ON FOOT AND HARD GOING ALL THE WAY

March from Comodoro to Caleta to free the prisoners

The expectations created in the whole region was reflected in the number of media journalists present in the Polo Obrero's local in the hours leading up to the start of the march, and as Nestor Pitrola was due to arrive.

Coming into Santa Cruz through the police check point, all speculation over the challenge before us fell apart.

The loud honking from the vehicles greeting us, the bottles of water and soft drinks that were brought to us, indicated mile after mile, that the march was a big political event.

The camping and dinner in the area surrounding La Lobería , entertained by comrade Garcés's guitar, morally and politically restored us. Getting into Caleta, we had the certainty of having won the first battle.

The official ceremony

By ten in the morning, we concentrated in the Gorosito. Members of the Commission of Relatives and Friends joined us, and we marched towards 20 de Noviembre Square, where the official rally would take place commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the city. We entered singing and located ourselves perfectly in front of the official box.

The objective: to install in the heart of the ceremony, the demand for the freedom for the prisoners. Slowly, other comrades from the various Termap struggles joined in.

The invited mayors, Governor Acevedo, Icazuriaga (from the Side -intelligence services), De Vido and the President's sister exchanged looks. The "freedom, freedom, ...for those jailed for struggling", thundered. They couldn't silence us in any way.

It was such an impact that even the Crónica newspaper (it received 50 thousand pesos for publicity and coverage) had to publish the signs and banners with the prisoners pictures. The same pictures that moved the school children, compelled to parade.

The gang didn't dare to move against the Polo

The "feast" had been prepared carefully. First, a concert with the Ratones Paranoicos and La Mosca bands; then, a football match of the 'B National' league (CAI Vs. A. Rafaela); and finally, they militarized the city with a spectacular operation. The impressive military parade, on 20/11, couldn't hide the double barbed-wire in Termap. Caleta looks like Iraq.

In case all this weren't enough to scare off and stop the protest, Notaro, president of local PJ (peronist party), had called that weekend for a Congress. They mobilized more than two thousand militants and officials from the whole Province. About 200 of them provocatively stood beside us with their banners and drums. But they arrived late and couldn't silence us.

The people went to the sport activities and concert, but didn't go to the mass, nor to the official ceremony. The gang that acted in Caleta is the same that two years ago beating up, under orders from then Governor Kirchner, the 'caceroleros' (pot bangers) and teachers of Río Gallegos (capital city of Santa Cruz).

The tense atmosphere continued throughout the three hours of the ceremony, but they couldn't start with the Polo. At the end of the ceremony, a Commission of Relatives of prisoners, delivered a petition to Minister Alicia Kirchner and Senator Fernandez.

Pitrola with the prisoners

Sunday 21, Pitrola went to visit comrades Marcela Constancio, Selva Sanchez and Elsa Orozco. Because of regulations at the place of detention, he was unable to visit Mauricio Perancho, Hugo Iglesias and Jorge Mansilla.

Despite the poor detention conditions, the comrades keep great strength. It was reinforced after the great day of mobilization for their freedom, the day before, and the comfort received from Pitrola and the Polo Obrero, with their presence in the jail itself.

As Elías Ponce, from Comodoro's Polo Obrero said: "while the comrades are capable of walking even 50 kilometers for the freedom for the prisoners, for these satrapas of government no one walks even one block, and if they do, they do it with paid salary and travel expenses".

The Polo's plenary

Despite Saturday's intense march, on Sunday 21 a Plenary of Caleta's Polo Obrero was held, that debated a number of initiatives for more than three hours.

On the 25th the deadline expires for Judge Meyer to settle the prisoners's situation. We will set up an open radio downtown and call for a demonstration, at 6 pm, in the Gorosito, activities to which the Relatives commission will be invited.

Campaign from now until the end of the year, for hundreds of letters for male and female prisoners. Prepare a delegation to December 19th and 20th demonstration. Set up a tent city for a Christmas without political prisoners.

The Polo Obrero released a call for a Regional Congress of Workers in struggle from Northern Santa Cruz and Southern Chubut, in order to articulate the defence of the 2000 jobs taken from oil companies, with roadblocks and pickets. For jobs based on the oil workers union contract.

Polo Obrero-Caleta Olivia

New messages of support

From California, Antonio Erceg, former metal worker from Villa Constitución and former political prisoner of the dictatorship: "I wish to express my solidarity and demand the freedom of the brothers and sisters detained in Caleta Olivia and all over the country."

From Chaco, Eloy Pereyra, Sergio Quiroz and Marcelino, from the lawyers defense team for popular activists.

Desde Mar del Plata, el 2nd Encounter of non-teaching staff, from the opposition slate in the Fatun union, shop stewards from the universities of Mar del Plata, Lanús, La Pampa, Comahue, General Sarmiento, Córdoba and the UBA (University of Buenos Aires).

--julkaistu Prenssa Obrerassa