Salvadoran Witness

The Times editorial on Dec. 15 (“Will Peace Be Given A Chance?”) suggested that if two fundamentally important points agreed to at the Central American Presidents summit were honored, “this could go a long way toward ending the civil war in El Salvador and the Contra war in Nicaragua.” The two points are: (1) that he FMLN rebels resume negotiations with Salvadoran President Cristiani, and (2) that the U.S. stop supporting the Contras and instead devote its aid to disbanding them.

In the case of the Salvadoran war, however, resumption of negotiations would only put the parties back on square one, where they were before the rebel military offensive started last month. In the negotiations taking place shortly before the offensive began, the Salvadoran government negotiators refused to accept any proposals for changes oriented toward democratization, economic reform, greater social justice, or an end to repression. Instead the government launched a series of attacks against churches, peace and human rights groups, labor unions, the university, and other elements of the popular movement.

As long as the tiny, wealthy Salvadoran oligarchy and the military refuse to change the grossly unequal, unjust socioeconomic system and refuse to end the barbaric repression with which they maintain the system, the Salvadoran civil war will continue. And as long as the U.S. continues to send massive amounts of economic and military aid to maintain the Salvadoran system, the oligarchy and the military will cling to their wealth and power and refuse to make concessions or to permit reforms.

SHIRLEY CERESETO

Executive Secretary

Orange County Committee

on Central America