Original subtitles

THE BATTLE OF CHILE

The struggle of an unarmed people

a Patricio Guzmán Film

In memory of Jorge Müller Silva

Part One: THE INSURRECTION OF THE BOURGEOISIE

Six months before the bombing of the La Moneda palace

the Chilean people are voting to renew Parliament.

The political forces are divided in two blocks.

On one side, the center right opposition

made up by the Christian Democrat and National parties.

On the other, the left wing parties

grouped together in Popular Unity

and supporting Salvador Allende.

The left, united, will never be defeated!

Synch!

The left, united, will never be defeated!

Cut!

Clapper!

Sir, who do you think will win the elections on Sunday?

Well, I'm apolitical.

Ma'am, who do you think will win?

The opposition has to win. - The opposition? -Yes.

- By what percentage? - I've got no idea.

Frei! Jarpa! Labbé!

All three are rubbish!

Frei! Jarpa! Labbé!

All three are rubbish!

Who will you be voting for in the elections?

For Volodia Teitelboim and Eliana Aranibar.

How do you see the future?

We'll continue to progress but we must keep fighting

much more than we have done.

What can I say about Frei? When he was in government

I lived in a shack that was falling down.

It was damp all the time

and my four children had bronchopneumonia.

I asked everywhere for help and nobody listened to me.

But now, wherever I go, I'm seen to

and thanks to Allende, I've got a lovely house.

I don't have many comforts, but we don't go hungry.

I'm retired.

I'm retired.

No government has ever done what this government has.

- Who's going to win? - Popular Unity

because the workers have to decide Chile's fate.

What do you think of the Christian Democracy?

I think that the Christian Democracy is a party

which has always defended the interests of its class

but never the interests of the working class.

Thank you. Over there, Flaco. Film the drinks seller.

Excuse me, comrade.

Comrade, who's going to win on Sunday?

- I couldn't say. - You couldn't say? -No, sir.

- I've got no idea. -Do you read the papers? -Not a lot.

- Who'll win on Sunday? - We will, the PU.

- We've got the majority. - We'll get 45%.

Popular Unity is going to win by an overwhelming amount.

It's the workers' government, the people's government.

The people have seen the benefits

that socialism brings for all the citizens.

Thank you, comrade. Cut!

Sir, what percentage do you give to Popular Unity?

The truth is

Popular Unity is going to win

because we started out in 1970 with 36%

and at the present time, with all that we've seen

and the people who are with comrade Salvador Allende

we're guaranteed to get 43% and more.

43% and more.

Good afternoon, ladies.

Who will you vote for?

I'm voting for Volodia Teitelboim

and Eliana Aranibar.

What percentage do you give Popular Unity?

Over 40%.

- And the food shortage? - I don't think there is one.

I haven't lost an ounce of weight!

Recording!

Sir, what do you think about the elections?

Popular Unity are going to get less than 20%.

How do you see the future?

Whatever happens, we'll still have lots of problems.

Sir, what do you think about the elections?

- Leave me alone. - Thank you.

What do you think about the elections?

The opposition will win, especially the National Party.

And the future?

Chile has to rise up with freedom and democracy.

Sir, what do you think about the elections on Sunday?

I think it's a plebiscite

and on Sunday Chile is going to decide

if it wants Marxism or freedom.

How do you view the future, after the elections?

The only solution is a change of government.

- Do you believe in elections? - Yes, of course.

Sir, what do you think about the elections on Sunday?

I think that the Popular Front is going to get a hammering

and it's going to be wiped out.

- Do you believe in elections? - Yes, absolutely.

What percentages for Popular Unity and the National Party?

30% and 70%.

- How do you see the future? - The future?

Chile's always had a promising future.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Ma'am, what's your position as regards the elections?

Jarpa and Alessandri.

- What's your preference? - The National Party.

Do you believe in elections or in other methods?

I think there has to be a firm line.

There must never be any question of playing with the people.

How do you view the future, after the elections?

We have to work hard to rebuild Chile.

- Sir, who will you be voting for? - For Jarpa.

And who'll win the elections?

The opposition will, easily.

- And with what percentage? -65% at least.

And what will happen in Chile then?

The government will have to respect the majority.

Do you believe in elections or in other methods?

- Elections. - Thank you.

They should impeach the President!

- What? -They should impeach him and throw him out on May 21!

He's destroyed the country, ruined it

and this is a corrupt, degenerate government!

Degenerate, corrupt, filthy!

All those dirty communists should get out of Chile!

On May 21, thank God, we'll have

the cleanest, finest government we've ever had!

Democracy will win

and we'll get rid of those rotten Marxist communists!

Who do you prefer among the opposition?

Candidates? Jarpa and Gustavo Alessandri.

And what percentage?

My idea would be 100%

but really I think it'll be around 70%.

Power to the workers!

Comrade, what's your opinion about the elections?

I say Popular Unity will win.

And to hell with the "mummies" on the right!

We'll win with Popular Unity. Here and everywhere else.

The "mummies" can drop dead!

Power to the workers!

What do you think about the elections?

We have to fight to get a big majority.

We who can see things very clearly

realize that the only way to get power

given that we've got the government

is by winning the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

What it really means is getting a bit more power

more power for the class.

But, even so

it isn't the definitive solution.

We believe that one election more or less

won't solve the problem and avoid the civil war.

The civil war is inevitable and fundamental.

And it's going to happen, because at present

the classes are becoming more and more polarized.

On one side, the bourgeoisie, on the other, the proletariat.

That confrontation will come.

Forward without compromise!

As usual, the armed forces guarantee order

during the elections.

The opposition votes, confident of victory.

With a two thirds majority in Parliament

it could remove President Allende by impeaching him.

For that, they need more than 60% of the votes.

For Popular Unity, this is the first ballot

with all the opposition forces since the presidential victory in 1970.

It's also a chance to measure their electoral strength

after two years of an economic boycott

imposed by Washington, and internal opposition.

On Sunday, March 4 at 8:00 a. m., voting has started.

Good afternoon, ma'am.

We're doing interviews for Channel 13.

We'd like to know your views and who you think will win.

- We're sorry to bother you. - No, it's no bother.

I like Baltra. I voted for him.

- Baltra? - Yes.

What do you think the percentages will be?

- Do you want to come in? - Yes, if we may.

Sir, we're doing interviews for Channel 13.

Could you tell us how you think the percentages will be?

- I don't know, I don't vote. - You don't?

- You've got no preference? - None.

You said you voted for Baltra. At what time?

It's Channel 13. No, I voted for Jarpa.

- You voted for Jarpa? - Yes.

- At what time did you vote? - At 11:00 a. m.

- In what commune? - The National Stadium.

What do you think of the elections today?

I think it's great

and I think that democracy is going to win.

What do you think will happen in the future in Chile?

Everything will be sorted out and we'll rebuild Chile.

Do you think the President should be removed or not?

I couldn't say, but all this has to be sorted out.

What did you think of Jarpa's meeting here two days ago?

Fantastic! I saw it from here.

Did it really catch your attention?

Of course! The crowds and the enthusiasm

and all very orderly.

Well, I thought it was great, and we're going to win!

And what about the alliance with Christian Democracy?

I think it's splendid, really good.

You feel happy about that alliance?

Yes, I do, because I think it'll fix everything.

Thank you very much.

At 5:00 p. m., the first results start to come in.

The Interior Minister, Genera Carlos Prats

ensures the maximum guarantees of honesty

for all the sectors.

Nevertheless, before the count is finished

some media are announcing a victory for the opposition.

They don't say that over 40% of the votes are for the left.

The opposition, who never doubted their victory

celebrate the supposed end of Popular Unity.

What do you think of the elections?

We're winning! We've got over 60%!

What do you think of the elections?

Fantastic! But we were bound to win!

Sir, what do you

Great! I'm Argentinean and I'm delighted that Frei has won!

It's terrific! Chile needs a few more Freis.

Over here! Come on, Flaco, move it!

- How do you feel about it? - It's a great victory!

It's a fantastic success! We're delighted!

How do you see the future?

A plebiscite, and we'll win the elections.

Allende will have to leave Chile immediately.

- Would you impeach him? - Yes, of course.

Anyway, so long!

What do you think about today's elections?

It's a triumph for democracy and Chile will always be free!

- What will happen now? - God forbid anything does.

All we ask is that Chile is always free!

Are you in favor of impeaching Allende?

- Yes, sir. - Yes.

You don't think that could cause a civil war?

- It doesn't matter. - We've got the majority.

What do you think of the election?

We finally beat those bastards!

What do you think of the election?

Very good, magnificent.

I'd just like to say that it's really wonderful.

The PU ended up in the garbage

to put it politely!

- Who was your favorite? - Frei.

I am Alfonso Carrasco Cerda

president of the Bank of Chile retirement club.

I believe that we have defended

democracy and freedom in Chile.

Would you like to say anything else?

Yes!

Greetings to all the people

who have helped to free our country.

After midnight, the final results

spread confusion among the opposition.

The dreamed-of number of votes evaporates in disaster.

Against all predictions

Popular Unity doesn't only not lose electoral support

it increases it.

Rejecting the calculations, one sector of the opposition talks of fraud

and sends its troublemakers onto the street.

A few days later, the Election Examination Tribunal

controlled by the opposition is obliged to confirm the official results.

The opposition parties are very far from the 2/3 they'd dreamed of

in order to remove Salvador Allende.

Popular Unity increase to 43.4% of the votes

and increase their numbers in Parliament.

They obtain unprecedented support

after two and a half years in office.

For the opposition

the swearing-in of the new deputies

marks the end of the electoral phase.

Honorable deputies

do you swear or promise

to protect the Constitution of the State

and defend, in the exercise of your duties

its true interests?

Yes, we do.

I hereby declare you incorporated.

The aims of the present session being completed

it is now adjourned.

From now on, the White House and the Chilean opposition

realize that the mechanisms

of representative democracy are of no use to them.

The votes won by the Government coalition

show that the desire for social change

has not decreased, despite the millions of dollars

invested by the North American government.

After March, the strategy of the democratic opposition

will be, paradoxically, that of the coup d'état.

HOARDING AND THE BLACK MARKET

Thanks to a complaint lodged by a neighbor

it was discovered that here in 319 Copiap Street

the following stocks were being hoarded.

20 tons of sugar, 400 boxes of toilet rolls

500 boxes of detergent, 100 boxes of Nescafé

100 boxes of condensed milk, 50 boxes of salmon

large amounts of rice.

This will be sold to the neighbors in this sector

a large number of whom are gathered here.

I'd say this sale will last for approximately three days.

The Government strengthens

the Councils for Provisions and Prices.

In theory, these are local organizations

to supervise food distribution

and report any speculating by shopkeepers.

When the Councils discover any hoarding

the Government intervenes

and the products are put on sale.

In the warehouse belonging to Mrs. Moreno Díaz

the following goods were found.

310 packets of tea

2 boxes of"350"

53 boxes of baby food.

All of it had been eaten by mice.

I bought detergent and two little packets of tea

because I didn't have any more money with me.

I couldn't buy any more.

Well, I've got ten children

and I have to waste the whole morning looking

We have to put an end to the black market.

We have to close the shops and jail the owners.

We have to do that to scare those people

so they stop speculating.

I think there are lots of provisions.

Look at how often we've seen in the newspapers here

about all the tons of sugar, all that stuff that's hoarded.

In March, there are 3,000 COPPs in all of Chile.

In some cases, they introduce ration cards

in order to improve distribution

What's the card? Can we see it?

It's my ration card. I've got 14 rations.

I've got 2 stock cubes marked down.

No, 4 cubes, when they arrive.

If more come, they give you more.

It's all rationed. Coffee, milk, everything.

Can you get by on that?

Yes, we can get by. And if we don't

then we try to buy other things instead.

Will we collect the the vegetables you bought?

The main aims of the opposition

are to disrupt food supplies

exhaust the reserve stocks and sabotage harvests

so as to increase the scarcity of basic necessities.

Is there any oil?

I don't know if there's any today

but I got oil three days ago.

Would you like to say anything

to other comrades? We're making a documentary.

I'll put up with everything that happens so that

at least my children can have a better future.

I approve of this government.

- Would you like to say more? - No, that's all, thank you.

PARLIAMENTARY BO YCOTT

For the opposition, the example of the COPPs

is getting dangerous.

Congress begins an indictment against Orlando Millas

the minister who promoted the COPPs.

The opposition is using its simple majority in Congress

to discredit the government.

Here are all the documents which record the accusations.

In this case, to comply with the regulation procedures

the opposition appoints one of its deputies

to interrogate a neighbor, a member of the COPPS.

What do they actually do?

How does this organization COPP work?

As I think I already said

COPP is an organization

of people, residents, workers, housewives

who join together and, by a group decision

are given the authority

to control, or rather to oversee

if there are sufficient provisions or not

in their neighborhood.

That's what I'm trying to get you to explain to me.

- Yes. - You understand?

I'm just trying to guide you. That doesn't mean

that I'm trying to get you to say something.

I like to be very honest in my dealings.

If I can just explain, I think that the function

of this organization COPP

is to fulfill the role of ensuring

that people receive sufficient provisions

for all the family groups living in the neighborhood.

Although the opposition fails to prove anything

the accusation is maintained.

The procedure will be repeated with other top officials.

The ministers either give in or are expelled.

Through the accusations

the opposition provokes a conflict of powers

between Parliament and the President of the Republic.

In all the cases, a representative of the left

will demonstrate the legal fragility of the accusations.

Consequently

the Minister of State is only responsible

for his actions to the President of the Republic.

And he cannot be subordinated, as regards

the appropriateness of his actions

to the view of the majority in Congress.

That political judgment is only granted

to the President of the Republic.

In the specific case of Mr. Millas

Minister of the Economy, who is being indicted here

the process of indictment cannot be used to pass judgment

on the provisions policy promoted by the minister

on his price control policy

or on the way in which he is guiding

the work of production, provisioning

and genera distribution of the Chilean economy.

Therefore

not only is this indictment

invalid, ineffective and illegal

it is an indictment

which adulterates, disregards and violates

the area which the Constitution

grants to the President

as regards his essential prerogatives and authority.

Days later, in the Chamber of Deputies

the vote is held on expelling Minister Millas.

In a period of three months, the opposition remove

two of Allende's intendants and seven of his ministers.

That is, one high ranking Popular Unity official

every ten days.

And they refuse to let us use

the laws which they had in their hands

and used against the people.

But then

when we do it to defend the legitimate government

and the progress of the workers

an attitude of resistance appears in those sectors

which have all the guarantees

of the reality being experienced by our country.

And this is a government

which isn't socialist.

It is a popular, democratic

national, revolutionary government

which must carry out a program

to open, as broadly and as quickly as possible

the path to socialism

and the transformation of our society.

LEGALITY OR ILLEGALITY

GOVERNMENT MUST RESPECT COURT DECISION

Shortly after, the opposition begins an indictment

against all the ministers in the government.

This means the dismissal of 15 ministers at one time.

However, popular pressure

forces one sector of the opposition to pull back

and the maneuver fails.

It's the right who've always been interfering

trying to get us to bring down the government.

But that'll never happen.

The workers elected this government

and it will continue

and we'll defend it with our lives if necessary.

If they want us on the street, we'll be there

and if we have to fight, we'll fight, as workers

in defense of our workers' democracy.

On April 17

the government decides to expropriate legally

another 49 industries which are boycotting production.

In reply, Congress presents a constitutional reform

which invalidates almost all expropriations already made.

The Christian Democracy and the National Party

say that the Head of State has no right of veto in this.

He has to promulgate the reform

and hand back the factories without argument.

This means that Congress, by simple majority

wants to deprive Salvador Allende of an authority

which other Chilean leaders had.

Those men on the right are getting huge salaries

and all they're doing is wrecking the country.

Wrecking the country and getting well paid to do it!

And we got a big surprise

when we saw that our factory, our workplace

had been completely dismantled

because those gentlemen

had stolen all the machinery.

We don't want to have anything to do with the bosses.

They've been dragging their feet for a long time

to such an extent

that the companies ended up being expropriated.

It's been proved that the industrialists here

had started an open boycott on production.

And we're against that.

I want this to be sorted out.

The government should expropriate the industry

because we can't work with the bosses.

What did they call this factory?

They called it "the jail"

because of the feudal mentality

that our bosses had.

And fellow workers in other industries

called it "the Santa Elena jail" because of the pressure.

On May 23, Eduardo Frei

Christian Democrat and ex-President of Chile

is elected Head of the Senate.

One of his main tasks

will be to aggravate the conflict of powers.

If Allende rejects the reform

and doesn't return the industries

he'll be accused of overstepping the constitution.

If he accepts, Parliament will then have

effective control of the State.

Allende considers this position to be illegal

and appeals to the Constitutional Tribunal.

We understand

that at this moment what is fundamental

is to reinforce government policy

and conquer the instruments

ensuring that there is institutional permeability

so that the opposition understands

that they can't deny what is vital to a government

to be able to defend Chile

in the face of an economic reality

which is the result, not of errors made by us

without denying the ones we've made

but of international and national factors

which weigh heavy

especially when a government, like ours

is confronted with imperialism

and with a landowning, banking and feudal oligarchy.

Those deputies who reject the proposal, raise their hands.

Parliament will now seek

a definitive blockade of the government.

In the months of April, May and June

Congress declares a boycott

on any initiative by Popular Unity.

Result of the voting.

In favor, 52 votes.

Against, 81.

The Executive's proposal is rejected.

The law to punish economic crimes is rejected.

The law to create a Ministry for the Family is rejected.

The law on readjustments and salaries for workers

is deferred, and then got out of the way.

The law on workers' participation in factories

is rejected.

The law to create a Maritime Ministry is rejected.

The law to set up self- managing firms is rejected.

In the course of several months

another 20 projected laws lose their financing.

Nationalism!

Present!

Nationalism!

Forward!

- National Front! - Homeland and Freedom!

This is a shock squadron

from the fascist group, "Homeland and Freedom".

- Chile! - One!

- Chile! - Great!

- Chile! - Free!

Forward Chile!

- National Front! - Homeland and Freedom!

Institutional conflict alone

is not enough to justify a coup d'état.

It is also necessary to provoke violence

and social chaos.

That is the main aim of this organization.

"Homeland and Freedom" constitutes a tiny part

of the right-wing mass movement

but its fascist ideology is found in some opposition parties

and the armed forces.

Its leaders and ideologists include former employees

of the U.S. information services in Chile.

Its patrons are the big employers' associations

the National Agriculture Society and Manufacturing Development.

But their biggest helper

is the North American State Department.

In 1974, some ex-officials of that Department

reveal that at that time

the CIA had 40 first-class agents in Chile

many of them instructors for "Homeland and Freedom".

STUDENT DISTURBANCES

In April, the opposition find a pretext

for continuing the social agitation.

The Government has presented a bill on Education Reform

to democratize the old educational structure.

Feeling itself threatened

the opposition mobilizes its troublemakers.

For the first time in Chile, a large number of students

let themselves be used by the more privileged classes.

The opposition parties, professionals

and retailers' associations

support the street disturbances.

We won't be on the defensive anymore.

We won't be the puppets

of reaction anymore.

Because from here on, comrades

we have to make the questions into reality.

And we have to tackle conflictive problems.

And we have to attack whoever gets in our way.

And we're not going on the streets

to fight with right-wing kids.

The police and the soldiers can see to them

and put them out of action.

We have to see how to confront the State.

It's a bourgeois State which we have to overthrow.

Yesterday we saw various groups

making demands for different things

and using

class comrades, the Chilean reaction

in what were really subversive situations.

In other words, what comrades think

about the distribution situation

about the law on agrarian reform

about the nationalization of monopolies.

Those are fundamental questions

which we, as workers, should consider

and which we wish to resolve with a plebiscite

and not be dragged along by the reactionaries

with effective mobilization of the workers.

We can't accept this escalation day after day.

We've been observing this situation

and we said in October

that they were going to prepare another one.

They're repeating themselves, they don't even have

the initiative to change what they did in October.

And we, the workers, must go out now

and stop these people for once and for all

and demand a plebiscite on fundamental issues.

How are we going to resolve the transport problem?

Every time they have to attack the government

they bring transport to a standstill, don't they?

Because they control the drivers.

Most of the drivers have no class awareness.

They aren't in any union.

All they worry about is their percentage

how much they'll earn.

They don't go to union meetings.

So there aren't many unions doing well in transport.

Even the ones doing well are doing badly.

Given the threat

of a national commercial stoppage next week

there should be immediate nationalization

of distribution monopolies.

Given the threat of a boycott on production and economy

the government must issue an expropriation order

against those companies which form part of the group of 90

still not in the hands of the workers.

The working class should be integrated immediately

into the planning of the economy.

There is no doubt that at this moment

the resolutions must

deal with the problems in the transport section.

We, the workers in the Public Works Department

have, at this moment, got everyone ready to march

and parade past Congress.

Any objections to that?

- To Parliament! - To Parliament!

We ask our comrades in the Public Works Department

if they can obtain means of transport, trucks, vans

in order to transport groups of workers

who will be leaving the factories.

There are trucks and buses, comrade.

The left, united, will never be defeated!

On April 27, the Trades Union Council

calls a mass meeting in support of the government.

They try, by means of the workers' presence

to prevent the streets of Santiago

from being taken by opposition agitators.

Power to the workers!

We want popular power!

The left, united, will never be defeated!

People! Consciousness! Arms!

We want popular power!

Demonstrators passing the offices

of the Christian Democrat Party

are suddenly attacked.

Shots fired from the windows kill one worker

and seriously injure another six.

The people who provoked us are responsible for this.

- And the dead and wounded? - Who are they? Where are they?

One person was shot dead and six wounded. We saw it all.

Are we supposed to let people come and walk over us?

Who protected us?

You're justifying that death.

And you're speaking in the Christian Democrat offices!

You can't push me around in the Christian Democrat offices!

Senator, why did you hit a journalist?

Fascists!

Where did they fire from? At what time?

That isn't clear. It's being investigated.

Anyway

it's the magistrate who's in charge here.

In this case

the police and everything to do with public order

is subject to the magistrate and the court.

That's what the code on penal procedure says.

The influence of the violent groups

is obvious in the Christian Democrat Party.

Senator Juan Hamilton, from the party's conservative wing

refuses to make a statement.

- A moment's silence, comrades! - Everyone keep calm!

Everyone move back a bit, please, move back!

We're all right here!

- Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada! - Present!

- Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada! - Present!

- With your example - We shall overcome!

Please, comrades, don't push! Don't push!

Popular Unity against the criminal "mummies"!

Comrade José Ricardo Ahumada!

Present!

- Who killed him? - The "mummies".

300,000 people turn up on April 30

to say farewell to the dead worker.

Reckoning that conditions still aren't right

the opposition ends this period of street disorder.

The attempts to punish those responsible

for Ahumada's death are unsuccessful.

Justice acts with obvious slowness.

The Supreme Court

ensures that the sentence is never enforced.

OFFENSIVE BY THE EMPLO YERS' ORGANIZATIONS

Once again, our organization is gathered together

summoned by the national leaders

to study price increases

and establish our new tariffs.

Our first speaker

is the president of Chile's National Confederation

of Taxis and Buses, Ernesto Cisterna Solís.

- An eye for an eye! - A tooth for a tooth!

I think that this assembly should say to the minister

that we are tired of seeing such ineffectiveness

and such inability in solving our problems.

During the three years of Popular Unity

the American Institute for Free Trade Unionism

financed indirectly by the CIA

directs its work towards the Chilean organizations.

In April, 108 managers

mainly from the transport sector

receive training in the United States.

We mustn't confuse awareness with patience.

We don't want politics

with the tariffs or with the organization

but we need to survive.

We have to defend our interests

and to do that we must fight as one man

with our National Board of Owners

and go out on the street

in such a way that they see us

and feel the strength of our organization

with bravery, with fervor

but above all else

as Chileans, and with dignity.

We can't keep on patching and mending

and wearing ourselves out.

The vehicles have got old

and the bent backs of many of the owners

have grown old too!

Generations of them!

It's a matter of putting food on the table

of surviving, of holding out

of being able to save this sector

because with that we are saving

the jobs of millions of people

who have faith and confidence

in this working man

in this ill-treated transporter.

He's the person who's building Chile!

He's the revolutionary!

Who can deny that the moment has come

for the entire Chilean transport sector

without distinction

fighting on a single platform

to propose this national stoppage!

In May, one third of collective transport

is immobilized by a lack of spare parts

from North America.

In 1973, importations from the United States

drop to 15% of the total.

To protest against this state of affairs

but also to aggravate it

the owners of private buses call an indefinite strike.

During the conflict, the state company, with only 600 vehicles

has to do the work normally done by Santiago's 5,000 private buses.

To help ease the effects of the strike

workers bring factory trucks onto the streets.

What do you think of the strike?

We all have to fight so that

the government can have confidence thanks to the workers.

We must fight the strike.

- How do we do that? - By staying united.

- How far did you walk? - About 70 blocks, with my two kids.

- What do you say? - I think that this is the moment

when the people have to demonstrate

the capacity for struggle which they have developed

in the course of this whole process.

And it doesn't matter

what kind of sacrifice we have to make

as long as we can keep working and producing.

Anyone else want to speak?

The "mummies" are waging this campaign against us.

We're living on very poor wages

but the workers must have faith in this

and be aware.

What do you say?

I'm a student

and I think they're trying to paralyze the country

by any means they can.

In case of a possible total transport stoppage

the left-wing carriers join together

and create the Patriotic Recovery Movement.

Because of their support of President Allende

they are attacked for being blacklegs.

I will respond to the loyalty of the people

with the loyalty of a militant socialist

and as president of Chile

I will resolutely carry through

the program of Popular Unity.

We need better and greater control

in the distribution of produce.

Listen carefully.

This is for those who believe

that I hesitate at times.

We must strengthen

popular power

centers for mothers, neighborhood groups

the Councils for Provisions and Prices

the community commandos.

They must be strengthened!

The industrial belts must be strengthened

not as parallel forces to the government

but as popular forces

united with the forces of your government

the popular government.

On May 28, retired officers of the high command

send a public letter to President Allende

stating that the armed forces

will consider themselves autonomous

should the government violate the constitution.

Shortly before, the high command had spoken out

against the proposed educational reforms.

On that occasion, Rear Admiral IsmaeI Huerta declared

"We cannot accept that future soldiers

arrive at the barracks converted into Marxists. "

Since 1950, more than 4,000 officers

have been on training courses in the U.S

and in the Panama Canal area.

Over the two and a half years of Allende's government

the Pentagon has given them

45 million dollars in military aid.

That is, more than a third

of all the aid received in the last 20 years.

COPPER STRIKE

For the first time

the opposition wins over a sector of the proletariat.

In the "El Teniente" mine

a group of workers go on strike for economic reasons.

Traditionally well paid

the copper miners are the aristocracy of Chile's workers.

For the opposition

the aim of the conflict is to paralyze the mine.

20% of Chile's earnings are produced here.

Fellow workers, as well as Channel 13 television

we have French Television with us.

Comrades, hold up your employment cards.

Let's show them that we're all workers here.

"El Teniente", united, will never be defeated!

First, let's solve the problems

of the "El Teniente" workers

and then, if there's money left

we can solve the other problems in the country.

But the people we represent come first

then the rest of the country.

That's all, thank you.

We want a solution!

We requested permission from the union leaders

to use this stage.

As workers for Popular Unity

we disagree

with the methods you're using.

We have said at all times

that above all other things

the most important is workers' unity.

We defend it here

and within the party alliance of Popular Unity.

You will be wondering why we're here.

We support a return to work

but not in factions.

Comrades

We support a return to work

Comrades

Comrades

We can't accept

that you continue to use the policy of division.

No politics here!

No politics here!

Strike!

Strike!

That same day, and at the same time

more than half of the 8,000 miners

continue working.

Most of them work overtime

to ensure that the basic work in the mine is done.

Caletones has a staff of almost 2,000 workers

between office staff and laborers.

And today, we've got 750 workers working.

So the industrial part is almost normal.

And that means that tomorrow, or Monday

there will be total normality.

What should be pointed out here

is that there is a sector which is fighting against a wall.

Their thesis is completely out of all jurisdiction.

Even history shows that the workers here

fought tirelessly against the Yankee

until we took the industry from him, nationalized it

and now it's Chile's.

It belongs to the Chileans, not to any individual.

But it's our responsibility to run it.

The workers are assuming an almost total awareness.

It is only those in opposition who insist on believing

that there are left-wing bosses here.

No, there aren't.

The Christian Democracy

has got trade union representation here

and a representative on the Board of Directors.

So we're asking the left-wing media, especially Channel 7

who have given very little importance

to those still working

to come and see for themselves

so that they'll stop Iying.

You've started very well, for a simple reason.

You've all come here to film, and that's important.

But the press, Channel 13, "El Mercurio"

all those papers, are just looking at Rancagua city.

They think that's "El Teniente", and that's bad.

Those of us who are working at present

need this situation to be sorted out

not for the personal benefit of the workers

but for the benefit of all Chileans.

You can take any worker here and ask him.

Ask any of them.

Do you think you're dividing the "El Teniente" workers?

No, none of us want to divide them.

It's the enemy who's dividing us.

- The enemy? - The right.

They want us to fight among ourselves.

The other day, the strike leader said

that if blood had to flow, blood would flow.

They want confrontation.

We have never, at any moment, wanted to divide the workers.

The fact of the matter is, I'm 43 now

and I've spent a long time, 27 years, in the mines.

I've seen all the governments we had before

and they all acted very harshly

with the working classes.

As that comrade said, I think this government has been soft.

It's soft because it's a workers' government.

But if we'd had a government of another tendency

at this moment a few of us would be dead

and there wouldn't be many left-wing comrades here.

They'd all be right-wing.

We received threats, they blocked the roads

we couldn't get down the other day

but we turned up for work.

We came down on foot, went cross-country

but at least we managed to keep working.

There were even comrades who worked three shifts

because you have to keep the mine going.

We had agreed to keep on working

because there are certain machines

which can't be allowed to stop.

This job's got a lot of responsibility.

We've got a lot of comrades

who still don't know why they're stopped.

They don't know. That's a fact.

They're fighting with the police

because some guy sets himself up as leader

and he puts on a show for them

and they follow him like he was Christ.

I think we have to make our fellow workers more aware

and that's what our leaders have to start doing now.

That's the reason behind everything.

How can you prepare people?

Well, just by doing what we're doing now

acting as we are in this stoppage.

I think I'm behaving well. I'm responsible for what I do.

I'm independent, I don't have any political party.

My interest is in working for the progress of Chile

not for my pocket.

I'm aware that if I have a good wage

then it's only fair that other workers

should have a good wage too.

Today, over 400 workers have turned up.

On the 3:00-11:00 shift, we had over 300.

It's getting back to normal.

The number of workers turning up at their job

goes up to 61 % on May 7.

The mine's trains are working day and night.

Strike!

Strike!

The strikers, encouraged by the opposition

reject two settlement proposals

and demand a doubling of salary readjustments.

Why are you striking?

We're demanding the 41 % that the company owes us.

How many days has it been?

It's been 21 days now.

What's going to happen?

It'll have to be settled today or tomorrow.

Is this to do with unions or with politics?

It's never had anything to do with politics.

There's never been a politician

or a minister or a deputy involved in this.

We're just workers defending our rights.

And I think we have to win

because we elected our President

so that he'd defend workers' rights

not so that he'd come and criticize us

when we ask for something.

- You support the President? - Yes, I do.

The strike is damaging the government.

Of course it's damaging it

but I think that in all these 21 days of striking

they should at least have settled the strike.

Into the square!

The strike leaders need to have victims

so they can accuse the government of repression.

For that reason, the police get orders

to act with the greatest caution.

As the police retreat despite the stone throwing

there is confusion.

While some want to continue the fight

others think it better

to seize the mining company's offices.

Let's seize the company!

I spoke to the governor because I don't want any death.

- Who represents the workers? - We do!

The leaders are over there!

And I also

I also requested

I also requested, comrades

that with the same responsibility

as that of the "El Teniente" workers

we are asking the police forces here

that they should maintain the same composure.

I asked them that they should maintain

the same composure, comrades.

And now

I want

I want to say here this morning

that in the meeting

which we had with the President of the Republic

on the 19th

I spoke to them

as an older brother or a comrade would have done

and I told them clearly how serious it was

to stop the production of copper now

when we need more earnings

when we don't have the financing we need

when we may not be able to fulfill

some essential commitments.

At this moment

especially when the price of copper

has reached a satisfactory level

at this precise moment, "El Teniente" is paralyzed

just when it had achieved an extraordinary output.

I spoke to them like a comrade

with tenderness, with respect, with affection.

Nevertheless

economic criteria were stronger

and so "El Teniente" is at a standstill

and that means the loss of millions of dollars

for the country.

There could have been a solution

that certainly would have cost less

than a day's production.

But that would have set a fatal precedent.

A readjustment on top of a readjustment.

Today, I ask them from here to understand

that being a copper worker in this country

is a privilege

from a patriotic and revolutionary point of view.

They are the workers who must preserve

the essence of our country.

We depend on copper

to be able to buy spare parts, raw materials

inputs, foodstuffs and medicines.

I ask them from here, as revolutionary comrades

to reconsider their attitude.

We will propose solutions which will mean more income

on the basis of producing more copper

and greater productivity.

I uphold our revolutionary awareness

and I tell them that I have faith in the Chilean worker

who cannot forget imperialist aggression

and internal conspiracy!

The copper worker and the agricultural worker

have to unite to defend the future of Chile

threatened from without and hounded from within!

In the "Chuquicamata" mine

on May 16, the workers reject

a stoppage in solidarity with "El Teniente".

The same happens in the "El Salvador" mine.

The opposition fail in their attempt

to spread the strike to other copper mines.

On June 6, the strikers send a commission to Santiago.

Congress, which had justified

oppression of workers in other times

opens its gardens to give the miners money and supplies.

Parliament issues a statement, which has no legal basis

saying the miners are right.

And meanwhile, donations continue to arrive.

For the wealthy sector

helping the striking miners has become an obligation.

I am firmly convinced

that this conflict

will have international repercussions

because here

what is at stake

is the firmness of the workers

in defending their conquests.

And on the other side

is the position of the Supreme Government

which, until this moment, had turned a deaf ear

to solving this problem.

And the only culprits

of the prolongation of these 37 days of strike

have got names.

It is a product of the incapacity

of the ministers responsible for mining and labor

and of the copper bureaucrats.

For the first time

a labor leader is received in the Catholic University.

When 75% of the miners at "El Teniente"

and 10% of the clerical staff are back at work

the leader Guillermo Medina comes to receive the support..

of the children of the well-to-do.

Workers and students, forward together!

Down with incompetent government!

The Catholic University students

become the main agitators of the stoppage.

While the strike eases in "El Teniente"

the opposition politicize the conflict.

In Santiago, the organization "Feminine Power"

starts to gather funds for the miners' wives.

A large section of the middle class

consciously or unconsciously

starts to join the ranks of fascism.

- Nationalists! - Present!

- Nationalists! - Forward!

- National Front! - Homeland and Freedom!

- Chile! - One!

- Chile! - Great!

- Chile! - Free!

Forward Chile!

At the same time, in the mining city of Rancagua

shopkeepers, professionals and carriers

call a stoppage in solidarity with the strikers.

On June 10, the opposition

occupy the city's radio station by force.

As Rancagua is too small

to cause any stir in the now lessening conflict

they decide to move to the capital.

On June 15, 3,000 strikers arrive at the head office

of the Christian Democrat Party in Santiago.

They make up approximately 25% of the mine employees.

Christian Democrat Youth!

The opposition calls out its troublemakers.

The government responds with a police presence

and the mobilization of its militants.

Workers collaborate with the police to impose order.

The agitators provoke the police.

The left-wing workers dismantle the barricades.

Come on, we have to clean up the streets, comrades!

How long are those "mummies" going to fuck us up?

At midday, the Popular Unity supporters

gather in front of the La Moneda palace.

We support the popular government!

The street battle will go on until night.

VIOLENT CITY

Allende, Allende, the people will defend you!

I'm here because I've got class consciousness.

I'm here with my class comrades

defending the workers' government

to the death, if necessary.

Let's create popular power!

I've been here since 10:00 a. m

firstly because of my convictions.

I'm the father of 12 children.

I know this government's fight isn't for me.

I don't have many days of struggle and sacrifice left.

It's for my children.

What we're defending is constitutional power.

We're against fascism.

We support the popular government.

We think that what's going on now is a just struggle.

We're here to defend the position of all workers.

We don't want that, because of a privileged group

like the "El Teniente" miners

this government should have problems.

We'll defend this government's position

to the last consequences.

Comrade, why are you here?

I'm Chilean, and I have to defend Allende's government.

It's the people's government.

We can't put up with fascism anymore.

It has to be stopped now, for once and for all.

It's what the people want.

Wherever you go, people want the same.

We've had enough of those idlers

getting paid for nothing in Congress!

That's the opinion of all the workers

of all the people in the villages.

And we have to be tough on speculators!

They have to approve the law on economic crimes

so we can jail the thieves and hoarders!

Do you want to say anything else?

I've said enough.

- Popular Unity! - We shall overcome!

The next day, the last strikers are loitering

outside the Christian Democrat offices.

Many are returning to Rancagua tonight.

A symbolic group

goes to the Catholic University.

In "El Teniente", 93% of the staff have gone back to work.

On June 21, the Trades Union Council

organizes a demonstration of force against fascism.

Let's create popular power!

"PU", and no compromise!

Popular Unity against the criminal "mummies"!

Let's create a popular militia!

Forward with "PU"!

Power to the workers!

If you don't jump, you're a "mummy"!

Via the "Voice of the Homeland" transmitters

we have the first worker of the nation

the President of the Republic

comrade Salvador Allende.

While half a million demonstrators

gather in the center of Santiago

nearby, watched by the police

the last strikers watch the event

from the roof of the Catholic University.

I maintain

that never

in our history

was there an event

of the magnitude and content of this one.

One has had to innovate in all methods

to be able

to have even approximately

a dimension

of the extraordinary

spirited and enormous multitude

which is filling the streets

Moneda, Agustinas

Amunategui, Ahumada, Morandé

Huérfanos, Teatinos

most of the Alameda

and the column which set out from Tajamar

has still not been able to arrive

likewise the column from Vicua Mackenna.

Never in the history of Chile

were the people more combative and more present!

We can feel history here!

We are reinforcing

our right to build

a future of justice and freedom

to make our way towards socialism!

A week later, the copper strike is over.

On June 28

the 500 miners occupying the Catholic University

withdraw in small groups.

In all, the conflict has lasted 76 days

and has cost the state millions of dollars.

With this strike over

Allende's adversaries have tried almost everything

to topple his government.

They have one last resort.

The next day, June 29, at 9:00 a. m

the Number Two armored regiment attacks the La Moneda palace

with 6 tanks and several transport vehicles.

At 9:30, Parliament, the Judicial Power

and the opposition parties are silent.

The rest of the armed forces do not back up the action.

A little later, Leonardo Henricksen

an Argentinean cameraman, films his last shot.

He doesn't just record his own death.

He also records, two months before the final coup

the true face of a sector of the Chilean army.

Watch out!

Watch out! Over there!

END OF PART ONE