EL SALVADOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00363R001403210046-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 5, 2007
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: November 1, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/11/05: CIA-RDP85M00363R001403210046-5
STAT
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VV
A quick reference aid on U.S. foreign relations
Not a comprehensive policy statement
Bureau of Public Affairs ? Department of State
?
?
El Salvador November 1982
Background: The Salvadoran political system was marked by more than
50 years of domination by a wealthy elite, whose interests were
protected by the military. Although there was considerable economic
progress from 1945 to, 1975, the newly emerging middle class did not
receive a corresponding share of political power. 'Marxist groups
advocating violent change had long existed, but their numbers in-
creased rapidly after the failure of a democratic alternative in the
1972 presidential elections when Jose Napoleon Duarte; the apparent
winner and leader of the Christian Democratic Party, was denied the
presidency and exiled. By the late 1970s, the_ traditional political
structure began to disintegrate under a cycle of escalating violence
and counterviolence from leftwing and rightwing terrorists.
On October 15, 1979, a group of junior and middle-grade army officers
overthrew the government of General Carlos Humberto Romero and issued
a manifesto which:
ome resident or the
Revolutionary Junta.
Economic reform: The junta embarked upon the most comprehensive land
reform program in Latin America. As of October 1982, the program has
benefited more than 370,000 peasants whose heads of household have
become the owners of the land they previously worked (an estimated
total of 19% of all Salvadoran farmland--including 53% of the land
devoted to sugarcane, 13% of the coffee land, and 38% of the cotton
land). The wealthy were. divested of control of the banks to enable
----t-h-e- Bove rnme-n-t--to-- prov-rde -cred-i t-i n-s-uppo-r-t- -of-the --land--re fo-rm-,a-nd---- ---
government marketing boards have been established for major export
commodities.
- Denounced abuses of power by government officials;
- Proclaimed a commitment to fundamental social and economic reforms,
including land reform; and
- Called for elections and a transition to a democracy.
In January 1980, Duarte returned from exile +-r% he "n
Political reform: The junta met its commitment to initiate a demo-
cratic electoral process. The first step was the March 28, 1982
Constituent Assembly elections. More than 80% of eligible Salvadorans
turned out in a courageous demonstration of the Salvadoran people's
desire to end the violence wracking their country. Over 300 foreign
observers and 800 journalists attested to the election's fairness.
Because no single party won a majority of the seats in the Constituent
Assembly, a Government of National Unity, led by independent Alvaro
Magana and including representatives of. the three major parties in the
Assembly, was formed to govern until, presidential elections are held.
Roberto D'Aubuisson, leader of the National Republican Alliance
(ARENA) which won the second largest number of.seats, was elected
Speaker of the Constituent Assembly. The Assembly is drafting a new
constitution and has set the ground rules. and date for presidential
elections for March 28, 1984. The soon-to-be-announced Peace
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Commission will formulate recommendations to the president on such
issues as amnesty for guerrillas and pacification.
Human rights: Long a violent country, El Salvador suffers from a
breakdown of the judicial system. Extremist groups of left and right
and elements of the security forces continue to commit human rights
abuses. The government, however, is attempting to improve the human
rights situation: The military has issued a code of conduct for its
personnel; well over 1,000 security personnel have been dismissed or
disciplined since October 1979, including 300 in the past year; five
former National Guard members have been arrested and are being tried
in the case of the four American churchwomen; and other current or
former security officers have been arrested in other cases. In our
training of Salvadoran troops and officers, we stress that the guer-
rilla war can best be won through respect for the rights of noncom-
batants. The result of these efforts has been a decline in civilian
deaths attributable to political reasons by 60% from 18 months ago.
The guerrillas: Five Marxist guerrilla groups, trained and armed by
Cuba, Nicaragua, and other Communist or radical states and dedicated
to seizing power by force, were united under Castro's auspices to form
the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. The guerrillas failed
in their January 1981 "final offensive" and in their attempt to
disrupt the Constituent Assembly elections. Although their civilian
allies, the Democratic Revolutionary Front (FDR) which operates out of
Mexico, refused invitations to participate in the Constituent Assembly
elections, the Salvadoran Government hopes that more moderate elements
of the FDR can be persuaded to join in the ongoing political process.
Current situation and prospects: Major progress has been made since
1979 in transforming El Salvador from an authoritarian to a democratic
and more just society. The Salvadoran military is improving its
ability to contain the guerrillas who, as the elections demonstrate,
represent only a small minority. The constructive changes now well
underway will require years to complete and institutionalize.
Progress is being made on human rights, and problems associated with
the land reform have been overcome. The reestablishment of a well-
functioning judiciary and. the development of confidence necessary for
economic investment are critical challenges facing the government.
US policy: The US believes it is necessary to build on the major prog-
ress. already made in achieving the goals cited in the October 1979
manifesto. The US strongly supports efforts to reach a peaceful, equi-
al and economic
c
liti
s po
'
El Salvador
solution to
table, and durable problems. US assistance to El Salvador (millions of dollars) is:
1980
1981
1982
1983 request
Economic aid
58.5
104.5
192.5
164.9
3
61
Military aid
6.0
35.5
82.0
.
US economic aid is being used to overcome balance-of-payments
problems,. finance labor-intensive employment in public projects,
support the land reform program, and provide help for displaced
Salvadoran armed forces protect
th
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ps
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aid he
ilitar
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Our m
persons. ectreft1puandrtheoSathat the lvadoranppeopleathemselves.cann
economic reforms can proceed
continue to decide their own future.
so
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