A-Infos (en) Libertarians Return to the Student Federation of the University of Chile (FECH) by Juan Williams - Frente de Estudiantes Libertarios (ca)

This week, the elections of the Student Federation of the University of Chile (FECH) 
concluded. In the elections, the libertarians have made a historic return to it’s 
leadership after 88 years of absence, when it was the main force in the mythical 
federation of the 20s [1]. ---- This year, which has produced more massive and radical 
student demonstrations than in recent decades, has facilitated the development of the 
forces of the revolutionary left in the student body. For these reasons, it is no 
coincidence that within the Student Federation of Chile (CONFECH), the main body driving 
these demonstrations alongside others, the left has been gaining more strength. Within 
CONFECH, the libertarian tendency has been building up during recent years as one of the 
most important trends, increasingly occupying more and more visible positions under the 
perspective of democratization of the organization, subverting the logic of representative 
democracy, and promoting radical tendencies arising in the base, so that they take the 
reins of the movement.

In particular, this December 6th concluded the elections of FECH, the largest student 
federation inside CONFECH in which the LUCHAR platform [englist: fight] achieved a major 
victory coming in third with more than 1800 votes out of a total of 14,000 voters, 
contested by 9 others. LUCHAR is composed of the Libertarian Students Front (FEL) and 
groups such as the Mapu Auka and left independents from different faculties.

Due to the election system of the federation, Felipe Ramirez, member of the FEL and LUCHAR 
candidate for the general secretariat shall act on the board of the federation. Winning 
positions in the federation carries important symbolism for the libertarian world, having 
spent 88 years without positions of administration. However, this is not the first time 
FEL members have been involved in a federation, but rather now it is more visible and 
publicized at the university [2].

The achievements in these elections are a reflection of a steady and significant progress 
for the revolutionary left in general and libertarians in particular, where the FEL has 
already more than 8 years of quiet social insertion and sustained work in the base.

Winning a place at the federation’s table also presents enormous challenges. LUCHAR 
represents a confluence of trends of the revolutionary left within the student body at the 
University of Chile, whose strategic vision is to promote a student movement that is part 
of a broader popular movement and with class autonomy. Nevertheless, through Felipe 
Ramirez, they will join the table as a minority compared to two organizations of the 
reformist left, Creando Izquierda (English: Creating Left) and the Communist Youth (JJCC), 
whose strategic perspective is to prioritize democratic reforms to the bourgeois 
political-institutional system.

But undoubtedly the biggest challenge for the coming year will be to strengthen and 
provide continuity to the struggles of 2011. The libertarian proposal is to focus on 
expanding the base of the movement, organizing students of technical sectors and private 
universities, while strengthening ties to labor organizations- where some sectors have 
also been showing signs of rebuilding-; thus coming together in the reconstitution of a 
popular movement that proposes to take the political dispute into their own hands through 
a program of collective struggles.

Unlike the highpoints of 2006 or 2005, the movement has not been defeated through being 
paid to sign agreements with the government, and has understood the need to link up with 
other social sectors in order to win real victories for the people. For all these 
challenges, they will be promoting the libertarian perspective through participation in 
the federation and in others, where similar processes are still debated.

There is no doubt that libertarians are still making headway in the struggles of the 
people, coming together in the struggle with other related sectors, without sectarianism, 
but clear and firm convictions. With each step there are new challenges. Self-criticism 
and permanent fraternity will remain a requirement for further progress.

(translated by S. Nappalos [Miami Autonomy & Solidarity] for the anarkismo project)

[1] For more information about the era of late 1910s and 1920's, see:
Bastías, Ignacio. Movimiento anarquista y estudiantes libertarios de los años 20: 
http://www.cilep.net/ignacio5.pdf
Vitale, Luis. Contribución a una Historia del Anarquismo en América Latina: 
http://mazinger.sisib.uchile.cl/repositorio/lb/filosofi...t.pdf
[2] Sources:
“Una construcción social de un proyecto educativo”: 
http://www.elciudadano.cl/2011/11/28/44636/felipe-ramir...0%9D/
“Los estudiantes no necesitamos a la clase política para vencer. Necesitamos a los 
trabajadores y al pueblo”: http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=140200
Anarquistas vuelven a tener representación en la FECh tras 80 años fuera de la dirección 
estudiantil: http://www.biobiochile.cl/2011/12/07/anarquistas-vuelve...shtml
FEL Web: http://www.fel-chile.org

About LUCHAR:

http://www.luchar.cl
Their program: http://luchar.cl/wp-content/uploads/PROGRAMA-LUCHAR.pdf
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