86 Chapter 2
Fighting continued for a week or two, when the sides signed a ceasefire, but within a
week of the ceasefire Honduras accused Salvadoran troops of attacking again.
Negotiations followed, and on July 28 both states agreed to request Organization of
American States observers. The following day their foreign ministers met with Guatema-
lan president Kjell Laugerud in Guatemala, but there were additional clashes the same day
as well. On August 1 Honduran foreign minister Galvez accused El Salvador of attacking
six border towns.
Negotiations continued, and on August 9 Honduras and El Salvador agreed
to demilitarize the disputed border areas in the Act of Managua. In 1978 they
accepted International Court of Justice (ICJ) mediation and in 1980 signed a treaty
to deescalate the conflict. In 1992 the ICJ awarded most of the disputed territory
to Honduras.
Coding changes: End Date changed from August 12, 1976. Fatalities changed from
None.
MID#2352
Dispute Number: 2352
Date(s): July 10, 1985
Participants: 91 Honduras/92 El Salvador
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: From July 10–11, 1985, joint discussions on the border dispute between El
Salvador and Honduras were interrupted when the El Salvadoran president protested
against a border incursion by the Honduran army in the Department of Morazan, El
Salvador.
Coding changes: End Date changed from July 11, 1985.
MID#3904
Dispute Number: 3904
Date(s): May 23, 1989 to May 27, 1989
Participants: 92 El Salvador/91 Honduras
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: El Salvador charged that the Honduran army had attacked Salvadoran
refugees in Honduran camp on May 17, 1989. Salvadoran forces crossed the border
and entered a small Honduran village on May 27 and clashed with Honduran patrol
forces. Near the same area, a Honduran helicopter came under fire, though those firing
could not be identified.
Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front Radio Venceremos broadcast a
statement on the 29th saying that two days earlier Honduran forces entered El
Salvador and a four-hour clash between the Honduran and Salvadoran forces
resulted in “numerous casualties.” El Salvador also took several Honduran forces
as prisoners.
Coding changes: End Date changed from May 29, 1989.