Input: yesterday morning at 0730, approximately 20 or 30 terrorists machinegunned a route 302 bus covering the san salvador - usulutan and usulutan - san salvador route.  according to the official report, this criminal action was carried out by the enemies of the people.  the bus, with license plate 76231, was attacked on the coastal highway near la tiendita canton, fuente rio gualeyo, tecoluca jurisdiction, san vicente department.  five passengers traveling on the bus to usulutan were injured during this aggressive action carried out by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) against the salvadoran people.  the injured passengers were immediately taken to the santa teresa hospital in zacatecoluca where they are being treated.    later, at approximately 0900 in the same area, criminal terrorists burned nine vehicles.  information concerning the burned vehicles has not been provided.    meanwhile, four rebels were killed during an armed clash with engineers military detachment troops.  the fmln terrorists were attempting to enter the chinchontepeque neighborhood in zacatecoluca, la paz department.  the soldiers also seized the following materiel: 700 rounds of ammunition for ak-47 rifles, 536 rounds of ammunition for m-16 rifles, 3 knapsacks with civilian clothing, 6 ak-47 grenades, and a g-3 rifle with a serial number that cannot be read.  the armed forces are showing their professionalism by fighting against the enemies of the people.    likewise, an unknown number of fmln terrorists attacked the el triunfo civil defense post, san miguel department.  the fmln rebels burned the municipal mayor's office and the antel (national administration for telecommunications) offices.  they also burned a gas station owned by valentin villatoro and destroyed a pylon in san francisco neighborhood.  the attack on the defenseless residents resulted in one terrorist dead and one wounded.  the report adds that the residents of the town praised the attitude of the civil defense members and repudiated the fmln assassins for their constant attacks on the salvadoran people.

approximately 20 or 30 terrorists

unknown number of fmln terrorists

criminal terrorists

farabundo marti national liberation front

route 302 bus covering the san salvador - usulutan and usulutan - san salvador route

vehicles

municipal mayor's office

gas station owned by valentin villatoro

pylon


Input: a bomb went off this morning near a power tower in san salvador leaving a large part of the city without energy, but no casualties have been reported.    according to unofficial sources, the bomb -- allegedly detonated by urban guerrilla commandos -- blew up a power tower in the northwestern part of san salvador at 0650 (1250 gmt).    on friday, 16 march, the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) decreed a suspension of its attacks on civilian government officials and of its sabotage operations against means of transportation, businesses, and telecommunications.    that decision, aimed at creating the appropriate conditions for a new round of talks with the government, does not include the energy system or armed forces' members and installations.

urban guerrilla commandos

farabundo marti national liberation front

power tower

bomb


Input: when napoleon duarte was proclaimed president of el salvador in 1984, the white house, state department, pentagon, and all the powerful circles in the united states were stricken with euphoria and optimism.  duarte promised a social pact, a tolerant regime, economic and social reforms, and, most important of all, he promised peace.    all of these promises were only a means of achieving washington's great objective: to control the revolution in el salvador or, in other words, counterinsurgency.  five years have passed since then.  in reality 8 years have passed since el salvador became the place where the reagan era's models of counterinsurgency, neodictatorship, and low-intensity warfare were implemented.    washington's euphoria and optimism have completely vanished.  the 19 march elections sealed the collapse of the reagan administration's salvadoran strategy.  two basic factors are at the root of the u.s. failure: first, the united states sought demagogic and politically unsound reforms.  duarte did not in any way improve the masses' extreme poverty and isolation.  second, the revolutionary, popular, and democratic forces' qualitative and quantitative progress was possible because the problems that led to the conflict are--today more than ever--still unresolved.    the 19 march elections resulted in an arena victory, and arena is the party that represents the most ultraconservative oligarchic sectors.  washington has returned to its starting point.  the $3 billion spent on military advice and the genocide of tens of thousands of salvadorans served no purpose whatsoever.  it is all over.  arena represents a return to the system used prior to 15 october 1979.  in other words, it is a return to dictatorial control of all political, economic, and military power.  this is the end, the sad end of the low-intensity war exercise.    u.s. general harry gordon summer, a member of the santa fe group, in his book on the mistakes the united states made in vietnam, said the united states' concept of victory after its defeat in vietnam can no longer be to achieve its enemy's unconditional surrender, as in world war ii, but to achieve the political objectives for which it started the war.  this is precisely the concept of victory used in low-intensity warfare.  arena's victory, and the subsequent return to the old system, is obviously contrary to the objective of low-intensity warfare.    for washington, of course, this defeat means that $3 billion was squandered.  for the salvadoran people and central americans, it means razed towns, devastated economies, and the death of 70,000 people. the new u.s.  administration does not have a definite plan for el salvador.  what it has is an uncomfortable ally, arena, and a social time bomb about to explode.    the fmln believes the bush administration should study the new situation in el salvador and the entire world in a realistic and pragmatic manner.  the war in el salvador continues and will continue as long as there is no change, no real change, to benefit the masses that are struggling for that change.  this is our new reality, and if the new u.s.  administration wants peace and stability in the region, it must establish a foreign policy that reflects that reality.


Input: 4. at 0640 an fmln guerrilla unit launched an attack on conchagua battalion and 3d military detachment soldiers who were traveling on the road between anamoros and lislique, 1 km from lislique, la union department.  the clash, carried out in broad daylight, ended at 0930. we killed three and wounded five, and took four prisoners of war in that area of la union department.  a chief of section, a sergeant, is among the dead.  we seized six rifles, an m-79 grenade launcher, and (words indistinct).  meanwhile, another fmln unit entered lislique, where they carried out political activities for 3 hours.    5.  at 0300 fmln units attacked an infantry company at the mouth of the lempa river, and 30 minutes later our forces had taken over the post.  we killed one and wounded four, and seized a rifle, a law rocket launcher, three backpacks, and war materiel.    6.  urban guerrillas sabotaged pylons and transformers in san miguel city.    7.  a national police post in berlin was raided and attacked.    attention: during this operation launched throughout the four eastern departments, we inflicted a total of 67 casualties.  among these casualties are: the chief of the cacahuatique battalion, a captain, a lieutenant, and a sergeant.  we captured six prisoners of war during this operation.  we also seized 37 rifles, a 90-mm cannon, 2 m-70 machine guns, 3 law rocket launchers, 3 m-79 grenade launchers, 5 military radios, 38 backpacks, and 6,800 rounds of ammunition, and we damaged a helicopter.  this is the result of our operation: the eastern sector is courageous; everyone against arena.

urban guerrillas

fmln

pylons

transformers


Input: we will organize a pluralist government which includes representatives of all the patriotic groups of the nation.  let us save our capital, which is being bombed due to a foreign mentality.  it is being bombed and destroyed by an occupation army.  the airplanes are now being flown by u.s. pilots at night, and they have the mentality of an occupation army.    salvadorans, let us unite and organize ourselves.  let us not remain idle.  we must mobilize ourselves right now and organize a committee in each neighborhood, residential area, and town.  the people must organize.  the fmln has begun its 7th day in the capital, and we are sure that we are advancing toward victory.  victory will be ours and colonel ponce has given proof of his desperation with the jesuit priests' assassination in san salvador.  he has overstepped his mark and the people's patience is exhausted.  we urge all our people to join the general uprising, struggle, take up weapons, and organize everything necessary to oust this corrupt and murderous regime.  we urge the people to mobilize,to take up weapons, and to stay in the neighborhoods and residential areas to struggle for the liberation of our homeland.  we must achieve progress.    information has just arrived from the united states, indicating that the u.s. government has begun to withdraw its unconditional support for the death squads in el salvador.  information received from the united states indicates that the u.s. government has begun to recant its irresponsible and genocidal attitude of sending u.s. pilots to bomb our capital by night.  that is the professional training that u.s. imperialism is currently giving the armed forces, meaning to bomb the capital by night, as all the people in the capital have witnessed in recent hours.    thus, we issue an appeal to the people: organize yourselves.  we will achieve victory.  we sure of this.  the blood of ignacio ellacuria, the blood of the jesuits, the blood of monsignor (arnulfo) romero, the blood of the four u.s. nuns, the blood of the 11 priests assassinated (words indistinct), the blood of (words indistinct) seminarians, youths (words indistinct), and for all the blood shed. we must win, we must achieve victory, we must attain a true democracy for our homeland -- a democracy with freedom of expression, food, education, and justice.

colonel ponce


Input: we urge the u.s. government to immediately withdraw from the ilopango air base the u.s. pilots who are here to participate in air bombings during the night to relieve the tired and genocidal pilots of general juan rafael bustillo.    we urge the u.s. embassy to withdraw the u.s. pilots.  otherwise, the next planes and helicopters will be downed with u.s. pilots -- like those who have come from a u.s. base in honduras -- on board.


Input: a report from usulutan department states that at 0930 on 18 december, 18 of the prisoners of war captured during the battle of el nisperal, which is located 4 km north of the city of usulutan, were released.  previous reports indicated that a total of 25 soldiers were captured in el nisperal and that a few of them had been released.  now, at 0930 at the san jorge park, the remaining prisoners of war were released during a political event attended by town residents.    during this broadcast our guerrilla station will also air interviews with the prisoners captured at el nisperal where, during the battle, one army company was annihilated and two others were attacked, leaving a total of 29 soldiers killed, 30 wounded, and 25 captured.    we have already informed the people that during the el nisperal battle our units captured 46 m-16 rifles, 2 m-60 machineguns, 13 law rocket launchers, 4 m-79 grenade launchers with 40 grenades, and 11,000 rounds of ammunition.    in earlier reports we had underscored that since 1984, a battle of such proportions had not been staged in full daylight against infantry, artillery, and aviation, and in this case, we especially underscored that the theater of operations had changed and a battle was staged in a vital area for the war economy.


Input: the guatemalan government reports that on sunday, 26 march, as relatives were visiting the pavon rehabilitation farm, a prison revolt erupted.  the revolt was started by 28 prisoners -- all considered very dangerous -- organized into seven groups.    the mutinious prisoners worked out a detailed plan and attacked various important offices, such as the armory, where they seized about 90 carbines and much ammunition, which they immediately used to attack the security guards.  at the time, there were 107 men, 366 women, and 154 children -- a total of 627 people -- visiting the detainees.  they have been held hostage since the uprising began.    the prisoners' escape attempt was thwarted by the security guards, who were able to carry out their assigned mission.  the guards were able to repel the surpise attack; however, correctional officers buenaventura martinez, 47, and geronimo alvarado, 21, were killed in the clash.    the government states that according to its investigation, the leaders of the riot were julio enrique reyes granados, marco antonio santizo linares, and victor manuel veliz duarte, who are doing time for kidnapping children, extortion, murder, robbery, assault and battery, and other criminal activities.  veliz duarte was killed in the clash by gunshots to his jaw and stomach.  he had been sentenced to 30 years in prison for double murder.    following the unsuccessful uprising in the pavon model rehabilitation farm, a commission of prisoners has presented a humanitarian petition to the guatemalan government, which is being considered.  other legal petitions will be dealt with by the appropriate organizations.


Input: the honduran police today presented to reporters two of the presumed killers of contra commander manuel rugama acevedo, alias "aureliano."  one of the men accused an official of the nicaraguan embassy in tegucigalpa of involvement in the crime.    "aureliano," considered to be the second in command of the nicaraguan contras, was gunned down by an unidentified group in tegucigalpa's northern outskirts on 7 january after attending a working meeting with other rebel leaders.    the police detained hondurans juan bautista and rigoberto matute and nicaraguan luis ordonez, who are being held as suspects in aureliano's murder.  other suspects are still being pursued.    only bautista and ordonez were presented to reporters.  matute is being held outside tegucigalpa as a witness in the case.    ordonez said he "participated only as a go-between" so jose de jesus pena, the nicaraguan embassy official, could meet matute, who worked as a messenger for ordonez at the exchange office he runs in tegucigalpa.    ordonez added: "i was aware that pena wanted to get rid of somebody, but i never learned who they were going to kill until 'aureliano' was eliminated."    ordonez also said he worked for the somoza regime, that he later aided the contras financially in honduras, particularly the rebel indian organization misurasata (miskito, sumu, and rama sandinist unity), and that widclife diego, a misurasata leader, owes him $25,000.    ordonez said further that he provided information on the contras several times to the nicaraguan embassy through pena, who gave him $1,000 almost every month.    ordonez denied that he participated directly in the crime: "on saturday, 7 january, when 'aureliano' was killed, i was at a cock fight in el progreso" on honduras' northern coast.    ordonez said: "i also was in touch with the honduran secret police, one of whose lieutenants, working for interpol, called me up a few days ago.  he told me later, however, that other officers wanted to see me.  that is how i was detained."    in addition, bautista claimed that he was hired by matute during two meetings they held and that matute offered to pay him $10,000 to kill somebody, presumably a contra commander who also intended to kill matute.    bautista said that a few days prior to the crime, matute introduced to him another person, cano arteaga, who is still at large and who told bautista that it was ordonez who wanted the man dead.    bautista said that, on the day of the crime, he met with matute and cano.  they drove around the place several times until they intercepted the contra commander's car.    "i opened fire with a .38 caliber revolver.  aureliano got out of the car and was hit by matute's shots.  cano finished him off."    bautista said his two companions were armed with .45 caliber pistols.  after the crime, they went their separate ways to wait to receive the promised money in a tegucigalpa park on 15 february.    police sources and colonel manuel enrique suarez, head of the honduran armed forces' public relations department, who presented the criminals to the reporters, declined to comment on the involvement of a nicaraguan embassy official in the crime.    suarez said: "it is up to the honduran government to comment on this case or to try to establish whether a diplomat participated.  the police have already done their duty."    there was nobody available at the nicaraguan embassy in tegucigalpa to comment on the alledged involvement of one of the embassy officials in the assassination.  the embassy would neither confirm nor deny that someone named jose de jesus pena worked there.


Input: in huancayo, it has been confirmed that victor polay campos, alias comrade rolando, one of the top leaders of the terrorist organization mrta, has been captured.  he and his armed group had gained notoriety in the peruvian jungle area.    it may be recalled that comrade rolando and 100 armed subversives raided san martin department in 1987.    through his capture, the national police have dealt a hard blow to this terrorist organization.


Input: police have reported that terrorists tonight bombed the embassies of the prc and the soviet union.  the bombs caused damage but no injuries.    a car-bomb exploded in front of the prc embassy, which is in the lima residential district of san isidro.  meanwhile, two bombs were thrown at a ussr embassy vehicle that was parked in front of the embassy located in orrantia district, near san isidro.    police said the attacks were carried out almost simultaneously and that the bombs broke windows and destroyed the two vehicles.    no one has claimed responsibility for the attacks so far. police sources, however, have said the attacks could have been carried out by the maoist "shining path" group or the guevarist "tupac amaru revolutionary movement" (mrta) group.  the sources also said that the shining path has attacked soviet interests in peru in the past.    in july 1989 the shining path bombed a bus carrying nearly 50 soviet marines into the port of el callao. fifteen soviet marines were wounded.    some 3 years ago two marines died following a shining path bombing of a market used by soviet marines.    in another incident 3 years ago, a shining path militant was killed by soviet embassy guards inside the embassy compound.  the terrorist was carrying dynamite.    the attacks today come after shining path attacks during which least 10 buses were burned throughout lima on 24 oct.

terrorists

shining path

tupac amaru revolutionary movement

embassies of the prc

embassies of the prc and the soviet union

ussr embassy vehicle that was parked in front of the embassy

buses

two bombs

car-bomb


Input: the peruvian electoral campaign today entered its final stretch, with only one week to go in an electoral campaign that has been the most disputed and dangerous one in the history of that andean country, primarily because of terrorist threats.    the spreading wave of terrorism, aimed at stopping the elections from taking place, forced president alan garcia's administration to take drastic security measures to protect the nearly 3,500 candidates (passage indistinct) are deployed, especially in areas under state of emergency and where the activities of shining path's terrorist gangs are more widespread, such as lima and the departments of ayacucho, huancavelica, apurimac, and junin.    the government has appointed four members of the security forces to protect each candidate and has taken out life insurance on almost 250,000 people who have been selected by lottery to work at over 52,000 polling stations.  in lima alone, hundreds of members of polling station teams have asked to be relieved of this duty, petitions which for the most part have been refused by the the electoral court.    in lima, the main obstacle to normal elections on sunday could be the strike of private bus owners who are afraid of terrorist reprisals.  the "mini-bus-owners" (individual owners of urban buses) have asked that four policemen be assigned to each bus, a request that departmental prefect (governor) jacobo mishkin has deemed "impossible."    "if there is no transportation, the people will walk," president alan garcia has said, reaffirming his "absolute confidence" that the peruvian people will vote en masse -- despite the terrorist threats -- to "strengthen democracy," recovered in 1980 after 12 years of military governments.  president alan garcia, national election board president carlos castaneda, and the candidates have been urging the nearly 10 million voters to comply with their constitutional duty by casting their votes.    the government claims that a large turnout will amount to "the most effective rejection of subversion" and that it will "strengthen democracy" in peru, which has almost 22 million inhabitants.    out of the nine presidential candidates, four have the best chances, although only the candidate of the center right, mario vargas llosa, is the clear-cut favorite.  he will get an estimated 45 percent of the votes, according to the latest surveys.    according to peruvian law, if vargas llosa does not get absolute majority he will have to participate in a runoff election with the second-place candidate.  since it is quite certain that vargas llosa, the presidential candidate of the democratic front (fredemo), will win the first round, the question now is who will be his rival for the presidency in the second round.  according to the surveys, the candidates with the best chance are luis alva castro of the ruling american popular revolutionary alliance (apra), with 19 percent of the votes; alfonso barrantes lingan of the socialist left (is), with 12 percent; and henry pease of the communist left wing coalition united left (iu), with 8 percent.    during the last five days of their campaigns the candidates will step up their trips to various points of the country trying to gain the votes of a large undecided sector of the population.  according to the surveys, this sector represents between 18 and 20 percent of the votes.    meanwhile the terrorists continue on their path of death and destruction. in the last 24 hours the shining path murdered two state officials of the (words indistinct) on a road linking chavin and huari, two towns in ancash department.  in huaraz, the capital of ancash department, the terrorists set fire to the offices of the local development corporation but injured no one.  one person died when an ore train was derailed near oroya, a key mining town in the peruvian central jungle area, where an electoral registration office was located.  seven private bank branches were also attacked and seriously damaged in lima. in barranca, a small village 180 km from lima, terrorists bombed a radio station and a drugstore, both of them belonging to santiago jao, a fredemo candidate for deputy.

terrorists

shining path

offices of the local development corporation

ore train

private bank branches

radio station

drugstore


Input: we have a report from spain.  aid to el salvador has been suspended.  attention: the spanish government has suspended its aid to the salvadoran government.    spanish foreign minister luis yanez (as heard) reported today that spain has suspended aid to the salvadoran government until the killings of the spanish jesuits, who had been living in our country for years, are resolved.    this report represents a serious political setback for the alfredo cristiani government.  the spanish government's decision further isolates the salvadoran government which is already under pressure because of calls in the united states for the suspension of military aid.  this suspension represents a halt in the delivery of millions of dollars from the spanish government to salvadoran government.    this represents international isolation.  the international isolation of the cristiani regime is growing.


Input: last night, a few hours before the chilean presidential elections, a violent explosion damaged the windows and facing of the salvadoran consulate in santiago.  no one was injured.    a flag from the manuel rodriguez patriotic front (fpmr) was found at the scene of the explosion.  the fpmr is a clandestine leftist group that promotes "all forms of struggle" against the military government headed by general augusto pinochet.    police sources have reported that the explosion caused serious damage to the salvadoran embassy building and to nearby structures in the elegant providencia neighorhood in eastern santiago.    the government charges that the fpmr, which on 14 december will mark 6 years of subversive activity, is the "armed branch" of the outlawed communist party of chile.  as of midnight tonight the carabineros and police and security service agents were carrying out an intensive operation to arrest those responisble for the attack.

manuel rodriguez patriotic front

manuel rodriguez patriotic front

embassy building

nearby structures


Input: a terrorist arrested by the salvadoran national police, has been identified as ruth esperanza aguilar marroquin, aka sandra.  she has described u.s. citizen jennifer casolo as an erp (people's revolutionary army) member in charge of logistics.    as has been reported, casolo was released by a military judge after he determined that there was not enough evidence against her.  some groups, however, assert that casolo was released due to political pressure from the united states, which threatened to launch a worldwide campaign to discredit el salvador if casolo was not released.    aguilar marroquin was arrested at 1500 on 9 december after having participated in an attack on an urban public bus near juan pablo ii boulevard.    the woman fled and sought refuge inside the facilities of the salvadoran alberto masferrer university, where she took a group of students as hostages, threatening them with hand grenades. the police prevented her from doing anything and arrested her, confiscating one .45-caliber pistol, bullets, cartridges, and two fragmentation grenades.    aguilar marroquin said that she joined the erp last march and that she was part of an urban commando called workers justice command. aguilar added that she knows u.s. citizen jennifer casolo, who belongs to the erp, and that casolo used to meet with terrorist leader fernando, workers justice command operations chief, near the national university school of dentistry (ues).    aguilar added that casolo was in charge of erp logistics, especially lodging people and transporting arms and war equipment. the erp had given her two minibuses for her to carry out her tasks.    in addition, aguilar said that she believes casolo had a leading position within the organization, because in addition to meeting with fernando, she also met with an individual known as mincho, who is the political-military erp metropolitan chief and also the chief of the so-called urban commandos.    the prisoner knew about the existence of the arms in casolo's house, because on various occasions aguilar's chief, known as miriam, told her about it. other terrorists went to casolo's house to get weapons, ammunition, and explosives to conduct their sabotage operations against buses, telephone distribution boxes, power pylons, or to conduct large operations--as aguilar described them-- such as attacks on military garrisons.    according to the information obtained, the prisoner will be sent to court over the next few days.

ruth esperanza aguilar marroquin

workers justice command

people's revolutionary army

urban public bus

hand grenades


Input: a powerful dynamite charge today exploded near the american embassy in la paz.  the police reported that the explosion caused considerable damage to all buildings on the block.    the explosion occurred at 2130 (0130 gmt) on thursday (as received).  it damaged windows of the buildings on the block.    jose parada grandy, the bolivian police chief, told efe that an unidentified person stepped out of a vehicle and placed a package in one of the plant pots on juan de la riva street, a few meters from the u.s. embassy in downtown la paz.    parada said: "the vehicle left and immediately the charge went off causing considerable damage."    the "zarate willka armed forces of liberation," a group with an indian bakcground, has claimed responsibility for the attack in a communique that was sent to some media.    the note, signed with the initials of the "zarate willka" group, states: "in defense of the sovereignty of the panamanian people. death to the invader. our hatred is relentless; our war is to death."    the "zarate willka" group claimed responsibility in august 1988 for the attack against then u.s. secretary of state george shultz and the killing of two mormon missionaries.    today's bomb explosion damaged the shelves of a book store, the "people's peruvian bank," the state bank (not further identified); the mariscal ballivian building, and other shops, all of which are located near the u.s.  embassy.    after the explosion, a group of u.s. agents called off an investigation at the scene of the incident because some people shouted at them, "yankees, out of panama."    the u.s. embassy press attache, bruce warton, said today that "it is obviously a despicable action that does more harm to bolivians than to the u.s. embassy, because we have suffered no damages."

unidentified person

zarate willka armed forces of liberation

embassy

book store

people's peruvian bank

state bank

mariscal ballivian building

other shops

dynamite charge


Input: fellow countrymen: i am addressing you after our country has begun to overcome, with effort and tenacity, the first obstacles of a serious crisis, the future implications and repercussions of which we still do not know. i therefore wanted to convey a message of hope and encouragement to every chilean, to show them my feelings at this time of deep reflection.    from the very moment i learned about this terrorist economic aggression, i ordered the creation of four ministerial commissions to tackle the problem. i also sent two ministers to the united states to meet with u.s.  government officials. after tiring sessions of talks, these ministers managed to overcome a substantial part of the grape problem. the problem affecting other fruits remains to be solved.    this new attack against the chilean nation, an attack that destiny has placed in the nation's path of freedom, progress, and well-being, compels us to close ranks behind the government, unified and ready to fight -- with courage and high spirit -- the problem that faces us.    on this occasion the country has seen how the countless threats to boycott the national economy have worked. most of the time such threats have been promoted by certain politicians, labor leaders, or communist labor unions, both at home and abroad. they are the ones who -- driven by personal or ideological interest -- have continually jeopardized the stability of workers, of families, and of those whom they demagogically call their fellow countrymen. they do not care if they cause unemployment, poverty, and hunger to 500,000 fellow citizens who work in this agricultural activity.    how shamelessly they make claims and demands, offering their support and their solidarity when chile is seriously threatened! yet when the danger is over, they change their attitude and again level charges against the government and criticize its actions. in doing that they fail to recall that from its very beginning the chilean nation has been built upon non-negotiable principles because they are the essence of the national soul.    gentlemen: our will is based on our feeling of unity in the face of adversity, whether from the action of nature or from the action of treacherous, disturbed minds that recognize no moral values, fatherland, or law.    chileans: a few days ago i reported on the steps forward in the institutionalization process and on the progress that our country has made in all fields.    the fact that cyanide has been injected into two exported grapes has caused incalculable damage to the economy; it has also brought the shadow of anguish and uncertainty to thousands of homes of fellow countrymen whose jobs and, consequently, their legitimate right to a livelihood have been dramatically jeopardized. it is unfortunate that some officials of importing countries, without weighing the true effects of this type of measure, have restricted the import of chilean fruits, thus provoking fear and distrust on the international consumer market. gentlemen, we must reverse this situation.    we should once again act in a united manner to recover international confidence and our undisputed leadership as exporters. i am sure that we will succeed with a new joint effort. (continued)


Input: dear radio audience: first of all, i want to thank you for allowing me to talk to you tonight about a very important issue for the future of our country.  many times you have heard us mention the word solidarity.  we have always used it as a word that means to think about those who suffer the most, those who have less.  indeed, those are the people we must help, even with our own sacrifice, and many times with a huge sacrifice by all of us.  if love is the bond that unites family members, solidarity should be the great pillar, the cement that unites salvadoran society, so that, united, we may fulfill our desire for peace, tranquility, happiness, and well-being.    however, tonight allow me to give you two examples of what we consider should be the use of the word solidarity and what this word means in matters that are completely different from one another.  a few weeks ago the government was forced, due to an increase in oil prices, to raise the price of oil byproducts such as gasoline, diesel, and all fuels.  in the past, the government subsidized gasoline. perhaps the government did this to make people believe this would have nothing but positive effects.  however, let us analyze for a while the issue of increases in the price of fuel.  when a government has no money for subsidizing, that means the cost of living will go up. there is no doubt that prices will rise when a government spends more than what it has.  however, let us see how this aspect, or rather the principle of solidarity, applies to the increase in fuel prices, especially the price of gasoline.    ten percent of all families in our country own a vehicle.  in general, that 10 percent are those who have the most; in other words, those who have the possibility of buying a car, a vehicle.  if we subsidized gasoline, what we would be doing is taking money out of a government that, for the time being, does not have such funds available.  in order to get such funds, the government would have to impose new taxes which would affect all salvadorans.  therefore, let us think whether or not it is fair that 90 percent of all salvadoran families, who own no vehicles, must pay some kind of tax in order to benefit the other 10 percent who have the resources that allow them to buy a vehicle.    we do not want to appear as demagogic or populist with this example.  what we want to say is that those of us who own a vehicle, who are part of the 10 percent lucky enough to have something and thus can buy a vehicle, must be in solidarity with that 90 percent who have little and many times nothing.  they have no vehicles, and therefore have no reason to suffer so the gasoline we buy becomes cheaper. moreover, to some extent the current price of gasoline makes it possible for the diesel supplied to urban and interurban bus companies to be bought at a price that will allow bus owners to maintain the current bus fares.  this is solidarity, and even more than that. those of us who have something, who own a vehicle, pay something -- through the price of the gasoline we consume -- so that those who own nothing and must use the public transportation buses can do so with no price increase.    the same should be the case for the cost of liquid gas and propane gas, so that the prices of food cooked with gas in the marketplaces are not increased.  this is an example of how those of us who have something can show our solidarity with those who have little or nothing at all.    i would now like to talk about an example of an even deeper kind of solidarity.  i want to talk about peace.  salvadoran brothers, this is the time when we must show our solidarity with those mothers who have lost their sons.  we must show our solidarity with the innocent children who could kick a mine and end up without an arm or a leg.  we must show our solidarity with those who, because of violence, cannot find a job.  that is why this is the time for all of us to make an effort to achieve peace.    last thursday i told you i felt more optimistic after meeting with the political parties and listening to their decision to accept the challenge to work for peace.  they are determined to reach a consensus to fulfill the aspirations of all salvadorans.  we are beginning to sense what the near future of el salvador could be.  we are feeling happy and optimistic.  however, i repeat, this is the time when we should all contribute to peace.    anything that may lead to violence, whether it is street disturbances or bombs, should not be permitted, because it is no longer conceivable for mothers, children, and families to continue to suffer in our country.  the time has come to show our solidarity, to search, not only through words but also through our examples and actions, for the peace that our country and salvadorans deserve.    therefore, our solidarity should be the fundamental tool for our country's reconstruction.  it should be the fundamental tool for the physical and spiritual reconstruction of all salvadorans.  we want all salvadorans, without exception, to support the peace efforts, so that those who suffer so very much from violence will no longer suffer.    this is a fundamental step forward for the freedom and democracy of the salvadoran people.  salvadoran brothers, let us show our solidarity in this crucial time in our history, because we have always known that when all salvadorans act positively like brothers, we can come out ahead.  this is all for tonight.  thank you all very much and may god bless you.


Input: medellin mayor juan gomez martinez once more insisted today on "an immediate dialogue" between the government and the cocaine traffickers "to end the war in which innocent people are being killed."    the mayor reiterated his position when he commented on the attack in which 20 persons were killed and approximately 100 were injured, which was perpetrated yesterday by terrorists on the drug cartel's payroll near itagui municipality.    the blast from the explosion hit a truck full of policemen, who had earlier carried out an anti-mafia operation in a peasant village, as well as several public buses, houses, and businesses.    a police expert said that the car bomb (containing 300 kg of dynamite) was activated by remote control as the elite force patrol passed by.    according to gomez martinez, "these actions will only cease when (president virgilio barco vargas') government puts aside so much prejudice and agrees to the peace talks," proposed by the subversives.    "the dialogue will take place sonner or later, and it is better to start now," insisted the mayor of medellin, a city where the world's most powerful cartel has its base of operations.    the chief of the criminal gang, pablo escobar gaviria, ordered the assassination of medellin policemen in retaliation for the government's action against the drug traffickers.  twenty-eight policemen have been killed in this city over the last two weeks.    according to security organizations, yesterday's attack "could be escobar gaviria's response to the arrest of adolfo mesa meneses," his right-hand man.    mesa meneses was arrested last week by the administrative department of security (das, secret police), and the authorities have accused him of assassinating -- on orders from the mafia leader -- leftist presidential candidate bernardo jaramillo ossa, as well as a chief of police, a mayor, and several journalists.    meanwhile, hundreds of soldiers, policemen, and detectives are carrying out large-scale operations in the colombian countryside and border areas on the suspicion that escobar gaviria plans to flee the country.    last night, a television newscast showed photographs of the "drug lord" that had been "recently" taken by security organizations at a colombian beach on the pacific coast.    a police department spokesman confirmed today that "we have reliable information on his whereabouts," although he refrained from giving further details.  unofficial sources said that escobar gaviria "is somewhere in western antioquia department" -- of which medellin is the capital -- where the search operations are concentrated.    colombian authorities have also asked for the cooperation of brazil, ecuador, panama, peru, and venezuela to stop the drug traffickers from escaping to those countries.

terrorists on the drug cartel's payroll

pablo escobar gaviria

adolfo mesa meneses

truck full of policemen

public buses

houses

businesses

bernardo jaramillo ossa

car bomb

300 kg of dynamite


Input: we have started a new day, the seventh, and the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) is still holding its positions.  we have not retreated a single step. if we make any move, it will be to advance toward the enemy barracks, because we will seize power and expel the military dictatorship that has installed itself in our homeland.  the fmln maintains for the 7th day its positions in the departmental capitals. we continue to advance in san miguel; we have made an important seizure of weapons in san miguel.    the situation could not be better in san salvador.  last night we reported that the arch of liberty exists in the capital; it is comprised of neighborhoods and housing projects -- where the protagonists of this history are the masses, which are organized for the construction of trenches and barricades.  the people are the most important protagonists in this historic action.    radio venceremos urges the people to multiply their organization in each neighborhood, residential area, and town.  popular committees must be organized; the people must organize themselves; but if the enemy is near, this must be done clandestinely.  all the groups in each town, meaning the religious groups, student organizations, teachers organizations, and cooperatives, must all organize, regardless of their political beliefs.  our unity must become the best tool to evict, once and for all, the murderous military dictatorship which assassinates priests and which bombed the capital again early this morning.  it has again caused more deaths and wounded in san salvador.    it is important for the people to organize committees in each neighborhood, residential area, and town, and the whole community must participate. if the armed forces are near, then clandestine organization must be conducted in small towns, villages, and neighborhoods.  the people must organize themselve to conspire against death, to conspire against the assassins, to conspire against poverty, to conspire against hunger, and to conspire against the bombings.  it is necessary to organize the people; it is necessary to organize the entire country.  el salvador must become a body comprised of organized cells -- everywhere and in every possible form -- regardless of the people's religious beliefs or political party.    we issue an appeal to the deceived arena (nationalist republican alliance) rank and file, who voted believing that this government would represent a change for the better.  we also issue an appeal to all the patriotic citizens of the homeland, urging them to stop the destruction of the capital, to stop the destruction of the country. we urge them to unite and stop the war; and the end of the war is near -- with the people's victory.  (continued)


Input: lawyer carlos oldiney reported the gang and federal agents valdemir lopez prazeres and luis jose da conceicao and detectives paulo massanhyo and carlos angel serrano castilesso were arrested.    cambaralamaia's organization is just one of the many gangs in the region that deals with bolivian cocaine.  another gang is led by gerson palermo, of umuarama, parana state, who controls the exchange of cocaine to paraguay for stolen brazilian cars.  palermo owns four twin-engined cessna planes and employs more than 200 men.  he also exchange cars for cocaine in bolivia.  although sentenced by the brazilian courts, palermo lives in pedro juan caballero, paraguay, where he maintains business contacts with the bolivian coca producers. palermo obtains ether and acetone, which are essential for refining the drug, from argentina.    the federal police believes that the drug might be refined in mato grosso do sul, near some residences in the dourados and campo grande sectors.  palermo exchanges the chemicals for tons of cocaine paste which, in the opinion of regional federal police delegate francisco viana queiroz, is also processed in paraguay.  viana queiroz maintains that the drug is refined by a group of traffickers led by arsenio benitez gonzalez, who is known as vilhar and who lives in asuncion. the federal police believe that vilhar -- who is believed to be palermo's partner -- is the brazilian traffickers' main cocaine supplier.    according to the police, two drug routes pass through mato grosso do sul: the ponta pora route (which is used by palermo), and the corumba route, which passes through the bolivian town of puerto suarez.  many traffickers come to this bolivian town, most of them small suppliers who only want to exchange cocaine for cars that were stolen in brazil.  according to the authorities, the corumba route is more important because it channels the so-called "mini-traffic."  this involves hundreds of people who, together, make up a sizable quantity of drugs every day.    the cars are the hard currency used in these transactions.  most of them are taken to bolivia after having been stolen in sao paulo.  they follow the same route as the bolivian cocaine, that is, via puerto suarez.  the most important part of the trafficking, however, is carried out in paraguay and bolivia.  gerson palermo is responsible for part of it, while the rest is shared by hundreds of bolivian traffickers.  palermo obtains ether and acetone from formosa, argentina.  he takes these chemicals aboard small planes to the towns of pilar or encarnacion, in paraguay. from there, another group takes the 200-liter drums along the chaco highway to puerto guarani, in bolivia.  bolivian traffickers take care of the rest of the journey to santa cruz de la sierra.  in return, palermo receives cocaine paste which is shipped to asuncion and, from there, to pedro juan caballero for distribution to the processing units.  it is believed that the traffickers use some ranches near porto murtinho (mato grosso de sul), near the paraguayan town of bahia negra, to process large quantities of cocaine.    no cocaine paste is usually available along the corumba route.  the drug is refined because it is relatively easy to find ether and acetone in corumba, where the federal police have failed to reduce the large demand for such chemicals in retail stores.  dozens of drugstores sell those products by the liter, and this is not forbidden by law.    the authorities estimate that production in the puerto suarez region nears 300 kg per week, which is transported by railroad, air, and land.  in an attempt to evade the federal police, traffickers have tried to transport the drug inside their bodies, in wine demijohns, and even in children's diapers.  these traffickers generally travel by bus or by train. over the past 6 months the police caught dozens of traffickers using these methods.  now, however, only with the complicity of the police can cars carrying bolivian cocaine produced in the puerto suarez region reach campo grande.


Input: mr. president, when one sees peru facing the difficulties it is experiencing now, the same as our own country and latin america in general, one asks himself: would a man, a novelist like mario vargas llosa, be the right man to lead peru?    (garcia) as president of all peruvians -- and of vargas llosa to even if he does not like it -- i cannot pass judgment, either ethically or intellectually, on a politician and peruvian who is contending for the presidency.    (reporter) what are you going to do after you step down from the presidency?    (garcia) well, i am going to be free.    (amat) why do you not come to colombia and i am sure...    (garcia, interrupting) sure, i accept your invitation, and i hope some colombians will extend it.  however, i want to tell you very honestly, that i am perhaps better at selling dreams, ideas, and doctrines than at administering a situation of penury, like the one our countries are experiencing, and most particularly peru, which is one of the poorest countries in latin america.  it is very difficult. for instance, on a day when the price of rice or chicken goes up, the people will not believe you, even if you tell them the greatest of truths.  one can be preaching something very important, but if it failed to rain and the city had no water no one will believe of you the greatest of all truths.  then, when one stops being president and administering penury, one can devote oneself to convincing people, to educating.  that is what i should do.    (amat) now, why did you make that aside, making me president of all peruvians, even of vargas llosa?  whether he likes or not it hurts him.    (garcia) because i am sure that some people would not like to have me as president.  (laughter)    (amat) even him, for instance?    (garcia) i did not say so.  i do not know.  i never fall to the level of defining people or pointing out last names.  i make an outline or define them in the negative.    (amat) mr. president, (words indistinct) this dialogue (words indistinct) for your generosity and kindness.  addressing our people and our country, (words indistinct), how were things today at the summit?    (garcia) very well.  colombians, who have seen their institution threatened, their press abused, and many politicians also threatened, must have confidence that latin america, together with the united states, will confront the problem of drug trafficking.  this is not only a problem for colombia.  it is our problem too, and we will tackle it.  the day a newspaper was blown up in bogota i came to bogota because i felt that freedom of the press was threatened on the continent.  after all, we are latin americans.  let colombians have confidence.

newspaper


Input: the chief of the armed forces joint chiefs of staff (colonel rene emilio ponce) has categorically denied that there are any rifts between salvadoran army officers and u.s. military advisers, as asserted by the washington post.  the newspaper stated that the alleged rift between the military officers began once it was discovered who was responsible for the death of six jesuit priests, in which one colonel, two lieutenants, and six soldiers are being charged.    colonel ponce said that the relations with u.s. advisers -- about 52 in the country -- are very cordial.    (begin recording) (ponce) our relations with the north americans are normal as usual.  the u.s. advisers have helped us very much in the professionalization of the armed forces, and they continue working with us.    (reporter) where do you think these wire reports stating there are rifts between salvadoran military officers and u.s.  advisers have orginiated?    (ponce) i do not know; i cannot understand.  there are always those who try to break the strategic alliance between the salvadoran government and armed forces and the united states.  this is a poor country that depends a great deal on u.s. economic and military aid.    (reporter) following the murder of the jesuits, what are relations like between the salvadoran military and the gringo advisers?    (ponce) as usual, these relations are very cordial, and they continue to work with us.  as you can see, two advisers are here with me now at the table presiding over the event.  the same has been the case with all the units in the country's interior.  i fail to see any difference in relations before and afterward. (end recording)    the military chief repeated the need to maintain the state of emergency, not only due to the guerrilla attacks, but also to keep control over the organization fronts just prior to an expected wave of protests on the latest government economy measures.    (begin recording) (ponce) we must start thinking what may happen to domestic order in the face of the economic measures that have been issued or are planned.  we must think what the reaction of the people or the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) organization fronts will be, as they always use any excuse to disrupt domestic order.  it would be good to look into what is needed to maintain domestic order in the country. (end recording)    the high-ranking military officer gave these statements at the ceremony to turn over command of the captain general gerardo barrios military academy.  the new commander is colonel ricardo alfonso casanova sandoval, who replaces colonel guillermo alfredo benavides moreno, removed from his post after being accused of ordering the murder of the jesuit priests.    meanwhile, colonel hector heriberto hernandez has been appointed commander of the 6th infantry brigade based in usulutan, and in la union department the change of command ceremonies of the armed forces military training center have taken place, where colonel francisco arturo lopez will be in command replacing colonel carlos alfredo rivas, who has been transferred to the joint chiefs of staff.

two lieutenants

six soldiers

colonel guillermo alfredo benavides moreno

salvadoran army


Input: the supreme court today ordered the appointement of a special judge to investigate the murder of jecar neghme, spokesman of the mir (movement of the revolutionary left).    in response to this order, the santiago appellate court has appointed judge carlos meneses pizarro to investigate the crime and to send all information from the fourth criminal court of santiago. the supreme court ordered the investigation as a result of the public alarm over the murder of jecar neghme on a street in santiago.

jecar neghme


Input: this afternoon, on the bermeja river, sucumbios province, in northeastern ecuador, at approximately one and a half km from the colombian border, a small ecuadoran flagship working with the imanco mining company, was intercepted by a colombian vessel which fired automatic weapons.    the following people were aboard the ecuadoran flagship: u.s. citizen scott heyndal, ecuadoreans luis antonio meneses benavides and edwin rodrigo teneda parreno, and colombian pilot julio torres.  mr. torres was killed and mr. meneses was wounded.    the attackers, who wore field uniforms of the colombian military, boarded the ecuadoran vessel, and, after noticing that mr. meneses was wounded, gave him 100,000 colombian pesos and then left him and mr. torres' body.  the attackers returned to colombia taking heyndal and teneda with them.  they crossed the border and sailed upriver for about two and a half hours on the rumiyacu river.    the attackers spent the evening at a camp near the river and forced mr. heyndal to write letters to his boss at the mining project, mr. jeff sino, also a u.s. citizen, and to his wife.  those letters were given to mr. teneda, who received 20,000 colombian pesos. he was then ordered to return to ecuador and given instructions for delivering the letters.

attackers, who wore field uniforms of the colombian military

colombian military

small ecuadoran flagship working with the imanco mining company

scott heyndal

luis antonio meneses benavides

edwin rodrigo teneda parreno

julio torres

automatic weapons


Input: fighting raged all day long in the area around san teresa hospital, in zacateluca, la paz department. a report says that a dmifa armed forces engineers' military detachment unit was at santa teresa hospital, and that the entire unit was wiped out.  the soldiers had a communications relay station in the building. as a result of the attack, there were 20 casualties. among the casualties is a lieutenant who was the unit chief, and two sergeants. the communications equipment was totally destroyed.    the situation is not as the fascist cristiani reported it to be.  he said there was only one soldier at the hospital receiving medical treatment. that is totally false. the building housed a garrison not a hospital, because a dmifa unit and a communications relay center were there. it was a garrison.    we are going to correct our report on the results of the attack on the dmifa unit: 20 soldiers were killed and 10 were wounded.  in all, there were 30 casualties, including two sergeants and the unit chief. we repeat: in an impressive attack on a military position at santa teresa hospital--the building was no longer a hospital but an army communications center--our figthters annihilated and destroyed that position. the army sustained 20 killed and 10 wounded. the communications relay station was totally destroyed.


Input: today, medellin, colombia's second largest city, once again experienced a terrorist escalation when seven bank branch offices were shaken by explosives that caused heavy damage but no fatalities, according to radio reports broadcast in bogota (500 km to the south).    the targets of the attacks were the banco cafetero branches and its offices in medellin's middle, western, and southeastern areas.    according to preliminary reports, over 55 kg of dynamite were used in the attacks.  the radio report added that the police defused another 20 kg of explosives that had slow burning fuses.    the medellin cartel operates in this city located in colombia's northeastern area.  for several days now, the city has been shaken by army and police operations in an unprecedented action to capture drug lords.    no one has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks, which lasted for 1 hour.

terrorist

medellin cartel

banco cafetero branches and its offices

over 55 kg of dynamite


Input: although it organically depends on the executive branch, the commission is an official justice organization and the judge can instruct it or request that it investigate x, y, or z, in addition to what it submitted when the case was passed over to the judge.    (moderator) pablo guillermo (words indistinct).    (reporter) mr. president, the newspaper la jornada of mexico stated yesterday that colonel orlando zepeda had left the country this weekend with all his family and with a considerable amount of luggage, which would indicate that he did not go on a mere vacation.  i would like to know the official version of this. (laughter)    (cristiani) you say he left when?    (reporter) yesterday.    (cristiani) well, only if he left very hurriedly after midday.  i was with him here yesterday discussing other things, as well as military matters with the defense minister and deputy ministers.  he was present.  unless he may have left.  i doubt it very much, because i had a meeting with them to see the order of the month on saturday and he was present.  pardon me, that was tuesday when we had the order for the end of the month.  i understand he was present at the commanders meeting.  if he left last weekend, it must have been for the weekend and he returned on monday.    (moderator) maria cortina, notimex.    (reporter) mr. president, in what way would a cut in military aid affect the peace process?    (cristiani) we are currently seeing opposite signs from the fmln in terms of wanting to truly put an end to violence.  a sign of this was the night of 1 may when the attacks were carried out.  this would indicate that, although not all the fmln command, that is the five groups, some groups seem to resist a political solution and favor a military solution, as they have insisted on pursuing for 10 years. those groups could view a cut in military aid as a sign of weakening of the government and the armed forces, and that consequently they would have a better chance of being successful following the military path.  that could increase the potential of a military solution in the minds of some.  this could reduce the potential of seriously considering a political solution to the conflict.    (moderator) raul monge, cadena radio centro.    (reporter) mr. president, how do you view the guerrillas' morale at this moment?    (cristiani) well, i obviously cannot but believe that the morale of the guerrillas after the offensive must have dropped considerbly. this is especially so since there was a large sacrifice on their part in the form of casualties and the fact that the offensive did not represent a success, despite their claim that it was only a show of force, which is a lot of malarkey.  all the prior documents indicated that this was a large-scale operation to the hilt seeking to overthrow the government and to crown a military victory.  what i believe was of even greater impact was that they realized that the people of el salvador do not support them and do not support the path of violence. in that sense, their hopes of a popular insurrection were shattered. on the contrary, the people did not support the fmln and instead turned their backs on them and showed that they do not support violence.  this must have caused an impact on the fmln and its members.  i recently read in a venezuelan newspaper statements by a commander, whose pseudonym is gustavo, who said that they were tired of following the path of violence and that a solution had to be found. this demonstrates that some of their ranks are getting tired of the military path.  these are indications of what could be.  what i want to clear up once and for all is that we do not react to whether or not the fmln feels strong or feels weak.  we know that 100 terrorists in a country can cause destruction and death and that is what we are trying to avoid, although 100 terrorists are not a force that will destabilize a government.  however, the damage that they cause is such that we do not want it to continue.  (continued)


Input: colombian president virgilio barco vargas cut short his stay in japan and left for home friday morning following a truck-bomb explosion in the colombian capital of bogota on wednesday.    barco, the first head of state of colombia to visit japan, was initially scheduled to depart from tokyo friday evening, ending his four-day official visit.    a truck rigged with dynamite exploded wednesday morning outside a federal police building in downtown bogota, killing at least 23 people and injuring 1,000, according to reports from colombia.    during his-four day stay in japan, barco met prime minister toshiki kaifu and had an audience with emperor akihito.    kaifu and barco agreed that the whole world must fight against the drug problem and kaifu expressed his support for barco in dealing with the issue.

federal police building

truck rigged with dynamite

dynamite


Input: we are receiving a report right now on the situation in san salvador.  the report says that san salvador neighborhoods and residential areas are still under the control of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).  armed forces official sources have admitted that some areas of san salvador are controlled by the fmln.  the report adds that as of 2140 on 12 november, there was still tension in the city.    some sporadic shooting was still heard, and the situation in various parts of the capital city indicated that our comrades are maintaining their positions, they are carrying out military engineering tasks, opening trenches, and setting up barricades with the cooperation of the san salvador people.    press agency reports note that there is great tension in the capital city, and apparently they are expecting (changes thought) here is a news agency report which says that early this morning, less shooting was heard because apparently each side had consolidated their position.  that is what some press agencies are reporting.    we have also observed that the armed forces have admitted that some areas in the capital city are controlled by the fmln.  there are many vehicles scattered all over the streets of san salvador.  that is the report we have received from san salvador, where our fighters in zacamil and other neighborhoods and residential areas in the capital city are now receiving the support of the people who are fortifying themselves in neighborhoods.    we call on the san salvadoran youths to go out tonight to cooperate with the fmln fighters.  make the assassins of msgr romero pay dearly for every step they take against the people in the neighborhoods in san salvador city.  it has been 24, 25, nearly 26 hours since the fmln fighters established their positions in san salvador in view of the regime's incompetence.  the regime has clearly said that it is incapable of controlling the situation, as it has had to decree a state of siege that began on the evening of 12 november in san salvador.    another evidence of the government's weakness is the gag placed on the media.  the government has not allowed the media to broadcast its newscasts.  why doesn't the government want the people to listen to newscasts in el salvador?  what is the cristiani regime hiding?  this is a question that the people are asking; they want to know the answer.  the government is afraid, it does not want to inform the people about the developments or the scope of the actions carried out by the fmln throughout the national territory.    comrade fighters: we have already told you; this is in the bag. your courage and determination to win has made it possible to carry out the fmln plan as our communique issued by the general command has said.    comrades: keep it up, keep an open eye, keep up the high morale as you have done up to now, seek contact with the people, receive their cooperation in the fortifications that are being made throughout san salvador.  let's go to the top and that's it.

assassins

armed forces

romero


Input: president alfredo cristiani said today that despite the farabundo marti national liberation front's (fmln) terrorist attacks against salvadorans, his government is willing to hold talks with the rebels. he said that his administration is continuing its efforts to form a commission for a dialogue with the rebels and that he is now awaiting word from two people whom he has chosen to serve on the commission. the catholic church will not be represented on the commission because the commission is completely political in nature.  president cristiani condemned the murder of national fire department director colonel roberto armando rivera escobar, who was killed in a machinegun attack this morning.  president cristiani attributed rivera's murder to the fmln:    (begin recording) (cristiani) it is clear that the fmln does not want peace but instead wants to continue the violence.  the fmln committed this crime.  i believe that a treacherous crime such as this one cannot be called anything but a cowardly act.  we will, of course, investigate the crime.  i repeat, however, that all the evidence we have gathered on the fmln's plans indicate that it was responsible for this action.    (reporter) (words indistinct) what are you doing to prepare the commission that is to hold talks (words indistinct)?    (cristiani) the terrorists will not of course be successful with actions of this kind and will not provoke us into violent action. they should understand by now that the government is searching for peace and wants to achieve peace within el salvador's legal framework and by applying the law.  the fmln rebels should understand that their terrorist actions will not lead us to take rash actions; it is useless for them to continue to act in this way.    we are continuing our work on setting up the commission.  today we will speak with two people who have still not told us if they will accept my invitation to be commission members.  the names of the commission members will be released to the public once the commission is fully formed.    (reporter) (words indistinct) the catholic church's role in this commission?    (cristiani) (words indistinct) the catholic church will not be represented in this commission because it is a political commission and not one in which the church can effectively participate.  the church has always worked for peace and has made all possible efforts to find peace for the country the church will continue to work toward this goal.  however, i believe that the church has a different role to play in the search for peace, and that role is not serving on the political commission.    (reporter) what would you say is the biggest obstacle you have encountered in the month that you have served as president?    (cristiani) i believe that the biggest obstacle has been our inability to launch our government program, which is due to the state of affairs existing in the former administration when we took over. we have repeatedly observed this state of affairs in the majority of government (word indistinct).  throughout government offices, disorder was rampant, and, in many cases, we have observed that government offices were managed irresponsibly.  moreover, the nation's public finances have greatly deteriorated.  we have inherited a country in very bad financial shape, and, i believe, this has delayed the launching of our government program. (end recording)    cristiani, referring to costa rican president oscar arias' offer to hold a dialogue with the rebels in costa rican territory, said that the offer was a great contribution toward convincing the fmln to stop murdering defenseless citizens.

farabundo marti national liberation front

roberto armando rivera escobar

machinegun


Input: today rescue teams, army troops, and police had the sorry task of recovering 107 disfigured bodies of the victims of avianca's boeing 727 that exploded in midair in a sparsely populated region near bogota. according to official spokesmen, the task is more difficult because the bodies were scattered over a radius of 8 km.  the plane departed bogota toward cali, at 1213 gmt, but two powerful explosion brought it down after only 5 minutes in the air.  bomb-squad experts, in coordination with three criminal investigators, have started to examine the site to investigate the accident and determine whether the tragedy was caused by a mechanical failure, or if it was a terrorist action.  the bogota caracol network received an anonymous call from the extraditables -- colombian drug kingpins wanted by several u.s. federal courts -- who said they were responsible for the action. another network reports that the man who called the caracol network news office said he belonged to the extraditables and that the action was carried out because there were five informers on the plane.  the police have reported that they are investigating the explosions that caused the plane to crash shortly after it left the bogota el dorado airport to go to cali.

colombian drug kingpins

man who called the caracol network news office

the extraditables

avianca's boeing 727 that exploded in midair in a sparsely populated region near bogota


Input: heavy fighting broke out in the northern part of san salvador tonight at about 2115 (0315 gmt), and as of now it is still going on.    san salvador is being shaken by strong detonations of heavy weapons and intense rifle and machinegun fire, while helicopters are flying over the area where the fighting is taking place.    the fighting seems to be centered in the surrounding neighborhoods of ayutuxtepeque, colonia escandia, san ramon, and cuscatancingo, where the rebels reportedly blew up several electricity poles with dynamite, causing power outages in various sectors of the capital city.    a military source said that troops from the 1st infantry brigade have been dispatched to the areas where the clashes are taking place.

rebels

electricity poles

dynamite


Input: out of the ten candidates running for the colombian presidency, the four who have the best chances of winning have inserted in their government platforms solutions to the crisis of violence that has taken hold of the country, caused mainly by the narcotrafficking mafias and the guerrilla groups.    for liberal cesar gaviria trujillo, "nonviolent solutions" must be found through a conditioned dialogue with the guerrillas and by strengthening justice to confront the narcotraffickers "because extradition cannot be the only path to fight this crime."    gaviria, 43, who according to the polls is the favorite to succeed virgilio barco as president after the 27 may elections, has made the problems of the guerrillas and drug mafias the two main issues in his government platform.    regarding the armed rebels, he insists that nonviolent solutions must be found and promises to "take into consideration" the merits of what has been tested up to now.    "the dialogue with the armed rebels is a concession that has been made to them, and for this reason society has every right to establish conditions," gaviria stated.  "thus," he added, "the dialogue will prevent the guerrillas from having a political protagonist role and will avert the justification of violence."    social conservative rodrigo lloreda caicedo, 47, insists that "the surrender of the mafia lords must be achieved" and that this "should include penalties for the crimes committed, economic compensation, and the certainty that colombia will not continue to lend itself to produce and export drugs."    lloreda caicedo is opposed to the extradition of drug traffickers to the united states, and he offers to "strengthen justice" and to change procedures so as to surround judges with guarantees, all within the framework of a constitutional reform through a plebiscite to convoke a national constituent assembly.    for the armed rebels, he offers "a 12-month term for them to rejoin civilian life" and the drafting of "mechanisms" for their disbanding, such as the "national circumscription" that will facilitate their participation in the country's democratic and political life.    lloreda caicedo, foreign minister during belisario betancur's administration and one of the proponents of the contadora group to attain peace in central america, said that an effort must be made to "recover the monopoly of the public force and consolidate its sovereign presence."    alvaro gomez hurtado, 71, a "dissident" conservative, maintains that without the strengthening of morals and the law -- "the root of our ills" -- coexistence and progress will not be possible.  he pledges to rescue those two values.    gomez hurtado presented to colombian voters a five-point "agreement on basic issues," including law and morals, justice, economic planning, and ecology, as his government platform if he is elected president on 27 may.    antonio navarro wolff, the m-19 (19 april movement) presidential candidate, who replaced the assassinated carlos pizarro, believes that social and economic equilibrium are "basic" to reaching peace.    navarro wolff, 41, has reiterated that he does not agree with the extradition of drug traffickers, and he also condemned the chain of attacks perpetrated by drug terrorists in the country over the past few months.    regarding the drug traffickers, however, he said that they require "more serious treatment."  therefore, it is better to have "a poor dialogue rather than a good war," and if that dialogue produces good results "we must hold on to it," he said.    the four candidates agree on reforming the congress of the republic and the constitution by convoking a national constituent assembly. they also share opinions on the country's economic opening toward international markets, access to foreign investment, and promotion of an "agro-industrial revolution" which will guarantee a reduction or stabilization of the rate of inflation.

narcotrafficking mafias

guerrilla groups

carlos pizarro


Input: msgr arturo rivera y damas, archbishop of san salvador, today announced that he has again received death threats through his secretaries and the archbishopric's cooks, "but i feel at peace and that i am in god's hands," the pastor said.    rivera y damas admitted, nevertheless, that generalized persecution of the church has diminished, although it has not disappeared, and added that over the past 10 years many priests have been killed, including an archbishop, "but the blood of martyrs is the seed of christians," he said.    rivera y damas pointed out that he has received many complaints concerning the church's position on the jesuits' murder, but today "it is known that the archbishopric was right to point out where it believed the murderers were.  this position was confirmed by president alfredo cristiani, who, by fulfilling his promise to get to the very bottom of the case through investigations, has become worthy of worldwide recognition."    in another part of his homily rivera y damas said today that "to be bishop of a people who have suffered the scourge of a fratricidal war for the past 10 years implies having very deeply rooted mercy for human pain, which must take precedence over any political, economic, or ideological considerations, and is an irrevocable pledge."    the archbishop said that among the most important eclessiastical events of the week in san salvador were the salvadoran episcopal conference, which concluded with a call for peace, and the consignment to courts of justice of the soldiers accused of murdering the jesuit priests.    there was special interest in the meeting, especially because it was known that a letter had been sent to the bishops by the farabundo marti national liberation front, fmln, requesting the church's mediation and its efforts to resume a dialogue.  "i believe," msgr rivera y damas said, "that the meetings of president alfredo cristiani and the fmln with the un secretary general are important."    to conclude, rivera y damas reiterated that "we must end this war through dialogue and rational means before the war finishes us all."

soldiers

arturo rivera y damas


Input: commander, what can the popular movement, the labor unions, and the humanitarian organizations do in the face of a government and a military leadership that carry out this type of attack, this type of massacre, in a legal framework that offers no guarantee to the popular movement?  what can the popular movement do?    (gonzalez) i believe that the cristiani government is closing all the roads to a peaceful solution of this conflict.  through repression it is closing off the possibility of labor unions and associations resolving their problems peacefully.  the government is closing off the possibility of negotiations.  the army and the cristiani government are opposed to true negotiations.  the people have no alternative.  in el salvador there is a latent path, the path of armed actions.  at this moment, as this government increases repression, armed actions become increasingly legitimate, armed actions to find solutions to the conflict, armed actions to stop the repression by the regime.    the workers and their associations and labor unions are entitled to defend themselves and their labor benefits.  defense is legitimate. it is legitimate for the workers to decide to defend themselves the armed way, through violence.  it is the cristiani government, ponce, and the high command who are leaving the workers no alternative.    (reporter) to conclude, commander: in recent hours there have been attacks in the capital, including bomb attacks on the residences of democratic leaders such as ruben zamora and aronete diaz, an attack on the residence of colonel carranza, and an attack on a relative of colonel lopez huila, among others.  the armed forces and the government have publicly said that the fmln is responsible for these attacks.    (gonzalez) our armed actions are highly just and have political motivations.  our objectives are strictly military.  all our guerrilla units function according to this principle, be it in the rural areas or in the cities where our urban commandos operate.    the attack on the armed forces staff installations and other operations against military targets are our responsibility.  the fmln's policy is not to attack relatives of military men or politicians.  the high command has been trying to confuse the people here and abroad.  what is its objective?  to cover up its repressive policy.  it is escalating its actions.  it has gone from the selective capture and murder of leaders to mass arrests, and from mass arrests it has moved into genocide and indiscriminate attacks.    it is clear that its objective is the social organizations.  the government said it in san jose.  it is evident that the high command is trying to create confusion, but the people abroad and we know that our actions are aimed at military objectives.

fmln

residences of democratic leaders such as ruben zamora and aronete diaz

bomb


Input: the guatemalan guerrilla movement today announced that it will make the government of president vinicio cerezo and the guatemalan army "pay dearly" for having "intervened" in the salvadoran conflict.    a communique by the guatemalan national revolutionary unity (urng), released in costa rica, stressed that 126 elite troops of the guatemalan army, known as kaibiles, are collaborating with salvadoran soldiers to put an end to the offensive by guerrillas of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).    the urng charge, also presented by the fmln, has been categorically and repeatedly denied by guatemalan government spokeswoman claudia arenas.    the rebel communique stated: "we vigorously condemn the intervention of the guatemalan army against the glorious salvadoran people.  we will make the guatemalan army and government pay dearly for this aggression."    the note was released shortly after salvadoran president alfredo cristiani announced the victory of his country's army over the fmln, following fierce fighting that left approximately 1,000 dead and more than 1,500 wounded in the past 7 days.    in addition, the guatemalan guerrillas expressed solidarity "with the community of jesuit priests" and their sorrow because of the killing of six of their members, including central american university rector ignacio ellacuria and two women, carried out by uniformed men in san salvador on 16 november.    the urng declaration is signed by commanders rolando moran, gaspar ilom, and pablo monsanto.

uniformed men

ignacio ellacuria


Input: the extraditables, the armed branch of the medellin cartel, denied today in a telephone call to a radio station by an alleged member, any responsibility for the death of carlos pizarro, political leader and former guerrilla commander.    the caller identified himself as john jairo arias tascon.  he called the caracol network in medellin to denounce that the charges against the medellin cartel are part of a plan to blame them for all violent actions in the country.    the authors of the assassination are sectors who seek to destabilize the country, arias tascon added.    pizarro, former leader of the 19 april movement (m-19), the guerrilla group that laid down its weapons on 9 march, was killed by the impact of three bullets fired at him aboard a colombian avianca flight that was en route to the city of barranquilla along the country's atlantic coast.    after the crime, at 1100 (1600 gmt), an individual who identified himself as sapatoca called caracol to report that the killing had been ordered by fidel castano and henry perez, heads of the extreme rightist paramilitary militias.    sapatoca added that castano and perez perpetrated the crime following orders from the extraditables.    castano was connected to the death of bernardo jaramillo, also a presidential candidate, for the leftist patriotic union (up), on 22 march, although at that time it was reported that castano headed a paramilitary organization that did not implicate the extraditables.    on that occasion pablo escobar, leader of the extraditables and the medellin cartel, denied that the drug traffickers had killed jaramillo.    a confidential report drafted recently by the administrative department of security (das, colombian secret police), said that some army and police members cooperate with castano's criminal organization.    navarro wolff, number two leader of m-19, told newsmen today after pizarro was killed that his burial must be attended by all the country, because we must repudiate crime such as this.    navarro wolff said that pizarro's death shows that the country is in turmoil and that it will be very difficult to rebuild the country. there is no space except for pain and for ire, he added.    the burial of carlos must be peaceful, as was m-19's example of peace given to the country, he added.    it is hard to explain how things such as this occur when the m-19 and carlos pizarro were setting an example of prudence, tolerance, and understanding, navarro said.    pizarro, a former guerrilla commander who led his armed group toward demobilization after 17 months of political negotiations with the government of virgilio barco, told newsmen before boarding the aircraft: we are doing well. this was a reference to the m-19 electoral campaign.    pizarro stated in his last public statement: i am certain that we will know how to wage opposition.  we will engage in a very pretty democratic play with regard to the next government.  we will participate in building new colombian democracy.    the m-19 participated for the first time in the 11 march elections, becoming the third political force in bogota.    nothing has been said yet concerning the burial of pizarro, who was born 39 years ago in cartagena de indias and who leaves three orphan daughters, aged 12, 9, and 4.

the extraditables

sectors who seek to destabilize the country

fidel castano

henry perez, heads of the extreme rightist paramilitary militias

some army

police members

the extraditables

police

army

carlos pizarro

bernardo jaramillo


Input: colonel, what specific measures have been taken against the missiles?    (ponce) i believe that specific measures we have adopted have given us good results.  they have launched four sa-7's in the zacatecoluca area; however, our pilots have skillfully avoided the rockets or missiles, which did not hit their aircraft.  we are adopting measures that are giving results.  we must also clarify that we feel that since the light aircraft transporting these missiles did not have a normal landing and the missiles were not in their original package, it is possible that they suffered some functional damage when the plane crashed south of zacatecoluca.  thank god, (words indistinct)    (reporter) do you think that the summit of central american presidents can open new possibilities for resuming talks with the fmln?  do you think that this summit could bring about new steps toward a dialogue?    (ponce) yes, i think that the salvadoran government since the beginning of the year has opened this possibility and is willing to talk on a permanent basis.  i think that at this time it would be a positive step in the political field.    however, in the military field, where the fmln has attacked us in an irrational and violent way in the main cities, the armed forces is replying, and we will continue to reply.  we will completely defeat the fmln.    based on the information we have received from our units, we have inflicted 1,902 dead, 1,209 wounded, and 44 terrorists have deserted and turned themselves in to the authorities.  we have confiscated a large number of weapons.  i will give you the quantities: 25 antiaircraft missiles -- one red eye and 24 sa-7's -- 915 rifles, 12 carbines, 11 shotguns, 156 grenade and rocket launchers, 49 mortars, 45 machineguns, 41 submachineguns, 67 revolvers and pistols, 23 radios, and a large amount of explosives.    i must stress that the fmln has gathered all these weapons with suppport from abroad.  it is a large arsenal.    i must also note that many of the weapons we found had been abandoned, which means that the fmln has had many desertions.  we have also found weapons in houses, thanks to the collaboration of the civilian population.    we have also learned that the fmln has kidnapped a large number of youths here in the san salvador area and mainly in usulutan, as well as in chalatenango.  this means that they are trying to fill in the number of casualties they have suffered with youths.  this also means that their efficiency will be very low.    (reporter) i do not know if you have seen over the past few days a leaflet issued by the air force, which was dropped from airplanes and also distributed on the streets.  the leaflet urges salvadoran patriots to defend their homeland, their properties, and lives.  it also says that if necessary, terrorists must be killed, as well as their internationalist allies.  what is your opinion of this leaflet? is it not an invitation to kill foreigners in this country?    (ponce) i do not think so, because the leaflets mention internationalists, who are fighting along with the fmln.  (continued)

fmln


Input: in connection with the bomb attack on the central american university (uca) at daybreak on 22 july, the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) states the following:    1.  this act is part of the policy of terror that the nationalist republican alliance (arena) government has implemented in an attempt to discourage all types of opposition to the antipopular and antidemocratic measures the government is taking.  within this framework, we have: the siege on the national university, threats against teachers and political organizations, and increasing repression against the peoples' movement.    2.  the attack is clearly intended to cause unrest among the participants of the international peace and solidarity conference of sister trade unions that began today at the uca.    3.  we, therefore, hold alfredo cristiani's government and the armed foces high command responsible for this new terrorist attack.    4.  we strongly condemn the attack on the uca and call upon all interested parties to join forces to confront arena's terrorist policies.

alfredo cristiani's government

armed foces high command

central american university

bomb


Input: through these means, the armed forces hereby notifies the salvadoran people, specifically those living in the escalon residential area of san salvador, that they should not heed rumors circulating to the effect that the escalon residential area will be bombed.  this is false.  any actions against international terrorism will be announced in due time.  the residents of escalon should rest assured and not leave their homes.


Input: two subversives were killed and a policeman was seriously wounded in a shoot-out early this morning near the san carlos service station in canto grande.  the shoot-out occurred when a police patrol intercepted four suspects in the area of the service station.  policeman jose felix aguirre was seriously wounded by a bullet in the chest and another in the arm.  he was taken to the police hospital.    two of the wounded subversives died later at the rimac hospital where they were taken by the members of the national police.  the other subversives escaped.  police sources stated that the subversives were planning to blow up the service station because a blueprint of the station was found in their possession.  it should be pointed out that the subversives used firearms with silencers.


Input: salvadoran guerrillas today stated that civilians and soldiers were killed on saturday during an armed clash between the honduran and salvadoran armies.    through a communique, the guerrillas emphasized the armed clash took place after honduran army troops attacked in the hamlet of san andres, san miguel department, in northern el salvador.    members of the counterinsurgency arce battalion, who were conducting an operation near the honduran border, responded, supported by two air force helicopters.    the report by the rebels, broadcast from san salvador by tegucigalpa radio america, added that an unnamed arce battalion officer was killed in the clash.    the honduran troops then retreated to los llanitos, intibuca department, in honduras, where four salvadoran helicopters landed, according to the fmln.    the report added that as a honduran helicopter evacuated the wounded, it was attacked and pursued 7 km inside honduran territory by a salvadoran aircraft firing rockets and machineguns.    the honduran soldiers were surrounded in los llanitos and taken prisoner.    the fmln stated that several homes were damaged and that animals were killed in the surrounding hamlets and villages.    the salvadoran guerrilla noted that it had previously warned that the involvement of the honduran army "due to u.s. dispositions" in the el salvador war, would result in clashes among the armies of central american countries.    the fmln report states that "it is no secret that the oligarchs who (will ) reach power through the nationalist republican alliance (arena) government are the same people involved in the 1969 invasion of honduras."    the officers, who at that time "were directly responsible for killings, pillaging, and outrages against the honduran people, are today members of the salvadoran armed forces leadership," the communique adds.    according to the fmln, saturday's clash "will set the tone that defines the border conflict for a government of oligarchs that has always had an expansionist attitude toward honduras."    (the communique) also requests that the honduran armed forces not get involved in a war foreign to them.    the honduran military has neither denied nor confirmed the salvadoran guerrillas reports, and an army spokesman has stated that investigations are being conducted.    the honduran armed forces, have on several occasions, reported that the guerrillas have "hideouts" in salvadoran refugee camps, and continuously enter honduran territory to rest or for resupply of weapons and ammunition.

honduran army troops

members of the counterinsurgency arce battalion

salvadoran armies

honduran military

air force

helicopter

homes

animals

rockets

machineguns


Input: defense minister general oscar botero restrepo disclosed this afternoon that medellin cartel boss pablo escobar gaviria ordered the assassination of bernardo jaramillo ossa, presidential candidate of patriotic union, up.    botero said that initial investigations have revealed that escobar gaviria planned and ordered the attack on jaramillo ossa.  gen. botero told reporters that the medellin cartel contracted the services of an organization of hired assassins and sent them to bogota to assassinate the up leader.    he added that escobar gaviria ordered the delivery of an initial sum of 300,000 pesos to a third person after the crime was committed at el dorado airport's pedestrian overpass in bogota.    the defense minister said that minutes after the killing the das (administrative department of security) intelligence service intercepted an escobar gaviria conversation in medellin.  he was ordering his accomplices to pay 300,000 pesos to a third person linked to the paid assassin who killed the up leader.    botero also disclosed that the assassin is a 16-year-old youth who carried a false identification card under the name of jairo alberto restrepo posada.    meanwhile, anonymous calls were received by various bogota media today.  the callers were attributing the attack on up leader jaramillo ossa to a so-called gonzalo rodriguez gacha commando group. in these calls, it was said that the medellin cartel decided to resume the war because for five months it offered to negotiate with the virgilio barco vargas government, and the only response it received was to urge cartel members to turn themselves in to justice.    in addition, threats were made against other colombian political figures such as liberal party candidate cesar gaviria trujillo. the callers said that the extraditables released kidnapped people, delivered laboratories, and large quantities of dynamite as proof of their intention to talk, but they never received a reply from the government.    the callers said: we are going to turn ourselves in, but we will be dead when we do so.  however, before this happens, they said, the country will see the bodies of its leaders, just as in the case of jaramillo ossa.

medellin cartel boss pablo escobar gaviria

organization of hired assassins

third person linked to the paid assassin who killed the up leader

16-year-old youth who carried a false identification card under the name of jairo alberto restrepo posada

callers

so-called gonzalo rodriguez gacha commando group

medellin cartel

the extraditables

bernardo jaramillo ossa

cesar gaviria trujillo