El Salvadoran Students Speak

Two student representatives of the main rebel guerilla organization in El Salvador last night attacked what they called an oppressive Salvadoran government and asked for an end to U.S. aid.

At an Emerson hall speech before about 40 students, Salvadoran activists Salomon Alfaro Estrada and Rene Hernandez appeared on behalf of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN). The pair is touring U.S. universities to inform American students about the Salvadoran political crisis.

Lessons of History

"History has told us," Hernandez said, "that the only way to stop war is by expressing opinions in the streets, like Vietnam."

For years, the two students said, leftist rebels have demonstrated against President Jose Napoleon Duarte and his Christian Democratic government. But the pair said violence has worsened, blaming part of the cause of U.S. involvement, the largest sustained American military expenditure since Vietnam.

"We are living in a total state of terrorism," Estrada said, "True terrorists are the Christian Democrats in our nation. They're terrorists that believe that by assasination, they'll be able to stop the people's movement."

Estrada described conditions of social disorder and a breakdown of the Salvadoran educational system. He said that U.S. involvment beginning in 1980 has worsened economic and social conditions. He cited an increase in the unemployment rate from 14 to 70 percent, a jump in illiteracy from 40 to 60 percent and a tripling of food costs.

Estrada went on to describe inadequate medical facilities, and said that 3000 teachers are unemployed.

In a specific example, Estrada said that after a 1986 earthquake, 2000 families were left homeless and forced to dig holes in the ground for water and to draw electricity from overhanging wires.

Army soldiers then tried to destroy remaining homes, claiming the land was government-owned. After protests by families, the army sent `squadrons of death' to suppress the uprising, killing several protestors.

Estrada also described a four-year army "invasion" of the National University of El Salvador in 1980. Soldiers destroyed laboratories, more than 50,000 books, a printing press and stole all computers, worth together $25 million.

"But in spite of all this oppression," Estrada said through an interpreter, "the people say 'that's enough' and are willing to stand up to the army."

Hernandez denied that the FMLN has drawn communist support. "Well, truly until now that has been the propaganda of the U.S. government and El Salvador," Hernandez said. "But in truth, in the 10 years of FMLN, no one can find proof that we've received aid from Cuba or Russia."

"I have seen as I've travelled through the universities in the U.S. students worry more about their parties on the weekends. Life is very different from a the life of a Salvadoran student," Estrada said, "I have no time to study...I fight, fight, fight."