Refugees from El Salvador
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Assembly
debate on 15 May 1981 (7th Sitting) (see Doc. 4698, report
of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography). Text
adopted by the Assembly on 15 May 1981 (7th Sitting).
- Thesaurus
The Assembly,
1. Convinced that the present political situation in
El Salvador finds its deep roots in the last decade of the history
of this country when an authoritative regime, supported by the army,
exerted a very severe repression in order to safeguard the privileges
of certain social classes ;
2. Recalling that the military coup d'etat of
15 October 1979 overthrew General Romero's regime, and brought to
power a government consisting of two military men and three civilians
originally representing the opposition parties of the centre, which
proclaimed an amnesty for political prisoners, the re-establishment
of human rights and a land reform ;
3. Noting that this government has not implemented this programme,
in particular because of the armed opposition of the extremist factions
which saw in the announced reforms a danger to their existence,
and that the presence of the military in the government has grown
stronger ;
4. Noting that the military junta has hardened its position,
and has launched extensive repression which affects numerous civilians
unconnected with the fighting ;
5. Noting that the fight between these factions has led to a
radicalisation of the positions and an escalation of violence ;
6. Concerned at the escalation of the external technical and
military support provided both by the new American administration
to the junta and by Cuba to the guerillas ;
7. Appalled by the dramatic situation of the population suffering
from violent and ruthless confrontation in which violence, disappearances
and murders follow one another, affecting not only the combatants,
but also all those who, one way or another, are caught up in events
which do not concern them ;
8. Expressing its satisfaction at the action led by the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee
of the Red Cross, helped by various other humanitarian organisations,
in favour of the population of El Salvador, including refugees who
asked for asylum in the neighbouring countries ;
9. Concerned about the financial problems connected with assistance
for this population,
10. Invites the governments of the member states :
i to support the action of the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, of the International Committee
of the Red Cross and of the other humanitarian organisations in
favour of the population of El Salvador ;
ii to address an appeal to the governments of the countries
neighbouring El Salvador to accept refugees from El Salvador, and
facilitate and support the action of the above-mentioned humanitarian organisations
;
iii to launch an appeal :
a for
the cessation of all intervention and interference in the internal
affairs of the Salvadoran people ;
b to the parties involved, to the government and to the
opposition grouped in the Democratic Revolutionary Front (FDR),
that they should enter into a constructive dialogue which would
make possible an agreement to end the destructive war whose victim
is the Salvadoran people and afford to the latter a prospect of
living in peace, freedom and justice
iv to seek to ensure, by appropriate means, that both the
government of El Salvador and all the political forces of the country
:
a respect human rights, including
the right to leave the country for those who wish to do so ;
b facilitate the activities of the Red Cross and the persons
under its protection.
