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From: berman@psuvax1.UUCP (Piotr Berman)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Duarte,Christian Democrats
Message-ID: <1947@psuvax1.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Dec-85 00:29:36 EST
Article-I.D.: psuvax1.1947
Posted: Mon Dec 30 00:29:36 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 31-Dec-85 05:44:54 EST
Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ.
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>     Eduardo Krell               UCLA Computer Science Department
>       >Myers [Latitudarian?]

>       >And it doesn't put them in control of the military, either.
>
> Right, that is why Duarte has to be very cautious with the military.
> I don't think the military trusts him 100%. If they view his policies as
> "too revolutionary", a coup is always possible.
>
Since Duarte is not in control of the military, the chances are
he is controlled (at least partially).  Prosecution of death-squads
went nowhere, abuses of treasure police continue, land reform is
not heard about very much.

>       >Center-right, Center-center, or Center-left is also a matter
>       >of perspective, ?no?
>
> Yes, of course it is, but christian democrats have always fought for
> social justice, human rights, etc. I have never seem them labelled
> other than as center-left (that is, by some objective observer.
> Pinochet views them as being allies with the communist ...).
>
Say: frequently.

>       > ... (in reference to President Frei in Chile) ...
>       >... He also worked for the military coup which killed
>       >and overthrew Allende and thousands of Chileans on the hope that
>       >he and/or his party could return to power in post-coup elections
>       >-- but Pinochet had other plans.
>
> This is questionable. The christian democrats hold majority in the
> congress in 1970 when they had to choose a president between Allende
> and Alessandri (the first and second place in the elections).
> Since neither candidate got over 50% of the votes, the congress could
> pick one of the first two places.
> The national party (conservative right, Alessandri's) pressed the
> christian democrats to vote for Alessandri (so did the US government
> as we learned later), yet they voted for Allende to everyone's surprise.
>
I do not try to challenge you on those facts, but during the Pinochet
coup the alliences were different.  Possibly, it was not an allience,
but allegedly CD's hoped that Pinochet coup would put them back in
power after several years of transition.  Any comments about that?
Although the latter is partially a speculation, one may say
that CD didn't support Allende particularly.  Possibly they hoped
that after some chaotic period new ellection will put them
in the center of power again.
>       >> (me)
>       >> Duarte has asked the rebels to sit down and negotiate with
>       >> the government. They did so a couple of times but the rebels
>       >> broke up the negotiations.
>
>       >Sources?  Talk is cheap
>
> I am not making this up, believe me. I think it was about a year ago
> whem the catholic church sponsored a meeting between Duarte and the
> rebel leaders in some remote wooden house in the countryside.
> I recall seeing TV footage of the meetings. There were great expectations
> from the meetings but the rebels' demands were unrealistic.
> --

Because of the influence of military over Duarte, I am not shure
that Duarte was making any concessions.  Since the political struggle
in El Salvador is quite bloody, I would like to have some military
concessions, if I were a rebel.  For example, providing autonomy
for provinces controlled partially by rebels, so they would have
some secure regions for themselves in the transitiory stage,
similarly legalization of their armed forces, provided that they
are contained in their zone etc.  Additionally, disbanding
some discredided organizations like treasury police.  As I recollect,
Duarte was proposing nothing more but amnesty.  As we know,
in El Salvador is very difficult to be found guilty in a court of
law (prosecution of nun killers), but easy to be kept indefinitely
by police.  Thus an amnesty is worthless.

Since you, Eduardo, have access to more sources than me,
can you comment about what would be reasonable concessions
by rebels and by government?

Piotr Berman