Reconsituted Red Army Faction (Shining Path)

PARTIDO OBRERO DE UNIFICACION MARXISTA

“WITHOUT A PEOPLE’S ARMY, THE PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING.” - MAO ZEDONG

GENERAL SECRETARY BARDER'S CAMPAIGN DIARY

Day One

A momentous day. At the meeting of the RRAF(SP)CC comrades agreed to the organisation of a guerrilla foci on the edge of the Wastes in the zone known as the Spore Jungle. Chairman Ho nominated myself as General Secretary and military co-ordinator of the proposed group. We will take advantage of the current revolutionary upsurge in order to expand communist influence in the Underhive. Tomorrow I begin assembling my team and gathering equipment and supplies. I told Rosa that this was a dangerous undertaking and she was under no pressure to join me. She replied that the danger was of no consequence and that she would not be left out. I am glad to have her at my side.

Day Two

I spent an exhausting day sounding out cadres in an attempt to build a solid nucleus around which the group will be centred. Ho and I agreed that comrade Meinhof should assume my position in the RRAF(SP) and so Rosa is to be my second in the new unit. Commissars Alex, Regis and Camillo will form the remaining members of the command group; Alex - Head of Services, Camillo - Arms and Regis - Political Commissar. This afternoon Alex began the transportation of food and equipment to the spore caves. I estimate that five more cadres will be necessary in order to construct an effective fighting force.

Day Three

Grigory, co-ordinator of the party’s Youth League, approached me to volunteer for inclusion in the guerrilla group. With some reservations I agreed to take both himself and Coco, who recently joined the RAFYL, but is both politically advanced and militant. Comrade Leonid, an experienced Commissar, also volunteered to join us. This is an unexpected move, but I am thankful for the inclusion of such a skilled fighter. More movement of supplies occupied the remainder of the day and Rosa led the advance group (Alex, Camillo and Regis) to the Island Camp.

Day Four

A monotonous day. More transportation of equipment. Tomorrow I have arranged to meet a potential new recruit. Preparations near completion.

Day Five

The new cadre - Rolando - seems somewhat backward politically, but is enthusiastic and experienced. I must ensure comrade Regis organises study sessions as soon as possible. The group was completed by Ernesto’s last minute decision to join us. The remaining guerrillas leave Free Habanna tomorrow.

Day Six

Several hours trek to Island Camp, which is taking shape under Rosa’s supervision. During the march Rolando complained and slowed us down with continual rest-stops. I hope this is not a taste of things to come. We had a supper of Fungrish, a dish made from spore fungi - if this is to be our staple fare, I fear for the morale of the men!

Day Seven

Training and study began today. Regis’ talk on party discipline was timely. My own contribution was based on my pamphlet ‘Learn from the heroic example of Chairman Fidel.’ and despite a less than satisfactory delivery, I felt cadres took some degree of inspiration from my words. Fungrish again for supper. We must begin hunting tomorrow.

Day Eight

A tiring day. I led a route march through the Spore Jungle, covering about 18 miles of territory. The cadres are beginning to realise just what I expect of them, so I talked to the group after our evening meal. I explained that faint hearts are not wanted in the group as comrades’ lives are at stake. The guerrilla must be focused and disciplined, willing to undergo any privation and feat of endurance in the cause of the revolution. Perhaps I was a little harsh, but Regis approached me after the talk and expressed his agreement. Tomorrow I hope to salvage equipment to trade amongst the ruins of an industrial complex spotted during today’s march. This may involve some risk, but we badly need to be able to support ourselves independently of the RRAF(SP).

Day Nine

The day began quietly. A march of eight miles to the abandoned factory passed without incident, the group being in good spirits, somewhat inspired by my talk of yesterday evening. We met a small group of nomads close to the complex. They told us of a site amidst the ruins where valuable machinery has remained untouched for many years. Rumour has it that prospective scavengers have disappeared forever in the vicinity of the site. After a short reconnaissance we approached the site, shrouded in chemical mist, only to come under sudden heavy fire. A criminal gang, not unknown to the party, made an unprovoked attack on us with antipersonnel missiles and plasma weapons. Several comrades were lightly wounded in the initial barrage, but myself, Coco and Grigory managed to reach the ruined central tower. Rosa led a forward detachment around the tower, but there they encountered a group of mercenaries laying in ambush. Rolando fell in the ambush and Regis took a shot to the head. Rosa herself escaped with light injuries. Having suffered such high casualties in the first moments of the clash, I anticipated the worst, but a random element saved our skins. One of the gangsters, possibly a psyker, went blood-crazy and butchered his comrades and several of the mercenaries. This unforeseen circumstance allowed us time to enter the complex and comrade Grigory showed remarkable courage in scaling the tower and retrieving some valuable equipment despite the appearance of a fearsome Genestealer which was nesting there. With our adversaries scattered, we made off with our wounded and our prize on the difficult journey back to the Island Camp. Despite our recovery of the machinery, on balance our first military encounter was something of a disaster. Our unpreparedness for both the gangster’s barrage and the ambush exposes significant gaps in our strategy. The loss of Rolando, who died on the way back to Island Camp, is grievous. Although I had my doubts about him, he had the potential to be a valuable cadre. Next to this is the tragedy of Regis head wound. I have sent Coco with a message to Free Habanna summoning comrade Guzman. Should we lose Regis, I feel the viability of this operation will be irrevocably damaged. On the positive side, young Grigory dispelled all my reservations about his inclusion in the group. His bravery does him great credit. Ernesto too seems to be developing into a courageous guerrilla. He pinned down the enemy by himself as we made our way into the tower. The courage of all cadres during today’s clash gives me a measure of confidence in our ultimate success, so long as we can overcome the difficulties of establishing ourselves.

Day Ten

A day of worry. I sent Alex and Grigory to purchase food from a nearby settlement, but they did not return. Regis is deteriorating, but no word has arrived from Free Habanna. Ernesto and Leonid gathered spore from the caves whilst Camillo and Rosa spent the day reviewing the defences of Island Camp. To take my mind off our immediate troubles, I began work on the group’s first circular, but found writing difficult.

Day Eleven

More hopeful news today. Alex and Grigory returned early in the morning, having stayed in the village of Tatarenda, a spore-harvesting settlement two miles away from the caves. They reported that the peasants in the village seem sympathetic to our ideas and sought protection from some predatory groups operating in the area. These backward and counterrevolutionary elements will have to be liquidated if we are to gain the wholehearted support of the people. I intend to visit Tatarenda tomorrow to talk with the people there. Coco returned with comrade Guzman, who immediately set to work on Regis’ wound. The delay was caused by the time taken to contact guilder Frank Pias, who acquired a lobo-chip to help save comrade Regis. The operation appears to have been successful, but Guzman will stay with us for a couple of days to assess Regis’ recovery. El Medico tells me that Regis will be fit for combat, but will not be entirely his old self. I decided to call a meeting of the Central Committee to review the situation. The meeting was very productive. It was agreed that Alex would take over as Political Commissar and Leonid would replace him as Head of Services. Ernesto was promoted to Commissar and given responsibility for distribution of party materials. The CC agreed on a name for the guerrilla group - The Workers’ Party of Marxist Unity (POUM) - and we made recruitment of local people and raising the level of political consciousness our immediate objectives.

Day Twelve

Regis awoke, feeling groggy, but well. This is a great relief and Guzman was pleased, believing the operation a complete success. He felt that his presence was no longer needed, so El Medico left to return to Free Habanna. I sent Leonid and Coco to accompany him with the salvaged machinery. I expect them to be gone for no more than 2 days.

Day Thirteen

I visited Tatarenda today and was warmly welcomed by the villagers. I am very hopeful that this is the first step towards establishing roots amongst the people of this area. I answered the peasants’ questions and heard their complaints. They have been threatened by gangsters and several young men had been shot. I promised them the protection of the POUM in return for food and information. A local man named Ramon approached me and volunteered to join the guerrillas. He has seen some combat experience with various bandit groups, but is a native of Tatarenda and wishes to defend his people. He is politically naive, but determined and since the loss of Rolando has depleted our group, I agreed to his offer.

Day Fourteen

Regis is much improved. He remains a little slow-witted, but his old humour has returned. He joked that next time we play football, we should use someone else’s head, or get a proper ball! I spent the remainder of the day finishing our first circular- ‘The declaration of the Workers’ Party of Marxist Unity.’- which Ernesto will prepare for distribution amongst the local people. Leonid and Coco returned with money from the sale of the machinery. It barely covers the cost of the weapons we lost in the clash at the ruined factory. We need to ensure a regular income in order to survive and equip ourselves adequately. They also brought a message of encouragement from Chairman Ho and the RRAF(SP)CC expressing their solidarity and approval of the group’s name and stated purpose. Grigory is spending several days at the village organising a Youth League. Ramon arrived at Island Camp today for training.

Day Fifteen

An uneventful day. Ramon hunted and shot a Grouf - a pig like animal - which we roasted for supper. He seems to be a very useful addition to the group (Ramon, not the Grouf!).

Day Sixteen

Word came from Grigory early this morning that the gangsters who have been terrorising Tatarenda had been spotted close to the village. We moved out immediately and encountered the criminals a mile beyond the settlement. This time we were somewhat prepared for their initial barrage and both Rosa and I led detachments in a pincer move whilst Leonid, Camillo and Alex provided covering fire. The two outstanding cadres of our first encounter where the first to fall. Ernesto took a shot to the face and Grigory was caught in a missile blast. Coco showed courage in his fearless advance, but it was Alex’s accurate shooting which allowed us to gain the upper hand. Rosa’s group suffered a psychic assault which resulted in Regis opening up on his comrades and Ramon going crazy with fear. Leonid demonstrated his bravery in killing a renegade pit-slave who attacked from the rear. As we began to surround the gangsters they fled leaving one dead. On our side, Grigory suffered light injuries, but Ernesto has lost an eye. This is a serious wound, but fortunately the slug did not pierce his skull. The bleeding was stopped quickly and Ernesto was carried to Tatarenda to recover. The peasants were pleased with our prompt action and promised to give us any help we need. This evening we stayed in the village for a celebratory meal.

Day Seventeen

Further talks with the villagers revealed that one amongst them used to work as an assistant to a weapon smith, rigging flame units for outlaw gangs. He said if we could provide him with the materials, he could put together a weapon of this sort for the group. I agreed and sent Coco and Camillo to Free Habanna with our remaining cash to obtain the necessary equipment from Frank Pias. Ernesto’s condition seems stable.

Day Eighteen

All but Grigory and Ernesto returned to Island Camp today. We were accompanied by Fernando, the weapon smith, who will service our weapons as well as build our flame unit. Coco and Camillo returned late this evening with the required materials.

Day Nineteen

A messenger from Tatarenda arrived this morning with the rumour that the criminal gang had been spotted fighting amongst themselves. This certainly would be a welcome development, but is perhaps just idle gossip. Time will tell. We remain alert for any retaliation. Fernando completed the flamer this evening. At a meeting of the CC it was decided that comrade Grigory should be given this weapon in recognition of his contribution to the group. We also reviewed our success to date. The POUM has established a measure of trust and support amongst the local people. Grigory’s political work in the village should consolidate this. Ramon is our only local recruit to date, but the help offered us by Fernando and others from Tatarenda indicate that this is only the beginning. Our immediate military aim is to clear the area of reactionary and predatory groups, then to expand our zone of operation.

Day Twenty

Grigory and Ernesto returned from Tatarenda today. Comrade Ernesto is still shaken from his injury, but appears fit. Grigory brought encouraging news about the establishment of the POUM Youth League in the village. Several young people have enrolled already, including a fiery youth named Pacho, who may be potential guerrilla material. The comrades also brought information about an old abandoned chemical plant which is no more than two hours march from here. It is often used as a hideout by bandits and sounds a perfect location for ambushes should we be able to secure the territory. I spent some time today repairing the rusted water-pipe alongside comrade Regis. If we can get this pipe working, then Island Camp will be a perfect, self-sufficient defensive retreat. I noticed something of a change in Regis; he seems altogether more brash and reckless after his operation. It remains to be seen how this will effect his combat performance.

Day Twenty One

A disastrous day. A trek to the chemical plant ended with our walking straight into an ambush. The counterrevolutionary splinter group Vogue Company (an offshoot of the Spandex Militia) launched a surprise attack upon our entering the ruins. The known enemy of the revolution - Red (by name, but not by nature) - cut down comrade Alex in the first few seconds, followed by Coco, who courageously stood-up to her. She was soon cut down in a barrage of our fire, but the damage had been done. Leonid fell to a sniper’s laser blast and I took a bad fall after being shot. Barely recovered, I again fell to concentrated gunfire. Rosa called a retreat to avoid further casualties, but in the confusion Coco was overlooked and taken captive by the counterrevolutionaries. At an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee I spoke out strongly against those companeros responsible for leaving the wounded guerrilla behind. Rosa made a self-criticism for failing in her command and offered her resignation, which was refused. Ramon also admitted failure of responsibility by abandoning Coco - his old individualistic bandit attitude must be purged. The EC discussed the lessons to be learned from today’s setback. It was concluded that overconfidence and mistaken ideas of individual heroism contributed to our failure. The guerrilla must act as part of a collective unit and dangerous heroics endanger the lives of his or her comrades. Today was a major setback for the movement. It is imperative that Coco is rescued without further risk to the lives of companeros.

Day Twenty Two

We spent the day recovering from our wounds and preparing for our rescue mission. Regis was sent to Free Habanna for ammunition and supplies. He made good time and returned late this evening.

Day Twenty Three

Comrades Alex, Regis, Leonid, Ernesto and myself set out early making our way to the chemical plant, now in the hands of the counterrevolutionaries. We found Coco guarded by two members of Vogue Company. A rapid assault was made, but events did not go our way. I was hit by an incendiary shell and my clothes caught fire. In my panic I stumbled into the path of others of their group and was gunned down. Leonid also fell to gunfire and as Alex and Regis sought to free Coco, they too were hit. Ernesto wisely parleyed and secured our and Coco’s freedom at the price of 50 credits, which we can ill-afford. We returned to Island Camp feeling humiliated. Although this has cost us much, Suspicia of Vogue Company was killed during the rescue. Whilst we are back to full strength without serious injury, our enemies’ leader was lost and they perhaps pose less of a threat than they have done to date.

Day Twenty Four

I visited Tatarenda today, to oversee the establishment of the village co-operative. The people of the village are enthusiastic about the new venture, which arose from discussions between comrade Grigory and the village leaders. This advance in the class consciousness of the people is a very positive step and I raised the subject of collectivisation at a meeting with the villagers. Although their initial response was guarded (the natural reluctance of the peasant), I believe we won over a significant minority of the village. Whilst in Tatarenda, I also met Pacho for the first time. In Grigory’s absence he has been busy organising the Youth League, with superb results. Twenty seven youths have already joined and Pacho has led a demonstration in the village in support of the guerrillas. I was very impressed with this young man. Just before we left the village, Pacho asked to be allowed to join the guerrillas and after some consideration, I agreed to take him to Island Camp and allow him to accompany us in our next action in order to assess his worthiness.

Day Twenty Five

A day of movement. Having heard rumours that Vogue Company had been spotted scavenging close to our territory, we moved out with the intention of wiping out this counterrevolutionary menace. The group had moved on however and despite out pursuit, kept ahead of us for the remainder of the day. I am writing this diary in our temporary camp, some miles beyond our usual zone of operations. We will move on soon in order to catch-up with our quarry.

Day Twenty Six

A day of surprise. After a trek of two hours, following the trail we had begun yesterday, we found ourselves amongst the remains of a residential complex which had seen heavy fighting in the past. Comrade Ramon told us that he had visited this place before with his bandit group and believed that valuable equipment could be found amongst the rubble. It soon became clear that the trail we had been following ended here, as Camillo spotted counterrevolutionaries scavenging in the ruins. To our surprise however, it was not Vogue Company, but the Spandex Militia themselves whose trail we had been following. This would prove to be a tougher fight than anticipated. Grigory was the first to fall, to a burst of heavy machine-gun fire. A concentration of two heavy stubbers pinned down Rosa’s company, until Ramon and Alex carefully advanced and Alex took out one of the machine-gunners. My company advanced down the left flank, but suffered early casualties as Ernesto was shot down and Coco encountered a vicious close combat fighter. Despite stout resistance Coco fell, but Pacho earned his place amongst the guerrillas by fearlessly standing-up to Coco’s assailant. Although falling to a wound, Pacho had held up the fighter long enough to allow Leonid to get in position and gun her down. Regis and myself took out two more of the enemy before they fled with their haul, leaving one dead amidst the rubble. Despite our weariness, we began the long journey back to Island Camp, no nearer the eradication of Vogue Company.

Day Twenty Seven

Following several hours’ march, we arrived back at Island Camp. On the way home, I took time to congratulate Pacho on his exemplary actions and officially welcomed him into the guerillas.

Day Twenty Eight

I visited Tatarenda again today, accompanied by Coco and Pacho, this time to address a meeting of the POUM Youth League. This day was chosen as it marks the anniversary of the deaths of Chairman Fidel and comrade Antonio. I gave a speech on the lessons to be learnt from the life of Chairman Fidel; how he had foreseen the errors of the revisionist leadership of the Red Army Faction and his decision to lead the most revolutionary elements in forming the Sendero Luminoso. His wisdom and revolutionary solidarity were shown, however, in his enthusiasm for reunification once the reactionary elements had disappeared from the RAF. I reminded the youth leaguers that we must always remember that the POUM is but the political manifestation of the guerrilla struggle and the indivisible party of the revolution remains the Reconstituted Red Army Faction (Shining Path). I also spoke about the example of comrade Antonio. This cadre had risen from a raw recruit in the YL to become chief commissar of the RRAF(SP) and would undoubtedly have become Chairman, had he not fallen alongside comrade Fidel. The members of the POUMYL should endeavour to emulate comrade Antonio in all they do and the victory of the revolution will be assured.

Day Twenty Nine

A quiet day. Some rumours reached us that shots had been heard beyond Tatarenda this evening, but nothing further was learned.

Day Thirty

The mystery of yesterday’s gunshots was solved when a group of comrades, led by Chairman Ho, arrived at Island Camp early this morning. They had escorted Edgar Snow, a journalist who has written extensively in the past about the revolutionary movement and now wants to learn about the guerrilla struggle. Our first impressions of Snow were not good. The comrades had encountered an ambush by Vogue Company after losing their way in the unlit ruins on the edge of the Spore Jungle. The comrades were outnumbered and all but Chairman Ho soon fell to their superior gunfire. Snow himself had been lightly wounded and complained bitterly about the lack of protection he had received. Comrade Zhang had taken a grievous chest wound and whilst El Medico treated his comrade, Ho spoke harshly to Snow. He criticised the journalist for cowardice during the ambush, saying that despite being armed (with a bourgeois laser weapon), he did nothing to aid the cadres. Snow protested that he was a writer, not a combatant, but Ho swept this aside and told him that if he supported the revolution, he should be prepared to fight and die for it and not complain at the first sign of danger. Snow lapsed into brooding silence. After a brief discussion with the POUM EC, Ho decided to return as swiftly as possible to Free Habanna to ensure the best treatment for Zhang. Snow was left with us, and soon after Ho’s departure, he began by declaring his intention of going into combat with the guerrillas. I have a feeling that Snow will be more trouble than he is worth. Perhaps a dose of reality will cool his revolutionary fervour!

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