Movement of National Liberation
Encyclopedia
The Movement of National Liberation (MLN) was a Mexican
leftist political party
composed of numerous socialist, Marxist, and peasant activist groups. They operated primarily between 1961 to 1964.
.
From the CIP came the Provisional Committee for National Sovereignty and Economic Emancipation (CLSNEEP), whose goal was to organize a local chapter within Mexico
. On August 5, 1961, the committee announced the formation of the National Liberation Movement. The MLN stated as its priorities; regime change, release of political prisoners, solidarity with Cuba
, municipal autonomy for unions and peasant organizations, opposition presence in Congress, weakened presidentialism, and undermined corporatist control. The founding organizations of the MLN was a composition of leftist Marxist parties, the National Peasant Confederation (CNC), the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), members of the official Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) party, and the Popular Socialist Party
(PPS).
. In January 1963, Lázaro Cárdenas announced the formation of just such a party, the Central Campesina Independiente (CCI) to attack the PRI's corruption and betrayal of peasant struggles. Following the MLN's refusal to declare itself an official party for election, it was believed the group began a rapid decline. The issue of solidarity with the Cuban Revolution
became a stopping point with the government of then President Adolfo López Mateos
. In addition the issue of political prisoners, the release of Valentin Campa and Demetrio Vallejo
, finally led Mateos to denounce the MLN, stating they had succumbed to communist infiltration. In 1968 the leaders of the MLN were jailed during the popular student movement, signaling the death of the party.
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
leftist political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
composed of numerous socialist, Marxist, and peasant activist groups. They operated primarily between 1961 to 1964.
Foundation
The roots of the MLN lay in the Committee to Promote Peace (CIP), founded in July 1959 by Lázaro CárdenasLázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
.
From the CIP came the Provisional Committee for National Sovereignty and Economic Emancipation (CLSNEEP), whose goal was to organize a local chapter within Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. On August 5, 1961, the committee announced the formation of the National Liberation Movement. The MLN stated as its priorities; regime change, release of political prisoners, solidarity with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, municipal autonomy for unions and peasant organizations, opposition presence in Congress, weakened presidentialism, and undermined corporatist control. The founding organizations of the MLN was a composition of leftist Marxist parties, the National Peasant Confederation (CNC), the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM), members of the official Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI) party, and the Popular Socialist Party
Popular Socialist Party (Mexico)
The Popular Socialist Party is a communist party in Mexico. It was founded in 1948 as the Popular Party by Vicente Lombardo Toledano....
(PPS).
Decline
The Popular Socialist Party withdrew in December 1962 after rumors spread the MLN was planning to organize a new peasant movement outside the PRI to push for agrarian reformAgrarian reform
Agrarian reform can refer either, narrowly, to government-initiated or government-backed redistribution of agricultural land or, broadly, to an overall redirection of the agrarian system of the country, which often includes land reform measures. Agrarian reform can include credit measures,...
. In January 1963, Lázaro Cárdenas announced the formation of just such a party, the Central Campesina Independiente (CCI) to attack the PRI's corruption and betrayal of peasant struggles. Following the MLN's refusal to declare itself an official party for election, it was believed the group began a rapid decline. The issue of solidarity with the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
became a stopping point with the government of then President Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos was a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party who served as President of Mexico from 1958 to 1964...
. In addition the issue of political prisoners, the release of Valentin Campa and Demetrio Vallejo
Demetrio Vallejo
Demetrio Vallejo was a railroad worker and union activist from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Vallejo began working as a railroad employee in 1928, later joining the Partido Comunista Mexicano in 1934. Vallejo was eventually promoted to Regional Director of the PCM in Oaxaca, however later expelled...
, finally led Mateos to denounce the MLN, stating they had succumbed to communist infiltration. In 1968 the leaders of the MLN were jailed during the popular student movement, signaling the death of the party.
Notable members
Notable members of the Movement of National Liberation included:- Carlos Salinas de Gortari - Former Mexican president, 1988-1994.
- Gilberto Rincón GallardoGilberto Rincón GallardoGilberto Rincón Gallardo y Meltis was a Mexican politician, activist and former presidential candidate.-Biography:...
- Former presidential candidate, politician and activist. - Arnoldo Martínez VerdugoArnoldo Martínez VerdugoArnoldo Martínez Verdugo is a Mexican socialist politician and democracy activist. A long-standing leader of the Mexican Communist Party and the Unified Socialist Party of Mexico , Martínez promoted political self-criticism, refused to support regional guerrilla movements, condemned the Soviet...
- Politician and former leader of the Mexican Communist PartyMexican Communist PartyThe Mexican Communist Party was a communist party in Mexico. It was founded in 1911 as the Socialist Workers' Party by Manabendra Nath Roy, a left-wing Indian intellectual. The PSO changed its name to the Mexican Communist Party in November 1919 following the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia...
and of the Unified Socialist Party of MexicoUnified Socialist Party of MexicoThe Unified Socialist Party of Mexico was a far-left political party in Mexico. It later became the Mexican Socialist Party in 1988...
. - Genaro Vázquez RojasGenaro Vázquez RojasGenaro Vázquez Rojas is a former school teacher, civic association leader, militant, and guerrilla fighter.-Guerreran Civic Community:...
- Former civic associationCivic AssociationThe Hong Kong Civic Association is a political group founded in 1954 in Hong Kong by Dr. Hilton Cheong-Leen. In 1975 it claimed a membership of 10,000....
leader, militantMilitantThe word militant, which is both an adjective and a noun, usually is used to mean vigorously active, combative and aggressive, especially in support of a cause, as in 'militant reformers'. It comes from the 15th century Latin "militare" meaning "to serve as a soldier"...
, and guerrilla fighterGuerrilla warfareGuerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
.