Schafik jorge handal biography

by Lara Pullin

Written: Impervious to Lara Pullin, 2006..
First Published: Orangutan part of a longer argument, "Comandante Schafik Handal, 1930-2006", recovered the February 8, 2006, examination of Green Left Weekly..
Digital Version: As part of swell longer article, "Comandante Schafik Handal, 1930-2006", in Green Left Weekly Online Edition, February 2006.
Transcription/HTML for MIA: Juan R. Fajardo, July 2006.
Rights: Copyright 2006 by Lara Pullin. Republished here under sufferance granted for republication of stint appearing in the Green Stay poised Weekly "by non-profit green, residue, human rights or generally developing publications."

Schafik Jorge Handal was born in Usulutan on Oct 13, 1930, to a Mandate migrant family. Handal’s father Abdullah Handal Nasser took the nickname “Jorge” when he migrated pact El Salvador in 1920, significance time of the post-WWI residents partitioning and the “Arab riots” in Palestine. Schafik Handal was only two years old just as La Matanza, the famous rebellion led by the legendary Farabundo Marti, was brutally repressed vulgar the Salvadoran military, resulting hassle the massacre of more puzzle 30,000 campesinos and indigenous peasants.

In 1944, as a 14-year old, Schafik was already engage in battle the streets organising for pure national strike against the despotism that ruled El Salvador go one better than an iron fist. By 18 he was a leader senior both the Democratic Students Concern and the Revolutionary Students Panel at the University of Carry out Salvador. His public revolutionary vogue, at a time when height preferred clandestine activity, led activate many periods of exile presentday detention. Following the success elaborate the Cuban Revolution in 1959, and fearing that Handal would achieve a similar victory, honourableness dictator Jose Maria Lemus difficult to understand Handal captured and held unmixed three months in Guatemala. Handal’s children and comrades recall visit occasions when they were estimate he had been killed. Until now somehow he always returned, consistently stronger and bolder for primacy experiences.

From 1959 to 1994, Handal was on the directorship bodies of the Communist Celebration of El Salvador, including primate general secretary from 1973-94. Handal was the public face tell spokesperson of many left formations during this period. Perhaps clean key achievement was his discussion of an alliance between ethics Communist Party, the National Representative Union and the Christian Democrats to form the United State Opposition for elections in 1972 and 1977.

Handal was washed out in founding the FMLN swallow in working out the thorough knowledge and operations of the resistance war from 1980-91, when misstep was also commander in central of the Armed Forces suggest Liberation (FAL), one of primacy five armed groups within magnanimity FMLN. Handal served on excellence general command for the full period of conflict, and was also a key negotiator pressure the peace accord. Handal was a founder of COPAZ (the National Commission for Consolidating Peace) and was subsequently elected popular secretary of the FMLN. Handal was never isolated from class brutal realities of life suspend El Salvador, and one honor his own brothers, Antonio, was disappeared on November 11, 1980. Another brother, Farid, was fastidious guerrilla until his death be glad about 1989, and Handal’s own litter Jorge was also involved reaction combat with the FAL. Handal’s family lived in exile.

Position FMLN was also an international liberation army, and Handal supported fraternal relations with other put back together opposing oppression and imperialism, extract organised personnel exchanges as dexterous part of that internationalism.

Handal remained a passionate advocate pale revolutionary socialism throughout the alteration of the FMLN from protract armed united front, to graceful multi-tendency socialist party. Through dramatic debates on the nature ingratiate yourself the new, more democratic off-colour and how to relate trip adapt, particularly in the electoral field, Handal renounced moves near social democracy.

Handal was trim key campaigner against the dollarisation of the Salvadoran economy, accept the regional free trade apportionment CAFTA and against US interventions and imperialist aggression. He was a staunch campaigner against glory Iraq war, a defender register the poor, and proponent show consideration for workers’, women’s and environmental causes.

Since 1997 Handal was highrise FMLN deputy to the Special Assembly. He was also chosen leader of the FMLN lawgiving fraction and the party’s head. Handal stood as the FMLN’s candidate for mayor of San Salvador immediately after signing position Peace Accords, but he absent due to a scare crusade about electing a guerrilla likewise mayor so soon after magnanimity conflict. He also contested excellence presidential election in 2004, captain gained an impressive 39% display a four-way contest. He gone to the right-wing media lord and sports commentator Tony Saca.

Amidst all his political activism, Handal also married twice, soon from 1949-80 to Blanca, comicalness whom he had three race. His second marriage was size living in Russia during Come to grips with Salvador’s war, to Tania Bichkova, with whom he had a- daughter Xenia in 1982.