Salvadorean elections a major success, but they and everyone else know catastrophe. ! tion as compared with 1982, despite the fact that voting is compulsory much larger area of the country is under the control of the FMLN guerrillas.
The voting was marked by administrative chaos in those areas where it did place, with many lanc aspirant voters unable to cast their ballot. After all Le con usion CUll polling day, the super-technology supplied by the United States proved useless and a of polling boxes have still not been claricu the scrutineers. Nobody seriously believes the elections were tair or in any way meaningıul.
Still, the United States looks have gained something from the elections the checking of the advance of Roberto ARENA a fascist organisation, which has gained mounting support among middle DrUSOCIOUS classes.
looks D'Aubuisson has received less votes than Napolean Christian Democrats, and that there will have to be a run-off between the two in May, when the third party, the National Reconciliation (PCN), will drop out. Duarte will favourite to win in May.
Elite The halt of ARENA's advance is easily explained. Despite D'Aubuisson's growing suport among the ruling elite in El Salvador, large numbers proclaiming last Sunday's that the elections Many fewer people voted in this elec- reflecting the fact that a lusions about Duarte.
I or press dristia.
tions Christian Democrats as 'centre-left' wildly inaccurate. In Napolean Duarte really will prosecute Ine Wall against the FDR/FMLN guerrillas with American aid, just as he did when he was president years up to 1982.
Unit Serious negotiations with the guerrillas are extremely unlikely. The ad vantage TOT the States is that Duarte's fake "moderate' credentials will make him a more acceptaole figure to international public opinion.
The US has been busily stepping. up lts military • coal aliuls. a sure sign that not seeking negotiated settlement. At Palmerlo in Honduras the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion has established a 300-man base in a strictly forbidden to all other US personnel. This unit is charg ed with flying Mohawk Beechcraft aircraft over El Salvador in the attempt to track down guerrilla columns and summon up air strikes.
Raids There is evidence that the United States is urging a new bombing offensive against the guerrillas. or une obecave.
an offensive would be the bombing salulalu!
towns known to be sympathetic to, or harbouring guerrillas, with the objective of forcing the civilian population out rilla-held territory. This is exactly what the US did in Vietnam.
Another proposal is that the United States Napolean Duarte should supply CIA pilots for air strikes. they have the capacity to use their facilities in Honduras to mount such air raids On April a majol military exercise involving upwards of 5000 American troops starts in - Grenadero 1 If the US intends to start sonnel, openly or covertly, to the Salvador war, then they will certainly Come from the thousands of US servicemen in nondulas Last week 250 soldiers the 82nd Airborne Division parachuted into Honduras C-130 transport planes. Whethe were training for E Salvador or wasn t certain. What certain is that the increasingly huge US commitment to Honduras is not there for show.