Fifth Congress of the
Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores
Resolution on Democratic Centralism in the Army
I. As Comrade Giap very clearly explains (cf. People’s
War. People’s Army, page 82ff) two elements make for correct functioning of the revolutionary military organization, both of which correspond to democratic centralism in the party. The first is real internal democracy, which consists of applying the following principles: (a) political democracy, periodic assemblies, to involve all the fighters and cadres in discussing the various problems of the army; (b) military democracy, which requires, insofar as conditions permit, informing the entire units in advance of the plans of an operation in order to promote initiative and contributions; (c) economic democracy, establishing a system of “open books,” to allow the fighters and cadres to take part in, and supervise administration. The second element is “the strictest and most widely accepted of disciplines.” A revolutionary army “has to be very highly centralized and disciplined in order to guarantee unity of will and action, which are indispensable for preserving its forces and annihilating the enemy.” Finally, Giap warns of the danger of two deviations. One, which comes from the influence of bourgeois ideology, overstresses discipline and “seeks to lead the troops by issuing commands and meting out punishments.” Another, reflecting petty-bourgeois ideology, tends toward disintegration and “dispersionism.” It gives little importance to discipline, tries to avoid supervision, and pays insufficient attention to orders received.
II. Our party is dragging along false tendencies that are being unconsciously transmitted to the military units, where they cause even greater harm. We need on the one hand to do away with the method of arbitrary commands and, on the other, to accustom ourselves to giving and obeying orders. We have to constantly consolidate internal democracy, proletarian political education, and establish discipline based on understanding. We must cast off individualism and shyness and appreciate military discipline &y learning to give and take orders. The functioning of the party’s military units has been harmed by sloppiness in both aspects. In general our leaders have lacked firmness of command and our activists readiness to obey.
III. Therefore we must strive to apply correctly the principles of democratic centralism in the army:
(A) For democracy involving all the fighters in the task of building the army, in keeping a check on finances, and, insofar as possible, in discussing the plans of operations.
(B) For iron discipline in the army, for correct and just exercise of command by the leaders and strict and efficient compliance by subordinates.