NetNews Usenet Archive 1993 #1/NN_1993_1.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/9800

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From: [e-mail] (Andrew Lang)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: National Agenda on Accords Violati
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Date: 6 Jan 93 04:21:53 GMT
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/* Written  2:17 pm  Jan  5, 1993 by [e-mail] in igc:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "National Agenda on Accords Violati" ---------- */
NATIONAL AGENDA FOR PEACE IN EL SALVADOR

January 5, 1993

     Cristiani Violates Peace Accords,
       Refuses to Purge Military

     U.S. Pressure For Compliance Needed


  Under the Salvadoran Peace Accords signes last January, President Alfredo
Cristiani was required to implement the recommendations of the Ad Hoc
Commission which reviewed the human rights record of senior military
officers.  The Commission recommended the dismissal of nearly 80 senior
officers, and the transfer of almost 40 others.  According to the final
calendar negotiated by the United Nations in November, Cristiani was
required to order the transfers and dismissals as part of the annual
reassignment of officers that is announced each December 31st.

  President Cristiani failed to comply with this agreement.  No senior
officers were dismissed or transferred in the December 31st order.  This is
a major violation of the Peace Accords.  The final demobilization of the
FMLN was predicated on President Cristiani's pledge to carry out this purge
of the military.  More generally, the agreement to transform the nature of
the Salvadoran Armed Forces by dismissing most of the current senior
officers was one of the negotiated structural changes that made the FMLN
agree to lay down their arms and participate in political life.

  Congress and the State Department need to make clear to President
Cristiani that the United States expects full compliance with the Accords,
and that no further U.S.  assistance, either military or economic, will be
released until there is compliance.

Background

  President Cristiani, under heavy pressure from the Armed Forces, has been
attempting to delay or alter the purge of military officers for months.
After the Ad Hoc Commission made its report, Cristiani asked the United
Nations to allow him to implement only some of its recommendations, and to
extend the timeline for implementation.  The U.N. rejected this request.
Later, Cristiani sought to negotiate with the FMLN, seeking to exempt some
officers and lengthen the timeline.  The FMLN refused to agree.  Finally,
in December, Cristiani offered the FMLN an accelerated land reform program,
money for ex-combatants, and security guarantees in return for changes in
the purge of the military.  Again, the FMLN refused.

  The rebels have taken the position that they are willing to be flexible
about the timing of the military purge, if that will help guarantee
political stability.  But they are opposed to any changes which exonerate
military officers or permit them to continue in their command positions.

  Apparently, the military has been effective in pressuring Cristiani to
delay the implementation of the recommendations.  Cristiani, still hoping
to negotiate with the rebels, permitted the Decembers 31st deadline to pass
without ordering any dismissals.

  Condemnation of Cristiani's inactions has been strong and swift.
Archbishop Rivera y Damas, in his January 3rd sermon, called for full
implementaion of the Ad Hoc Commission's report.  And the United Nations,
in a statement, criticized Cristiani for violating the Accords.

  In response to this pressure, Cristiani announced on Monday, January 4th,
that he had a private supplemental list of changes in the military, and
that most of the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Commission were included in
it.  Reportedly though, the list exempts seven to ten officers, including
Defense Minister Rene Emilio Ponce.  Thus Cristiani remains in violation of
the Peace Accords by not fully implementing the recommendations of the Ad
Hoc Commission.

  Discussions about the timing and details of the purge may continue
between Cristiani, the FMLN, and the United Nations, and there may be
further developments.  But the basic problem remains Cristiani's failure to
live up to the terms of the Peace Accords.


Action

  The United States needs to convey clearly to President Cristiani its
expectation that there will be full compliance with the recommendations of
the Ad Hoc Commission.

  The State Department and the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador ought to convey
the message that U.S. military and economic assistance is contingent on
full compliance.

  Members of Congress should send a similar message to President Cristiani.
Under the terms of the Foreign Aid bill approved last October, the approval
of four Congressional committees is required to release economic or
demobilizations assistance to El Salvador during 1993.  Individual members
of Congress should write or call President Cristiani, informing him that
they will oppose the release of any aid unless there
is full compliance.

  Please call the El Salvador desk of the State Department (202 647-4000),
and your Member of Congress (switchboard -202 224-3121) today, and ask them
to convey this message to President Cristiani.


National Agenda for Peace in El Salvador
2000 P Street, NW
Washington, D.C.  20036
information line updated frequently -[phone]