daily ricada. It also had an impact on shops, government facilities, banks and offices. Half million workers were estimated -to be involved on the first day.
Although some 60 per cent shops eventualty opened their doors under military and government pressure, spanish agency. reported that they had few customers. Many were closed by early afternoon.
The junta also militarised urban transport in the capital, San Salvador. The bus tersinals were occupied, forcing buses and taxis onto the streets. The regime then pointed to this activity as evidence of support for its policies! Bar- many areas of San Salvador.
During the course of the strike they were able to cut the roads linking San Salvador with San Miguel, Santa Ana, Aguilares.
Many neighbourhoods in and around the capital were in the hands of the flick at some pomt auring une EFE strike. The largest battle took plase in El Coro, on the outskirts of San Salvador, again guerillas ambushed a military canvoy, engaging army forces for three hours.
The combined opposition grouping, the Democratic Front claimed that 700 government troops were killed or wounded during the three days strike.
merchants. T'be occupations of the others were anknown. repressive responsible for the population. and mercenaries are revolutionary Revolutionary (FDR), forces murders by the four by the murders committed by backing of the imperialist powers. It is fully prepared to carry out a massacre of the Plans for imperialist intervention are well advanced. American 'advisors' and foreign already taking part in Appeals for solidarity therefore have a real urgency. Since the start of the year, 4,500 workers and peasants have been kilt ed. The struggle is likely to become still That is why action is vital to frustrate Washington's manoeuvres. For details solidarity activity in Britain contact the El Salvador Solidarity Campaign, 27 Islington Park Street, London N1.
tionary (FDR)
of year as as well as cess. 'WE are in a situation of total war.' That is how events in El Salvador were summed up by a representative of the Revolu.
Democratic
al a press conference earlier this month.
Rutilio Sanchez described the three general strikes this "tests by which to measure our influence among the masses'. According to him, the August strike 'allowed us to test out the self-defence and of fensive capacities of the people, the of the government forces. And from Phemselves aase contrat they are GwNe that destiny.
The FDR unites the main left-wing groupings as well as the mass organisations of the workers and peasants and im portant sectors of the petty. bourgeoisie.
Its main priority is to integrate the mass struggle with military actions of the vanguard oreanisation Increased popular involvement in the armed struggle has been shown in the mushrooming of neighbourhood committees. people's militias, and other such structures.
'If the USA did not support the junta, the Salvadoran people could win without shedding a drop of blood', says Rutilio Sanchez.
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The scale of the repression
repressive operations. bloodier.
Zbigniew National Security Advisor to President Carter. 'TOTAL WAR