EVERY DAY the media is full of stories of the war in El Salvador. But little is heard or seen of the work of construction in the zones controlled by the guerrillas of the FMLN. Here we reproduce an article from Combate a Latin American journal of the Fourth International, which describes the growth and role in the struggle played by the 'controlled zones'.
EL SALVADOR is not a country like Vietnam some American countries in which there large areas of jungle to serve as a base for guerrillas. With 5 million people living in an area of 400 square miles El Salvador has the highest population density in Latin controlled zones depend not much on geographical pregnability as the support of the civilian population.
In 1981 FDR leader Salvador Samayoa defined a controlled zone as one in which relatively stable FMLN/FDR military camps have been established and from which government troops have anven out.
However government continue to maintain garrison posts on the borders of these areas, and often carry out incursions them, usually supported by air attack.
Zaze af control were establishIES1= Libertad, Morazan, San Led. (45,000 Chalatenango, by Latin province, with habitants. unpopulated The self-government America. So power' (PPL).
participate in each PPL. im- The general month term.
cil with been tions and FMLN militias. forces into corn. beats 199! FML.!
Sicialist Action 3 February 1984 controlled zones in areas of the following provinces: Santa Ana, Chaletanango, San Salvador, La San Vicente, Cabanas, Miguel, Usulatan and La Union. Throughout 1981 these areas of control were enlargBut the most dramatic expansion of the zones has occurred since the FMLN offensive beginning October 1982. For example, while in early 1982 the FMLN/FDR claimed control of about 90 settlements inhabitants) in 1983 they controlled a reported 90 per cent of the 150,000 FMLN/FDR has promoted the development of active by the civilian population of the zones of control dista' which is known as 'local popular About 500 people tion. assembly elects members of the local community to the directorate (leadership) for a six While the assembly decides overall policy, the directo the torate ensures it is carried out. In addition, there is an advisory counrepresentatives of the popular Church, popular organisaProduction and distribution The stated goals of production in the zones are self-sufficiency and maximal use of local resources. Basic food crops are grown (grains, poraides. in 5250203 in some achieved in corn in Medicinal plants are grown response to the scarcity of modern medicines. Root crops have been given a priority since they are more likely to survive government invasions into the zones.
Agriculture is carried out in small plots distributed throughout the zone, in order to minimise the damage from government bomb. ings. It is mainly carried out on guvernment property or lands abandoned by their owners; small landowners have been allowed to keep their plots. Agricultural work collectives are organised by type of crop and meet regularly to plan production and security measures All ages participale agriculture - children, for example, help in carrying water or in harvesting. Occasionally Farabundays are set aside when everyone, both civilians FMLN members, join in producProducts are centralised in warehouse. Usually 50 per cent of produce is allocated to the civilian population, 30 per cent FMLN stored. However, this proportion may vary according to the needs of each community.
Production is not limited to agriculture. Livestock abandoned by previous landowners are tended, in Chalatenango, work collectives breed poultry, pigs, rabbits and goats. Fishing collectives have beer established along the Sumpul River Chalatenango along the Lsulutan coast.
Artisans' shops in the zones inmanufacturing. chased and products sold through the collaboration of relatives who travel between the zones and the cities. Thus, shoppers Salvador's markets are able to find silk-screened t-shirts and decorated wooden boxes and crosses made by artisans in Chalatenango's zone of control. A small amount of trade between different zones of control has been carried out. In October 1982, after a government operation destroyed the harvest in Guazapa, the PPL's in corn to cover the loss.
Security and self-defense in The PPL's set up security and self-defense collectives to protect the hamlets Bomb shelters are built to protect civilians against shellings and bombings. People organised with FMLN miltia villages when government incursion.
Clements, a US worked in the Guazapa control noted the high level of organisation shown by the community: under instructions from the local defence commitee and the FMLN, livestock and produce, and carried the wounded and their medical supplies with them in a night-time evacuation.
Education and culture The Secretary of Education searches out literate members, who become popular Supplies are puramong the tion, in San history subject history, agriculture Chalatenango sent discussed.
written and surrounding areas portray trained the assistance of the as hygiene.
threatened by Charlie physician who zone of Village.
Health Three types they made tortillas, hid operate general specialise community Since illiteracy is over 50 per cent Salvadorean populathe main educational emphasis is on basic reading, writing mathematical notions. Reading and writing are taught as part of learning about Salvadorean current Vocabulary and sentence structure lessons are drawn from four basic areas: social sciences, ure ence such its health, nutrition) culture: Community responsibility principles justice, equality and solidarity are Culture and education is also transmitted through short plays, performed the students themselves. These not onthemes such as repression by the social paramilitary groups or the role of women in the revolution) but also promote education in subjects such School facilities and equipment are non-existent. Classes for adults or children usually meet under a tree or at a particular spot in the of medical facilities in the zones of control, 'hospitals' where major surgery is performed, clinics which in minor surgery, health dispensaries which practice preventative medicine (such as vaccination campaigns) and first aid, diagnosis and treatment of general problems. Field hospitals are set up when the forces of the FMLN carry
ee El Salvador Suchitatali.
Sensuntepeque / Cojutepeque "4S-Vincer d'llopeng Zacatecoluc LAPAL A out military actions.
Health brigades are trained to support the work of the doctors and medical students operating in the zones. Medicines are difficult to obtain, due to pressures on the health profession. Charlie Clements government's definition 'subversive" of anyone carrying more than a day's supply aspirin, antacid, pills, etc.
HONDURAS
San-Francisco S EI Potos [USULUTAN (San Miguel SAN MIGUEL governmental the zones described the as of Health plants willow support and membership for the growing FMLN military forces in the 1980s. In many of these areas, Christian base communities played an important role in their political awakening and organisation, and of control maintain a strong Christian character today.
More than the strictly military control of territory, the political support involvement civilians in FMLN/FDR organisations has been the decisive factor in the development of the zones of control and their self-government structure. The present zones of control do not represent the only areas where popular organisations were strong in the 1970s, however some are presently areas of intense of conflict between the FMLN and the Salvadorean armed forces. the history of the development of existing zones of control, these areas may be seen zones of military and political control by the FMLN/FDR.
tion In the zones established administrative Given organise and as potential ment functioning Salvadorean Since 1981, the civilian populahave openly structure LU govern their daily lives. These 'local popular powers" constitute an alternative governstructure in EI • Salvador, alongside the government creating a situation of dual power which will only be resolved in the course of the war in El Salvador.