From El Salvador:

"This meeting was important for us factory workers, because we realize that workers worldwide suffer the same wage slavery," stated a young worker from the maquila factories here.

 "These have been days dedicated to the working class. We have felt strong and with a lot of energy to continue the struggle for a new system, communism," said a worker leader.

An excited worker emphasized, "I had read in our newspaper Red Flag about the struggles that the workers in South Africa carry out as well as in other parts of the world, but to listen to the comrades in person was really very inspiring."

The young worker said, "I want to share one of the small struggles that the collective of comrades organized in the International Communist Workers' Party in this country began and which expanded to the rest of the workers inside the factory where we work."

In one of the maquila factories in El Salvador the boss wanted to force us to work during the (bosses') holidays of August 5 and 6 which, based on the bosses' law, are days off. He told us workers that we had to work those days as normal work days, not for extra pay, but for our regular  pay.

The boss passed around a piece of paper for the workers to sign saying that they agreed to work on the holiday. However, the workers immediately organized around the leadership of the workers  in ICWP, and decided not to sign the paper. Later the supervisors came to collect the pages and saw that 90% of the workers did not sign--that we had left the pages blank.

When the boss saw the blank pages he had no other option than to accept the workers' position of resting during their leisure time. That is how the capitalist bosses try to super exploit the labor power of the men and women workers so that they keep the maximum profits, not caring if the workers have the right to rest.

In the communist system the factories will exist to produce based on need, without overproduction. The workers will have the time they need to devote to overcoming obstacles in work and to enjoying social recreational activities together with the other members of society.

This effort is nothing more than an example that workers organized with communist ideas have the strength to defeat the bosses. Distributing Red Flag has been very helpful, although not without obstacles. But we must continue.

We are organizing ourselves as ICWP once and for all.

From South Africa:

This was an experience of a life-time. Moving from one continent to the next. I thought that meeting with the ICWP members from various countries around the globe sealed my whole experience.

Having comrades welcoming us from the airport was overwhelming. Driving hundreds of kilometres to our abode was superb. I cannot for the life of me forget the hospitality displayed by our hosting family in particular and the rest of the community in general. Each day that passed by was eventful, beginning with the meeting with the farmworkers.

I was particularly impressed with each of these meetings, where comrades were giving their all, interacting, engaging, information-sharing and educating. I thought that the translations did the trick and we were able to articulate our views with ease.

The three day meeting itself was welcoming, not intimidating at all. I thought that time-keeping and introducing each discussion made a world of difference. It was simpler and easier to express oneself at any given time. Enough time was allocated to every discussion on the agenda. Although this was our first

meeting we felt like we'd been with ICWP for years.

The young lions were roaring all over. Roaring young lions are a life-blood of our party. Without them we are doomed. Pass my revolutionary regards and comradely greetings to all.

Phambili nomzabalazo wabasebenzi Phambili!!!  Onward, the workers' struggle, onward!

This is my first time traveling out of South Africa to attend my party's meeting. I recently joined the International Communist Workers Party.  The meeting consisted of comrades from many countries.  I arrived at the location of the meeting and we were

welcomed by another member of the party and his family.  They are truly good-hearted comrades who welcomed us with warm hands and treated us as one family.  It was so unbelievable to receive such a wel-

coming from the comrades who you never met or saw before.  I even asked myself is this for real?  Then I observed that it's the way of communism, truthfully.

Everywhere we went we were one family.  We did everything together.  Even when one comrade buys a cold drink or something to eat, he or she buys it for everyone and shares it.  I  observed that this is a reflection of communism.  We were discussing  every aspect of communism and struggle for three days. Words cannot express the camaraderie and unity I saw amongst party members.

I was very angry when I saw how people were struggling here for very basic things, yet they have so much love in their hearts.  I could see the pain and hurt in their eyes and smile on their faces. 

This made me hate, in fact, despise the capitalist system beyond measure.  It hurt me to see really old people have to sell some small goods, up and down the

streets, so they can buy themselves something to eat or support their families.  It is so unfair and cruel.

I hate the capitalist system.  Sometimes when I see these sufferings in people I would  just look at them and smile though inside I am crying.  I told myself that after what I saw I will be more committed and dedicate the rest of my life to fighting for communism. 

The poverty, the suffering of these good people must come to an end.  I have zero tolerance for capitalism and I am committed firmly to building ICWP.

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