Schafik Hándal sat on the terrace outside the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences Building of the University of El Salvador, enjoying his lunch. Every once in a while one of the small turquoise birds that made their homes in the University’s trees would call out to another over the din of bustling students. To most in San Salvador, the torogoz was just another bird. But after spending months away from his homeland, Schafik saw in the national bird of El Salvador a sign of hope. He knew that no matter what happened, even after his second exile, he could still come back to admire the shimmering feathers of the torogoz, and see how they had remained in his absence.

A voice snapped Schafik out of his pensive moment.

“Camarada, you shouldn’t be out in the open like this!” chided Schafik’s friend and fellow organizer Dagoberto Gutiérrez in a hush tone. Dagoberto was 14 years Schafik’s younger, a mere 17 years old. He had started his studies the fall before at the University’s Law School which had become a hotspot for communist and general leftist agitation. Dagoberto took quickly to the cause of the working class, and was rising figure in the University’s wing of the Salvadoran Communist Party.

“Do you see any police here, Beto? I don’t, and I didn’t see any yesterday,” toned Schafik in a relaxed manner. He wanted his last day in San Salvador to be peaceful, and didn’t like the thought of spending more time hiding in the student dorm he had recently taken up residence in. “Besides, I’m leaving tomorrow. Give me one more day to experience the sights of my University.”

“You frustrate me, and I’m sure the rest of the Party would agree with me.”

Schafik sighed. He knew that Dagoberto was probably right, he shouldn’t be exposing himself during such a dangerous time. Rivera’s coup may have allowed an early escape for Schafik from Guatemalan exile, but his death-squads were already causing havoc in the San Jacinto Barrio near the Casa Presidential. It was only a matter of time before they became bold enough to accost the University.

Tomorrow, however, Schafik would set off to the countryside, in a bid to establish popular support for the newly formed militant arm of the Salvadoran Communist Party, the United Revolutionary Action Front, or FUAR. The PCS had granted Schafik the position as General Secretary of the FUAR, as he had become a figure of note within the movement. When Rivera assumed power, the disunited segments of remaining leftist groups across the country had formed the People’s Revolutionary Army, or ERP. Schafik now hoped to combine the ERP’s popular support with the organization of the FUAR.

His itinerary included stops at trade schools and universities across the county, as well as visiting key villages and known hotspots for rebellious groups. By uniting the two sections of the Left in El Salvador, Schafik and the PCS hoped to see a mirror of the Cuban Revolution and follow in the footsteps of Castro and Che.

The FUAR is attempting to combine with the ERP in hopes of uniting the Left in a militant uprising against President Rivera.