Ending Civil War in El Salvador

I applaud your editorial (“No More Blank Checks,” June 16) in which you call for the continued suspension of half of U.S. military aid to El Salvador. As you mention, the withholding of the aid will contribute to bringing to justice the killers of the six Jesuits. More important, however, is that it will help to move forward the negotiations process between the Salvadoran government and the Farabundo Marti Front for National Liberation (FMLN). These negotiations represent the greatest hope for peace in 10 years of civil war.

Not only should this year’s aid continue to be withheld, but congressional leaders need to take a bolder stand by cutting more aid and placing stronger restrictions on the release of that aid. Up until now, congressional leaders have been cowards by postponing any discussion on aid to El Salvador until September.

Meanwhile the Bush Administration has pledged full support to the Salvadoran government and has begun to release part of the $42.5 million in withheld military aid.

The concrete result has been the backtracking by the Salvadoran government in the negotiations. There have been intense military operations by the Salvadoran armed forces, continued human rights abuses and even death threats by the extreme right in El Salvador toward any Salvadoran official who aids the United Nations Human Rights Verification Commission that is scheduled to arrive in El Salvador soon.

If debate is not generated and aid is not stopped within the next few months, the U.S. government, the Bush Administration and Congress will be directly responsible for killing the negotiations process and any prospect for peace in El Salvador for years to come.

CATHERINE SUITOR

Director of Los Angeles CISPES

(Committee in Solidarity With the People of El Salvador)