How serious is the threat from the US to the movement towards progressive change in Latin America?
JSH: You have the political right in Latin America that realises that the time for change has arrived and to a great degree. There are now five countries — Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and El Salvador — that are controlled by the right. In the whole of Latin America there are only five! Of course, they support the US because for the US Latin America is their backyard. These governments are now demanding new forms of relating to one another. You could say that Chile is not on the left, but neither is it on the right. Tabaré [the President of Uruguay] is not of the left, but he is not from the right and with all those who are not of the traditional right there is an opportunity for progressive people. The progressive forces in each country must make the most of the opportunities to develop and transform their countries. But if they fight among themselves there won’t be any such opportunity. For the US, what is happening is seen like an attack on their camp, the reds have come into
