By Chantal Wynter
MELBOURNE — The Committees in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean (CISLAC) held its national consultation on the weekend of September 10-11. A public forum on the first day heard a round-up of political events in the region.
Barry Carr, from La Trobe University, spoke of the recent elections in Mexico. He said that the right-wing PRI government, after 60 years in power, was returned with just over 50% of the vote.
According to Carr, the US would be happy with this result because the PRI government supported implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. This agreement will allow the more productive US economy greater domination of the region. "The result for the Mexican people", said Carr "will be a rising cost of living."
Rowhan Island, also from La Trobe University, spoke on the upcoming Brazilian elections. In attempting to cast itself in the best light, and thereby marginalise the Brazilian Workers Party, the government had been embellishing its success at economic management. Recently the finance minister inadvertently admitted on live television that the country's economic figures had been manipulated in order to help the governing party's campaign.
Coral Wynter, recently returned from El Salvador where she was an international observer for the elections, spoke on the current debates within the FMLN. One of these is on the question of reform or revolution. Wynter also discussed Guatemala and the continuing oppression there.
In Nicaragua, Wynter told CISLAC participants, the FSLN had recently joined 200,000 people, reflecting the Nicaraguan people's continuing struggle and search for an alternative.
Paul Petit spoke of the effects that the US embargo has on the economy of Cuba. Unless the US lifts this embargo, there will be no resolution of Cuba's economic problems, he stressed.
On Saturday night, CISLAC held a pena to raise money for aid projects in Nicaragua. It was a vibrant night of Latin American bands.
The following day CISLAC held discussions on recent aid projects and future projections. Discussed were possible projects in Cuba, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala; projects would include the environment, health, education and women.
The consultation resolved to coordinate protest action in event of a US invasion of Haiti [details, page 31].