Right-winger d'Aubuisson; Salvador's 'hottest political force'
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He again promised ''to put an end to this insurrection'' that has engulfed El Salvador in the past three years. ''I can do it in six months,'' he declared.
''That,'' he added, ''will be our first task.''
A chorus of ''tremble, tremble, communists,'' a line from his campaign song, echoed through the high-ceilinged gym.
Along with ending the guerrilla menace, as he termed it, d'Aubuisson also said he will bring ''leading traitors'' to trial. Everyone in the audience knew he meant President Duarte and such top Christian Democrats as Julio Rey Prendes, who like Mr. Duarte, is a former mayor of San Salvador, and currently heads the Christian Democratic ticket for the March 28 vote.
In front of d'Aubuisson was a watermelon -- a fruit that represents his view of President Mr. Duarte -- green on the outside, representing the Christian Democratic colors, and red on the inside, representing d'Aubuisson's view that Duarte is really a communist.
''Christian democracy and communism,'' d'Aubuisson shouted, ''are one and the same thing.''
The former major, who was cashiered from the service in 1979 when the military overthrew its own leader, Gen. Carlos Humberto Romero, also said he will ''restore the military to its rightful position in our nation.''
Most of the ''national program for reconstruction'' that he outlined in his 30-minute address centered on getting rid of the guerrillas, putting Christian Democrats on trial, and boosting police units here.
There was little in his speech on economics or on the social welfare of the 5 million Salvadorans -- the basic problems facing this Massachusetts-size nation.
Mr. d'Aubuisson's supporters expect him to win big thoughout the nation and some opinion polls suggest this could happen. ARENA spokesmen say ARENA is sure to win 40 percent of the seats in the new constituent assembly and - with support from two minor right-wing parties -- to take control not only of the assembly but also of the government.
At least one ARENA spokesman privately worries that if this comes to pass, d'Aubuisson has given very little thought to anything except dealing with guerrillas and building up the Army.
Meanwhile, controversy mounts over d'Aubuisson's role in assassinating Roman Catholic Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero, primate of San Salvador, just two years ago. Documents found in his study at the time of his arrest in 1982 tend to implicate him in the planning. And former US Ambassador to El Salvador Robert E. White has termed him a pathological killer -- an accusation that ARENA spokemen say will soon lead to a libel suit against Mr. White.
None of this came up at the ARENA rally, however, except in comments by preliminary speakers, one of whom charged, ''The world will have to answer to attacks on d'Aubuisson. Our man is here among us as the symbol of what makes this nation great.''
The campaign song of ARENA, moreover, calls for ''sweat and blood'' to be spent by d'Aubuisson supporters. And d'Aubuisson himself told the assembled crowd:
''Our struggle may cost lives. It won't be easy, but it is the only way to do away with our enemies. They must go or we will go.''
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