From: nicanet@nyxfer.UUCP
Newsgroups: soc.culture.latin-america
Subject: Salvador Update 12/20/92
Date: 21 Dec 92 22:19:00 GMT
Nf-ID: #N:JkB6VB4w165w@nyxfer.uucp:2047532546:000:3008
Nf-From: nyxfer.uucp!nicanet    Dec 21 14:19:00 1992


Subject: Salvador Update 12/20/92
From: nyxfer!nicanet (NicaNet NY)


Via The NY Transfer News Service * All the News that Doesn't Fit

from...
         Nicaragua Solidarity Network of Greater New York
       339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 (212) 674-9499

            Weekly News Update #151, December 20, 1992


SALVADORAN CIVIL WAR OFFICIALLY ENDS

On Dec 15 in San Salvador, after the FMLN rebels demobilized
their last contingent of some 1,800 combatants and turned in
their last cache of weapons to the UN, both the government of
President Alfredo Cristiani and the followers of the FMLN
celebrated the official end of the civil war in separate
celebrations. The joint official "Act of Reconciliation" was
attended by UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and US
Vice President Dan Quayle. Also in attendance were Presidents
Violeta Chamorro of Nicaragua and Jorge Serrano of Guatemala. At
the ceremony, Quayle announced that the US would forgive $446
million, or 75% of El Salvador's debt resulting from the war.
[ED-LP 12/15/92 for AP, WP 12/16/92, Proceso 542-12/9/92]
 
Even with the debt relief, however, the situation is far from
promising.  Economic policymakers have been unable to stabilize
the exchange rate, which exceeded 9.30:1, a 15% increase since
June. The inflation rate reached 17%, the highest since December
1990. Unemployment is at 52% and only 30% of those employed
receive enough to meet their basic needs.  
 
There are some 260,000 families without land in a country of some
five million people.  Two percent of the population controls 60%
of the arable land. According to the accords, a total of 407,000
acres is to be distributed.  All state properties exceeding 2.47
acres are to be distributed and private landlords who volunteer
will have their land purchased for redistribution.  While those
with poorer quality land are willing to sell at the government
offer, the better land belongs to big landlords who are demanding
a higher price.
 
In early 199l there were some 48 land occupations by peasants. 
On Oct. 22 of this year the FMLN issued a statement calling on
peasants to cease land occupations to facilitate the accords.
With the new efforts toward "concertacion"--reconciliation of all
sectors of Salvadoran society--the FMLN also  considers  strikes,
as well as factory occupations, as obstacles to fulfilling the
accords. [Proceso 542-12/15/92]


                               -30-

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