' Mass meetings had backed a Genera Strike

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Argentine socialist Carlos Garcia told about the background to Galtieri's invasion of the Falklands What do you know about the events in the last few weeks in Argentina?

I have just had a letter from a friend in Argentina who gives more information on the background to the invasion.

On 29 March there was a very big demonstration against the government in Buenos Aires - and it was met with very heavy police repression. 2,500 were arrested, some were killed and many injured.

The next day there were big demonstrations by workers in Mendoza, Cordoba, Rosario and Tucaman.

The union leaders called a General Strike for April 5 and got huge support from factory mass meetings.

A section of the junta told Galtieri to find a solution - and the invasion took place on April 2. But other elements of the junta recognise that whatever the outcome on the Falklands issue, the invasion will not resolve any of their real problems.

Thousands may demonstrate in support of Argentina taking the islands .. after all we have all been told from the age of 5 when we first went to school that they are Argentine islands and we all hate British imperialism - but that does not mean they support the junta.

But all the political parties have now been told they can meet and organise freely. Even the demonstrators arrested on March 29 have been released.

The PST, of which 1 am a member, put out a leaflet which, while recognising that the islands should be Argentine, opposed the war - and called for the nationalisation of imperialist investments and property in Argentina and release of political prisoners.

What is the situation of the unions in Argentina?

3-4 months after the Videla coup of 1976 the government closed down the CGT confederation, jailed large numbers of union leaders and imposed military control.

Most bureaucrats were gradually released - some of them after up to four years in jail - and allowed to maintain their apparatus under the supervision of the junta, so long as the unions did not step out of line.

The trade union movement divided into three groupings. The CNT, dominated by the metal workers and building workers, has maintained very friendly links with the junta.

White

'The 20' is a grouping of white collar and middle class unions.

'The 25' has emerged as most militant, left wing Afte a ger al st grouping of unions, including the carworkers' SMATA.

Within four months of the Videla coup SMATA embarked on a two-week strike in Fiat - and under the impact of the recession and inflation militancy has been very high among car workers.

Strikes have continued on average every five months despite closures, lay offs and repression. The general strike movement of April 1979 was led by the carworkers.

The SMATA bureaucrats, though they talk left, always follow rather than lead struggles. But the April 5 General Strike this year was called by SMATA General

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Organiser no.81 April