From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: El Salvador: Proceso 531: Peace Process
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 00:33:42 GMT

/** reg.elsalvador: 118.0 **/
** Topic: Proceso 531: Peace Process **
** Written  5:09 pm  Sep 26, 1992 by cidai@huracan.cr in cdp:reg.elsalvador **
From: cidai@huracan.cr (Centro de Informacion Documentacion y Apoyo a la Invest. - UCAJSC)
Subject: Proceso 531: Peace Process

Center for Information, Documentation and Research Support (CIDAI)
Central American University (UCA)
San Salvador, El Salvador
 
PROCESO 531
September 23, 1992
 
PEACE PROCESS:
The cease-fire is in the final stretch
 
     There are barely five weeks left before October 31, the
deadline established by the peace accords for concluding the cease-
fire process. This process is to culminate with the full
dismantling of the FMLN military structure. Naturally, this must be
accompanied by the fulfillment of the principal accords aimed at
guaranteeing the democratic and participatory transformation of
Salvadoran society. The daily course of implementing the accords,
however, has not shown a satisfactory and transparent correlation
of both components of the process.
     Although important progress has been made in terms of
superstructural reforms in the political sphere, as well as in
reducing the army and building a new structure of public security
in the military sphere, the FMLN feels that this progress is not
consolidated enough to offer full guarantees for its members to
rejoin civil society. Furthermore, even if we were to agree that
the gains made so far in the peace process are irreversible, the
economic aspects of the plans to help former rebel combatants
rejoin civilian life are plagued with problems. This problem is so
acute that we cannot automatically assume that the FMLN will fully
dismantle its military structures by October 31.
     In effect, although what looked like a third crisis was
finally deflected, the problems which originated it are still not
definitively and acceptably resolved. Despite previous warnings,
the FMLN finally agreed to demobilize the second 20% of its forces,
even though the government has stubbornly failed to honor its
commitment to ensure that former combatants and landholders in
conflict zones obtain fair access to land and credit (cf. Proceso
530). The rebels' decision was a gesture of good faith aimed at
modifying the inflexible and near-sighted way in which the
government views the agrarian question. Yet if their goal is not
met, there is no doubt that the peace process will again be
overshadowed by dangerous tensions.
 
The FMLN's second demobilization
 
     On September 21, the FMLN demobilized the second contingent of
its forces. Most of the 1,670 demobilized rebels deposited their
weapons (about 900 arms of different types) in ONUSAL containers,
and took the first step toward rejoining civilian and institutional
life. The demobilization took place in 11 of the FMLN's 15
concentration points. On September 22 and 23, other contingents
were demobilized in the remaining 4 camps: Santa Clara, Nueva
Granada, San Francisco Javier and Perquin. The main ceremony on the
21st was held in the village of Aguacayo (Cuscatlan), some 35km
north of San Salvador, where around 400 combatants from Montepeque,
Huerta Enana and Aguacayo were demobilized.
     The act took place almost three months after the first
demobilization, on June 30 (cf. Proceso 521). Just as before, the
disarming took place in a normal fashion and in accordance with the
terms of the peace agreements. The military chief of ONUSAL, Gen.
Victor Suanzes Pardo, expressed pleasure with the course of the
peace process and the willingness of both sides to comply with the
accords in technical-military terms.
 
The meaning of October 31
 
     According to the second rescheduling of the peace process,
September 30 is the deadline for the third demobilization of rebel
combatants. For the FMLN, however, the pace of the final stretch
will depend on the government's shows of good faith, especially
with regard to the resolution of the complex land problem. Thus,
the precise interpretation of the meaning of October 31 is of
transcendental importance. For the Salvadoran and U.S. governments,
the date means the total demobilization of the insurgent forces,
period. Pressures from both governments have been quick to come.
     On September 17, U.S. State Department official Bernard
Aronson declared, "the international community will vigorously
condemn any group which pretends to utilize the land issue as an
excuse to fail to demobilize." Aronson also said, "the United
Nations, the friends of the U.N. Secretary General, and the United
States understand that the October 31 deadline is a solemn promise
on the part of the FMLN to demobilize its forces and turn over its
weapons, not only those which appear in the inventory, but all of
them."
     The Salvadoran government, for its part, has made similar
statements. In fact, although the content of the United Nations
evaluation of government compliance with the accords has still not
been made public, government rhetoric makes it appear as if the
report fully supports its demand for immediate FMLN demobilization.
According to President Cristiani, "The U.N. itself has made it
known that conditions exist for complying with the accords, and the
only problem left is the transfer of lands; however, the government
is ready to develop programs to help former combatants rejoin
civilian life, so there is no reason whatsoever for the FMLN to
continue to be armed, especially after it has asked to be
registered as a political party."
     The FMLN's posture, however, reflects criteria tightly linked
to real progress in the peace process. The FMLN has insistently
repeated that it is willing to fully demobilize its forces but, as
we mentioned above, the rebels maintain that a solution must first
be found for the agrarian problem, and that such a solution must
reflect the spirit of the peace accords and must meet the demands
for social stability. Along these lines, rebel leader Leonel
Gonzalez stated, "we are prepared to carry out the three remaining
demobilizations, but these will depend on the allocation of land."
Gonzalez added, "we are concerned that October 31 is being seen as
a fatal deadline, because what really matters is fulfilling a set
of accords which guarantee the irreversibility of the peace
process." It is also worth noting that the FMLN is demanding that
the government pass a law which would guarantee a subsidy for
disabled combatants and soldiers, as well as a legislative decree
guaranteeing the safety of FMLN members and another to guarantee
freedom of expression.
     The great challenge for the Salvadoran peace process continues
to be the consolidation of a true democracy. The upcoming weeks
will be crucial in terms of ensuring whether this process will
become consolidated or remain in a restricted and formal sense.
 

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