LADBAC@UNMB.BITNET (Dr. Barbara A. Kohl) (09/18/89)
September 15, 1989
CENTRAL AMERICA UPDATE
Copyright 1989
(Latin America Data Base, Latin American Institute, University
of New Mexico. Project Director: Dr. Nelson Valdes. Managing
Editor: Dr. Barbara A. Kohl)
SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT & REBEL DELEGATIONS MEET
IN MEXICO CITY; FMLN OFFERS PEACE PROPOSAL
For the first time since President Alfredo Cristiani
took power on June 1, the Farabundo Marti National
Liberation Front (FMLN) and Cristiani's government agreed to
participate in "preliminary" talks to eventual peace
negotiations. Delegations from both sides commenced private
talks in Mexico City on Sept. 13. (See CAU 09/08/89,
09/13/89 for discussion of events leading to the talks.)
According to delegation members from both sides, the
talks on Sept. 13 and 14 were marked by disagreement.
Government representatives were focused on procedural
issues, while the rebel delegation wanted to discuss
elements of their peace proposal. The delegations were also
divided on whether negotiating sessions should take place
without the presence of observers or Roman Catholic Church
mediators.
The government has not presented a peace plan.
Instead, the delegation arrived with a proposal calling for
two days of talks every two months. The FMLN
representatives said they preferred regular talks every 30
days, and that the agenda must include substantive
negotiations toward ending the war.
At a press conference on Sept. 13, rebel delegation
chiefs Joaquin Villalobos and Schafick Handal described the
three stages of the FMLN's peace proposal. The first calls
for a ceasefire by Nov. 15, broad reforms including
appointment of a new Supreme Court and Justice Minister,
redesigning electoral legislation, moving up legislative and
municipal elections scheduled for 1991, cessation of
repression, establishing a special procedure to identify and
prosecute persons responsible for the assassination of
Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, and prosecution of "all
persons implicated in the death squads."
The second phase would involve legalization of a
political party comprised of FMLN leaders and activists and
the rebels' existing communications media and networks; and
the continuity of certain economic reforms commenced by the
government of President Jose Napoleon Duarte, mainly
agrarian reform.
The third phase would include negotiations for the
definitive cessation of hostilities no later than Jan. 31,
1990, the total integration of the FMLN into the nation's
political life; and constitutional and electoral reforms
formulated by all political parties, legally constituted and
"in formation"; reorganization of El Salvador's several
security forces into a single military force under the
control of and orders by elected civilians, and a reduction
in the number of troops "strictly necessary for national
defense." Another element of the final phase would see the
FMLN and the government requesting that Washington replace
military aid to El Salvador with funds for economic and
social reconstruction.
Villalobos and Handal insisted on the presence of
international observers during future negotiations, and of
the Catholic Church as mediator. The FMLN has proposed,
they said, that the observers be appointed by the United
Nations and the Organization of American States. The two
multilateral organizations, they added, could select Mexican
diplomats to serve as witnesses.
Handal said the government's refusal to accept
proposals regarding a moderator/mediator and witnesses is
evidence of its intransigence. According to Villalobos, the
government was apparently interested in the Mexico City
talks as part of its dilatory tactics, while the FMLN was
attending with the aim of bringing an end to the war as soon
as possible.
Bishop Romeo Tovar Astorga, a witness at the talks
selected by the government, said the rebel demand for
prosecution of Archbishop Romero's assassins is rather
"partisan," given that "the armed struggle...has caused more
than 70,000 deaths." The bishop added that acceptance of
this rebel demand implies discriminating against the dignity
of the many thousands of other Salvadorans killed and
otherwise damaged in the fighting.
On Sept. 14, Handal told reporters the government's
concern for procedural matters is "very restrictive."
Auxiliary Bishop Gregorio Rosa Chavez, attending the
talks as an observer, told reporters that if the peace talks
achieve progress toward ending the war in 1990, the
Salvadoran Church would invite Pope John Paul II to attend
the signing of peace accords. He said that the Pope is
scheduled to visit El Salvador in May 1990.
In San Salvador, Deputy Defense Minister Col. Orlando
Zepeda called the rebel proposal to reorganize and reduce
the size of the armed forces a thinly disguised attempt to
seize power.
Also in San Salvador, Guillermo Ungo, general secretary
of the Revolutionary National Movement (MNR), told reporters
that before negotiating with the rebels, President Cristiani
must first negotiate with El Salvador's "real power": the
armed forces, and wealthy business interests in the
Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA). Although the peace
process is now "irreversible," said Ungo, the two sides are
still far apart, and their strategies and timeframes are
different.
Ungo said the government is beginning to recognize
everyone must pay a price for peace. At present, government
officials, he added, are attempting to achieve a peace for
which they give up nothing or an insignificant price.
The leftist political leader stated that the FMLN has
demonstrated great flexibility. For instance, he said, the
rebels have suspended economic sabotage and decreed a 10-day
unilateral ceasefire as a goodwill gesture. Meanwhile, he
added, all the government does is demand more and more, and
gives nothing.
In reference to the government delegation's
"procedural" proposal, Ungo said it is an offer to realize
"a clandestine dialogue--without mediation, without a
negotiator, and without witnesses." (Basic data from AP,
Xinhua, 09/14/89; New York Times, 09/14/89; and several
reports by Notimex, 09/13/89, 09/14/89)
COUNTRY NOTES, GUATEMALA
GUATEMALA: REPORT ON RECENT VIOLENCE
On Sept. 14, local media sources reported that two
unidentified bodies were discovered in San Pablo
municipality, San Marcos department. The eyes and genitals
of one of the corpses were missing.
In the village of Ecos, San Marcos department, several
unidentified armed men burst through the door of a
residence and shot to death three adults. Two children in
the home were wounded.
On the same day, the bodies of four unidentified men
were found at kilometer 35 on the Coatepeque-Colombo Costa
Cuca roadway, Quetzaltenango department.
Next, Genaro Roblero Barrios, 40; Gustavo Roblero de
Leon, 35; Lionel Roblero Chavez, 22; and, Juan Ovalle Lopez,
32, were abducted in Tejutla, San Marcos deparment. In
Tonala, San Pedro Zacatepeque municipality of the same
department, Carlos Rodriguez, 40, and Fidel Rodriguez de
Leon, 24, were reported kidnapped.
During the weekend, the bodies of three cobblers were
found on the outskirts of Guatemala City. They had been
shot at point-blank range, and their hands amputated.
(Basic data from Notimex, 09/14/89)
GUATEMALA: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY
On Sept. 13, the US State Department issued an advisory
for citizens planning to visit Guatemala to "take necessary
precautions," and to avoid certain locations if possible.
The advisory was distributed to travel agencies and
government offices, and is effective until October. Foreign
Minister Mario Palencia said that officially he had not
received the advisory, but acknowledged it will affect US
tourism in Guatemala.
The advisory said that during a recently concluded
public employees' strike a large number of terrorist
incidents occurred, including bomb and grenade explosions in
shopping areas, at bus stops and at public events, such as
soccer games. In addition, it said, several vehicles have
been robbed recently on the principal highway between
Guatemala City and Panajachel, a major tourism site on
Atitlan Lake. The communique noted that when some drivers
refused to stop, assailants fired weapons at their vehicles.
In tourist areas such as Antigua, Guatemala and Tikal,
as well as in the eastern region of the country, terrorist
incidents and robberies have not been reported.
The advisory also said that fighting between government
troops and guerrillas continues in western Guatemala.
(Basic data from Notimex, 09/13/89)
COUNTRY NOTES, NICARAGUA
NICARAGUA: FSLN DIRECTORATE MEMBER SAYS
SANDINISTAS WILL TAKE 70% OF VOTE IN FEBRUARY
On Sept. 14, Bayardo Arce, member of the Sandinista
National Liberation Front (FSLN) directorate, told reporters
that the FSLN would receive 70% of the vote in the February
elections. In the November 1984 elections, the Sandinista
ticket comprised of President Daniel Ortega and Vice
President Sergio Ramirez, captured 62% of the vote.
Many political analysts, however, predict that the FSLN
is not likely to capture a large majority of ballots in
February since the opposition is larger and better organized
than in 1984.
Arce contends that the only difference in 1990 will be
that voters will have nine choices instead of the six party
tickets of 1984. Regarding the National Opposition Union
(UNO), he said, "I see no extraordinary element."
Arce said Sandinista candidates will be announced after
the FSLN convention scheduled for Sept. 25. (Basic data
from Notimex, 09/14/89)
IN WASHINGTON, FORMER NICARAGUAN CONTRA LEADER SAYS
U.N.O. REQUESTS ELECTION OBSERVERS, NOT FUNDING
On Sept. 14 in Washington, former Nicaraguan contra
leader Alfredo Cesar told reporters that the presence of
observers from the US, Latin America and Europe is necessary
to ensure that the February 1990 elections in Nicaragua are
conducted freely and fairly. Cesar recently returned to
Nicaragua, and joined the Social Democratic Party, one of 14
political groups under the National Opposition Union (UNO).
UNO presidential candidate, Violeta Barrios de
Chamorro, is scheduled to address 15,000 Nicaraguan exiles
in Miami on Sept. 17. Her topic will be national
reconciliation.
Cesar said UNO needs7+/1Ijt that he and other UNO
leaders did not come to Washington seeking funds.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration is considering a $3
million contribution to the Barrios de Chamorro campaign.
(Basic data from AFP, 09/14/89)
ALFONSO ROBELO RETURNS TO NICARAGUA AFTER
SEVEN YEARS OF EXILE IN COSTA RICA
At a press conference in Managua on Sept. 13, Alfonso
Robelo, former contra leader, told reporters that he decided
to return to Nicaragua after seven years in exile because
"things have changed for the better."
Robelo was a member of the first governing junta after
the overthrow of dictator Anastasio Somoza in 1979. Nine
months later he resigned, accusing the Sandinistas of
betraying the revolution. Later, he established the
Nicaraguan Democratic Movement (MDN), and went into exile in
March 1982. At present, the MDN is a legally constituted
political party under the Nicaraguan Opposition Union (UNO)
coalition.
In Costa Rica, Robelo joined the contra force known as
the Democratic Revolutionary Alliance (ARDE) headed by Eden
Pastora. Later, he was a member of the contra political
directorate, known as the Nicaraguan Resistance.
Robelo said that the contras as a fighting force are a
"closed subject" given the regional peace plan for their
demobilization, repatriation and relocation. The former
contra leader has said that the formation of the contra army
was a "sterile" means to attempt change of Nicaragua's
government, since thousands of Nicaraguans were killed in
the process. However, he added, the contras served a
purpose by bringing the government to accept political
reforms and elections. (Basic data from Notimex, 09/13/89)
NICARAGUA: AMERICAS WATCH DELEGATION
BEGINS TOUR OF PRISONS
On Sept. 12 in Managua, Juan Mendez of Americas Watch
told Barricada that the human rights organization had
initiated a tour of Nicaragua's state security prisons, also
known as federal penitentiaries. The tour marks the first
time, according to Notimex, that Americas Watch has had
access to the six institutions.
Opposition groups have claimed the prisons harbor
clandestine torture chambers, and that 6,000 persons have
been incarcerated for political crimes and collaborating
with the contras.
In August, an International Red Cross inspection team
counted 1,306 persons detained for alleged counter-
revolutionary activities.
Mendez said he and two other Americas Watch
representatives will spend two weeks interviewing prison
inmates, and conducting other types of investigations of the
prisons.
Next, Mendez told Barricada that Americas Watch
negotiations with the contra commanders in Honduras to
obtain authorization to visit their camps have met with
little success. The purpose of such visits, he said, would
be to determine the number of kidnapping victims held by the
contras.
Mendez said, "We have met with little cooperation on
the part of the counterrevolution and less from the Honduran
government."
The Nicaraguan government claims the contras in
Honduras are holding at least 1,800 kidnapping victims. The
contras deny the existence of such victims. (Basic data
from Notimex, 09/12/89)
NICARAGUAN PRESIDENT: U.S. BLOCKING
CONTRIBUTIONS TO FINANCE ELECTIONS
On Sept. 10, a delegation of US congresspersons and
Janet Mullins, Asst. Secretary of State for Legislative
Affairs, met with President Daniel Ortega and Foreign
Minister Miguel d'Escoto to express their concerns about the
the February 1990 elections. The congressional delegation
consisted of four members of the House.
Mullins asked Ortega if the government would permit an
official US government delegation to observe the Feb. 25
general elections. The president said that as a condition
for permitting such an observer team, the US must halt its
efforts to preserve the contras as a fighting force. Money
earmarked for their preservation, he said, should be used
instead to finance their repatriation or relocation. Next,
Ortega said Washington must stop trying to block Nicaragua's
efforts to get money from Western European countries.
Paul S. Reichler, a Washington lawyer who represents
the Nicaraguan government, was quoted by the New York Times
as saying: "This is the first time a Bush administration
official has met with President Ortega and held substantive
talks. It's a very positive step. The climate was amicable.
I hope it leads to more direct contacts between the
administration and the government of Nicaragua, and
ultimately to the normalization of relations."
In its Sept. 13 issue, Barricada quoted President
Ortega as saying that the Bush administration is blocking
contributions from Europe and Latin America to finance the
February 1990 elections. Estimates of election costs are
$25 million, and foreign aid is essential to cover at least
part of the expense.
Ortega said Washington's problem is whether to maintain
or not its economic embargo of Nicaragua, but it can't
obstruct the inflow of funds to cover the elections."
Next, the president reiterated that if US
congresspersons want to come to Nicaragua as election
observers, they must first support a Central American peace
plan to dismantle the contra army by Dec. 8. (Basic data
from AP, New York Times, 09/13/89)
U.S. GOVERNMENT-FINANCED HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP SAYS NICARAGUAN
GOVERNMENT OBSCURES POLITICAL PRISONERS AS COMMON CRIMINALS
According to a new Miami-based organization, known as
the Nicaraguan Pro-Human Rights Association, 5,416 persons
have been incarcerated in Nicaragua for political reasons.
The Nicaraguan government, says the Association, obscures
the existence of political prisoners by calling them common
criminals. In a report by Notimex, the Association was
described as financed by the US government.
The Association dismissed a recent report by the
International Red Cross on the number of political prisoners
in Nicaraguan jails. In a Sept. 9 communique, the
Association said, "The Red Cross saw what the Sandinistas
wanted it to see."
Next, the Association demanded a detailed review of
Nicaragua's judicial system archives to determine the true
number of political prisoners. This review would be
executed by the Nicaraguan Human Rights Commission, the UN
Permanent Human Rights Commission, the Catholic Church, and
organizations of former political prisoners.
The Nicaraguan government has pledged to free some
1,300 political prisoners--most in jail on charges of
collaborating with the contras--when demobilization of the
contra army in Honduras is completed. (Basic data from
Notimex, 09/09/89)
COUNTRY NOTES, PANAMA
PANAMA: U.S. MILITARY EXERCISES CONTINUE
On Sept. 14, US troops under the Southern Command took
strategic sites in the Amador Causeway area southwest of the
capital in maneuvers that involved 350 soldiers, four
landing craft, 17 armored tanks and undetermined number of
helicopters, according to military sources. Military
exercises have been constant in the last several days.
US troops also occupied positions Thursday on Perico
isla.2+Oe Panama's elite troops are located.
On Sept. 13, the US Army conducted an exercise
involving a mock evacuation of 200 students in the city of
Colon, backed by three helicopters and an A-37 fighter
plane. The maneuvers, employing 100 soldiers from the Ninth
Combat Regiment from Fort Ord, Ca., consisted of evacuating
the Coco Solo secondary school in the Panama Canal area
because of a supposed flood. The four-hour exercise was
designed to transport people to US military installations in
the event that land routes are closed, according to the
Southern Command. The students were taken from the school
to a landing craft, protected by dozens of soldiers armed
with M-16 assault rifles and M-60 machine guns. (Basic data
from AFP, Xinhua, 09/14/89)
PANAMA: U.S. EXPANDS ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
On Sept. 12, State Department spokesperson Margaret
Tutwiler told reporters that the US government had expanded
economic sanctions against Panama to force Gen. Manuel
Antonio Noriega from power. The measures, she said,
included suspension of Panamanian sugar imports, and
expanding the list of Panamanian companies and individuals
associated with Noriega to whom US citizens will be barred
from making payments.
Panama's 1989 sugar quota of 30,537 metric tons has
been reallocated to other countries, said Tutwiler,
resulting in close to $15 million in revenue losses to the
Panamanian government. In addition, she said, the US trade
representative has suspended a further quota of 23,043
metric tons to which Panama would have been entitled because
of a quota increase.
On Sept. 13, Cartillero Castillo, general director of
the state-owned sugar company, La Victoria, said the
government is seeking to divert its sugar exports to other
buyers in Europe and elsewhere. He said France will
purchase some of the sugar that otherwise would have gone to
the US. Panama is also negotiating deals to barter sugar
for fertilizers and other items in short supply. (Basic
data from Reuters, 09/12/89; 09/14/89)
PANAMA PROTESTS USE OF COSTA RICAN TERRITORY
FOR TRANSMISSION OF "SLANDEROUS" RADIO BROADCASTS
On Sept. 12 the Panamanian media reported that the
government had lodged a formal protest with the Costa Rican
authorities regarding the use of that country's territory as
a base for transmission of slanderous radio broadcasts.
Romero Villalobos, director of communications media for the
Interior and Justice Ministry, was quoted as saying Panama's
ambassador to Costa Rica, Dario Arosemen
a, presented the
protest note in San Jose.
The reports said Villalobos referred to Radio Impacto,
an installation that has been used by the Nicaraguan
contras. The radio station broadcasts news and commentary
lambasting the Panamanian government.
Villalobos said Panamanian security forces are
investigating the source of various clandestine,
anti-government radio broadcasts and radio interference
which are believed to be supported by the US Southern
Command. (Basic data from Xinhua, 09/12/89)
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