In Commemoration of the 39th Anniversary of the Day of Heroism

Editorial Board

On June 19, the Day of Heroism is celebrated in Peru and around the world, a day commemorating the uprisings of the prisoners of war who fought in defense of the revolution and their lives against the brutal prison massacre of the old-state led by the so-called “leftist” fascist government of Alan Garcia in 1986.

The most important lesson marked indelibly in the history of the world proletarian revolution in the blood of the heroic combatants is to never abandon one’s post in the revolution, to never drop the flags which we have raised. In Peru, this means continuing the glorious and invincible People’s War until communism. For the US and much of the rest of the world, it means to never abandon one’s post in the effort to reconstitute the communist parties so that they may initiate people’s wars as soon as possible and continue waging it until communism.

The heroic combatants who conquered the moral, political, and military victory commemorated as the Day of Heroism did not die easy. It is their resolve in combat that provides the most powerful ideological lesson today. While the brutal repression and genocide of the old order makes ruin of life, only the unbreakable heroic rebellion brings a new life. It is for this reason that, amid all the bloodshed, it is the slogan “combat and resist” that is inscribed upon the banners of the revolution. First combat, then resist, this is the invincible thinking of the revolutionaries and it is embodied in the Day of Heroism.

There are two classes with two class perspectives. It is the imperialists who run the world today; in their perspective, the most sophisticated arms and technology make them superior and impervious to constant attack—the image they project all over the globe—with the Zionist enemy financed and commanded by US imperialism being a vivid example. In their perspective, this is proof of their strength.

However, it is the proletariat and the oppressed people of the world who posses the real strength, those who have nothing and want everything. It is the proletarian perspective that the military might and industrialized death machine of imperialism are not signs of strength but of desperation, fear, and demoralization of a besieged monster rotting from the inside and surrounded on the outside. This is the correct perspective. While inflicting mass death around the world, imperialism is unable to secure itself and suffers countless defeats at the hands of the poor, lesser armed but more committed people.

The truth about which perspective is correct is proven clearly by the Day of Heroism. The old-fascist state headed by Alan Garcia mobilized its most well-equipped forces, guided by the black hand of US imperialism to bring genocide to the prisoners of war. It was the heroic prisoners of war who constructed weapons—knives, sticks, and crossbows—and seized weapons from their assailants in order to combat and resist. On their lips were the all-powerful words: “nothing and no one can defeat us!” By their hands the prisons of the old state had been transformed from dungeons of horror into shining trenches of combat, bastions of the People’s War, fighting, producing, and mobilizing for the revolution.

In the US, revolutionaries came together this year in joint action on International Workers Day, with the Left majority among them reaching several just and correct resolutions which should be supported by all honest revolutionaries:

“to increase and improve our work among the masses

“to carry out joint actions in commemoration and observation of proletarian holidays

“to carry out joint campaigns for international solidarity in support of the people’s wars and national liberation struggles

“to continue in the struggle to overcome the dispersal of forces and unite under the ideology of the international proletariat, Maoism, by persisting in two-line struggle.”

The Worker upholds the above resolutions. Our Support Committees around the country have carried out energetic campaigns for the Day of Heroism, which include educational events, cultural events, and agitation and propaganda among the masses. This year’s commemorations highlight recognition of the international campaign for Comrade Basavaraj, the martyred General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) who gave his life to the people, the Party, and the People’s War which he led. These events are but a small part of the vibrant activity around the country carried out by revolutionary nuclei who struggle for unity under Maoism.

As reports continue to be made public, The Worker will share actions from around the world in commemoration of this day and this article will be updated. We encourage readers to send reports of their activity.

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