Page 67 - Marlie Burton Roche : Landscape and Bread

it seems impossible, but it is true, the despotically by a rich man. The people organize to change the situation so
FMLN only had 8 casualties. Eight the rich man first takes the most politicized of the people, the people most
killed. But to carry out an operation conscious of the reality of the situation, and throws them onto the hillside. And

like this we had to work a long time. then he uses his wealth to combat the people who are stuck on the hillsides
The enemy reaction to this attack while, at the same time, buying off the people that stay in the village. And so
was minimal because it was so well one day you see a truck going by with tools that the rich man is going to use to
planned out. The Colonel said, three deceive the people in the village. And you know that this man has not changed;
days earlier, in a small town near to that he is going to bribe these people. Would you permit this truck with tools to
here, that his presence in the town pass? So that is the purpose of the sabotage.
was proof that the guerrillas were
reduced to little small groups and that Two months ago the FMLN made a proposal and we promised to stop
they were all dispersed. But the only economic sabotage if the government would stop indiscriminate bombing in

reason Canjura [Colonel] is still here, the zones [of control]. Morally it is much worse to drop a bomb on the house
is because he and another Colonel, of a poor peasant farmer than it is to blow up a bridge. We said that when they
Rubio, were in a special room where stop bombing the peasant farmers we will respect their electric energy plants
they were hiding from the attack. One and towers. And the government responded, “No.” On the contrary, Blandon,
of the compañeros threw a grenade general of the whole army, went to the U.S. and asked for more planes and
into that room but it did not explode, more helicopters. This was his response to our proposal. And since it is a
so they were saved. So Canjura did legitimate right to fight against those helicopters and those airplanes and since

not want to stay there anymore, in we don’t have any helicopters and airplanes ourselves, we have the right to blow
El Pariso, and they moved him to up their bridges. It is a shame but there are things that are necessary, and we
Chalatenango. Rubio had to stay there don’t blow up bridges when there are people on top. I wanted to explain this
against his wishes. about the sabotage because in a lot of places people don’t understand or they
think we are trying to create havoc, but that is not the purpose. We don’t get
The military operation that is going anything out of chaos. What we want is organization…”
on right now is supposed to go on
for 70 days. The high command were Woman combatant: It is a great joy for me to be a combatant for the FMLN.
evaluating the plan yesterday. They We are not here because they pay us money; it comes from our love. We are

have had about 400 casualties in here to defend the people against the mistreatment that they get. We see the
the last six weeks. Meanwhile the necessity to fight so the poor people can live better lives. We see that the
guerrillas in San Vicente and Guazapa government treats the people very badly. As poor people ourselves, we do
are pressuring [the government] with not defend the rich. We defend the poor people, the peasant farmers here in
attacks and blowing up bridges. I Chalatenango. I am not afraid. I feel very tranquil. We get equality with the
would like to explain these acts of men combatants, they treat us with respect. We are all brothers and sisters.
sabotage. Blowing up bridges and There is no obligation to wash and iron their clothes. Everyone is equal. The

electric plants are not terrorist acts to men make tortillas, sew their clothes when they are ripped, the same as the
try to reap havoc. In El Salvador there women. I incorporated when I was twelve years old, now I am 20. There are
is chaos even if there is no sabotage a lot of women [In the FMLN]. We sleep wherever we have to. Tonight we
at all. But it is a weapon of the FMLN are going to sleep out. Sometimes we sleep under a tree. Sometimes we can
to try to wear down all the millions come and visit towns and sleep under a roof, but most of the time we are in the
of dollars that are coming in from mountains…”
the Reagan administration. Imagine
that you lived in a small village in Another male combatant: I worked in the Lands Department before joining
Canada and this village is governed the FMLN. I incorporated when I was eighteen, now I am 32 years old…”

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