El Salvador elections: Vote settles nothing

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The results of the March 25 Salvadoran elections were officially validated April 1. Jose Napoleon Duarte, the Christian Democratic now heading the government drew 43.4 percent of the vote. Roberto d'Aubuisson, leader of the far-right National Republican Alliance and closely associated with the death squads, placed second with 29.8 percent. Francisco Jose Guerrero of the rightwing National Conciliation Party was third with 19.3 percent. Duarte and d'Aubuisson will face each other in a runoff election within one month.

The Reagan adminstration banked heavily on the elections. Washington policymakers hoped to create the image of a stable government, democratically elected. This would justify their stepped-up efforts to militarily defeat the popular revolutionary forces led by the Democratic Revolutionary Front/Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FDR/ FMLN).

In the week before the elections 2500 U.S. combat troops were parachuted into Honduras near the Salvadoran border. The April 1 San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle quoted 'one military source" who described this as "sending a message to the Salvadoran insurgents that the U.S. is here." Military pressure was further increased when the Pentagon announced Ocean Venture 84 on March 22. The March 23 New York Times described it as a joint-service Caribbean maritime exercise involving 30,000 soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen that would begin April 20.

The same week saw the White House step up efforts to force an additional $61.75 million in military funds for El Salvador through Congress. Edward Cody reported in the March 29 San Francisco Chronicle that U.S. pilots were flying reconnaissance missions for the Salvadoran army. He also indicated that although U.S. officials claim that there are only 55 military advisers in El Salvador, the actual number aiding the government armed forces is much higher. Once pilots, ground crews, embassy personnel, 170 "other trainers," ind staff are counted the number is far closer to 500.

Atmosphere of death

Despite Washington's desires the elections settled little. Any image of a broad democratic decision was challenged by the context of civil war in which the elections were held. Forty thousand Salvadorans have already been killed since 1979 by government troops and by the government-controlled death squads. The popular revolutionary forces refused to participate in the elections. FDR leader Guillermo Ungo explained in the March 22 New York Times, "Free campaigns and political organizing are impossible in this atmosphere of repression, fear and death. For members of the opposition to run for office is to run for the cemetery." Nicaragua:

The democratic and stable image was also challenged by the lack of a clear majority for Duarte at the polls. Even the runoff is unlikely to be any more decisive. If Duarte wins, many fear a coup by the far right, especially now that he has come out for opening negotiations with the revolutionary opposition. If d'Aubuisson wins, the road will be opened for a sharpening of the civil war. The legitimate social demands of the majority of Salvadorans will be met with increased terror and repression.

Although Washington continues to escalate its military offensive, the recent elections mark a shift in Washington's policy away from total intransigence toward the revolutionary forces. Until now they have refused to even recognize the FDR/FMLN's offers for negotiations. However, this time they clearly favor Duarte who is openly campaigning (continued on page 3, in “[Los Angeles demonstration on March 24. Help build…]”)