Shafik Handel, a major influence in the FMLN died January 24 this year. Half a million turned out for a State Funeral in San Salvador. On March 3rd supporters of the FMLN held gatherings all round the world to honour the memory of this great revolutionary
Warwick Fry (reporter and commentator) Venezuelan Embassy in Australia Bernardo Zamora (Poetry reading) Mercedes Sosa ("Todas las manos" and "Gracias a La Vida") Community Radio 2NimFM http://nimbinradiomedia.libsyn.com
Friday March 3. Memorial gathering for Commandante Shafik Handel at the Venezuelan Embassy in Canberra, Australia. While only a handful of Australians would know Salvadoran activist Jorge Shafik Handel, over half a million Salvadorans turned out on the streets of San Salvador last February for a state funeral, and on Friday March 3. admirers all around the world simultaneously held gatherings to honour his memory. Shafik Handel was the central figure in the high command of the FMLN (Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front), which fought a protracted guerilla war in El Salvador through most of the 1980s. After an offensive in November 1989 during which the FMLN guerillas controlled two thirds of the capital, San Salvador for almost a week, the Salvadoran government was forced to negotiate a peace with the FMLN. Shafik again, was a central influence in negotiating the peace agreement that was eventually signed in 1992, and when the FMLN entered Salvadoran elections as a political party he again provided a strong leadership role. He was expected to lead the FMLN to a victory in this year's upcoming presidential elections. To honour him at the Venezuelan Embassy in Canberra, was the Venezuelan Charge D'Affaires Nelson Davila, representatives of the Canberra Committee of the FMLN, a member of the Socialist Alliance, Mick Gentleman, MLA in the ACT Assembly, and Brian Henderson, of the Australia Cuba Friendship Society. Poetry reading by refugee Salvadoran poet, Bernardo Zamora, Celtic music by Brian Henderson
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