the spread of socialism in central americaAfter Fidel Castro's Cuban Revolution in 1965 and the Sandinista Nation Liberation Front's Nicaraguan Revolution in 1979, socialist leaderships began to govern Central America. The United States, noticing that socialism is slowly creeping towards its border, decided to aid El Salvador's military juntas in fighting revolutionary guerrilla forces. The aid led to a bloody 12 year civil war between the Salvadoran armed forces and revolutionary groups.
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A struggle for peace
In 1982 the FMLN already sought peace treaties which strived for a participatory democracy; the Reagan Administration, however, still believed the FMLN wanted a communist dictatorship. Elections were held by the Salvadoran government but interrupted by FMLN paramilitary attacks and boycotts. Until 1992, peace negotiations were cancelled and started constantly, for a total time of 20 months. It was finally decided the 12 year war needed to stop.
“In examining the staggering breadth of the violence that occurred in El Salvador, the Commission was moved by the senselessness of the killings, the brutality with which they were committed, the terror that they created in the people, in other words the madness, or locura, of the war.”-Reinaldo Figueredo, U.N. Truth Commission [9]
On January 16, 1992, the United Nations issued the Chapultepec Peace Accords in Mexico which required the FMLN to give up their troops and munitions to the UN Forces, and 102 Salvadoran officers to be dismissed. The FMLN was allowed to participate in future elections as a political party. The Peace Accords is widely considered the most successful of the United Nations treaties.
“In examining the staggering breadth of the violence that occurred in El Salvador, the Commission was moved by the senselessness of the killings, the brutality with which they were committed, the terror that they created in the people, in other words the madness, or locura, of the war.”-Reinaldo Figueredo, U.N. Truth Commission [9]
On January 16, 1992, the United Nations issued the Chapultepec Peace Accords in Mexico which required the FMLN to give up their troops and munitions to the UN Forces, and 102 Salvadoran officers to be dismissed. The FMLN was allowed to participate in future elections as a political party. The Peace Accords is widely considered the most successful of the United Nations treaties.
Victory?
FMLN members celebrate their election privileges after the 1992 Peace Accords
The United States succeeded in preventing communism from reaching too close to home, and formed a peace treaty with help from the United Nations that pleased both the FMLN and Salvadoran government. However, many viewed US intervention as unnecessary, and even burdening to both the civil war and the United States' economy. Those against the United States believed in "Latin American solutions to Latin American problems;" The Salvadoran armed forces were already capable of fighting off the guerrilla forces. It is still debated today whether the ends of US intervention justified its means or if the means only worsened the war.
Images Courtesy to:
Compiled and written by Kevin Guo
- pbs.org
- cja.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- prwatch.org
- destinyschildren.org
- fansinaflashbulb.wordpress.com
- youtube.com
- damelesego.blogspot.com
Compiled and written by Kevin Guo