|
Explanation
El Salvador has, like many Latin American countries, a divided
society, similar to that found in medieval Europe. Thus the land
owners and rich (allegedly 18 families) have attempted to deny
rights to the tenants and workers. They have done this by manipulating
elections, and in more recent times by secret, illegal, security
forces (death squads). This behavior has made normal reforming
politics difficult and has provoked a guerrilla force by leftwing
parties.
The ruling groups persuaded the United States to aid them
to maintain their power and fight the guerrilla forces by saying that the guerrillas were "Communist".
In the elections of 1989 a party , ARENA, led by people alleged
to have organized death squads came to power. United States aid
of weapons and military advice was not cut off, though diminished.
Elections in 1991 produced some representation for the left
wing forces. An agreement was signed at the end of 1991 to end
the war, with a declaration on land reform and the integration
of the guerrilla forces into a gendarmerie. It remains to be
seen whether the agreement will be kept by the government forces,
still controlled by the extreme right. The death from cancer
of Roberto d'Aubuisson, an influential leader of the death squads,
in February 1992 may be helpful in encouraging peace.
Now (2005) the main problem is the forced exile of Los Angeles
gang members to a land they have not known, even though they
are still citizens.
|
