Screed 23: THE SYMBIONESE CODES OF WAR
The April Fool's Day message, Screed 22, drew the expected avalanche of headline reportage.
Deliberately misreading its text, Hearst, Mrs. Hearst, Weed, and the various experts professed to interpret it as a promise to release Patricia Hearst "within the following 72 hours", and there was widespread speculation on the futile question of when the 72-hour period had begun. A great deal of self-congratulation by Coalition and PIN people reached the media at this time. It was claimed by many leaders that the new big-party giveaway had at last satisfied the SLA. Some articles in the Codes of War delivered to the Phoenix office with the April 1 message even suggested that the SLA might be breaking up through peaceful departure of its soldiers from their cells and camps.
These Codes of War, which were typed out like the covering message, are of later date than the war laws given in Screeds 3 through 7. Many of their articles apply to the circumstances which had emerged after the arrest of Remiro and Little. Oddly, most of the crimes judged worthy of "PENALTY BY DEATH" had recently been committed by key soldiers in the organization. By Little, for example, who had surrendered; by Remiro, who had "deserted a wounded comrade" before also surrendering; and by Fahizah, or Nancy Perry, who had abandoned her "cell unit" or "base camp" and its incriminating contents. Other items in the "Death" part, especially the conditions by which SLA soldiers might drop out, and the fierce warnings to "paid and unpaid informants", also related to important concerns of the moment.
Other articles in the SLA Codes of War covered the wide spectrum between small housekeeping details and the grand principles of commitment and sacrifice. More than any other screed of the SLA, the Codes of War reflect the unromantic day-to-day practica of life in a "cell" or "camp". One is sure, reading it, that its main author Field Marshal Cinque has become a troubled and worried man. Whatever else they may have been, the Berkeley young people of the SLA were disparate in type, individualistic in outlook, and messy and unsoldierly in their habits. The grand theories of the Symbionese Federation were no longer obscuring the ordinary problems of group law and discipline.
CODES OF WAR OF THE UNITED SYMBIONESE
LIBERATION ARMY
PENALTYBYDEATH
ALL CHARGES THAT FACE A DEATH PENALTY SHALL
BE PRESENTED TO A JURY TRIAL MADE UP OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GUERRILLA FORCES. THE JURY SHALL BE
SELECTED BY THE CHARGED AND THE JUDGE CONDUCTING THE TRIAL SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE CHARGED
ALSO. THE CHARGED SHALL SELECT HIS OR HER DEFENSE,
AND THE TRIAL JUDGE SHALL SELECT THE PROSECUTOR. THE JURY SHALL NUMBER AT LEAST 3/4THS OF THE
REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE CELLS, AND THE VERDICT
MUST BE UNANIMOUS.
1.
THE SURRENDER TO THE ENEMY.
2.THE KILLING OF A COMRADE OR DISOBEYING ORDERS THAT RESULT IN THE DEATH OF A COMRADE.
3.THE DESERTING OF A COMRADE ON THE FIELD OF WAR.
a.LEAVING A TEAM POSITION, THEREBY NOT COVERING A COMRADE.
b.LEAVING A WOUNDED COMRADE.
4.THE INFORMING TO THE ENEMY OR SPYING AGAINST THE PEOPLE OR GUERRILLAS.
5.LEAVING A CELL UNIT OR BASE CAMP WITHOUT ORDERS.
Any comrade may leave the guerrilla forces if she or he feels that they no longer feel the courage or faith in the people and the struggle that we wage. A comrade, however, must follow the CODES OF WAR in doing this: that is, he or she must inform the commanding guerrilla of their wish to go from guerrilila force. Thereupon, the guerrilla in command will release them in a safe area. The excombatants may only leave with his or her personal side-arm. REMEMBER, this is the ONLY way a comrade may leave the S.L.A., any other way is deserting, punishable by death.
6.ALL PAID OR UNPAID INFORMANTS OPERATING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND THE
GUERRILLA FORCES ARE SENTENCED WITHOUT TRIAL! TO IMMEDIATE DEATH.
PENALTY BY DISCIPLINARY ACTION
DISCIPLINARY ACTION SHOULD BE PRIMARILY TO AID THE COLLECTIVE GROWTH OF THE CELL, SO THAT.
THROUGH POSITIVE ACTION THE MISTAKE IS UNDERSTOOD, ALL CHARGES THAT FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION
SHALL BE UNDER THE FULL CONTROL OF THE GUERRILLA IN COMMAND, AND SHE OR HE SHALL WEIGH ALL I
EVIDENCE AND SHALL DECIDE THE VERDICT, AND IF NEEDED, DIRECT THE DISCIPLINARY ACTION TO BE TAkEN BY THE CHARGED COMRADE NECESSARY TO DIRECT HIM OR HER. EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLINARY ACTION ARE
THE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE OF ALL CELL ARMS, AMMUNITION AND EXPLOSIVES FOR ONE WEEK, THE UPKEEP OF OUTHOUSES, THE FULL SUSPENSION OF WINE AND CIGARETTES, AND EXTRA DUTIES SUCH AS ADDITIONAL WATCHES, PRACTICE AND STUDY PERIODS, CORRESPONDENCE, FILING, TYPING, WASHING, CLEANING, COOKING, AND PHYSICAL EXERCISES.
1.LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY AND DETERMINED ~ DECISIVENESS IN FOLLOWING ORDERS.
2.NONVIGILANCE OR THE LEAVING OF AN ASSIGNED POST WITHOUT ORDERS.
3.LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY IN MAINTAINING EQUIPTMENT OR PROFICIENCY IN ALL GUERRILLA SKILLS, ESPECIALLY SHOOTING.
4.THE USE OF ANY UNMEDICALLY PRESCRIBED DRUG.
THIS RULE RELATES TO THE US& OF SUCH DRUGS AS
HEROIN, SPEED, PEYOTE, MESCALINE, REDS, PEP PILLS,
WHITES, YELLOW JACKETS, BENNIES, DEXIES, GOOF
BALLS, LSD, AND ANY OTHER KIND OF HALLUCINARY
DRUGS. HOWEVER, PERMISSION IS GRANTED FOR THE
USE OF ONLY TWO TYPES OF RELAXING DRUGS: THESE
ARE MARIJUANA, AND/OR BEER AND WINE AND OTHER
ALCOHOL. THIS PERMISSION IS ONLY GRANTED WHEN
APPROVED BY THE GUERRILLA IN COMMAND, AND WITH
VERY RESTRAINING USE ONLY. NO OFFICER MAY GRANT
THE USE OF ANY OF THESE SAID DRUGS TO THE FULL
NUMBER OF FORCES UNDER HIS OR HER COMMAND. IF
THIS PERMISSION IS GRANTED ONLY HALF THE FORCE
WILL BE ALLOWED TO TAKE PART, WHILE THE OTHER
HALF WILL STAND GUARD DUTY.
THE PAST HAS SHOWN ONCE TRUE REVOLUTIONARIES HAVE SERIOUSLY UNDERTAKEN REVOLUTIONARY
ARMS STRUGGLE, MARIJUANA AND ALCOHOL ARE NOT
USED FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES OR TO DILUTE OR
BLUR THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF REALITY, BUT VERY
SMALL AMOUNTS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES TO CALM
NERVES UNDER TIMES OF TENSION, NOT TO DISTORT
REALITY.
5.THE FAILURE TO SEVER ALL PAST CONTACTS OR FAILING TO DESTROY ALL EVIDENCE OF IDENTIFICATION OR ASSOCIATION.
PENALTY BY DISCIPLINARY ACTION
6.KILLING OF AN UNARMED ENEMY: IN THIS INSTANCE THE ENEMY REFERS TO MEMBERS OF U.S.A.
RANK AND FILE ONLY AND NOT TO ANY MEMBERS OF
THE CIA, FBI, OR OTHER SPECIAL AGENTS OR ANY POLITICAL POLICE STATE AGENTS. MEMBERS OF THE USA
MILITARY RANK AND FILE ARE TO BE ACCORDED THIS
DISTINCTION BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF
THEM HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO MEMBERSHIP EITHER
DIRECTLY, THROUGH THE DRAFT, OR INDIRECTLY DUE
TO ECONOMIC PRESSURES.
7.TORTURES OR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON EITHER A COMRADE OR PEOPLE OF THE ENEMY.
8.CRIMINAL ACTS AGAINST THE POOR,COMRADES OR GUERRILLA FORCES.
9.MALICIOUS CURSING OR ANY KIND OF DISRESPECT TO THOSE IN COMMAND, A COMRADE, OR THE PEOPLE.
10.DECEIVING OR LYING TO FELLOW COMRADES OR THE PEOPLE. IF ANY OF THESE ACTS ARE COMMITFED ON
A CONTINUOUS BASIS, THE CHARGED COMRADE SHALL
BECOME A PRISONER OF THE CELL AND SHALL REMAIN
IN THIS PRISONER STATUS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS SHE OR
HE IS ABLE TO PROVE THEIR RENEWED COMMITMENT TO
REVOLUTIONARY DISCIPLINE AND REVOLUTIONARY
PRINCIPLES OR THE CHARGED MAY REQUEST TO BE DISHONORABLY DISCHARGED. [sic]
CONDUCT OF GUERRILLA FORCES TO WARDS THE ENEMY
SOLDIERS AND PRISONERS.
1.PRISONERS OF WAR SHALL BE HELD UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL CODES OF WAR, THEY SHALL BE PRO~, VIDED WITH ADEQUATE FOOD, MEDICAL AID, AND EXERCISES.
2.ALL USA MILITARY RANK AND FILE FORCES SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SURRENDER UPON OUR CONDITIONS OF SURRENDER, AND THEREUPON THEY SHALL BE CAREFULLY SEARCHED AND INTERROGATED. ALL PRISONERS
ARE TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTION ON THE GOALS OF SYMBIONESE LIBERATION ARMY, THEN RELEASED IN A SAFE
AREA.
3.ALL WEAPONS, MEDICAL AND FOOD SUPPLIES, I
MAPS, MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND MONEY ARE TO BE
CONFISCATED AND TURNED INTO THE GUERRILLA IN
CHARGE.
4.UNDER NO CONDITIONS SHALL ANY RANK AND FILE ENEMY SOLDIER BE RELIEVED OF HIS OR HER PERSONAL PROPERTY.
(CONDUCT OF GUERRILLA FORCES TOWARDS THE PEOPLE)
ALL GUERRILLA FORCES SHALL CONDUCT THEMSELVES IN A MANNER OF RESPECT TOWARD THE PEOPLE,
AND SHALL WHEN ABLE AND SAFE TO DO SO, PROVIDE FOOD AND OTHER AID TO THE PEOPLE. THEY SHALL,
WHEN POSSIBLE, INFORM THE PEOPLE OF THE GOALS OF THE UNITED SYMBIONESE FEDERATION AND ENCOURAGE OTHER WOMEN AND MEN TO JOIN OUR FORCES AND TO SERVE THE PEOPLE IN FIGHT FOR FREEDOM.
ALL COMRADES HAVE ONE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY, THAT IS TO STRUGGLE AND WIN AND STAND TOGETHER, so NO COMRADE STANDS ALONE, ALL MUST LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, ALL MUST AID THE OTHER BLACK,
BROWN, RED, YELLOW, WHITE, MAN OR WOMAN, ALL OR NONE.
THIS DOCUMENT MAY CHANGE FROM TIME TO TIME, SO OFFICERS ARE REQUESTED TO FOLLOW THE CHANGES WITH DISCIPLINE.
TO THOSE WHO WOULD BEAR THE HOPES AND FUTURE OF THE PEOPLE LET THE VOICE OF THEIR GUNS EXPRESS THE WORD OF FREEDOM.
Gen. Field Marshall
S.L.A.
Cm
