the increased resistance. Revealed an incidental manifestation of different forms of protest against the regime and its accomplices. In Cordoba widely circulated a leaflet which reproduced Francisco Prado, participating in the Festival of Folklore in Cosquín-January 1967 - while he was overwhelmed the Dockers' Union, shattered its collective bargaining agreement and terminated its most dedicated leaders and activists. Prado was Secretary General of the National CGT. These sheets were circulated around Córdoba and people evidenced his conviction to the lame attitude.
In the same month of February 1967, according to the National Strike resuelto para el primero de Marzo de dicho año, en esta ciudad se realizaron grandes manifestaciones obreras.
El diario "Córdoba" reprodujo varias fotografías de los actos y una en particular de la represión, donde constó mi detención junto con varios compañeros de la columna de Luz y Fuerza. Fue un plan de lucha de alcance nacional, frustrado por el incipiente participacionismo y dialoguismo que terminó una vez más confiando, según expresiones del propio Francisco Prado, en el nuevo ministro Krieger Vasena, porque según él: "Habría cambiado y su gestión podría ser útil a los trabajadores". Pese a esto, la posición de casi todos los sectores populares, especialmente Cordoba, urged to continue the fight.
I transcribe a phrase in a document of Association of February 23, 1967, by its premonitory character of "Cordobazo. It read: "The big story is full of milestones as of yesterday starring the labor movement in Córdoba, in workshops and factories, the streets of our city. Because it was written yesterday a day with strong features and expressions raucous than usual and went beyond the boundaries were extended then the graphics of the press and television, in the retina and in the minds of thousands of players and spectators who lived plan sequences of action displayed by the Confederate unions CGT and Córdoba. It was a lucid and committed day brings us one step closer to the crucial definition is bound to occur by command of the situation that has been dragged the Argentine people and the workers have adopted a clear, concrete and irreducible ".
The repression that followed the arrest of the first of March 1967 and the disastrous leadership of the National CGT was a noticeable gap that was marked mainly by the increasingly open opposition from the union ranks and officers attached to them and submissive participationism nested Azopardo headquarters in the Federal Capital.
bases demanded a new Plan of Action. In Tucumán the attack on the rights of workers was increasing. In October 1967 the Delegation of Córdoba in the Congress of the Federation of Light and Power claimed the Plan of Action, inspired by their own requirements in force in our city and denounced the alarming facts that were happening.
The concern of national leaders focused exclusively on normalizing the CGT at the time in the hands of the Executive Committee.
What the Cordoba had a clear conscience at the end of 1967? What was our complaint? What was our position?
we expressed In brief summary: Under the theme of modernizing and transforming the government proposed an economic plan whose basic political philosophy apparently settled in the most orthodox and liberal crude, the resurrection of laissez-faire, let pass ", in the presence of a free enterprise any cost, causing the stability and growth of the country's economic assets. However, this declaimed economic freedom is but a scheme intended to subject the country substantially integrating the crisis of the capitalist system as a mono-polo compensating for the deterioration becomes more pronounced the same.
Later we pointed out: "For some time now in all nations of the world has completed the stage of liberalism here has been claimed. The industrial powers practice a crude economic interventionism, in the internal system to protect its market producers and even consumers by way of customs barriers and other ancillary equipment, in external appearance creating international organizations subject to them to impose the policy of self-insight and of self-exploitation of the underdeveloped nations by monopolies operating from major cities. This economic freedom imposed and directed from outside, especially from the U.S. monopoly levels on par with disproportionately favor to them and their country of origin in Argentina caused the worsening of the crisis and the deepening of the recessionary effects.
In pronouncements on economic issues concluded:
"The intention really is to break the domestic industry and leave the market consumer at the mercy of the monopolies. This was expressed generically the Confederation of Industry to refer to formal policy and actual transfer is in the most benign of the trial, a bad sign. In regard to state enterprises approval of the Hydrocarbons Law and the Corporations Act, the program confirms crudely official handover of state assets and driving basic and fundamental of the economy to foreign interests. No doubt because the layout plan is contrary to genuine development, undermines the living standards of the population, served to groups of reaction and privilege, compromises the future of the country and undermines national sovereignty. "
In denouncing social issues "increasing prices of articles of use and consumption, depleting the purchasing power of wages. The increase in unemployment. The paralysis of the Living Wage Commission, Minimum & Mobile. The imposition of compulsory arbitration for labor disputes. The law enforcement of trade disputes. The Union intervention, withdrawal or suspension of union status. The elimination or restriction of trade union representatives in the State enterprise, including social welfare agencies. The violation of the collective bargaining agreements. The law to freeze wages. The amendment to the law of severance pay. Increasing the age to qualify for retirement and the elimination of compensation for years of service. "
As final details of the allegations against the reactionary policies which are noted below:" Simultaneously, the Government aims to have a tacit agreement public opinion, but does not open channels of any kind to test the expression of the people if this is true or not, while justifying nonsense with the supposed size of facing a damaging political debate in the country. With the perseverance of purpose logic backward the government approves the Civil Defense Act militarized the entire population from 14 years of age, under the pretext of securing the home front, but in order to suppress any self-defense the economic, social and political workers. Later called the law gives the repression of communism, which includes all persons or institutions to protest or carry out an action to protect their rights. Beat the repressive McCarthy box leaving the State Information Service qualification of any person having "communist ideological motivations," adding a punitive regime that goes up to nine years in prison. National Universities involved, cancels the participation of Argentina studious youth in the life of these projects a regulatory limitation and dissolves the Student Organization Center. Violate the secrecy of correspondence which modern inquisitors jealous of any opinion adverse to the official dogmatic. At the international level proposed, happily rejected institutionalization of the Inter-American Defense Board, which modern gendarme of the Peoples of Latin America who struggle for their emancipation integral, to keep them in the underdevelopment and stagnation and neocolonial dependency ".
There were reports that while were known to all, not every volunteer. Cordovan delegations were generally those that underpinned these proposals in all areas.
In Cordoba said shortly after a decision of the local CGT declared persona non grata to the President Onganía , and that exude the growing challenge the autocratic regime is not contested on a massive scale with so much force as was the in Cordoba.
THE REBELLION OF THE TRADE BASES
The Executive Committee of the National CGT, tried by all means the construction of a Congress addicted to theories of participation. That was to echo throughout the Government's policy and engage in the process. A clear waiver to the workers' demands and popular that it deserved a general revulsion.
The "leaders" of the leaders of national organizations, after lengthy processions of delegates, old-style Creole policy committees of the Infamous Decade, resolved to call a National Congress for the standardization of the General Confederation Labour.
came to both rot Participationists leaders who argued that Congress could not participate that the organizations that were audited, including membership of more flow or Railway Union, as well as port workers, the press, chemicals, sugar, etc ... Congress wanted to make with those who had tolerated the dictatorship and sanctions as well with such an exclusion to those who had fought, had been seized and were being chased by all violators of union rights.
All who remained faithful to the union, including union delegates appointed surgery for this Congress, who were engaging with the Dictatorship to the Congress itself inhibits them from acting. 28, 29 and March 30 began the Congress. The leaders agreed to Ongania not have the courage to go to challenge those who wanted to exclude from the wings. The conference took place with all the militant organizations, including those operated upon, and with little more than half of enough delegates for a quorum was declared the fight against dictatorship and ignore all the leaders of the participation. Thus was born what was named the CGT de los Argentinos, led by Raimundo Ongaro. The union bases repudiated any policy of conciliation shameful and a wave of demonstrations, events, all organized by the unions of the CGT de los Argentinos, covered a genuine celebration of May 1, 1968.
in Cordoba over five thousand local people attended the Sport Club Córdoba, which together with Ongaro I speak once again denouncing, confirming what we've been saying since 1966 that plunged the country's dictatorship.
On June 28 of that year the CGT de Córdoba scheduled a local act against it, to protest the second anniversary of the dictatorship. Repression, as it did repeatedly downloaded all your appliance and counted three hundred twenty-two prisoners among the protesters. The labor movement, the students, the popular sectors struggled to express their protest on the street and were repressed. But not rested. Some have argued that it was not possible to schedule events, and that the police not allowed and that people are tired. The majority said no. We did not want to leave behind our right to express ourselves, to protest, to demand solutions. Again and again dissolved imprisoning us work ers and students.
In September 1968, the CGT and the Fight Against Student Protest scheduled a week in remembrance of the Martyrs Popular, coinciding with the anniversary of death Pampillón Santiago. Since the Governor
Caballero, who had supplanted Deheza Ferrer, launched the formation of a Council Ase Sister, as perfected form of participation as a pilot for the whole country.
Week Popular Martyrs was violently repressed. Shot the young student fell Aravena, which today is still physically prevented entirely, as a result of this treacherous attack.
acts were dissolved. It attacked a demonstration led by union leaders, students and priests of the Third World, who came from a Mass by James Pampillón. Were dissolved in front of the CGT events. Several militants were jailed and union representatives and students who were almost a month in Encausados.
At the end of the 1968, the CGT organized another event that was also suppressed. We all felt a real outrage and condemnation of the regime took trim fury. Anything was possible. The repression was manifested at all times. The government continued its propaganda to the Advisory Council. The Federation of Light and Power suspending our union because they joined the CGT de los Argentinos.
The union hierarchy had made his own Congress, but had no effect on the bases. In Cordoba, were openly rejected by the Working Class. While
at all levels Onganía policy was strengthened in the sense of force and oppression.
While on the other hand, in the town grew as a state of rebellion against injustice, ignorance of human rights. In late 1968, he met the 200 anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Light and Power held conferences on the subject. What most dramatic comparison was made between the content of this statement that capped the end of the Second World War and the regime that prevailed in Argentina. It seemed that so many sacrifices, so many lives, respect for human rights, have been useless.
1969: THE YEAR OF CORDOBAZO
We reviewed the ills of the national scheme and we have particularized Córdoba positions as the most important against the dictatorship at the national level. It also
Hilda Guerrero de Molina, Tucumán working martyr swell the ranks of those who had fallen defending its ideals, facing Onganía regime.
The Community scheme was advertised from all corners of the ruling team. Cordoba had to discharge in the pilot and Dr. Knight had established its Advisory Board would be validated with drums and dishes at the Meeting of Governors of Alta Gracia. There was Onganía in the same car and at the same position and with the same ideological purposes Caballero. We had previously written an important document. A document called Declaration of Cordoba and was publicized on March 21, 1969. Two months and days before Cordobazo. The reseñábamos
the main problems of local order which added to the national order and according to the awareness of the town of Cordova on the validity of their rights, we could say that framed the heroic Cordobazo popular reaction. The introduction
said, "Our Province supports a gubernatorial defeat, an apparent inaction at the highest hierarchical level official, a general ineptitude in the conduct of public affairs. Parallel to this deficiency stands a dark, clumsy handling of the instruments of power to favor the privileged circles of economic and financial, to levy modest cash resources of the population, to fool the real popular representation through fraud neocorporatist to mind shamelessly manipulate some members of justice, trying to open them at the service of tolerance accomplice to the crime of a regime insider conspicuous.
be forgot that our provincial government has supported this iniquity. Cordova town never looked sensual exercise of power usurped with impunity can be seen, and with the approval of a central power in many cases it gives an example of experience to projects across the nation.
This unbearable situation at all levels, forcing the working class Cordoba to publicly repudiate the local government, co-responsible for the dictatorship of Onganía of all their actions and to be increasingly united and strongly for the establishment of the full exercise the rights and interests belonging inalienably workers and citizens, and practice of governmental function in a level of respect and real understanding of the aspirations of the people ".
We pointed out and we did not do us a vagary outside the popular position, but as an authentic expression throbbing in the whole population that:
"Advisory Council: For a long time the Government of Córdoba worked intensively and covertly, to implement the so-called Economic and Social Advisory Council. Its foundations were based on the supposed interest to consult representative sectors of the community and involve them in program analysis and gubernatorial actions.
then stated: "Also is intended to mimic the spawn of the Advisory Council with Economic and Social Councils positive effect in some countries of the world politically structured on the basis of the sovereign will of the people ".
And finally, after other considerations:" The Council Counsel seeks the domestication of the Company, its definitive stratification and if today is dressed in the garb of an apparent innocence, eventually everyone will have the unit increase its consolidation as omnipotent power without appeal, which will build and build the scheme to implement a system of life repudiated by history and which is identified with the once young Roman salute shirt Black, now governor of Cordoba, Dr. Carlos Caballero. "
Valinotto
On the case, noted," public opinion and the national Cordoba, watch in amazement as a judge of Cordoba, ordered the release of a criminal based on the testimony, called "compost" the Interior Minister, Dr. Luis E. Golletti Martínez, and Member of the Superior Court of Justice Dr. Pedro Angel Spina.
and ended the discussion on this issue: "Mr Governor of Cordoba, Dr. Carlos Caballero, before the verbal resignation of his Minister of Government Dr. Martinez Golletti, decided, refused to ratify their trust. "
About local taxes recalcábamos order:
"neighborhood centers of Cordoba, built mostly by workers, denounced the assault that are subject to tax, have protested, they pointed out the illegality of the tax measures, but the government has remained intact offering a rebate demagogic transient does not change the underlying situation and has determined the resistance to the payment, as the only way to be heard, although the government is and will be deaf to the demands of the people, embedded in its absolutism and blinded by his devious political purpose. "
on labor issues it was the case of "take away zone" affecting mainly the union of metallurgy. The cancellation of the English law of the Sabbath, which was enacted in 1932 and lowered by 9.1% monthly wages of workers. The Provincial Department of Labour was totally ineffective. Distinguished that "Cordoba is, without doubt, the paradise of blank receipts, used to steal from the already meager wages of workers, substantial parts and create insecurity in the permanence of their employment." On the other hand ordered the closure of a number of evening schools who attended training to workers on the grounds that they had exhausted the instances for which the above facilities will become organization of the provincial side.
The outrages of the so-called "Phantom Brigade" also inflame the people of Córdoba. We said on the subject: "The whole country already knows the incredible episode of" Ghost Squad ", so named for their dark deeds not in receipt of public safety, but attacking it. Intimidating innocent people, pursuing suspected criminals and extorting money from detainees. " Concluded on this point:
also the episode of the "Phantom Brigade", however there is provision for its dissolution and the arrest of the "policemen" who were involved, was not discovered by the concern or diligence of government officials. Was known and was investigated by the complaints about that is now the only way for the people to defend themselves in any way from the abuses to which it is subjected by a government, who inevitably will be judged as the most harmful to the rights of all people of Cordoba. "
Not to say more on this lengthy document point out one more sentence:" A tiny minority, the fingers of one hand to count them, of "leaders" union, supports the regime in Cordoba. Not so however in the national order.
attendance of over forty trade union hierarchy to an interview with Onganía has shown that the fighting spirit of workers and the people have a strong contingent of defectors, added to the program of the regime: economic policy of subjugation, oppression, social, cultural obscurantism and civic vice, subduing all Argentines who want a country in which fundamental operating changes that enable an immediate future in which social justice, wherever it occurs economic independence, freeing the country of penetration and domination and imperialist monopoly, which materializes political sovereignty on the basis of the free will of the people and where full democracy is practiced without any bans and disqualifications for all Argentines. "
covered the final urging unity, the common claim of all Trade Unions for the continuation of the struggle in defense of our rights.
BREAKS THE BOILER
The metal workers, transport workers and other unions to declare strikes 15 and May 16, due to the take off zone and non-recognition of seniority and transfer of businesses, respectively. mechanical workers hold a meeting and out to be repressed, defend their rights in a real battle pitched in the center of the city on May 14. Abuses, oppression, ignorance of a number of rights, the shame of all acts of government, the problems of students and neighborhood centers are added. It completely paralyzed the city on May 16. Nobody works. All protest. The government repressed. Elsewhere in the country, conflicts have broken out student for the privatization of the dining halls.
In Corrientes the student is killed Juan José Cabral and that fact has profound impact on the entire population of Córdoba. Provides for the closure of the university. All student groups and preparing protest actions and demonstrations. It works in agreement with the CGT.
On day 18, was killed in the student Adolfo Ramón Rosario Bello. Conducted with students and the Priests of the Third World a silent march in honor of the fallen.
On May 20, was arrested and held incommunicado at the police department "on background checks." He was released the next day.
Day 21, translates a general strike of students. A series of announcements of the labor movement supporters. In Rosario falls a victim. The student and apprentice metallurgist Norberto Blanco, is assassinated in Rosario. Martial installed.
On May 22, students Catholic University are declared in state of alert and are supported by the rest of the student movement.
On May 23, is occupied by the Student Neighborhood Clinics. The student is seriously wounded by a bullet Héctor Crusta by police. Fires and collisions occur. The Police is overwhelming, and the clashes are becoming increasingly serious.
On May 25, spoke at the Catholic University of Cordoba and make a severe criticism and condemnation of the bloody atrocities of the police and the arbitrary proceedings of the Council of War in Rosario.
On May 26, the labor movement in Cordoba, through the two plenary made, solves a general strike of 37 hours of activities from 11 am on May 29 and dereliction of duty and public rallies to protest. Students stick around with the resolutions of both CGT.
Everything is prepared for the big strike. The outrage is public, visible and vocal in all strata of the population.
No spontaneity. Or improvisation. Groups or strangers to the resolutions adopted. Unions and students also organized. Fixing the places of concentration. How to carry out the gears. The high concentration will be carried out, against local street CGT Velez Sarsfield 137. Thousands
and thousands of leaflets calling for the observance of the rights violated flooded the city in previous days. Succeed the Assemblies of the Unions and Students who support the strike and protest.
On May 29 dawns tense. Some unions are beginning to leave the factory before 11 hours. At that time the Government states that the transport leaves the central hull. The Luz y Fuerza workers of the Central Administration, intended to organize an event at the height of Rioja and General Paz and are attacked with gas bombs. Is once again up repression. Indiscriminate repression. The ban violent right of assembly, expression, protest.
Meanwhile, columns of workers from factories in the automotive industry are coming to town. Are all attacked and tried to disperse them.
trade closes and the streets are crowded. Spread the news of the death of a partner, Max Mena was the Mechanics Union. Popular outbreak occurs, many in rebellion against righteousness, against murder, against the abuses. Police back. Nobody controls the situation. It is the People. Are the bases and student union, fighting inflamed. Everyone helps. The full support of the entire population is given both in the center and in the neighborhoods.
awareness is all evidenced in the streets against so many prohibitions that were raised. None of guardianship, or of the usurpers of power, or accomplices participation. The balance of the battle of Cordova-El Cordobazo, is tragic. Dozens dead, hundreds injured. But the dignity and courage of a people flourish and make a page in the history of Argentina and Latin America that will never be erased.
street bonfires burning in the sell, with light, warmth and strength of youth work, young and old, men and women. That fire is the spirit, principles, major and popular aspirations will never fade. In
midst of this struggle for justice, freedom and the rule of the sovereign will of the people, we left handcuffed on board a plane with the unjust sentences on our backs. Years of imprisonment become little less than seven months, the continuation of this action which saved our people, especially Cordoba, who rescues us from the far southern prisons, so that, together, workers, students, men of all ideologies, all religions, with our logical differences, we know unite to build a fairer society, where man is wolf to man, but his companion and his brother.
Studies Center Training and Agustín Tosco
