Input: the guatemala army denied today that guerrillas attacked the "santo tomas" presidential farm, located on the pacific side, where president cerezo has been staying since 2 february.    a report published by the "cerigua" news agency -- mouthpiece of the guatemalan national revolutionary unity (urng) -- whose main offices are in mexico, says that a guerrilla column attacked the farm 2 days ago.    however, armed forces spokesman colonel luis arturo isaacs said that the attack, which resulted in the death of a civilian who was passing by at the time of the skirmish, was not against the farm, and that president cerezo is safe and sound.    he added that on 3 february president cerezo met with the diplomatic corps accredited in guatemala.    the government also issued a communique describing the rebel report as "false and incorrect," and stressing that the president was never in danger.    col isaacs said that the guerrillas attacked the "la eminencia" farm located near the "santo tomas" farm, where they burned the facilities and stole food.    a military patrol clashed with a rebel column and inflicted three casualties, which were taken away by the guerrillas who fled to the mountains, isaacs noted.    he also reported that guerrillas killed a peasant in the city of flores, in the northern el peten department, and burned a tank truck.

guerrilla column

guatemalan national revolutionary unity

"santo tomas" presidential farm

"la eminencia" farm

facilities

tank truck

cerezo


Input: heavy fighting with air support raged last night in northwestern san salvador when members of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) attacked an electric power substation.  according to preliminary reports, a soldier guarding the substation was wounded.    the first explosions began at 2330 (0530 gmt) and continued until early this morning, when government troops requested air support and the guerrillas withdrew to the slopes of the san salvador volcano, where they are now being pursued.    the noise from the artillery fire and helicopter gunships was heard throughout the capital and its outskirts, especially in the crowded neighborhoods of northern and northwestern san salvador, such as miralvalle, satelite, montebello, and san ramon.  some explosions could still be heard this morning.    meanwhile, it was reported that the cities of san miguel and usulutan, the largest cities in eastern el salvador, have no electricity because of guerrilla sabotage activity.

members of the farabundo marti national liberation front

farabundo marti national liberation front

electric power substation


Input: el salvador's supreme court of justice has relieved judge hector larios of his duties as judge and notary because he ordered the release of a band of alleged kidnappers.    the new judge, ricardo mejia, overturned the ruling to release the eight people accused of kidapping at least six wealthy salvadorans in the early 1980's.    supreme court chief justice francisco jose guerrero announced larios' dismissal and suspended his license to practice law.  "based on a review of larios' irregular ruling, one can conclude that his behavior is unbecoming an official worthy of the supreme court's trust.  we are dismayed by that judge's conduct," he noted.    moreover, mejia overturned the ruling ordering the release of orlando llovera ballet, lieutenant isidro lopez, major alfredo jimenez, and other members of the kidnapping ring.    larios decided on friday to release the members of the kidnapping ring, which included some army officers and sympathizers of the rightist nationalist republican alliance (arena), which won the 19 march presidential elections.    "this is the first time the supreme court has levied this kind of sanction in a case setting a precedent in judicial corruption," a court official asserted, referring to larios' dismissal.  larios is also accused of releasing members of a drug trafficking ring some years ago.    because the ruling on the kidnappers was overturned, "the case goes back to the lower courts," the new judge said.    the kidnappers, some of whom have been under arrest since april 1986, were accused of kidnapping several businessmen for high sums of money.    larios's ruling in favor of the kidnappers prompted a bitter reaction from government, political, and professional sectors.  the national ad council, representing news media announcers, has urged that the kidnappers be prosecuted to the full extent of the law "so that those who profit from the suffering of others are punished."


Input: last night's terrorist target was the antioquia liqueur plant. four powerful rockets were going to explode very close to the tanks where 300,000 gallons of the so-called castille crude, used to operate the boilers, is stored. the watchmen on duty reported that at 2030 they saw a man and a woman leaving a small suitcase near the fence that surrounds the plant. the watchmen exchanged fire with the terrorists who fled leaving behind the explosive material that also included dynamite and grenade rocket launchers. metropolitan police personnel specializing in explosives, defused the rockets. some 100 people were working inside the plant.    the damage the rockets would have caused had they been activated cannot be estimated because the caribe soda factory and the guayabal residential area would have also been affected.    the antioquia liqueur plant has received threats in the past and maximum security has always been practiced in the area. security was stepped up last night after the incident. the liqueur industry is the largest foreign exchange producer for the department.

man

woman

antioquia liqueur plant

four powerful rockets

dynamite and grenade rocket launchers

dynamite and grenade rocket launchers


Input: how about the sandinist soldiers that allegedly (words indistinct).  no sandinist soldiers are being held by the crew of that boat?    (wheelock) that is what i said.  furthermore, one of the boats with 50 crew members has shown up in honduras and it is what is causing this problem.    (reporter) there are some problems with some colombians concerning contraband, right?    (wheelock) we are there to protect the fishing resources and to prevent any type of drug trafficking, gun running or any merchandise contraband.    (reporter) (words indistinct) how did the mutiny occur?    (wheelock) from the time they were captured and on the way to corn island, one of the officers on board was careless.  then, the cook and the captain disarmed one of the soldiers, took away his rifle, and they killed him.  the crew then availed itself of this incident to rise up in mutiny.  the captain was strangling one of the officers when another officer pulled up gun on him.  he is the captain who ran the ship aground in a coral reef.  (words indistinct) the shipowners will have to pay a fine and after the fine is paid, they must comply with all legal requirements so that the boat and crew are returned to them.


Input: the extraditables today claimed responsibility for the murder of antioquia police commander colonel waldemar franklin quintero, which occurred this morning in medellin.  the criminal attack on the officer occured a scant 1 month after the murder of antioquia department governor antonio roldan betancur.    a policeman was killed and another policeman wounded during the terrorist attack.  col quintero did not have a police escort by his own behest.  col quintero was directing operations against drug trafficking and consequently had been the object of death threats. here is a report by gladys vargas from medellin.    (begin recording) (vargas) this morning antioquia police commander col waldemar franklin quintero left his residence to begin his daily tasks at antioquia police headquarters.  as the vehicle drove through the america neighborhood, seven blocks from where antioquia governor antonio roldan was killed, the vehicle that col quintero was in -- a white nissan patrol vehicle with license plates me-7847 -- drew to a stop in front of a red light at the carrera 80 crossing.  several individuals in a gray mazda 626 vehicle, with license plates mi-1630, took advantage of this circumstance to fire volleys of submachinegun fire against col quintero, who died instantly.  (passage omitted)    col quintero did not have a police escort.  just 8 days ago he decided to dismiss the escort, because he did not want anyone else to be killed if there were an attack on him.  only col quintero and a police driver were in the vehicle.    the judge of the 76th district court, who directed the removal of the body, said that several types of weapons were used in the attack and more than 100 shots were fired. (passage omitted) (end recording)

antonio roldan betancur


Input: the leadership of the coordinating committee of farming, commercial, industrial, and financial associations, cacif, has met with the acting president of the republic.  sources close to the government have disclosed that they discussed the economic program proposed by the government on 25 august.    according to our sources, the representatives of the country's productive sector and acting president roberto carpio nicolle also discussed the violence prevailing in the country and the way law enforcement authorities are coping with the problem that has already taken a toll on several victims.  no details were disclosed as to the means that the government will adopt in order to halt the wave of terror that has taken over the country, the same sources disclosed, claiming that the mechanisms will be announced in conjunction with the security plan that the acting president will make public in a few days.    a state of siege might be imposed at any moment, as this is one of the alternatives the government has left for controlling violence, particularly the terrorist actions, said government minister roberto valle baldizan.  the minister added that it is not necessary to wait for president vinicio cerezo to return to the country.


Input: diego biafara, administrative department of security (das) and drug enforcement agency informant, who appeared before a u.s. senate committee on 13 september, revealed unknown links between the israeli and british mercenaries, who have trained paramilitary groups in our country.    (begin recording) (biafara) that is yair klein in front.  he is the colonel wearing the dark blue shirt.  the thin person behind him wearing the light blue shirt is teddy, who was the translator.  there were five israeli instructors.  i remember the names: sadaka, amancia, yair, and teddy.  i cannot remember the name of the fifth one.  there were 11 british instructors.  we used to call that one david.  this man was an expert in explosives.  he instructed us on how to use explosives.  (end recording)    these were statements made by biafara to the u.s. senate in which we learned of a clear link between the israeli mercenaries, who were training paramilitary groups in the middle magdalena region, and the british mercenaries who came to the country allegedly to assassinate pablo escobar.    biafara knew both groups of mercenaries.  according to his statements given to das last march, not only did israeli mercenaries train assassins in middle magdalena, there was also a group of 11 british mercenaries, who gave lessons to 50 students.  among the instructors there was peter mclise, the name of one of the leaders of the operation against pablo escobar, and david, who biafara clearly identified.  he was david tomkins, the man in charge of the plot against escobar.  according to biafara, most british instructors had tatoos on their breasts, arms, and shoulders, just as we can see on the video taped by the british men who prepared the operation against escobar.    in conclusion, the mercenaries who were preparing to assassinate one of the medellin cartel leaders were the same ones who trained the assassins paid by the cartel itself.


Input: the armed forces of el salvador hereby reports to the citizens in general that the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) terrorists have been repelled by our courageous soldiers and that there are now only a few dispersed groups of criminals who are looting. the armed forces report that in due time they will announce statistics on the casualties inflicted by the terrorists among the civilian population, as well as the members of the army who have fallen in the line of their sacred and constitutional duty.  in due time, the armed forces will announce the number of terrorists killed in their efforts to bring sorrow and mourning to the salvadoran people.    the armed forces also request that the people follow instructions at the military checkpoints through which they must pass in order to prevent any unnecessary incidents. the armed forces also call on the people to remain calm.    in the loyal fulfillment of their duties, the armed forces of the republic are determined to carry out this struggle so that democracy will not be hindered by these criminal terrorists, who in recent hours have brought more sorrow, mourning, and grief to the salvadoran people.


Input: esteemed members of the government commission:    today, 9 march, we have received a message signed by the members of your commission asking us to begin the peace talks.  we have already addressed this issue on numerous occasions, expressing our willingness to hold a meeting.  the government commission's letter makes no mention of any move to postpone the elections.  it does not even consider including this topic on the meeting's agenda.  on the contrary, it is clear that the commission has already decided to hold the elections on 19 march.    consequently, the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) hereby informs the government commission and the salvadoran people of the following:    1. the government commission must clearly and publicly announce that it is willing to reach an agreement on confining the army to its barracks on the day of the elections, establishing an electoral code by consensus, providing absentee voting for salvadorans living abroad, restructuring the central elections council, and forming a council for verification.    more importantly, it must express the state powers' willingness to postpone the elections for 5 months, once a cease-fire has been agreed upon.  we also believe that the government commission must publicly announce that it is willing to bring military commanders and officers responsible for political murders and crimes to trial, to reduce the salvadoran armed forces to the number of troops it had in 1968, and to disband the security forces to form a new civil police.  we reiterate our willingness to discuss permanently ceasing the armed struggle.    2. if the government commission agrees to the above requests, the fmln will agree to a meeting and is willing to immediately decide on a date and a time for the meeting.  the fmln is even willing to hold the meeting outside el salvador.  as a part of this meeting, we are willing to negotiate and come to an agreement with the armed forces staff on a cease-fire that will bring about a permanent and negotiated solution to the conflict.    3. if no such agreement is reached, then there is no point in holding the meeting prior to 19 march, because it will simply be used by both the christian democratic party (pdc) and the nationalist republican alliance (arena) in their election dispute.  the elections play no role in achieving peace; they only serve to provide a false justification for continuing the war.    4. we await a response from the government commission.    el salvador, 9 march 1989     fmln general command     (signed) commander salvador sanchez ceren     commander francisco jovel    commander jorge shafik handal     commander eduardo sancho     commander joaquin villalobos


Input: edmundo vargas carreno, chilean foreign ministry under secretary, has stated that the bryant treaty with the united states will be applied in the letelier case only to compensate the relatives of the former chilean foreign minister murdered in washington and the relatives of his u.s. secretary, ronnie moffit.  the chilean foreign under secretary made this statement in reply to u.s. newspaper reports stating that the treaty would be partially respected.    following are vargas carreno's statements at a news conference he held in buenos aires before concluding his official visit to argentina:    (begin recording) (vargas) this treaty (words indistinct) used by the united states in 1989, during the past administration, to solve two problems connected with the letelier case: the problem of compensation and the problem of the chilean government's responsibility for the death of orlando letelier and his (words indistinct) assistant.    it has been agreed in principle to use the treaty exclusively to solve the problem of compensation; that is the objective when we refer to its partial use.  (words indistinct) so as for the compensation subject, it will be used.  we are using the mechanism created by the five-member commission established by the treaty. the language of this treaty was pertinent for the early decades of this century but is no longer in keeping with current international practices.  (end recording)    during the news conference with argentine and foreign journalists, vargas carreno also announced that president carlos menem will visit chile in august in response to an invitation from chilean president patricio aylwin, who will also visit argentina at an as yet undetermined date.    vargas carreno noted his satisfaction with his meetings in buenos aires with foreign minister domingo cavallo and raul carignano, under secretary for latin american affairs.  vargas carreno said that as a result of this initial contact the binational commission established by the chilean-argentine peace and friendship treaty, which was signed in 1984, will meet next july.  he said that the two countries will continue to hold formal and informal talks to discuss problems of common interest, speed up the integration process, and increase mutual understanding and cooperation.    regarding the situation of hundreds of thousands of chilean citizens living in argentina -- a total he estimated at 800,000 -- vargas carreno said that president aylwin's government has established an office to help those citizens living abroad for various reasons to return to chile, especially those living in argentina's patagonia region who are being treated inhumanely, especially by businessmen in the border area, as reported by an argentine journalist.

chilean government

ronnie moffit

orlando letelier


Input: leftist guerrillas early tuesday attacked a residential neighborhood in northern san salvador where many government and military leaders have their homes.    the din of gunfire and explosions could be heard before dawn in the escalon neighborhood near the sheraton hotel.    it was the first time since the farabundo marti (national liberation front) (fmln) launched their offensive 11 days go that fighting had spread to the escalon neighborhood, which is at the foot of the san salvador volcano.    air force helicopters flew over the area and the sound of machinegun fire could be heard.


Input: the executive branch has called a special session of congress for tomorrow and the next day to consider the serious situation of panama and to denounce the inter-american reciprocal assistance treaty, tiar, for its ineffectiveness.  this was announced by president alan garcia at the conclusion of a council of ministers meeting at government house today.  the president also expressed his surprise over the mildness with which the rest of the latin american countries have reacted to the u.s. aggression against panama.  president garcia also said that the fuel price increase will allow petroperu (state petroleum agency) to operate.    (begin recording) (unidentified reporter) what important subjects were discussed in the council of ministers meeting today?    (garcia) the main subject was the decision to call a special congressional session on 22 and 23 december to consider the serious situation created by the u.s. invasion in panama.  the second important subject was the decision to denounce the tiar, a military organization that groups all the latin american countries and the united states and which, on several occasions, has proved to be absolutely ineffective and partial.    the malvinas islands situation is a good example.  according to the tiar, the united states should have supported argentina, but it did exactly the contrary, supporting the united kingdom.    now, in this case with panama, the tiar has not served any purpose. rather, it has served to mask the u.s. invasion of panama.  therefore, since we consider the tiar to be ineffective and senseless, we, as a republic, must denounce it.  we must withdraw our signature from the tiar.  this must be done through congress, and that is why we have called a special session.    (reporter) several sectors have described the decision to withdraw the peruvian ambassador to the united states as a hasty decision. what do you think of that?    (garcia) i think that those must be sectors committed to the invasion.  they must support a rightist concept by which the united states has the hegemonic right to safeguard our destiny and to decide who can govern us and who cannot.    as peruvians and latin americans, we feel that the aggressive and bloody action by u.s. troops to occupy a small country is a violation. there are currently nearly 30,000 u.s. soldiers in panamanian territory.  they have killed many people and they want to impose a new government.  thus, as long as those troops remain there, as long as this violation to latin america is maintained, our ambassador will not stay in that country.  this does not imply a break in relations; it represents a clear gesture of condemnation and dislike.    as long as a u.s. soldier violates the republic of panama, we will keep our ambassador here.  as long as the united states does not withdraw their troops and panama remains occupied, the panamanian and peruvian flags will remain together.    (reporter) don't you think that this attitude could harm certain relations with the united states; that is, couldn't it jeopardize the imf loan?    (garcia) not at all.  these are two absolutely different things. the negotiations with the imf are one thing; the international political attitude of a government that abuses its economic and military power with other countries is something else.    besides, we should mention something very important.  as for panamanian-u.s. relations, the americans have been the main accomplices in depriving panama of democracy.  when elections took place in 1984, when arnulfo arias should have won, the united states decided that it was not convenient that arias should win, so a large fraud -- as it was declared at the time -- was carried out to place nicolas ardito barletta in power.  the first ones to recognize ardito were the americans.  ardito was placed in the presidency by noriega.    in 1985 noriega removed ardito and put eric arturo del valle in his place.  the americans immediately recognized del valle as president. therefore, the united states has been noriega's accomplice in depriving panama of democracy.  we denounced this.  noriega is a creation of the united states.  it has repeatedly been said that noriega worked with the united states and with the u.s.  central intelligence agency, where president bush was once chief.    therefore, now that the maid is answering back, making claims to the panama canal and wanting to become independent from the united states, the united states suddenly discovers that she is a drug trafficker and that she does not serve its interests, so they send 30,000 u.s. soldiers to panama.  this is an abuse.  it is a violation of the sovereignty of another state.    no honorable latin american country should tolerate this invasion without actively and openly condemning it.  one way to condemn it and express disapproval of it is to say that as long as the troops invading latin america remain, we do not need to maintain our ambassador there.  (continued)


Input: the tupac amaru revolutionary movement (mrta), a peruvian guerrilla organization, has sent a letter to peruvian cardinal juan landazuri, proposing that a dialogue be held to restore peace to peru.    in its letter, which is partially published in today's la republica, a lima newspaper, the mrta outlines several conditions under which it will hold a dialogue with the catholic church.    the mrta letter is dated 26 march, the same day cardinal landazuri stated over a local television station that the church would be willing to mediate with violence-oriented movements under acceptable conditions for dialogue.    the cardinal added that, because of their respective ideologies, these movements have not engaged in any dialogue whatsoever.  he also noted that appeals made by the church have gone unheeded.    according to la republica, the mrta letter says that the mrta "national leadership carefully listened to your easter message to the christian community in which you reflected on the problem of violence in the country, and made an appeal to those organizations that have taken up arms."    thus, the letter adds, the mrta "deems it important to inform you of our opinion and our proposals in this regard."    the letter says that the church must play a decisive role in "humanizing this war," and that most victims of this war are "unarmed civilians."    the mrta believes that in order to humanize this conflict the government and the armed forces must "stop committing crimes against unarmed civilians, prisoners must be treated in accordance with the vienna convention, torture and human rights' crimes must end, and paramilitary gangs must be dismantled."    the mrta asks the church to demand that the peruvian government change its economic policy.    the mrta says: "the church must demand that the government put an end to repression and crimes against the people; that high moral standards be observed in all aspects of peruvian political life; and that stiff punishment be given to those who commit immoral, criminal acts against the people."    the mrta letter concludes by stating that only this way will the church truly "contribute to finding a solution to this confrontation."    monsignor ricardo durand flores, president of the peruvian episcopal conference, today said that the church "cannot reject any proposal from violence-oriented organizations."    msgr durand said that if such a proposal is made the episcopal conference will immediately call a meeting of its standing committee "to study the situation."    victor polay, one of the mrta's leaders, is currently in custody and facing trial on charges of terrorism.    more than 13,000 people have died in peru since 1980, when the maoist shining path organization started its wave of political violence, which has also caused heavy material damage.


Input: the guatemalan guerrillas today proposed "beginning a dialogue process and talks" among the various sectors of the country to try and put an end to "repression, terror, and violations of human rights and to begin a real democratic process."    the guatemalan rebels proposed holding "meetings on dates to be agreed upon and in a country that will guarantee the necessary safety and offer its territory to hold the meetings" to discuss "vital" issues, such as how to end the repression and the internal armed conflict.    the guatemalan national revolutionary unity (urng) has also reiterated to christian democrat vinicio cerezo's government its willingness to attend a dialogue to reach an agreement on a cease-fire; however, it regrets the fact that up to now, "the president and his defense minister, general alejandro gramajo, have refused to accept the invitation."    guatemalan government and urng representatives met for the first time in madrid, spain, in 1987, but the meeting ended without specific agreements being reached.    "we have insisted on a dialogue between the government and the urng but, unfortunately, even though all of central america is willing to hold dialogues, president cerezo and the gramajo clique refuse to do so," the urng stated in a paid advertisement published in local newspapers.    in reference to the wave of violence that is sweeping the country, the urng, made up of four rebel groups that operate in guatemala, said that the people "are living one of the darkest and deadliest chapters in their history."    within this context, the urng general command "feels that it is necessary to undertake a process of dialogue and talks with all the forces and political parties, with all the popular, religious, business groups, and with the honest soldiers, so that together we can find a real alternative to the current situation."    "the issues to be discussed could include -- in addition to the vital issues like repression and the internal armed conflict -- economic measures that would contribute to the development, without pressures or imf measures, of a prosperous economy," the guerrilla's statement adds.    "with 16 months and a few days left in the current presidential term, president vinicio cerezo's government has not lived up to its promises and has only made the situation worse," the rebel communique states.    "instead of changes, repression, terror, instability, chaos, and corruption continue, and the guatemalan people are living in an environment of lies, frustration, and manipulation," the rebels add.    the urng stated that cerezo's government, the first civilian government this central american country has had since 1970, has proven itself to be "a counterinsurgent, repressive, and terrorist regime."    the guatemalan rebels believe that "the current government is responsible for the new wave of repression and terror that only adds to the more than 100,000 persons who have been murdered, 40,000 who have been kidnapped or are missing, 1 million locally displaced and 46,000 who have sought refuge in mexico since 1954."    the urng today also published a copy of a letter sent to un secretary general javier perez de cuellar in which it requests that he offer his good offices "so that a regime that respects human rights, the international norms and conventions, justice, freedom, and democracy will prevail in guatemala."    the rebels said that the government's assurance that the rebel movement has been annihilated "is not true" and added that, quite the contrary, "the popular revolutionary war has increased throughout the country."    the urng claims that "the urng military groups are now fighting in 11 of the 22 departments throughout the country, including guatemala city," and have claimed responsibility for attacks on "important targets."  according to its military report, the urng has carried out approximately 688 military actions and inflicted 1,172 casualties on the army since last april.    the guatemalan army claims that the rebels have been militarily defeated and that only about 1,000 rebels are active in some isolated regions of the country.    today's statement was signed by rolando moran, gaspar ilom, carlos gonzalez, and pablo monsanto, commanders of the four clandestine organizations that make up the urng: the poor people's guerrilla army (egp), the revolutionary organization of the people in arms (orpa), the guatemalan labor party (pgt-communist), and the rebel armed forces (far).


Input: the officers and everyone else in the army must think this over.  they cannot continue closing their eyes to the bombings, to the thousands of people who have left the poor neighborhoods of san salvador, to the mothers who appear crying on television.  it is good that the network presents these pictures of people crying, manipulating their emotions.  those tears were shed over 50 years of oppression and misery, and over the bombings that have destroyed zacamil neighborhood.  officers, the bombs have caused all that sorrow and the destruction of 500 houses in zacamil.    as we were saying, officers, you must ask yourselves: who are you dying for?  for colonel ponce's mansions in miami?  for general bustillo's mansions?  why are the armed forces members dying here? why are the lieutenants, the capitains dying, while the members of the armed forces hierarchy are confortably sitting in their air-conditioned offices being guarded while they are at ease, but not really at ease as combat is taking place just a few blocks from their office.    officers, lieutenants, captains, this is the appeal the fmln wants make to you today, at a time when the future of the fatherland is at stake?  you must think this over, you must make a decision, and you must do this soon.  history is moving fast, and the time is ripe. so when you are told that you are defending the constitution, think about what we are telling you.  if you are defending the constitution, think about what we are saying.  if we are defending the constitution here, why is this constitution being violated by those rambos sent by president bush to el salvador?  you all know this little group of rambos is good for nothing, as they are cowards.  they did not want to leave the sheraton hotel, because the guerrillas were there.  they are cowards, just like their system.  they are tinhorn rambos, who are absolutely no good.    as we said yesterday, if those men who left the sheraton like common criminals covering their faces from the international press are the ones who are training the armed forces, we can understand better why the fmln is defeating the tactics taught by them.  they are no good, because they do not understand our people, they underestimate our people.  officers, you know those u.s.  advisers underestimate you, they look down on you, as little indians, as donkeys.  you know how they think of you.  you kow they mock the salvadoran officers. officers, you know very well how these u.s.  advisers treat our soldiers.  they are haughty, arrogant, and cowards.  you saw them at the sheraton hotel, pissing in their pants, they did not want to leave the hotel.  a commission went there, the red cross went there, but they did not want to leave, because they were not sure of themselves during the truce, simply because they are cowards.    we want the cin (national information center), that fascist network that is silencing our people, to present the films of the advisors leaving the hotel.  we challenge the network to present those films of the advisors leaving the sheraton, with their faces covered as if they were car thieves.  that is the way the u.s.  advisers -- the rambos, the supermen -- left the sheraton.  these rambos are not going to save anyone, as they cannot even save themselves.

officers

everyone else in the army

army

houses

bombs


Input: the fmln general command reports:    1.  on saturday 11 november we began the national military campaign called " out with the fascists!  febe elizabeth lives!" this campaign immersed the armed forces high command and the cristiani administration in confusion and insecurity since the beginning; and it successfully continues in its second day of fighting.    2.  the fmln fighters are using all their intelligence, energy, unselfishness, and patriotism so that a just peace is achieved in the country based on an authentic democracy designed to counter the genocidal reply that the military dictatorship has responded with.    3.  salvadorans who have withstood a bloody military dictatorship for almost 60 years see more clearly today the need to develop their legitimate defense against the repression which has been stepped up by the political, economic, and military hostility of alfredo cristiani's administration; and they understand the need to support and join the struggle for our country's liberty.    4.  we urge the honest and patriotic members of the armed forces to seriously reflect on the fact that they are not only facing the guerrilla army of the fmln, but a whole sector which claims its right to rebel.  we specifically urge the soldiers and officers in the battlefield to understand that our struggle is not being personally waged against you, but rather against the antipopular interests which are being defended by the armed forces upon orders from the fascists.    5.  the governments and peoples of the world are closely following the latest events in el salvador and their contribution will be valuable in achieving a national consensus based on democracy, a solution among salvadorans, and no foreign intervention.  the international community must help achieve a just and durable peace, thus avoiding more bloodshed.    6.  the fmln general command wants to report the atrocities being perpetrated against the civilian population by the armed forces who are indiscriminately bombing densely populated areas in san salvador, and issuing death threats against all the political and social groups, thus proving the regime's weakness and showing its antipopular and antipatriotic essence.    7.  we also urge the international community to help create special zones where children, the elderly, and wounded people from the battle zones can be evacuated.    out with the fascists!  febe elizabeth lives!    fmln general command    commanders salvador sanchez ceren, commander francisco jovel, commander joaquin villalobos, commander shafik jorge handal, commander eduardo sancho.    el salvador, 12 november 1989.


Input: to date, the army has no knowledge of a report that the guatemalan government has said it sent to president alfredo cristiani on the investigations carried out in that country concerning the death of salvadoran leftist leader hector oqueli colindres.    oqueli, leader of the national revolutionary movement (mnr) and hilda flores, a guatemalan social democratic leader were abducted and killed in january by unidentified individuals in guatemala city as they were heading to the la aurora airport.    president cerezo was in caracas on the occasion of the meeting between the fmln-fdr (farabundo marti national liberation front - revolutionary democratic front) and a delegation of the salvadoran government.  on that occasion president cerezo met with both delegations separately.  he informed them about the investigations being conducted concerning the crime and told them that he would send his government's version to president cristiani.    since president cerezo told journalists that "salvadoran rightist sectors and soldiers" could be implicated in the crime, yesterday army spokesmen were asked to comment on the subject.  they said that although they have heard something to that effect, they have no specific knowledge about the report, which they expect to see soon, if it is not just speculation.

salvadoran rightist sectors

soldiers

hector oqueli colindres

hilda flores


Input: after nearly a 2-month absence from the national press, major roberto d'aubuisson holds the view that the armed forces should not be criticized for the isolated behavior of some of its members.  the arena (nationalist republican alliance) leader is of the opinion that the armed forces themselves were the ones that exerted pressure so that the jesuits' murder case could be cleared-up.    (begin recording) (d'aubuisson) it was not the institution (armed forces) that was involved in the problem.  regrettably some of its members did it and now the entire armed forces are under pressure for political reasons.  however, we must realize that it is thanks to the armed forces that we have this democratic process, with a hope that our country develops and recovers.  it is very unfair that some people pass judgment or criticize without really knowing how hard it has been on all the officers, noncommissioned officers, and troops who have had to put up with these attacks in addition to the intense work they have had for the past few months. (end recording)    d'aubuisson said that once the murder of the six jesuits has been cleared up, u.s. authorities have no reason to question the continuation of u.s. economic assistance to the country.    (begin recording) (d'aubuisson) the jesuits' case was a determining factor.  but now that the case has been fully solved with the help of the fbi, scotland yard, and investigators from other countries, this is no longer a problem, although previously it was serious.  i do not believe there can be any doubt now about receiving the aid, especially after the tremendous offensive launched by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front).  for argument's sake, if the situation did arise (whereby aid was suspended), this would only favor the fmln.  i know the fmln has a whole range of support groups that handle disinformation and make it appear as if things here were disastrous. for example, information abroad is that the air force leveled all the neighborhoods.  we salvadorans know that the air force was excessively cautious and did an excellent job repelling this attack with a minimum of civilians wounded.  for that matter, if we are going to compare things, u.s. military operations in panama were more clumsy -- there they set a whole neighborhood on fire. (end recording)    the arena leader also denied that there were differences between president cristiani and himself.  according to international press agencies, the decision of the salvadoran president to prosecute the military men involved in the jesuits' murder caused division within the party.  d'aubuisson denied this was true.    (begin recording) (d'aubuisson) not in the least.  there have never been any differences with president cristiani.  on the contrary, we are very close and grateful for the great effort, work, and the magnificent job president cristiani is doing.  this is reason for pride not only among friends of president cristiani but for the party and friends of the salvadoran government. (end recording)    in commenting on the dialogue with the fmln, d'aubuisson supported president critiani's initiative of engaging the assistance of the un secretary general.    (begin recording) (d'aubuisson) i do not think he has the time to act as mediator; however, he could act as a guarantor, receiving results of these talks and ensuring compliance with the commitments made. (end recording)    maj roberto d'aubuisson, currently an arena deputy, said that this year he will dedicate his time to expand and reorganize the party to get ready for the 1991 municipal and parliamentary elections.  he will most likely not be an arena deputy in the next legislative period, because he, along with other former legislators, will concentrate their political activities on the central american parliament.

military men

armed forces


Input: the armed forces have everything under control. we have toured the entire area; some have electricity, and others do not.  the rebels have tried to create a situation.  however, nothing has happened because the armed forces control everything.    this is a report from the entire area where there has been an attempt to create a situation of harassment, and that is what the armed forces are reporting tonight. in a certain sector, in the vicinity of santa tecla or, (changes thought) the entire situation that is being experienced tonight.  (sentence as heard)    the salvadoran people can rest assured that the armed forces control everything; there are only some bombings and shootings that will not lead to anything. this is only being done to make the people feel as if there were situations that are not different at all, because they will not lead to anything, the situation, right? (sentence as heard)    that is the report we can give you now, while we are experiencing the power outtage, and the rebls are bringing everything to a standstill, but this will not lead to anything that would make the people feel that there is an alarming situation.    i am reporting live from the area of the catholic university and jardines la sultana, where there is no electricity at present. we have made a great effort to contact you by telephone as we know this is the station that is heard throughout el salvador and outside our country.    that is the situation at present. everything is under control. there are no problems. it is just a harassment by the rebels who are trying to scare people.  everything is under control.


Input: fmln communique to all the salvadoran people: concerning the tela agreements, the fmln general command hereby states the following:    1. these agreements are a victory for the revolutionary, progressive, independent, and democratic forces of the region, and as such, we strongly praise them.    2. these agreements seal the political death of the contras and declare to the world the failure of the policy of aggression that the reagan administration initiated and carried out against the people of central america.    3. although the government and armed forces were prepared to put forward a theory of parallels, all of their alleged evidence was derided and discarded.    4. cristiani has signed off on the contras' death and acknowledged before the entire world that the fmln is a force with which it must talk and negotiate.  he went to tela with a dialogue plan to cover up the war, but he was forced, under the agreements, to negotiate for peace with the fmln.  cristiani's dialogue commission, in fact, has been demobilized.    5. cristiani was forced to sign a pledge for democratization when his plans was to fascistize el salvador.    6. the fmln reaffirms its resolve to continue to support the efforts of the political parties, the san salvador archbishopric, and other social forces to establish a dialogue and negotiations with the government.  it is clear that the contras were a mercenary force maintained by the united states, which attacked nicaragua from honduras, and which should and could be demobilized.  it is clear that the fmln is a national force that has reasons for being at war, and with which peace must be negotiated.  no one can demobilize the fmln because it is within the country and is a legitimate national force.    the fmln calls on all fellow patriots who have sought refuge in honduras, nicaragua, costa rica, guatemala, and the rest of the world to return to the fatherland.  they are protected by the tela agreements.  we ask all salvadorans to demand of cristiani that, without further stratagems, he carry out a serious negotiation; fulfill his pledge to democratize the country; stop the repression, kidnapping, and torture; release all political prisoners; guarantee freedom of expression; respect reform; and abolish the economic measures that are deepening the war.    (signed) fmln general command     (dated) 7 august 1989


Input: several hundred activists of the radical bread, land, work, and freedom movement (mpttl) marched through the streets of san salvador on tuesday, openly defying the government and condemning "the election farce" of 19 march.    peasants, whose hardened faces and bodies reveal the endurance of long work days, participated in the march along with women, who in many cases were carrying their babies who never knew their fathers because they are missing or because they were murdered by security forces or death squads, according to what they told afp.    young people of both sexes marched along with them shouting slogans and with their faces covered with red handkerchiefs.  they carried iron rods and molotov cocktails in their bags, "in case they were needed to confront the police or in case they had to charge against a government vehicle."    in their string bags, the young people -- some of whom came down from the mountains in the last few months to promote the reactivation of the movement of the masses -- also carried spray paint cans, which they were ready to use to paint slogans on walls and vehicles at the slightest opportunity.    "what is our battle cry?  bread, land, work, and freedom," they shouted as they marched down the main avenues of the capital carrying huge red flags with a black circle in the center, the mpttl symbol.    according to authorities and high party leaders, the mpttl demonstrators are "a minority, instruments of the terrorists or simply guerrillas that came down the mountains to promote chaos."    leftist leaders, however, said the march held today was the "expression of the majority of the 5 million salvadorans, a majority, which for many years, since the 1932 massacre, has been subjugated by rifles and hunger but is now awakening."

security forces

death squads


Input: the media can make a significant contribution toward peace and democracy if, on their own initiative, they launch a great civic campaign to vigorously stimulate the citizens to participate in the coming elections.    fellow citizens, i know that you are asking yourselves what can be done under these circumstances.  above all, do not play up to terrorism.  the interests of the fatherland are above all individual or group interests, as is the defense of our democracy, which we have all been building together for more than a century.  this cannot be the time of opportunism.  this is the hour of solidarity with the country, its people, and its institutions.  the effectiveness of these measures and the actions of the public force depend, first of all, on the solidarity of the citizens.  the results will be as encouraging and as favorable as the cooperation of the citizens.  to regain tranquility is not the exclusive responsibility of the armed forces or the state.  it is a task in which each of us has something to contribute.    colombia has successfully overcome even more difficult moments.  it has faced decisively and emerged victoriously from even more uncertain situations.  that past has created solid institutions.  for this reason, i am sure that democracy will triumph and that those who commit violence, regardless of who they may be, will be punished.  i am sure that we will continue to progress along the path of peace, tolerance, and respect for life and human dignity.  good night.


Input: the car bomb attack on 6 december which destroyed the building that houses the administrative department of security (das, secret police) had been planned since last september, according to official disclosures.    a police spokesperson confirmed today that the bus used in the terrorist action was bought by a man who is a native of medellin.  he used false documents to buy the car from a school proprietor in bogota.    according to the authorities, the buyer, who is a member of the sinister medellin cartel, was instructed by terrorists abroad to explode 500 kg of dynamite gel in front of the headquarters of the country's principal security organization.    das director brigadier general miguel maza marquez said on 7 december that a member of the separatist eta (basque fatherland and liberty) group directed the operation.    maza marquez also said that pablo escobar gaviria and gonzalo rodriguez gacha, the world's biggest drug traffickers, "are behind this criminal attack."    "the medellin cartel planned the attack since september, after another car bomb attempt to assassinate maza marquez was foiled last may," the police spokesperson stated.    meanwhile, three persons suspected of participating in the attack were released on 7 december, after being found innocent.  two other persons are being held by the police and are undergoing intense questioning.    the authorities also confirmed that the number of victims is 59 and not 62, as was reported officially on 7 december.    civil defense and red cross crews, as well as armed forces units, are removing the rubble from a 2-km-perimeter, fearing that people may be persons trapped beneath tons of iron and cement.

member of the sinister medellin cartel

pablo escobar gaviria

gonzalo rodriguez gacha

three persons suspected of participating in the attack

two other persons

medellin cartel

basque fatherland and liberty

building that houses the administrative department of security

miguel maza marquez

car bomb

500 kg of dynamite gel


Input: security measures in the capital have been substantially beefed up after the military and police forces discovered a terrorist plan against a state institution.    general ramon niebles uzcategui, commander of the 13th brigade, reported that the plan was discovered following investigations in southwestern bogota, and more specifically at carvajal district, where the police discovered a car with 100 kg of gelignite at a residence. the car had a slow-burning fuse and mechanisms to set it off.    during the same investigation, the authorities found a toyota camper with 15 kg of dynamite, a powerful motorcycle, and other items typical of terrorist activities.


Input: the presence of british and israeli mercenaries, paid by colombian extreme right-wing groups and drug traffickers, was confirmed today by the administrative department of security (das), colombia's secret police.    the das sent a confidential report to colombian president virgilio barco which was published today by the liberal newspaper el tiempo. the report confirms that there is a collaberation between drug traffickers and extreme right-wing groups, and the presence of foreign mercenaries in colombia -- hired by the extreme right-wing drug-trafficking organizations.    the official organization asserts that the recently created extreme rightist movement of national restoration (morena) "must be identified as the culmination of a symbiosis between drug traffickers, self-defense groups, groups of hired gunmen trained by foreign mercenaries, and agrarian businessmen who are tired of the guerrilla groups' constant harassment."    the report indicates that british and israeli mercenaries identified as john owen, dave tomkins, r. paxton, p. glasgow, a. dewer, and p. atherton entered colombia through eldorado international airport in july, but the information does not give their individual nationalities.    the das adds that dean shelley, peter mcaleese, alex lenox, and andres gibson entered the country in previously and settled in the drug traffickers extreme right-wing groups' military training camps in puerto boyaca, middle magdalena region (central part of the country), la azulita (southern putumayo), puerto lopez (meta department), and el recreo (caqueta department) on the northeastern flatlands.    radio stations' reports added that colonel yair klein has been identified among the israeli mercenaries by the secret services of his country.  klein was commander of a paratroopers' unit in 1983 and apparently has a private security agency in israel.    abraham tzadaka and jacobo brine were also identified by their fellow countrymen.    on a national newscast broadcast several weeks ago a video which shows the israeli mercenaries wearing blue uniforms during war maneuvers with the drug-traffickers far right-wing groups' private army.  the scenes were reproduced by the nbc television network in the united states.    previous reports from the das, revealed in colombia, indicate that the colombians trained by the mercenaries include persons linked with the self-defense groups in the middle magdalena region and the recently created morena.    the first persons to notify the prosecutor general of the nation, the highest authority, about the presence of foreign mercenaries among the drug-traffickers far right-wing armed groups were deserters from the middle magdalena self-defense groups -- identified as jesus alberto molina urrea, ricaurte duque arboleda, and victor arboleda duque.    according to the deserters' declarations, the israeli mercenaries cannot speak spanish and they frequently met with gonzalo de jesus perez, henry perez, and marcelo perez.    according to the das report revealed today, "the perezes," are important members of the association of middle magdalena cattlemen (acdegam), the self-defense groups, and morena; and the authorities charge them with the mass murders of peasants in uraba, located in the country's northwestern area.

self-defense groups

gonzalo de jesus perez

henry perez

marcelo perez

movement of national restoration

association of middle magdalena cattlemen


Input: it has been officially reported in la paz that a bomb attack occurred early this morning somewhere near the place where bolivian president jaime paz zamora and peruvian president garcia are to meet today.    navy lieutenant justo martinez, commander of the port of the bolivian city of copacabana, reported that a bomb exploded in the peruvian town of yunguyo, which is located near the border between the two countries, approximately 10 km from copacabana.    martinez added that the offices of the deputy mayor, a civilian office occupied by the provincial governor, was the objective of the terrorist attack.    the navy officer told la paz radio panamericana that reconnaisance patrols have been sent to the border with peru and other "critical" points of copacabana bay in order to guard the presidential meeting.    it is in front of this lake titicaca bay that paz zamora and garcia will meet today to discuss bilateral topics and matters pertaining to drug trafficking.    bolivia and peru grow 90 percent of the world's coca leaves, which are used to produce cocaine.

terrorist

offices of the deputy mayor, a civilian office occupied by the provincial governor

bomb


Input: ending our newscast, we report that an attorney general office spokesman stated to a rpc television reporter late this afternoon that there are no grounds to mantain the arrest orders against former mayor gonzalo, aka chalo, gonzalez, who had taken asylum in the peruvian embassy in panama city.  the spokesman added that the arrest order against the former officer had been revoked because one of the persons implicated in the (justines rodriguez child murder) case had withdrawn his accusations against former mayor gonzalo gonzalez.  according to this report, the witness said he had accused gonzalez for personal reasons.  therefore, gonzalez is no longer accused in the justines rodriguez crime.


Input: on 30 november when u.s.  president bush set forth to malta to meet with soviet leader gorbachev, a report from angola said that a central intelligence agency (cia) airplane on a clandestine mission of delivering weapons to the antigovernment national union for the total independence of angola (unita) crashed in southern angola on 27 november and that the four americans on the plane were killed.  today both the u.s. state department and the defense department confirmed the crash, but they refused to comment on whether the americans who were killed were cia officials, or on the nature of the plane's mission.  this is in sharp contrast to the response that the u.s. government made a few days ago in connection with a plane crash in el salvador.    after a plane carrying weapons to the salvadoran guerrillas crashed on 25 november, u.s. secretary of state baker promptly instructed the undersecretary of state on that same evening to summon the soviet ambassador to the united states to protest to the soviet union for undermining peace in central america and "failing to exercise its influence" to stop cuba and nicaragua from delivering weapons to the guerrillas in el salvador.  in this connection, a u.s.  government official pointed out that president bush would present the central america issue as an important issue while discussing problems of regional conflicts with soviet leaders during their mediterranean meeting.  some officials even said that the central america issue is the "principal obstacle" to the improvement of u.s.-soviet relations, and that only when the ussr makes further concessions on the central america issue will it be possible for the united states to provide economic assistance to the soviet union.    in a ceasefire accord signed on 24 june this year, unita and the angolan government agreed to seek ways and means to conclude the civil war that had gone on for 14 years.  however, the u.s.  government keeps supplying weapons to unita.  according to u.s.  newspapers, ever since the south african authorities stopped supplying weapons to unita last april, the united states has become unita's main weapon supplier. the secret that the united states' military assistance to unita increased from $15 million to $50 million this year was revealed after the crash of the cia's weapon carrier.  now, even the u.s. press has asked this question: could it prevent president bush from presenting his criticism when problems of regional conflicts are discussed when he meets the soviet leader?  a u.s. state department official said: "not at all," "we will not place (the two) on a par."  a state department official also said that the u.s. government will continue to provide "appropriate and effective assistance" to unita in the future.


Input: as a latin american president, i feel a little bit uncomfortable over the statement that the north americans are victims of the drugs produced in latin america and that colombia, peru, and bolivia are to blame for producing the drugs; let's call those countries to talk with them. that seems to me a very ethnocentric vision; it looks at this matter from only one side.  our peasants are poor people who produce whatever is most profitable, and coca cultivation happens to be most profitable for them.  this is so, speaking coldly, honestly, and sincerely.  as president of peru i have to point out that my people, the huallage region peasants, cannot be considered as criminals or as people who must be jailed for producing coca leaves.    we have exchanged these views with president barco, and we reached these conclusions.  we must also note that this matter has been handled with a great deal of publicity. after the death of carlos galan, a great colombian leader, the colombian government launched an offensive intended to find out whether the drug trafficking bands were responsible for his assassination, and the u.s. government then extended some assistance.  this assistance has been present to the world as though the united states had sent an enormous quantity of aircraft, hundreds of helicopters, and thousands of millions of dollars to colombia.  as i was able to see in bogota, only helicopters, some of which had been purchased earlier by the colombian government, were sent.  i was also informed that some of those helicopters had been used previously in peru.    i have said that, if there is that much conviction, i support president bush for defending u.s. society.  if he has that much conviction, it is hard to believe that less than one thousandth of what is spent in arms and military expenditures should be allocated to replace coca plantations and to improve the general situation in latin america.  we have talked with president barco, and i will talk with president paz zamora to see how we can exchange opinions.  then, as president bush said, a meeting of presidents will be welcome.  but the meeting should also be attended by europe, which has a fundamental interest in the future.    (correspondent) would the idea be to hold a meeting in the near future of peru, colombia, and bolivia with president bush and a representative of the eec?    (garcia) yes, because drug trafficking is a growing problem. cartels have sprouted in colombia -- monopolies that try to elect deputies and senators to influence the government.  those monopolies might extend their operations to our countries if we do not stop this growing problem. the situation can become worse in bolivia, where it was said that the drug traffickers had an influence on a dictatorial military regime.  it is not just a matter of protecting the morality of humanity; it is not just a matter of defending the united states, which has a primary role in world leadership; it is essentially a matter of defending our democracy -- the legitimacy and cleanliness of our social life.  i hope that we can have a meeting of the three presidents first, so that we can let the u.s.  president know our views on the overall problem.    (correspondent) will you propose that meeting, mr president?    (garcia) i don't want to assume a leading role.  the idea emerged in a conversation with president barco, and i will talk later with president paz zamora.    (correspondent) a meeting between you and president bush late this month has been mentioned.  is this true, mr president?    (garcia) no, i believe that has been mere speculation in the press. for the time being i have discarded the idea of making another trip abroad.  i do not see the concrete possibility of meeting with president bush, although i hope we can meet sometime before 28 july 1990.    (correspondent) changing the subject, mr president -- much has been said in recent days about the possible or probable expulsion of peru from the imf.  what is the truth about this, and what would expulsion mean?    (garcia) well, first, it is politically impossible for peru to be expelled from the imf.  second, there is misinformation and alarmism regarding the matter.  what is the imf?  it is some sort of creditor bank created in 1946 that lends money to countries with balance-of-payments problems; that is, with problems with their foreign reserves levels.  when a country has no reserves or only $100 million in reserves, it can apply for a credit from the imf to pay for imports or overdue debts.  this is the imf, an organization created to facilitate the flow of international financial resources.  an imf credit is dependent on signing a letter of intent or an adjustment program.  adjustment means reducing the country's internal consumption so as to spare the country's reserves in order to meet debt obligations.  (continued)

drug trafficking bands

carlos galan


Input: the report that the daughter of israel's ambassador to el salvador was seriously wounded by gunfire shots is absolutely unfounded.  the ambassador's daughter, with her family, is in israel.  she is safe and sound.  the erroneous report on her injury was carried by the afp news agency.  to repeat, the report has no basis whatsoever.  (passage omitted) on the israeli ambassador to el salvador's description of events in san salvador over the past 24 hours


Input: next june an entire u.s. army company will carry out joint maneuvers with argentine troops in a province of the littoral region.  the maneuvers, designed to teach the argentine officers the latest techniques against drug trafficking, fall within the comprehensive military exchange plan.  general maxwell thurman's visit is also part of the aforementioned plan.    according to reliable sources, the recent visit from the united states of 10 lieutenant colonels, three colonels, and eight civilian experts in defense strategy, represent an important step in the renewed u.s.-argentine military relationship.    the same sources have stated that the gradual and restricted participation of the army in maneuvers designed to practice fighting against drug trafficking has been authorized by the defense ministry and even by the president.    the military group that arrived in argentina on 6 may carried out war games at the war school and the campo de mayo military school and, later on, carried out field maneuvers. other forces participated in the three-day maneuvers that were carried out on an island in the river plate delta. according to a witness, the maneuvers consisted of "raids" including "surprise" situations that forced the u.s. troops to endure bad weather and bad terrain.    according to the final evaluation, the maneuvers were regarded as "satisfactory and successful".  according to the program, a complete u.s. company that will train with argentine troops in a province of the littoral region is scheduled to arrive in june.    foreign ministry sources confirmed the existence of exchange plans but stated that general thurman had proposed to the chiefs of staff the possibility of carrying out joint maneuvers to fight drug trafficking during a luncheon.    the sources stated that the chiefs of staff have made some objections to the proposal and did not reach any agreement. however, sources that participated in the recent maneuvers on the island had a different opinion and ratified that another maneuver would be held in a province of the littoral in june.    anyhow, the statement of the foreign ministry spokesman falls within the diplomatic policy that may partly differ with the military and defense policies, as was pointed out by a sector of the media yesterday.    moreover, general thurman will remain in san carlos de bariloche until saturday, 19 may, and that same day will fly to the iguazu falls from where he will return to his military base in panama.    the only purpose of general thurman's visit was to offer the defense ministry all the technology, know how, and weapons for the struggle against drug trafficking which, in many cases turns into narcoterrorism, in other words, the use of drug trafficking to finance the purchase of weapons and terrorist actions. thurman's visit, which took the united states a whole year to arrange, was previously approved by the u.s. senate.    within the same framework, the bolivian police have just received weapons and other equipment amounting to $50 million, which is enough to equip two complete battalions in charge of fighting drug traffickers.    therefore, the argentine government's decision to contribute to the struggle against drug trafficking launched by the united states is part of a comprehensive strategy of the southern cone of which argentina -- according to experts -- must participate out of fear of a growing isolation.    it is quite likely that the restricted and gradual -- by no means massive -- participation of the army and probably the navy in maneuvers for the struggle against drug trafficking may be the key that will finally allow the armed forces to acquire the war materiel, spare parts and other elements it needs.    the analysts have recalled that the u.s. government's determination to fight corruption -- a problem that also worries president carlos menem and vice president eduardo duhalde -- falls within the same framework because, in the experts' opinion, it is the equivalent to drug trafficking.    highly reliable sources have recalled that 30 days ago president george bush sent president menem two volumes of a u.s. edition on techniques to fight corruption.


Input: the peace process with m-19 (19 april movement) that was interrupted due to the murder of two members of that subversive organization -- now observing a truce -- was restored following a visit by presidential adviser rafael pardo to the m-19 camp in santo domingo, cauca department.  our correspondent maria alejandra gonzalez was there.    (begin recording) (gonzalez) the peace process between m-19 and the national government was seriously jeopardized this week due to the murder of two members of that guerrilla organization, which occurred at the border between cauca and valle del cauca departments.  carlos pizarro leongomez expressed his concern over the situation.    (pizarro) we are living a slow motion peace process.  we need a peace process through which colombians can feel that peace has arrived, instead of a process that is simply a permanent and endless account of peace tragedies.    (gonzalez) over the past few hours, presidential peace adviser rafael pardo and deputy government minister jose noe rios met with members of the m-19 command.  the participants reaffirmed their determination to continue with the peace efforts.    a forum for life, democracy, and progress will be held in santo domingo this weekend, with the participation of political leaders and representatives from grassroots organizations.  the event will include sports and cultural activities.  commissions will work on development plans.  at least 2,000 people are expected this weekend at the peace camp.


Input: today salvadoran president alfredo cristiani rejected a rebel proposal to immediately negotiate a cease-fire with the army under oas and united nations supervision; however, he did express his intention to seek a political solution to the armed conflict in the country.    the salvadoran air force attacked the outskirts of san salvador with machinegun fire and rockets just as president cristiani rejected the dialogue proposal made by the guerrillas on 22 november.    four "push and pull" planes and two helicopter gunships opened fire on alleged farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) columns in northern san salvador.    "their proposal is not serious, (the rebels) are once again saying that there are two armed forces.  in el salvador there is only one armed force," cristiani said.  he added that a political solution entails that the guerrillas end the violence.    the president, accompanied by colonel rene emilio ponce, chief of staff of the armed forces, said in a news conference that the fmln proposal "is not very serious" because "it is not aimed at the government but at the army, which is part of the government," he said.    according to cristiani, the new fmln proposal is "propagandist" and is only meant to gain some time in view of the "military defeat suffered in the last few days."    cristiani said that the government is willing to seek a rational solution to the military conflict in this country, but he categorically emphasized that this means that the guerrillas must lay down their weapons and join the democratic process.    "we will not allow the guerrillas to regroup and begin attacking again.  if they want to hold a dialogue, they should lay down their weapons and peacefully join the democratic process," cristiani said.    the president warned that "the government and the armed forces are willing to fight militarily. it all depends on whether the fmln continues to behave this way, not listening to reason, and not ending this madness," the rightist president said.    the news conference, held with some 50 journalists, was abruptly interrupted by the heavy bombings carried out by the salvadoran air force against alleged guerrilla columns.    following the first bombings, which rocked the military offices where the news conference was being held, cristiani and ponce resumed control of the conference and explained that the attack was the result of an operation in pursuit of the "guerrillas fleeing in disarray."    the air force bombing began shortly before the curfew, which began at 1800 (0000 gmt) until 0600 in the morning (1200 gmt), just when thousands of salvadorans were returning home.    the heavy explosions caused alarm among the population in northern san salvador and it is unknown whether civilians have been hurt.    according to cristiani, the guerrilla offensive "has been a failure" not only militarily, but politically as well because they were unable to incite the people to rebellion, as they planned.    the proposal signed by the top five fmln commanders and read on the official rebel station, clandestine radio venceremos, has been released in the framework of a rebel military offensive, which began 12 days ago and which has left more than 1,000 people dead, hundreds of people wounded, and tens of thousands of people homeless.


Input: please pay close attention.  radio venceremos will now give a preliminary bulletin on various actions that took place thursday night in san salvador.  everyone against arena (nationalist republican alliance) -- we will win!    the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) reports that urban commando units staged simultaneous attacks on the 1st infantry brigade headquarters and the national police headquarters at 1830 on thursday, 25 may, in the zacamil neighborhood.  furthermore, armed units distributed propaganda in nearby areas.  our units also sabotaged the electrical system.  we report that armed forces troops reacted by shooting indiscriminately, surrounding the areas of the attacks, and conducting searches and arrests.  the national university has been surrounded.  troops have entered the university and opened fire indiscriminately inside university buildings.  in face of the terrorism waged by arena and the armed forces, everyone should prepare to fight.  everyone against arena -- we will win!

urban commando units

farabundo marti national liberation front

electrical system


Input: attention: a group of nine u.s. soldiers stationed at the palmerola base who were visiting the city of la ceiba were attacked at 0030 today.  the nine u.s. soldiers from palmerola base were on a recreational visit and were wounded when a homemade bomb exploded.  seven of the nine soldiers were wounded, three of the soldiers are in grave condition. the authorities reported that they have only arrested two suspects in this attack against u.s.  soldiers, which took place at 0030.

suspects

homemade bomb


Input: two u.s. citizens have been killed in the last few hours, victims of the salvadoran war that their own country supports and finances, labor and political leaders have told dpa.    the u.s. embassy has not officially reported this tragedy, but it was learned from judicial sources that erika sullivan and christopher anderson, a 26-year-old teacher at the american school have been killed.      according to the red cross, miss sullivan was driving her vehicle when she was caught in the heavy shooting that took place on 11 november. anderson lived near president alfredo cristiani's mansion, and when he heard the explosions during the attack on the president's home, he went outside to put his car in the garage.  unfortunately, at that moment, a grenade hit his car.    it was reported that their bodies will be sent to the united states today.  the daughter of the egyptian ambassador, nadine elkashes, was almost killed also.

president alfredo cristiani's mansion

car

erika sullivan

christopher anderson

nadine elkashes

grenade


Input: teotecacinte -- more than 400 counterrevolutionaries have deserted the camps in yamales and are roaming the areas of trojes, cifuentes, jamastran, el paraiso, danli, san marcos, and tegucigalpa, desperately trying to slip into the refugee groups to be repatriated -- had ties with the contras for 7 years and was finally repatriated on wednesday 23 august.    an interior ministry source confirmed to barricada that a contra deserter passing himself off as a refugee entered the country with a group of people repatriated by the acnur.    the tela agreements have caused havoc not only in the contra ranks, but also in the refugee camps.  their desperation to return to nicaragua is such that more than 160 persons tried to enter the country on 24 august through the murupuchi and cerro la piedra border posts, but the honduran army stopped them because they lacked the necessary documents.    according to jose tomas osorio, the refugees trust the guarantees offered by the sandinist government.  this was ascertained by several journalists at the cerro la piedra border post.  several persons quickly got out of a vehicle but the honduran troops' presence frustrated their plan.    the red cross' branch in jalapa has installed a reception post in cerro la piedra, behind the trojes cemetery, to avoid tragedies like the one which occurred last week, when a youth fell into a mined field.  the nicaraguans will now be able to cross the border, if the honduran army allows them, without facing any danger.    red cross president denis guzman, who is also president of the peace commission, spoke on 25 august with the person commanding the honduran border post.  he said that the red cross was willing to accept all those who want to return to nicaragua.  the honduran officer said: "we have no information but, if my commander authorizes it, we will not object and will let them pass.  however, we cannot let anyone cross through here for the time being."    several repatriated persons returning on 23 august through las manos confirmed the problems of the refugees at the camps: "there is no freedom to work, the food is rationed, the people are always hungry, and we lived like animals in a corral," it was stated by ernestina umanzor, who was kidnapped at the cifuentes border region and later was repatriated.    referring to the contras, the nicaraguans living in honduran territory said that the former "are outside the law; they have nothing to do; they must put down their weapons; they must be demobilized; they have no business going to third countries; they must return to their homeland," it was asserted by domingo orozco.    the repatriated people who arrived at teotecacinte were welcomed by local people, who were satisfied with their return and said they would support those who wish to till idle and abandoned lands.

ernestina umanzor


Input: the investigative police have admitted that the individuals that fired their guns during a demonstration of high school students at bernardo o'higgins avenue yesterday are members of the police department.  the civilian police public relations office released the following communique:    regarding the picture that appears in the morning newspapers la epoca and fortin mapocho showing civilians trying to control the disorders provoked by young individuals at bernardo o'higgins avenue near san ignacio and nataniel streets, the investigative police public relations office states the following:    1.  the car that appears in the pictures of both newspapers belongs to the investigative police.  the car was on patrol carrying out surveillance for possible criminal activity.    2.  the behavior of the agents in the police car is not in accordance with the norms of conduct established by the institution for such circumstances.  the institution will therefore discipline the agents involved.    3.  however, the investigative police warn that according to law 2460, article 5, its duty is to maintain public order and combat all criminal activities.    4.  the population must rest assured that the institution will fulfill its duty to maintain order while maintaining the appropriate standard of conduct within the detective department.    signed: juan diaz jara, chief prefect of the civilian police public relations office.    several shots were heard following the incidents yesterday at the central walkway of bernardo o'higgins avenue during a demonstration staged by students from the applications school.  the students were marching to honor the two vergara toledo brothers who were killed 4 years ago during an apparent confrontation at villa francia.    around 1400 yesterday, some 100 students from the applications school built a roadblock and marched through the central walkway of o'higgings avenue.  when the demonstrators passed the brazilian embassy, a guard came out and pointed a gun at them.  the students then picked up stones and forces the guard to withdraw.    later, two individuals in a chevrolet opala automobile pointed ak rifles at the students, fired some shots, and quickly drove away. finally a detachment of carabineros arrived at the scene, arrested several students, and broke up the demonstration.

some 100 students from the applications school

two individuals in a chevrolet opala automobile

guard

police department

brazilian embassy

gun

stones

ak rifles


Input: today "the extraditables," an organization considered to be the armed sector of the "medellin cartel," ordered "its leaders" in low-income neighborhoods "to take hostages from traditional bourgeoisie sectors to finance the war" it is waging with the government of president virgilio barco.    "the extraditables" sent a 7-point communique to several media sources in medellin, calling on their men to demand large sums of money from the relatives of the persons they kidnap.    they also recommend that the persons who are going to carry out the abductions should select the victims from among politicians and members of the colombian bourgeoisie "who have never distinguished themselves by making social contributions to the community."    they add that "50 percent of the funds obtained from such military actions are to be used to finance the war against the political oligarchy and the other 50 percent to reconstruct low-income housing for the homeless."    another point notes that "this measure has been taken as a response to the official persecution against our families and organizations," and it concludes by stating that "we are willing to hold a dialogue as the colombian people are requesting and desire."    on 24 august 1989, "the extraditables" announced a counteroffensive in response to the official actions of president barco's government. the government initiated the attack on the drug-trafficking mafias after presidential candidate luis carlos galan was killed on 18 august.    since then, drug traffickers began a series of attacks with explosives and car bombs mainly against banking organizations, political headquarters, and newspapers.    on 2 september, a car bomb destroyed the installations of "el espectador" newspaper in bogota and 5 weeks later another car bomb caused similar damage to the "vanguardia liberal" newspaper in bucaramanga, in northeastern colombia.    several security forces headquarters have also been hit by these attacks and an avianca airlines plane blew up in midair on 27 november killing all 107 passengers and crew.    a week later, a bus bomb blew up in the vicinity of the administrative department of security (das), in the center of bogota, and destroyed the 11-floor building, leaving 67 dead and approximately 1,000 wounded.

drug traffickers

"the extraditables"

avianca airlines plane

administrative department of security

explosives

car bombs


Input: attention, we have a last minute report.  radio venceremos reports to our people on the fighting that is under way in san salvador.  we are going to give you military information from the metropolitan war front, as follows:    there has been fighting against atlacatl battalion armored vehicles in cuscatancingo.  at 0700, there was an extensive ambush in which six armored vehicles were destroyed.  the ambush was staged against atlacatl battalion troops in cuscatancingo who were on their way to reinforce enemy positions under attack in various points of the capital.  our forces used rocket launchers and small arms fire, as well as explosives, to ambush this convoy, destroying six armored vehicles.    in addition, farabundo marti national liberation (fmln) fighters attacked belloso battalion troops in ayutuxtepeque.  the belloso battalion called for air support, which it received, but this has resulted in more civilian casualties because the helicopters used have been bombing and strafing the civilian population in the ayutuxtepeque area.  the desperate air support has resulted in more civilian victims.    meanwhile, fmln forces began attacking enemy positions in los santos, bosques del rio, and unicentro, in soyapango.    it was also reported that barricades are constantly being built in the neighborhoods and residential areas of san salvador's northern and southern sectors.  these are barricades built by youths, students, workers, women, and children who have taken to the streets to help with food and information and who, with their own hands, are building barricades and answering the call of the vanguard:  the fmln.    we are receiving a report which indicates that the fighting which had decreased in the university area resumed at 0600 this morning.


Input: following the u.s. invasion of grenada island, the world discarded any further possibility of a u.s.  armed operation against another nation of the american continent, despite the deterioration of its relations with other governments and provocations against the u.s. government.  it was believed that the u.s.  would confine its participation to supporting and sponsoring movements aimed at ousting governments or, as in the case of nicaragua, of supporting rebel forces to achieve the goals set by the white house.    the events that occurred early this morning in panama have surprised the world because, despite general manuel antonio noriega's challenging attitude, no one thought the u.s. would invade panama. noriega was certain the u.s. government would not do so, and supposed that u.s. attitudes against him would consist of sponsoring rebellion, such as the recent 3-october attempt, when the u.s.  government encouraged members of the panamanian defense forces to rebel against their commander in chief.  noriega never thought the u.s. government would ever conduct a military operation against panama, although there were u.s. troops based on the canal zone.  he continued under this impression because never before had these troops changed from their role of surveillance, not even when washington promoted the rebellion of some young officers of the panamanian forces.    this excessive security distracted noriega and encouraged him to challenge the u.s. policies.  noriega did not believe the u.s. threats and he adopted an omnipotent stance, like his recent decision to appoint himself the supreme leader of panama.  noriega believed that the united states would continue to support subversion in his country, and that the u.s. decision to support the opposition currently in exile would produce movements against his regime, or that a commando might attempt to kidnap him.  as a result of this belief, he increased the strength of the military forces and equipped many civilians who supported him with weapons to be ready to dismantle movements that tried to destabilize his government.    as the clocks struck midnight in panama, the u.s. forces began an operation against the panamanian defense force barracks.  the troops already based in panama, and those flown in from bases in california and in other cities near panama, started a massive attack to oust gen noriega.    the invasion, which seemed possible to some and to others (words indistinct), were mainly conducted to punish someone who has been declared one of the most important latin american drug traffickers by the u.s. courts.    early this morning, sources close to the white house announced that the operation was aimed at capturing noriega and taking him to the united states to be tried for the crimes attributed to him by the u.s. courts, at ensuring compliance with the treaties on the panama canal, and at restoring democracy in the country following the farcical may-l989 elections.    these are the reasons for the u.s. armed intervention in panama, which is filling the world with trepidation due to the danger hovering over the continent and the fact that president bush's decision has gone beyond the logic of the u.s. policy toward latin america.    international observers did, however, guess that something was about to occur when president bush said recently that while the u.s. government could reach agreement with nicaragua, with noriega it was impossible to reach any agreement, and that the united states had to do something about this veiled danger that threatened the american continent.    today, panama has become a battlefield.  the capital and other cities are battlefields on which the government forces are fighting the u.s. units in ground, air, and maritime operations that seek to oust manuel antonio noriega.    the u.s. action is focussing the world's attention on washington's decision.  many nations will protest and reject the u.s. invasion which was disguised by a series of peace-seeking actions.    four days before christmas eve, the ghost of war is haunting our continent.  we must ponder on the need to keep honduras on the democratic path, and to avoid the anarchy that destroys nations and decimates peoples.  the events that have kept the world in vigil since midnight will continue for hours, days, or maybe weeks because, so far, the news is very confusing and civilian victims are dying on the streets of the panamanian towns.


Input: commander, do the rn leaders agree that the fmln should eventually join the socialist international (si) as has been proposed concerning the sandinist national liberation front (fsln) in nicaragua?    (sancho) we think so, because si has represented, for the past 30-40 years, a european international political bloc that has supported the struggle....(corrects himself) that has shown interest in the third world.  in other words, we believe that every international political bloc that truly wants to establish relations and help -- while still defending european interests -- is viable and positive.  the fmln must necessarily join the si.    (reporter) in the 1970's (words indistinct) struggle in our country and the war resulted from a decision adopted by the people's revolutionary army (erp).  virtually no one talks about this within the fmln now, yet the right-wing sectors always remember the resulting situations within the left-wing sectors.  what does the rn think abut the erp in 1990?    (sancho) we have stated and we have put it in writing -- it is good to have it in writing -- that the left became divided and the erp became divided because we were not firm enough, politically and ideologically speaking.  we believe that the erp leadership acted childishly (words indistinct), but we can now say that we have achieved maturity in every sector.  the options we have chosen within the fmln have allowed us to clearly see the outcome of the decisions we adopted in the past.    this has obviously been (word indistinct) and misconstrued by the enemy in its propaganda and psychological war, because it loves to say that revolutionaries always end up killing each other.  (words indistinct) the ideological struggle (words indistinct) indicates that we (words indistinct) and unity has prevailed within the fmln.  we consider the division a process that is part of el salvador's history and we should not cry over spilt milk.  no one should deplore.... (changes thought) we cannot speculate on what might have happened.  it was the result of our immaturity.    (reporter) commander, everyone knows the names of the fmln leaders -- particularly the five members of the general command -- but this is something new.  you were previously known as ferman cienfuegos and not everyone knew that you were eduardo sancho colombari.  there is always a clandestine element involved.  why is there always a tendency to remain anonymous?    (sancho) i think that after 10 or 20 years in hiding we (words indistinct) political conduct that does not correspond to modern times and our political needs.  therefore, the general command needs (words indistinct) specific conditions, meaning the need for the general command members to go public.  we believe that the general command members should go public and state their views so that they people can learn more about them, their human side, and their personalities.  it is important for the people and the world to know about the leaders' personalities as they are.  this has been -- let us call it a defect or limitation.  secrecy is a deviation and a person can maintain.... (corrects himself) combine secrecy with our political role.  we now we have to overcome that deviation, meaning secrecy and anonymity.    (reporter) yes.    (sancho) i believe we are trying to overcome this.