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Guermo Ungo: Interview with Leader of Salvador Resistance

By VVAW

"This country is filled with a sickness," said Guermo Ungo, President of the Socialist Party of El Salvador. He was not speaking of native land, but of the U.S. which he was touring in an effort to inform its citizens of how their tax dollars are being turned into instruments of death and torture in Central America.

"The widespread unemployment and lack of human services in the face of huge expenditures for military adventures abroad indicate the need for structural changes in this country," Ungo elaborated in response to THE VETERAN's question about what he had learned about the U.S. during his stay here. "The politicians offer the American people medicine for the symptoms of their problems, but a cure will have to involve changes in the structure of American society."

The interview had drifted in this direction when THE VETERAN had queried Mr Ungo about the Kissinger fact-finding mission. His answer had been, 'I know more about the U.S than Henry Kissinger will ever know about Central America."

Ungo was quick to point our that the relationship between Vietnam and Central America was complex. "The fundamental difference is that there was Vietnam before the current crisis in Central America. During Vietnam, the U.S. did not had the events of Vietnam to use as a reference point. Furthermore, it is essential to separate the 'lessons of Vietnam' as they were learned by the military and the policy makers. For the American people, the lesson of Vietnam was of pain and suffering to be avoided in the future. For the experts, the lessons of Vietnam are just so many strategic errors which they must avoid in the future. For those who wish to 'win' in Central America, it is simply a matter of avoiding 'bad press' and not losing the support of Congress."

When THE VETERAN asked him about what he foresees for his nation, Mr Ungo lamented, "The struggle for freedom has lasted so much longer than we could have ever anticipated. President Reagan wants to 'win.' He sees his credibility depending on a decisive victory. He has brought unbelievable military might to bear on the situation. The U.S. fleet surrounds us. Your soldiers are in our country backed up by even more in Honduras. Some, more liberal, policy makers might want to see us socialists as window dressing for a fascist regime. We must continue to struggle for true democracy no matter how difficult that may be. All that I hope is that my visit to your country can achieve some degree of solidarity with those of your who want to know the truth."