From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: El Salvador: Proceso 528: Peace Process
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1992 21:43:44 GMT

/** reg.elsalvador: 166.0 **/
** Topic: Proceso 528: Peace Process **
** Written 11:39 am  Sep  5, 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 528: Peace Process

Center for Information, Documentation and Research Support (CIDAI)
Central American University (UCA)
San Salvador, El Salvador
 
PROCESO 528
September 2, 1992
 
PEACE PROCESS:
New progress in the peace accords
 
     Throughout the last week in August, the national political
process was dominated by the government's insistence on
implementing new economic measures contained in the neoliberal
structural adjustment program. These measures are clearly anti-
grassroots since they presuppose increased rates for public
transportation, electricity and drinking water, as well as the new
Value-Added Tax (VAT) instituted on September 1. The process of
executing the peace accords was, thus, relegated to a back burner
last week while legislative battles between the political
opposition and the government raged. The struggles were set off by
the announcement of these measures and, of course, by their huge
impact on living conditions of all Salvadorans; they dominated
political life during this period even though the second
rescheduling of the peace process establishes very short deadlines
for a great number of unfulfilled accords whose execution is urgent
if the October 31 goal for fully ending the war is to be attained.
     Nevertheless, the peace process has made some important gains.
Among them are, principally, the beginning of classes at the
National Academy for Public Security, and the new formal steps
taken along the process of constituting the FMLN as a political
party.
     The month of August concluded with the formal entrance of the
first contingent of trainees to the National Academy of Public
Security. Some 621 aspiring police officers, after having passed a
series of admission examinations, began training in the former
barracks of the Technical Center for Police Instruction (CETIPOL),
the Academy's provisional home. Of this first class, 20% are former
FMLN combatants; another 20% are discharged members of the
government's security forces, and the rest come from the civilian
population. Furthermore, in the first week of October it is hoped
that the second contingent of trainees will begin officer school
aimed at preparing for medium-ranking posts. The new police
officers are receiving classes by instructors from Spain, Chile,
Norway and El Salvador, to train them to assume public security
tasks starting February 1993. The Academy will "train police
officers who have a true vocation to serve the community, respect
the law and human rights," declared Dr. Mario Bolanos, the
Academy's director, during a brief welcoming speech to the incoming
class.
     The FMLN's transition from a political-military force to a
strictly political party also made some progress last week. On
September 1, the FMLN signed its formal papers declaring it a
political party; two days later the former rebels requested formal
inscription in the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Preparations for
this historic act had begun weeks before.
     In effect, after President Cristiani ratified the transitory
amendments to the Electoral Code, which had been passed previously
by the Legislative Assembly, the FMLN had one hundred days to fill
all the requirements for becoming a political party with the same
rights as already-existing parties. During the weeks prior to
September 1, the FMLN underwent a period of intense internal
activity, finalizing the documents which reflected its new
political reality. These documents include internal statutes, a
platform, a unity pact, and others.
     The signing ceremony in which the FMLN was founded as a
political party took place in the Camino Real Hotel, with the
participation of the entire General Command. Among those present
were representatives from labor and grassroots associations,
churches, political parties, the diplomatic corps and special
guests. Witnesses to the signing ceremony were San Salvador
Archbishop Arturo Rivera Damas, Auxiliary Bishop Gregorio Rosa
Chavez, Rev. Edgar Palacios, Carlos Sanchez, Fabio Castillo, Jose
Maria Mendez, Ruben Zamora, Matilde Elena Lopez, Ricardo Navarro,
and Ramon Diaz Bach. After the papers were signed, Mons. Rivera
Damas swore in the FMLN leaders, who promised to respect the
nation's laws.
     The FMLN's top leadership has promised to make the party a
democratic and pluralistic institution which favors the great
majority. To this effect, Shafick Handal declared: "We are not the
black sheep returning to the fold, but rather a political party
made up of citizens with a very mature way of thinking, who will
achieve substantial transformations in national life through our
philosophy of justice and freedom."
     These gains in the peace process, achieved after overcoming
serious obstacles, undoubtedly help consolidate efforts toward
pacification and national reconciliation. Even so, there is still
a long way to go to achieve true democracy in El Salvador.
 

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