CAUSES AND RESULTS OF THE DISSOLUTION OF 'LABOR COMMUNISM'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R003000040008-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2000
• Sequence Number: 8
• Content Type: REPORT

j P82-00457RO03000040008-0
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INTELLIGENCE,,4GENCY
CAUSES AND RESULTS OF THE. DISSOLUTION OF "LABOR COMMUNISM"
Report of the Executive Committee of the FCC
Attachment
The publication of the document covering the dissolution of "labor-Communism"
calls for explanation of the causes and results of this act, of undoubted
importance for the Communist Party and the Colombian proletariat.
It is well known that after 9 April the opposing group known as "labor
-Communism" which attempted to supplant the PCC, changed its tactics and began
to talk about "unity" but on the basis of a Unification Congress in which
the Party and the opposing group would have taken part on equal terms.
The Executive Committee of the P00 rejected these proposals, stating that the
Party could not work on equal terms nor take part in discussions of false
unity with those who did not recognize the fundamental principles of Leninist
democratic centralism. And in a separate document stated that "when certain
individuals who are most responsible for the most serious errors of our political
history speak of unity, they should prove their intentions, carrying out a
strict self-criticism of their faults and recognizing the error of their actions."
Later the Executive Committee suggested naming a committee to study jointly
with syndical leaders of the opposing group the possibility of unity of action
in the labor movement. But the representatives of the opposing group avoided
discussion of the concrete problems and proposed "general negotiations for
political unity" on the basis of equality with the Party, which had previously
been refused.
During the last months, under pressure of international events, as well as
the advance made by the Party in its task of Leninist reconstruction, the.
opposing group, at least those in Bogota, began to modify its tactics. The
creation of the syndical committee was again suggested and the committee met
several times, and coordinated action in recent struggles and syndical conventions.
In the course of the discussions on this topic, the giestion of the Party
printing press was brought up, which since the V Congress has been defended
against the attempts of the opposing group, including a lawsuit which has kept
it tied up.
It was agreed to revise the Statutes of the printing company, giving the
manager full powers to carry out such negotiations as he might deem necessary,
until, the Party Congress which would organize the concern in whatever way is
deemed advisable. Also the necessity of immediately returning the equipment of
the Central Committee, taken from the offices while the Bucaramanga Congress
was still in session, was brought up. This demand was accepted in principle
and is being carried out. Also, it should be noted that the members of the
"labor Communist" group agreed to vote for P00 candidates in the 5 June elections
in most Departments, with the exception of Atlantico and Magdalena.
During the course of these discussions the proposal for a "unity congress"
was again rejected, pointing out that the only way was for them to recognize
their errors, dissolving their group and applying for admission into the ranks
of the POO.
On 9 May the directorate of "labor Communism" directed a letter to the Executive
Committee of the P00 in which they stated that they had agreed to3equest ad-
mission in mass to the P00, and were therefore dissolving their party as soon
as possible, as the means of achieving Communist unity. The letter continued
that in order to avoid fractionism within the party, they believed that a joint
committee should be appointed to consider the best way to effect the recon-
ciliation.
On`25-May the Executive Committee of the Party sent the following answer:
"The Executive Committee of the- PCC considers the statements contained in the
letter as the beginning of a real.-self-criticism. The PCC has maintained and
maintains ,a just position in defense of the principles of Leninist democratic
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Attachment
centralism and has,. therefore, as a prerequsite demanded the recognition of
the errors against the Party. It believes that the reassimilation should
be carried out without the sl..~test concession of principles but also without
regard to personal interests. It has, therefore, appointed a committee,
.composed of Jaime Barrios, Julio Posada and Carlos-Arturo Aguirre to study
this question."
The. above individuals advised the representatives of the "labor Communist"
group, Jesus Villegas Palacio, Jorge Bayona and Uriel Salas, that as the
first step, the "labor Communist" group should dissolve.
This condition was accepted.
At the present time the P00 committee is studying the list of members of the
"labor Communist" group who are applying for admission to the Party in order
to decide upon the proper procedure in the various cases. This committee will
in the near future visit various regions where the reassimilation of the
comrades who wish to again be active in the ranks of the Party presents special
problems, as in Barranquilla, Barrancabermeja and some parts of Magdalena.
The Executive Committee has authorized the Departmental and Municipal .committees
throughout the country to,accept into the Party those members of "labor Commu-
.nism" who request admission. These comrades, naturally, should be submitted
to trial. Their political reeducation claims particular attention in order
to avoid any continuation of the "group" attitude in our ranks: at the same
time accepting them in Communist fraternity with the respect due those who make
a sincere self-criticism.
The Executive Committee will inform the basic committees of resolutions
regarding the applications of certain members of "labor Communism" who may
have special responsibilities or pending accounts with the Party.
The Executive Committee considers the dissolution of the opposing "labor
Communism" group a great ideological and political triumph of the Leninist
principles for which we have fought and continue fighting against all opportunist
deviations of the right or the "left" since the V Congress of Bucaramanga.
This has been and continues to be a fight of principles and for principles,
and not of personalities; and, therefore, triumph was inevitable, regardless
of the obstacles in the road to the Leninist reconstruction of the Party of
the Vanguard of the Colombian proletariat.
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