The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.
Saturday, 12 October 1991 - 7:00 PM
We are gathered in the living room for our first meeting, and as he did last year, Father T. has come from one of the local parishes to talk with us about the current situation in the country. He has brought with him M., who works with Christian base communities in another parish. They request that we list some of our questions, and then they will try to address these issues in particular during their talk. The delegation asks for the churches' view on the negotiations [Peace talks were then on-going, resulting in the signing of a Peace Accord early in 1992]; changes which have taken place since last year; is military reform possible? and a discussion of the recent persecution of educators. Just as Father T. is about to begin, a woman enters the room and is introduced as Th., who works with expectant mothers and newborn infants, and also with M. on Bible study.
"Let me say this first. In this country, through the efforts of the negotiations, even though not all of the agreements have been signed yet, to this point there are things which have not been fulfilled, but the agreements have opened spaces at every level - for the popular organizations, political parties, churches. In the years before the accords, there was a continuous struggle for economic justice, for the right to organize ourselves, for human rights, land reform, against the impunity of the armed forces. We had all of these issues as struggles, but with the accords, there is something concrete for the people to grab onto. Before there was no legal structure (to back us up), even though our struggles were legitimate and just. From the point of view of the government, anything which came out of the popular organizations was seen as illegitimate. So the accords are legitimizing forces, opening spaces in which we can work.
"Last year there were no opposition deputies in the assembly, but there are some now. The government and the armed forces did not give this of their own free will. It is a result of the people's struggle during the past ten years.
"Each day, the more the process moves along, we in some way think more optimistically. Though not much is concrete yet! One thing concrete that has been established is ONUSAL [United Nations Peace-keeping Observer Mission]. All of the countries represented on ONUSAL are here watching regarding human rights. We have also seen some changes in the constitution. They have been ratified, but they will not be implemented until a ceasefire happens. This is not all that needs to be done, but what has been gained is considerable.
"The guarantees for the future will come from those at the negotiating table. At present the only ones represented there have been the FMLN [Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front], the government, and the United Nations. We have not yet had representatives from the social and popular organizations. But now we have the Commission for Peace (COPAZ) in which all the political parties will be represented, as well as the FMLN and the Archbishop of San Salvador. This will open up the spectrum at the negotiating table.
"The most recent accords signed in New York City are an expression of what the people have been able to achieve, to win. The government had always said that it would not sit down with the FMLN, (but they are doing it.) The Auxiliary Bishop just said in a recent homily, 'Never say,"never!"! The accords are not everything that people hoped for, but we can't throw away hope. I believe that in the end we will be able to break the power of the armed forces."
Th.: "There are hopes, and for the people there need to be continuing commitments. We have been saying No to privatization, and to the armed forces. Now we are called to present an alternative plan. But we are not yet trained, are not economists. We are not used to dealing with the actual task of restructuring.
"We are trying to develop the theme of 'concertation' or unity, and this involves an evaluation of the work that we have done in previous years. The accords bring to the popular movement new challenges, because we say that the accords actually place into our hands the possibility to structure the future. This is also a challenge for the church."
Betsy observes that in some ways their situation is similar to that in the Soviet Union and in Germany. [Note that this conversation took place not quite two years after the fall of the Berlin wall, with reunification of Germany and collapse of the Soviet Union on-going issues.]
Father T.: "This is a challenge because our society has experienced so much misery and injustice. We must be careful that we are not broken by the dominant culture of the world. In this country we want a project in support of life. We are very aware that we could run into the same problems that the Nicaraguan revolution encountered."
Th.: "Catechists face many challenges. Drug addiction, for one. We would like to integrate these people into society, because they are not addicts because they want to be, but because they were forced to it by society. We also have concerns for women, and for the unemployed. We want to learn how to combat illiteracy. So there is a great challenge in the field of education, especially with the families of the military, as we integrate these people back into society. The great challenge of reconstruction is not just economic, but also personal. We have the remnants of a very individualistic society. It is very difficult for these people to form solidarity groups.
"The capitalist system under which we have lived is very rigid. We need to overturn this."
Father T.: "It will be important for international groups to watch, to make sure that the accords are really enforced. Maybe you have a role to play here. You have already helped by keeping pressure on the United States government and on the government here. It is necessary that we all keep watch.
"As for human rights in this country, justice is still not in place. In two recent cases, those who killed the Jesuits were let off, and the authorities never had captured all those responsible. They have made a mockery of justice. We see from the fact that this was permitted despite all of the pressures, that if there hadn't been such pressure, we would have seen nothing at all happen. We have to ask ourselves if it wouldn't have been better to have no convictions at all, because as things stand now, people in the United States can claim that yes, things are better (in El Salvador).
"In the other case, known as the macabre well case, remains of fifteen bodies had been found in a well. Eleven people responsible were finally arrested, and they even explained how they had done the killings. All eleven were members of the Civil Defense. Not one of them was found guilty; all have been freed.
"We have the accords, but the agreements are being manipulated by the military. The Auxiliary Bishop has said that as Christians, we must always be ready to forgive, but we have to know who it is we are to forgive. The system of justice here hides the guilty.
"Concerning oppression of the church, houses have been searched and church workers have been threatened. Yesterday the ASTAL union headquarters was searched. Other sites were previously searched and their leaders threatened. Perhaps you are aware of the case of Mirtala Lopez? (We all nod in agreement.)
"A professor at the teacher's union was also threatened. We could develop a long list of cases of oppression. At the same time that the government and the FMLN have been at the negotiating table, the military has increased their operations, especially in strong oppression against the repopulated villages. This is one more way in which harassment and repression take place.
"So we see that repression has not decreased. On the contrary, in recent months it has been on the rise. Death squad activity has also increased.
"You asked if the military can be reformed. The military themselves have maintained a very intransigent attitude. But without military reform, nothing else will be accomplished. We can see an example of this in Haiti. If there is no reform, the same thing will happen here. So this is a major problem. This is the central point on which all of us must focus our struggle. With the agreements, there is the possibility of dismantling the military little by little, but it will not be easy.
"I believe the role of delegations is to be vigilant, and to exert pressure to be sure that the agreements are fulfilled. Also, as we go into the phase of reconstruction, we will need you to strengthen your efforts. Some people might say that El Salvador doesn't need solidarity any more, but just the reverse is true. Now we need your help the most. If we are to make misery disappear here, and offer a real future for our children, we will need technical support and moral support. We are not all trained in technology. In the new society, we will need that training.
"You need to keep clear who should be channels for assistance. Everybody will be out there trying to rebuild. ARENA [Nationalist Republican Alliance, the right-wing political party which governed El Salvador at the time] will try to put on its best face. They will set up projects with political objectives, trying to retain the neo-liberal system."
Th.: "With relationship to the kinds of assistance we will need, we want technical assistance to return to organic fertilizer. We don't want chemicals, yet that is what is sold to Third World countries.
"We want our own sovereignty. In the past there has been a system which fostered dependency. It is important that the support is from people to people. We never know when the government is going to channel the funds they receive to the armed forces.
"We need to achieve a situation where the country can produce what its citizens need. Now we produce mostly for export. The markets are full, but very few can afford the items in them."
M.: "With the signing of the agreements, possibilities have been opened, but we have a tremendous challenge. In the popular organizations as well as in the churches you as Christians must give more support. You must be vigilant."
Th.: "It is important that you have come in solidarity. Just now besides oppression we are facing disease and epidemic. The need is great."
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