Economic and Social Development: Chapultepec Peace Agreement

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Economic and Social Development: Chapultepec Peace Agreement

Implementations

Economic and Social Development – 1992

Tensions between peasants and public security bodies continued despite assurances that the current residents of lands in conflict zones could remain where they were after the signing of the Peace Agreement. In some cases, the Armed Forces of El Salvador (FAES) worked with public security forces—without court orders—to evict peasants from disputed lands and occupy the lands for themselves. COPAZ intervened, but did not fully succeed in halting the evictions. ONUSAL subsequently intervened, but also failed to put an end to the evictions for several months.1 The UN Secretary-General’s office then became involved, and after consulting a number of international bodies and UN member states, helped the Parties reach an agreement to proceed with land transfers in late October 1992.2 However, ONUSAL received reports that unsanctioned land occupations continued into November 1992.3

The Government submitted its national reconstruction plan on time and began to implement components of it.4 After some minor delays, the emergency assistance programs were implemented for the majority of demobilized FMLN ex-combatants. Agricultural training and rehabilitation programs for the disabled ex-combatants were also started.5

  1. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/23999), May 26, 1992.
  2. “Letter Dated 19 October 1992 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the Security Council,” United Nations Security Council (S/24699), October 19, 1992.
  3. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/24833), November 23, 1992.
  4. United Nations Security Council, (S/23999).
  5. (United Nations Security Council, (S/24833).

Economic and Social Development – 1993

Despite serious financial difficulties, the program for the transfer of lands proceeded, albeit at a slow pace. Both parties contributed to the delays: FMLN was slow to submit complete lists of land transfer recipients and the Government’s Lands Bank maintained slow and complicated procedures for the legal transfer of land. Both parties also relocated landholders on land whose owners were not willing to sell, further complicating the process.1 Progress fell further behind in October 1993.2 After an appeal to move forward by the UN Secretary-General, the parties reached a new agreement to move forward on 13 October 1993, and the Government developed an Acceleration Plan.3

The distribution of agricultural tools and basic household goods concluded in April 1993, along with the agricultural training program. A lack of available credit hindered the purchase of land and stunted housing and agricultural development.4

Programs for the war-disabled were delayed because the two parties could not agree upon ways to provide long-term rehabilitation. The medical program was likewise delayed over disagreements about personnel and slow delivery of hospital equipment.5

The parties agreed to continuously consult one another on labor issues through a newly created Labor Council in the Ministry of Labor. The business sector, however, pulled out on 20 November 1993.6

  1. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/25812), May 21, 1993.
  2. “Further Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/26790), November 23, 1993.
  3. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/561), May 11, 1994.
  4. United Nations Security Council, (S/25812).
  5. United Nations Security Council, (S/25812).
  6. United Nations Security Council, (S/26790).

Economic and Social Development – 1994

The Acceleration Plan brought progress in the land transfer program, but not nearly at the rate it promised and not in the proportions promised to the FMLN beneficiaries in the 13 October 1993 agreement. On 21 April 1994, the Legislative Assembly passed a bill to reform the Labor Code to reflect reforms agreed upon in previous meetings of the Forum for Economic and Social Consultation, but the labor sector criticized the bill.1 The Government submitted a new acceleration plan on 18 August 1994, in which it pledged to strengthen the administrative infrastructure necessary to facilitate land transfers to FMLN ex-combatants. The program was stalled by funding shortfalls, however.2 At the two-year mark after the program began, only one-third of potential beneficiaries had actually received land.3 New progressive strides were made in November and December 1994, including improved administrative measures, shifting of responsibilities to the regional level, and increased personnel to measure land and communicate with potential beneficiaries.4

  1. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/561), May 11, 1994.
  2. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/1000), August 26, 1994.
  3. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1994/1212), October 31, 1994.
  4. “Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador,” United Nations Security Council (S/1995/220), March 24, 1995.

Economic and Social Development – 1995

The forward momentum in land reform programs created at the end of 1994 was curbed in January 1995, due in large part to personnel turnover in the Lands Bank. As of March 1995, approximately 45% of former combatants eligible for land-transfers had in fact received legal ownership of land. The Government was operating at a pace far too slow to meet the 30 April 1995 deadline for completion of the Acceleration Plan. The delays in land transfer programs, and especially delays in dealing with the relocation of human settlements, was becoming an increasing source of contention. Absent decisive involvement of the Government, lawful landowners and de facto landholders were repeatedly pitted against one another, and confrontations between them threatened to have a broad impact on the Peace Agreement.1 Problems persisted into late 1995. The Government stepped up efforts to get land titles to potential beneficiaries, and indeed the proportion rose to 75% in September, but then it was discovered that only 25% of these had filed with the land registry—a step which was necessary for the title holders to sell the land and complete the transfer process.2

  1. United Nations Security Council, (S/1995/220).
  2. “The Situation in Central America: Procedures for the Establishment of a Firm and Lasting Peace and Progress in Fashioning a Region of Peace, Freedom, Democracy and Development,” United Nations General Assembly (A/50/517), October 6, 1995.

Economic and Social Development – 1996

After a number of persons left the program, the total number of potential beneficiaries of land reform fell to 36,550. By 26 March 1996, 32,210 of them had received titles, and about half of those were recorded in the land registry. The program faced an impasse when land-for-sale became scarce and the human settlement relocations left some persons in unsustainable situations.1

By November 1996, nearly 99% of potential beneficiaries had received titles, and 87% of those had filed their deeds in the national registry.2

  1. “Mission of the United Nations in El Salvador: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/50/935), April 23, 1996.
  2. “Office of the United Nations Verification in El Salvador: Report of the Secretary-General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/51/693), November 25, 1996.

Economic and Social Development – 1997

Nearing the completion of the land transfer program, almost 35,000 persons had received titles to a total of over 140,000 manzanas (235,200 acres) of land. Hundreds of persons had not received land titles, however, and the government was still moving rather slowly to resolve the logistical issues preventing the completion of the program.1

  1. “Assessment of the Peace Process in El Salvador: Report of the Secretary General,” United Nations General Assembly (A/51/517), July 1, 1997.

Economic and Social Development – 1998

Outstanding issues preventing the completion of the programs for land transfer and human settlement transfer were not resolved as of the conclusion of official UN observation on 30 June 1998.1

Hurricane Mitch devastated the whole region, killing thousands and setting development back by twenty years.2 A flurry of monetary aid, loans and debt forgiveness came in from international donors.3

  1. “Letter Dated 7 August 1998 from the Secretary-General Addressed to the President of the General Assembly,” United Nations General Assembly (A/52/1008), September 24, 1998.
  2. “The Week’s Top Ten World Stories,” The Guardian, November 7, 1998.
  3. “Central America,” Keesing’s Record of World Events, November 1998, Vol. 44, p. 42608; “Central America and Caribbean,” Keesing’s Record of World Events, December 1998, Vol. 44, p. 42666.

Economic and Social Development – 1999

No developments observed this year.

Economic and Social Development – 2000

No developments observed this year.

Economic and Social Development – 2001

Progresses were made in terms of redistributing lands and agriculture equipment. El Salvador adopted the US Dollar as its official currency to reduce borrowing costs. Two earthquakes struck in 2001, setting economic development back again.1

  1. “El Salvador,” Keesing’s Record of World Events, January 2001, Vol. 47, p. 43940.

Economic and Social Development – 2002

No further developments observed.