CARLOS NOW THE DAWN'S NO FOND ILLUSION

THE AUTHOR

Tomas Borge was born in Matagalpa in 1930 and went to school therewith Carlos Fonseca. They were fellow students at the University ofLeon and in 1961, together with Si lvio Mayorga, they founded theSandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). As a clandestine militantTomas was captured in Managua on 4th February 1976 and imprisonedby the dictator's National Guard. Hooded, handcuffed and severelytortured in prison, he wrote poetry and, after hearing of the death ofCarlos Fonseca on 8th November 1976, he wrote this memoir of him:Carlos, el Amanecer ya no es una Tentacion (Carlos, Now the Dawn' sno Fond Illusion).

He was released, together with fifty-eight other political prisoners,as a result of the FSLN assault on the National Palace on 22nd August1978, where they held the deputies to ransom for two days. This actionsparked of f insurrections al l over the country, beginning withMatagalpa, and the following year, on July 19th 1979, the revolutionaryforces entered Managua in triumph.

With the triumph of the Revolution, Tomas Borge became Ministerof the Interior (Home Secretary). When he was in prison, he hadpromised to have revenge on his torturers, and as Minister of theInterior, his 'revenge' was to visit and forgive them.

His memoirs, L'a Paciente impaciencia, appeared from EditorialVanguardia, Managua, in 1989 (The Patient Impatience: CurbstonePress, Connecticut 1992) and a collection of his poetry, La CeremoniaEsperada, from Editorial Nueva Nicaragua, Managua, in 1990. Some ofthese poems and Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy's song 'Revenge', based onBorge's words, are translated by Dinah Livingstone in Poets of theNicaraguan Revolution (Katabasis 1993).

1 966. FROM L EFT T O RIGHT . BACK ROW , STA NDING: CA RLOS FONSECA ,ROBERTO AM A YA , FAUSTO AM ADOR, OSCAR TURCIOS.FRONT ROW: DANIEL ORTEGA, TOMAS BORGE, ROLANDO ROQUE.

CARLOS,NOW THE DAWN' S

NO FOND ILLUSION

Tomas Borge

Translated by Dinah Livingstone

First published in 1996 by KATABASIS10 St Martins Close, London NWI OHR (0171 485 3830)Copyright: Tomas BorgeTranslation Copyright: Dinah LivingstonePrinted by Antony Rowe, Chippenham (01249 659705)Cover printed by Aldgate Press, London (0171 247 3015)The cover photograph shows Carlos Fonseca in La Aviaci6n prison,Managua in 1964.The text of Carlos, el Amanecer ya no es una Tentacion is taken fromNicard uac, 13 (Managua, December 1986).

Trade Distribution: Password Books23 New Mount StreetManchester M4 4DE (0161 953 4009)

ISBN: 0 904872 25 4

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:A catalogue record for this book is availablefrom the British Library.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

KATABASIS and the translator would like to thank the poet JulioValle-Castillo very much for his help and advice, and for the preciouscopy of Nicararduc 13, containing the best available Spanish text.Special thanks to Kelly Walker and Grace Livingstone for proof readingthe Spanish and English text.

KATABASIS is grateful for the support of the Arts Council of England.

TR

ARTICOURCII

OFENGLAN(

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Frontispiece: 1966 group photographof Sandinista militants includingCarlos Fonseca and Tomas Borge.

1965. Carlos Fonsecaand Maria Haydee Terknat their wedding

1969. Carlos Fonseca hand uffedSin prison in Costa Rica 70

1965. Carlos Fonsecawith Professor Edelberto Torresand Victor Tirado Lopez 80

CONTENTS

C arlos, el Amanecer ya no es una Tentacibn / 2C arlos, Now the Dawn's No Fond Illusion 3

Two Songs by Carlos Mejia Godoy: 63

Comandante Carlos Fonseca 64

Himno de la Unidad Sandinista/ 68Sandinista Hymn 69

Chronological Notes by Tomas Borge 71

Carlos Fonseca 1936-76: Chronology 81

CARLOS, EL AMANECER YA NO ES UNATENTACION

INTRODUCCI6N

El que escribe estas lineas se parece tanto a un escritor,corno Garcia Marquez a un vendedor de frigorificos. Estaslineas tienen, sin embargo, un merito: fueron escritas casitotalmente en la carcel, poseidas por el dios de la furia y eldemonio de la ternura.

Dedico este pequeno esfuerzo a mi hermano Modesto, eljefe guerrillero mas modesto, terco, fraterno y honesto queha producido el Frente Sandinista de Liberaci6n Nacional ya los combatientes de la montana que viven, cantan yluchan en cada emboscada, en cada fatiga, en la orilla delsol y los suenos de Carlos Fonseca.

Ese estallido de poemas rimados, de aprender a bailar, devisitar la acera de enfrente bajo un farol iluminado demiradas, de incursionar en las haciendas para encontrar elsecreto de la cuajada fresca y el venado al alcance del rifle.22, compartir con los amigos las delicias y las tensionesdel Winitu; cuando escribiamos cartas de letras cuidadosaspara descubrir en el ultimo momento que la Vilma es lanovia de Anibal, y admirkbamos a Guillermo porque tenialos ojos con magnetismo personal — no se masturbaba enpandilla — y todas las muchachas le decian adi6s.

Fue la hora de Teresita, la de pecas importantes, ojosnegros, diccion incorregible, de escalofrios, para susurrartal vez; de los aniversarios a Bolivar: 'Si hay aqui algun

CARLOS, NOW THE DAWN'S NO FONDILLUSION

INTRODUCTION

The person writing this is no more a writer than GarciaMarquez is a refrigerator salesman. However, these lineshave one merit: they were written almost entirely in prison,possessed by the god of fury and the demon of tenderness.

I dedicate this little effort to my brother Modesto,' themost modest, stubborn, kind and decent guerrilla leader theSandinista National Liberation Front has ever produced,and to the mountain combatants who live, sing and struggleon together with Carlos Fonseca, through every ambush, alltheir exhaustion, looking forward to the same sunrise anddreaming the same dreams.

That outburst of rhymed poems, learning to dance, crossingto the opposite pavement under a blaze of staring eyes,expeditions to fa'rms to discover the secret of fresh junketand deer to be shot with a .22 rifle, sharing the delights andexcitements of Winitu with friends; painfully composingletters only to discover at the last minute that Vilma isAnibal's girlfriend. We admired Guillermo because he hadm agnetic eyes — he did not masturbate with the gang ­and all the girls called out hello to him.

It was the time of Teresita, when a spot on your facecould be a disaster, black eyes, crude language, shudders,whispers, anniversaries of Bolivar: 'I f anyone here is an

1, Henry Ruiz.

enemigo de la libertad que se lo trague la tierra; estk porllegar Bolivar con un latigo en la mano para sacarlo deltemplo.' El templo es un patio con sillas proclives a ladecrepitud y a la sorpresa. Poco despues Espartaco,semanario que se vendio corno pan caliente y en el que seescribia vaga pero fervorosamente de Sandino.

Quien sabe si porque tenia los ojos negros o porqueMarina cantaba en voz baja y persistente, el hecho es queasi, de pronto, apareci6 el malestar, el escalofrio, la magia.Tal vez porque e l ri o sonaba cerca de sus rodillasintermitentes o s6lo porque era la primera muchacha conolor a noche y a sudor que me miraba a los ojos; lo ciertoes que estaba triste y esquivo.

Confieso que era dificil incluso para mi, pitcher de unatribu de cipotes que recien entrenaban una nueva voz,ponerse triste. Los domingos, imposible. Por las noches siporque leiamos a Flaubert, a Becker, y a Karl May.

Cuando nos hicimos antisomocistas, leiamos a AlbertoMasferrer y nos metieron presos, dejamos de estar tristes,de ser adolescentes y de ir a las procesiones a piropearmuchachas.

En ese instante apareci6 Carlos Fonseca. Lleg6 hastanosotros con sus ojos bruscos, miopes y azules;contundente, serio, cordial , d e pantalones blancosbrincacharcos, de gestos extensos. En el Instituto: 10 enAlgebra, en Frances y todo lo demas. En la calle, de largaspiernas rapidas — era cartero para ayudar a dona Justina, sumadre — sin detenerse a observar las miradas indeclinablesque depositan en el remitente quienes reciben una carta, con

enemy of liberty, let the earth swallow him; Bolivar isabout to arrive with a whip in his hand to drive him out ofthe temple!' The temple is a patio whose decrepit chairsmight le t yo u down suddenly. Shortly afterwards,Spartacus, a weekly that sold like hot cakes, in which therewere vague but fervent references to Sandino.

Who knows whether i t was Marina's black eyes orbecause she sang in a low urgent voice, the fact was that,suddenly, there was awkwardness, shivering, magic.Perhaps because a glimpse of her knees brought the soundof the river near, or just because she was the first girls melling of night and sweat who looked into my eyes —anyway I was moody and ill at ease.

I admit it was difficult, even for me — the top baseballpitcher in a gang of youths whose voices had recentlybroken — to be sad. On Sundays, impossible. At night itwas different, because then we read Flaubert, Becker andKarl May.

When we became anti-Somocistas, we read AlbertoMasferrer and they arrested us, we stopped being sad,stopped being adolescents and going to processions to chatup girls.

At that moment Carlos Fonseca appeared. He came up to uswith his staring, short-sighted blue eyes; forceful, serious,cordial, wearing white drainpipe trousers, gesticulating. Atthe Institute: 10 in Algebra, French and everything else. Inthe street he strode along swiftly on his long legs — he waswas a postman to help Dona Justina, his mother — notstopping to observe the curious glances of those whoreceived a letter. He carried a book under his arm to read at

un libro baj o el brazo en los entreactos. Las primerasreuniones fueron en el patio de la Lala, con sombras depajaros, jocotes y naranjas. Descubrimos a Tomas Moro, aJohn Steinbeck; despues, el hallazgo de Marx y Engels,localizados en la polvorosa libreria del poeta Samuel Meza.Lenin fue una diflci l y lejana ilusi6n bibliograficainlocalizable en la oscurana.

Desde el inicio en aquellas tardes interrumpidas porjicaras de leche con pinol, Carlos dirigio, sin proponerselo,nuestros primeros esfuerzos para entender algo distinto delo que nos declan en las aulas, en los periodicos, en lasiglesias.

Un par de anos atras queria ser santo — segun me dijodespues en confidencias inevitables. Lo vimos hacer laprimera comuni6n en ceremonia palida de ninos pobres ycandela blanca con motivos de papel dorado, que su madreguard6 en una larga caja de madera donde deposito porv arios anos los recuerdos cada dia mas sonoros eirreprochables del hijo.

Cuando ya no queria ser santo — pero seguia siendolo detodos modos — con Chico Buitrago fundo Segovia, revistade simbolos extranos y editoriales premonitorios.

Cuando llegamos a la Universidad, lloro con esa ferocidadque a veces tiene la tristeza. Ojos azules llorando, ~y quienno? La Universidad era un techo, algunas paredes, uncorredor indiferente, obsceno, sin nostalgias conocidas ycon tufillo a disecci6n de perros abandonados: el reflujo.

intervals. Our first meetings were in Lala's patio, with itsshadows of birds, hog plum and orange trees. Wediscovered Thomas More and John Steinbeck; later wefound Marx and Engels, located in the poet Samuel Meza'sdusty bookshop. Lenin was an obscure bibliographicalreference not to be found in the dark.

From the beginning during those afternoons punctuatedby calabash goblets of milk with pinol,' Carlos, w ithoutintending to , became the leader of our f irst efforts tounderstand something different from what we were beingtold in lecture rooms, newspapers and churches.

A few years earlier he had wanted to be a saint —according to what he told me later in inevitable sharedsecrets. We saw him making his first communion with themodest ceremony of poor children carrying the whitecandle decorated with gold paper. This was kept by hismother in a large wooden box where, over the years, shestored the mementoes of her son, which daily became moreimpressive.

When he no longer wanted to be a saint — but hecontinued to be one in any case — with Chico Buitrago hefounded Segovia, a j o urnal o f s trange s ymbols a ndpremonitory editorials.

When we arrived at University, he cried with the ferocitythat sadness sometimes has. Blue eyes weeping. And whodid not? The University was a roof , a few walls, anindifferent, obscene corridor , without an y cherishedmemories and stinking of dissected stray dogs: flotsam.

2. Nicaraguan drink made with ground maize.

Carlos se hizo hormiga, martillo, mecanografo y, desdeentonces, sempiterno. Repartio letreros subversivos depared en pared, y peri6dicos estudiantiles y partidarios decasa en casa. Casi de inmediato se publico Et Universitario,de titulares gruesos y a dos colores, en e l que seintercalaron sin metaforas, datos estadisticos: 250.000 ninosen edad escolar sin escuelas y sin maestros (ahora son400.000); 5% de impuestos, por el oro exportado, a lascompanias mineras, e impuestos eximidos a las mismas, pormaquinaria agricola y minera, autom6viles, artefactoselectricos, etc . Numero s: nuestro pais paga a losextranjeros que explotan el subsuelo para que se lleven eloro. Nos queda la tos.

IV

Por esa epoca fuimos reclutados a medias por el PartidoSocialista, y Carlos dirigio la primera celula marxista deestudiantes universitarios nicaraguenses: — Silvio Mayorgaera uno de los tres militantes. Un leones que vivi6 enMexico y que nunca se supo si fue 'charro' o militantemarxista, dialogaba con nosotros.

'Sandino,' dij o una vez Carlos, 'es una especie decamino. Seria una ligereza reducirlo a la categoria de unaefemeride mas de disturbio anual. Creo que es importanteestudiar su pensamiento. '

El leones que vivio en Mexico y que era algo asi cornodelegado del Partido Socialista (del cual fue expulsadoposteriormente) asustado replico mas o menos en lossiguientes terminos:

Carlos became an ant, a hammer, a typist and thence,everlasting. He spread subversive graffiti from wall to wall,and student and Party' newspapers from house to house.Almost immediately El Universitario was published, withfat headlines and in two colours, which gave statistical datawithout metaphors: 250,000 children of school age withoutschools or teachers (now there are 400,000); only 5% taxcharged to mining companies on the gold they exported;these same companies exempt from taxes on agriculturaland mining machinery , cars, electrical appliances etc.Figures: our country is paying foreigners to exploit oursubsoil and take our gold. We are left with the coughing.

IV

At this time we were semi-recruited by the Socialist Partyand Carlos led the f irst Marxist cel l o f Nicaraguanuniversity students: Silvio Mayorga was one of the threemilitants. A man from Leon who lived in Mexico — wenever knew whether he was a 'cowboy ' or a Marxistmilitant — came to talk to us.

'Sandino,' Carlos said one day, 'is a sort of road. Itwould be trivial to reduce him to just another anniversaryparty. I think it is important to study his thought.'

The man from Leon who lived in Mexico and who wassome sort of delegate of the Socialist Party (from which hewas later expelled) was astonished and replied more or lessas follows:

3. The Nicaraguan Socialist Party (PSN), which Carlos joined in July1955, but left when he no longer agreed that change could be broughtabout by reformist means.

'l,Un camino? IEso es poesia! No olviden lo sospechosode cierta exaltacion que han hecho de ese guerrillero loside6logos burgueses. Sandino lucho contra la ocupaci6nextranjera, no contra el imperialismo. No lleg6 a serZapata, es decir: no planteo el problema de la tierra.'

Carlos expreso sus dudas ante esos argumentos. Sepropuso investigar mas a fondo el pensamiento de Sandino.Recuerdo la alegria y l a severidad de sus violentosademanes cuando llevo el libro El Calvario de las Segovias,en el que se pretende denigrar la figura del heroe inmortal.Este fue el primer elemento bibliografico antes de conocerSandino: o Ia Tragedia de un Pueblo, del h onestohistoriador Sofonias Salvatierra; el libro de un espanol denombre largo e irrecordable; el escrito por CalderonR amirez, y finalmente la obra de Selser. Con rigor yconstancia, Carlos escribia notas, entresacaba frases de lasvariadas y ricas epistolas de Sandino. En esos apuntes segest6 Ideario Sandinista, cartilla de primeros conceptos quecircula entre la militancia del FSLN.

Carlos viajo en 1957 a Moscu, corno delegado del PartidoSocialista a un Congreso Mundial de la Juventud. Desdeuna ciudad europea, Praga, escribia co n lealtadconmovedora a su madre. Aprendi de memoria, pese a quela tengo renga, el contenido de uno de esos mensajes llenosde ternura:

Estoy casi feliz, mama, rodeado de muchachos alegres, depalabras nuevas; de ciudades bellas, inmensas, cordiales;nos llamamos unos a otros companeros, aunque yoquisiera llamarlos hermanos. Casi feliz digo, porque usted

'A road? That's poetry! Don't forget the suspect way inwhich bourgeois ideologists have exalted that guerrilla.Sandino fought against foreign occupation, not imperialism.He did not become a Zapata, that is: he did not raise theland problem.'

Carlos expressed his doubts about these arguments. Hed ecided to go more deeply into Sandino's thought. Iremember the joy and severity of his violent reactions whenhe got the book The Calvary of t he Segovias, which runsdown our immortal hero. This was the first book we hadbefore we discovered Sandino or the Tragedy of a People,by the honest historian Sofonias Salvatierra; a book by aSpaniard with a long name, difficult to remember; CalderonRamirez' book, and finally Selser's work. Rigorously andpersistently Carlos wrote notes, picked out phrases fromSandino's rich and varied letters. This work led to the birthof the Ideario Sandinista, a handbook which is circulatedamong FSLN militants.

In 1957 Carlos travelled to Moscow, as a Socialist Partydelegate to a World Youth Congress. From a Europeancity, Prague, he wrote feelingly to his mother. Although mymemory is shaky, I learnt one of these loving messages byheart:

I am almost happy, mama; surrounded by happy youngpeople, new words; huge, beautiful, welcoming cities. Wecall each other comrades, even though I would prefer tocall them brothers. I said almost happy, because you arenot with me, so that I can give you a hug and share these

no estk a mi lado para abrazarla y compartir estosmomentos de claridad y asombro.

Cuando regreso a Nicaragua, escribio Un Nicaragiienseen Moscu, en el que recoge sus experiencias, con la rectitudde siempre y lenguaje limpio, ameno, correcto.

En la Universidad es el delegado permanente de lassubversiones elementales pre-Frente; dirigente de lasasambleas estudiantiles, en los organismos universitarios,en las calles; organiza la primera huelga estudiantil a nivelnacional, que incluyo escuelas primarias, con parosprorrogables de 48 horas. 'Consignas de Moscu,' deciaNovedades. La huelga era para rescatar de la carcel a variosprofesores y un estudiante injustamente condenados por unConsejo de Guerra.

En la Universidad agita; en los barrios de Le6n organizacomites populares para demandas reivindicativas que, cornosuele ocurrir, se transforman en inquietudes politicas.

V I

En 1957, funda 'Nueva Nicaragua', movimiento quearranca torpe e inhibido. Es sin embargo, el primer paso deun grupo que intenta caminar hacia e l sol , por lossubterrhneos de la clandestinidad.

El movimiento toma la iniciativa de una editorial, NuevaNicaragua, que publica las obras de Selser y algunosescritos revolucionarios.

Este esfuerzo, tan diflcil en aquel momento, revisti6 unaexcepcional importancia si se considera el aislamientocultural e ideologico — muralla construida con pacienciapatriarcal y oligarquia desde la independencia de la coloniaespanola y que fue subrayada con palabras gruesas,

moments of clarity and astonishment.

When he returned to Nicaragua he wrote A Nicaraguanin Moscow, d escribing h is experiences with h is usualhonesty in clear, graceful and apposite language.

In the University he became the permanent delegate ofthe pre-Frente groups; leader o f s tudent gatherings i nuniversity organisations and in the streets. He organised thefirst national student strike, which included pr imaryschools, with class closures alternating in forty-eight hourshifts. 'Orders from Moscow,' said Novedades.4 The strikewas to liberate a number of teachers and a student unjustlysentenced by a military court.

In the University he agitated; in the barrios of Leon heorganised people's committees to demand improvements,which as usual, soon became political demands.

VI

In 1957 he founded 'New Nicaragua' (MNN),' a movementwhose beginnings were slow and halting. Nevertheless itwas the first step of a group who intended to walk towardsthe sun, along clandestine paths.

The movement set up a publishing house called NewNicaragua, which published the works of Selser and somerevolutionary writings.

This effort , which was so difficult at the time, wasexceptionally important considering the cultural andideological isolation which had been imposed on theNicaraguan people. This was a wall built with patriarchal

4. Newspaper controlled by Somoza.5. In fact the New Nicaragua Movement was not founded until 1961.

13

bayonetas y medidas legales por el fundador de la dinastiasomocista — a que h a sido sometido e l pueblonicaraguense. El aislamiento fue tan cerrado y mezquino,que cuando el autor de estas lineas lleg6 a la Universidad yse junto con un grupo de estudiantes — que despues fueronrectores y banqueros — crey6, corno los otros, que Haya dela Torre era revolucionario marxista y que en Nicaragua noexistia un partido de la clase obrera. Claro esta que nadiemovio por esa epoca ni un miserable terron de azucar paraatraerse a los estudiantes. Fue unos cuatro anos mas tardeque el Partido Socialista se percat6 de la existencia de losestudiantes, aproximadamente cuando Carlos llega a laUniversidad. Carlos senalaba, posteriormente, con justarazon, que el proceso actual revolucionario en Nicaragua seinicia mks por verguenza que por conciencia.

La victoria de la lucha armada en Cuba, mas que unaalegria, es el descorrer de innumerables cortinas, fogonazoque alumbra mas alla de los dogmas ingenuos y aburridosdel momento. La revolucion cubana fue, ciertamente, unescalofrio de terror para las clases dominantes de AmericaLatina y un violento atropello a las de repente tristesreliquias con las que habiamos iniciado nuestros altares.F idel fue para nosotros la resurrecci6n de Sandino, larespuesta a nuestras reservas, la justificacion de los suenosde las herejias de unas horas atras.

VI I

Salimos del pais y se organiza en Costa Rica 'JuventudRevolucionaria Nicaraguense'. Carlos viaja de San Jose a lazona bananera costarricense — territorio norteamericanoh abitado por nicaraguenses y donde viven algunos ticos —

and oligarchic patience since the time of independence from

Spain, reinforced by tough talk , bayonets and legalmeasures by the founder of the Somoza dynasty. Thisisolation was so complete and baleful that when the authorof these lines arrived at the University and joined a groupof students — who since then have become rectors andbankers — he believed, like the others, that Haya de laTorre' was a revolutionary Marxist and that no workingclass party existed in Nicaragua. At that time no one wasprepared to offer even one stingy sugar cube to attractstudents. It was about four years later when the SocialistParty realised the existence of students, approximatelywhen Carlos arrived at University. Later Carlos remarkedrightly that the current revolutionary process in Nicaraguaarose more out of shame than awareness.

The victory of the armed struggle in Cuba was morethan a great joy. It was the drawing back of many curtains,a bonfire shining out beyond the simplistic well-worndogmas of the moment. The Cuban Revolution certainlycaused a shudder of terror throughout the Latin Americanruling classes and a violent shake-up of the suddenly dismalrelics with which we had set up our altars. For us Fidel wasthe resurrection of Sandino, the answer to our doubts, thejustification for the dreams so recently dismissed asheresies.

VI I

We left the country and the 'Nicaraguan RevolutionaryYouth' (JRN) was set up in Costa Rica. Carlos travelledfrom San Jose to the Costa Rican banana zone — North

6. Peruvian populist leader and social democrat.

de la casa donde estamos refugiados en San Jose, a losbarrios donde nuestros compatriotas remiendan zapatos ynostalgias. Junto a el estk, corno antes y despues, SilvioMayorga, heroe y martir de Pancasan.

Viaja a Guatemala y Venezuela; se introduce, porprimer a vez clandestino, a Nicaragua. Pretende, aunnovato, contribuir desde la clandestinidad para darle unnuevo contenido a 'Juventud Patriotica' , sobre cuyamilitancia tiene gran ascendiente. El Partido Socialista, porsupuesto, se opone a semejante audacia y publica una notasocial, en el semanario de siempre, en el que se anuncia lallegada al pais 'del joven y valiente luchador estudiantil,Carlos Fonseca'. Inmediatamente se le captura y expulsadel territorio nacional, en avi6n expreso de la FuerzaAerea, hacia Guatemala. De Guatemala se escabulle hastaMexico; en este pais conoce al Profesor Edelberto Torrespor el que siempre tuvo un particular afecto, el cual todoshemos compartido. El Profesor Torres escribe un librosobre Dario — conocido y apreciado entre los intelectualesde habla hispana — y lo dedica a Carlos.

De Mexico parte en 1959 hacia Honduras e ingresa en lacolumna que es masacrada a mansalva en El Chaparral, porf uerzas conjuntas d e lo s ejercitos hondurenos ynicaraguenses: por la cONDEcA que aun no tenia siglas. Lajefatura de l a operacion se ubica en l a EmbajadaNorteamericana de Tegucigalpa. Una bala de carabina M-1le atraviesa el pulm6n. Corno no se queja, los gorilashondurenos lo creen muerto. Casi lo entierran. Tampoco sequeja en el doloroso trayecto hacia Tegucigalpa.

American territory , inhabited by Nicaraguans and a fewCosta Ricans — from the house where we were staying inSan Jose to the barrios where o ur c ompatriots w erecobbling shoes and dreams. As in previous and subsequentjourneys, his travelling companion was Silvio Mayorga, thehero and martyr of Pancasan.

Carlos travelled to Guatemala and Venezuela; for thefirst time he made a clandestine trip to Nicaragua. Eventhough he was a novice, he wanted to give some input tothe 'Patriotic Youth' (JP), as he had a strong influence overtheir militants. Of course the Socialist Party opposed suchaudacity and published a social note in their weekly paperannouncing the arrival in the country of 'the young andbrave student campaigner Carlos Fonseca'. He wasimmediately captured and expelled from Nicaragua, on anAi r Force plane to Guatemala. From Guatemala hemanaged to reach Mexico. Here he met Professor EdelbertoTorres, for whom he always had a special affection, whichwe all shared. Professor Torres wrote a book on Dario,which became well known and respected by Spanish­speaking intellectuals, and dedicated it to Carlos.

Carlos left Mexico in 1959 for Honduras and joined thecolumn which was savagely massacred in El Chapparal bythe combined forces of the Honduran and Nicaraguanarmies: the precursor o f the future CONDECA.' Theoperation" s headquarters were in the North AmericanEmbassy in Tegucigalpa. A bullet from an M-1 rifle piercedhis lung. As he did not complain, the Honduran gorillasbelieved he was dead. They nearly buried him. Neither didhe complain on the painful journey to Tegucigalpa.

7. Central American Defence Council, established by the US in 1964 toco-ordinate counter-insurgency activities in the region,

17

Silvio y yo estabamos en una cafeteria en San Josecuando e l doctor Enrique Lacayo Farfan, un hombrehonesto, nos llev6 la noticia de su 'muerte'.

Me puse a llorar a moco tendido (ahora te lo puedodecir, Carlos), y un tico dijo: 'Miren a ese joven, estallorando corno un guila. ' Si lvio que tambien l loraba,remacho: 'No seas pendejo.' Carlos solo estaba herido,aunque de gravedad. Antes de los sucesos de El Chaparralhabia llamado por telbfono urgiendonos a que nospresentaramos en Tegucigalpa.

'qPero c6mo,' le dije, 'si no tenemos dinero?''Espero,' respondio, 'que tengan l a suficiente

imaginacion para llegar aunque sea nadando.'Algunos esfuerzos estabamos haciendo para marchar a

Honduras, cuando se aparecio un delegado de Somarriba, elJefe de la Columna, que prometi6 integrarnos a la columnade refuerzo, lacrada, desde luego, de preterito imperfecto.

VI I I

Volvimos a encontrar a Carlos en Cuba. En La Habana sevincul6 estrecha y fraternalmente con Tamara Bunke(Tania, muerta heroicamente en Bolivia); hizo amistad conel Comandante Guevara.

Silvio fue a Caracas y llevo a Cuba a un grupo denicaraguenses; en las jubilosas calles de La Habanatransitaba alegremente otro numero de compatriotas. Ellosfueron los primeros guerrilleros sandinistas en las jornadasde Bocay y Rio Coco.

Carlos march6 a Honduras a preparar condicionesfavorables para nuestro regreso. En el mes de julio de1961, en la ciudad de Tegucigalpa, con la presencia de

Silvio and I were in a cafe in San Jose when DoctorEnrique Lacayo Farfan, a decent man, brought us news ofhis 'death'.

I burst out crying and the tears poured down my cheeks(now I can tell you, Carlos) and a Costa Rican said: 'Lookat that boy crying like a booby. ' Silvio, who was cryingtoo, retorted: 'Don't be daft. ' Carlos was only wounded,but seriously. Before the events of El Chaparral he hadtelephoned us , urging u s to present ourselves inTegucigalpa.

'But how can we,' I asked him, 'if we have no money?''I hope,' he replied, 'you will have enough imagination

to get there, even if you have to swim.'We were trying to leave for Honduras, when a delegate

of Somarriba appeared, the leader of the Column. Hepromised to put us into the reinforcement column, relegatedby then, of course, to the past imperfect.

VII I

We met Carlos again in Cuba. In Havana he became closef riends with Tamara Burke (Tania died heroically inBolivia). He also became friends with ComandanteGuevara.

Silvio went to Caracas and brought a group ofNicaraguans to Cuba. Other Nicaraguans were alreadycelebrating in Havana's joyful streets. These were the firstSandinista guerrillas in the days of Bocay and Rio Coco.

Carlos went of f to Honduras to prepare favourableconditions for our return. In the month of July 1961, in thecity of Tegucigalpa, inthe presence of Carlos Fonseca,

Carlos Fonseca, Silvio Mayorga, y el suscrito, se funda elFrente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional.

Los primeros militantes del FSLN fueron Santos L6pez,Jorge Navarro, Rigoberto Cruz, Francisco Buitrago,F austino Ruiz, Jose Benito Escobar, Victor Tirado yGerman Pomares.

El nombre de la organizacion lo sugiere, lo pelea y logana Carlos.

IX

En 1962, la naciente organizacion revolucionaria junta enlas margenes del Rio Patuca, Honduras, 60 hombres quepermanecen casi un ano entrenandose en la selva, acosadosde pajaros, venados, rios caudalosos y garrapatas.

Los primeros en hacer incursiones al Rio Patuca, dondese entreno la columna guerrillera, fueron Carlos Fonseca yel Coronel Santos Lopez.

Se juntan, de este modo, dos generaciones denicaragiienses sellados por l a presencia hist6rica delpensamiento sandinista. El Coronel Santo s Lopez fueintegrante del 'Coro de Angeles', unidad de combate en laguerra de Sandino, especializada en adolescencia y enacciones comando; ninos violentos y dulces, expertos enconquistar objetivos militares dificiles y sonrisas demuchachas, qu e llegaban a citas d e confidenciasconspirativas y amorosas a maquillarse con el agua de losriachuelos y a vigilar las marchas del enemigo.

La relacion entre Carlos Fonseca y el Coronel SantosL6pez no fue casual. Las viejas y nuevas generacionessandinistas se buscaron en medio de las tinieblas hastadetectarse en el momento politico y economico justo. Losviejos sandinistas nos transmitieron sus experiencias que

20

Silvio Mayorga and the present writer , the Sandinista

National Liberation Front was founded.The first FSLN militants were Santos L6pez, Jorge

Navarro, Rigoberto Cruz, Francisco Buitrago, FaustinoRuiz, Jose Benito Escobar , Victor T irado and GermanPomares.

The organisation's name was suggested, fought for andwon by Carlos.

IX

In 1962 the new-born revolutionary organisation gatheredsixty men on the banks of the River Patuca, Honduras, whoremained there for about a year training in the jungle, livingwith birds, deer, rushing rivers and plagued by ticks.

The first to explore the River Patuca, where the guerrillacolumn trained, were Carlos Fonseca and Colonel SantosL6pez.

Thus two generations of Nicaraguans were linkedtogether by the historical presence of Sandino's thought.Colonel Santos L6pez was a member of the 'Choir ofAngels' a combat unit in Sandino's war — adolescentsspecialising in commando attacks. They were sweet, violentboys, expert in attaining difficult military objectives andsmiles from girls, who would turn up for conspiratorial oramorous rendezvous, with water from a stream as their onlymake-up and on the lookout for enemy movements.

The relationship between Carlos and Colonel SantosL6pez was no coincidence. The old and new generations ofSandinistas sought each other out in the darkness until theyfound themselves at the right political and economicmoment. The older Sandinistas passed on their experiences,which fell upon soil hungry for the seeds of new ideas. In

cayeron en un terreno hambriento de semillas y nuevasp erspectivas. E n verdad l o qu e ocurrio fu e undesplazamiento del conocimiento escrito sobre la lucha deSandino a la carne, los huesos y las palabras de losveteranos sobrevivientes.

Poco despues llegan al Patuca los primeros militantes delFSLN: Victor Tirado y German Pomares, entre los actualessobrevivientes; Faustino Ruiz, Modesto Duarte, FranciscoBuitrago, Rigoberto Cruz, Mauricio Cordoba y SilvioMayorga, entre los caidos. Con el senor Guerrero tuvimosserias contradicciones que impidieron la participacion deF onseca en la columna guerrillera. Se vio obligado ainternarse clandestinamente en Nicaragua.

Los guerrilleros del Patuca incursionan posteriormenteen las margenes de los rios Coco y Bocay, y tienen algunosencuentros con la Guardia Nacional . Aquellos hombressemidesnudos y desnutridos, tienen un dia hambre; al diasiguiente fatiga y hambre; y unos dias mas tarde,leshmaniasis (lepra de montana), fatiga y hambre. El mandose turna cada semana: hace falta la presencia de un dirigentecorno Carlos.

Los guerrilleros s e repliegan diflcilmente haciaHonduras: desnudos, desarmados, al borde de la inaniciony, cosa curiosa, cuando al fin se ha consolidado cornoresponsable uno de los combatientes.

Durante los encuentros con el enemigo caen companerosque siguen siendo puntos de referencia, entre la militanciasandinista, de generosidad, de heroismo, de alegria y desacrificio. Corno no recordar en estos breves apuntes aJorge Navarro — el alegre, optimista y severo 'Navarrito'— que nos hacia cosquillas con sus anecdotas y sacaba eljugo a nuestras reservas de energia en las horas dificiles.

22

fact, what happened was the passing on of the knowledge ofSandino's struggle, not only in words but written in theflesh and bones of the veteran survivors.

Shortly afterwards the first FSLN veterans arrived at thePatuca: Victor Tirado and German Pomares,' among thosestill surviving; Faustino Ruiz, Modesto Duarte, FranciscoBuitrago, Rigoberto Cruz, Mauricio Cordoba and SilvioMayorga among the fallen. We had serious disagreementswith Mr Guerrero, which meant that Fonseca could not takepart in the guerrilla column, because he had to make aclandestine journey inside Nicaragua.

The Patuca guerrillas later invaded the banks of theRivers Coco and Bocay, and had several encounters withthe National Guard. Those half-naked, underfed men, wenthungry one day; next day went hungry and sufferedexhaustion; and a few days later they suffered leshmaniasis(mountain leprosy), exhaustion and hunger. The leadershipwas rotated weekly; we needed a leader like Carlos.

The guerrillas withdrew with difficulty towardsHonduras: naked, unarmed, on the point of collapse, andcuriously, when one o f the combatants had finallyestablished himself as the one in charge.

During encounters with the enemy, comrades fell whocontinue to be looked up to as examples by Sandinistamilitants, for their generosity, heroism, joy and sacrifice.In these brief lines how can we fail to remember JorgeN avarro — the jolly, optimistic and severe 'Navarrito' —who tickled us with his stories and could squeeze out ourlast drop of energy at the most difficult times.

8. G ermann Pomares, known as 'El Danto' (' The Tapir') was killed leadingthe attack on Jinotega on May 24th 1979, during the FSLN FinalOffensive.

23

C6mo no ver, aun entre las cuatro paredes de esta celda,los gestos y las palabras de Faustino Ruiz 'El Cuje', quienno extendia una mano sino para dar algo, o no decia unapalabra que no fuera certera corno una flecha para llegar alcorazon.

Francisco Buitrago y Modesto Duarte tuvieron unareyerta porque Chico queria que Modesto Duarte fuera elJefe de una de las escuadras, y Modesto queria que lo fueraChico. E l Coronel Santos L6pez tuvo que tomar unadecision bajo el techo de las cejas fruncidas de Modesto ylos ojos sonrientes de Francisco; por supuesto, el designadofue Modesto.

Conocemos el caso de un companero — cuyo nombrelamentablemente no recordamos — que simulaba comerpara dar secretamente parte de su raci6n a los mas debiles.Solo quien conoce el hambre de los guerrilleros sabe lo queesto significa.

En el interior de l pais, concretamente en Managua yMatagalpa, Carlos organizo con Jorge Navarro — el quecaminaba a pie para no gastar en bus, con 33.000 pesos dela organizaci6n en la bolsa — las primeras celulassandinistas y el primer grupo armado en las montanas deMatagalpa (que fue detectado en Carateras).

Jorge Navarro, bajo la direccion de Fonseca, planifica yejecuta el primer acto de recuperaci6n en una sucursalbancaria: 35.000 c6rdobas que son enviados integros a lamontana. Jorge lee un mensaje en Radio Mundialocupada con entusiasta e inexperta violencia — redactadopor Carlos. Navarro posteriormente se incorpora al grupoguerrillero del Bocay.

24

How, even within the four walls of this cell, can I fail torecall the behaviour and language of Faustino Ruiz, EtCuje, who never stretched out his hand without givingsomething, and never said a word that was not an arrows traight to the heart .

Francisco Buitrago and Modesto Duarte had a disputebecause Chico wanted Modesto Duarte to be a squadronleader and Modesto wanted it to be Chico. Colonel SantosL6pez had to take a decision, faced with Modesto's heavyfrown and Francisco's smiling eyes; he had nominatedModesto, of course.

We know of a comrade — whose name we unfortunatelycannot remember — who pretended to eat in order to givehis ration to the weaker comrades. Only someone whoknows how hungry guerrillas are can understand what thismeans.

Within the country, that is, in Managua and Matagalpa,together with Jorge Navarro — who went on foot to savethe bus fare even when he had 33,000 pesos belonging tothe organisation in his pocket — Carlos organised thy,firstSandinista cells and the first armed group in the Matagalpamountains (which was detected in Carateras).

Under Fonseca's leadership, Jorge Navarro planned andcarried out the first act of recovery from a bank branch:35,000 c6rdobas all sent to the mountain. Jorge read out amessage composed by Carlos on Radio M undialoccupied with enthusiastic and inexpert violence. LaterNavarro joined the Bocay guerrilla group.

25

XI

Carlos sostiene, en sus escritos, que la experienciaguerrillera de Bocay y Rio Coco no fue un foco guerrillero;que el FSLN nacio con vocacion de clases explotadas a lascuales se ligo desde la placenta. En efecto, el FSLNextendio el calor de sus primeras manos a las fabricas, a losbarrios, a la universidad, a las comarcas de Matagalpa,M anagua, Ocotal y Chinandega. Cuando lie g amos aNicaragua, en compafiia de Victor Tirado, despues de lajornada del '63, habia en Managua tres celulas proletarias yrepetidos contactos con la periferia de la ciudad. Silvioh abia lleg ado, cuando estabamos e n l a Patuca, aChinandega, gracias a cierto trabajo politico realizado en lazona de El Viejo. El grupo armado de Matagalpa no fuehijo de la casualidad; y en Wiwili varias familias quedabanesperando la llegada de la columna guerrillera, Es ciertoque la columna se desplaz6 hacia una zona desconocida yhabitada por una reducida poblacion marginada y sinperspectivas politicas, pero es e fu e u n errorcomplementario de l a direccion guerrillera que nodesnaturaliza las indicaciones y practicas clasistas de lajoven organizaci6n revolucionaria.

Esta tesis fue confirmada — sostenia Carlos — ya que elF SLN sobrevivi6 a los duros reveses del '63 y '67, adiferencia de otros esfuerzos guerrilleros en America Latinaque desaparecieron dejando tan solo el recuerdo de sushuellas heroicas, despues de ser derrotadas militarmente. ElFSLN, por el contrario, se ha fortalecido, en terminospoliticos, a raiz de cada derrota militar . Es imposiblecomprender la supervivencia y desarrollo de la organizacionsandinista sin tener en cuenta la obvia arquitectura de susraices en los sectores sociales agredidos y explotados denuestro pais.

26

XI

In hi s writings Carlos maintained that the guerrillaexperience at Bocay and the River Coco was not a guerrillafoco; that t he FSLN w as b orn f or t he d efence o f t heexploited classes, to whom it had an umbilical link. Indeed,from the first, the FSLN warmly stretched out its hands tofactories, city districts, the university, and outlying areasround Matagalpa, Managua, Ocotal and Chinandega. WhenVictor Tirado and I arrived in Nicaragua after the events of'63, there were three proletarian cells in Managua and

multiple contacts on the outskirts of the city. When we wereon the banks of the Patuca, Silvio made it to Chinandega,thanks to some political work done in the area of El Viejo,The armed group in Matagalpa was not an accident; and inWiwil i several families were expecting the arrival of theguerrilla column. It is true that the column went off into anunknown region with a small , marginalised andunpoliticised population, but this was a mistake made by theguerrilla leadership, which did not change the class bias andpractices of the young revolutionary organisation.

This thesis was confirmed — Carlos maintained — bythe fact that the FSLN survived the severe setbacks of '63and '67 , unlike other guerrill a movements i n L atin

America, which disappeared leaving only the memory oftheir heroic deeds, after they had been militarily defeated.On the other hand, the FSLN became stronger, in politicalterms, after every military defeat. I t i s impossible tounderstand the survival and development of the Sandinistaorganisation without taking into account its obvious roots inthe exploited and battered social sectors of our country.

27

X I I

A partir del ano '63 se consolida la autoridad de CarlosFonseca corno dirigente del FSLN. El proceso militar delRio Coco y Bocay imguso un repliegue que nos condugv adarle particular importancia al trabajo en los barrioslaterales de Managua y otras ciudades. Este trabajo, cornose sabe, se realiz6 conjuntamente con el Partido Socialista yel fenecido 'Movilizacion Republicana'. En este trabajopredomino el estilo reivindicativo y discursero. Por fortuna,el FSLN no abandono las montanas ni las comarcas.

El primero de cada mes, Carlos se reunia con RigobertoCruz (Pablo Ubeda) y otros cuadros, que hicierons ignificativos esfuerzos organizando campesinos en elBijao, La Tronca y Uluse, regiones montanosas deldepartamento de Matagalpa: organismos sindicales perotambien politicos que forjaron las condiciones basicas delactual movimiento guerrillero.

Decia Carlos que el movimiento en el Rio Coco y Bocayfue la primera accion preparada por un grupo homogeneoen terminos politicos. Fue — agregaba — una especie detanteo del sector revolucionario.

Carlos indicaba, en algunos de sus escritos, que laderrota del Rio Coco empujo al FSLN hacia posicionesrevestidas de reformismo.

No se renuncio a la lucha armada — aclara en La HoraCero — pero se interrumpio por a lgun tiempo el t rabajoprkctico para continuar la preparacion. E l factoragregaba en las mismas reflexiones — que influyo en estadebilidad, fue que la derrota del '63 coincidio con undescenso en la lucha antisomocista.

La direccion del FSLN no logr6 comprender en aquelinstante que este descenso era un fenomeno parcial, ya que

28

XII

From the year '63 onwards, Carlos Fonseca's authority asleader of the FSLN was confirmed. The military process ofthe River Coco and Bocay was a setback which forced us topay particular attention to work in the outlying barrios ofManagua and other cities. As is well known, this work wasdone jointly with the Socialist Party and the now defunct'Republican Mobilisation' (MR). This work was carried outmainly through debate and discussion. Fortunately, theFSLN did not abandon the mountains or the countrydistricts.

On the first of each month Carlos met Rigoberto Cruz(Pablo Ubeda) and other cadre s, who were makings ignificant efforts to organise the peasants in Bijao, L aTronca and Uluse, mountainous regions of the departmentof Matagalpa, into unions, which were also politicalorganisations forging the basic conditions for the ongoingguerrilla struggle.

Carlos said that the movement in the River Coco andBocay was the first action developed by a group that washomogenous in political terms. It was — he added — a sortof testing ground for the revolutionary sector.

Carlos suggested, in some of his writings, that the RiverCoco defeat pushed the FSLN towards reformist positions.

The armed struggle was not given up — he explains inZero Hour — but practical work was broken off for a timein order to continue preparing. The factor — he continuedin the same reflections — which influenced this weakness,was that the defeat of '63 coincided with a falling off of thestruggle against Somoza.

The FSLN leadership did not understand at the time thatthis falling of f was a partial phenomenon, because

29

en esencia el rumbo de la lucha revolucionaria era deprogreso, de transito hacia la maduraci6n. En 1964-65, elFSLN destino en la ciudad la casi totalidad de sus energiasal trabajo legal entre las masas, particularmente en losbarrios perifbricos de Managua y Le6n.

Por el contrario, se realiza intenso trabajo politicoformando bases de apoyo clandestinos en las areas rurales ymontanosas.

Artifice de estos trabajos fue el companero RigobertoCruz (Pablo Ubeda), quien siendo obrero disfrazado decurandero, lleg6 a ser campesino en el modo de hablar, deponer los pies en la dificil geografia de Matagalpa y hastade tirar piedritas en esas tertulias cuando muchachos ymuchachas campesinos salen a encender los hachones de laluna. Desde el punto de vista de su concepci6n ideol6gica ypolitica, Pablo Ubeda siguio siendo un obrero.

XII I

En 1965 Carlos fue capturado en un barrio lateral deManagua, junto con Victor Tirado Lopez. Condenado porla 'Ley Quintana', estuvo seis meses en la carcel dondeIlego a visitarlo una muchacha espigada y dulce que despuesfue su esposa. En la carcel escribi6 el valiente documentoYo Acuso. Al cumplir condena se le desterr6 — de nuevoen avion expreso — a Guatemala. Fue confinado en ElPeten, donde conocio e hizo amistad con el teniente LuisTurcios Lima, futuro comandante de las Fuerzas ArmadasRevolucionarias de Guatemala.

Turcios le obsequio varios libros de tactica militar.Carlos escap6 a Mexico, donde contrajo matrimonio conMaria Haydee Teran. Su esposa e hijos estan bajo la

30

essentially the direction of the revolutionary struggle wasforwards, on the way towards maturity. In 1964-5, theFSLN devoted nearly al l its energies to legal work amongthe masses in the cities, particularly in the outlying barriosof Managua and Leon.

On the other hand, there was also intense political workbeing done to build up clandestine support bases in the ruraland mountain areas.

The comrade chiefl y responsible for this work wasRigoberto Cruz (Pablo Ubeda), a worker who disguisedhimself as a folk doctor, learned to talk l ike a peasant andknow his way through the difficult geography of Matagalpa.He even took part in the pebble-throwing games at thoseyoung peasant men and women's moonlight parties. PabloUbeda's ideological and political ideas continued to bethose of a worker.

XI I I

In 1965 Carlos was captured in an outlying barrio ofManagua, together with Victor Tirado Lopez. Condemnedby the 'Quintana Law' he spent six months in prison, wherehe was visited by a tall, gentle girl who later became hiswife. In prison he wrote the brave document I Accuse. Atthe end of his sentence he was expelled — by express planeagain — to Guatemala. He was confined in El Peten, wherehe met and became friends with Lieutenant Luis TurciosLima, the future leader of Guatemala's RevolutionaryArmed Forces (FAR).

Turcios gave him several books on military tactics.Carlos escaped to Mexico, where he married Maria HaydeeTeran. His wife and children are living under the friendly

fraterna protecci6n del pueblo cubano. Regreso a Nicaraguaen 1966.

XIV

El proceso electoral y su culminaci6n sangrienta del 22 deenero de 1967 definieron la s diferencias con lasagrupaciones politicas aliadas. Mientras e l PartidoSocialista Nicaraguense (PSN) y Movilizacion Republicana(MR) participan en el proceso electoral con parlantes,f irmas al pie y encendidas exigencias de unidad con laoposici6n burguesa — que desde luego no fueronescuchadas — el FSLN traslada sus principales cuadros a lamontana y a la cabeza de ellos, corno indiscutible jefepolitico y militar, se coloca Carlos Fonseca.

La guerrilla de Pancasan y Fila Grande le ponen unamarca definitiva a nuestro destino politico. Sandino ya noes una efemerides, un disturbio anual, sino una especie dec amino.

En el ano 1966, se dan pasos practicos — dice Carlos enLa Hora Cero — para reanudar la accion armada. Ese anoel Frente Sandinista adquiere conciencia de la desviacion enque habia incurrido a raiz de los golpes de 1963, y procedea la preparaci6n de la base guerrillera de Pancasan. Aunqueesta preparaci6n constituyo un progreso en cuanto a labororganizativa en comparacion con el movimiento armado delFSLN en 1963, respecto a tactica politica y militar norepresent6 un progreso serio. Fue un notable progreso deorganizacion, porque no fue ya la habitual preparacion delmovimiento armado en un pais vecino, con la circunstanciade la lejania de la observacion del enemigo principal, sinoque fue la preparacion de un movimiento armado enmontanas situadas en el propin centro del pais.

32

protection of the Cuban people. He returned to Nicaraguain 1966.

XIV

The electoral process and its bloody cu lmination of 22ndJanuary 1967 made clear the FSLN's differences with itsallied political groups. Whereas the Nicaraguan SocialistParty (PSN) and the Republican Mobilisation (MR) tookpart in the electoral process with loudspeakers, signaturesa nd exhortations to unite with the bourgeois opposition —which of course were disregarded — the FSLN transferredits principal cadres to the mountains and at their head asundisputed political and mi l itary leader , stood CarlosFonseca.

The guerrilla struggle of Pancasan and Fila Grande setthe seal on our political destiny. Now Sandino was not apassing memory, an anniversary, but a kind of road.

In 1966 practical steps were taken — says Carlos in ZeroHour — to renew armed action. In that year the SandinistaFront became aware of the deviation it had fallen intob ecause of the blows i t had suffered i n 1963. So i tproceeded to prepare the guerrilla base of Pancasan.Although these preparations did display some organisationalprogress compared to the FSLN's armed movement of1963, it was not very substantial progress in terms ofpolitical and military tactics. It represented a progress inorganisation, because it no longer resorted to the usualcourse of preparing an armed movement in a neighbouringcountry, with the disadvantage of distance from theprincipal enemy. I t was the preparation of an armedmovement in mountains situated in the very heart of ourown country.

33

XV

A las seis de la tarde recibimos la noticia. Carlos se habiaperdido despues de un encuentro con un juez de mesta. Elguia que l o acompanaba no logrb encontrarlo en laobscuridad. El violento intercambio de disparos haciasuponer que Carlos estaba herido o muerto. Nadie podiasaberlo porque era de los heridos que no se quejan. La solaposibilidad de su muerte nos aplasto, no podia ser, ese lujono, a l menos en ese momento, n i nunca, estabamosdemasiado tiernos, ademas el amigo, el hermano, el jefeejemplar.

En el encuentro salio muerto un caballo y herido el juezde mesta. Carlos logro llegar hasta la casa de un campesinocolaborador, Quince dias despues se aparecio en elcampamento, barbudo, flaco, reganon.

XVI

La derrota militar de Pancasan, que naturalmente impuso unnuevo repliegue, demostro que el FSLN era una respuestahist6rica, la sintesis necesaria a mas de cien anos de luchapopular. La autoridad politica del FSLN adquiere massignificado si se considera que, a raiz de Pancasan, se iniciael reflujo de la lucha armada en America Latina: apenasunos dias despues de l combate de Pancasan muereheroicamente en Bolivia el comandante Ernesto Guevara.Javier Heraud, poeta adolescente que dejo huellas en laliteratura de su pais — otro Leonel Rugama — cae 'entrepajaros y arboles' cumpliendo la promesa de un hermosopoema, en las montanas del Peru. Hugo Blanco y Hector

34

XV

At six in the afternoon we received the news. Carlos waslost after an encounter with a district 'justice'. ' The guidewho was with him could not find him in the dark . Theviolent exchange of shots led us to suppose that Carlos waswounded or dead. Nobody knew for certain, because hewas the sort not to complain if he was wounded. Even thepossibility of his death devastated us. It was just too much,it could not be, not at this time, not ever . We were tooweak to lose our friend, our brother, our exemplary leader.

In the encounter a horse was killed and the 'justice'wounded. Carlos managed to reach the house of a peasantcollaborator. A fortnight later he appeared in our camp,bearded, thin and very cross.

XVI

The military defeat of Pancasan, which naturally forced ust o retreat again, demonstrated that the FSLN was ahistorical response, the necessary synthesis of more than ahundred years of popular struggle. The political authorityof the FSLN acquires more significance if we consider thatPancasan constituted the ebb tide of armed struggle in LatinAmerica: just a few days after the battle of Pancasan,Comandante Ernesto Guevara died heroically in Bolivia.Javier Heraud, an adolescent poet who left his mark on theliterature of his country — another Leonel Rugama — fell'among birds and trees', fulfilling the promise of a beautiful

9. A juec de mesta was a local rural boss, a 'justice' with law-enforcementpowers, who acted as a henchman to the dictator.

35

Bejar, dirigentes guerrilleros peruanos, son capturados porel ejercito de ese pais, liquidando una tentativa armadaaparentemente prometedora. Turcios Lima ha muerto enGuatemala.

Es el duro momento en que lo dificil es el pan nuestro decada circunstancia. Los dogmaticos y l o s vacilantesdescubren, una vez mas, la sonrisa ironica que se les habiaextraviado anos atras. Carlos no pierde los estribos, noabandona s u armoniosa terquedad histo rica. Siguetrabajando co n paciencia, juntando voluntades,enfrentandose al peligro y a las contradicciones domesticas;depura el sentido de la critica.

Pancasan significs, por otra parte, e l final de losremanentes foquistas. En l a misma zona guerrillera serealiza un trabajo que considera la existencia de factoresextra guerrilleros. Se continua el trabajo politico en lasregiones perifericas de Managua y otras ciudades, seatiende la actividad estudiantil y sindical, se establecenvinculaciones con dirigentes de los partidos politicostradicionales, intelectuales y sacerdotes.

Despues de Pancasan se inicia la acumulacion de fuerzasen silencio que lentamente dibuja en barrios y areas ruralesuna creciente estructura organica.

XVII

Todas las casas se quemaron. Cayo presa Lesbia queconocia el ultimo escondrijo. Salimos a buscar con Velia unsitio cualquiera donde meternos: encontramos una casaabandonada, las ratas parecian gatos y lo s aguj eros,ventanas. Carlos estiro sus largas piernas en el suelo; launica colcha se la dimos a Velia. Una semana despues,teniamos cinco casas de seguridad en el barrio.

36

poem of his, in the mountains of Peru. Hugo Blanco andHector Bejar, Peruvian guerrilla leaders, were captured bythe army o f that country , which thus wiped out anapparently promising armed uprising. Turcios Lima haddied in Guatemala.

These were hard times in which difficulty was our dailybread. The dogmatists and waverers recovered, once more,their ironical smile, which had been wiped from their facesa few years back. Carlos did not lose his head, he clung tohis serene historical stubbornness. He went on workingpatiently, co-ordinating our efforts, facing danger andinternal disputes. He sharpened his critical sense.

Pancasan also meant the end to the last remnants offoquismo. Even i n the guerrilla a reas, work was donetaking into consideration other factors beside the guerrillastruggle. Political work continued in the outlying districtsof Managua and other cities. Attention was paid to theorganising of trade unions, students, links were establishedwith leaders of the traditional political parties, intellectualsand priests.

From Pancasan onwards began the period of silentaccumulation of forces. Slowly in city districts and ruralareas a growing organic structure was being built up.

XVII

All our houses were discovered. They captured Lesbia,who knew the last of the hiding places. We went out withVelia to look fo r somewhere to stay . We found anabandoned house, the rats were like cats and the holes likewindows. Carlos stretched out his long legs on the floor .We gave the only bed-cover to Velia. A week later we hadfive safe houses in the barrio,

37

XVIII

En 1969 se reorganiza la direccion del FSLN. Carlos esnombrado Secretario General; se publican El Programa ylos Estatutos; Carlos escribe La H ora C ero. Via ja deNicaragua a Costa Rica, empenado en impulsar un nuevoproyecto guerrillero que insurge en Bijao y Zinica, pero essorpresivamente capturado por la policia tica. Se le rescatapor la fuerza en el conocido asalto a la carcel de Alajuela,pero es recapturado. Carlos Aguero dirige la accion que

log ra, al f in, su libertad, y parte para Cuba, dondepermanece algunos anos, sin desvincularse de Nicaragua yel FSLN.

En Cuba escribe Viva Sandino, l ibro que aun no hacirculado en Nicaragua, y que es, sin duda, un serio analisisde nuestra desconocida dimension hist6rica. En escritopublicado en la revista Tricontinental, lanza la consigna deorganizar a las masas en toda la plenitud geografica delpais.

Asi fue: el FSLN se pone pantalones largos para visitarmontanas, caserios, comarcas, barrios laterales, fabricas,universidades, institutos. Crecemos, tal vez, demasiadoaprisa.

XIX

Carlos nos decia, en algunas de esas platicas dondeconsumiamos cafe, cigarrillos y madrugadas, refiriendose alpapel de la clase obrera y los campesinos y de la pequenaburguesia:

Desde que el FSLN dej6 de ser una sigla — y aun antes ­hemos sostenido que la clase obrera estk destinada por la

38

XVII I

In 1969 the FSLN leadership was reorganised. Carlos wasnamed Secretary General; The P rogramme and S tatuteswere published. Carlos wrote Zero Hour. He travelled fromNicaragua to Costa Rica, on a mission to giveencouragement to a new guerrilla project being set up inBijao and Zinica. The Costa Rican police captured him bysurprise. He was rescued by force in the well known assaulton the Alajuela prison, but he was recaptured. It was CarlosAguero who led the action which finally succeeded infreeing him. After that Carlos Fonseca went to Cuba, wherehe remained for a few years, keeping in touch withNicaragua and the FSLN.

In Cuba he wrote Viva Sandino, a book which has notyet been circulated in Nicaragua, and which is a seriousanalysis of our little known historical dimension. In anessay published in the Tricontinental review, he gave theword to organise the masses throughout the country.

And so it happened: the FSLN put on long trousers tovisit mountains, farms, country districts, outlying barrios,factories, universities, institutes. We grew , perhaps tooquickly.

XIX

In one of those conversations during which we consumedcoffee, cigarettes and the small hours, Carlos said to us,with reference to the role of the working class and peasantsand the small bourgeoisie:

E ver since the FSLN ceased to be just a set of initials ­and even before — we have maintained that the working

39

historia a encabezar l a revoluci6n victoriosa y, lo quees mas importante, a pesar de las limitaciones impuestaspor el desarrollo econ6mico del pais, nuestra organizaci6nbusc6 siempre, y localiz6 con frecuencia, las fabricas yotros centros de producci6n; subestimar el papel de loscampesinos — en este pais de campesinos ultrajados,hambrientos, desposeidos, con tradiciones armadasseria, e n l a practica, renunciar a l a v iolenciarevolucionaria, buscar el trhnsito faci l a la legalidad,rendirse al enemigo, dormirse sobre la sangre de nuestrosmkrtires.

La clase obrera, por supuesto, no es una metafora; lejosesta de ser una abstraccion. Existe en una geografia tangibley hasta ella se puede llegar por las calles cargadas dereivindicaciones insatisfechas de los barrios laterales. Larealidad exige que, muchas veces, la ruta del cuadropolitico hacia el centro de produccion pase por una arearural. La Direcci6n Nacional del FSLN ha sido exigentecon los cuadros intermedios para que se de atenci6nespecial a las fabricas y a los obreros tambien fuera de lafkbrica, en los barrios. En una ocasi6n que revisabamos elorigen social de nuestra militancia en un regional, la casitotalidad eran trabajadores de algun centro de producci6n.

El destacamento armado de las montanas — punta devanguardia y garantia del proceso — tiene en sus filasimportante porcentaje de obreros, independientemente deque la montana significa proletarizaci6n. A elementosobreros que se han distinguido por su firmeza y capacidad,se les ubica corno dirigentes de masas, corno jefes decolumnas, corno responsables de regional o de zona.

La clase obrera — sostenia con parecidas palabrasFonseca — no ocupa espontaneamente la posici6n devanguardia. La mayor o menor agilidad para que la clase

class is destined b y history to lead the victoriousrevolution, and this, more importantly, despite thelimitations imposed b y th e country's economicdevelopment. Our organisation always sought out andfrequently homed in on factories and other productioncentres. However, to underestimate the role o f thepeasants — in a country which has an over-exploited,hungry and dispossessed peasantry, with a tradition ofarms — would mean in practice renouncing revolutionaryviolence, seeking a n easy transition to legality,surrendering to the enemy and falling asleep upon theblood of our martyrs.

Of course the working class is not a metaphor. It is farfrom being an abstraction. It exists in a tangible geographyand can be reached along streets daubed with the unsatisfieddemands of the outlying barrios. The reality of the situationrequired that often the political cadre's route to theproduction centre passed through a rural area. The NationalLeadership of the FSLN insisted t hat t he i ntermediatecadres pay special attention to factories and also to workersoutside factories, in their barrios. On one occasion when wer eviewed the social background of our militants at aregional meeting, nearly all of them were workers in someproduction centre.

The armed mountain detachment — the vanguard andguarantee of the process — contained in it s ranks animportant percentage of workers, apart from the fact thatthe mountain meant proletarianisation. Worker elementswho had distinguished themselves through their firmnessand ability , were appointed mass leaders, chiefs ofcolumns, or officers for a region or zone.

The working class — Carlos Fonseca maintained insimilar language — does not spontaneously occupy the

41

obrera reconozca su papel historico, depende de distintosfactores: el desarrollo industrial, el nivel politico de lasmasas, la capacidad de los revolucionarios.

El movimiento revolucionario organizado es, en ultimainstancia, la energia que desata la participaci6n conscientede la clase obrera.

XX

La nina de 11 anos se moria, inflamada, con los oj osgrandes, maduros corno de adulta, nos dijo que no queriamorir, estaba desnutrida. Carlos la miraba con el cenofruncido; yo la tome en los brazos mientras mi hermano sepaseaba desesperado. La nina se apago corno un candil conuna gota de gas y yo no podia limpiarme los ojos porquetenia ocupado los brazos mientras la mecia. Carlos se metioen su hamaca y se puso a fumar.

XXI

'En Nicaragua, por desgracia,' decia Carlos refiriendose aun viejo dolor de cabeza, ' la pequena bur guesia esreaccionaria, ignorante politicamente hablando y malinclinada. Quienes tienen en este pais formaci6n pequenaburguesa, se rajan facilmente ante el enemigo, no soportanel rigor de las campanas guerrilleras; son incapaces demantenerse dignos y solidarios en las duras, aunque sehacen pipi de tanta euforia en las maduras.'

Asi es. Despues de la accion del 27 de Diciembre, eranlos revolucionarios mas entusiastas del mundo. Con losreveses de El Sauce y Ocotal, el ardor revolucionario seconvirtio en objecion, miraditas temerosas hacia atras y

42

vanguard position. The greater or lesser speed with whichthe working class recognises its historical role depends onvarious factors: industrial development, the political levelof the masses, the skill of the revolutionaries.

Ultimately, the organised revolutionary movement is theenergy which unleashes the conscious participation of theworking class.

XX

The eleven year old girl was dying. She was burning hotand her huge eyes, with their adult knowledge, told us shedid not want to die. She was undernourished. Carlos lookedat her frowning. I took her in my arms while my friendpaced up and down in despair. The little girl went out l ikean oil lamp down to its last drop. I could not wipe my eyes,because my arms were full as I was rocking her. Carlosflung himself into his hammock and began to smoke.

XXI

'Unfortunately in Nicaragua,' said Carlos referring to an

old headache, ' the peti t bourgeoisie i s reactionary,politically ignorant and ill-disposed. Those in this countrywith a petit bourgeois background, easily give in to theenemy, cannot endure the rigour of guerrilla campaigns.They are incapable of maintaining their dignity andsolidarity when times are hard, although they pissthemselves with euphoria, when the fruits of these timesgrow ripe.'

That's how it is. After the action of 27th December, they

were the most enthusiastic revolutionaries in the world.With the setbacks o f E l Sauce and Ocotal , their

43

finalmente, maraton.

XXII

Carlos nos ordeno que cambiaramos de campamento.Llegamos a la orilla de una quebrada y nos instalamos enuna pequena cresta geografica. Por la noche Silvio, Carlosy el Chelito Moreno tenian fiebre, vomitos y diarrea. Por lamanana les dimos cloranfenicol, tres dias despues llegoS6crates, el medico y dijo que la indicacion era correcta:los companeros tenian paratifoidea.

XXIII

' Implacables en el combate, generosos en la victoria, ' sedijo en un documento publico sandinista. Esta sentenciasintetiza toda una concepcion relativa a las contradiccionescon el enemigo. Tan antigua corno el FSLN; tan exacta almodo de ser, a la ilimitada generosidad de Carlos Fonseca.

'La victoria tiene un precio elevado y triste. La alegriatotal, por eso mismo es patrimonio de las generacionesfuturas; por elias es que hacemos la guerra,' nos decia.

Debemos, no obstante, evitar los sacrificios innecesarios,ahorrar lagrimas y sangre. Los soldados de la GuardiaNacional son, corno individuos, parte de nuestro pueblo.Ciegos instrumentos, por desgracia, de los desalmadosoligarcas y sus amos extranjeros. Si un soldado de laGuardia Nacional cae prisionero en nuestras manos, nosolo deberAn respetarse su vida y dignidad, sino que espreciso tratarlo corno uno de nuestros propios hermanos.Preferible es pecar de generosos y no de rigurosamentejustos. Lo importante — corno dijo alguna vez Fidel — eseliminar el pecado, dejando a salvo al pecador.

revolutionary ardour changed to carping, timid backwardglances, and finally, an all-out marathon.

XXII

Carlos ordered us to change camps. We arrived at the bankof a stream and set up on a little hillock. During the nightSilvio, Carlos and Chelito Moreno were feverish, withvomiting and diarrhoea. In the morning we gave themchloramphenicol . Three days later Socrates, the doctor,arrived, and told us that our diagnosis was correct: ourcomrades had paratyphoid.

X X I I I

'Implacable in combat, generous in victory, ' as was said in

a public Sandinista document. This phrase sums up ourwhole idea regarding the contradictions with the enemy.Old as the FSLN, and faithfully reflecting Carlos Fonseca'sown limitless generosity.

'Victory has a high and distressing price. Total joy, istherefore the patrimony of future generations. We aremaking war for them,' he told us,

Nevertheless we must avoid unnecessary sacrifices, sparet ears and blood . The National Guard soldiers, asindividuals, belong to our people. Unfortunately they areblind instruments of the heartless oligarchies and theirforeign masters. I f a National Guard soldier is takenprisoner by us, not only should we respect his life anddignity, but we should treat him as one of our brothers. Itis better to sin by being over-generous rather than toorigorously just. The important thing — as Fidel once said— is to get rid of the sin and save the sinner.

45

Algunos de los que, sin duda, se alegraron con sumuerte le deben la vida a nuestro dirigente, que siempretuvo en su s labios palabras disuasivas para contenermedidas radicales en el orden de los castigos, inspiradas enla indignacion, de la repugnancia por los crimenes y abusosdel enemigo.

'Si nosotros nos dejamos guiar por nuestros sentimientospersonales,' decia, 'por la colera, por el impulso explicablede cobrar con la misma moneda, caeriamos en los pecadoscontra los cuales estamos luchando. Si queremos construiruna sociedad habitada por hombres nuevos, 6no tenemosque comportarnos corno hombres nuevos? Si matamos, siultrajamos a un prisionero, <en que nos diferenciariamos denuestros enemigos? '

XXIV

No quiso que lo fusilaramos. El joven campesino habiadesertado llevandose el rev6lver y 50 c6rdobas. Llegamosal rancho de sus padres. La mama nos dijo, perdonenlo porfavor, fue una locura. Carlos dijo, dejenlo ir . El jovencampesino se incorporo a la guerrilla de Zinica.

XXV

En sus ultimos pronunciamientos escritos en la montana,hace un llamado a la renovacion de nuestro metodo detrabajo:

Determinados contrastes ayudan a expresar mejor ciertasideas. Por ejemplo, hay tareas en el medio campesino quees imposible que las atienda un estudiante, aparte de que

46

Some of those who no doubt rejoiced at his death, owe theirlives to our leader, who always spoke up against radicalmeasures in the way of punishments, demanded by someout of disgust at the enemy's crimes and abuses.

'If we let ourselves be guided by our personal feelings,'he said, 'by anger and the understandable wish to give asgood as we get, we would fal l into the sins against whichwe are fighting. I f we want to build a society inhabited bynew human beings, shouldn't we behave like new humanbeings? If we kill , i f we abuse a prisoner, how are wedifferent from our enemies? '

XXIV

He did not want us to shoot him. The young peasant haddeserted, taking with him the revolver and fifty cordobas.We arrived at his parents' cottage. His mother begged us,please forgive him, it was an act of madness. Carlos said,let hi m go . The young peasant j oined the guerril lamovement in Zinica.

XXV

In his final words written in the mountains, Carlos appealsto us to review our methods of working:

Particular contrasts help us to express certain ideas better.For example, there are tasks to be done in the countrywhich are impossible for a student to do, although thereare proletarised students who do indispensable work in this

47

hay estudiantes proletarizados que en ese medio debencumplir tareas indispensables. A la vez que en el mediouniversitario hay tareas que no las puede cumplir elmilitante que ha tenido una experiencia exclusivamentecampesina. Esto independientemente de la importancia deque el militante, en cualquier lugar que este, deba estarrelacionado en alguna medida con la vida del pueblotrabajador.

Carlos contribuyo notablemente en la formacion delmilitante sandinista. Se predic6 con el ejemplo y la palabra,l a fraternidad, la disciplina, e l placer de l sacrificio, lai napetencia de los apetitos egoistas. Es asombroso yemocionante ver corno los j6venes extrovertidos de un paisque exporta palabras hermosas y agudas, acosados por lacorrupcion y el egoismo, pueden ser serios, respetuosos,d iscretos, modestos, impecables, cantan y rien en laplenitud de la fatiga, se sonrojan con el reconocimiento y laadmiraci6n de todos los pueblos del mundo.

A lo largo de todo un proceso el FSLN aprendi6 acolocar en el lugar exacto a sus militantes.

Una forma correcta de direccion, senalaba Carlos,descubre la parte positiva y fructifera de cada miembro paracanalizarla a favor de la vida de la organizacion, al mismotiempo que tambien sabe descubrir la parte negativa de losmiembros para limitar el efecto que pueda tener en la vidade la organizacion.

Al mismo tiempo enfatizaba: no debemos ocultar lasdebilidades de la organizaci6n, a la vez que debemos cerrarlos oidos ante la reciente insolencia de quienes solo quierenver un resultado negativo en la balanza del caminorecorrido.

48

area. On the other hand there are tasks to be done in theuniversity environment which cannot be done by themilitant who has had exclusively rural experience. At thesame time, it is important that, wherever he may be, themilitant must be connected in some way with the lives ofworking people.

Carlos made a notable contribution to the training ofSandinista militants. By word and example he preachedfellowship, discipline, self-sacrifice, the unpleasantness ofselfish appetites. It is surprising and moving to see how theextrovert young people of a country which exports sharpand beautiful words, young people constantly assaulted bycorruption and egoism, can be serious, respectful, discreet,modest, impeccable, sing and laugh during times ofexhaustion, and blush when they receive the praise andadmiration of all the peoples of the world.

After a long process the FSL N learnt to place itsmilitants appropriately.

A correct form of leadership, said Carlos, discovers thepositive and fruitful side of every member and channels itto serve the life of the organisation. A t the same time itdiscovers the negative side of members so as to limit theeffect this might have in the organisation's life.

At the same time he emphasised: while we should nothide the organisation's weaknesses, we should also closeour ears to the recent insolence of those who see onlynegative results in what we have achieved so far.

49

XXVI

German Pomares ('El Danto') y yo entrenamos a un grupode campesinos, varios muchachos y una muchacha.Aprendieron a desmontar y montar el Garand, la carabinaM-l , la subametralladora M-3 y la pistola .45. Carlos lleg6y nos dijo: 'Tambien ensenenles a leer.'

X XVI I

Al hacer referencia a l a unidad de l movimientorevolucionario, Carlos senalaba:

Segun lo ensenan grandes experiencias de otros pueblos, launidad de un movimiento revolucionario tiene la fuente desu vida en la igualdad fundamental de intereses, que animapor dentro entre los millares y millares de trabajadoresasalariados y desposeidos en una sociedad.

No es negativo, es mas bien positivo que surja toda unavariedad de opiniones respecto a la posible solucion de losproblemas. Esto no es nuevo y se ha dado en otras luchasrevolucionarias victoriosas, corno tambien en procesoshist6ricos que datan de la antiguedad. Desde el mismotexto de la Il iada se ven las discrepancias que surgendentro de un mismo bando combatiente por cierto que eneste relato que narra el papel que combatientes envejecidospueden desempenar a favor de la armonia en el seno delpropio bando.

Un aspecto no debidamente conocido del procesoinsurreccional cubano, es la discusi6n muy aguda que sedio nada menos que hasta julio de 1958, respecto al papelque debia desempenar la acci6n armada en la montana.

50

XXVI

German Pomares ('El Danto') and I were training a groupof peasants, some young men and one young woman. Theywere learning to load and unload the Garand, the M-I ri fle,the M-3 sub-machine gun and the .45 pistol. Carlos arrivedand said to us: 'Also teach them to read.'

XXVII

With reference to the revolutionary movement's unity,Carlos said:

According to what we learn from the great experiences ofother peoples, the unity of a revolutionary movement hasits life-source in the fundamental equality of interests,which drives the thousands and thousands of waged anddispossessed workers in a society.

It is not negative but very positive that a whole varietyof opinions should arise about possible solutions to theproblems. This is not new and has happened in othervictorious revolutionary struggles, as well as in historicalprocesses dating from antiquity. Even in the text of theIliad we see the discrepancies arising within one group offighters, although of course the story tells the part veterancombatants can play to bring about harmony within thegroup.

One aspect not sufficiently wel l known about theinsurrection process in Cuba is the very sharp discussion,which continued right up to July 1958, regarding the roleof armed action in the mountain.

XXVIII

Sobre el lenguaje entre companeros, recomienda:

Hacemos lo posible por emplear un lenguaje persuasivo yfraternal, teniendo el cuidado a l mismo tie mpo, demantenernos fieles a la objetividad, renunciando al empleode calificativos, ya que estos ultimos muchas veces s6locontribuyen a agravar los problemas en lugar de serformas para resolverlos.

Finalmente, asegura:

Pese a las debilidades y errores que arrastramos, tenemosque decir que el balance logrado en veinte anos, desde quereanudamos la decision de luchar con las armas, el 21 deseptiembre de 1956, es positivo; que es positivo el balancede la labor que durante tantos anos ha realizado el FrenteSandinista. Es imposible simplificar todo un proceso, peroen aras de la claridad y la brevedad, contestemos lasiguiente pregunta: qQue manifiesta mejor que nada elbalance positivo alcanzado? Lo manifiesta el acero quetocamos en e l militante clandestino urbano y en elmilitante de la guerrilla rural.

Los grandes revolucionarios han dicho que unarevoluci6n vale por su capacidad para difundirse. Y enNicaragua, a partir del reclutamiento de la primera chozacampesina y de la primera casa urbana de seguridad en1961, ha sido posible levantar una columna decombatientes de acero, que son el pavor de los rufianesaduenados de Nicaragua, y la unica esperanza de unpueblo sumido largamente en el dolor. Sin embargo, <essuficiente logro el acero militante combativo forjado? No.D ebemos responder de manera mas completa a lapregunta de lo que es posible y de los medios a utilizar, a

52

XXVII I

On the language to be used between comrades Carlosrecommends:

We should do all we can to use friendly and persuasivelanguage, while at the same time taking care to remainfaithful to objectivity . We should give up calling peoplenames, as these often only aggravate problems instead ofresolving them.

He concludes:

In spite of the weaknesses and errors with which we arelumbered, we can say that the balance achieved overtwenty years since we made the decision to take up arms,on 21st September 1956, is positive. The balance of thework done throughout all those years by the SandinistaFront is positive. I t is impossible to simplify a wholeprocess, but for the sake of clarity and brevity, we answerthe following question: What shows better than anythingthe positive balance attained? The steel in the undergroundurban militant and the rural guerrilla militant.

The great revolutionaries have said that a revolutioncan be judged by its power to spread. And in Nicaragua,since we recruited the first peasant hut and the first urbansafe house in 1961, we have managed to raise a column ofcombatants made o f steel , who inspire terror i n ther uffians ruling Nicaragua, and are the only hope for apeople who have suffered so long. Nevertheless, is itsufficient to have forged combatants of steel? No. Wemust respond more fully to the question of what is possibleand the means to use, on the basis of the organisation wehave already built. If we do not respond to this, we runthe risk that the steel may rust.

53

partir de la organizacion ya forjada. Si no respondemos aesta pregunta, se corre el riesgo de que el acero seherrumbre.

XXIX

No podia caminar. Tenia llagas en los pies y las unas deldedo gordo del pie derecho encarnadas. Llegamos alcampamento y Rigoberto l o examino. E l dedo estabainfectado y no teniamos anestesia. Carlos se meti6 unpanuelo en la boca; inmovilizamos el pie y Rigoberto, conuna navaja, le sac6 pus, unas, algunos quejidos. Carlossudaba y nosotros tambien. Que descanso. La marcha seinici6 a las 4 horas del dia siguiente, a paso lento, de jeferengo, imposible. El chinito me dijo con voz dulce: 'Quebruto que es el Comandante.'

XXX

Imposible es, para nosotros, hacer referencias explicitassobre el pensamiento de Carlos Fonseca; mucho menossenalar citas de sus escritos — en revistas, folletos y libros,donde constan los criterios politicos de nuestro SecretarioGeneral — que no estan, por razones obvias, al alcance denuestras manos. Aclaramos, por honestidad literaria, quelas palabras atribuidas en este escrito al companero Carlosno son, en la mayoria de los casos, citas textuales. En eliastratamos de reflejar el contenido — y en lo posible la forma— de su pensamiento. Fonseca expreso esas y otras ideas endistintos momentos de su ejemplar existencia, mas correctay claramente que nosotros.

54

XXIX

He could not walk. He had sores on his feet and his right­foot big toenail was inflamed. We arrived at the camp andRigoberto examined him. The toe was infected and we hadno anaesthetic. Carlos put a handkerchief in his mouth. Weimmobilised the foot and Rigoberto took a knife andextracted pus, toenail and a few cries. Carlos was sweatingand so were we. Some rest! The march began at fouro' clock the following day, slowly, with our leader limpingand impossible. The Chinaman murmured to me: 'TheComandante is in a foul temper.'

XXX

It is impossible for us to make explicit references to CarlosFonseca's thought, let alone quote from his writings — inmagazines, pamphlets and books, where our SecretaryGeneral's political views are stated — because, for obviousreasons, they are unavailable to us. We should explain, forthe sake of literary honesty, that the words attributed in thisaccount to comrade Carlos are mostly not literal quotations.We have tried to reflect the content — and as much aspossible the form — of his thinking. Fonseca expressedthese and other ideas at different moments in his heroic life,more correctly and clearly than we can.

55

XXXI

C on e l ejemplo de nuestro j efe desaparecido, hoy larevoluci6n sandinista marcha hacia el fondo de un vigorosoresurgimiento . Nuestros suenos e stan r igurosamenteconfrontados con las respuestas de la historia. El optimismosandinista es objetivo, desnudo corno un caballo fresco. Larevolucion que pario a Fonseca es una madre que lleva ensu vientre nuevas y definitivas respuestas: la victoriaSandino, la victoria sangre de Carlos, la victoria siempre,heroes y martires.

Tal corno deciamos recientemente en nuestros alegatosen la Corte Militar que nos investiga:

Hoy, para nosotros y para nuestro pueblo, el amanecer hadejado de ser una tentaci6n. Manana, algun dia, pronto,brillara un sol desconocido para iluminar la tierra que nosprometieron nuestros heroes y martires; tierra concaudalosos rios de leche y miel donde florecerAn todos losfrutos, menos el fruto de la discordia, y donde el hombresera hermano del hombre, y en la que reinaran el amor, lagenerosidad y el heroismo, y a cuyas puertas nuestropueblo serA un angel guardian que con una espada defuego impedirA el retorno del egoismo, la prepotencia, lasoberbia, la corrupci6n, la violencia y la explotaci6n cruely agresiva de unos hombres contra otros.

Por eso luchamos, por eso se ha derramado la sangrede Augusto Cesar Sandino, de Carlos Fonseca y decentenares de patriotas y revolucionarios nicaragiienses.

56

XXXI

With the example of our vanished leader, today theSandinista Revolution is marching towards a vigorousresurrection. Our dreams are rigorously confronted withhistory's replies. Sandinista optimism i s objective,unbridled as a fresh young horse. The revolution that gavebirth to Fonseca is a mother who carries new and finalanswers in her womb: victory for Sandino, victory for theblood of Carlos, victory always, for our heroes andmartyrs.

As we said recently in our evidence given to the MilitaryCourt investigating us:

Today for us and our people, now the dawn's no fondillusion. Tomorrow, some day, soon, an unknown sun willshine, shedding light on the land our heroes and martyrspromised us; a land with rushing rivers of milk and honey,in which all fruits will flourish, except the fruit of discord,a land where people will be brothers and sisters, in whichlove, generosity and heroism will reign. At its gates ourpeople will set a guardian angel with a flaming sword toprevent the return of selfishness, domination, arrogance,corruption, violence and the cruel, aggressive exploitationof some by others.

This is what we are fighting for, for this Augusto CesarSandino, Carlos Fonseca and hundreds of Nicaraguanpatriots and revolutionaries shed their blood.

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XXXII

Nuestro hermano cayo combatiendo en encuentro fortuito.Poco a poco ha llegado hasta nosotros informaci6n acercade las circunstancias de su muerte: caminaba, hacia elcampamento de Modesto, un grupo de companeros. Unpoco mhs alla del crepusculo, bajo la lluvia y en uno deesos caminos donde la tranquilidad es siempre sospechosa,se escuchan tres disparos de rev61ver. El grupo se retira ala espesura. Claudia, la hermosa companera de CarlosAguero, logra observar en blanco y negro los pasos alegresde un campesino. Todos escuchan los gritos: un sujetoembriagado de cususa, bebida alcoholica e inevitable quefabrican los habitantes de las montanas, seguramente 'juezde mesta' es el autor de los disparos,

Carlos decidi6 esperar veinticuatro horas y en elcrepusculo siguiente reiniciaron el camino. A la cabeza delgrupo marchaba el guia, detras Carlos y a la retaguardia desiete hombres, Claudia. Sono un primer disparo de Garandy hubo un inmediato alboroto de pajaros; unos segundosantes de que la obscuridad fuera interrumpida por el fuegode un fusil ametralladora Carlos se tiende y dispara con sucarabina M-l , ordenando al resto de la escuadra la retirada.Los combatientes se retiran a rastras a corta distancia. Elestallido de numerosas granadas y un subito silenciotraducen la diflci l verdad: nuestro jefe y fundador hamuerto.

Los guerrilleros permanecieron observando desde laespesura. Por la manana hay inusitado movimiento dehelicopteros. Se oyen risas y gritos. Llegan oficiales de altagraduacion. Le cortan la cabeza a Carlos y se la llevan altirano quien no podia convencerse de que aquel hombre

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XXXII

Our brother died fighting in a casual skirmish. Little bylittle information has reached us about the circumstances ofhis death. A group of comrades were making their waytowards Modesto's camp. Just after twilight, in the rain, onone of those paths whose quietness is always suspicious,they heard three revolver shots. The group withdrew to theundergrowth. Claudia, the beautiful companera of CarlosAguero, managed to distinguish the merry footsteps of apeasant. Everyone heard the shouts: someone drunk ongrog, the usual alcoholic drink distilled by the mountainpeople. Obviously a 'district justice' must have f ired theshots.

Carlos decided to wai t twenty-four hours and thefollowing evening they set out again. At the head of thegroup marched the guide with Carlos behind him, thenseven men, with Claudia as the rearguard. The f irst shotrang out from a Garand and there was an immediate flutterand squawking of birds. A few seconds before machinegunfire shattered the darkness, Carlos lay down and startedshooting with his M-1 rifle, ordering the rest of the squadto withdraw. Reluctantly they retreated a short distance. Anexplosion of grenades followed by a sudden silence told usthe difficult truth: our chief and founder was dead.

The guerrillas remained on watch from the undergrowth.In the morning there was an unusual flurry of helicopters.Laughter and shouts were heard. High ranking officersarrived. They cut off Carlos's head" and took it to thetyrant, who could not be convinced that this man pursued

10. After the triumph of the Revolution, the body was dug up forceremonial reburial in Managua. It was intact.

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perseguido por la leyenda y por el odio hubiera muerto.Carlos murio con el fusil en la mano, con el corazon

desbordando de amor hacia los hombres, con los oj osazules apuntando hacia el futuro.

C uando los representantes de este sistema egoista ybrutal sean tristes y casi olvidadas referencias historicas;cuando nadie recuerde a los charlatanes. a los desertores;cuando los afiches polvosos, palidos e insepultos de hoyesten reducidos a cenizas, las generaciones libres, alegres,generosas de manana, recordaran a Carlos Fonseca.

El comandante de la carcel Tipitapa llega hasta nuestrapequena celda jubiloso, con Novedades e n l a mano, adarnos la noticia: murio Carlos Fonseca, nos dice. Nosotrosrespondimos, despues de callar unos segundos: 'Seequivoca, Coronel, Carlos Fonseca es de los muertos quenunca mueren. ' E l Coronel nos dice: 'Definitivamenteustedes son increibles.'

by legend and hatred was dead.Carlos died with his gun in his hand, his heart

overflowing with love for humanity, his blue eyes pointingtowards the future.

When the representatives of this selfish and brutalsystem have become sad, almost forgotten names in historybooks; when nobody remembers the charlatans, thedeserters; when today's dusty, fading, tattered posters arereduced to ashes, the generous, happy, and free generationsof tomorrow will remember Carlos Fonseca.

The governor of Tipitapa prison came gleefully to oursmall cell, with Novedades in his hand, to give us the news:Carlos Fonseca was dead. We were silent for a fewmoments and then replied: 'No, Colonel, you are mistaken.Carlos Fonseca is one of the dead who never die.' TheColonel said to us: 'Really, you people are incredible.'

1965. CARLOS FONSECA AND MARIA HAYDEE TERAN AT THEIR WEDDING.

TWO SONGSn

Carlos Mejia Godoy

COMANDANTE CARLOS FONSECASANDINISTA HYMN

Both these songs can be heard on the cassette Guitarra Armada,available from the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign, Red Rose Club,129 Seven Sisters Road, London N7 7QG (0171 272 9619). Bothsongs quote from Carlos, Now the Dawn's no Fond Illusion. On thecassette the song Comandante Carlos Fonseca is introduced byTomks Borge speaking his own words.

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COMANDANTE CARLOS FONSECA

INTRODUccI6N — HABLA TOMLs BORGE:Cuando estdbamos en la cdrcel lleg6 un oj cial de la Guardia Nacionallleno de alegrfa para decirnos que Carlos Fonseca labia muerto.Nosorros le respondlmos: 'Carlos Fonseca es de los muertos que nuncamueren. '

Poseidas por el dios de la furiay el demonio de la ternura,salen de la carcel mis palabrashacia la lluvia.Y sediento de luz te nombro hermanoen mis horas de aislamiento.Vienes derribando los muros de la noche,nitido inmenso.

ESTRIBILLO:

Comandante Carlos, Carlos Fonseca,Tayacan, vencedor de la muerte,novio de la patria roj a y negra,Nicaragua entera te grital; Presente!

Cuando apareciste llegaste a nosotroscon tus miopes ojos azules intensos,fuiste entonces el hermanoterco indeclinable sempiterno.Fuiste mecanografo, hormiga, martilloy al dia siguiente de nuestro encuentrovimos tus letreros subversivosen todos los muros de nuestro pueblo.

COMANDANTE CARLOS FONSECA

INTRODUCTION — SPOKEN BY TOMAS BORGE:When we were in prison an officer of the National Guard carne to usfull of glee to tell us Carlos Fonseca was dead. We answered him:'Carlos Fonseca is one of the dead who never die. '

Possessed by the god of furyand the demon of tenderness,my words go out from this prisoninto the rain.Thirsting for light I summonyou brother, here in my loneliness.You knock down the walls of the nightwith your dazzling shine.

CHORUS:

Comandante Carlos, Carlos Fonseca,Tayacan," death did not conquer,bridegroom of the black and red country,all Nicaragua proclaims you: Presente!"

When you appeared among uswith your short-sighted intense blue eyes,from then on you were our brother,stubbornly firm in your courage.You were a typist, an ant and a hammerand on the day after our meeting,we saw your subversive graffition all the walls of our village.

12. Tayacan is an Indian word meaning leader.13. 'Present!' When the Sandinistas call out the names of their dead heroes,

they greet with them with the response: 'Present!', as in a roll call.

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Una bala en la selva de Zinicapenetro en tu recio corazon de santo,y estallo tu sangre en nuestras vidascorno una gigante bomba de contacto.Desbordante de amor hacia los hombres,trinitaria roja tu pecho desnudo,tus ojos azules generososapuntando firmes hacia el futuro.

Cuando los afiches del tiranosean insepultas huellas de la escoria,cuando los traidores y cobardessean referencias de una vieja historia,las generaciones veniderasde la Nicaragua libre y luminosavan a recordarte eternamentecon tu carabina disparando auroras.

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A bullet in Zinica foreststruck you in your great heartand your blood burst over our liveslike a giant explosion of contact.Overflowing with love for your fellowson your bare breast heartsease flowered,and your kind blue eyes were seton the future, still looked forward.

When the tyrant's tattered postersare peeling relics of scornand cowards and traitors are merelynames that are dead and gone,all the coming generationsin Nicaragua now shining and freewill remember and never forget youwhose gunshots were crack of dawn.

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HIMNO DE LA UNIDAD SANDINISTA

Adelante, marchemos companeros,avancemos a la Revoluci6n.Nuestro pueblo es el dueno de su historia,arquitecto de su liberaci6n.Combatientes de Frente Sandinista,adelante, que es nuestro el porvenir.Rojinegra bandera nos cobija,Patria Libre, veneer o morir .

Los hijos de Sandinoni se venden, ni se rinden.Luchamos contra el Yanquienemigo de la humanidad.

Hoy el amanecer dej6 de ser una tentacion.Manana algun dia surgira un nuevo solque habra de iluminar toda la tierraque nos legaron los martires y heroescon caudalosos rios de leche y miel.

Adelante, marchemos companeros,avancemos a la Revolucion.Nuestro pueblo es dueno de su historia,arquitecto de su liberacion.Combatientes de Frente Sandinista,adelante, que es nuestro el porvenir .Rojinegra bandera nos cobija,Patria Libre, veneer o morir .

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SANDINISTA HYMN

Forward, keep going companeros,onward to Revolution, on.Our people are the masters of their historyand makers of the freedom they have won.Fighters in the Sandinista Frente,forward, for the future ours shall be.Black and red the flag that flies above us,our country must be free: so win or die.

Sons and daughters of Sandinodon't surrender, don't sell out.We' re fighting the Yankeeenemy of humanity.

Today dawn ceased to be a fond illusion.Tomorrow soon a new sun will arise,shedding its bright light on all the landbequeathed us by our heroes and our martyrs,land of milk and honey, rushing rivers.

Forward, keep going companeros,onward to Revolution, on.Our people are the masters of their historyand makers of the freedom they have won.Fighters in the Sandinista Frente,forward, for the future ours shall be.Black and red the flag that flies above us,our country must be free: so win or die.

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1 969. CARLOS FONSECA HANDCUFFED IN PRISON IN COSTA RICA .

CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES BY TOMAS BORGE

Tom8s Borge reminds readers that these notes werewritten in prison and the dates recalled from memory.

1934On 21st February 1934, w ith the murder of our nationalhero Augusto Cesar Sandino and hundreds of patriots,North American imperialism and the liberal-conservativeoligarchy brutally a t t ac k t h e popular an d patriot icmovement in our count ry . Since then our people have notfound any other means of f ighting back. In the countrythere is no leadership, no organisation, no revolutionaryconsciousness. The traditional parties dominate politicalactivity in Nicaragua.

1944The first lef t groups are formed in Nicaragua, followingthe line of the Secretary General of the US CommunistParty, Earl Browder.

1956On September 21st the national hero Rigoberto LopezPerez executes the tyrant Anastasio Somoza Garcia, 'sothat Nicaragua might be again (or rather, become for thefirst t ime) a free country, without shame or blemish...'

1958The veteran Sandinista Ramon Raudales resumes guerrillaaction and dies fighting the National Guard.

1959The victory o f armed struggle in Cuba awakens theenthusiasm of the Nicaraguan people and st irs up thestruggle against tyranny.

Air landing a t Olama y Mollejones. Several dozenheavily armed cadres are captured by the National Guard.The former army captains, Victor Manuel Rivas andNapoleon Ubilla, take part in the expedition and are killed.

In the month of June the Rigoberto Lopez Pbrez

guerrilla column, which has benefited from the solidarityof Ernesto Che Guevara in its training, is brutally attackedin El Chaparral, a frontier point between Nicaragua andHonduras, by the armies of bot h countries. A number ofNicaraguans and Cubans die, and Carlos Fonseca isseriously wounded.

In protest against this massacre the students take tothe streets of Le6n on July 23rd. They are machine­gunned by the National Guard, four students are killedand more than a hundred wounded.

1960Guerrilla movement in the mountains of Nicaragua. Thosewho fall in combat are: Chale Haslam, farmer; ManuelDiaz Sotelo, journalist ; Julio Alonso, ex-soldier of t heNational Guard; Heriberto Reyes, veteran Sandinista.

Juventud Patridtica Nicaraguense (Nicaraguan PatrioticYouth) is organised inside the country and JuventudRevolucionaria Nicaraguense (Nicaraguan R evolutionaryYouth) abroad.

1 96 1The Sandinista National Liberation Front is founded. Onthe shores of the River Patuca in Honduras, combatantsjoin under the leadership of Colonel Santos Lopez, theveteran Sandinista.

Guerrilla squads are organised in the urban areas,under t h e leadership o f Carlos Fonsec a an d J orgeNavarro. The f irst w orker and student cells are formed inManagua and Le6n and the first peasant groups organisedin Chinandega, Matagalpa, Esteli, Somoto and Ocotal.

1963In March a guerrilla squad led by Jorge Navarro takesover Radio M undial and b roadcasts a n F SLNproclamation, which denounces the meeting taking placein San Josh de Costa Rica between John Kennedy andthe Central American presidents. The recently imposedpuppet president Rene Schick and the dynasty' s clan

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member Luis Somoza attend from Nicaragua.In May w e bring of f another action of economic

recovery, when a Sandinista squad occupies the Bank ofAmerica in Managua.

On June 23rd the v illage o f Rait f is occupied by anFSLN guerrilla unit ; the commissariats are expropriatedand food and clothing are distributed to the population ofthe area. The village of Gualaquist5n is taken. There isfighting in Sang Sang, where Silvio Mayorga is wounded,a Nat ional Guard of f icer and several soldiers are killed.Those who fal l in these actions are: Jorge Navarro,Francisco Buitrago, Iv5n Sanchez, Boanerges Santamaria,Modesto Duarte and Faustino Ruiz . Pablo Ubeda,manages, w it h the help of local people, t o reach LasBayas in the department of Matagalpa, where he beginsintensive and far-reaching work among the peasants.

1964Work in the mountains is extended under the leadershipof Rigoberto Cruz — the legendary Pablo Ubeda — withthe support of Carlos Reyna, Fausto Garcia and CarlosT inoco. This work spreads t o the departments ofMatagalpa, Jinotega and Zelaya. Trade unions andSandinista cells are set up in Uluse, El Bijao, La Tronca,Agua Maria, Cerro Colorado, Cuskaguas, Yaosca, ElCarmen, Cubali, Guaslala, El Garrobo, El Kun, El Naranjo,El Ocote, Fila Grande, Pancas5n and El Tuma. Literacyschools are organised in the mountains and peasants aresent to Managua to be given revolutionary training.

1966Armed actions are resumed. The Liberal NationalistParty' s Convent io n — a t w h ic h A nastasio Somoza

D ebayle's candidacy for the presidency is announced ­i s sabotaged. Economic recoveries are carried out inmany banks throughout the country . A group ofSandinistas led by Oscar Turcios take part , as a form ofmilitary training, in the Guatemalan guerrilla movement

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headed by Luis Turcios Lima.1967

The FSLN works to set up a guerrilla base in the DarfoMountains. The economic recoveries continue and theSandinista Front publishes a communique denouncing theelectoral farce.

On January 2 2nd an ant i-Somoza demonstrat ion ismachine-gunned. More than four hundred people arekilled.

In September the National Guard breaks through to theDarfo Mountains. The peasant population is repressed.They torture and kil l the peasant leaders EufresinioD5vila, Eucadio Picado, Moisds Picado, Felipe Gaitdn,F ermfn Dfaz and his f ive children. Armando Flores, ayoung Sandinista combatant , is f layed alive w it h a razorblade, sprinkled with salt and dies in agony.

After prolonged resistance, those who fall in combatare: Silvio Mayorga, Rigoberto Cruz, Francisco Moreno,Otto Casco, Fausto Garcia, the guerrilla doctor DaniloRosales, and Nicolas S5nchez (the 'Tiger of the CerroColorado' ).

In September the most infamous torturer of t he age,Gonzalo Lacayo, is executed in Managua. The SandinistaLuciano Vilchez, known as the 'Lion of E l Dorado' , ismurdered in prison. On November 4th Casimiro Sotelo,the important student leader and member of the FSLNDirectorate, is captured in broad daylight, together w ithEdmundo P6rez, Hugo Medina and Roberto Amaya. Whentheir bodies are handed over they show signs of torture.

1968In April, David and Ren6 Tejada, former National Guardofficers who had become FSLN militants, are captured.They are flogged by Somoza's personal aide, Major OscarMorales. David dies as a result of the blows and hiscorpse is thrown into the smoking crater of the Santiagovolcano, provoking world-wide protest .

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1969Political work is stepped up in the Matagalpa mountainsand the cities o f Managua, Le6n and Estelf. Manyintensive polit ical and military t raining courses are set up .

In t h e Northern mountains , part icularly i n Yaosca,National Guard patrols, led by Corporal Miguel Tinoco,repress the peasant population. Murder, rape, torture,house-burning al l increase. In Costa Rica, through thejoint operations o f the Cost a Rican and NicaraguanSecurity Forces, several Sandinista leaders are captured,including Carlos Fonseca, Oscar Turcios, HumbertoOrtega, Henry Ruiz and Tom5s Borge.

On July 15th the house of the national FSLN leader,Julio Buitrago, is detected and attacked by more thanfour hundred National Guardsmen, w it h artillery and airsupport . Julio Buitrago resists to the death, for more thanthree hours. I t was the battle of one man against anarmy . A s a result of t his act ion, people said there mightbe men as heroic bu t none more heroic than JulioBuitrago. On the same day, in a similar operation MarcoAntonio Rivera, Anibal Castrillo and Alesio Bland6n alsofal l in combat . These events arouse admiration andprofound respect for the FSLN. Many young people askto be admitted to the Sandinista ranks.

On December 23rd, two Sandinista squads attack theAlajuela barracks i n Cost a Rica, and manage t o f reeCarlos Fonseca, but various armed confrontations w it hthe repressive forces foil the action's success.

1970A considerable number of Sandinistas, mostly peasants,gather i n t he mountainous region o f E l Bijao , i n t hedepartment of Matagalpa.

On January 2nd a Sandinista squad, led by the poetLeonel Rugama, together w it h combatants Roger Nunezand Mauricio Hernandez, carry out an economic recoveryraid on the bank branch of El Arbolito in Managua.

On January 15th they discover the safe house ofLeonel Rugama — the best poet of his generationRoger Nunez and Mauricio Hernandez. More than threehundred National Guardsmen, helicopters and t.ankSappear, The t hree SandiniStaS f ight heroically w i th t heirprimitive weapons. The rattle of machine gunfire and thetanks' booming cannon do not drown their war songs andcombat shouts, unt i l they die riddled w it h bullets amongthe smoking ruins. Thousands of people support t heguerrillas by shouting: 'A free country or death!'

In the month of February on the anniversary of themurder o f t h e nat ional hero A ugust o Cesar Sandino,Sandinista squads place explosives in the houses ofSomocista military and politicians. On the February 21sta guerrilla squad broadcasts an FSLN communique onRadio Mundi al.

That same month the Pablo Ubeda column, campednear the River Waslala, i s detected. Tw o hundredNational Guardsmen reach the mountains and threepatrols se t ou t f ro m d if ferent point s f o r t he guerrillacamp. On February 11t h a patro l comprising fortyNational Guardsmen, approaching from Las Vallas, areheld of f by the Sandinista reserve, positioned at a shortd istance f rom t h e department . One o f t h e enem y iswounded.

The camp is abandoned by the guerrillas and thewomen and children accompanying them. Most of theguerrillas regroup on El Bijao mountain, w here they arejoined by Oscar Turcios as leader.

The enemy sets up a vigilant watch and represses thepeasant population. Local agents murder the Sandinistacombatants Luis Cabo Hernandez and Jesus Mhndez,both peasants.

A National Guard patrol murder nineteen members of afamily by the name of Moncada in Wambl5n. In Kilambethey murder A lfonso T6rrez and t w o w orkers. They rape

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tw o peasant girls, both called Martinez. Denounced bythe landholder, Marcelino Castro, a number of youngpeasants are captured by a National Guard patrol andtortured t o death at La Gloria near the El Carmen estate.They are al l members of the Ramos family and theirnames are: Julio aged thirty-four; Toribio aged twenty­five; Doroteo aged eighteen; Julian aged fourteen andDaniel aged nine. In El Cua they capture Juan SaturninoGonzalez and Juan Hernandez Lopez and take them up ina military plane. In Las Valles Juan Hernandez Sanchezand Gabino Hernandez S5nchez are murdered.

In EI Cu5 several old women are captured and tortured,including Venancia Hernandez aged ninety-eight . Theycapture tw o peasant girls named Candida DonaireRomero and Angela Garcia and rape them. The leader ofthe repressive operations is the National Guard CaptainManuel Sandino, w ith Lieutenant Juan Lee Wong as hissecond in command.

In the city of Leon on April 3rd various Sandinistacombatants are discovered by the Nat ional Guard chief ofinvestigations. The guerrillas execute him. The enemyunleashes a repressive operation in the city . Theydiscover the Sandinistas Luisa Amando Espinosa andEnrique Lorente, who f ight to the death against enemypatrols supported by helicopters.

In the mont h o f May t he Sandinist a combatant IgorUbeda dies after wounding a National Guard mercenaryguarding a bank which the guerrillas plan to attack.

In July in the cit y of Jinotega, the young peasantSandinista Efrdn Ortega is murdered while carrying outmessenger duties.

In August , Sandinistas Edwin Melendez, OrlandoCastrillo and Noel Arguello are machine-gunned while ontheir way to make contact w it h the mountain.

In the city of Esteli various agents of repression areexecuted. Mainly in the mountains of the departments of

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Matagalpa and J inotega, dist ric t ' j ust ices ' are executedfor denouncing peasant trade unionists.

O n September 5t h in an FSLN ac t o f solidarit y w it hthe just cause of the Arab peoples, Sandinista combatantPatricio A rguello i s mortally w ounded w hen h e t ries,together w it h Palestinian guerrillas, t o hijack a Zionistplane in French skies. A subsequent hijacking, also overEurope, i n w h ic h J uan J osh Quezada t akes part ,s ucceeds in ret rieving A rguello' s bod y an d f reeing aPalestinian guerrillera.

1 97 1On October 21st , a commando hijacks a plane in CostaRica, in which four Yankee businessmen of the UnitedFruit Company are travelling, and succeeds in freeingSandinista leader Carlos Fonseca Amador and comradesHumbert o Ortega, Plutarco Hernandez and Ruf o Marin.T he Sandinista Fabian Rodriguez is murdered near thW ­city of Matagalpa.

1974The Juan Jose Quezada commando occupies the houseof Doctor Josd Maria Castillo, a functionary o f t heSomoza regime. A part y i n honour the Yankeeambassador is being held in Castillo's house.

High government of f icials and members o f t hediplomatic corps are taken hostage. The commando, ledby Eduardo Contreras, demands the liberation ofSandinista prisoners, f ive million US dollars, an increasein the minimum pay of National Guard soldiers and thepublicat ion i n t h e press an d o n radio o f t w o FSLNcommuniques.

The regime agrees in essentials to these demands.The action has worldwide repercussions and initiates a

new stage of the struggle.Guerrilla warfare in the mountains is stepped up under

the leadership of Henry Ruiz and Carlos Aguero.The repression becomes more widespread and intense.

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Martial law is established and a permanent military courtis set up.

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AND V/CTOR TIRADO LOPEZ.1965. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: CARLOS FONSECA, PROFESSOR EDELBERTO TORRES

CARLOS FONSECA 1936-1976CHRONOLOGY"4

1936-53Carlos Fonseca is born on June 23rd 1936 in Matagalpa. Hegrows up w ith his mother, Justina Fonseca. a poor domesticservant. His father Fausto Amador is an accountant . From theage of nine Carlos does a variety of jobs to help his mother.He meets Tomds Borge as a child in Matagalpa, where they goto school. In 1953, he, Tomas and others begin studyingliterary and socialist classics, which they discover in a localbookshop. His polit ical concerns draw him towards UNAP(Union Nacional de Accidn Popular: National Union for PopularAction), but he becomes disillusioned with them.

1954He becomes a leading student activist i n the MatagalpaInstitut o Nacional de l Norte, together w it h FranciscoBuitrago." In August they se t up the magazine Segoviatogether.

1955He receives a gold medal for being the Institute's best student .His thesis is ent itled Ei C apital y e i Trabajo ( Capit a( a ndLabour). In May he leaves for Managua, where he works as al ibrarian in the Inst itute Ramirez Goyena. In September hetakes part in the patriotic march, organised by the RamirezGoyena students, t o San Jacinto, where the Nicaraguansdefeated the self-proclaimed president of Nicaragua, 'f ilibuster'W illiam Walker on September 14t h 18 56 .

1956He enrols as a la w st udent a t t he Universit y o f Le6n , andworks with Tom5s Borge as a correspondent for La Prensa. In

14. The principal source of this outline chronology of Carlos Fonseca's lifeis Carlos: El Eslabdn Vital — Cronologia Bdsica de Carlos Fonseca,Jefe de la Revolucion, l936-1976 (Instituto de Estudio del Sandinismo:Managua 1985).

15. Francisco Buitrago was a co-founder of the New Nicaragua Movement(MNN), which developed into the FSLN. He fell in combat during theRaitf Bocay guerrilla action in 1963.

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July, Tombs, Silvio Mayorga" and Carlos set up the f irstMarxist cel l o f university students. On September 27th,following the execution of the dictator Somoza Garcia by thepoet Rigoberto Lopez Perez, Carlos and Tomas Borge areimprisoned by the National Guard, severely beaten and kept ins olitary confinement . Carlos i s released in Managua onNovember 14th.

1957In the National Association of Students (ANE) Carlos speaks insupport o f t he st riking Corint o port -w orkers and t rade unionfreedom. In July he travels to Costa Rica, where he meets hisf riend the poet Manolo Cuadra. On July 24th he travels toMoscow, where he takes part as a Nicaraguan Youth delegatein the Sixth World Youth Festival. In August he attends theFourth World Youth Congress in Kiev, and in October, theFourth World Trade Union Congress in Leipzig. On November7th he attends the fortieth anniversary celebrations of theOctober Revolution in Red Square, Moscow . On December16t h o n his return f rom t h e USSR, he i s detained b y t heSecurity Forces (OSN) at Managua airport and interrogated inthe Presidential Palace.

1958In January he writes the pamphlet Un Nicaraguense en Moscu(A Nicaraguan i n M oscow), published i n M ay. In July h eorganises student protest s against t he visi t o f MiltonEisenhower to Nicaragua. These protests manage to preventEisenhower receiving an honorary doctorate f rom t heUniversity. In October he is a member of a student delegationto Luis Somoza to demand the release of prisoners detainedsince the execution of Somoza Garcia, who include TomasBorge. In November he organises student demonstrations forthe prisoners' release. On November 29th he is detained in theNat ional Stadium w it h other students.

1959The Cuban Revolution takes place in January . In March,together with Silvio Mayorga, Carlos organises the Nicaraguan

16. S i lvio Mayorga was a co-founder of the FSLN and a member of itsNational Directorate. He was killed at Pancashn on 27th August 1967.

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Democratic Youth (JDN) to protest against the dictatorship.On April 8th he is expelled to Guatemala on a military aircraft .In May he leaves for Honduras to join the 'Rigoberto LopezP brez ' co lumn, w hic h is preparing t o ente r Nicaragua in aguerrilla action against the dictatorship. On June 24t h theguerrilla column is attacked by Honduran and Nicaraguanmilitary at E l Chaparral and Carlos receives a serious lunginjury. He is imprisoned but released by popular pressure fromthe Honduran people. His mother visit s him in hospital inTegucigalpa.

On July 23rd, following reports of his death, there is a largestudent demonstrat ion in Le6n , at w h ic h the Nat ional Guardopens fire on the demonstrators, killing four and woundinghundreds.

In September Carlos moves t o Cuba t o recover in theCalixto Garcia Hospital. In November he goes to Costa Rica,joins the Nicaraguan Revolutionary Youth (JRN) and togetherwith Silvio Mayorga and Tom5s Borge, establishes contactswit h Nicaraguan workers — including Adolf o GarciaBarberena" — in the US banana plantations in Costa Rica.

1960From February 20-22nd he and Silvio Mayorga are studentrepresentatives a t t he Nicaraguan Democratic Emigrants'conference in Venezuela, campaigning against the dictatorship.On March 4th he and Mayorga speak in the Central Universityof Venezuela and present their Breve A ndlisis d e l a L uchaPopular contra la Dictadura de Somoza (Short Analysis of theP opular Struggle agai ns t the Somoza Oi c tatorship l .

In June Carlos returns secretly t o Nicaragua and establishescontacts with the Nicaraguan Patriotic Youth (JPN). On July18th he is arrested by the Security Forces (OSN) in Managuaand again expelled from the country , t o be imprisoned inPoptun, in the El Petdn region of Guatemala. There he meetsLuis Augusto Turcios Lima, who later becomes leader of theGuatemalan guerrilla movement, Rebel Armed Forces (FAR).

17. Adolfo Garcia Barberena was killed in Nueva Guinea on May 17th1979.

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1 96 1Together with Tom5s Borge, Silvio Mayorga and others, hefounds the New Nicaragua Movement (MNN), the predecessorto the FSLN. In July he meets Tomas Borge, Silvio Mayorgaand Noel Guerrero (who subsequently leaves the FSLN) inTegucigalpa, Honduras, and proposes the name SandinistaNat ional Liberat io n Front (FSLN) fo r t he ne w revolut ionaryorganisation. This is regarded as the official foundation of theFSLN.

1962On his return from Cuba in June, Carlos does reconnaissancework t o explore the Rivers Huayata and Patuca o n t heNicaraguan border w it h Honduras, in preparation fo r t heguerrilla activities i n the Raiti-Bocay region i n 1963 . InSeptember a communique denouncing imperialist aggressionagainst Cuba is signed by the Sandinista National LiberationFront, using this name. In December he leaves the borderregion and secretly enters Nicaragua to build up urban bases.

1963He directs FSLN operations inside Nicaragua and promotes thepublication of the FSLN paper Tnnchera. During the year h emakes several trips abroad on FSLN business.

In March an FSLN squad takes over Radio M undial i nManagua and broadcasts a denunciation o f PresidentKennedy's meeting w ith the Central American presidents. OnMay 31st the FSLN conducts an 'economic recovery' raid onthe Bank of America in Managua.

From July to October the FSLN mount their first guerrillaactions inside Nicaragua in the Rait i Bocay region near thenorthern border.

1964On June 29th Carlos and Victor Tirado Lopez are captured bythe Security Forces (OSN) in the San Luis barrio of M anagua.In La Aviacidn prison he writes the manifesto Desde la Cir ce)Yo Acuso a la Dic tadura ( From P r ison I A c cuse t heDictatorship). On September 21st f rom cell number 1 3 o f L aAviaci6n prison, he issues the proclamation Esta es la Verdadf This is the Truth).

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196 5O n January 6t h Carlos is expelled fo r the third t ime toGuatemala. He escapes to Mexico and denounces the inhumant reatment he has suffered in a letter t o the director ofManagua Radio Informaciones.

In Mexico on Apri l 1s t he marries Maria Haydee Ter5n,followed by a religious ceremony on April 3rd .

In August he travels secretly t o Cost a Rica, doingorganisational work for the FSLN and scholarly work on theNicaraguan national poet Rubtsn Dario, in collaboration w it hProfessor Edelberto Torres.

1966In March he enters Nicaragua secretly to direct preparationsfor the new stage of armed st ruggle .

He works closely w it h Silvio Mayorga, Oscar Turcios,"Rigoberto Cruz I 'Pablo Ubeda' ), " Carlos Reyna, " Josts BenitoEscobar," Enrique Lorente," Francisco Moreno," RobertoAmaya, Edmundo Ptsrez," t he Ortega brothers" and Doris

18. Oscar Turcios was a Member of the FSLN National Directorate,assassinated by the National Guard at Nandaime on September 18th1973.

19. Rigoberto Cruz ('Pablo Ubeda') was a member of the FSLN NationalDirectorate. He directed FSL N political work among the mountainpeasants between 1964-7, and was famous for his many disguises. Hefell in combat at Pancaskn in August 1967.

20. Carlos Reyna assisted Pablo Ubeda in his work among the peasants andfell at Pancashn in August 1967.

21. Josh Benito Escobar was a member of the FSLN National Directorate,assassinated in Esteli on June 15th 1978.

22. Enrique Lorente was killed in the La Ermita de Dolores barrio of Lednon April 13th 1970.

23. Francisco Moreno fell in combat at Pancashn in August 1967.24. Roberto Amaya and Edmundo Perez were captured by the National

Guard in the Monseflor Lezcano barrio of M anagua a nd t henassassinated by the Security Forces (OSN) on November 4th 1967.

25. Camilo Ortega was sent by the FSLN to support the uprising of theIndians in the barrio of Monimbd, Masaya, where he was killed onFebruary 26th 1978 in Las Sabogales, Masaya. After the triumph of theRevolution Daniel Ortega became President and Humberto OrtegaMinister of Defence.

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Tijerino."On November 25th, Carlos signs the FSLN communiquts

I'Sandino si , Somoza no, Revolucidn si , Farsa Electoral no!(Sandino yes, Somoza no, Revolution yes, Electoral Farce no!JThe other signatories are: Silvio Mayorga, Rigoberto Cruz,Oscar Turcios and Conchita Alday (pseudonym o f DorisTijerino). On December 7t h he moves t o Pancas5n, in thecentre of Nicaragua in the Matagalpa region, to reconnoitre anew guerrilla base.

1967On J anuary 2 7 th , 6 0 ,00 0 t ake par t i n a n electoraldemonstration i n Managua organised by the bourgeoisopposition. 50 0 demonstrators are killed. The massacredestroys the credibility of the electoral farce as a means ofoverthrowing the dictatorship.

While developing guerrilla activities in Pancas5n, Carlos hasa confrontation w ith district 'justices' , who denounce him tothe National Guard. On August 27th at the Battle of Pancas5nthe National Guard decimate one guerrilla column, killingthirteen FSLN leaders. The FSLN abandons ' foquismo'armed uprisings by small guerrilla bases (focos) — and expandtheir work among the peasantry and in towns. 1967-1974becomes a period of 'silent accumulation of forces' .

1968Carlos writes a letter to the parents of Francisco Moreno afterhis deat h at Pancashn, promising that FSLN w il l f ight o n andbe worthy comrades of their fallen hero. On April 15th heissues a message to the Revolutionary Students.

1969In February he departs secretly fo r Costa Rica t o preparefuture FSLN strategy. He is named FSLN Secretary General.

On July 15t h FSLN National Directorate member JulioBuitrago is killed in a heroic shoot-out w ith the Guard, whosurround his safe house in Managua. Doris Tijerino is takenprisoner.

On August 31st Carlos is captured in a safe house by the

26. After the triumph of the Revolution, Doris Tijerino became head of theSandinista police.

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Costa Rican Criminal Investigation Department . On December23rd the FSLN 'Juan Santamaria' Squad, led by HumbertoOrtega and including Germann Pomares," Rufo Marin," JulianRoque, Fabihn Rodriguez Mairena" and the Costa Rican NtsstorCarvajal" mount an unsuccessful rescue operation. Rufo Marinand Humberto Ortega are seriously wounded and imprisoned.

1970On January 15th the poet Leonel Rugama," who had left theseminary where he was studying for the priesthood to join theFSLN, is killed i n another shoot-out w it h the Guard inManagua, when his safe house is surrounded by troops, tanksand helicopters.

A n international solidarit y campaign, supported bySalvadoran poet Roque Dalton and French intellectuals JeanPaul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, demands the release ofFSLN prisoners.

On October 21st Carlos Fonseca, Rufo Marin and HumbertoOrtega are freed from prison by an FSLN action, led by CarlosAguero, involving a hijacked Costa Rican plane. They fl y toMexico and t hen on t o Cuba . From t here o n November 7 t h,Carlos issues a Message to the Nicaraguan People.

1971On March 27th he leaves Cuba, together with Carlos Aguero,Rufo Marin and others for Moscow and then on to Korea toreceive military training. In June his essay 'Sandino, GuerrilleroProletario' , written between December 1970 and February1971, is published in the Tricontinental review. In September

27. Germann Pomares, known as 'El Danto' (' The Tapir' ), Deputy Memberof the FSLN National Directorate, fell in combat leading the attack onJinotega on May 24th 1979, during the FSLN Final Offensive.

28. Rufo Marin was killed in Las Nubes, Jinotega on December 9th 1976.29. Fabian Rodriguez Mairena was assassinated by the Security Forces

(OSN) on October 3rd 1971, in Boaco.30. Nestor Carvajal was accidentally killed in an FSLN training exercise.31. There is a text and translation of some of Rugama's work, including his

most famous poem, 'The Earth is a Satellite of the Moon', in Poets ofthe Nicaraguan Revolution (Katabasis 1993).

32. Carlos Agiiero, Deputy Member of FSLN National Directorate, waskilled in Lisawe, Zelaya, on April 7th 1977.

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he returns t o Cuba after a brief visit t o China, and onSeptember 15th he issues the Mensaje del FSLN con M ot iv odel 150 An iversario d el R ompimiento d el Y ugo C olonialEspaffol (FSLN Message on the 150th Anniversary o f theBreaking of the Spanish Colonial Yokel . On October 1 st t heCuban journal Bohemia publishes h is work enti tled 'El F renteSandinista de Liberaci6n Nacional' .

1972O n January 2 3rd t he earthquake i n M anagua kills 10 ,0 00 ,injures a further 20,000 and leaves 300,000 homeless. Thedictator embezzles the international relief aid.

On March 8th in Havana, Cuba, Carlos issues the documentCronologia Hi stdrica de Nicaragua (Historical Chronology ofNicaragua) . He w r ites the Notas sobre la C arta-Testame nto d eRigoberto Lopez Prsrez (Notes on the Last Letter of RigobertoLopez Pdrez)," later published in Casa de las Amdricas.

1973Carlos remains in Cuba and corresponds w it h the poet ErnestoCardenal about his book In Cuba. Carlos also corresponds withNicaraguans resident in the US. He has many discussions withFSLN militants.

In September the Nicaraguan National Guard announce hisdeath a t Nandaime, where on September 17t h they hadcaptured and murdered FSLN leaders Ricardo Morales andOscar Turcios.

1974Carlos w r ites hi s w or k o n t h e poe t Rube n Dario , laterpublished in the journal Casa de las Americas. In SeptemberCasa de las Americas publishes h is ' Augusto Cesar S andinoante sus Verdugos' ( 'Augusto Cesar Sandino before hisExecutioners' ).

On December 27t h Eduardo Contreras ('ComandanteMarcos' ) leads an FSLN raid on the house o f Somoza'sMinister of Agriculture, 'Chema' Castillo, during a party for thedictator and US ambassador Turner B. Shelton. The guests areheld to ransom unt il FSLN demands are met , w hich include t he

33. The text and translation of most of this letter are published in Poets ofthe Nicaraguan Revolution (Katabasis 1993).

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release o f polit ical prisoners , among w ho m are Daniel Ortegaand Jose Benito Escobar. This action ends the period of FSLN'silent accumulation of forces' . The dictator declares a 'stateof siege' and even fiercer repression ensues.

197 5Carlos is rat ified as FSLN Secretary General. The FSLN splitsi nt o t hree t endencies . O n November 3r d h e issues t hedocument Sin tesis d e algunos P roblemas Actuales (Summaryof some Current Prob(emsj and secretly enters Nicaragua to tryand sort them out . He is met by Carlos Aguero in Le6n. Hegives a short polit ical and military training course t o FSLNmilitants in a safe house in Las Piedrecitas, Managua.

1976From March onw ards, Carlos moves about inside Nicaragua,going f rom guerrilla camp t o camp. He leaves Le6n forBocaycit o in the J inotega mountains, t hen moves o n t o t heguerrilla camp at La Lana, Jinotega, accompanied by ClaudiaChamorro," Marion Urbina and others. On the way they aredetected by a group of district 'justices' .

They move on to the provisional camp at La Pioja and thentowards the El Portal hills, Jinotega. Carlos moves on to thecamp at San Josts de las Bayas, w here at the end of July he isjoined b y Francisco Rivera ( ' Ruben' ) an d V icto r Urbina('Efrain') and in August, by Carlos Aguero.

In September this camp is discovered and bombed by theNational Guard. The guerrillas retire deep within the mountainand during their retreat are encountered by the Guard. Carlosis wounded in the leg.

On October 8t h ' f rom somewhere i n the SegovianMountains' he issues the document Notas sobre la Montana yalgunos Otros Temas (Notes o n th e M ountai n an d OtherMatters) .

On November 7th, they continue their march towards ly5sin Zelaya. On November 8th in Boca de Piedra, in the districtof Zinica, North Zelaya, Carlos Fonseca is killed in a shoot-outwith the National Guard.

34. Claudia Chamorro fell in combat at Las Bayas, Jinotega on January 9th1977.

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