For the Committee In Solidarity With The People of El Salvador (CISPES), the peace accords signed in Mexico City simply marked another phase in the "revolution" we have been a part of since 1980. We knew that the FMLN continued to have the same dedication and commitment to fundamental change in the country, whether they were an armed front in the mountains or taking on the ARENA party in the halls of the National Assembly. The commitment to the poor and to distribute the wealth of the country in an equitable way remained at the core of the party's analysis.
It wasn't an easy postwar period. Two member organizations of the FMLN lost their way and eventually left the Frente, but this helped the party become stronger and more clear in its vision for the country's future.
After 1992 the challenge was to (1) guarantee the full implementation of the peace accords, which altered enormously the face of Salvadoran political, economic, military and social life and (2) consolidate the people behind the FMLN as a political party, a force that could wrest control from the ultra-right forces which have ruled the country since before Farabundo Marti was killed in the 1932 uprising.
In El Salvador following the end of the war, we met with the FMLN and the popular movement. It was so clear to us that we needed to remain firmly in solidarity with the people there and see the struggle through. We knew it was just another phase of the people's struggle and that the analysis, strategies and goals of the postwar period were going to bring results. And they have!
Today more Salvadorans live in towns and cities controlled by FMLN mayors than ARENA mayors. The two largest cities in the country, San Salvador and Santa Ana, have FMLN or FMLN/Coalition mayors. The FMLN has 27 seats in the National Assembly, only one less than ARENA at 28. Fifty-three municipalities have FMLN mayors! The March 16 elections sent the ARENA party reeling. And ARENA is, to this day, wracked by dissension, corruption and lack of vision.
Many objective observers in El Salvador are predicting that the FMLN could win the presidency in 1999 and one ARENA party member has been quoted as saying, "We will probably hand you the presidency in '99 on a silver platter," referring to the series of financial scandals and unpopular positions which have plagued the party.
Yes, the FMLN is on a roll, but the devastating economic and social problems of the country continue to cast a pall over their work. The issues are incredibly complex and serious: the fight against privatization, the struggle to protect the rights of workers in the maquiladora (sweatshop) sectors, the environmental tragedy of the war years. the horrible poverty and joblessness, the exploitation of women and children, the struggle in El Salvador against the globalized political economy and neoliberalism which is attacking the poor and workers all over the world.
El Salvador IS standing up to the globalized political economy and the FMLN is in the forefront of that struggle. CISPES is proud to be there with them. The Salvadoran revolution has not been won. It continues. And it continues successfully. Only this month, the FMLN orchestrated a coalition vote in the National Assembly which forced the government to increase funding to local towns and villages, forcing President Calderon Sol to alter the federal budget against his will.
In September of 1998 the FMLN, in convention in San Salvador, chose the candidates to represent them in The March 1999 elections. Facundo Guardado, General Secretary of the party, will be the presidential candidate and Marta Valladares (known during the war as Nidia Diaz), will be the vice-presidential standard bearer.
These two legendary figures, who were leaders during the 1980-1992 war, have gone on to lead the party and their followers to enormous political victories in the postwar period. CISPES and the worldwide solidarity movement will play a role in the electoral struggle beginning almost immediately.
The war was 12 years long, took 75,000 lives and included nearly six billion dollars in US military aid to the government of El Salvador. But that little country, the size of Massachusetts, held on to its ideals, faced down the US government and continues to struggle for the goals of the revolution. And CISPES and hundreds of activists all over the US are proud and inspired to still be at their side.