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) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | FAX: 212-787-1726 patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | BBS: 201-795-0733 patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | (3/12/24/9600 Baud) -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-