Input: we now have colonel sigifredo ochoa perez on the telephone.  the armed forces, particularly the commanders of the various army branches and garrisons who were convened by the defense minister, made a statement against this officer, who is a deputy and the current cel (lempa river hydroelectric executive commission) president, after he demanded justice in the case of the assassinated jesuit priests.  we will now listen to col ochoa, who will make known his stand since the armed forces' statement was released.    (begin recording) (reporter) good morning, colonel.    (ochoa) good morning. thanks, raul.  these gentlemen seem to be speaking in the name of the entire armed forces.  i know well what was discussed in the meeting. someone even said that the bright idea of discharging me was considered.  they failed to take into account, however, that i am a deputy and that, as a deputy and a citizen, i am entitled to express what i feel, just as i have done.  i, who owe everything to the armed forces, who fought beside the soldiers as monterrosa, carlitos, and very few others did, never got rich when in the armed forces, as some of the commanders did, although not all of them, of course.  this undoubtedly has irritated them.    i have simply expressed my viewpoint as a soldier concerned about the armed forces' situation.  i never mentioned any names.  i simply demanded justice because, even according to military theory, i cannot conceive that such an important decision could have been made by a single person.  i still think this is a plot by some members of the institution, not by the armed forces as such.  i only have respect and love for the armed forces.  i am concerned over the delicate situation to which the institution could be led because of the actions of some nefarious members.  i have deep respect for the officers in the field, who fight every day.  of course, i must criticize those who have profited from the institution and who today have raised the roof, as if i were the one to blame and as if i were undermining the institutionality of the state.  quite the opposite is true.  my criticism is positive and intends to encourage a deeper investigation and exhaust all resources in this direction.  i would like them to stop making ridiculous demands and to stop seeking a confrontation. it is known that what i am demanding is what is being felt and said. i am not accusing anyone in particular.  i am only demanding justice. commanders' meetings should not be held to make such a statement. they should have instead shown their concern over the armed forces' situation.  i would have been very interested in seeing them take the stand to continue the investigation to the last consequences.  as the military man i am, i only assessed the situation.  i never mentioned any names, but insisted that a deeper inquiry should be made to carry out justice, because otherwise it is the institution that will suffer.    (reporter) col ochoa, after the "sixty minutes" program on cbs in the united states, it seems that in this capital and in the country your remarks and your interpretation of the jesuits' case were distorted.  today there has been an attempt to accuse you. it has been said that the cut in u.s. aid to the salvadoran armed forces is the result of your remarks, rather than of the slowness in the investigation of the jeusit priests' case.  do you think there has been ill intent in this, or that there has been an attempt to take advantage of you to try to justify an action?    (ochoa) i think so. there has been an attempt to blame me, as if i could influence the decision-making of the u.s. congress.  a reduction in military aid to el salvador has been under consideration for months because the expected results have not been obtained.  i think it is ridiculous and childish to say that the aid will be cut as the result of my remarks.  the truth is that all crimes with which some armed forces' members have jeopardized the institution should be punished. my understanding is that solidarity should exist in the context of operations and the fulfillment of the armed forces' constitutional mission.  however, those who harm the institution should not be protected.    i think some are trying to take advantage of the situation, as if to say: col ochoa has endangered the armed forces.  what has endangered the institution is the murder of the jesuits and the san sebastian people.  i canot agree with the perpetration of outrages. one thing is to fight fairly with the enemy.  there are dead in every war.  i said this very clearly when i was 4th infantry brigade commander in cabanas.  i agreed with the penetration into the population to help them.  i feel satisfied over my passage through the armed forces as a commander, because i identified myself both with my men and the civilian population.  at no time did i take advantage of the institution to acquire illegal riches.  to point these things out is not to attack the armed forces.  quite the contrary, it is because i love it that i have criticized the negative members.  the armed forces can thus be spared greater damage by the poor actions of some of its members.    (reporter) colonel, in the past few hours we have heard reports that you are to be supported by the army's younger officers and some unions, even the cel union.  what can you tell us about this situation?  (continued)

some members of the institution

armed forces


Input: today the salvadoran defense ministry flatly denied charges raised yesterday by an alleged "junior officers' command" that blames certain officers of the armed forces for the murder of the six jesuits.    in a communique released today, the defense ministry categorically rejected "all types of slander and charges against its members," referring to the abovementioned document that it said "lacks all logic and credibility."    the official communique pointed out that "in these moments, the armed forces are united more than ever before in the defense of the fatherland," adding that the document anonymously distributed yesterday to the international press is "grey propaganda."    in the four-page document, a so-called "junior officers' command" states that "colonel hector heriberto hernandez, chief of the treasury police, is responsible for the (jesuits') murders."    the authors of the communique add that the "troops from that security corps led by captain alonso chavez garcia" carried out the executions," but it did not provide any details to back up the accusations.    the six jesuits and two more persons were killed on 16 november, shot during the night by a group of armed individuals wearing military uniforms, according to witnesses of the crime.    the salvadoran government has initiated an investigation, inviting foreign experts to participate.    the official defense ministry note warned that "the force that maintains this solid unity (of the armed forces) is the blood shed by our soldiers to defend the fatherland and our ideas, customs, religion, democracy, and freedom."    the ministry's communique urges the citizens "not to allow themselves to be deceived by the amount of rumors and psychological pressures that the marxist books of theory clearly define as a form of struggle to achieve power."    the communique also discloses that former captain mauricio mena sandoval, who joined the guerrillas in the early eighties, has made telephone calls or sent "personal notes" to chiefs or officers.    "these criminal terrorists resort to this type of psychological tactics when they feel they are lost or desperate," the communique adds, referring to the failure of the offensive that the guerrillas launched on 11 november.

certain officers of the armed forces

colonel hector heriberto hernandez, chief of the treasury police

group of armed individuals wearing military uniforms

captain alonso chavez garcia

treasury police


Input: the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) issued a communique a few hours ago denying that it directed an attack against supreme court of justice president mauricio gutierrez castro.    the rebel communique reads: on the afternoon of 2 july, fmln guerrillas carried out propaganda activity and occupied 8 km of the road to la libertad port, between the 14- and 21-km markers, where they erected a barricade.  the guerrillas added that they stopped approximately 200 vehicles to meet and exchange views with the drivers.    at the 14-km marker, a vehicle in which (roberto matis regalado's) bodyguards were riding arrived, but the driver did not obey the order to stop, which provoked a clash with our units.  two men were wounded and one woman was killed as a result of that incident.    our forces reported that they seized one m-16 rifle and one .45 - caliber pistol.  the fmln document adds that minutes later, at the 21-km marker, the supreme court of justice president's bodyguards tried to surprise our fighters and another clash occurred. during the clash, one bodyguard was killed and the arena (nationalist republican alliance) official was wounded.    paragraph three of the communique adds that the armed propaganda activities along the la libertad port - san salvador route are aimed at distributing propaganda and at destabilizing this vital route used by government officials and military men to travel to their private clubs located along the coast.    the fmln, the document adds, reiterates its determination to stop those who are involved in the genocidal war -- those who every day shell the rural areas and persecute and murder peasants, workers, and students -- from taking it easy and relaxing at their clubs and in their exclusive neighborhoods.  the attack on the national police station at the manuel jose arce military neighborhood follows this same line of destabilization.  therefore, we call on our people to pay attention to the recommendations and orders issued by our fighters and to thereby prevent regrettable losses.  we warn bodyguards and security guards that we will fight those who are armed and who offer resistance.    in conclusion, the fmln communique released a few hours ago adds: we reiterate that we will continue to abide by our revolutionary principles and stick to the truth.  we did not participate in incidents such as the attack against (presidency minister) antonio rodriguez porth and edgar chacon (ideologue of the orlando de sola group).  these incidents resulted from a war within arena ranks, and we warn that acts of repression unleashed by the government against the popular and democratic movements will not go unpunished and will receive a strong response from our forces.    this was the recent fmln communique on the incidents that occurred on 2 july on the road to la libertad port, where the president of the supreme court of justice was wounded.

fmln guerrillas

fmln guerrillas

farabundo marti national liberation front

nationalist republican alliance

mauricio gutierrez castro

antonio rodriguez porth

edgar chacon


Input: ecuador today conceded the possibility that there may be colombian drug traffickers in ecuadoran territory, although it emphasized that border controls have been reinforced "to prevent the spread of violence and terror."    asked about the possible presence of members of the medellin cartel, interior minister andres vallejo said: "it is possible. however, there are quite reliable reports that they (the drug traffickers) have more likely fled to other countries."    the minister revealed that a financing company, which he did not identify, was closed by the government because it was found to be laundering dollars obtained from the trafficking.  "there will be no mercy in such cases," he said.    over the past few days, press reports mentioned ecuador as one of the countries in which the top leaders of the medellin cartel had reportedly taken refuge to escape the actions launched by the colombian government following a series of assassinations committed by the drug mafias.  early this week, ecuador reinforced its extensive border with colombia to keep the drug traffickers out.    assessing the status of drugs in ecuador, the minister admitted that "several large estates have been purchased by people who appear to be linked to the drug traffic."  however, he expressed the opinion that these purchases were linked to money laundering rather than the production of drugs.    vallejo also said that ecuador has "severely" restricted imports of chemical substances used in the preliminary phases of the refining of narcotics.  former free access to those substances had been converting the country into an alternative base for the production and shipment of drugs to the united states and western europe.


Input: pasto -- commerce at the ecuadoran border is virtually paralyzed after the border was closed in the wake of serious incidents between striking transporters and ecuadoran police.    one person was killed in tulcan, carchi province.  meanwhile, the situation remains tense in the rest of ecuador because of the prolonged strike of drivers who are protesting against drastic economic measures adopted by the government of president rodrigo borja.    as a result, commerce between tulcan and ipiales, the two most active cities at the border, is virtually paralyzed.


Input: members of the 8th front of the self-styled revolutionary armed forces of colombia (farc) have carried out terrorist attacks in southern cauca department to protest patriotic union (up) presidential candidate bernardo jaramillo ossa's murder.    the farc members blew up a power substation and a power pylon in sajandi, la fonda corregimiento.  the guerrillas also burned three vehicles on the pan-american highway-- a balboa hospital ambulance, a fuel truck carrying 3,000 gallons of gasoline, and a station wagon.  a large section of el patia valley was left without electricity.    through several telephone calls to the popayan media, the 8th farc front declared the pan-american highway a military target during the next 48 hours in order to demand that the government investigate and arrest those who are truly responsible for jaramillo's murder.    transportation services between (word indistinct) and pasto in southern colombia have been suspended as a result of the terrorist attacks, which began at 0300 today.    police and 3d infantry brigade members were deployed to the areas where the 8th front of the self-styled revolutionary armed forces of colombia blocked traffic. the 8th farc front members said their military actions are aimed at demanding the clarification of up presidential candidate bernardo jaramillo's murder.    the popayan police department confirmed that the attacks took place on the pan-american highway and at la fonda corregimiento, patia municipality.    governor fernando iraconi said that the regional security council will meet in popayan in a few minutes to assess the most recent terrorist attacks and to adopt the necessary measures.

members of the 8th front

revolutionary armed forces of colombia

power substation

power pylon

balboa hospital ambulance

fuel truck carrying 3,000 gallons of gasoline

station wagon

bernardo jaramillo ossa


Input: panama's archbishop marcos mcgrath, panama's episcopal conference president jose luis lacunza, and panamanian abdiel adames, president of the central american higher university council (csuca), have condemned the assassination of six jesuits in el salvador at dawn today.    mcgrath, who described the multiple assassination as "monstrous," pointed out that "it is everybody's duty, especially of that country's government, to identify, arrest, and try the culprits and those who ordered the action."    this "must not only be a just trial of them, but also a means to eloquently express the rejection of the entire society, which calls itself christian, against such a cruel and unjust crime that reveals absolute contempt for human life," a communique signed by archbishop mcgrath states.    according to sources from el salvador's jesuit curia, the spanish jesuit ignacio ellacuria, rector of el salvador's central american university (uca), five other priests, and two salvadoran women were murdered at dawn today by men wearing military uniforms.    in the opinion of spanish bishop jose luis lacunza, secretary of panama's episcopal conference and rector of santa maria la antigua university, "these assassinations were perpetrated with malice and in cold blood."  "they are certainly to be condemned, regardless of who carried them out," he added.    csuca president panamanian abdiel adames described as "abominable" and "reprehensible" the assassination of six priests and two women.    adames, who is also rector of panama's national university, rejected the escalation of violence "as a means to reach agreements in el salvador, especially now that priests have been killed."    csuca will ask the salvadoran government to declare uca a "sanctuary" or "neutral zone" to treat those wounded in the clashes between the army and guerrillas that have taken place since 11 november in san salvador and other towns, adames pointed out.    csuca coordinator and salvadoran guillermo galvan said today in san jose (costa rica) that he asked president oscar arias to "mediate to bring about a solution to the salvadoran conflict and step up efforts to prevent "massacres" and "selective murders."

men wearing military uniforms

ignacio ellacuria


Input: arica -- two bolivians carrying 2.5 kg pure cocaine in a handbag have been arrested by carabineros os-7 department personnel. the drug traffickers entered the country on bycicles through the area of visviri.    the detainees are jorge gonzalez llucra, 20, and mario gonzalez llucra, 19. (passage omitted)    the police alsos seized a browing pistol from one of the drug traffickers, who fired three shots but hit no one.  (passage omitted)


Input: i believe that here in the department, the experience with mayors elected by the people, has been satisfactory. most of them have been responsible to the communities they represent. they have been working and all have a favorable balance.  why not allow citizens to freely and spontaneously excercise the right to vote again.  this would continue the democratization and decentralization process needed by the country to progress and find peace.  i believe we should take advantage of the wonderful services rendered by dr. rafael pardo, the national rehabilitation plan director, to attempt to find new roads toward achieving dialogue with these two sectors, especially with the eln.  it is not easy to find peace, especially for this department.  we must at least make attempts to hold dialogue with this guerrilla group, which has shown it can easily move around and disrupt stability and public order in the department of north santander.    (reporter) mr. governor, up to now, have eln or epl subversives tried to attain this dialogue?    (assaf) well, no.  it has not been easy, besides we believe these are initiatives that should be started by the peace commissioners, as they have experience in such conversations, contacts, and dialogues. that is why i mentioned that, perhaps, through dr. rafael pardo, who has been the national government's delegate, attempts will be made to search for such possibilities.  i believe the government has been making efforts to attain peace in the country, and the quicker we attain this, the better it will be for the security and stability of colombia.    (reporter) have you already sent an invitation or asked dr.  rafael pardo to come to your department?    (assaf) we have talked to him over the past few days about the public order situation and other situations that require special attention.  however, the entire country knows that dr. pardo has been working virtually full-time to further the peace conversations with m-19.  the entire country has been pleased and very happy with these conversations because they have been an important initiation for president virgilio barco's peace process.    (reporter) but dr. rafael pardo rueda does not dislike the idea of holding such conversations?    (assaf) i am sure he does not dislike the idea because he has been trying to do this for a long time.    (reporter) when could these conversations take place?  just give us a tentative date.  could it be within days or this week?    (assaf) surely this week we will again have to study the public order situation in our department and surely we will be able to analyze this proposal again and i believe dr. pardo will seriously take it into account.    (reporter) some of the country's political leaders -- not only in northern santander, but in several areas of the country -- are very concerned about the constant raids by subversive groups, and their murdered mayors, officials, and political leaders and the kidnapping of national civil registry office personnel.  they indicate that with actions of this type it would be very difficult for people to freely express themselves by voting in the next elections.    (assaf) yes, surely all these incidents can, in a certain manner, weaken the electoral vote.  however, everyday we are more convinced that colombians want to excercise this right without any type of limitations and make efforts -- including heroic actions -- to continue this campaign so that elections can be held throughout the national territory.  voting is the real expression of democracy and we will all fight for it.  we are sure that the government, through the armed forces, will do everything possible for the upcoming elections to be held without problems.  however, it is a huge effort, as it has to confront a series of apprehensions or fears that have been instilled in some people.  (continued)


Input: col vargas' reaction was to become desperate because 90-mm, 60-mm, and 81-mm mortars, and 85-mm field guns have been indiscriminately fired against that sector of the neighborhood for 3 days; rockets have been fired from airplanes.  many civilians have been wounded and many houses have been destroyed.  in other words, there has been no respect whatsoever -- perhaps because those neighborhoods are located closest to the 3d infantry brigade, and that seems to worry this man very much.  this could be the reason for such an attitude and for that genocidal situation.    in other places, clashes occurred practically all day long on 12 and 13 november, and during the early morning hours of 14 november in the milagro de la paz neighborhood where we caused a considerable number of casualties.  in addition, our forces foiled and stopped the arce battalion, ponce battalion, leon battalion, and the monterrosa forces (78-second break in reception) surveillance and security measures, and to handle any type of emergency, including bombings, mortar attacks, and strafings.  this means that the terrain must be prepared to defend the population.    we also have a number of instruction regarding the tasks to be done during times of combat, but this is geared toward the population who decides to participate by directly supporting the fmln.  this involves many people.  they can join new forces and groups in charge of the trenches, security measures, couriers, and all kinds of tasks to support the war.    in sum, the instructions to the population are to organize themselves because, once organized, they can give (4-second break in reception) and counter it.  the other issue is the calls to the population to participate in the struggle and above all (7-second break in reception) not to let anyone intimidate them.  they should not let anyone stop them from going out to purchase their food and whatever else they need.    given the emergency situation and the shortage of medicine and food, we think it is necessary for the people of san miguel to open the stores where they can get food, medicine, and any other items which are urgently needed for their (word indistinct) and survival. that is all for now.  greetings to the comrades who are listening in the capital, all the comrade fighters, and the salvadoran people in general.  their high morale and active role in the capital makes us feel proud.  we have seen that the victory is guaranteed.  we are prepared to do likewise and we send them the courageous, fraternal, and revolutionary greetings from all the commanders and fighters in san miguel.

col vargas

houses

90-mm, 60-mm, and 81-mm mortars

85-mm field guns

rockets


Input: good evening. the electoral campaign is now under way.  ten candidates are running for mayor of lima.  we must participate in the elections to preserve democracy in our country.    however, the electoral atmosphere that prevails should not make us forget our most serious problem, the greatest threat to our fatherland. this threat is terrorism which costs lives, inflicts economic harm, fosters insecurity, and cuts off the power that we need for our homes and our industries.    we continue to battle terrorism. the armed forces and the national police are taking drastic action in the huallaga valley and in the mountain range.  they are also breaking up urban terrorist cells. however, we must also attack terrorists through legal actions, through the most drastic and severe sentences.    irrespective of military actions, if no swift and drastic legal punishment is meted, the terrorists know that they will go unpunished. stimulated by this they continue with their crimes.    the whole country is aware of this. most peruvians want severe, drastic and effective punishment for terrorists. thus, on 28 july i proposed to the national congress that the military courts should try terrorists. tonight, i would like to remind you of this subject because i am concerned that it may remain just that; a proposal. i would also like to ask all peruvians, all organizations and institutions, to support this request which will be discussed in congress.    by having terrorists tried by military courts we are not giving up any civilian prerogatives. we are not giving up any democratic rights. this has been done before in other democratic countries.    furthermore, the armed forces are an essential component of peru's democratic system. they are also the ones that actually fight the battle against subversion. no one can say that setting up military courts is tantamount to militarizing the country because that would imply distrusting the armed forces, offending them and overlooking the fact that they are defending democracy. more than 2 years ago we asked for and were allowed to establish special courts to terrorist cases. so far these courts have yielded no positive results. thus, as president it is my duty to call for severe sentences, issued without delay or any theoretical or academic discussions.    following my 28 july speech i ascertained that the vast majority of peruvians are in favor of drastic punishments and of the establishment of military courts. i have also heard some legal objections and theoretical arguments against this measure.    those who do not want the military courts to try terrorists say that article 282 of the constitution does not allow it. this is half true.  article 282 states: in cases of crimes committed while on duty, police and armed forces members are subject to the military jurisdiction and to the military code of justice which is not applicable to civilians except in the case described by article 235, which establishes the application of the death sentence in case of betrayal of the motherland during war.    now, those who do not want military courts to try terrorists do not want to read the second part of article 282 which states: those who avoid compulsory military service are subject to the military code of justice.  this paragraph is the one that legally and constitutionally allows us to try terrorists under the military jurisdiction, because terrorists also violate the compulsory military service law when they commit crimes.    many peruvians wrongfully think that the compulsory military service only affects men on active service, like those peruvians who, after a selection are sent to serve in a military garrison for 1 or 2 years. this is only one of the ways in which one complies with the compulsory military service.    the compulsory military service law states in article 2: the compulsory military service in an unavoidable duty of all peruvians who must participate in national defense by complying with their military obligations.  (continued)


Input: moreover, the conservative inter-american press association has condemned cristiani because of the censorship, the disinformation network, and the persecution against local and foreign journalists and the federation of latin american journalists has just done the same. the group of eight, which is the most influential latin american group, has criticized cristiani's rejection of a cease-fire, which was requested by the international community and included by the fmln in its latest political proposal.  in addition, the group of eight has described cristiani's rejection of the central american presidents meeting, scheduled for managua, as a political outbourst.    cristiani's situation in the united states is becoming dramatic. the bipartisan consensus that supported military aid has boken up. the u.s. press is increasingly critical of the salvadoran government and armed forces.  protest demonstrations are multiplying. personalities like jesse jackson are demanding and end to aid for cristiani.  to this must be added the recent statement, in similar terms, of the bishops of all u.s. churches.  the scenes of the u.s. personnel's departure from san (13-second break in reception) $4 billion to that country's treasury and 70,000 deaths to the salvadoran people.    serious questions are being raised now about bush's foreign policy. the image of a terrorist, fanatical fmln which some powerful u.s. sectors had (11-second break in reception) and most recently in escalon.  the u.s. press has begun talking about an fmln that shows statesmanship in its actions and as a rational and sensible political and military force with which relations of equality and respect can be established to find political solutions and to avoid a regionalization and deepening of the conflict.    to achieve democratization, to enforce respect for human rights, there had to be (5-second break in reception) and we have succeeded. this is the first important achievement, which adds to the many gains during the nationwide offensive for peace against those who have turned war into a business.     we achieved in 10 days what the world took 10 days to understand. salvadorans, we are stronger now than ever.  the offensive continues building victory.


Input: at least 18 casualties, among both soldiers and civilians, resulted from several guerrilla attacks on the president's residence, the central electoral council, and other military installations in san salvador and several departments throughout the country.    the armed forces press committee (coprefa) reported that four army members, including two officers, were killed and six soldiers were wounded in clashes in the escalon neighborhood in northern san salvador.    the two dead officers were identified as captain jose alfonso chavez and lieutenant bolanos of the treasury police.    a treasury police member was killed in a rebel attack in san miguel, the country's third largest city, early this morning.    the attacks began at 2100 (0300 gmt) on 1 may and continued after midnight, alarming citizens in san salvador and causing blackouts.    furthermore, the salvadoran red cross reported that eight minors were wounded in two clashes between guerrilla forces and soldiers in ilobasco, cabanas department, and usulutan, located in the southeast area of the country.    military spokesmen said that the guerrilla forces attacked the presidential residence, the sheraton hotel's security corps, public works minister mauricio stubig's residence, and the central electoral council.    the coprefa reported that there was property damage but no casualties in these places.    military reports added that a civil defense member was wounded in a rebel harassment of the civil defense group in the town of yucuayquin, eastern morazan department.    according to the military sources, the towns of jocoro and guadalupe were also attacked by the rebels, but there were no casualties reported in these attacks.

central electoral council

presidential residence

sheraton hotel

public works minister mauricio stubig's residence


Input: president alfredo cristiani denied that there is division in the salvadoran armed forces and said the changes announced 2 days ago were "routine."    on 31 december, the salvadoran armed forces published an order announcing that air force gen rafael bustillo, one of the most influential "hardline" officers in its command staff, had been discharged.    besides bustillo, who will be replaced this week by gen rafael villamariona, other minor changes at several military garrisons were announced.    during a news conference, cristiani refused to comment on gen bustillo's statements, who this week warned the government and the armed forces "not to be tricked by guerrilla leaders" who wanted to attain a quota of power through the dialogue.    bustillo, who became chief of the air force after a coup d'etat unseated president carlos humberto romero on 15 october 1979, also accused san salvador archbishop arturo rivera y damas and auxiliary bishop gregorio rosa chavez of being "bad religious officials" and playing into the hands of the guerrillas.    there are commentaries circulating in political circles about a "clear division" among hardline military officers of the armed forces, who are part of the la tandona (members of the 1966 graduating class of the captain gerardo barrios military academy) group.  these officer are against reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict and talks with the rebels.    observers agree that gen bustillo's discharge was prompted by the air force bombing of low-income neighborhoods on the outskirts of san salvador during the recent general offensive by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front).    these statements were denied by president cristiani who insisted that bustillo's discharge was simply a routine move within the military institution.


Input: according to salvadoran president alfredo cristiani, the government has received reports, which he described as disturbing, that the rebels are planning to unleash an offensive in the capital city on the very day when peace talks are scheduled to begin in costa rica.  government reports suggest that the insurgents will not only step up their actions to destroy the economic infrastructure and murder government officials, but also threaten to use ground-to-air missiles against the city.    (begin recording) (cristiani) although the peace process is under way, we have received reports that the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) command has authorized a plan to step up violence in san salvador through the use of ground-to-air missiles.    we believe that this shows absolutely no willingness to bring about peace in our country. the media should reveal to all salvadorans and the entire world what the fmln is planning to do.  (end recording)    according to the president, these fmln plans do not contribute to the peace process that began in september in mexico.  when asked whether these actions planned by the fmln could harm the talks in costa rica, cristiani said that this will depend on the situation that prevails at the meeting.  he added that the salvadoran government opposes the use of the talks for tactical purposes.    (begin recording) (cristiani) if the fmln wants to use the process for tactical purposes, we will not lend ourselves to their game.  our objective has been to seek peace in good will.  however, i repeat, we will not lend ourselves to a fmln tactical game.  i do not believe that we can make any predictions at this moment.  the outcome will depend on these alleged plans and developments in costa rica.  (end recording)    an end to the hostilities will be discussed in this round of talks. thus, this meeting could be crucial for achieving national peace. cristiani maintained that this meeting will be useful to gauge the intentions of the guerrilla front.    (begin recording) (cristiani) we will present a government proposal. it is an broad proposal because it deals with various issues, even the possible incorporation of the fmln to civilian and democratic life. it specifically deals with an end to the hostilities, a topic that we had agreed to address in costa rica during our meeting in mexico.  we are willing to discuss any topic that is within our constitutional framework for the sake of democracy.  (end recording)    the president described as beneficial the un and oas presence at the talks, because they will guarantee compliance with the agreements signed in costa rica.    only a day before the beginning of the talks between the government and the fmln, the president said that despite an increase in war actions, the meeting in costa rica will not face obstacles.


Input: president alfredo cristiani holds the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) responsible for the assassination of dr jose antonio rodriguez porth and called the attack an attempt to hinder dialogue.  the president has ordered 3 days of national mourning in honor of the slain minister.    (begin recording) (cristiani) we are going to respond legally.  we will immediately begin the requisite exhaustive investigations to find and punish those responsible for a crime against the life of an exemplary citizen. (end recording)    president alfredo cristiani blamed the fmln for minister rodriguez porth's death.  he said this attack is part of a series of actions aimed at destabilizing the new government.    (begin recording) (cristiani) we are virtually convinced that this was an fmln effort, an fmln incident, to try and provoke a reaction from our government.  we feel that the investigations will undoubtedly show us who is to blame for this regrettable incident; however, i repeat we are almost sure that this was done by the fmln.    we had hoped the fmln would refrain from this type of barbaric action; however, it is the duty of the armed forces and the security corps to offer protection.  this is why they have been deployed: to offer greater safety and protection to the people. (end recording)    during this evening's radio venceremos newscast, however, the rebels neither claimed nor denied responsibility for the attack. nevertheless, president cristiani said the assassination may have been carried out by the fmln in an attempt to hinder the dialogue.    (begin recording) (cristiani) we had learned, even before the inauguration, that the fmln would try to hinder the transition from one government to another and later create anarchic situations for the new government. this could be part of that plan.    i also feel that this could be the fmln's way to force us to sit down and talk.  it would be regrettable that after receiving a formal offer to sit down to talk -- first about the mechanisms to be used as guidelines during the talks and later to broach the main issues in an attempt to reach a lasting peace in our country -- the fmln should still think that such actions are necessary.  i think they are only trying to disrupt the new government's work. (end recording)    during this evening's news conference, president cristiani said that during today's cabinet meeting it was decided to ask the legislative assembly to decree 3 days of mourning for dr rodriguez porth.

rebels

farabundo marti national liberation front

jose antonio rodriguez porth


Input: this is a night of happiness for all of my family, for all of those who with their dedication and their work have accompanied me in this difficult moment of colombian life.  i have, deep in my thoughts, my campaign companions, my debate leaders, all those who filled every moment with dedication and enthusiasm, which i hope to deserve.  i have present the university youth, staunch standard-bearers of the constituent assembly (applause); all of my party leaders, servants of the liberal cause who showed steadfast loyalty; grassroots leaders from all parts of colombia; and the people, whose decision commits me beyond any doubt.    i want to offer this victory to gloria, juan manuel, and his brothers (applause), and to luis carlos galan's parents -- mario and cecilia -- who accompanied him in his long heroic journey through colombian life.  this is his victory, a victory for his children, his ideals, his faith in colombia, and the liberal principles that inspired his life.    i also think of my mother; my brothers; ana milena (applause), my wife and companion at all times and during sleepless nights; and my children simon and maria paz.  (applause)    today colombia has completed the most difficult and rugged political campaign in all its history.  its values, its democracy, and its liberty were at stake as never before.  as never before, the promoters of violence from all sides tried to destabilize our institutions.  however, colombians, also as never before, stood up to the historic moment we faced.  the colombian people's powerful democratic determination was stronger.  convinced of the importance of the current hour, they went out to support with millions of votes democracy that has had to face bombs, narcoterrorism, and hateful practices.    all those who have wanted to threaten our democracy must listen: our people have spoken today with courage and clarity.  we shall prevail.  it has been a conscientious, bold mobilization by millions of colombians who have expressed their political will for the first time through a system without pressure or intimidation.  once again, today, as on 11 march, citizens voted as they wished.    this difficult and rugged campaign has not been characterized by a crude confrontation among candidates, who acted with decency and loyalty.  (continued)


Input: gonzalo rodriguez gacha alias "the mexican," a well-known colombian drug trafficker who is one of the drug lords of the medellin cartel has admitted that he is in favor of "ceasing offensive actions against the military forces."    in a letter to the opposition's daily la prensa edited in bogota, he stressed that "the mission each one of us has as colombian citizens is trying to restore peace in colombia."    rodriguez gacha, who along with pablo escobar have become the country's most wanted men, denied having proposed an alliance with the communist guerrillas of the revolutionary armed forces of colombia (farc).    only 1 week ago, la prensa reported that rodriguez gacha had proposed an alliance with the farc in order to face the war against drug trafficking declared by liberal president virgilio barco in mid-august.    "the truth is that there is no such letter," said the "capo" for whose head -- along with pablo escobar -- colombian authorities have offered a reward of 100 million pesos (approximately $250,000).    rodriguez gacha also recalled his struggle against the farc.    taking advantage of the occasion, the drug trafficker rejected all information that stating that he is the "acknowledged perpetrator of all crimes against patriotic union leaders (up)."  he added that although he was charged with the murder of jaime pardo leal "the court's verdict was favorable to me."    pardo leal was the founder and first president of up.  up was formed in 1984, during a truce signed between farc and the then social conservative president belisario betancur.  according to government officials, pardo leal was murdered by two paid assassins who received orders from "el mexicano" on 11 october 1987.    rodriguez gacha argued: "nobody has been chased with such fierceness in colombia before as i have."  he added: "it seems that all the articles of the penal code have been thrown at me and my detractors are not binded by any of these norms."    after he insisted that offensives against the colombian armed forces should stop, rodriguez gacha noted that those who disturb public order "should definitely stop using weapons."    "these are the first steps that are needed to get colombians to sit at a negotiating table without excluding anyone," he concluded.    virgilio barco's government has rejected all possibility of dialogue with the drug mafias.

gonzalo rodriguez gacha

two paid assassins who received orders from "el mexicano"

medellin cartel

jaime pardo leal


Input: the army of national liberation (eln) has announced in a communique sent to antonio roldan betancur, governor of the northwestern antioquia department, that it rejects the peace plan proposed by the government and that it will continue armed attacks, it was learned a few hours ago.    according to initial reports, the armed movement--the most radical of the guerrilla groups in the country--sent the message through luis mesa puerta, a police inspector of el tigre, who was kidnaped last friday for this purpose.    roldan betancur did not disclose any more details and merely confirmed that the castroite eln, which has staged several dynamite attacks against oil installations, did not accept the proposal made by president virgilio barco vargas' government.    meanwhile, the m-19 sent a letter a few hours ago to misael pastrana borrero, a former president and member of the opposition social conservative party (psc), requesting that his party actively participate in a new peace initiative that formally began the 2d week of january.    at that time, on behalf of the government, rafael pardo rueda--the presidential adviser for peace--and the top m-19 commander, carlos pizarro leon gomez, signed a preliminary agreement that contemplates the beginning of a direct dialogue between the guerrilla groups and spokesmen of the political parties represented in parliament.    however, the farc, which declared a unilateral truce to faciliate the beginning of the conversations, said that these agreements were "exclusive," as they were signed by only one of the country's rebel movements.    the document signed by the government and the m-19 specifies that the tasks with all the rebel organizations are conducted through the simon bolivar national guerrilla coordinating board (cngsb).  however, with the eln announcement, a joint agreement has been ruled out.    meanwhile, prior to leaving today for caracas where he will attend the inauguration of carlos andres perez, the president held a meeting with the chiefs of the two traditional parties, former presidents julio cesar turbay of the ruling liberal party, and pastrana borrero, of the psc.    the meeting held at the narino palace (seat of the government) was called so that barco vargas could report to the psc on the development of the most recent events concerning the new peace process that began with the m-19.    according to some political circles, in this manner the path toward peace might be cleared, inasmuch as one of the "reservations" the psc had was that the barco vargas government did not consult with the parties on the negotiations.

army of national liberation

oil installations

several dynamite attacks


Input: as far as we have been able to investigate, u.s.  southern command troops in panama are guarding the veracruz area to prevent criminals from leaving.  by doing this they would be able to arrest at any time the followers of general noriega, currently under arrest in florida on drug trafficking charges.    a citizen by the name of cueto, who is frightened by the crime in veracruz, said that "one of these drug dealers distributed a leaflet on the night of 11 march that warned the population that anyone who reports the members of the pro-noriega band, living in veracruz, to the authorities will die immediately with their tongues hanging like a tie.  the leaflet adds that in a few days the band will place bombs near howard air force base to avenge the arrest of their cronies in the curundu neighborhood."    finally, el siglo has learned that the criminals and drug dealers who have invaded veracruz have small canoes and small motor boats with which they travel to the capital posing as fishermen.  in these small boats, they transport the drugs that they will sell during the week in panama city; this drugs are stored in different houses in veracruz.    it is important to note that most of these criminals belong to the codepadi (committee for the defense of the fatherland and dignity) and the dignity battalions, and as far as we could determine, they are still receiving support from people who thrived during the previous government and who are continuing to struggle for noriega's return.


Input: in the salvadoran government there are also criminals like vice president merino, a man who has personally participated in crimes against the salvadoran people, against the salvadoran (word indistinct).  there is also d'aubuisson, who is another assassin who has participated in crimes against the salvadoran people.    nicaragua is going to demand punishment for the assassins of priests and of salvadoran people from the international community.  it will demand that the international community break relations with el salvador and that it take measures against that criminal government until it stops the bombings and the crimes and it punishes the criminals.    what we are interested in is peace and democracy, but not the peace of graveyards.  there is peace in cemeteries (words indistinct).  that is the peace they want for el salvador, the peace of graveyards.  they want to turn el salvador into a cemetery.  in other words, (words indistinct).  however, the salvadoran people are courageous.  they are heroic people who know how to fight.  they have been showing this. they have great (words indistinct).    we are going to continue struggling in the international sphere to achieve peace.  it is not we nicaraguans, it is not i breaking the esquipulas agreements.  i will continue to defend them so that the salvadoran government will abide by them, because human rights must be respected.  on 7 august 1987, the salvadoran government signed an agreement saying that it was going to respect human rights, and it is not abiding by that agreement.  it has to comply with that agreement even if it withdraws from the peace talks, even if it does not want to participate in the meetings of central american presidents.    we are also going to continue struggling in the international sphere, in the united nations, so that an agreement will be reached to comply with the removal of the contras from honduras.  if the contras do not want to leave honduras, well, what has been shown on this border, in these heroic towns of (name indistinct), villanueva, somotillo, (name indistinct), san pedro, san benito, san francisco, and santo tomas?  all those names are known in the world for the heroic battles which have been waged there to reject the counterrevolutionaries who have received all types of support from the yankees.  the yankees have given the contras all types of armaments, including more than 300 surface-to-air missiles.    we are going to achieve peace because the nicaraguan people want peace. the towns in northern nicaragua want peace.  they want peace. do you want peace? (crowd shouts: "yes!") or do you want war?  (crowd shouts: "no!") do you want peace? (crowd shouts: "yes!")  (question and answer repeated two more times) we are going to achieve peace.  we are going to achieve total peace by always vigorously fighting the counterrevolutionaries and defeating the yankees in the elections on 25 february 1990.  (applause) we are going to throw shovelfuls of dirt at the contras and the yankees on 25 february 1990, because the yankees have created what is called the uno.  it is a mixture of people who are (words indistinct).  it is a salad but with rotten fruit.  (applause, laughter) it is a salad with rotten fruit.  who can eat a salad with rotten fruit?  can you be deceived (words indistinct)?  the nicaraguan people are going to show on 25 february their desire for peace and democracy and their support for the plans of the revolution.  these are going to be elections between nicaragua and the yankees.  the candidates are going to be bush on the one side and daniel on the other.  those are the candidates.  who are the people going to vote for? (indistinct shouts) are you going to vote for bush? (crowd shouts: "no!")  those other ones, the ones going around there, they do not represent anything.  bush is paying those people to be pretending (words indistinct).  the real enemy here is the yankees who have organized and financed the uno.  the yankees cannot solve the nicaraguan problems, because they cannot even solve honduras' problem.  they cannot solve its economic problem, even though the honduran government has lent itself for the yankee maneuvering.  i am not talking about the honduran people.  you know that the honduran people are combative and brave.  what is the army used for in honduras?  what is it used for?  to massacre the people (passage indistinct).  the contras are in honduran territory.  who is responsible for getting those contras out?  it is up to the hondurans, it is up to the honduran army.  (continued)


Input: the rome foreign ministry on friday confirmed that two italian engineers and a spanish technician were kidnapped thursday in colombia from a construction site some thirty kilometers from the city of medellin.    the two italians, roberto roascio of milan and mario accurso of rome, together with spaniard francisco puja, were taken hostage from the work site where the milanese firm "torno" is collaborating in the construction of a hydro-electric plant being financed by the world bank.    the foreign ministry added that it was in constant contact with rome's ambassador to bogota', filippo anfuso, and that the embassy's staff was working with local authorities to ascertain the dynamics of the kidnapping and who may have been responsible.    the families of the italian engineers, it was learned here, have been notified of the incident.

roberto roascio

mario accurso

francisco puja


Input: the frelimo party appreciates and supports efforts mounted by the nicaraguan government and other states of central america to restore peace, and calls on all the interested forces to create conditions to apply the peace plan as agreed upon.  we value our relations of friendship and cooperation with the sandinist national liberation front.    in the republic of cuba, the people's power has consolidated and the revolution can now fundamentally concentrate its efforts on the technical and scientific development of the country and the improvement of the quality of life of the people.  the (frelimo) party salutes the relations of friendship and cooperation between our parties, states, and peoples, and expresses the hope that these relations will continue to develop further.  the (frelimo) party hopes that the winds of peace now blowing will contribute to eliminating the hotbeds of tension throughout all of central america and latin america in general so that the people of that zone may benefit from peace and tranquility to undertake the necessary fight against misery and backwardness.    in europe, during the period under examination, the relations of friendship and solidarity with our people were deepened, while the cooperation of the mozambican state with the european countries was broadened.  in general terms, we have been closely following the process to establish the europe of 12 and the transformations begun in various socialist countries.    the (frelimo) party views positively the continuation of the process of consolidation of the europe of 12 and hopes that this process will positively contribute to balanced relations between north and south.    the (frelimo) party salutes the courage demonstrated by the cpsu leadership, particularly comrade mikhail gorbachev, by facing the great challenge of critical reflection and for the rectifications now in progress in the ussr.    the transformations taking place in various socialist countries open an encouraging and profitable theoretical debate on the construction of socialism that we would like to see continue in a climate of unity and solidarity.  the (frelimo) party is following this period of reflection on the process of the building of socialism in european countries and it is overjoyed by the fact that this process continues to safeguard cooperation with our country.  we are aware that these changes taking place in socialist countries, particularly the changes that are observed in the ussr within the framework of perestroyka and glasnost, have an important impact at the level of the (marxist-leninist) parties and the progressive forces, as well as in the development of international relations in general. this impact has been very positive and has decisively contributed to create a new atmosphere in relations among the superpowers and in the process of detente that currently characterizes the international relations. (continued)


Input: and what do the central american presidents mean with that very categorical passage?  they want to say that it is the fmln that must stop its hostilities, and do so at once, immediately, and effectively in order to hold a dialogue.  what this means is that the presidents, as any rational people, feel it is more advantageous to conduct a process of dialogue without bombs and bullets.  what else does the agreement say?  it says the end of hostilities will permit a dialogue so that the fmln will later abandon the armed struggle, disband as an armed group, surrender its weapons, and join democratic and institutional life.    by this, they -- even nicaraguan president daniel ortega who signed the agreement -- mean there is institutional life in el salvador and democracy, which they are asking the fmln to join.  this is the spirit of the proposal the government took to san jose, costa rica. because the proposal we adopted is so long, it would be impossible for me to read it to you, so that you can be informed.    however, you will be able to see for yourselves tomorrow what i am saying to you tonight, because the proposal will be published in all of our country's newspapers.  there, you will see that the government is faithfully complying with what the five central american presidents signed in the tela accord, and that we are following up on the terms of the first dialogue in mexico.    what does the fmln do in san jose?  first, drawing away from the agreement made in mexico, it does not want to talk about ceasing hostilities.  it introduces several proposals, which the fmln claims are an expansion on the mexico proposal, and presents several documents to the salvadoran delegation.  by the way, the fmln also violates the mexico pact by not respecting the discretion of the dialogue process.  once again it presents these documents to the news media before presenting them to the salvadoran government delegation. as you will see, the delegation received quite a few documents from the fmln there.  (continued)


Input: the bodies of the spanish jesuits murdered last friday (17 november) by uniformed individuals were buried in san salvador today.  the spanish government has asked the salvadoran government for explanations concerning these deaths.  today in paris the spanish prime minister said that future confidence in the government led by alfredo cristiani depends on the response to this request for an immediate investigation:    (begin recording) (gonzalez) the greatest possible effort should be made immediately to investigate what happened regarding murders which some people are apparently interpreting in terms of whether or not they are spanish, or spanish citizens who took on salvadoran citizenship, but regardless of whether or not some of the citizens who suffered this appalling attack, this murder, were spanish.  our concern obviously is not expressed merely in terms of this or that nationality because this murder is a hideous crime and thus the matter must be cleared up as soon as possible, and furthermore much of the effort of confidence in the future of (words indistinct) with regard to that country depends upon it.  (end recording)    a spanish diplomatic delegation headed by undersecretary for foreign affairs inocencio arias attended the burial of the jesuits. he put himself at the disposal of the spanish residents in el salvador who want to leave the country and return to spain.

uniformed individuals


Input: despite ample evidence, no salvadoran government had blamed the armed forces of killing defenseless civilians since the civil war worsened in 1979.  the announcement made by president alfredo cristiani of the arrest of 45 soldiers and 2 officers for killing 6 clergymen, a maid, and her daughter, on 16 november is in itself a small and partial milestone.    cristiani, whose nationalist republican alliance party was founded at the beginning of the eighties by individuals linked to paramilitary bands, the army, and security corps, asserted that the names of those responsible for the crimes will be released in the next 48 hours.    jesuist francisco estrada, who replaced father jose ignacio ellacuria -- one of those massacred -- at the rectorship of the central american university in san salvador, warned that it is not enough to know which sargent pulled the trigger but who gave him orders to do so needs to be revealed.  cristiani will not go that far.    cosmetic sacrifices are made in order to neutralize the threat of u.s. congress interrupting the $1.5 million it sends a day for the war against the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) and the repression of the people.    the dismissal of general juan rafael bustillo as chief of the air forces and the possible punishment of some of the counterinsurgent atlacatl battalion fulfill these requirements.  however, cristiani will attend the next informal summit of central american presidents in tegucigalpa, honduras on 28 january under adverse conditions.    the mobilization of the latin american public opinion against the u.s. intervention in panama and its aim of extending the intervention to other nations of the area have weakened washington's diplomatic space. this could have an effect on its political ally of el salvador which, in the previous summit held in december, presented nicaragua and the fmln as responsible for the worsening of the crisis in central america.    the facts are conclusive. what will now be the excuse of salvadoran president alfredo cristiani and his protector george bush?

45 soldiers

2 officers

armed forces

jose ignacio ellacuria


Input: the group that stormed the 3d infantry regiment in la tablada intended to overthrow the constitutional authorities and to implement "a plan of government" with army funds.  the group also sought to dissolve the armed forces.    according to documents that were seized from the terrorists by intelligence services, the attackers planned to issue a proclamation. the proclamation states that the so-called "people's government," allegedly to have been installed by them, would adopt the following measures:    1. to decree a 150-percent salary increase for all people earning 2,000 australes or less;    2. to decree a 100-percent salary increase for all people earning 3,000 australes;    3. to decree a 40-percent salary increase for people who earn up to 6,000 australes;    4. to increase minimum pensions to 4,000 australes;    5. to eliminate all privileged pensions for the military, deputies, senators, councilmen, cabinet members, and secretaries of state;    6. to decree a price freeze and to decree that all those who violate the established price freeze, as well as speculators and hoarders, will be punished with sentences of up to 20 years; it wil be up to the people to control the implementation of this price freeze;    7. to decree the immediate suspension of evictions and decree a freeze on house rents;    8. to decrease interest rates and negative rates, even on previously established credits;    9. to cancel immediately debts contracted with the financial market;    10. to cancel debts contracted by small- and medium-sized farmers with the banking sector;    11. to implement unemployment insurance of 2,000 australes per child;    12. to implement a subsidy for unwed mothers of 3,000 australes;    13. the people's government hereby nationalizes the banking sector; the iapi, argentine institute for promotion of foreign trade, (instituto argentino de promocion del intercambio) is reestablished;    14. article no 40 of the 1949 constitution is hereby established: "energy sources are the inalienable property of the nation."    the rest of the terrorist proclamation states:    this is a national emergency and solidarity plan that will be implemented for 120 days.  it seeks to promote investments for production, and consumption.  within this 120-day period, the proper national sectors will help in the drafting of a short-, medium-, and long-term economic plan that will protect the interests of the entire community.    the funds to finance this national emergency and solidarity plan will derive from:    1. the elimination of the military budget, since the army has been replaced by the popular militias of the people's resistance front;    2. the expression of all the properties of jose alfredo martinez de hoz and of all military officers who have more than one house and one car; the same will apply to all union leaders;    3. the expropriation of the financial market;     4. the suspension of interest payments on the foreign debt.    this plan is based on the solidarity of millions of argentines, the immense majority of workers, producers, and unemployed.  we have the absolute right to live in a fatherland with liberty and social justice, where all men are brothers, and where the wealth of the country may be enjoyed by everyone in keeping with his work, his creativity, and his honesty.


Input: two u.s. mormon missionaries -- aged 19 and 21 -- were shot to death last night by a group of terrorists from the zarate wilka armed forces of liberation (fal).    this is the same terrorist group that claimed credit for the foiled attack against former u.s. secretary of state george shultz in august 1988.  in october, the group blew up the lines providing power to la paz, resulting in a power outage there.  the group also claimed credit for the january dynamite bombing in the congress.    the murder took place at 2220 last night and, 30 minutes later, the terrorists left messages with local newspapers claiming to be the assailants.    the message, which was handritten, said: "the violation of our national sovereignty cannot remain unpunished.  this is a warning to the yankee invaders who come here to massacre our peasant brothers and to their lackeys.  we poor have no other option but to take up arms. our hatred is implacable, and our war is to the death.  fal, zarate wilka."    the u.s. citizens -- todd ray wilson burdenson and jeffrey brent ball -- were missionaries of the christian church of latter day saints (headquartered in utah), which, in recent years, has extended its activities in bolivia by building dozens of temples.  both missionaries had lived in the vicinity of the general cemetery located in a densely populated la paz district.  they were killed with two bursts of machinegun fire.    a mormon church spokesman said that this was an attack against "two innocent people" and called on the police to solve the murder.  he said that last year dynamite was placed at a temple in the same area but that the culprits were never identified.    the bolivian government has condemned the attack and ordered an immediate investigation.  deputy interior minister walter costas announced that the traffic and police departments will carry out dragnets in la paz.    the killing of the u.s. missionaries has coincided with the arrival in bolivia of the first contingent of u.s. military engineers, technicians, and troops, who will be in charge of the task of leveling patti-patti hill to build an airport for the city of potosi.

group of terrorists

zarate wilka armed forces of liberation

todd ray wilson burdenson

jeffrey brent ball

two bursts of machinegun fire


Input: after a huge effort the electric supply system was quickly restored in the metropolitan region and the rest of the country which on saturday night was affected by a blackout extending from copiapo, in northern chile, to talca, in southern chile.    chilectra (chilean electric company, ltd.) and endesa (national electric power, inc.) have asked for the citizenry's understanding. these companies asked the citizenry to be aware that the problems and technical failures will be repaired in accordance with the personnel available.  the companies concluded by stating that the terrorist attacks affected the main powerline and that the electric supply to some towns will be restored in the next few hours.

terrorist

main powerline


Input: police today reported that during the last few hours terrorists staged three bomb attacks against u.s. properties.    no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far.  they affected the u.s.-chilean cultural institute, a mormon church in the capital, and a branch of the "citicorp" financial firm in vina del mar, 125 km northeast of santiago.    carabineros have reported that a bomb, which was placed on the 5th floor of the chilean-u.s. cultural institute, 150 meters from the government palace, went off last night causing damage but no victims.    the bomb had been manufactured with l kilo of ammonium gelagnite and was activated with a fuse, police sources said.    at 0ll5 this morning (0415 gmt) incendiary bombs were hurled at a mormon temple at nunoa district, in santiago.  the bombs caused minor damage.  at the time of the attack the building was empty, according to the sources.    the attackers painted the walls and left pamphlets with ultra-leftist messages of the lautaro youth front.    a bomb, which shattered the glasses and destroyed the masonry of the "citicorp" financial company offices in downtown vina del mar, exploded today shortly after 0200 (0500 gmt).    the police reported that another bomb was discovered and defused before it exploded at a catholic school in vina del mar.    a few days ago, the chilean-u.s. cultural institutes in vina del mar, talca, and temuco were the target of bomb attacks.    the manuel rodriguez patriotic front (fpmr), which the pinochet regime considers to be the communist party's armed branch, announced following the u.s. invasion of panama that it would attack "u.s. interests in chile."

terrorists

lautaro youth front

manuel rodriguez patriotic front

u.s.-chilean cultural institute

mormon church

branch of the "citicorp" financial firm

catholic school

chilean-u.s. cultural institutes

bomb attacks


Input: jose alejandro bonivento, former president of the supreme court of justice and current member of the court of appeals, resigned his post today, claiming that he had been subjected to undue pressure by the government.    bonivento maintains that in applying what is tantamount to a state of siege, the government is issuing measures and wants them to be declared constitutional for its convenience and to satisfy foreign interests.    it was announced that 40 judges might resign next week to protest the assassination of their colleague mariela espinosa arango.    colombian judges today began a number of staggered stoppages to protest the assassination of judge mariela espinosa arango the evening of 1 november in medellin.  a total of 17,000 judges participated in a 2-hour stoppage.  there will be two similar actions the morning and afternoon of 3 november.  medellin's superior court will be in recess for 1 week.    meanwhile, the supreme court of justice complained that five judges have been killed in 2 months, and it requested a meeting with president virgilio barco.  judge espinosa was buried this afternoon.

mariela espinosa arango


Input: a colombian judge has paid the highest price for doing her duty.  maria elena diaz perez, third judge of public order, and two of her bodyguards from the das (administrative department of security), were assassinated in medellin today by a group of 10 paid assassins in two cars, a mazda and what was thought to be a mercury.    she was traveling home in her car today at noon.  about half a block from her home, her car, a toyota with license plate no. a-3037, was intercepted by a white mazda and possibly a mercury. diaz' driver had to hit the brakes, as the motorcycle of one of her bodyguards slammed into the rear of her car.  in a matter of seconds, the 10 paid assassins opened fire on the judge's car.  a total of 55 9-mm submachine gun rounds hit the left side of the car. the judge, who was sitting in the back seat, was able to leave the car and run, but she was only able to take a few steps before being gunned down by 19 bullets. two of her das bodyguards, dagoberto rodriguez and alfonso de lima, who were inside the car, were killed instantly.    no one has been arrested yet in connection with this incident.  the truth is that the many threats made against her became a reality today.    maria elena diaz, 34, will be buried in medellin tomorrow.

group of 10 paid assassins

maria elena diaz perez

dagoberto rodriguez

alfonso de lima

55 9-mm submachine gun rounds


Input: the police institution reported today that the risaralda province 3d district police commander's wife, stela torrado de otalora, was killed on monday, 4 august.    the victim, married to major jairo otalora, was shot to death in her vehicle while on pereira - belen de umbria road, in the colombian coffee area, approximately 300 km to the west of bogota.  the person driving the vehicle was also killed.    the criminals, riding motorcycles, intercepted the r-18 vehicle that carried the police officer's wife, stela torrado, 32.    the assassins killed otalora and the driver, who has not been identified yet.    another version of the incident is that the criminals took the vehicle and abandoned it after a few kilometers.  the reasons for the crime are not known.    army colonel carlos guerrero's wife, angela piedad de guerrero, was shot to death in bogota on tuesday, 5 august.  guerrero is the deputy chief of the armed forces logistics department.

criminals

assassins

vehicle

stela torrado de otalora

angela piedad de guerrero


Input: actually, that is not so, because while we are gathered here the tentacles of the drug trade are closing in on europe and the middle east.  the agggressive search for new markets does not respect oceans, just as it has not respected borders.  anywhere there are consumers, there will be suppliers.  in fact, cocaine is but one of the pernicious manifestations of the crisis of drug abuse, which is much broader.  we must not delude ourselves.  this scourge affects us all.    acting in solidarity, as a community of nations, we must follow this plan of action:    first, it is indispensable to effectively curb the demand for illegal drugs.  drug abuse is the fuel that propels narcoterrorism. today it is one of the most serious threats to latin american democracies.  cocaine users are contributing to the killing of my people by the criminal international drug trafficking organization. without any doubt, in any of the distinguished residential districts of this city, a habitual cocaine user may regard my assertion as an exaggeration.  nevertheless, his vice makes him a collaborator of the murderers who have killed many colombian judges and policemen, who have sacrificed their lives to defend democracy and law.  (applause)    no weapon or tactic used in this struggle will be effective enough if it is not combined with resolute efforts to reduce the demand.  the illegal profits are extremely large.  i am certain that we will defeat the drug traffickers in colombia, but someone in some other country, somewhere, will take over this business as long as it remains so profitable.  this happened with marijuana.  when it became too costly for the drug traffickers to operate in colombia because of the effectiveness of the public forces, the traders in vice moved their plantations to california, to hawaii, and to many other regions.  the only law the drug runners do not violate is the law of supply and demand.  (applause)    no society, regardless of how wealthy it is, can afford the luxury of allowing its sons or daughters to poison themselves with cocaine, heroin, marijuana, or any other such deadly drugs.  in this context, i wish to assert that president bush's plan to curb the demand is a first step in the right direction.  we must insist on the message that illegal drugs are not acceptable or harmless, whether they are consumed in the glittering parties of the rich or in the slums. (continued)


Input: monteria -- bloody clashes have been taking place in the rural area of puerto libertador municipality, south of cordoba, since 11 november.  the number of guerrillas killed by 11th brigade troops has risen to 26.    according to reports given just a few minutes ago by military sources, three more members of the self-styled popular liberation army, epl, were killed in mutata, tres playitas hamlet, juan jose corregimiento, in the clashes that took place on 14 november.  this brings to 21 the number of guerrillas killed in this area of puerto libertador municipality.  in addition, five members of the farc (revolutionary armed forces of colombia) were killed in la rica, where combat began on 11 november.  it was also reported that the the army suffered no casualties.  soldier luis eduardo gonzalez anaya, who was wounded in combat, has been taken to the bogota military hospital. (sentence as heard)    in the meantime, colombian air force personnel are repairing the helicopter that made an emergency landing in the area after being damaged, apparently by the rebels. military operations continue in the rural area of puerto libertador municipality led and coordinated by 11th brigade commander colonel ivan ramirez quintero.


Input: ...not only of the provisions of the andean pact, but also of the vast horizons of the caribbean and the central american region.  as we join efforts, as we strengthen our capabilities, and with the long tradition of democracy that we share, we can offer our contribution to strengthening our democracy.  all the democrats of the americas who see in you, mr. president perez, a great fighter, are now celebrating a positive wave of legitimate elections, for example in uruguay, chile, brazil, costa rica, and nicaragua.  very shortly colombia and later peru will hold elections.  panama, in turn, has called for popular consultation in the form of a referendum so that the people will decide on important constitutional reforms.    throughout the americas, democracy is the path and that is why it will be the adequate means for strengthening the oas as a regional organization in which the various trends and ideologies within a common objective of searching for peace, freedom, liberty, and justice may and should be expressed and consulted on.  there, the members will be able to discuss topics that affect us in a direct manner, such as international trade, foreign debt, and technical cooperation, as well as how to increase the scope of action with various interlocutors, such as the case of canada, the entry if which into the oas we warmly welcome.    therefore, let us consider the reasons for this meeting which we do not hesitate in terming historic.  the documents are evidence of how much we have advanced in specific achievements in the fields of energy, communications, transportation, and border transit; in joint programs in city planning such as the cucuta-villa el rosario-san antonio-urena; in the agro-industrial and environmental sectors, and in indian ethnic groups, customs, and education.  all of these are topics we have discussed over the past few days with our respective teams.  however, there is one topic that i wish to emphasize.    there is an enemy who seeks to destroy the integrationist and democratic project.  there are anachronistic redoubts of a subversive nature that are today enfenced by our military forces and our hard working people.  the enemy feels his days are numbered and he expresses himself though violent actions with kidnappings, extortion, and indiscriminate terrorism; by destroying oil pipelines and contaminating rivers, water basins, and lagoons.  our commissions have suggested positive means for working jointly on these rivers, water basins, and lagoons, and have signed an agreement that is already being implemented on oil spills and accidents.    colombian democracy will prevail over this internal enemy, and undoubtedly the integration programs will continue with renewed vigor. the technical management of the water resouces, the electricity and telephone interconnections, the feasibility studies for the various alternate routes that will connect us, the reopening of the bridges that were closed 30 years ago, the utilization of the camilo daza airport in cucuta as an alternate airport for san antonio, the agreement on fishing policies, the plans to increase crops ranging from sugarcane and cotton to chiqui-chiqui fiber are positive answers to those who insist on disrupting things.    the international policy today not only understands the traditional concept and the preservation of national sovereignty, but above all, it points to people's well-being and increases their capabilities for consumption.  it is not by blowing up oil pipelines or preventing the people who live along the river banks of both countries from fishing or by poisoning their crops that people's well-being will be achieved.    i am sure that the san pedro alejandrino document we signed today is a gradual, but decisive step toward authentic latin american integration.  by the decision of their people and promoted by their rulers in this simple room where the liberator died, we are today consolidating these bases that will not be destroyed and will prevent in the future any further frustrations of the dreams of the liberator, bolivar.    mixed commissions will be appointed shortly and will get down to work in what we still have yet to do.  they will continue with a truly liberating task, that today -- as from the times of the congress of angostura -- is uniting our two nations.  thank you.  (applause)


Input: liberal senator federico estrada velez was kidnapped on 3 april at the corner of 60th and 48th streets in western medellin, only 100 meters from a metropolitan police cai (immediate attention center).  the antioquia department liberal party leader had left his house without any bodyguards only minutes earlier. as he waited for the traffic light to change, three heavily armed men forced him to get out of his car and get into a blue renault.    hours later, through anonymous telephone calls to the metropolitan police and to the media, the extraditables claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.  in the calls, they announced that they will release the senator with a new message for the national government.    last week, federico estrada velez had rejected talks between the government and the drug traffickers.

three heavily armed men

the extraditables

federico estrada velez


Input: the extraditables, a colombian mafia group linked with drug trafficking activities, announced today that they will lay down their weapons and suspend their cocaine shipments. the extraditables admitted to the government's victory and admitted that they want peace in colombia.    the extraditables also announced that they will release all the people they have abducted. they added that there will not be any more bombings, terrorist attacks or murders of government officials, lawyers, and journalists.    the extraditables' position is stated in a communique sent to president virgilio barco's government by patricia and dina echavarria, two women who have been held by the extraditables since 16 december in medellin, the capital city of northwestern antioquia department.

the extraditables

patricia

dina echavarria


Input: military authorities have reported that two peasants were killed when they set off a mine in morazan department.  the incident took place in the vicinity of perquin, when ernesto and rosa fernandez set off an explosive device presumably abandoned by the fmln.    it was also reported that four treasury police officers were wounded last night when urban commandos attacked them in soyapango.  the incident took place on army boulevard while the officers were on their way to start guard duty at a shoe factory.    in another action, six insurgents were wounded during a clash with 1st brigade soldiers in san pedro perulapan jurisdiction, cuscatlan department.

fmln

ernesto

rosa fernandez

explosive device


Input: a salvadoran court yesterday presented a sworn declaration by president jose napoleon duarte in which he links rightist leader roberto d'aubuisson to the march 1980 assassination of archbishop oscar arnulfo romero.    the declaration, which the attorney general's office requested from the fourth penal court, did not provide details regarding evidence that could be used to solve the case of monsignor romero, who was a staunch critic of the government because of its alleged human rights violations.    the document contains a list of the names of 12 army officers and 12 civilians who were allegedly involved in plotting to oust the revolutionary government junta that took over in october 1979 after overthrowing general humberto romero.    the list of plotters includes rightist deputy d'aubuisson, founder of the nationalist republican alliance (arena) -- the winner in the recent elections -- and captain alvaro saravia, whom the president accused of being the masterminds of the assassination of the clergyman.    the list also includes the names of civilians involved in the kidnapping of several salvadoran businessmen early in the decade.    according to duarte's declaration, 1st infantry brigade soldiers arrested the 24 coup plotters in 1980, and several documents were seized from them, including a notebook with plans for killing romero.    the u.s. senate has a notebook owned by capt saravia, and salvadoran judicial authorities are investigating how the u.s.  senate ended up with it.    according to duarte, "colonel adolfo arnulfo majano, a member of the revolutionary junta that ousted gen romero, had the documents."    the salvadoran supreme court recently revoked a salvadoran government extradition request for saravia, whom the government wanted to question to help solve the romero case.    the archbishop was killed by a sniper while saying mass at a hospital for cancer patients.

rightist deputy d'aubuisson, founder of the nationalist republican alliance (arena)

civilians

captain alvaro saravia

nationalist republican alliance

oscar arnulfo romero


Input: we believe we have made a great effort to increase the possibilities of reaching an agreement.  as a result, we believe this meeting and others that may come can be described as serious dialogue and negotiation.  we have made an effort so that the delegations can hold enough decision-making power for agreements to be reached as soon as possible.  i said earlier that our proposal is aimed at achieving the country's real democratization.  we have made an effort to achieve that goal.  we are not asking the government to give up the legitimacy it says it has obtained in the elections.  we are asking the government to submit it to a test for the sake of peace.  if it passes the test, then it would reaffirm its power. otherwise, we were always right to demand a new consensus for achieving peace in the country.    on previous occasions they said that our proposals violated the constitution.  we have made a great effort, in spite of the fact that we do not recognize the constitution because it was made to promote the war.  the constitution was drafted based on the killing of over 70,000 salvadorans.  the legislative assembly does not represent a large part of salvadoran society, but we have made an effort so that there are no obstacles to reaching an agreement.  we hope a new constitution for peace can be drafted.    that is why we are here, in spite of the fact that at the beginning the government commission insisted on performing certain tasks which we thought should not have been carried out.  we are concerned about the fact that the government has the wrong idea of what a dialogue is. we believe that to extend the dialogue in the current context, in the framework of the existing pressure in the country, is to extend the war.  to hold a dialogue full of details and agreements of little importance is to extend the war.


Input: commander ferman cienfuegos, when will the dialogue resume?    (sancho) we believe that for the dialogue to be resumed the government and the armed forces, mainly colonels ponce and elena, and cristiani must specifically accept their responsibilities.  we believe that once this situation and all the political actions for which they are responsible have been clarified....  (changes thought) they have to explain things very clearly because we are really tired of hearing the famous phrase that they always use; that is, that they are going to investigate.  that is no longer possible; therefore, we are demanding that the situation be clarified.    meanwhile, we are going to talk to the observers and mediators to check on how the situation is developing and at the same time to study the conditions for the dialogue - negotiation.  i believe that the nature of the suspension has been well explained.  these conditions must be met before we can, let us say, resume the meeting.  it must be made very clear that the agreement to hold a dialogue, the continuity of the dialogue, has not been broken.  this was agreed on by the two parties, and this is not what we are talking about.  what we did was suspend the meeting that has created so many expectations.  the san jose agreement stated that there would be a cease-fire and a gradual process to put an end to hostilities that would lead to the end of the war; however, we believe that in order for this to be done, we must first have specific democratic conditions.  that is what cristiani signed in tela, honduras.  what we are seeing here is the unmasking of a fascist dictatorship.  we are seeing a fascist and terrorist clique. the members of the death squads are practically legal in el salvador. (passage omitted)


Input: the fmln failed even before it tried to enter our coun....  (corrects himself) our capital, and this was stated by terrorists who have surrendered and terrorists who have been apprehended. they said that they were brought to the capital under false pretenses. they were led to believe that they were going along for a ride and that all the people would support them, and that the armed forces would not put up a fight. this, more than anything else, has been the harshest blow for the fmln because the salvadoran people rejected and spurned them when they tried to expose the people to so much danger and harm.    it was also satisfactory to hear the many statements of support and solidarity given by so many salvadorans. they have talked through the national network and every other means of communication, and have rejected and spurned the fmln and its terrorist actions.  furthermore, the ministry of interior and the ministries of agriculture and economy are drafting a program to help the neighborhoods which have been affected by the fmln's actions--once everything is calm--and to resupply the supermarkets and stores as quickly as possible. we know the people have had problems getting food for the last 2 and 1/2 days and the supplies should be brought as soon as possible.    salvadoran people, we do not want to end this address without stating our deep gratitude for your--and the other salvadoran people's--courageous attitude in the face of the fmln aggression. we can only feel proud about the messages of support--not for us on a personal basis but for the democratic system, the rights that the salvadoran people demand--and for the support given to the armed forces, whose morale is high and who take pride in the professionalism which they have acquired throughout the years to counter the situation in the shortest time possible.    we know that the fmln has failed, and now it is a matter of time before the armed forces manage to turn the situation around completely. also, we want to state our deep gratitude to the friendly countries that have shown their support and solidarity-- most of all their solidarity with you, the salvadoran people-- because there have been statements which, frankly, have filled us with emotion. for example, those of costa rica, the united staes, guatemala, and, in short, all the other countries that know perfectly well how irrational the fmln's aggression is. they have realized that the government and the republic, which are the result of the salvadoran people's will, have begun a rational, peaceful, and democratic process to achieve peace in our country.    to conclude, salvadoran people, we request your support and understanding; but also your trust and serenity. you can rest assured that the armed forces and the government will emerge victorious from the aggression which the fmln terrorists have launched. it is a desperate action and, in countering the situation, we will be much closer to the peace we want so much. may god bless you all and thank you.


Input: guillermo ungo, vice president of the socialist international, former presidential candidate, and leader of the civilian left in el salvador, today left for venezuela accompanied by venezuelan ambassador federico malespina, according to diplomatic sources.    ungo sought asylum at the venezuelan embassy 6 days ago to protect himself against the threats issued on the government radio.  the leftist leader was accused of being "an accomplice of the massacre caused by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front)," which a week ago launched the largest offensive in 10 years.    ungo left el salvador accompanied by hector oqueli colindres, assistant secretary of the national revolutionary movement (mnr), a member party of the democratic convergence, a bloc of leftist parties.    other diplomats accompanied ungo to comalapa airport, located 50 km south of san salvador, which is heavily protected by the army.    ungo's departure occurred following the assassination of six jesuits who were machinegunned on 15 november by men wearing military uniforms.

men wearing military uniforms

guillermo ungo


Input: san salvador domestic service in spanish at 1245 gmt on 28 november begins broadcasting a number of reports on clashes between salvadoran armed forces troops and farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) rebels on 27 and 28 november.    the first report states that the salvadoran treasury police thwarted an fmln attempt to occupy the san sebastian neighborhood, ciudad delgado municipality.  the report adds that approximately 50 "terrorists" tried to enter ciudad delgado at 0500 on 28 november and that they clashed with treasury police members sustaining two casualties.  the report concludes saying that the authorities confiscated one ak-47 rifle, one m-16 rifle, ammunition for both weapons, and several sticks of dynamite.    the second report indicates that 4th infantry brigade troops clashed with fmln forces at northern los guevaras hamlet, la laguna jurisdiction, chalatenango department.  the report goes on to say that as a result of the clashes, one rebel was killed and one m-16 rifle and a communication radio were confiscated.    the next report says that military detachment no. 1 reported that two of its members were wounded after a guerrilla harassment operation conducted in chiapas canton and tepeyac hamlet, chalatenango city. the same report adds that military detachment no.  3 members stationed in la union department reported that two fmln rebels were killed and five others wounded during clashes near el refugio farm, san miguel jurisdiction in the afternoon of 27 november.  the report adds that one soldier was killed and three others were wounded as a result of the attack.    the next report says that armed forces military training center members confiscated 13 ar-15 rifles, 10 m-16 rifles, 1 heavy-caliber mortar, 2 grenades, and explosives during a combing operation in zamoran canton, san miguel jurisdiction.  the same report adds that 3d infantry brigade troops confiscated 3 m-60 machineguns, 5 m-16 rifles, 1 rpg-18 rocket launcher, 150 cartridges and explosives at las lomitas canton and el molino neighborhood in san miguel city.    the last report indicates that the national police destroyed an fmln security house in nueva san salvador, santa tecla city, la libertad department.  the report adds that the army troops arrested one fmln "terrorist."  the report says that "during this search operation, the army troops confiscated 3 submachineguns, 1 soviet-made rpk automatic rifle, 4 akm rifles, 1 dragunov rifle, 1 ak-47 rifle, over 40,000 cartridges, 3,800 detonating plugs, 200 bengal lights, 6 grenades for rpg-2 grenade launchers, 112 manuals for terrorists, and other war materiel."    the report concludes saying that during another search operation in valle nuevo neighborhood, ilopango, national police members discovered another fmln security house and confiscated 2 submachineguns, 2 rifles, 650 cartridges, 6 sticks of dynamite, 58 detonating plugs, and other explosives.