2 Exiled Salvadoran Rebel Leaders to Go Home for March Vote

MEXICO CITY — Two Salvadoran rebel leaders living in exile in Mexico said Friday that they will return home to help their respective political parties in forthcoming elections there.

Hector Oqueli and Ruben Zamora, both members of the leftist rebels’ Democratic Revolutionary Front said they will return to El Salvador separately to assist their own political parties in National Assembly and mayoral elections set for March 20.

The two said they will not apply for political amnesty, which was offered under the terms of a Central American peace plan signed Aug. 7 in Guatemala by five Central American presidents.

“No one wants to continue the eight-year war,” Zamora said. “We want a political dialogue, but we will not stop until the destiny of El Salvador is governed by Salvadorans.”

It will be the second time in their seven years of exile that Oqueli, a leader of the National Revolutionary Movement, and Zamora, head of the Social Christian Movement Party, return to their country. In November, the two went to El Salvador for “dialogues with the various sectors of the country,” but they did not apply for amnesty.

They said they were not sure what role they will play in the March elections, but they will “study the possibility” of becoming candidates.