Carlos Marighella - Minimanual of the Urban Guerrilla

Written: June, 1969
Source:Please note that we do NOT have an authoritative source of this document. This is the best we've been able to obtain, but it is by no means perfect. This document has various versions, and we do not have the expertise/resources to correctly identify the most accurate version of this work.
Translated: Unknown
Transcription/Markup: Eri Yaynlar tarafndan dzenlenmitir/Brian Baggins
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I would like to make a two-fold dedication of this work; first, to thememories of Edson Souto, Marco Antonio Bras de Carvalho, Melson Jose de Almeida("Escoteiro") and so many other heroic fighters and urban guerrillaswho fell at the hands of the assassins of the Military Police, the Army, theNavy, the Air Force, and the DOPS, hated instruments of the repressive militarydictatorship.

Second, to the brave comrades men and women imprisoned in the medievaldungeons of the Brazilian Government and subjected to tortures that even surpassthe horrendous crimes carried out by the Nazis. Like those comrades whosememories we revere, as well as those taken prisoner in combat, what we must dois fight.

Each comrade who opposes the military dictatorship and wants to oppose itcan do something, however small the task may seem. I urge all who read thisminimanual and decide that they cannot remain inactive, to follow itsinstructions and join the struggle now. I ask this because, under any theoryand under any circumstances, the duty of every revolutionary is to make therevolution.

Another important point is not merely to read this minimanual here andnow, but to circulate its contents. This circulation will be possible if thosewho agree with its ideas make mimeographed copies or print it in a booklet,(although in this latter case, armed struggle itself will be necessary.)

Finally, the reason why this minimanual bears my signature is that theideas expressed or systematized here reflect the personal experiences of a groupof people engaged in armed struggle in Brazil, among whom I have the honor to beincluded. So that certain individuals will have no doubts about what thisminimanual says, and can no longer deny the facts or continue to say that theconditions for armed struggle do not exist, it is necessary to assumeresponsibility for what is said and done. Therefore, anonymity becomes aproblem in a work like this. The important fact is that there are patriotsprepared to fight like soldiers, and the more there are the better.

The accusation of "violence" or "terrorism" no longerhas the negative meaning it used to have. It has acquired new clothing; a newcolor. It does not divide, it does not discredit; on the contrary, itrepresents a center of attraction. Today, to be "violent" or a "terrorist"is a quality that ennobles any honorable person, because it is an act worthy ofa revolutionary engaged in armed struggle against the shameful militarydictatorship and its atrocities.

The urban guerrilla is a person who fights the military dictatorshipwith weapons, using unconventional methods. A revolutionary and an ardentpatriot, he is a fighter for his country's liberation, a friend of the peopleand of freedom. The area in which the urban guerrilla operates is in the largeBrazilian cities. There are also criminals or outlaws who work in the bigcities. Many times, actions by criminals are taken to be actions by urbanguerrillas.

The urban guerrilla, however, differs radically from the criminal. Thecriminal benefits personally from his actions, and attacks indiscriminatelywithout distinguishing between the exploiters and the exploited, which is whythere are so many ordinary people among his victims. The urban guerrilla followsa political goal, and only attacks the government, the big businesses and theforeign imperialists.

Another element just as harmful to the guerrillas as the criminal, andalso operating in the urban area, is the counterrevolutionary, who createsconfusion, robs banks, throws bombs, kidnaps, assassinates, and commits theworst crimes imaginable against urban guerrillas, revolutionary priests,students, and citizens who oppose tyranny and seek liberty.

The urban guerrilla is an implacable enemy of the regime, andsystematically inflicts damage on the authorities and on the people who dominatethe country and exercise power. The primary task of the urban guerrilla is todistract, to wear down, to demoralize the military regime and its repressiveforces, and also to attack and destroy the wealth and property of the foreignmanagers and the Brazilian upper class.

The urban guerrilla is not afraid to dismantle and destroy the presentBrazilian economic, political and social system, for his aim is to aid the ruralguerrillas and to help in the creation of a totally new and revolutionary socialand political structure, with the armed population in power.

The urban guerrilla is characterized by his bravery and his decisivenature. He must be a good tactician, and a good marksman. The urban guerrillamust be a person of great cleverness to compensate for the fact that he is notsufficiently strong in weapons, ammunition and equipment.

The career military officers and the government police have modern weaponsand transport, and can go about anywhere freely, using the force of their ownstrength. The urban guerrilla does not have such resources at his disposal, andleads a clandestine existence. The guerrilla may be a convicted person or onewho is out on parole, and must then use false documents.

Nevertheless, the urban guerrilla has an advantage over the conventionalmilitary or the police. It is that, while the military and the police act onbehalf of the enemy, whom the people hate, the urban guerrilla defends a justcause, which is the people's cause.

The urban guerrilla's weapons are inferior to the enemy's, but from themoral point of view, the urban guerrilla has an undeniable superiority. Thismoral superiority is what sustains the urban guerrilla. Thanks to it, the urbanguerrilla can accomplish his principle duty, which is to attack and survive.

The urban guerrilla has to capture or steal weapons from the enemy to beable to fight. Because his weapons are not uniform since what he has areexpropriated or have fallen into his hands in various ways the urban guerrillafaces the problem of a variety of weapons and a shortage of ammunition. Moreover, he has no place in which to practice shooting and marksmanship. Thesedifficulties have to be overcome, forcing the urban guerrillas to be imaginativeand creative qualities without which it would be impossible for him to carryout his role as a revolutionary.

The urban guerrilla must possess initiative, mobility and flexibility, aswell as versatility and a command of any situation. Initiative especially is anindispensable quality. It is not always possible to foresee everything, and theurban guerrilla cannot let himself become confused, or wait for instructions.His duty is to act, to find adequate solutions for each problem he faces, and toretreat. It is better to err acting than to do nothing for fear of making amistake. Without initiative, there is no urban guerrilla warfare.

Other important qualities in the urban guerrilla are the following: to bea good walker, to be able to stand up against fatigue, hunger, rain or heat. Toknow how to hide, and how to be vigilant. To conquer the art of dissembling.Never to fear danger. To behave the same by day as by night. Not to actimpetuously. To have unlimited patience. To remain calm and cool in the worstof conditions and situations. Never to leave a track or trail. Not to getdiscouraged.