El Salvador: Information on the Acción Democrática Party, its role in the recent peace negotiations and threats against those who participated in them
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1992 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLV10319 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, El Salvador: Information on the Acción Democrática Party, its role in the recent peace negotiations and threats against those who participated in them, 1 February 1992, SLV10319, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad1730.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please find attached a copy of page 158 of the book Political Parties of the World, which provides some information on the Acción Democrática Party (AD). The Europa Year Book 1991 lists Ricardo González Camacho as the leader of the above-mentioned party (1991, 945).
A staff member of the Embassy of El Salvador in Washington, D.C., stated that the Acción Democrática (AD) participated in the 1989 presidential elections by forming a coalition with the Democracia Cristiana party (18 Feb. 1992). The source added that the AD legally ceased to exist after the 1991 Legislative Assembly elections, since it did not obtain the minimum 0.5 percent of votes required for legal recognition (Ibid.). The AD was led at one point by Dr. Fortín Magaña, who held a seat in the Legislative Assembly (Ibid.). Internal divisions in the party led Dr. Fortín Magaña to accuse the AD of leaning too much to the left and distance himself to run later as an independent candidate (Ibid.). The Acción Democrática was led afterwards by Ricardo Gonz lez Camacho (Ibid.). A representative of the Embassy of El Salvador in Ottawa stated that the AD currently has no representatives in the Legislative Assembly, since it did not obtain enough votes in the last elections (17 Feb. 1992). Although the source was not certain about the party's direct participation in any stage of the recent peace negotiations, it was pointed out that all political parties with representation in the Legislative Assembly were represented (Ibid.).
Please find attached a copy of some documents which discuss the recent peace talks and agreement of El Salvador. One of the reports lists the members of the National Commission for the Consolidation of Peace (Copaz) "in its provisional state" (FBIS-LAT-92-016 24 Jan. 1992, 12). The report, however, does not indicate the party or political group to which each member belongs.
Also attached, please find a listing of the representatives of the Salvadoran political parties who finished the draft of the charter of Copaz, in the article titled "Peace Commission Charter Drafted in Mexico." The article lists six representatives and their parties, among which the AD is not listed (FBIS-LAT-91-227 25 Nov. 1991, 22). Another attached article mentions the participation of "six representatives of El Salvador's eight political parties who have representatives at the Legislative Assembly" in the peace negotiations (FBIS-LAT-91-226 22 Nov. 1991, 12).
The attached documents include two communiqués from groups denouncing the peace agreements. Specific references to threats directed against those who participated in the peace negotiations, however, could not be found among the sources currently available to the IRBDC.
Bibliography
Embassy of El Salvador, Ottawa. 17 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Representative.
Embassy of El Salvador, Washington, D.C. 18 February 1992. Telephone Interview with Staff Member.
The Europa World Year Book 1991. 1991. Vol. I. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
FBIS-LAT-92-016. 24 January 1992. "Text of Reconciliation Law" in Radio Cadena YSKL [San Salvador, in Spanish], 24 January 1992.
FBIS-LAT-91-227. 25 November 1991. "Peace Commission Charter Drafted in Mexico" in Notimex [Mexico City, in Spanish], 24 November 1991.
FBIS-LAT-91-226. 22 November 1991. "Copaz Resumes Working Sessions in Mexico" in Notimex [Mexico City, in Spanish], 21 November 1991.
Attachments
Day, Alan J., ed. 1988. Political Parties of the World. 3rd ed. Burnt Mill, Essex: Longman Group Ltd., p. 158.
FBIS-LAT-92-016. 24 January 1992. "Text of Reconciliation Law" in Radio Cadena YSKL [San Salvador, in Spanish], 24 January 1992.
FBIS-LAT-91-230. 29 November 1991. "Crusade Says Cristiani Betrayed People, Homeland" in El Mundo [San Salvador, in Spanish], 25 November 1991; "New Anticommunist Group Issues Communique" in Radio Cadena YSU [San Salvador, in Spanish], 28 November 1991.
FBIS-LAT-91-227. 25 November 1991. "Peace Commission charter Drafted in Mexico" in Notimex [Mexico City, in Spanish], 24 November 1991.
FBIS-LAT-91-226. 22 November 1991. "Copaz Resumes Working Sessions in Mexico" in Notimex [Mexico City, in Spanish], 21 November 1991.
