"Fight for a socialist society"
Peter Taaffe, general secretary of the Socialist Party, reports from his
recent visit to Brazil, when he attended the conference of the new Brazilian
party, the Party of Socialism and Liberty (SOL).
No sooner had we arrived at the small boarding house where we were staying
for the conference, we met a fellow guest, Comrade Durval, from the city of
Sao Louis (population one million) in the state of Muranhao in the north of
Brazil.
Durval told us:
"This is fantastico comrades, by attacking workers, Lula
[Brazilian president], has brought us all together here in opposition, for
this great conference!"
I subsequently interviewed Durval, helped by Marcus who translated.
The interview gives a little glimpse of the heroic struggles of the
Brazilian workers over the last ten years, their expectations and subsequent
disappointment in the PT government – which was elected at the end of 2002 and
has been in power now for 18 months.
Peter Taaffe: Could you tell the readers of the socialist about your
experiences?
Durval: I am now a retired teacher but I was teaching for a long time. I
have never been a passive citizen, I have always been prepared to act on
behalf of working-class people and the poor. I tried to make a difference by
being involved in the social movement. Even as a pensioner, I went on a hunger
strike against the conditions imposed upon my profession and the workers in
it.
What hunger strike?
This was against Cardoso’s government in 1998, which had imposed a policy
of ‘wage restraint’, in effect, no wage increases for teachers. Therefore, 17
teachers including me decided to stage a 12-day hunger strike in Brasilia.
What was the reaction?
The federal university teachers were solidly behind us, as were the members
of the unions and teachers in general. There was real desperation amongst
teachers because of the terrible conditions. We got great support and by the
stand that we took we ‘demystified’ the idea that, in some way, Brazilian
teachers were privileged. In fact their conditions and wages mean they are
poor.
What were and are the wages like, and how do teachers survive?
Today, they are about the same as they were under Cardoso (the president
before Lula), in other words teachers’ wages have stood still. That is why
teachers are striking against the PT government today.
How do you and other teachers survive?
By ‘magic’, by taking out loans, by constantly going into debt and worrying
all the time about our financial position.
What was the outcome of the hunger strike?
There was a very good political outcome. We really embarrassed the
government because of the campaign that we conducted in Brazil and
internationally. As a result of our stand, we got a very small bonus increase.
What was the position of Lula’s PT when they were in opposition, in
relation to your stand? Did they support you?
Not as such. Of course, the ranks of the PT gave great sympathy but even
then Lula, who had the opportunity, did not visit us on our hunger strike.
Were you a member of the PT?
No, but I’ve always been involved in struggles, social struggles of the
trade unions and the poor, at local level and sometimes on a national scale.
For instance, I was involved in a very important march to Brasilia, the
capital, in 1999.
Could you give us an idea of the reasons why you marched?
Our trade union always supported strikes; for instance, we were on the
march last year against the pension reform, really the counter-reform, which
this government has carried out. This has taken away some of our pension
rights, upped the retirement date for pensions, etc. Our march began in 1999
against the Cardoso government. It started in the south on 26 July, from Niter—i
(in the state of Rio de Janeiro) and we took 74 days to reach Brasilia. We
arrived in the capital on 7 October.
What were the aims of the march?
Quite simply, we wanted Cardoso out, and we also wanted the IMF out of our
country; we wanted land for the landless, and we wanted the government to stop
paying the imperialist debt, which results in hunger and the loss of jobs.
What was the reaction to the march? Were you welcomed?
Mostly, yes, but there was some hostility because of adverse publicity
with, for instance, the shopkeepers closing up, frightened that we would
plunder their premises. But we got a very good response from the ordinary
workers and the poor.
What was the response when you got to Brasilia?
Well, we were given an audience with the Brazilian central bank, where we
argued that the government should stop paying the debt, and naturally they
didn’t agree with us. There was also a big demonstration on the debt and we
protested outside the US embassy.
Did the PT deputies greet the demonstration?
Not really, it was more from the social movements. The march had grown to
5,000 by the time we arrived in Brasilia, with smaller, shorter marches
joining us.
What was your attitude to the election of the PT? Did you look forward to
its election and what is your reaction to the government now?
From 1961 up until the last election, I’d only voted for one president.
With the rise of the PT and the prospects of Lula winning, however, there was
a real expectation. We had been waiting 20 years for this moment and there was
great expectation he would carry out our demands – land to the landless, jobs
for everybody, cancel the debt, etc.
But now, there is great disillusionment, bitter disappointment, that when
he came to power instead of stopping the debt he’s paid it and he’s given the
capitalists everything. There is also corruption – which we also saw in
previous capitalist governments – and new scandals involving at least some
individuals in the Lula government.
Durval, why are you attending this conference?
Because I still have hope that we can make a decisive change, that we can
end inequality and this inhuman society. However, there are no illusions by
people like me in the PT.
Only the MPs associated with the new party have stuck to their principles
for socialism and equality, and have been prepared to fight the government,
which is now completely subservient to capital. The party is however, just a
beginning. The bigger task is to convince the workers and the poor of Brazil
that we can redistribute the wealth, by changing society.
Finally, Durval, what is your message to young people in Britain and the
world about the future?
They must practise solidarity and see that the capitalist-imperialist
system is a system of world wide terrorism against the working class and the
poor.
They must fight for a socialist society, which can bring real equality,
jobs and abolish hunger from countries like mine, Brazil, and the rest of the
world.
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