gentina's military dictatorship hoped to turn the World Cup finals in June into a propaganda spectacular, but things are not going quite according to plan. The of New York, saw the football championships asa 'unique opportunity to freshen the junta's unsavoury international image.
Following their advice, the gencrals have speat the equivalent of US$400 million en preparations, and 5,000 foreign journalists have alteady sought accreditation for the games. There is just one hitch. When the generals made their plans two years ago, they were convinced it would take them less than two years to crush ail popular resistance to military rule. The visitors were to be presented with a new disciplined Argentina, in which workers did nol go on strike, bomhs did not go off at night, and the trains ran on time.
In fact, although strikes are hanned, and thousands of woekers have been imprisoned or TOULOETA EUE major stoppages have become a regular event in TUCHE EA ELSET DETU defying government policy.
Last November a siriking rallwayman was shot dead in one of Buenos Aires raulway stations. This fact was broadcast every half hour over the radio in an attempt to intimidate other WULKCIS work. The propagandists are now that actions of this kind in June could actually worsen the country's image. Oie action they are taking is to confine accreditations to sports journalists, The problem ournalists is that they are less casy to control thin those who live in Argentina all the time. One British correspondent in Argentina, who seers to act as a fulltime apologist for the junta, is Andrew Tarnowski of The Times. arbowsk Bas Dodi purlicuary assis so his duries since late last threatened by midnight visits from the security police.
Although forcig Journalists bave noe yet been kidnapped (derained and perhaps murdered) by the death squads, it is a sufticient threat to keep most of chem quiet. There have MEETL SOR MAAT LUT DESAS STOlE boycot the championships in the Woody TEDEEIS.OIL. between 10,000 and 20,000 victims since the March 1976 military coup.
But the political organisations and parties which are most actively resistance argue aginst a boycott. They say that it would be misanderstood by ordinary people in Argentina who are looking forward ro the championships, and could give credibility to the milicary claim that there is an international campaign Instend of'a bayoolt, they ask visicors to see che Cup an opportunily solidarity with the Argentine people. They hope footballers will call for the release of political prisoners, that newspapers will seed reporters and photographers with a nose for politics as sponsored by anions on taatiana, neolulionery unily, Algie From Martin Shaw, 57 Salisbury St, Hull Iranisn EXST CONDOM S CC DIST UnES industrial action, public services and principal WALD TELLE E visiting year when he had Other journalists have been protest against OLIEL CALIMEE engaged in the against for active MANCHESTER CHILE Solidarit Fes, an B PuE 0a1 B5= 10 Plus social Bpmichigt, At the Saart)
SOCIALISE GADAME LENTH Right to ork him. Fr. 3 F00 Bar. Billl ale. Acm E1 1605 clzimantsi mite AA, 34 Bedford Squms. Lenden Line nastute cl sace an dira Tunisan Labatl Richard SuCaCrISI0I SOUTHASPTON HUMEN S Mias Keir Sal 10 Feb Church Hail How: Sa:11 Fos. 11am 4pm. Couns Union, Disco the weening. Creeme wilsove Fegistralicn toms from: D EORTESA well as sport, and that people will listen to what the locals have to say about their governmeot In fact the junta is making it almost impossible for ordinary people to reach the stadiums to watch the games. To buy a ticket you have to subscribe to the whole series of games in any pie of the stadiums, at an astronomical price Worse yet, you have to pive your name and adress when you buy the tickets. In this way.
Spanner. the croms si the centre sich Desan St. pulilica benaamnig controversy will be performing Out of Control, plus aic. grub, late crining. Sal 4 CRIMES AGAINST Irish Wamen alen. Bat 4 Fab, 7.50pm. aHenno le stiere BLACK PEOPLES CaTONE SEE leind. Arweicom the "Sua picer) :Jüpm, Ecuake Aex Lyon al Eveling Infant Schobl, Everson Rose S ale and suoport al Ladbroke Hous Students 01-08€ 526 BERLIN OLYMPICS 1935 .....
to their feelings.
FIGHT RACISM at the squat, Devas S CAST chela eTe claimenta Cancu. Discus Dout Rc BOX HP.
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ARGENTINA WORLD CUP 1978 the police hope to present local fans from turning the games into massive demonstrations against the junta. With all ralles, meetings and eiber forms of normal political activity hanned, Argentines bave been using Saturday football matches as an opportunity to give vent At one recent game a penalty shot went wide am of agilpros whio Acmissicn resolulicnary eri and moves tomande Warkers player with i truncheon.
chant:
Nontoneros..
Unseemly harassment by the police?' Montoneros have promised they ALCE SmO which -SLOTETA OO purported to COMOB JO EUrOre creating non-specialists.
They are forging a new political revolutionary -IEAC optimism tur the symp loms currents and would ine lo alend the BISS I0 CAH:
Lendin IMG, efe PO Box 50 Crowbridge 20p 10APsand umetINGS LYNN rO00 d soussion ginton and incal trade unionisls. Organlaed ,Man 20 Fa MALDO Labor Ley democratic aro pooperat.ve wich a-a lo provice information womens grupa, and gay groups.
rights. We cane boois, penedicals, and hit a policeman in the face. He rushed onto the field and began to belabour the unfortunate players ran to his aid, other policemen joined te racax, a anca pom tae crowd began Lu *Monroneros, Montoneros the many Peronist guerilla groups which sprang up to oppose the 1966-73 military dictatorship, is today the most importaot revolutionary organisation in Argentina. Montonero politics have developed along clearly socialist lines during the past two years, marking a clear break with the confused populism of Perobism scenes will probably be avoided during the World Cup matches, but the impact of thousands (or even lundrods) of tartan-clad Scots fans on the Buenos Aires police is hard to Imagine. There are likely to be casualties on botl sides. Lord Avebury recently askod the government what action bad been taken on the reported theft of t40 trom six British scamen io three separate incidents by police officers in Buenos Airea, and what advioe they will give British citizens visiting Argentina for the World Con ss lo hoa they can brotectthemsaves inm Undoubtedly, the Montoneros and other revolutionary organisations will be looking for some way to make themseives felt in June. The undertake any military operation which might endanger the lives of visitors or interrupt the games. But they warn that the military might TL SOTHECEEE ELLU. would thea be blamed on Just bedore Christmas the military kidnapped two French nuns and then oublished a foreed communcoe wbic!
show the Montoneros were responsible. This was quickly denied, not only by the Montoneros but also by the religious order to which the noos belonged. Forged communiques are becoming increasingly This may indicate the Importano sectors of the military attach to discrediting the Montoneros. The forgeries are sufficiencly crude to he detected instantly by anyone involved in Argentine affairs, hut may confusion In Argentina it is less eaxy to confuse people There is ao doubl in peoples' munds that the only "terrorist organisations" io the country are the army, the davy and the air force. To the extent that the aroed toros wage war on the a hole people, especinily oo the working class, UITEEACTHCT TAE vanguard and che masses. This is TEENA THIC POTOC BECIMAMCNE CETE organisations, which despite ire Tacng tue TOLUTC They have now survived the military campaign of exteriinalion, and are preparing counter antensave. Ther soe man military weakness. The government's economie policy has failed and Argentine industry faces the worst secession in its modern history. Already the military are beginaing to quartel among themseives.
пре ін Снінтея ai the NH8. Bal 18 Feb, 10a1-5om Cnr Mal Mesmnsut orle rO credentlais enc Become a wulking hill-hourd.
Twe-colour Socialist Chaileage supporters hadges are popping guurs from the addiess above 20p cach plus 7p post. Ten or CULIOUSETH.
SOCIALIST CHALLENGE, 2 February, 1977 pape 14
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