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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 26, 1982)
El Salvador A game of diplomacy • • • By Ron Hunt Uncle Sam hates to lose at dominoes. But some games are more important than others: Uncle Sam thinks the stakes are higher now in El Salvador than they were in Vietnam. Is he right? Is U S. invol vement in El Salvador essential to maintain national security? Or is elderly Sam dangerously close to repeating the game plan he used in Vietnam? Dominoes Is it the game? Or, as some of Uncle Sam s critics suggest, is the real action going on in another arena? ‘Decisive battle' The Reagan administration says the domino theory does apply: the outcome of the civil war in El Salvador is crucial tor American security Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Enders told a Congres sional hearing recently, “We believe that the decisive battle for Central America is under way in El Salvador. If. after Nicaragua El Salvador is cap tured by a violent minority, who in Central America would not live in tear? How long would it be before major strategic U S in terests — the (Panama) canal, sea lanes oil supplies — were at risk?" This belief has led the admin istration to allocate at least $184 million in military and economic aid to Pres Jose Napoleon Duarte's junta for 1982. to send at least 50 military advisors to the Central American country, and to train Salvadoran soldiers in Fort Benning. Ga , and Fort Bragg. N C. This basic-training program for about 1,500 sol diers. begun in January, is the largest program of its kind in U S history "I believe very strongly," says Deane Hinton, U S Ambas sador to El Salvador, "that we have to give El Salvador what it needs to defend itself against communism ” Robert Cocklin, former U S Army major general, says, "I don't like to get into the buzz word business of saying we re saving people from commun ism," but "a stable Latin Amer ica is very important to the Unit ed States.” He says he couldn’t identify the objectives of leftist guerrillas but "any Communist subversion in Latin America" is dangerous for the United States Those who criticize U S training of Salvadoran soldiers have, says Cocklin, forgotten that American training of for eign soldiers has been going on for years — at the School of the Americas in Panama, for exam ple "It gets out of context when people forget it's not a brand new thing " William Taylor, director of political-military studies at the Georgetown Center for Stra tegic and International Studies, says Pres Ronald Reagan's as sistance to the junta has been very slow very measured Reagan is appropriately cau tious" and has made no precipitous decision Is El Salvador caught in the middle of an East-West tug of war? Secretary of State Alex ander Haig says. "The threat to democracy from opponents of peaceful change is particularly acute in El Salvador .” “If you assume " Taylor says "that the Soviets are behind all this and the Cubans as Soviet proxies, anu >• Cubans are able — with the help of the Soviets — to orchestrate revolutions in the area, then you’d certainly have to agree with Haig's position.’’ The debate over Cuban infil tration centers around a Feb 23. 1981, state department white paper. “Communist Inter ference in El Salvador.” which allegedly documents Cuban arms shipments to Salvadoran guerrillas via leftists in Nicar agua The white paper has received extensive criticism regarding its accuracy “I think there is Cuban in volvement.’’ says Taylor "I thought it was a pretty thorough report," he says, adding some shortcomings do not invalidate the report Doug Green, vice-chairer for the University chapter of Col lege Republicans, says, "The Communist forces ought not to have carte blanche’’ in El Sal vador Critics of U S policy in El Sal vador, however say the Central American nation is in civil war primarily because Salvadoran peasants are opposing an un just economic system con trolled by an elite group of landowners Even if the state department's white paper is ac curate they say the amount of Cuban arms is miniscule in comparison to the amount of U S arms sent to the junta Michael Klare director of in ternational security studies for the Institute for Policy Studies says the extent of outside Com munist influence envisioned by the Reagan administration is a figment of their imagination ” The Cubans are interested he in Ei Salvador and is sustained by the guerrillas' own efforts The white paper was estab lished as a fraud," he adds The civil war is an "indigen ous struggle against the ruling junta" and the reason the Reagan administration is trying to pin it on the Soviet Union is to "justify escalated American ac tion,” Klare says Laurence Shoup, author of The Carter Presidency and Beyond Power and Politics in the 1980s," says "I don't think the U S should be there at all." America needs a more sophis ticated approach, he says, because most countries want independence from both the Soviet Union and the United States The U S government has supported the oligarchy pattern in case after case" during the 20th century Shoup says In Guatemala for example the government initiated a moderate program of land reform — bruising the United Fruit Co — so the U S spon sored a group to overthrow the government in 1954 he says The oligarchies do the U S bidding." and oppressive regimes protect corporate in terests. Schoup says, but adds that the geographical location of El Salvador is more important to the United States than those economic considerations Margaret Thomas, of the Eugene Council for Human Rights in Latin America, echoes the point the majority of Sal vadorans are protesting an un just system run by a "small ruling elite who are very tied in to international interests " "Making it a test of East-West relations is an insult to the Sal vadorans " Death squad’ Another key component in the El Salvador controversy is human rights violations — primarily executed by govern ment forces Since Duarte's government took power in October. 1979, about 35,000 Salvadorans have died in political violence, say religious and human rights groups as many as 1,000 peo Graphic by Man Daftungs Or another Vietnam? pie disappear or are murdered each month. These groups have repeatedly challenged the Duarte junta s record on human rights The U S. Congress reacted to the allegations last December by demanding that Reagan cer tify that the junta has made a "concerted, significant" effort to eliminate brutality by its sol diers, made "continued pro gress” in economic and political reforms, and made "good faith efforts" to investigate and pro secute the murders of four American churchwomen at San Salvador on Dec. 2, 1980. Five soldiers in El Salvador’s National Guard were charged with murder in that case on Feb 10 But there was some criticism: "Why all of a sudden are people arrested just as our President is trying to get more aid for the the Salvadoran government?" asked a sister of murdered nun Maura Clarke On Jan 29, Reagan told Con gress that the Duarte junta was making progress in human rights. On Jan 31, 20 civilians were killed in a San Salvador slum Rep James Oberstar, D Minn , says he and two other congressmen were told in a meeting with Gen Jose Guiller mo Garcia, defense minister, that the civilians were caught in a crossfire between soldiers and leftist guerrillas Garcia's explanation "just doesn't wash; it was a massive cover-up," says Oberstar Government soldiers "went into homes in the middle of the night, dragged people out and assassinated them," he says. Taylor, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, says human rights violations are “hotly debated” and he's with holding judgment until he sees both sides. Green, of the College Repub licans, says there are "atrocities on both sides” and the "Democrats smell blood," ad ding that El Salvador is a "very complex and difficult situation." Author Shoup calls the junta s army a "death squad.” Training Duarte's soldiers on U S. soil “leads you to be somewhat re sponsible for what they do.” Poland's president was trained in the Soviet Union, for exam ple; "I don’t think that's an in significant fact." A group of Salvadoran sol diers trained by the Green Be rets, Shoup says, went through a village, killing 1,000 civilians. And, although he doesn't know the accuracy of the following, Shoup says the story by a Sal vadoran deserter should be considered. The deserter says he observed Green Berets pres ent at torture sessions conduct ed by government soldiers. "It angers me," Shoup says; "it’s denigrating" to our ances tors who founded the United States. "It doesn’t help our na tional interest to help people do evil deeds." ECHRLA’s Thomas says Duarte realizes U S. support depends to a large extent on how the junta handles the trial of the alleged nun-killers. “They have to look like they’re doing something — which they haven’t done for a long time.” ‘We say no’ Beseiged by criticism, the Reagan administration appears to be awaiting the March 28 Salvadoran elections (leading to a new constitution) like a student anxiously waits for a grade from an unpredictable professor — muted hope, re strained frustration. The administration s hopes may turn sour, however. Duarte’s Christian Democrat government appears vulnerable as strength grows for several far-right groups. Roberto D’Aubuisson, of the Nationalist Republican Alliance, is Duarte’s primary opponent. “Major Bob" has been labeled — by former U.S. Ambassador Robert White — a “psychopath ic killer.” His platform calls for Duarte and government officials to be tried for treason. Duarte, however, says right-wing opponents like D'Aubuisson are guilty of “nothing short of treason.” The president calls them “retro grades” and saye, “If they suc ceed, the people will rebel, become more radicalized The retrogrados are fools and are succeeding only in helping the extreme left." The left is boycotting the election. Ruben Zamora, in Washington, D C., recently as a spokesman for the guerrillas, says “Our whole leadership is on a death list Every day 15 people are assassinated and sometimes brutally tortured. We see a press controlled by the government. Under all these conditions they say, Come be a candidate.' We say no We will not be crazy and get killed." Instead, the left is pushing a negotiated settlement “It seems to me,” Zamora says, “a political settlement would strengthen the democratic process and strengthen plur alism.” While urging a settlement, the Continued on Page 4B This edition of Emerald Special Reports is brought to you by... Gabriel, who — can I be frank? — provided his electronic-wordsmith-blue pencil, as well as much-needed appreciated encouragement at 11 bear,” scarfed down his Domino's Pizza” and pen-tnked some high-quality graphics Nothing new, but it’s fit to print Sally, who succumbed to charming Managing Editor lobbying efforts aimed at running a special p.m (give or take five hours) John, who added his characteristic zest for design and thereby sparked an erudite, albeit enjoyable, discussion of composition theory Max, who, although he thought his assignment a section before the conference Annie, prodos, advertisos (thanks for the ad stack) and and yours truly, Ron John, who hereby dedicates this report to the one El Salvador is named after FREE CONCERT FRAMEWORK 0mi4Ucnt Tttuaic Saturday, February 27 8:30 p.m. at The Way Inn, 1332 Kincaid Bring a friend to The Trawler and buy one fish & chip dinner at the regular price, then receive the second fish & chip dinner at half price. Also includes 2 beverages or 2 draft beers per party. Valid any Sunday 2 til 9 pm until 3/31 /82 I Downstairs. Corner of Oak & Broadway 484-5730 I --1 .and to think we met through an ODE PERSONAL f Imported Coffee & Tea b> thf pound or bv the tup KINKO’S 344-7894 764 K. 13th Bean of the Month Sumatran Mandheling $5.15 lb. Compare our Prit **a GET INTO OUR SHORTS We carry the best selection of running shorts in town: Nike • MarathonHer • Pantera • Moving Comfort • Dolfin • Bellwether • Sport International • Sportco • Interwoven • Bill Rodgers • Sub 4 • Souther Athletic 10th & Olive in the Atrium 342-5155 Take o and of Change A day long workshop to promote personal & professional development. Featuring : • Advertising & Marketing — • Public Relations — PRSSA AAF • Print - SPJ/SDX • Broadcasting — WICI Professional contacts Internship information Necessary equipment for a successful career The keynote speaker: The Honorable Betty Roberts Oregon Supreme Court Justice Time 10 AM 4 PM Place Allen Hall Date Sat. Feb. 27 Open to all For more information call 484-9725
