Elections take place in atmosphere of 'freedom, competitiveness, security.' (El Salvador)(includes related article)

In welcoming the fact that both the first and second rounds of the elections in El Salvador had taken place under "appropriate conditions in terms of freedom, competitiveness and security", the Security Council on 26 May extended the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL) for another six months, until 30 November.

In unanimously adopting resolution 920 (1994), the Council also urged the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN) to comply strictly with the 19 May Agreement on a new "timetable for the implementation of the most important agreements pending".

Urging all concerned to remove obstacles facing the implementation of the land transfer programmes, the Council stressed the need to accelerate reintegration programmes for excombatants of both sides and to fully and timely implement the March 1993 recommendations of the Commission on the Truth.

The Council also called on all concerned to cooperate fully with ONUSAL and the Secretary-General's Special Representative, Enrique ter Horst of Venezuela, in their "task of verifying implementation by the parties of their commitments". All States and international development and finance institutions were urged to "contribute promptly and generously" towards implementing all aspects of the January 1992 Peace Accords.

In addition, the Council stressed that police and public security provisions of the Peace Accords should be scrupulously observed, particularly the completion of the demobilization of the National Police and the enhancement of the civilian character of the National Civil Police.

Further extension needed

The unresolved issues in El Salvador were so important that it was "even more necessary for ONUSAL to remain in existence" for a further period, with sufficient capacity to verify implementation of outstanding provisions of the Accords and to "make its good offices available to help resolve difficulties that may arise in that regard", Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali stated (S/1994/561) on 11 May in recommending the Mission's extension.

During the new six-month period, however, the size of ONUSAL would continue to be reduced "as rapidly as implementation of the outstanding agreements permits", he said. The Electoral Division had already been disbanded and the military component, with a peak strength of 368, was down to 12 by the end of May.

The main burden in the coming six months was to fall on: the core civilian staff in the Chief of Mission's office responsible for the "all-important land transfer and reintegration programmes"; the Police Division, which was to verify the transfer of functions from the National Police to the National Civil Police throughout El Salvador: and the Division of Human Rights which, in addition to its verification task, was already helping the National Counsel for the Defence of Human Rights to "build up its capacity to assume responsibility for those functions when ONUSAL is withdrawn".

Although implementation of the Peace Accords had been delayed and "must be rectified", there had been "notable advances, above all in the integration of FMLN into the political life of El Salvador", the Secretary-General observed.

Also, while the electoral process had shown "major defects" that needed to be corrected, the elections themselves had been "completed without violence--a significant achievement", Mr. Boutros-Ghali stated.

"A heavy responsibility now lies upon the majority party"--the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA)--and "the leading opposition party, FMLN, to maintain their dedication to the political process and to strengthen the institutions of democracy in El Salvador", he stressed. "Only this effort can make possible the consolidation of lasting peace in their country."

Pre-electoral situation

It was "regrettable" that there had been a "few isolated acts of violence during the electoral campaign", the Secretary-General had informed SI!9941486) the Security Council on 21 April. Also, ONUSAL's Electoral Division had received "complaints of acts of intimidation and attempts to buy votes, especially in the Department of Sonsonate", he stated.

Nevertheless, the 18 April declaration by the two presidential candidates had "elevated the tone of the campaign", the Secretary-General said. In that agreement, the candidates had expressed their "faith in the country's governability", pledged to conduct a "dignified campaign" and promised to work towards "comprehensive reform of the electoral system".

Election results

Since none of the presidential candidates obtained the required absolute majority in the 20 March elections, a second round was held on 24 April.

The Secretary-General on 4 May reported (S/1994/536) that ARENA won the election with 818,264 votes (68.3 5 per cent), while the Coalition of Movimiento Nacional Revolutionario (MNR), Convergencia Democratica (CD) and Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional (FMLN) followed with 378,980 ballots (31.65 per cent).

Of a total 1,246,220 votes cast, 3,467 had been challenged: 40,048 invalid and 5,461 were abstentions, the Secretary-General stated. ONUSAL had posted 900 observer's to cover all polling centres in the country.

"Election day proceeded virtually without serious incidents affecting law and order or ballot-rigging", the Secretary-General stated. Compared to conditions in the first round, there had been a "distinct improvement in the organization of the election", including the layout of the polling centres, stationing of personnel to direct voters to the proper polling places, finding of names on the electoral roll, free public transport and, "on the night of 24 April, early broadcasts of the election results".

Nevertheless, ONUSAL observers had noted some irregularities including late openings, early closings or non-monitoring of polling stations, and campaign violations. There were two complaints about armed civilians.

New timetable

The new "timetable for the implementation of the most important outstanding agreements" included measures relating to the Armed Forces, public security, land-transfer and reintegration programmes, as well as the recommendations of the Commission on the Truth.

Among other things, they provided follow-up procedures for: the collection and surrender of weapons; demobilization of the National Police and deployment of the National Civil Police; restructuring of the Ministry of the interior and Public Security: establishment of a regulatory machinery; and verification.

In addition, the parties and the UN were to hold "tripartite meetings every two weeks in order to follow-up the actions" provided in the timetable.

Human rights

The evolution of the human rights situation in El Salvador from November 1993 through February 1994 did "not present all the characteristics of deterioration" that were evident earlier, the Director of the ONUSAL Human Rights Division reported (A/49/116-S/1994/385) on 5 April.

That seemed to "confirm the general theory that clear responses which express a political will to investigate complaints are the best way to dispel or confirm suspicions of human rights violations", he said. They were also the "chief deterrent to human rights violations".

Ordinary violence, it was reported, could be "linked to the non-fulfilment, delay in or partial fulfilment" of commitments under the Peace Accords. other problems included the "systematic practice of arbitrary detention", and the "serious crisis in El Salvador's penitentiary system and the failure of the prison authorities to carry out their duty to provide guarantees regarding human rights".

RELATED ARTICLE: Guatemalan agreements encouraging

Two further accords--on resettlement of the population groups uprooted by the armed conflict and on establishment of the Commission to clarify past human rights violations and acts of violence that have caused the Guatemalan population to suffer--were signed in Oslo, Norway, by the Government of Guatemala and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca (URNG) on 17 and 23 June, respectively. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on 28 June said he hoped that the momentum that had been created would result in a "successful and timely negotiation of the remaining items of the Timetable for the Negotiation of a Firm and Lasting Peace" which, along with the Comprehensive Agreement on Human Rights, had been signed by the Government and the URNG on 29 March in Mexico City.