Appendices: Platform of the Democratic Revolutionary Government
The economic and social structures of our country- which have served to guarantee the disproportionate enrichment of an oligarchic minority and the exploitation of our people by Yankee...
...Intimately united to the latter forces will be all the social sectors that are willing to carry out this platform-small and medium-sized industrialists, merchants, artisans, and farmers (small and medium-sized coffee planters and those involved in other areas of agriculture or cattle raising...
...9. The democratic revolutionary government will establish diplomatic and trade relations with other countries without discrimination on the basis of differing social systems, on the basis of equal rights, coexistence, and respect for selfdetermination...
...5. Carry out a literacy campaign that will put an end to the social defect of illiteracy in the shortest possible time...
...monopolies, the land held in the power of the big landlords, the enterprises that produce and distribute electricity and other monopolized services, foreign trade, banking, and large transportation enterprises...
...imperialism, and those who serve their anti-patriotic interests are opposed to and are conspiring against these changes...
...Those healthy, patriotic, and worthy elements that belong to the current army can also be incorporated...
...7. The People's Army will be strengthened and developed...
...4. Nationalize the refining of petroleum...
...All these forces are now coming together to make up a revolutionary and democratic alliance in which the political and/or religious beliefs of all are respected...
...The most conscious and organized ranks of the Salvadorean people, now multitudinous, are fighting in a more and more broad and united way...
...3. To liquidate once and for all the economic, political, and military dependence of our country on Yankee imperialism...
...It will include the soldiers, noncommissioned officers, officers, and chiefs of the current army who conduct themselves honestly, reject foreign intervention against the revolutionary process, and support the liberation struggle of our people...
...Tasks and Objectives of the Revolution The tasks and objectives of the revolution in El Salvador are the following: 1. To overthrow the reactionary military dictatorship of the oligarchy and Yankee imperialism, imposed and sustained against the will of the Salvadorean people for fifty years...
...The current misnamed security bodies will be replaced by a civilian police force...
...and of all other kinds of real or nominal organizations dedicated to criminal action or slander against the people and their organizations...
...The revolution that is on the march is not, nor can it be, the work of a group of conspirators...
...The new army will be the true armed wing of the people...
...33NACLA Report 4. Create a Unified National Health System, which will guarantee efficient medical service to the entire population (urban and rural...
...Preventative care will be the principal aim...
...This will be done according to an effective plan to benefit the great majority of poor and middle peasants and agricultural wage workers and to promote the development of agriculture and cattle raising...
...5. Carry out the expropriation, in accord with the national interest, of the monopolistic enterprises in industry, trade, and services...
...Close fraternal relations with Nicaragua will especially be sought, as the expression of the community of ideals and interest between our revolution and the Sandinista revolution...
...c. A substantial increase in social services for the popular masses (Social Security, education, recreation, health care, etc...
...It has been impossible to stave off this failure, even with the more and more brazen intervention of the United States in support of such efforts against the people...
...and to establish a democratic revolutionary government, 31NACLA Report founded on the unity of the revolutionary and democratic forces in the People's Army and the Salvadorean people...
...punishment of those responsible (be they military or civilian) for crimes against the people...
...To the contrary, it is the fruit of the struggle of the entire people--of the workers, the peasants, the middle layers in general, and all sectors and individuals that are honestly democratic and patriotic...
...3. Nationalize the system of electricity distribution, along with the enterprises for its production that are in private hands...
...6. Carry out a thorough agrarian reform, which will put the land that is now in the hands of the big landlords at the disposal of the broad masses who work it...
...The agrarian reform will not affect small and medium landholders, who will receive stimuli and support for continued improvements in production on their plots...
...of the Gotera "Counterinsurgency School" and the so-called Armed Forces Engineering Training Center in Zacatecoluca...
...The armed forces will be truly patriotic, the defenders of national sovereignty and self-determination, and committed partisans of peaceful coexistence among peoples...
...The Democratic Revolutionary Government-Its Composition and Platform of Social, Structural, and Political Changes The democratic revolutionary government will be made up of representatives of the revolutionary and people's movement, as well as of the democratic parties, organizations, sectors, and individuals who are willing to participate in the carrying out of this programmatic platform...
...abrogation of the Political Constitution and all decrees that have modified or added to it...
...The economic and social structures of our country- which have served to guarantee the disproportionate enrichment of an oligarchic minority and the exploitation of our people by Yankee imperialism-are in deep and insoluble crisis...
...The organized form to be taken by this voluntary alliance at the service of the Salvadorean people will be the result of consultations among all those who make it up...
...Being so rooted in the people, the revolutionary movement is now indestructible...
...Expressing the unity of the entire people, this movement unites the revolutionary forces and the democratic forces--the two great torrents generated by the long struggle carried out by the Salvadorean people...
...6. The democratic revolutionary government will carry out an intense effort of liberating education, of cultural exposition and organization among the broadest masses, in order to promote their conscious incorporation into the development, strengthening, and defense of the revolutionary process...
...It is the unanimous opinion of the popular and democratic forces that only through realization of the measures contained in this platform can the profound structural and political crises of our country be resolved in favor of the Salvadorean people...
...It will be at their service and absolutely faithful to their interests and their revolution...
...The moment is approaching for this historic and liberating victory, for which the Salvadorean people have struggled and heroically shed so much of their blood...
...9. Establish effective mechanisms for credit, economic aid, and technical assistance for small and medium-sized private businesses in all branches of the country's economy...
...The democratic revolutionary government will decree a constitutional law and will organize the state and its activities with the aim of guaranteeing the rights and freedoms of the people and of achieving the other objectives and tasks of the revolution...
...6. To raise the cultural and material living standards of the population...
...imperialists have defended and continue to defend, oppressing the Salvadorean people for half a century...
...The constitutional law referred to above will remain in force while the Salvadorean people prepare a new Political Constitution that faithfully reflects their interest...
...For the unity of the revolutionary and democratic forces...
...of the cantonal and suburban military patrols...
...2. To put an end to the overall political, economic and social power of the great lords of land and capital...
...Victims of their own contradictions, the dominant classes have failed due to the decisive and heroic action of the people's movement...
...2. Bring into effect a just wage policy, based on: a. Regulation of wages, taking into account the cost of living...
...3. Put into action a massive plan for construction of low cost housing...
...The military dictatorship is also in crisis, and with it the entire legal and ideological order that the oligarchic interests and the U.S...
...Nothing and no one will be able to prevent it...
...The decisive task of the revolution on which completion of all its objectives depends is the conquest of power and the installation of a democratic revolutionary government, which at the head of the people will launch the construction of a new society...
...Also involved will be honest professionals, the progressive clergy, democratic parties such as the MNR [Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionaria- Revolutionary Nationalist Movement], advanced sectors of the Christian Democracy, worthy and honest officers of the army who are willing to serve the interests of the people, and any other sectors, groups, or individuals that uphold broad democracy for the popular masses, independent development, and people's liberation...
...b. An energetic policy of control and reduction of the prices charged for basic goods and services...
...5. To transfer to the people, through nationalizations and the creation of collective and socialized enterprises: the fundamental means of production and distribution that are now hoarded by the oligarchy and the U.S...
...Only the oligarchy, U.S...
...In doing so, the democratic revolu32JulylAugust 1980 tionary government will adhere to the United Nations' "Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
...Indirect taxes on widely consumed goods will be reduced...
...Structural Changes The democratic revolutionary government will: 1. Nationalize the entire banking and financial system...
...Unswerving commitment to the interests and aspirations of the Salvadorean people by the revolutionary organizations has led to the deepening and strengthening of their roots among the vast toiling majority and the middle sectors...
...7. To create a new army for our country, one that will arise fundamentally on the basis of the People's Army to be built in the course of the revolutionary process...
...of the oligarchy's private paramilitary bands...
...None of this will affect small or medium-sized private businesses, which will be given every kind of stimulus and support in the various branches of the national economy...
...9. To orient the foreign policy and international relations of our country around the principles of independence and self-determination, solidarity, peaceful coexistence, equal rights, and mutual respect between states...
...This will be possible not only through reform of the tax system, but also because the state will receive substantial income from the activity of the nationalized sector of the economy...
...5. Municipal government will be restructured so as to be an organ of broad participation by the masses in managing the state, so as to be a real organ of the new people's power...
...2. Nationalize foreign trade...
...It constitutes the only alternative for the Salvadorean people, who can be neither stopped nor diverted from their struggle to gain a Free Homeland in which their vital desires will be made real...
...Immediate Political Measures 1. A halt to all forms of repression against the people and release of all political prisoners...
...Through all these measures, to assure our country peace, freedom, the well-being of our people, and future social progress...
...Our country will become a member of the Movement of Nonaligned Countries and will develop a steadfast policy toward the defense of world peace and in favor of detente...
...to destroy its criminal political-military machine...
...This experience has confirmed with full clarity that only the united revolutionary movement in alliance with all the democratic forces can carry out such a work of transformation...
...2. Clarification of the situation of those captured and disappeared since 1972...
...8. To encourage all forms of organization of the people, at all levels and in all sectors, thus guaranteeing their active, creative, and democratic involvement in the revolutionary process and securing the closest identification between the people and their government...
...Social measures The democratic revolutionary government will direct its efforts in the social arena toward the following objectives: 1. Create sufficient sources of jobs, so as to eliminate unemployment in the briefest possible time...
...4. Dissolution of the existing state powers (executive, legislative, and judicial...
...8. Our country will withdraw from CONDECA [Central American Defense Council], from TIAR [Rio de Janeiro Inter-American Defense Treaty], and from any other military or police organizations that might be the instruments of interventionism...
...Toward the conquest of the democratic revolutionary government...
...Special attention will be paid to the development of friendly relations with the other countries of Central America (including Panama and Belize), with the aim of strengthening peace and upholding the principle of nonintervention...
...7. Promote cultural activity on a broad scale, effectively supporting and stimulating national artists and writers, recovering and developing the cultural heritage of the nation, and incorporating into the cultural assets of the broad popular masses the best of universal culture...
...3. Disarming and permanent dissolution of the repressive bodies--ANSESAL, ORDEN, National Guard, National Police, Treasury Police, and Customs Police, along with their respective "Special Sections...
...The worker and peasant alliance--through its combativity, level of consciousness, daring, organization, and spirit of sacrifice for the sake of the people's triumph-has proven to be the most solid basis for guaranteeing the firmness and consistency of the entire Liberation movement...
...Quality and scientific-technical diversification will be increased at all levels, and free education will be progressively introduced...
...Since October 15, 1979, various parties and sectors have vainly attempted to use the government to carry out a large part of the measures we propose without first overthrowing the old reactionary and repressive power and without installing a truly revolutionary and popular power...
...Establish a system for effective planning of the national economy, which will make it possible to encourage balanced development...
...6. Develop the national education system so as to assure primary education to the entire population of school age and substantially broaden secondary and university education...
...7. Carry out an urban reform to benefit the great majority, without affecting small and medium owners of real estate...
...This measure will not affect the deposits and other interests of the public...
...This government will rest on a broad political and social base, formed above all by the working class, the peasantry, and the advanced middle layers...
...8. Thoroughly transform the tax system, so that tax payments no longer fall upon the workers...
...4. To assure democratic rights and freedoms for the entire people--particularly for the working masses, who are the ones who have least enjoyed such freedoms...
Vol. 14 • July 1980 • No. 4
