Schafik Handal
Encyclopedia
Schafik Jorge Handal was a Salvadoran
politician. Born in Usulután
, he was the son of Palestinian
Arab immigrants.
. As GS of the PCS, Handal embraced elections and rejected armed struggle to conquer political power in El Salvador. Later on, after two allegedly fraudulent elections in 1972 and in 1977, and despite the intervention of the Communist Party of Cuba
(History of the FMLN, newspaper "Frente"), Handal became convinced that the defeat of the military dictatorship would not be possible through elections. As a guerrilla
leader in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was a member of the group that brought five opposition forces together to found the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
(FMLN).
Following the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords
in 1992, the FMLN converted itself from a guerrilla army into a political party, and Handal served as its general coordinator. In 1997, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
, serving as the leader of the FMLN's party bloc in the legislature.
He was the FMLN's candidate in El Salvador's 2004 presidential election
, held on March 21, running on a leftist
platform that called for a friendly relationship with the United States
(according to his own pamphlet for the campaign), renegotiation of free trade
treaties and a closer relationship with socialist
-oriented countries in Latin America
, including Cuba
, Venezuela
and Brazil
. Opponents accused Handal of exploiting anti-American sentiment
while FMLN supporters accused the United States of corrupting the electoral process, because several high ranking U.S. officials stated that American relations with El Salvador would be seriously threatened if Handal won the elections. Handal was defeated by the candidate of the ruling conservative
ARENA
party, Antonio Saca
, who was also of Palestinian descent, by a margin of 58% to 36%. The election saw a turnout of 70% at the polls.
Handal died less than two years after his failed presidential bid, on January 24, 2006, of a heart attack
. He fainted at Comalapa Airport
upon his return from Bolivia
where he had attended the inauguration ceremony of President
Evo Morales
; he was flown by helicopter to a San Salvador
hospital but doctors were unable to revive him.
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
politician. Born in Usulután
Usulután
Usulután is the 5th largest city in El Salvador, and capital of the Department of Usulutan in the south-east of El Salvador. As of 2006, it is estimated to have population of 71,636 people.Usulutan rests in a rich agricultural valley....
, he was the son of Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
Arab immigrants.
Biography
Between 1973 and 1994, he was the general secretary of the Communist Party of El SalvadorCommunist Party of El Salvador
The Communist Party of El Salvador was the official Communist political party in El Salvador. The Communist Party was founded by Miguel Mármol in the 1930s....
. As GS of the PCS, Handal embraced elections and rejected armed struggle to conquer political power in El Salvador. Later on, after two allegedly fraudulent elections in 1972 and in 1977, and despite the intervention of the Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
(History of the FMLN, newspaper "Frente"), Handal became convinced that the defeat of the military dictatorship would not be possible through elections. As a guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
leader in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was a member of the group that brought five opposition forces together to found the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front
The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front is, since 1992, a left-wing political party in El Salvador and formerly a coalition of five revolutionary guerrilla organizations...
(FMLN).
Following the signing of the Chapultepec Peace Accords
Chapultepec Peace Accords
The Chapultepec Peace Accords brought peace to El Salvador in 1992 after more than a decade of wrenching civil war.The treaty was negotiated by representatives of the Salvadoran government, the rebel movement FMLN, and political parties, with observers from the Roman Catholic Church and United...
in 1992, the FMLN converted itself from a guerrilla army into a political party, and Handal served as its general coordinator. In 1997, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of El Salvador
The Legislative Assembly is the legislative branch of the government of El Salvador.The Salvadoran legislature is a unicameral body....
, serving as the leader of the FMLN's party bloc in the legislature.
He was the FMLN's candidate in El Salvador's 2004 presidential election
Salvadoran presidential election, 2004
A presidential election was held in El Salvador on Sunday, 21 March 2004. The Salvadoran people elected a new president, together with his vice-president, for a five-year term.Antonio "Tony" Saca of the ARENA party won the election...
, held on March 21, running on a leftist
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
platform that called for a friendly relationship with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(according to his own pamphlet for the campaign), renegotiation of free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
treaties and a closer relationship with socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
-oriented countries in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, including Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Opponents accused Handal of exploiting anti-American sentiment
Anti-Americanism
The term Anti-Americanism, or Anti-American Sentiment, refers to broad opposition or hostility to the people, policies, culture or government of the United States...
while FMLN supporters accused the United States of corrupting the electoral process, because several high ranking U.S. officials stated that American relations with El Salvador would be seriously threatened if Handal won the elections. Handal was defeated by the candidate of the ruling conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
ARENA
Nationalist Republican Alliance
The Nationalist Republican Alliance is a conservative political party in El Salvador. It was founded on September 30, 1981, by Roberto D'Aubuisson, in order to oppose the reformist military junta that was ruling El Salvador at the time...
party, Antonio Saca
Antonio Saca
Elías Antonio Saca González is a Salvadoran politician and was the President of El Salvador. He was elected President in 2004 to serve a five-year term that ended in 2009....
, who was also of Palestinian descent, by a margin of 58% to 36%. The election saw a turnout of 70% at the polls.
Handal died less than two years after his failed presidential bid, on January 24, 2006, of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He fainted at Comalapa Airport
El Salvador International Airport
El Salvador International Airport , commonly known as Comalapa International Airport or Cuscatlán International Airport, is located about from San Salvador in El Salvador...
upon his return from Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
where he had attended the inauguration ceremony of President
President of Bolivia
The President of Bolivia is head of state and head of government of Bolivia. According to the current Constitution, the president is elected by popular vote to a five year term, renewable once...
Evo Morales
Evo Morales
Juan Evo Morales Ayma , popularly known as Evo , is a Bolivian politician and activist, currently serving as the 80th President of Bolivia, a position that he has held since 2006. He is also the leader of both the Movement for Socialism party and the cocalero trade union...
; he was flown by helicopter to a San Salvador
San Salvador
The city of San Salvador the capital and largest city of El Salvador, which has been designated a Gamma World City. Its complete name is La Ciudad de Gran San Salvador...
hospital but doctors were unable to revive him.
External links
- Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front Official Site