Gómez, an Argentine socialist who currently lives in the United States. At the time of the visiting her family. ducted in New York City on 22 April, shortly after Gómez's return to the United States.
appears in Intercontinental Press, New York.
How did the workers movement and the political opposition respond to the recovery of the Malvinas The response of the people was first of all immense lov that the Malvinas had been recovered. But this did translate HELO popularity for the government. In fact, people were Sayilly things like: 'For once, the military is doing what it should be doing defending rather than running the government' The CGT leaders, who were supposed to have been indefinitely, all released within If you would like to be put in touch with Socialist Challenge supporters in your area or would like more information fill in the form below Name....
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Socialist Challenge 6 May 1982 Malvinas takeover, Gómez was in Argentina The interview was conThis is a shortened version. The full text appublished in two days and invited by the government to attend authorities on the Malvinas. The CGT's response was a statement saving something like this 'As everybody knows, inis organisation does not exist so far as the governConceilicu. have been considered illegal. So there is no war that our organisation can government that does not right to exist. recognise Nonetheless vul iccal the ranks of the army are maue up of workers and the sons of workers. So we CGT leaders are going to go to the Malvinas to congratulate the soldiers Denal or the Argentine people.' The newspapers published this statement, and the government had to let the union leaders go to the Malvinas.
about the role of the US government how was this viewed by the people?
The reaction was immediately of suspicion The occupation of the Malvinas LOOK everyone spy pete said thing Hally OCODIC was that the junta had seized them in order them over to the Yankees. As this rumour spread, the government had to come out and state clearly that it was establishing Argentine sovereignty UVEi the Malvinas and had no inDemonstration in support of Malvinas recovery but also calling for overthrow of Galtieri tention of giving them to anybody else miscalculated They thought would be easy to get the regime to back down was in desperate situation and would not have the backing of the Argentine people.
The junta miscalculated too they they would have US sup port, or least Ical neutrality. Once Reagan's position became clearer, the regime had no choice but to mount a show of popular support for the taking of the Malvinas.
The day Haig was to arrive for the first negotiations, the radio and televiSIon all government controlled - called for a big rally at the Plaza parties all lent their sup Mayo. opposition port to this. As for the CGT leaders, they responded by saying they could not participate ficially, because that would mean giving suppor they cale on alr they dividuals and as workers to Argen. tines to celebrate recovery of the islands When Haig's bialit landed, he could easily have been brought by helicopter to the roof of the Casa Rosada (presidential palace). But instead the government had him driven by car all the way from the airport. The entire highway lined with people. They drove him right into the Plaza de Mayo, which was filled with nearly 300,000 people waving Argentine flags and chanting Slogans. Haig must have PERTINE been scared, but he could see how much the Argentine people uppor the ecovery of the Malvina The majority crowd was made up of working people public employees and industrial workers. Many middle class people turned out as • well. And many of the chants were the very same as those chanted on March. You never heard any slogans like Long live the junta' or live Galtieri'.
Instead favourite chant was 'The English are gone, and now • Alemann's turn!' Roberto Alemann is the minister of economy, and the main target of the workers' discontent. PeoPeroni and ante also chanted •Viva 'Se va a dictadura
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