JPRS ID: 9659 LATIN AMERICA REPORT

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• Content Type: REPORTS

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JPRS L/9659 -
~13 April 1981
Latin America Re ort
p
CFOUO 8/~ 1 ~
FB1~ ~OREIGN BROADCAST INFOl~MATION SERVICE
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JPRS L/9o~9
13 April 19P1
LATIN AMERICA REPORT
(FOUO 8/81)
CONTENTS
COUNTRY SECTION
COLOMBIA
M-19 Guerrillas Alleged To Have Come From Cuba via Panama
(PRELA, 17 Mar 81) 1 _
~UBA
New Peasant Housing Program Initiated
_ (Gloria Marsan; BOHEMIA, 13 Feb 81) 2
Training of Sugar Industry Technical Personnel Studied
(Concepcion Duchesne; BOHEMIA, 13 Feb 81) 9
Railway Problems Taken Up in Roundtable ~iscussion ~
- (Alberto Pozo, et al.; BOHEMIA, 30 Jan $1) 18
_ EL SALVADOR
Duarte on Agrarian Reform, Leftist-Rightist Violence
_ (Jose Napoleon Duarte Interview; EL DIA, 15 Feb 81) 31
- a - [III - LA - 144 FOUO]
~+~w ~~.~wi.~ . r .~nw
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COUNTRY SECTION CUBA
NEW PEASANT flOUSING PROGRAM INITZATID
Havana BOHEMIA in Spanish 13 Feb 81 pp 28-31
_ [Article by Gloria Nrarsan: "Where Is the Peasant Going To Live?"]
[TextJ Something That Could Have Been Forgott~n
Some time ago, on the occasion of a ~rorking meeting on research and social
development in the Caribbean in wfiicfi.several countries of the area part i~ipate3, -
we interviewed Juan Luis Martin, a sociologist of the Technical Cente_r for
Housing and Urbanism of the Ministry of Construction jMINCONS].
During our interview, which was very pleasantz but which was never pub 1 ished
because of that implacable enemy of the 3 ournalist called "'space and time," our
interviewee spoke to us extensively on the studies, projects, plans and so forth
for the development of housing and social conditions for the peasants. _
This newswoman, as a revolutionary and a peasant, felt profoundly enthusiastic
about everything proposed and suddenly asked a question, which to her surprise
stumped the interviewee. "How is the MINCONS accomplishing the performance of
that work? -
The sociologist thought a moment and finally answered: "Really, for the moment,
I cannot answer your question."
Everqthing would have remaine3 as one more old unpublished piece of wo rk, which
with time would have been forgotten, if it had not been that a few days ago that
same Juan Luis Martin called us to let us know the accomplishment of a new work.
This time it was on the development of the peasant housing of the Agricultural
- and Livestock Cooperatives (CPA). Truly I did not go to tha meeting wi th much
enthusiasm.
Today, sitting once more in front of the typewriter, I again feel within me ~
the happiness of those times in the rural area when I dreawed of a better future
for our peasants. However, it is no longer a dream; it is an absolute realiCy.
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- The Cuban peasants, like all citizen~ within a country in revolution who fight
hard against blockades and threats and who, tfierefnre, have to remain in a
constant state of vigilance and defense~ are already advancing towards higher _
forms of production. This is not an easy route but little hy little they are
eliminating their customary isolation, b.uilding a house according to the economic
development of the country and, at tfie same time, raising their social and
cultural level.
Toward Higher Forms of Production
A patient and systematic work of disseminating, convincing and winning over each
peasant family has been accomplished by the National Association of Small Farmers
(ANAP), carefully observing the principle of voluntariness, so that when the time
_ comes, it will move toward socialist forms of production.
At the end of last year, the results of that work could be seen. A total of
1,052 CP~'s have been created. The cooperatives, initially small, have served -
as schools for training cadzes, since many o� the men and women who are now at
the head of the large CPA's were trained for collective administration in them.
With the higher form of organization assumed by the peasants, the roads to the
modernization of agriculture were also opened. In general the change brought
changes in agricultural practices to which the private farmer was accustomed and
the use of inechanization and technology was instituted.
During the past year, the CPA's maintained cost of production per peso down to
~ 70 centavos. High yields per area were generally obtained, doubling and tripling
- the producti_on of the individual parcels which made them up.
~ The majority of the CPA's distributed profits among their meinbers. This shows
that while the superior form of product~on in cooperatives is in the minority
with respect to the private farmer, in turn their productivity is greater.
Thousands of peasants are already enjoying the benefits of cooperation in our
rural areas.
E~ift~- percent of net earnings are distributed as profits among the partners. Of
the rest, 25 percent is used to amortize goods provided, 13 percent was placed in
ti~e expenditure fund, 8 percent went into the social fund and 4 percent was
earmarked for culture, recreation and sports.
Women :in the CPA's
~n important aspect of the cooperativization process is the integration of the
peasant woman into the cooperatives, which h~s been a constant and growing feature
during these past 3 years. At ~his time more than 30 percent of the members of
the CPA's are women. -
Generally, the cooperar_'_ve offers them a chance to work, which they did not have
before, and as the CPA's grow and develop, their chances to become a farce of -
great influence and change in the life of their families increases,
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The Past and the Present
The Cuban rural population, wrhose main occupation is agriculture, has tradition-
ally been oridely scattered in isolated liaus.es of which only 3 percent had
accepta'~le living con3itions. T~is means~that 97 percent of housing consisted of
typical ~uts witfi rmofs of palm leaf tFiatching, walls of palm frond fibers and
dirt floors. Of the total, only 12 percent had water installations and some
9 percent had electric ligbts.
After the victory of tfie revolution, rural housing settlemenrs were being built
by state brigades, settlements which became small towns, in some cases of separate
houses or fou~ ar five-story multifamily buildings. These buildings were provided
gratuitously and completely furnished, including basic househo~.d appliances -
(television and refrigerator).
These rural settlements are created on the basis of the sale of the l.and of
the small farmers for the creation of state farms, always within strict obser-
vance of voluntariness. In these cases, the peasants become the tenants of their -
_ habitations, Those who become workers in the co~unity become workers for wages,
receiving a wage according to the work they perform.
All citizens who live in these com~unities, as is natural, equally enjoy the
comforts, services and sports or cultural amusements offered. Production obtained
in these communities is distributed to society by the state.
However, the settlements of the CPA's, bav.e other characteristics. They produce
and sell to the state the fruit of their lahors collectively, taking a part of
the earnings to be distributed equally among tine partners, depending on the
iadividual contribution.
Undoubtedly any of these rural agricultural groupings immediately allows the
peasants to overcome a number of difficulties they faced in their scatrered and
generally isolated housing; lack of community services such as schoo~s, medical
care, shopping section, running water, electri~ lighting, communications, sewage
and so forth.
New Plans
It is obvious that this difference between the two types of groupings means a -
change in construction and distribution of housing. It is for these purposes
that the MINCONS, the ANAP and other agencies are msrging their efforts to
off.er the members of the CPA's some settlements, which because of their quality,
become incentives fo= cooperativization.
Since the first cooperative was created, there was concern not only for the
impro�Tement of housing but also ttiat the plan would contribute to increasing
productivity. A general improvement of all social aspects is sought by all this,
merging the integration of the territory with present and future economic
prospects, thus forestalling possible conflicts with subsequent development.
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All these points make the definition of a territorial policy necessary with
respect to tfie agriculturally based population settlements within the framework
of the development of the network of settlements. in Che country, in this manner
channeling the use of availahle resources in each region, and also for each phase
of tfie future, preventing tfie jeopardizing of the growth foreseen.
.
During the closing of the Fifth ANAP Congress, Commander in Chief Fidel Castro
said that tlie method used in some rural communities such as those of Triunvirato, -
Jimaguayu and otfiers, represent the method for facilitating the social and
economic development of the peasants.
However, this system requires oreat investments for which the country does not
have the necessary resources and, therefore, the i.ntegration of land cauld take
several years and neither our peasants nor our revolution can wait that long.
Analyzing these aspects and seeking to contribute to territorial consolidation,
merging present economic possibilities with the type of housing being proposed
and adapting it to the lifetime each of the settlements will have, the MINCONS
undertook the task of compiling and studying existing housing plans, evaluating
them in keeping with the peasant life style. It was f.ound that in the majority
of cases they cannot adapt to those requirements and are in concept styled f_or
urban conditions. -
_ The experiences of some socialist countries in this field were also researched.
It was extraordinarily interesting to find that a country with building resourcea
as vast ~s those of the Soviet Union in 1968 adopted the policy of greatly
favoring one and L-wo-stoxy buildings with family plots, buil.t directly by memb ers
oF cooperatives; leaving ~he most industrialized methods to the building activ ity
of the state and then only for multiple-story buildings in cities of more than
_ 20,000 inhabitants.
, Considering everything that was studied, and favoring the reciprocal influen~2
betwePn the progressive improvemeiit of the level of livability and the increase
in agricultural-livestock production, it is sought to raise the standard of living
in the rur.al area to benefit the policy which tends to balance it ~::~Cn that of
the urban area and simultaneously place a maximum curb on rural migration to t he
- city.
This means that a way is sought to provide realistic and progressive solutions to
accelerate the concentration of the scattered rural population, including that
housing which wi11 be affected by state agricultural plans, and that th'ys be done
with little state support, counting basically on the efforts of the peasants them-
selves so tliat it will be precisely they who help to change the environment which
sur.rounds them.
[1n Arcl:itect Speaks
Archite~t Salvador Gomila, director of the Technical Center for Housing and
Urbanism of MINCONS, tells us how this work is progressing: "We believe that
- it has beer a very interesting experience to work in a program which has com-
pletely deait with these aspects and which has truly offered some encouraging
resulta.
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"The important point is that ths tppe oi~ housing needed has, heen determined
a~ccording to ffie characteristics of the cooperativ~-, tak~ig into accouia~t the
changes that tlies,e aettlements- must undergo. .
"According *o tlie possihi:lities of thetr growtfi and their future size, we have
sought a starting po~nt so as to learn up to what point wP can channel the growth
which can be s.een for these peasant organizations.
"All this allows us to work on tfie future of the administration of housing;
how loans for their construction can be arranged, the prices they slsould have,
how they w311 be sold, t~ieir ownership and so forth.
"The basic idea has heen to try to offer the peasant a type of housing which
may be built by him, individually and with the support of the cooperative, and
which at the same time fills his own requirements.
"This mea.ns that we seek the possibility of selling them the plan with its
manuals for building it themselves, as explicit as possible, and even selling
them the 'packaged' materials, which means in the form of numbered packages to
facilitate the building sequence.
"We believ2 this system is going to make possible the participation of the masses
in the solution of an internationally serious problem with a greater use of
existing potentials. Its application is going to be feasible in the agricultural
settlements as well aG in the small cities.
"We believe this program is going to have a considerable influence, even compared
~uith tfie housing already being built in this phase. This means that the MINCONS
is making available all the necessary technical assistan~e but construction will be
decentralized and controlled by the cooperative.
"Some projects of economic temporary housing have been analyzed so that work m~y
be started, because the peasants could not wait for our studies. Some houses have -
already been built because we are working while on the way to improving the pro-
gr.am. T~-iat is the reason for the recently concluded competition by means of
which a varied number of plans were obtained.
' "Among those selected there ara those with housing of the types that ~rill last
between 15 and 30 years or more. In each case it has heen taken into account that
the materials and the building systems u~ed do not require special conditions nor
the need for complicated technology, but use local resourr_es. They are adaptable
to any tapography and have the poss.ihility of being arranged i.n groups af between
15 and 15Q or more hous.es.
"These aspects will be determined by the long range plans of the government
because there can be the case that a cooperative is l~eing developed now in a
zone where there is a small town without any prospects of developing snd the town
- ~hat has those prospects is very far away and there is nn way at this time to
_ transport the peasants to that area. We cannot ask them to ~rait 10 to 15 years to
integrate their cooperative and build their new housing. Tn that case, temporary
_ housing is built.
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"When the cooperative is located in an area of future development, then the
- hous.ing has to be of a hetter level. But if there are no means for hetter con-
struct ion, then temporary fiousing will have to he huilt b.ecause`it is cheaper.
That is why th~ economic improvement of the cooperative is i_mportant, since it
will be the cooperative, individual or callective m2nner,that will finance the
project.
"It is indispensable that we tae very clever in determining the type of settlement
and whare and with wh at cfiaracteristics it is going to be built. And within all
that, give it a set of minimum ~tandards so that buildings will not be erected
without advice on the proper methods.
"It is important that streets be traced and the proper size of the parcels of
each house be determined in keeping with the possibilities of the cooperative so
~that in those cases where it is feasible, they can keep some domestic animals
without posing a l~ealth prob.lem be~ause of their number. This, in turn, avoids
the uprooting o� the peasant's animals.
"Finally," concludes Architect Gomila, "it must be taken into account that the
country encourages economic planning and that one way of taking this to the masses
is for them to be the ones to apply it. That is one of the reasons all this is
being c~one in such a way that it will be the collective, as well as the individual
budget, which will decide the goals to be reached."
The Plans
The plans selected up to now tend to satify the needs of families ranging from
three to eight persons, consider tb.e life style of the peasants, and add areas
su~h as a grocery store and a place~ for field equipment, as well as more space
in kitchens, porches, sheds and so iurth.
- This year, the cooperatives will begin to receive printed plans. They will
include the lists and amounts of the principal materials. Profusely illustrated
do-it-yourself manuals, which in very simple form technically instruct cooperative
. members in the building of their houses, will also be added.
.Joint Work
Tf ~a..: consider the work remaining to be done to change the forms of production
_ oi~ alI the peasants, then we could think that very little has been done. How-
ever, it is necessary to consider the work these peasan~s are doing at the same
~iTne to promote their cooperatives, giving examples af organization, discipline and
~roductivity.
And -if we consider that there are thousands of peasants willing to join in the
cooperative~, then tY:e conclusion is reached that the work has progressed a
great deal. Nevertheless, we know that on the work of eacli peasant within the
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cooperative, its management and its example de~ends tbe increasing incidence of
work in cammon, and. tfierefore, tfie ~ver--growing success of tlis es.tahlished
ePA's.
- COPYRIGHT: BOHEMIA 1981
- 89Q8
CSO: 3Q10
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r'UK UP'P'1(;lAL US~; UNLY
COUI~TRY SECTION CUBA
- TRAINING OF SUGAR INDUSTRY TECHNICAL PERSONNEL STIIDIED
Havana BOHEMIA in Spanish 13 Feb 81 pp 60-63
[Article by Concepcion Duchesne: "Sugar and the Future"]
[Textl The imporfiance of the sugar industry in the Cuban economic picture is,
as is known, decisive, and this has been the main point in the shQrt, medium
and long range decisions made by the leadership of our revolution. The merger of
historical and climatic factors, productive tradition, configuration of markets,
the sure market for sales represented by the socialist communi~y with its
advantageous exchange conditions and the scarcity of other basic natural
resources, caused the sugar agr4industrial complex to occupy a place as our -
mos*_ important export product. This situation was perfectly explained by
Commander in Chief Fidel Castro in his report to the First Party Congress and _
emphasiz ed and expanded in the report to the Second Congress.
In this respect, it would be worthwhile to recall that of each peso in foreign
exchange of any type that enters our country, 85 centavos belong to sugar
industry production. This indicates that it is not only our main exportable
product and principal source of foreign e~change but that it virtually dominates
the national economy, determining its development and the chances for improving
the stan3ard of living of the people through tfie use of its revenues in the
process of new productive expenditures and in the purchase of durable consumer
goods, food and so forth. This means that the sugar industry represents one-
third of national revenues.
(1n the other hand, it is the main source of raw materials for developing other ~
production based on its agricu~tural and industrial byproducts. It is practical,
for example, to develop a branch of such great prospects as the sucrochemical
on the b asis of sugar. Let us remember that these specific possibilities were
ehpounded during the neocolonial republic by a11 revolu~ionary scientists and
economists, who with the weapon of criticism opposed the underdevelopment and the
imperialist distortion of our main industry imposed by the governing oligarcliy,
the obedient servants of the neighbor to the north. Thus, Fernando Ortiz,
~ Capero Bonilla, Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Nunez Jimenez, Sergio Aguirre, Pino
Santos, Moreno Fraginals, among others, far from maintaining iconoclastic
positions, maintained the dialectic analysis of evaluating the national prospects
of the sugar industry by displaying its potential for overcoming the results
~ of the distorting and exploi~ive use of single crop agricultur~ and the servile
surrender of sugar production to the imperialist, monopolistic centers of power.
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_ Comprehension of this unpostponable fact is contained im the development plans
- made by the revolution, which found a clear expression in tlie 1976-1980 5-year
period, in this one we are beginning (1981-1985) and 3.n the prospects up to the
year 2000, and in which Fidel has emphasized: "In the sugar industry, the
continued growth of our main exportable resource must be insured and the
diversification and expansion of sugarcane byproducts must be facilitated."
Role of Higher Education in Sugaa- Industry Development
Very well, what reply should higher education, the principal educator of highly
skilled per~onnel, give to these guidelines to specif ically guarantee this
harmonious and growing development?
We went to obtain the opinions of ~those who are responsible for this teaching
task in the Sugar Industry Faculty founded in 1976 in the Jose Antonio
Echeverria Superior Polytechnic Institute (ISPJAE), whose direct ancestor was the
branch created in 1972 in the Camilc Ci~~nfuegos sugarmill.
Of course this is not a matter of a"roundtable discussion" but a collective
exchange of ideas, shared questions, doubts and plans. For this purpose, we
requested tlie attendance of Engineer Eduardo O~ito, dean of the faculty; En~ineer
Ismael Gonzalez, assistant dean, and doctor candidate Ricardo Jorge Machado,
:-.~xi3.iary professor of the Economic Engineering DPpartment.
[Question] It seems to us that we should begin our conversation by explaining
a subject as important as the role of higher education in the economic develop-
ment of the country, particularly the function of the specialists trained in this
f aculty .
.
"Of course," ~:~~swers Machado, "because economy in education is a speciality
a~readv con:olidated in other socialist countries, one of whose most important
res~~_ts is to make clear things which were not seen 20 or 3a years ago; that the
- most strategic factor of a country is education, since it decides the economic
life of the country because it is linked to the education of the labor force,
- which is a decisi~re factor in the productive forces. In this respect, the dis-
tribution, use and optimum employment of the labor force i~ going to become an
important development factor, not only for the sugar industry, but for the
entire country.
"Sometimes, it must be said, awareness of the economic role of education is not
� rooted, not even in our own areas. I say that it is a strategic economic factor
in more than the short term (say 4 or S years) because what happens in the system
- of education has an effect in the creation of a slcilled labor force for decisive
periods of from 15 to 20 years.
"Short term s~olutions may be ~ought for such and such an industry but the strate-
~ gic solution is decided in the educational sphere, that is, the engineers we are
~ now graduating are the ones who are going to be deciding what takes place in
production in the period 1985-1986. Therefore, it is an important problem.
~
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"I believe it i~ an error to say that education is a simple superstructural
problem. It is linked to the economic base because it trains the productive
force. The quality of the latter is going to become the principal factor of
productivity and social and ~conomic development. It is not substantially the
equipment, the technological element whtch is important-~its importance cannot be
- magnified because it would be a teclinocrati~cal view of the problem--but the
~ human factor, the quality of the graduate, who in the case of the sugar industry
is going to work ~,ri.th the future of an entire nation.
"In short, the best talents must be brought to the faculty because of the strate-
gic importance their training has for the development of our principal industry.
I must say that our faculty is very new and tfiere has been no clear information
or dissemination of its possibilities and its obvious and undeniable importance."
A Qualitative Leap in Education
[Questior~] Machado, the Sugar Industry Faculty is of recent creation but we
believe you can help us to understand ite importance if we refer to the history
of sugar industry education in our country.
[Answer] 'I'his type of education suffered many shortcomings in the past. In 1907
a sugar industry school functioned in Cienfuegos and another was founded in Havana
_ in 1909. Up to that time all the agricultural technicians of a certain level
were English, North Americans, Germans or French. The key positions were he]3
hy ~oreigners whe came to Cuba, finished the harvest and 1eft.
The country's educational resources began to provide the industry with national
personnel as of that time, but with many restrictions.
In 1928, the Faculty of Agronomy was created in the University of Havana. However,
the agronomist knew about the agricultural technology of sugar but nothing aboiit
the mills. The Cienfuegos and Havana schools trained specialists in manufacturing
but they knew nothing about sugar, while other schools of various specialties
- trained the machinery operators, machinists and mechanics, and indeed there
~aas a small Tower of Babel because frvm the point of view of a common language,
there was no uniformity. These problems, for example, are not found in the chem-
ical or petroleum industries because all are uniformly trained; they speak the
same language. The same thing does not happen in the sugar industry because it
contains various specialties and the individual has to supervise several things
and technicians are trained little by little.
The foundation of the Sugar Industry Faculty means a qualitative leap in the
educational resources of the country because not only are agroindustrial engi-
= neers trained here with a view of the overall picture but at the same time,
they are trained in the practice of pro3uction. They spend months together with
sugar tecfinicians, a sort of micrcenviron.~ent is created in which the sugar
- industry and agroindustrial technologists understand each other better.
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Tr~ditionally, this faculty represents a qualitative leap, I insist, in the
history of the educational institutions devoted to training personnel for the
sugar industry because it makes it possible to create a common base where
specialists interxelated in their functions are trained, aware of the harmonioug
- merging of their tasks.
A Proper Policy of Attracting the Best Students
[Question] It is obvious that our revolution makes it possible to have access
to education in these vital specialties, but we would like to know the criteria
for the structure and makeup of the curriculum.
[Answer] At this time, the system for entering into higher education has as a
~esult the fact that the more outstanding students feel attracted to the special-
ties which are best known because of publicity or tradition: electronics,
- medicine and so forth, for example. However, in our specialties, there has not
existed up to now a systematic and sustained work to attract students of middle-
1eve1 education. That is why the student does not even know what an agroindus-
trial engineer or a sugar industry engineer does.
This results in a contradiction: It being the faculty which trains the higher
level technicians for the industry that provides the largest percentage of
_ foreign exchange to the country, it receives the students who have made it their
lOth choice and some have not even chosen it. In this fashion, the best talents
emerging from education go to other specialties, which although important, do
not have the degree of vital i.mportance ours have.
I believe that this question must be viewed as we view it: That our specialties
become known; that there be enough awareness among students of the importance
of these specialties and of their specific prospects so that the best talents of
this country will come to lend their services to the industry, which for a great
many years will resolve the problems of the development of the country.
We want to go, for example, to the L~nin School and give lectures to the students;
we want the press to talk about agroindustrial engineering, talk about the sugar
industry technician, talk about the future the graduate has in these engineering
specialties. We want the students to go to the sugarmills, because not aIl of
tliem are like the Martinez Prieto, whose conditions are not good. We have others
like the 30 de Noviembre, built a short time ago; we have the Espartaco, finally,
we have a nu~ber of research cen*_ers in the Ministry of the Sugar Industry,
where the graduate can project himself i~o the future with the greaz possibilities
of the byproducts, with the main problem of the country. I believe the publica-
tion of those things in BOHEMIA is going to be of great help to us in tlie area
of informing arid attracting specialists.
"Obviously," adds Comrade Eduardo Ojito, "this is a vital problem. We must stim-
- ulate the preuniversity students and make them aware so that they will knaw the
present sugar industry, its future needs and its part in the needs of the
_country.
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"The present total of our enrollment is 657 students, of whom 474 are taking day
courses and 183 the evening-night courses. If we make an overall estimate,
and taking into consideration that the efficiency of the faculty is 27 percent,
- 100 to 200 students may be graduated from the day courses. Beginning this year,
the various specialities will be increased and we have already 14 technologists
in sugar production. Oiiviously they are very few by comparison with the prospects
for development of the industry.
"If we graduate 60 every year, a very optimis~ic figure indeed, we would have
350 to 400 graduates in the 5-year period, which is the minimum for the drive fihe
sugar industry will have, since in this S-year period ~f 1981-1985 there will be
new sugarmills, and in the next 5-year period the construction of others or
some remodeling will be undertaken, in addition to the new factory for bagasse
panels and the paper mill, although bagasse is going to be a subject taught at
the Chemical Engineering Facul~y.
"As a result, it can be said that according to the enrollment that is entering,
that which exists and the needs foreseen, an intensive work is required for
attracting students to the faculty. Tfie enrollment we have now is 234 students
in the first year, a good number, which means that 130 to 150 could graduate,
however, if. what happened last year is repeated and of the 222 students who
entered only 70 were promoted to the second year, then the problem becomes more
- acute. That is why it is necessary to work to attract better talents to insure
efficiency and increase the number of graduates in keeping with the specific
needs of the development of the industry.
What is an Agroindustrial Engineer?
[Qu�stion,] How is the training of the agroindustrial engineer viewed with
respect to the requirements of the recently organized complexes?
"This specialty," says Gonzalez, "is being created precisely to respond to the
agroindustrial complex. For some years we have been graduating agroindustrial
engineers, whose role in the complex is vital. As you know, we are going to have
a complex in Havana, another in Madruga (Gregoriao Manalich), another in Holguin
(Urbano Noris), another in Santa Clara (.Uruguay) and this primary line.
"The agroindustrial engineer is the one who links agriculture to industry as f.ar
as the management of the comp].ex is concerned because he is a specialist in
the problems of managing the agricultural-industrial complex. He is an engineer
who has knowledge of agriculture and industry and who knows the principles of
scientific management.
"'I'h~ first group was graduated in 1975-1976. The figure today does not reach
100."
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Eduardo Ojito says: "I want to say mpre on the profile of the agroindustrial
engineer, because in addition to bei.ng able to work in the management of the
agroindustrial complex, which arould be tfie most he could do at an enterprise level,
he can also work in specif ic functions of management in agriculture and industry,
which means that he is not destined only for working in the management of the
agroindustrial complex, although his work as such would be the most useful there
because he also has knowledge, intellectual and practical tools for working in
what is the scientific organization of work within the sugar industry in the
sugarmill complex as a whole, or within a particular area within the cample~c.
On the other hand, he can also work in what is economic management and control
in the area of sugarcane agriculture or in a specific part of the sugarcane
agriculture complex. In short, he can fill different positions in the various
sectors of the~ complex, although, as we have said, his best perfarmance would
result from the degree in which he is able to perform a management activity in
the complex as a whole."
- "The need to train this type of engineer," adds Machado, "as my comrades have
- pointed out, resides in the fact that the sugar industry carried with it a number
of contradictions within the factory. As is known, there are those who argue
that a sugar factory is three factories: One which grinds sugarcane, another
whicn makes sugar and another which produces sCeam. Each of these factories has
a chief and it usually happens that these three chiefs have differences because
= they have a one-sided training, since the educational resources of the country
for many years did not have the gossibilities of training these specialists
harmoniously, specialists whose language was not the same and therefore they
could not understand each other completely.
"The agroindustrial engineer, on the other hand, is capable of speaking a
- language common to the three chiefs. Z`here lies his importance because these
internal conflicts had been undermining the efficiency of the industry. There
were not only differences with agriculture, which is important, but, for example,
they existed between the chief of machinery and the chief of manufacturing. The
agroindustrial engineer places both of them in contact and creates an atmosphere
of mutual understanding because he masters the various aspects of sugar manu-
facturing technology: machinery, agricultural biology and the agricultural tech-
nology of the sugarcane. This man can play the role o� coordinator of the
activity and optimize the various areas of industry and agriculture.
"Of course, he must have a number of personality traits, since it is supposed that
many of them will be management personnel. The idea of their training was pre-
cisely that: A career for management cadres with the suitable capability to
channel the will of a group of inen in terms of specific objectives."
Technologist in Sugar Production; Technciogist in Fermentations
[Question] How could we describe the other two specialties taught in the
faculty?
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Eduardo Ojito answers: "The sugar production technologist is capable of
- supervising, managing or transforming teclinological processes of sugar production
from the point of view af the physical and chemical transformations, which means
from the extraction of the juice in the tandem, its passage through the centrifUge
to the storage of the sugar. This entire chain of technological flow is his
responsibility: how the largest amount of sugar possible can be extracted; how
ind.ustrial yield is optimtzed and increased; how the best quality of sugar is
nbtained and how the technological process can be made more ~conomical and
efficient. In my opinion, he is one of the most important technicians in the
sugar-making industry.
"The role of the technologist in fermentations is of extraordinary importance;
he has a very defined field of development and of significant importance in this
5-year period.
"Although that specialty will not begin to be taught as such in the faculty until
1982, the necessary foundations have already been established. Let us remember
everything that the productic+n of byproducts means from the point of view of the
microbiological process such as the production of torula, livestock fe~ds, the
saccharomyces (the brewing or breadmaking yeast), alcohols, amino acids, a
_ number of productive items of great prospects for development.
- "The need is posed of training 60 fermentation technologists in each course. How-
ever, 45 is a good number, normal Within the limits of requirements because it Is
a specialty that is going to be used in the 10 present torula plants, besides the
10 which will be built. Moreover, an amino acid plant is going to be built and
the distilleries will be expanded and modernized. Tn short, it is necessary that
in this, as in the other specialties, we have enthusiastic persons capable of
- placing their intellect at the service of the research and management of the
complex agroindustrial processes of sugarcane. 'I`hat i.s the reason for the
insistence by my comrades in obtaining a suitable dissemination of information
on its prospects and for the attraction of the best talents."
A Future Rich in Prospects
[Question] Although during our conversation we have more or less explicitly
referred to the prospects and developmer~t of the sugar industry, ~a understand
~ that this suhject could be briefly delved into because it is a matter, as you
have explained, of providing an incenti�Je for the students...
~jito emphasizes: "T:~is subject is exciting, not only to us who are, as it is
said, in love with our work, but for anyone who is interested in the development
oF tile country. It must be well understood that it is necessary to transform
the sugar industry and take it to its highest technological levels, as Comrade
I'idel has instructed repeatedly. There is an infinite field of work in the
sugar industry--it is not a sectarian e.~caggeration--in terms of the trans-
Formation of the industry itself, which ia undergoing a significant development,
with spe~ific research centers making possible the display of the intellectual
and scientific capabilities of our graduates. Moreover, it must be understood
that the sugar industry is also a food industry which has to undergo a great
transformation. Fidel has pointed out this fact in the sense that as a food
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industry it h~s its specific requirements and speci~ications. In this fashion,
the sugar industrq is undergoing technological transformations wTiich require
specialists with a higfi degree of initiative and discipline. That is why it is
necessary that tfie most important specialties he given publicity, that infor-
mation on them b.e disseminated and that all those who have anything to do in this
- work give their best efforts. For example, tfiis excfiange of opinions with
BOHEMIA is of great interest for us.
"Hut together with what we have proposed, or better yet, outl,ined, we must say
that environmental changes are fieing undertaken in the sugarmill complexes, that
is, material incentives to some points in the wage reform as well as the creation
of new conditions in the co~plexes. We know that this is not a problem about
which people usually think: a complex which is far awaq, without proper con-
ditions and so forth. But when we confirm that this probable situation is being
overcome in an irreversible manner, we see that prospects and incentives are
palpable and together with this there are the technological transformations which
are being carried out. The young person has to evaluate all these elements in
which the moral and material factors are combined because it is a need of the
economic development of the country and because chances for improvement and ful-
fillment are opened to him.
"Just think, the 30 de Noviembre sugarmill complex says it needs 25 profession-
als. If we suppose that 15 should be sent to each complex, some 2,000 tech-
nicians would be needed for some 150 sugarmill complexes. This means that
opportunities are practically infinite in the sugar industry itself, besides
those in the byproducts industry."
"At this time," says Machado, "bagasse panels have a price three times higher
than the price of sugarcane itself or the torula which has an elastic market
which accepts a good part of what may be produced.
"Tn a seminar on chemistry held in the Academy of Sciences, there was talk about
sugar industry problems already resolved at the laboratory level, textile fibers
from sugarcane, research in the food industry in light industry and so forth.
"It is a matter of understanding that the strategic future of the country has to
be defined on the basis of its own natural conditions and ours indicate that
we profit from producing sugar, whose plants possess a number of very strange
properties which favor an even greater exploitation of the sugar through its
many applications in b.yproducts.
jQuestion] Since we are speaking of stimulating an interest in these specialties,
it seems to us that it would be useful, if you agree, to recall the words of our
heroic guerrilla when he inaugurated the Cuban Institute for Sugarcane Byproducts
Research (ICIDCA):
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"The experience of our scientists has already shown. that the possibilities
- of using sugarcane bqproducts may mean enormous amounts of assets for the country,
and they may even turn sugar, in the course of time and the development of tech-
nology, into a marginal product, while the chemica]. products derived from the
transformation of sugarcane will be the ones which will have the greatest impor-
tance in the value of production."
COPY.~IGNT: BOHII~IA 1981
a9os
~c = 3~1.0
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COUNTRY SECTION CUBA
RAILWAY PROBLEMS TAKEN UP IN ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Havana BOHEMIA in Spanish 30 Jan 81 pp 16-21
[Report of roundtable spansored by BOHEMIA, with journalists Alberto ~'ozo, tiead of
the economic section; Gregorio Hernandez, of the economic section; and Luis Toca,
graphic department, participating]
(Textj The building of the r~ew Cuban central railway obviously is one of the infra-
- structure projects with the highest priority at the present stage in national develop-
ment. However, the functional service it provides, basically transporting passengers,
suffers from a complex of shortcomings accumulated throughout recent years and is as a
result a constant concern of our goverment and party, as well as the part of the popu-
lation which uses this service.
- Based on this situation, and in view of the fact that profound steps designed to
iuodify this state of affairs have been undertaken, we invited to this BOHEMIA round-
table the leadership team of the Western Division, the most important of this
national railway administration which territorially covers the provinces of Pinar
del Rio, Havana, ~ity of Havana and Matanzas, that is to say,from Guane to Los Arabos.
- The following comrades participated as members of the panel:
Alvero Montero, division director; Luis Hurtado, assistant director; Edel 5omoano,
ctrief of the rail service inspectorate; Domingo Verdaja, director of the
Western Traction Enterprise; Calixto Palazon, administrator of the October Revolution
workshop; Luis Salgado, head of division operations; Geo Rene Garcia, director of the
Western Ra.ilroad Cars Enterprise; Lazaro Solis, chief of personnel and cadres; and
Esteban Marturel, in charge of training. Also present were comrades Luis Avila,
chief of control and inspection; Nilda Castro, in charge of operations; and Sebastian
Rodriguez, head of the passenger department.
Th~ following~ then, are the questions asked and the answers given.
_ [Question] The natiori.~l trains are confronting operational difficulties, in particular
delays in schedules and departure and arriva'i times. What is the reason for them and
what is being done to correct them?
Luis Hurtado: It is a fact that our national passenger trains have encountered
difficulties throughout this five-year period. We are preparing a report in which we
analyze the development of these trains in the years between 1970 and 1980, and we
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believe that the observance of scheduleddepartures is really very poor. In 1980, there
was some recovery, wiCh 50 percent of the departures and 40 percent of the arrivals on
time, although we still have a raCher difficult situation.
We are still far from achieving the quality of firsr-class service, air condir.i.oning,
etc, for which the customer pays. These trains have complex technology, technolc~gy
we have not yet been able to operate on the level needed for maximum service to the
benefit of the public.
Here there is another group of problems which also have their effect. Everyone knows
that in these ~ast five years there has been and still is intensive work on rebuilding
tne railway. Along many sections, in this rebuilding, the new track parallels the old
- one, and this has caused serious difficulties, with many derailments, not so much for
passenger trains as for freight trains, but obviously there were many interruptions
along the traclc and the nonnal rotation of th~: railroad cars, both passenger coaches
and locomotives, has been affected. In other words, the trains have not arrived on
time. Also, the breakdown of discipline has been a major factor to an equal extent.
Tn this connection we should say that we began in 1980 to see an improvement in this -
discipline, due to the organizational measures being carried out and tt~at~ks to the
application of decree laws 32 and 36, authorizing harsh penalties for workers and
chiefs who do not carry out their duties.
In 1981, this process of improvement which is already to be found on national passenger
trains should increase. In railway construction as such, the sections which are being
put into use in the eastern provinces and which will be put into service in the first
quarter of 19$1 will make it possible to re,:uce the interruptions along the route.
On the other hand, serious work is being done to complete some of the most important
investments in our workshops. Investments, I repeat, the training of personnel, the
rebuilding of the railway, to which substantial new lines in the eastern provinces
will be added in this first quarter, should make it possible to provide efficient
service in 1981. The western division operates 96 passenger trains daily, as well
as the 6 national ones. All of the work of the division, everything achieved in the ~
rest of the services, affects the aational passenger trains.
- Al~aro Montero: I would like to point out two things.
- One has co do with the operation of the railroad cars, th~t is the passenger coaches.
The basic percentage of violations of prompt departure time for trains has tu do with
tht coaches. To eliminate this problem steps have been taken at the workshops of the
[Jestern Railroad Car Enterprise, located in Luyano, which services this fleet. These
inc.lude organization measures, retraining of personnel, innovations which needed intro-
duction, because without a doubt there was a problem with re~placement cars, Iet us say
d~~ring 19$0. In tht, peak months--June, July, August and September., above all the first
tl~ree--a difficult situation developed with frenn gas which is used in the cooling equip-
ment. On an average, due to l~mit~tio~s in the supply nf this gas, 2.5 pic~ces of equip-
ment were out of ser.vice, while at other times other pieces of equipment were c~ut of
service due to parts pro~lems.
But behind these obje.ctive problems with the railroad cars, there are also and without
- a doubt a series of problems which had been concealed and still are being, involving
a low level of demand with regard to quality, negligence in the work, lack of consis-
tent training of the personnel such as to provide us with work ers highly qualified to
repair railroad cars such as these, which are sophisticatec~: Work is being done along
this line as we11.
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And another problem we must take up is that nothing is gained simply by insuring that
a national train leaves its base in Havana on time. For if it is important that it
leave Havana on time, iE is equally important that it depart from the interior af the
country, from Santiago, Holguin, Tunas, or Camaguey, on time. For obviously, when
the:~e trains are running behind, this has an effect on the preparation and care of
these trains which must depart from Havana again. This is a problem which affects the
other provinces in the country as well, and we believe that perhaps the rest of the
provinces also need such worker training.
_ A heavy investment p1an, which without a doubt will yield its first results in coach
technology as such, has been undertaken. In other words we are training 140 men in
the Luyano workship as electricians, mechanics, etc, and this will also improve the
opportunities for productive work quality by the labor force.
[Question] The "peak months" represent a major problem. Have steps been taken _
_ avoid the unpleasant situations in which the travelers sometimes practically "attack" ~
the trains?
Luis }iurtado: What has traditionally happened every summer is that we did not maintain
reserves. We put into service everything we had and when there werz problems with -
the equipment for the causes mentioned above, during the peak we have mentioned, we
were left without reserves. In the final an~lysis, we were committed to these exc~sses
of demand and then were relying on the same fleet as we had had in ser_vice, and what
occurs is lag after lag, accumulating to the point of 10 and 12 hour delays on the
- national passenger trains.
Our work has been full of shortcomings. There is one very important thing which irri-
tates the people a great deal, and this i.s incorrect information on the reason for
this delay, these lags.
What is happening with this problem of "attacks" on the trains? Let us say that the
- train is going to depart at 2000 hours. The Holguin train departs at 1955 hours, that
from Tunas at 2200 hours, and that �rom 5anti~go-Guantanamo at 2353 hours. When these _
trains are late, all of their passengers come together in the station terminal. This
makes 2,100 passengers together, which is practically uncontrollable. When the time
comes for the train to depart at 2000 hours, these passengers are all still here, and
then a public avalanche which it is practically impossible to control occurs. The only
_ solution to this, apart from the other measures adoptPd such as the remodeling of the
terminal, coordination with the PNR [National Revolutionary Police], to avoid these
"attacks" on the trains, etc, is to guarantee punctuality. For this is what happens -
first, but in addition to having 2,000 passengers together in the terminal there is _
no possibility of pcoviding services for them. The buffet service cannot accommodate
them, and the bathroom and san~tary facilities are inadequate too. There is not
enough cold water for them and nowhere to sit. The only real, practical solution to
this problem is to guarantee that the trains depart on time.
For if train no 5 has reservations in Matanzas for Holguin, Colon, etc, for example,
and the passengers in Havana take these seats, when the train arrives at these places,
these towns, the passengers from these places find that their seats are taken. The
only solution, and the old railroad men say so, is to keep to the schedule.
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Alvaro Montero: The important thing here is to say that there can be no doubt that
- the "attacks" on the trains have occuried. In the early months of 198U I went to
the people's government authorities and ti-ie police in Colon, asking for their co-
operation, in Los Arabos and at the Colon station itself, where "attacks" on the
trains were constantly happening. Even with the conductor carrying out his duty,
these "attacks" occurred, mainly on Monday mornings and Sunday nights, and Che
organizations in Colon and Los Arabos gave us their support and this was resolved.
But the conditions at the stations also contribute to this. Currently we are
remodeling the central station in Havana. Why? To provide somewhat better conditions -
_ and technological facilities, if we msy call them that, to insure discip'ine among the -
passengers within the terminal premises. All o~ this will lead to a substantial
improvement in order on the trains and, naturally, will be accompanied by a series of -
disciplinary measures we have had to adopt with the conductors and stewards who were
unable to keep order on the trains. For if there is a steward at the entrance to a
coach he should not allow unauthorized persons to enter it.
- [Question] I'here has been a systematic breakdown of discipline in the personnel
engaged in platform activities, to the detriment of the quality of service. What is
being done to eliminate this evil?
Alvaro Montero: Without question, the railway must be an orf;anization with discipline
- very like that in the military. In a11 countries in the world there are railway _
disciplinary regulations. These are inviolable rules. Th~a errors which may occur in
other sectors of the economy cannot be allowed in railway operations in many cases,
because this would cost lives and have an incalculable impact from the economic point
of view.
Railroad discipline was breaking down and the regulations governing this discipline '
were failing. Now r_hen, the promulgation of decree laws 32 and 36, along with a _
higher level of demand on the management level, strong party and trade union support,
have made it possiblp to reestablish diseipline, both in the labor and technical
sectors, according to the r.eeds of the railway system. This has made it possible for -
us to achieve a leap in quality on labor discipline problems today, not only from the -
- point of view of the worker but also, where there was much to be desired, from the
point of view of the management on the various railway operations levels because in
railway activities, those in charge have a great deal of influence on the general
operational work as such. An improper or thoughtless decision by a superior can give -
= rise to other discipline problems among the workers. The Havana urban buses now have
their own regulations, and this year we will have them for the railway.
[Q?~estion] Service on the trains has suffered from serious problems. Have any
specifi_c steps been taken with visible positive results?
Edel Somoano: In reality we have had problems with the efficiency of our work, to
which the first contributing factor has been the lack of an overall system for
service on the trains, which linked with difficulties encountered with certain supply
requests ha.s resulted in the insufficient quality of the service offered.
In the early months of last year, we were faced with the failure of supply enterprises
to deliver localized products: ham, chicken, smoked pork loin. We also had problems
with beer and soft drinks. This situation was normalized, and a good supply of products
was achieved during 1980.
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In direct connection with the quaYity c;f services, the lack of exigency on the part
o� sotne_.buffet. managers, fa.i.lure- .to observe.labo-r regulations, and also, .in the cases . -
concerning Che train~, violations of the norms, contributed directly. It has often
happened that with a product on board the train, it was not made available, and o~ten
when tliere was ari opportunity to request it from the commissaries or inter.nediary
_ stations, an incorrect quantity was reque~~ed, that is to say not enouph to meet the
demand`s of the customers. Also in some cases situations occurred wit~ bread, so that
- when passengers asked there was not br~ad enough to make snacks. There were not many
- cases, but they did occur, especially in Las Villas and Camaguey, which are the
central places where there is the most preasure. There was also the problem of
electricity, because sometimes the lights failed and there was no way to supply the
trains. We also have the situation of the restaurant cars. Som~ national trains
depart without them, for technical equipment reasons. Also there have been breakdowns
during operation, so that cold drir~ks could not be provided. Often even when there
was chicken, we could not serve it hot, and all of these things have their effect on _
poor service quality.
[QuestionJ Were these problems ob jective or were there subjective factors contributing
to poor service quality?
Somoano: I believe that the major itq of these problems with service quality had to -
do with the lack of exigency on the part of our restaurant car managexs on board the
trains.
[Question] What steps were taken?
Somoano: In those cases we learned of officially, we dismissed personnel from their ~
posts. We applied decree law 36 where buffet managers are concerned and decree law
32 for workers, and there have been a large number af comrades for whom these measures
were invoked and the results have been magnificent.
[Question] Are there further objective problems, or is it a question of Che profes- -
sional skill of the workers providing this service?
Somoano: Service has been improving gradually. We were assigned the task of drafting
a plan, a proposal, for the improvement of present and future services, both on board
the trains and at the terminal stations, that is to say the main ones, where cafe-
terias and other facilities are concerned. We also have some new carts in operation,
staffed by comrades who sell snacks, beverages, fruit and cigarettes...whatever goods
the customer wants at the moment, direct to the consumers. They are now in use on Che
Havana-Santiago trains.
[Question] At the Cienaga workshops we learned of some problems in organization and
efficiency af�ecting the rate of production and quality. What can you tell us about
this? -
Domingo Verdeja: We would like to divide the question into two aspects: objective
problems and subjective problems. The beginning of the year 1980 was without a doubt
unfavorable. In the last days of 1979 we received the TEM-4 locomotive fleet based in
- Camaguey. These locomotives were equipment with a new technology for our workshops
and workers, although they had been in use for 16 years. The introduction of this new
technology caused pro~lems for the personnel dealing with the equipment, and in
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additio.n.there was the problem of machine personnel, which was also.insufficiently
~ trained in the handling of this equipment. Along with these we have the French MGO
locomotives for maneuvering, with a fleet of 25. Because of problems in improper
operation in 1979, 18 had to be repaired, which means that at the be~inning of these
years, the cycle of these locomotives was more than 80 percent, and thus they began ko
cause problems.
We also deal with the Fiat coaches. The Fiat motor coaches are vehicles which, although
Chey were recently purchased, have some deficient camponents. This equipment began to
arrive in 1976. It arrived and we did not have all of the conditions for their
optimal exploitation. To this must be added problems of discipline, lack of exigency,
and quality, rather difficult problems to resolve in these cases.
During the year 198U we devoted special attention to training. There were a number
of training and advanced qualification courses. You have spoken of the Rufino
Gonzalez School. It is not under our da.rect jurisdiction, but rather that of the
division's department of training, and it is there, where we are concerned, that the
engineers and engineers' helpers are trained. In our workshops, both in Cienaga and
at October Revolution, electricians and air, truck and other mechanics are trained and
the theoretical studies provided at Rufino Gonzalez are supplemented where the
engineers and helpers are concerned.
In practice, between the courses completed and those in progress at this time, more -
than 150 young people passed through ~hese classes in 1980.
It would be well to note the high level of repairs we had to carry out this year. To
have an idea of the magnitude of this task, the record number of repairs carried out
at the Cienaga workshop was 63 pieces of equipment, in 1976. To reach this figure, '
it was necessary to include 25 Hungarian DUM-9 locomotives from Camaguey. In 1980,
with our fleet, we set the historic record, with the repair of 92 pieces of equipment.
This in practice reveals a development in the repair sector of more than 40 percent. We
hardly added to the percentage of workers in order to achieve this 40 percent increase.
However, there is an improvement where discipline is concerned. At the beginning of
this past year, 1980, absenteeism was running between 6 and 7 percent. The level at
which we ended the third quarter of this year was below 3 percent, because due to the
discipline level, involvement of more than 4 percent of the physical workers in labor
activity was achieved in practice. Work was done throughout this stage on a plan for
organizing the repair flow, ~ncluding plans not only for dates equipment would arrive
and depart, but also the time each component would be d�isassemblad and remounted.
The comrades providing service on board trains complained that the refrigerators did
not keep things cold. In these past five years, we have hardly received a single
replacement part for this equipment. Units are being adapted so that at the beginning
of the year all of the motor coaches will have functioning refrigerators, so as to be
able to respond to this camplaint by the comrades offering service on board, who in
their turn must cooperate with us, because these refrigeration facilities are not
intended to cool, but to maintain cold. Therefore drinks should be cold when they are
placed in them.
However, I believe that there is extraordinary activity by the political groups, the
trade union and the youth, which, with the contribution of decree laws 32 and 36, has
enabled us to end the year under rather favorable conditions--conditions which have
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_ contributed not only from the point of view of repairs, but also operations, with the
doubling during the year of the number of locomotives put into service.
(Questi.on] We learned of the existence of heavy absenteeism affecting the repair of
locombtives, among other things, at the October Revolution Workshop. Are these and
other negative situations continuing or have there been achievements?
Cal~.xto Palazon: In October 1979, the level of absenteeism for the whole center was
9.7, and in the month of November it was 4.4. However, in October 1980, overalY
~'bsenteeism at the center was 2.3, and in November, 1.9. When we analyze the work-
shop specificially, we see th~t there was absenteeism of 8.3 in October 1979, while '
in ~ctober 1980 it was 3.8. In the month of November 1979 it was 7.6, and in the
same month of 1980, the figure was down to 3.4 percent. As can~be seen, success has
been achieved in connection with absenteeism.
'I'here is also absenteeism among the young people, who because of the characteristics
of our center are not accustomed to night work, abov : all on Saturdays and Sundays.
For our center works round the clock, and every day of the year, holidays or not,
rain or shine, because the equipment must be finished, and with the young people we
have many problems in this connection. However, among the older comrades, who are
accustomed to this type of work, ther~ is not so much evidence of absenteeism.
Alvaro Montero: It is at this work center, the October Revolution Workshop, that
- ~::he results of collective work by the trade union, the administration and the party
can best be seen. Here we have not only achieved the reduction Comrade Palazon spoke
of from the point of view of absenteeism, but another very important modality has
been put to use. The engineers, in order to be able to take retraining courses for -
the various types of locomotives, must leave production. However, what is being done
on the initiative o� the workers' movement at this center? As there is a shortage
of personnel, the engineers have all been taking requalif ication courses at schools
scheduled for various hours of the day, without having to 2eave the train. They
return from the Santa Clara run and go to the course, and there they earn requalifi-
~ cation. We have already graduated the first 20 comrades from such courses.
[ Ques tion~ From various sources we know that there are serious discipline probLems
and even accidents in the division yards, affecting the normal provision of service,
both for passenger and freight traffic. What is being done to eliminate this problem?
Luis Salgado: There were certain difficulties in 1980 at the railway junction yards
in Havana, as a result of the derailments which occurred on a number of occasions because
of the condition of our tracks, which have been in use for more than 6U years. Another
oroblem was absenk.eeism, along with the lack of exigency on the part of superiors. The
.~bjective problems and lack of discipline among the personnel led to the fact that
erains were net made up and services provided to the customers on time. This led to
the whole problem of congestion at the yards. The work at the yards is very important,
because if good work is not done there, the trains cannot dep~.rt on time. The yard
personnel is getting the same treatment from iis as the ro2d personnel, since all per-
sonnel serves at some time there, in the yards. In other wards, when you join the
= railroad, as a stoker, brakeman or engineer, you must begin at the yards, working two
_ or three thousand hours there.
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There was the idea that the yards v~ere rehabilitation centers, because penalized
personnel were sent to wor.k there. This has beet~ eliminated. The yard p~-zonnel is
being given thp importance, the treatment, it deserves. An asseu~bly is held at all
- the yards, with all the workers participating, every week.
[Question] Isn't there a plan for the Havana central junction?
Alvaro Montero: By means of ineasures currently underway, we have practically eliminated
derailments. Where do they accur? In the yards, due to the old junctions, crossties,
limited drainage and great age of the yards, which are 60 years old, as Comrade
Salgado has rightly said. The construction of new yards is included in the plans for
railway reconstruction.
What has the ministry administration approved? Well, repair work. The process of
rebuilding the Havana yards will begin in 1981. The administration of the Ministry of
Transportation has given priority to attention to the technical condition of the yards
within the development activities for 1981.
How will this process of rebuilding develop? It encourages us railroad t.ien greatly to
- undertake this reconstruction. In addition, we will basically resolve the railway
problems in Havana, but this will have to be done in the midst of work. That is to
say, the work cannot stop, nor can industry or the make-up of trains in operation. We
will be building one track while the trains use another. In fact, we are studying how
to do this. It is a serious matter. All of us railroad men ;aill be put to the test.
The organization of the railway is a test, a task, a clock--bulldozers, motor graders,
motor excavators. After they finish, shape the embankment, install the line and go on
to another, we will under these conditions progress toward the camplete reconstruction
of the yards. To this end we have the resources the ministry has allocated. Yards
are being put together of concrete and switches produced in Cardenas. In addition,
plans call for the earth-moving brigade~ of the MITRANS [Ministry of Transportation]
Conscruction Enterprises to do the road infrastructure work.
In this whole problem of struggle to reestab7ish railway traditions in order to
improve our service, even under present conditions, we have established a switch
factory in Cardenas producing this basic railway route element, the switch. It should
be said in passing that in addition to the fact that they are very expensive on the
world market, fox they cost about 12,000 or 14,000 pesos, there are none, none are
available. In 1980, 91 switches were produced and in 1981, at least 300 will be pro-
duced. This is very important, because this is an item which cannot be found, and
in addition, it represents one of the basic railroad problems at this time.
Salgado: The personnel supervisors in the yards must know the railroa.d. They must
necessarily be railroad men in order to be yard foremen. On promotion, an assistant
y~~�d foreman becomes yard foreman, a yard foreman becomes yard super.visor, then
ch~ef of station, and so on. However, what a contradiction! It is known that wages
are lower than established for road services and this is heing examined in a general
way, but the pr~blem is that a train conductor earns 177 pesos. This is the wage
established by scale, the fixed wage, and an A-c~tegory yard supervisor, because there
are A, B and C categories, earns 163. This means that logically a yard supervisor
_ would be better off as a conductor, if he left the yard. The conductor has certain
advantages in addition: he is on the line, works fewer days, has his meals when he is
traveling, etc. In adciition, supposing that other conditions are equal, and he earns
177 and the A-category yard supervisor, who bears tremendous responsibility, earns 163
pesos, what in and of itself will this produce? The fact that the supervisors
currently are not the best trained.
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Wage reform will improve the wage increase for each individual in the proper pro-
portion, and in s~ddition, coordinated work is being done by the highest level in our
ministry with the State Labor and Social Security Ca~ittee, to study and propose
eolutions to these and other matters essential to railroad operation.
[Question] Everyone knows how important the improvement and efficiency of the d~mestic
port-transportation-economy chain is. Where the railr+oads are concerned, how is the
removal of freight from the port of Havana developing?
Luis Hurtado: With regard to the port of Havana in particular, we are in a good
position. We have achieved a cumulative 105 percent, and we believe that with the
modest contribution we are making, the port can fulfill its plan. We have organized
extra labor days and we have assigned equipment, special equipment to serve yard
trains, yard services to serve the port directly, and to the extent that we have been
making these advances in removing freight, these railroad cars taking freight out,
we are carrying out our task at the port. We have had months in which we have hauled
50,000 tons aF~ay from the port instead of the 20 or 25 thousand we have promised.
_ [Question] At the Western Railroad Car Enterprise, there have been difficulties
with repair quality and prompt delivery of the railroad cars, contributing to the
delay in train departures. Has this picture changed? ~
Geo Rene Garcia: It is equally true that our activity is basic with regard to the
_ whole process of scheduling national train~, and one factor we might ca~.l decisive
- is quality, also evidenced by the comrades providing service on board. This had 1ed
to a profound and detailed analysis by the enterprise of its difficulties, in view
of the great transportation demand in the months of June to September, leading to
intensive use of the railroad car park. This is related to the shortcomings in the
quality of maintenance and repairs, just as this is caused by the lack of a large
_ number of parts and materials imported in inad~quate quantities, hindering us
greatly.
_ Cu.rrently we can say that the equipment being repaired is subjected to complete
restoration in terms of external and internal cleaning, as well as bearing in mind
the allowable parameters the fleet must in fact have.
Lazaro Solis: Going further into all of the comrades' complaints about discipline,
basically, we can say that with its strengthening and the appeal to the workers them-
selves, what we are seeking to express is a new style of work. The application of
decree laws 32 and 36 has given us an opportunity to reestablish a part of the labor
discipline. This has been a constant struggle in our sector. Up to 1979, absenteeism
in any activity involving locomotives znd also the roadways ranged always between
- 9 and 10 percent. In the workshops it was 6 and 7 percent, and this remained stable.
During 1979, 857 measures were implemented, in the midst of a situation which made
their application difficult. However, by the month of October 1980, 2,965 measures
had been implemented, 591 of them involving final dismissal.
Alvaro Montero: So that we can understand the situation which existed here, the dis-
missal of 591 from an enterprise which has more than 10,000 workers comes to more
than 5 percent. Naturally, this was the least desirable element, but, well, they ~
were railroad men and this is a serious thing. Now, in an analysis of the factors -
which hurt us most and still do, we came to unjustified absenteeism. A total of
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1,736 measures were implemented because of unjustified absenteeism alone. We have
had 74 for lack o� respect to superiors, 31 for disobedience, 259 for negligence,
1 for mistreatment, etc.
Let us also speak of decree law 36, becauae in our division, since this measure has
- been in effect, we have also begun to apply it to those leading comr~des and
employees who act negligently in given situations which confront them in their
official positions. And we can say that currently 116 measures have been imple-
mented, ranging from warnings to permanent dismissal.
[Question] Recently the division has hired personnel on a high level without
adequate training. What is being done to improve their labor quality? ~
Esteban Maturel: In 1980, 81 courses were offered, 47 for qualification and 34 for
advanced training, and 2,657 workers studied various specialties in them. In addi-
tion, an old desire of the railroad work ers, which was to reach the middle level of
education, has been actively sought. Also at the Jacinto Garcia Espinosa Techno-
logical Institute, 200 students are being trained in various railroad technological
specialties as middle-level technicians.
[Question) Are the intermediary supervisors as demanding as they should be to i
guarantee efficiency in the results of the work?
Alvaro Montero: I think that many of the shortcomings noted in the railroad system
throughout this time were precisely influenced by a low level of demand from the
supervisors, above all on the intermediary level. In other words, the work of the
intermediary ~uperior, the station chief, the yard supervisor, the dispatcher, the ~
shift foreman in the workshop, the brigade foreman, has a tremendous influence on
the railroad system. These men basically operate the railroad, not the high manage-
ment levels. It is this team of cadres on this level which makes the railroad
function, and in reality, this has to do with the problem we have been discussing--
the lack of regulation, the lack of adequate cadre training, the lack of wages to
encourage the railroad men themselves to aspire to be supervisors. And this is a
phenomenon which has been seen here, for many of these posts have been occupied by
supervisors who are not railroad men. Traditionally there was a line of promotion
in the railroad. The supervisor who was a supervisor got there by beginning on the
line, as a brakeman, conductor, engineer or station chief. Thus he could ri3e to be
what they called superintendent of operations, today called the assistant director
for operations. But in the railroads, as a result of the breakdown in the system,
the time came when supervisors were "improvised," and as they were not sufficiently
trained, the truth is they began to make blunders. This has slowly been improving
and the results can be seen in the work.
[Question] From what you have said then, will the various measures be organized to
pursue an advancement policy within the sector?
Alvaro Montero: An excellent question. We are in a position to operate as the
rai.lroads have alw~ys operated. For example, thanks to steps taken by the ministry
administration, we have been authorized by the Cuban organs of peoples' government
in Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, etc, to give priority in employment by the railroads to
children of railroad workers and members of their families. This represents an
important step in the education and training of our personnel. In coordination with
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our trade union, we have now insured that personnel enrolling in the various courses
~far engineers, conducLOrs and workshop employees work on the line first, making appli-
- cation from there. After six months we say to them "you have a right to enroll in
the following courses." As it was before. This, then, will lead to effective advance-
ment for all personnel. In other words, by this means it is possible to recover the
meaning, traditions and pride in heing a railroad man.
[Queation] Have accidents increased or declined in the division?
:Luis Hurtado: If we look at the cold figures, we must admit that accidents have
increased. However, this is not the reality. Forty pErcent of all the accidents are
due to causes external to the railroad. There are obstructions on the line, collisions
with nonrailroad vehicles, animals, people, etc. In the whole of 1980, there was not
a single class A accident in the division. Class A is the most aerious. The class
B accidents which have occurred were precisely these collisions with nonrailroad
vehicles, basically due to violations of article 23 of the traffic code by the drivers,
who failed to respect the signal to stop at crossings. We are working intensely on
this problem with the office of the attorney general of th e republic and the police.
This category which we call obstruction of the roadway accounts for 40 percent of
aJ.l the accidents in the division. In coordination w~th traffic, we are working to
improve all of the halt signals, and some large, giant barriers suitable for auto- -
mobile drivers and the railroad are being installed.
- One very important fact is that to bring a 1,500-ton train traveling at 80 or 90 km
per hour to a halt, it takes 800 to 1,200 meters, a kilometer, and anything within
that distance is simply carried along. The engineer can make every effort to brake ~
and the train will not stop short of one k�ilometer. At the plenary session in
Camaguey, there was also intensive discussion of this problem of animals on the tracks
and people walking along them. It seems incredible thzt given the number of people
struck by trains, it is not understood that one must not walk along the railroad right
o f way .
- [Question] Why is there duplication in the sale of tickets for the national trains?
Luis Hurtado: We know that this problem of the double sale of seats is one of the
most irritating things which has occurred in this stage of railroad operation. We _
would even say it is shameful that steps have been talcen to pzevent this and yet it
happens. Actually, wherever man participates in the reservation system throughout
� the world there is the possibili~y of duplication. Elsewhere this has been resolved
by leaving one percent of the seats available to adjust for errors w~ich may occur,
but these are minimal errors. This is not the case with this mass duplication which
has occurred on our ra�~lroad since the month of April, when the reservation system
began. In our case a group of reasons sre involved, basically lack of administrative
control and lack of organization, and inadequate training of the personnel who must
deal with this activity. All of these things have been practically resolved now. A
group of ineasures has been implemented to effect the complete replacement of the
entire administrative team, substituting experienced personnel transferred from the _
bus system to direct this activity at the Havana terminal, reinforced by the estab-
lishment of national bus offices where one can now also make railroad reservations.
This provides a whole series of other opportunities for the people to avoid coming
here and creating so much congestion in the terminal with the waiting lines which
develop. Currently there are 19 places other than the terminal where one can make
reservations, in San Jose, Guira, Alquizar, Artemisa, Tulipan, Cienaga, the Isle of _
Youth and Pinar del Rio. A1so it will be possible to make reservations other than at
the atation itself for the trains from Pinar del Rio and Cienfuegos.
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[Question] What goal has been set for the celebration of Railroad Men's Day?
- Alvaro Montero: I believe that this question is timely in terms of the railroad
workers, because despite the difficulties and the problems encountered, positive -
results were achieved in the general work in 1980. But these are basically quanti-
tative, numerical indicators. In terms of quality we have had many problems.
In terms of economic indicators, the division showed a substantial increase of 16
percent in labor productivity, a decline in the cost per peso of production, an
improvement in the turnover of rolling stock in the port-transportation-domestic
~ economy chain, a deline in the number of accidents for which the railro3d was
responsible, a 30 percent increase in freight transportation, a 17 percent increase
in passenger transportation, and also the wage indicators improved. The general
- efficiency indicators for locomotive operation, locomotive yield and railroad car
yield also improved.
Tfie plan adopted by the enterprise management and the work ers' movement for 29
January calls for providing a proper response to the problem of quality in passenger
transportation service. It is a simple response involving basically the national
passenger trains, because the local trains, as Hurtado said, have been improving.
All the efforts the railroad work ers are making are obscured by the poor quality of
service on the national passenger trains, the S trains up and the 5 down, or 10 trains
in all. Nationally, there are 2,000 passenger trains, of which 10 are the cause of
daily and constant complaints from the people, although it should be pointed out that
_ there are difficulties and shortcomings in connection with other types of trains too.
In other words, we plan constant improvement in the conditions, as described by the
comrades connected with service on board, in connection with the schedules, so that
we will in fact see a response to the justified complaints which have been received
for some years, in particular those voiced by comrades Guillermo Garcia and Jorge -
Risquet at the national railroad meeting in Camaguey. And as a special task, we
might say of a mass nature, we are undertaking the completion of the remodeling at
the central ~ta~ion, and in addition, the process of modernization a:~a repair o� -
a group of railway stations which were practically abandoned is under way.
The investments in the railroad workshops are being increased to provide for the
completion of a group of project goals in Cienaga and Luyano and to complete some
major central railway projects. These include the Colon and Los Arabos yards, with
their temporary stations and, an important project, improvement of living conditions
for some road brigades to allow us to stabilize this work force. There has been
excellent assistance from the upper ministry administration, above all in connection
with a series of problems having to do with the needs encountered, the lack of
_ resources and facilities, above all construction materials and other things the -
workers need.
Beginning with 29 January, all of our railroad men will have the new uniforni, which
is fine and elegant, and will put us in a position to show the other face of the
railway system.
Another important thing is the completion of a bridge in Pinar del Rio which will
allow us to bring heavy locomotives into this city. This will save us three light
locomotives. Currently, for many y ears now, since the capitalist era, only light
locomotives could enter Pinar del Rio for lack of heavy bridges. From Pinar del Rio
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to Guane no, but at leaet as far as Pinar de7. Rio we can effect an economy of three
light locamotives. What we will not be able to fulfill is the physical ticket unit
, plan, because our suburban passenger transportation has dropped off greatly. The
suburban service played a role when there was no bus service. When buses were
- eeGabli~hed, eince practically all of these suburban dwellers are poor, there were
f ew trevelere. From Guinea to Iiavana, for example, the limited fleet was not equal
to the conaumer demand and they came by train, but if one can travel from Guines
to Ocho Vias by bus in 40 minutee, then there is no reason to take the train. The
eame thing happene in Guanajay. We have what can be called real stopwatch service -
there between Guanajay and Havana. I think it takes 40 minutes, and in addition
there is constant bue aerviEe there.
Yt remaine for us to atrengthen the national passenger service and the inter-
pxovincial servicee above all. Thi~ is what Che railroad needs, what the country
Yieeds~ and these sul~u~ban lines will continue to be replaced in the final account
by buBes, because they are not profitable or adequate from the point of view of
rapid aervice, beeguse antiquated equipment is used and the technical condition of
some sections of the line will not allow rapid train travel. We all know that sub-
~.trban tranapo~tation eervice must be fast and frequent. Currently, because of the
limited resourcee available, we are not in a position to offer the kind of service
- the uaera of suburban transportation need.
COPYRIGHT: BQHEMIA 1981 -
5157
" CSO: 3010
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COUNTRY SECTION EL SALVADOR
DUARTE ON AGRARIAN REFORM, LEFTIST-RIGHTIST VIOLENCE
Montevideo EL DIA .in Spanish 15 Feb 81 p 14
[Inter.view with Salvadoran President Jose Napoleon Duarte, via telex; date and
place not givenj
[Text] For this feature article, EL DIA interviewed, via
international telex services, the president of the Government
Junta of E1 Salvador, Jase Napoleon Duarte.
The chief executive of the strife-torn Central American
nation discussed various issues, offering an official
explanation of the reasons for the right and leftwing
violence and terrorism ravaging the Caribbean nation. _
The following is the complete text of EL DIA's talk with
President Jose Napoleon Duarte.
[Question] Could you give us an overview of the current situation in F1
Salvador? I would ask you to keep in mind that you are addressing a nation,
Uruguay, that knows little or nothing about what is going on behind the war
that has broken out in your country.
[Answer] The grave situation that the country is currently in is the result of
= more than 50 years of economic and social frustrations, as well as the curtailing
of political opportunities for authentic democracy. For decades E1 Salvador
lived under a system of injustice, selfishness and arrogance on the part of the
economically strong segments of the population towards the poorest groups.
The country's wealth became concentrateri in the hands of a few families, who
therefore wielded political power. These families dominated the country's
financial system and the trading of our main exports.
The electoral system wus of use only for fraud and to impose candidates.
Government corruption became institutionalized, and the people's aspirations
for a more just life were neglected.
As was to be expected, ali this created a climate of anguish and despair. There
was a total breakdown in the scale of civic, human and political values.
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Democratic political sectors were dismantled, and their leaders intimidated,
exiled or murdered, which fostered a radicalization. ~
All of these built-up frustrations gradually made people prone to violence, and
leftwing extremist groups found idealist bannera to wave in front of
them. For its part, the far right refused to realize that its lack of social
sensitivity was also paving the way for an explosive situation.
= Briefly, the injustice and social and political frustrations that our society
fostered for a half century were the determining factors in touching off the _
viol~nce and bloodshed that we are now enduring.
As far as the present situation is concerned, we are in a climate of structural =
violence resulting from our recent past: the far right is trying to recover the
traditional privileges that it has lost, and there is violence from the far '
left, which has absolutely no grass roots support and wants only to gain power
to install a Marxist-style totalitarian government.
The international subversives announced a"final offensive" in the military '
- sphere for 1 January and at the same time a general strike in the political
sphere. Both moves failed, which indicates, on the one hand, that our Armed
Forces are professionally capable of containing subversion and, on the other,
that the people do not support the extremist groups because the overwhelming
major~ty of them went to work as usual.~
This means that most people want to live and work in peace, and the revolutionary
_ government is striving to foster such a climate. ,
The First Non-Marxist Revolution ~
[Question] Did the current Government Junt~, which you preside over, arise as
an option to what seemed to be an imminent leftwing takeover? Could you tell
us about the junta's philosophical and political (ita basic political platform)
leanings and what its ideological backing is?
[Answer] I assumed my present responsibilities at one of the most tragic
moments in our history, and I accepted this difficult job because I feel that I
have an obligation to make my patriotic contribution so that the Salvadoran
people see their gri_evances satisfied. I have fought for democracy for 20 -
years and I am going to continue doing so in spite of the risks and sacrifices
this might entail. This struggle of mine, which the people are fully aware of,
is my moral backing in the leadership post entrusted to me.
E1 Salvador is, at present, promoting the first non-Marxist revolution in the
Americas.
- The 'Legend' of the 14 Families
[Question] Costa Rica's Revolutionary Democratic Front told EL DIA in an
article published on Sunday 18 January that "14 families wield power and own
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the wec~lth in E1 Salvador, with the support of the army" and that "the agrarian
refoi'm does noC exiet" because "taany lande that ware divided up and handed over
to Che pEaBants have returned to the control of their owners." Could you
- explain ~rhst kind of technical and financial assiatance was made available to
the peaeant farmers who were given land to make sure that the "agrarian reform"
did not f8i1?
[Anawer] Ae a syetem, the country's oligarchy has been done away with. As I
eaid befofe, the lands now belong to the peasant farmera grouped together in
cooperettives oY other aseociatione. The banking and financial system, as well
ae foreign tr~de, have been nationaTized, and thus the small group that used to
wieTd economic power hae been displaced. Thoae who still promute the legend of
the 14 families do so because they lack arguments to defend their own theories
or simply as another element in their campaign of lies and diainformation.
For ite part, the army, on the baeis of the 15 October 1979 proclamation, ia
on the aide of the people to guarantee the revolutionary procesa we have begun.
Ae far as the agrariari reform is concerned, I can tell you that not only is it
moving forwerd but it is growing stronger all the time as well. I would like
to explain that there are two phases to our agrarian reform. The first phase
involves the expropriation of estgtea covering more than 500 hectarea, in other
worda properties of more than 700 manzanae [1 manzana=1.75 acres]. This part
}ias already been taken care of, and eome 200 familiea that owned about 300,000
- manzanas were affecCed. Part two of the first phase will consist of the
c~xpropriation of 100 to S00-hectare eatates, and this is about to begin.
The second phase involves the implementation of Decree 207, the.law encumbering
nnd traneferring farmland to the people who cultivate it directly. In other
worde, we ere making landownerehip available to the peasant farmera who used
~o pay rent, either in cash or in kind, for the uae of the land. Rounding out
thie phase is the utilization of untilled land. I ehould clarify that the
peaeant farmera are not given the land for free; rather, they pay off the total
value of the lend in installments. Now that I have explained this, I will
_ inform you that in the 1980 farm year the country harveated its largeat crap
ever o� corn, beans and rice, which are etaples for the masses, to the extent
that not only was d'omestic demand met but we even had enough cornto export to
countries like Mexico and Nicaragua. If we take into account the agitation,
terrorism and initmidation by eubuersive groups in the countryaide, we can
aseert that Salvadoran peasant farmere are the bulwark of the agrarian reform
- and are giving an example of responaibility and determination to conaolidate
this progress.
- As to technical and'financial support, the Agriculture Ministry and the
Inetitute of Agrarian Tranaformation take care of technical assistance, and
r.he Agricultural and Livestock Development Bank (RFA) along with the nation-
alized banking eystem handle financial backing. In addition, we have aet up
FINATA [National Farmland Finance Bank], whoae main purpose is to finance the
acquiaition of fermland by ordinary tenant farmers or tenant farmers who have .
pledged to buy the land, eharecroppere, inetallment buyers and other individuals
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rux urr t~i ru, u~r. UNLY .
who work the lands directly, whether they pay in cash or in kind. As the
inetitution that ia becoming the force behind Decree 207, which represents the
eecond phaee of the agrarian refarm and which is benefiting a million peasant
f4rinere~ FINATA will finance the acquiaition of rural properties nf up to 7
hectere0. I would juet like to add that FINATA will also finance farm
cooperatives, community aeaociatione of peasant farmera and other farmworker
orpanizations deairing to acquire farmland.
Violence from the Right and Left
(Queation] Could you explain in detail and above and beyond the formal reasons
that have been made public, the reason for the resignation of Mr Paredes, the
vice minieter of planning? (The Revolutionary Democratic Front told EL DIA that
"he reaigned becauee of the government's represaive activities.")
[Anewer] I think that Mr Paredes Castillo lacked .the patriotic courage to
cope with the difficult times that our country ia experiencing. Three days
before leaving his post, he went to Colombia and Panama and described the
- procese of change that the Salvadoran Revolutionary Government ie spurring. We
Chink that Paredes Caetillo, who was educated by the Jeauits who uphold the
theology of liberation, a restlesa and emotionally unetable man, was also under
preaeure fxom his family, and as was to be expected, something personal happened
tha*_ threw his emotional balance off. As far as your other remark is concerned,
I have already etated and I will repeat that repreasion in E1 Salvador is
practiced by the radical left and rightwing groupa that are ueing violent
meane to try and impose their will on the people. The people are caught in the
middle, sufferit~g the conaequences of the aubvereion and terrorism that the
RFVOlutionary Government ia atriving to control and eradicate.
[QuestionJ Former White House prese aecretary Jodie Powell said in Canada that
if Rea~an "supporta the right wing in E1 Salvador, that will be a major step
towarde the eatabliehment of a far left government there in the months to come."
Do you think that "more determined" aid from the United States could radicalize
the current Salvadoran process by comani.tting the junta to the United States and
justifying what the junta itaelf has termed the "internationalization" of the
military struggle?
[Anewer~ Independently of its amount, U.S. aid to E1 Salvador is part of the
cooperation programs between two friendly peoples and governments. There are
people in my country now who are worried more about American aid to E1 Salvador.
than about the economic aid, training and mercenaries that the countries backing
- Soviet expaneioniem are providing Salvadoran aubversives. This is what is
cauaing greater bloodshed. We reject any sort of intervention; the only thing
we wgnt to do ie c a rry out our peaceful revolution without foreign inter-
ference from any side. We do not want the conflict to be internationalized.
The Validity of Various Accounts
[Queetion] You attributed the death of the American technicians working with
the junta on the agrarian reform to "extreme rightwing groups." Your deputy
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�oreign minister, Dr Aleja ndro Gomez Videa, said in Montevideo, however, that
"it was the left," conceding his dieagreement with you. Could you explain how
es ga~ernment leaders of the same country, you two have different viewa on the
same problem?
[Anawer). The Revolutionary Government denounced the murder of Mr.Rodolfo Viera,
presi~ent of the Salvadoran Agrarian Tranaformation Institute, and of the two
Americaa citizene~ who worked part-time on the agxarian reform. As far as
aeaigning responsibilities ia concerned, we noted at the time that from an
analyeie of the criminal activitiea and the abjectivea set forth by the
domeetic and international spokesmen of the extreme leftwing groups, we could~
point to them as beiag responaible becauae, moreover, they were the sole
beneficiariea. Neverthelesa, we also noted that we were not ruling out the
poeeibility of an irrational vendetta by extreme rightwing terrorist factions.
In other worde, both sidea were under auepicion, and therefore either account
could be true amid the violence that the two extremes are promoting.
[Question] If the Government Junta of E1 Salvador has progressive principles,
c~uld you explain what the substantive differencea are between it and the
Salvadorans who have taken up arme, differencea that have made a bloodless under-
atanding for the good of E1 Salvador and tihe continent impossible?
_ [Answer] The baeic difference is that they want to implement their political
- ideas through terroriem and subversive violence. We are attempting to promote
aur revolution through peaceful means and dialog. In addition, the socioeconomic
programe thati the leftieta are offering are, in fact, lese radical than the ones
_ that the Revolutionary Junta hao offered and ia implementing. Furthermore, we
advocete pluraliam, and they, totalitarianiem.
I would like to point out that on numerous occasiona I have called for us to
sit down and diacusa our national problems, the only condition being that the
people wt~o are bent on resorting to violence put down their arms. We have even
isaued an amnesty law to h elp bring about peace.
[QuestionJ Mr Preaident, how long do you think that 5alvadorans will keep on
dying on account of the angoing war?
[Anewer] I truet in God that it will not be much longer.
[Question] Mr President, what ia your opinion of the support that the continent's
Chriatian Democrate (including Uruguay's), meeting in Caracas, have given the
current Government Junta of E1 Salvador?
[Answ~rj Sueh eupport is a ahow of solidarity with our efforts to democratize
E1 Salvador.
COPYRZGHT: EL DIA, 1981
8743
CSO: 3010 END
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