From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: EL SALVADOR: A DANGEROUS MOMENT FOR PEACE
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 23:38:24 GMT

/** reg.elsalvador: 202.0 **/
** Topic: FMLN: A DANGEROUS MOMENT **
** Written  1:03 am  Apr 10, 1992 by gn:zenzontle in cdp:reg.elsalvador **
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FMLN REPRESENTATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
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"Venceremos!" Editorial * April 19992

EL SALVADOR: A DANGEROUS MOMENT FOR PEACE

     Three months after the signing of the New York Agreements, we
can now draw some conclusions. Everybody recognises that the FMLN
exceeded expectations in its new legal political life. Hundreds of
thousands of people participated in the 16th January and 1st of
February celebrations; the people's organisation has attained the
level of an explosion; dozens of intense debates have arisen, etc.
Nevertheless, as some observers say, the transition has placed the
FMLN into a difficult situation: it is not easy to convert a
clandestine and semi-clandestine political and military
organisation into a fully legal one... particularly when the Death
Squads are still defiant.
     As far as the accords are concerned, it is clear that the
government and the Army have been playing unacceptable games; this
is a taunt not only to the FMLN and the Salvadorean people, but to
the International community as a whole.

The land problem 
     It is impossible to forget that the land problem is an
explosive one, and one of the main causes of the war; but some
sector of the government and the oligarchy pretend to utilise it to
destabilize the whole peace process. The most important group of
the oligarchy has also been boycotting the creation of the Socio-
Economic Forum; the popular organisations, on the other hand, are
urging its creation. Furthermore, the violent evictions of land
squatters have been accompanied by a furious propaganda campaign;
the oligarchy organisations, furthermore, have taken into their
hands some tasks which are the responsibility of the Commission of
Peace. This Commission, it must be borne in mind, is a pluralistic
body entitled to monitor the compliance of the peace accords; it
also has the power to propose the measures necessary to effect deep
and basic changes in society.
          With the United Nations mediation, it was possible to
obtain an agreement from both parts; the Army will stop the
evictions and the FMLN will not encourage more lands take-overs.
The problem, nonetheless, is still there. 

The Army's taunts and reluctance

     It is from the side of the Army where we found the most
important backlash and reluctance to comply with the agreements.
That was to be expected; however to see President Cristiani and the
negotiators trying to create a smoke curtain for grotesque taunts
is another matter.
     On the 2nd of March the Army was supposed to dismantle the
Security Forces, notorious for human rights abuses. This was
done... but only on paper.  The National Guard was converted into
a Border Guard, while the Treasury Police was given the new name of
Military Police; the government simply changed their uniforms and
names!. Both President Cristiani and the Ministry of Defence
publicly supported this outrageous violation of the agreements. And
to make sure that both security forces were very much alive, the
same day of their "dismantling" they killed a trade union member
using a "death squad" technique. A few days after, they killed a
member of the unemployeds committee.
     So, the second phase of separation of both armies (the
government's and the FMLN's) was not accomplished on the date
scheduled. We clearly stated the reasons why we were not complying:
there were insufficient conditions (no running water, no toilets,
etc.) to allocate our fighters to the designated places. The
government, on the other hand, kept soldiers and national guards in
their barracks; we denounced that as a clear violation. The US
Department of State preferred to accuse the FMLN of non-compliance
while keeping silence over the government taunts... While asking
for more military aid.
     The Army has participated in the violent evictions of
peasants; in February the Air Force overflew the areas where the
FMLN was concentrated in a clear provocation; at least in one case,
FMLN fighters left where they were concentrated to protect the
population of Anamoros that was threatened by soldiers. In brief,
the Army is making raids which are against the accords and keeping
soldiers in garrisons not mentioned in the agreements.
     As regards the Civil Police, which has to substitute the
security forces, the government is creating all the delays it can
and the ARENA members and government officials are returning to
their arguments of "unconstitutionality". If the situation
stagnates, the reconversion of the first 20% of our soldiers can be
put in danger.

Human Rights

     The creation and threats from ghost organisations are still
rampant; the human rights organisations, trade unions, cooperatives
and religious groups are under constant death threats, the FMLN
offices are under surveillance. The Army killed Nazario Gracias, a
trade unionist, and Jorge Martinez a member of the unemployed
committee. There has also been a number of mutilated bodies which
appeared in populated places, as the Bishop of San Salvador
denounced on the 22nd of March. A Jesuit priest, Steven Kelly, was
expelled because he opposed the violent eviction of squatters. Dr.
Matarollo, an Argentinean lawyer, member of ONUSAL (the UN body to
monitor human rights and separation of both armies) was given 24
hours to leave El Salvador; it was a clear retaliation because of
an objective report he contributed to writing.
     As a proof of good will, we decided to hand over to the
Salvadorean justice the FMLN fighters who killed the US advisors on
January 1991; being a political crime, we think that they can be
covered by the Reconciliation law. But because we did not hand them
over to the US judicial system, that was used as a pretext for the
USA to deny a visa to Commander Joaquin Villalobos, where he was
supposed to participate in a crucial meeting with the World Bank.
     
In summary

     There are several reasons to think that both the government
and the Army are not serious in complying with the accords; we are
also concerned because the US Department of State is so ready to
turn a blind eye, putting the blame on the FMLN.
     And we do not want to be the only ones to comply...
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