CP's call for bloc with Generals

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Luis Corvalan, Secretary General of the Party, released from jail earlier this year in exchange for Vladimir Bukoysky, wants to defeat the Chilean generals by making an alliance with . .. the Chilean generals!

In a press conference last week at the headquarters of the French Communist Party he proposed a class collaborationist alliance stretching from the - CP, across the Christian Democrats who welcomed Pinochet's coup, to the "good" generals.

He said that:

"A process of understanding between all the anti-fascist forces is underway in Chile. The majority of the Christian • Democrats were hostile to Salvador Allende towards the end of his government. They even greeted his fall with satisfaction.

"They were hoping that, without too long a delay, the government of the country would return into their hands. But fascism which began by persecuting the communists, finished by persecuting all democrats.

"We wish to reach with all democrats an agreement for today and tomorrow-that is not only to overthrow fascism but also to rebuild the country and construct a renewed democracy. To do that the CP proposes a democratic government, broadly representative, on the basis of an understanding, alliance between the Popwar Unity and the Christian Democrats, and with the participation of democratic sectors of the armed forces.

"We think a profound democratisation of the armed forces is , necessary. Those whose hands are bloodstained must go. But that's not the case with all the military, or even all the officers or even all the generals".

It should be recalled that Allende's government carried out a purge of the top military officers, replacing those of doubtful loyalty by "democratic generals" . One of the most important of these 'democrats' was General Agosto Pinochet.