Fascism Dealt Lethal Blow in Central America

In what many may consider a second Independence Day for Central America, the former guerrilla forces of the Frente Farabundo Marti for National Liberation (FMLN) finally defeated one of the stalwarts of worldwide fascism this past Sunday. This Herculean achievement took almost 30 years in a two stage victory that would be remembered forever in the archives of revolutionary history. In the first half, the FMLN forced the Salvadoran fascists to a military stalemate and subsequent peace accords in 1992, against the full support of US imperialism under the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The FMLN then became a political party and on this historic March 15th, 2009, defeated the fascist and their ARENA party at the polls. ARENA was the brainchild of Roberto D’aubuisson, nicknamed ‘Major Bob’ by US Media. He was a monster described even by the US ambassador as a ‘pathological killer’. Salvadoran Fascism counted among its ‘achievements’ being an early and persistent supporter of: Manchuria (the Japanese imperialist occupation of China), the occupation of Jerusalem and lately, the occupation of Iraq.

Central America was born as a federation of 5 nations that gained independence from Spaniard/European rule in 1821, but quickly was divided into 5 fiefdoms by local ruling elites that proceeded to exploit the great majority of the population for almost two centuries. Just 30 years ago, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua were ruled by fascist dictatorships under the aegis of US imperialism, but the tight grip of fascism was only a (bloody) illusion. Revolutionary forces struggled for centuries against the oppression and in July 19th, 1979 they overthrew the Somoza dictatorship in Nicaragua. 30 years, and hundreds of thousands of lives sacrificed later, hopefully a final blow has been struck at the heart of Central American Fascism. Four elections in a row, Honduras(2005), Nicaragua(2006), Guatemala(2007) and now El Salvador(2009), have gone to the opposition of the old tired authoritarian/fascist parties in power.

One of the biggest centers of support in the US for the struggle of the people during the 1980’s genocidal wars against the people of Central America was San Francisco, California. With a huge Central American population from before the 1980’s, ‘The City’ became ground central for various solidarity movements. CISPES (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador), was one of the biggest solidarity organizations in US history. San Francisco was also cradle for the ‘Sanctuary City’ movement and the TPS (Temporary Protected Status) struggle for the rights of Central Americans seeking justice from political persecution and the scourge of US Imperialism.

So it was no surprise that the Salvadoran Community in the Bay Area joined the celebration this past Sunday and erupted with joy when the polls finally closed in El Salvador. At Sub-Mission Gallery, in the centuries old Hispanic Mission neighborhood, updates were received trough the internet. With audio and video streaming trough 3000 miles of cyberspace, everybody was overwhelmed when the triumph of the people over centuries of oppression was realized. When the presidential candidate for the FMLN gave his acceptance speech and became the president elect of El Salvador, it was clear that Central American Fascism had been vanquished, and a new era had begun for Central America. A new era of hope, free from authoritarian rule.