Input: francisco merino, vice president of the republic and interior minister, has strongly condemned the murder of former supreme court president francisco jose guerrero.  merino described the culprits as murderous beasts.    the vice president went to the medical-surgical hospital of the salvadoran institute of social security, to which dr guerrero was taken after the attack.  guerrero, who was an adviser to the governmental commission for support to the dialogue (comision de apoyo gubernamental de dialogo), was shot to death by terrorists at the intersection of boulevard de los heroes and alameda juan pablo ii.    (begin recording) (merino) what they are showing is that they are bent on carrying out totally destructive actions to lower the confidence of the population and to provoke general panic.  i think that although as a government we have always maintained a conciliatory position to attain peace in el salvador, we must also make a firmer decision to take stronger action.  the people who commit these wanton actions are deranged people.  they do not understand words.  they do not understand that they must respect a legal system, or a democratic process or one of humanization.  they are simply beasts and murderers and must be treated as such.  (end recording)    merino said the murderers must be punished with the full weight of the laws, and that one of the terrorists who was wounded and captured at the site of the crime is under interrogation.    (begin recording) (merino) one of the criminals was wounded.  this will obviously enable us to obtain some clues as to the identity of the actual killers and of the masterminds of this new murder, which has shocked salvadoran society.    as in previous cases, we are conducting investigations in this case.  however, i repeat that the time has come for us to take a firmer stand, to do our utmost, and to realize that if nothing has happened to us thus far, it does not mean we will not fall victim to these murderers.  it is better to take precautions now than to have regrets later.  (end recording)    merino said that this campaign of violence promoted by the terrorist hordes has not ended.  clear evidence of this is this brutal and cowardly murder, which has again filled the suffering salvadoran people with sorrow.

terrorists

francisco jose guerrero


Input: five guatemalan university leaders threatened with death have sought refuge in panama, costa rica, and mexico, while un human rights observer peter kooijmans is in guatemala conducting an investigation on the increasing violence in this central american country.    according to members of the university student association (aeu) of san carlos de guatemala university, the students leaders decided to leave the country because of the continuous threats of death and persecution and due to the kidnapping and assassination of five university students.    the names of the students who fled the country are being kept secret to protect their relatives who live in guatemala city and in the interior of the country, the sources maintained.    three of the students traveled to panama, one to mexico, and another to costa rica.    this month, the corpses of five assassinated aeu leaders were found in the capital, some with signs of torture.  six other university student leaders remain kidnapped.    belisario polo, student affairs director at the university of panama, today told efe that the three aeu leaders arrived in the country last weekend and are living in private houses.    guatemalan government officials said they have no official reports on the departure of the highest aeu leaders.    the departure of the five university students leaders coincides with the visit to guatemala of peter kooijmans, who yesterday met guatemalan president vinicio cerezo, government officials, and army officers to gather information.    during his meeting with government minister roberto valle, kooijmans requested reports on the investigations the government has conducted on the case of the kidnapped students, the guatemalan government official said.    the kidnapping and assassination of the five university students and the threats against other aeu members have been condemned by leaders from universities in mexico, honduras, peru, colombia, costa rica, el salvador, nicaragua, and panama.    university students leaders from canada, ecuador, chile, and the frg have expressed their solidarity and demanded that the guatemalan government to investigate these assassinationas.    the aeu requested the higher university council to suspend classes for the current semester in view of the wave of violence guatemala is suffering and in view of the death threats against the main student leaders.  as a response, the csu has decided to let each academic section decide the strategy it will implement to get protection from the violence. several of the state university schools have modified the evening schedule, and most classes have been reduced to 2-hours periods so students can return home early.    several labor union organizations have condemned the kidnapping and assassination on 15 september of eduardo antonio lopez palencia, a student whose corpse showed signs of torture.

eduardo antonio lopez palencia


Input: the salvadoran army reported today that it had seized an arsenal in the northern outskirts of san salvador.  an army source said that the discovery of this arsenal thwarts terrorist plans in san salvador.    the arsenal was discovered at the suchinango farm, nejapa jurisdiction, approximately 18 km north of san salvador.  it was also reported that the militias who attack military positions in the metropolitan area generally are based at the suchinango farm.    the 1st infantry brigade displayed the arsenal, which included 20,543 cartridges of various calibers, 2 north korean - made submachineguns, 42 cartridge clips for ak-47 rifles, and small arms. in addition, the salvadoran army confiscated approximately 5,000 fuses for explosives, fragmentation grenades, incendiary bombs, 200 sticks of tnt, and other war equipment.    sources from the 1st infantry brigade reported that the brigade conducts permanent operations in the outskirts of san salvador to reduce the number of attacks on military posts in the metropolitan area.


Input: it is impossible to have free elections in a country where repression prevails.  in an indisputable effort of clear flexibility and willingness for peace, the fmln presented a peace proposal to jose napoleon duarte's government and the salvadoran armed forces high command.  that proposal is aimed at turning elections into a contribution to peace.    two weeks have passed since we presented our proposal, and neither the government nor the armed forces have officially responded to the fmln initiative.  that initiative has had the support of the international community and of our country's largest groups.    neither the government nor the high command have responded to the people's outcry and world expectations, which are awaiting a positive response to our proposal.    on the contrary, the government, its armed forces, and the members of their squads disguised in civilian clothes continue their dirty war against the peoples movement and their widespread war in the countryside.    the national guard (word indistinct) murdered university student mario flores, whose body was left on a highway near the port of acajutla.  meanwhile, national police members who were dressed in civilian clothes seized university students hugo martinez and raul ramirez, who are still missing.    jaime estevez, a member of the bread, land, work, and freedom movement (mptl) was taken to the usulutan jail to be murdered and the crime was supposed to go unnoticed.    meanwhile, according to reports from members of the national federation of agricultural and livestock cooperatives, fenacoa, on 31 january, oromontique battalion troops of the 6th infantry brigade commanded by lieutenant pachecho murdered peasants victor manuel vasquez and rafael romero.  the troops faked a clash at horcones de berlin canton to murder those peasants.    on 4 january, lucia and maria asuncion romero, and minor pedro gonzalez erazo were captured at the ahuachapan bus station by army troops commanded by murderer colonel canas.    the peasant communal association, acc, continues to demand the release of peasants bartolo rodriguez, who was captured on 27 january, and (name indistinct) captured on 2 february by troops of colonal orlando montano of the 6th infantry brigade.    the nongovernmental salvadoran human rights commission reported the seizure of maclovia gonzalez, virgilio ortiz cruz, and virgilio ortiz, who were captured on 4 january by military detachment no 4 troops at el mayuelo canton, morazan department.  their whereabouts are still unknown.    the mptl also reported that roberto mena was captured by atonal battalion troops at 1600 on 5 february.    there cannot be free and clean elections in this atmosphere of repression.  the government and the army high command continue terrifying and killing the salvadoran people.  the peoples' will cannot be expressed through their vote with such an atmosphere of repression, especially if the groups disputing power are a bunch of murderers and corrupt men.

national police members who were dressed in civilian clothes

oromontique battalion troops of the 6th infantry brigade commanded by lieutenant pachecho

troops of colonal orlando montano of the 6th infantry brigade

military detachment no 4 troops

atonal battalion troops

lieutenant pachecho

army troops commanded by murderer colonel canas

murderer colonel canas

colonal orlando montano

national guard

national police

6th infantry brigade

army

military detachment no 4

atonal battalion

mario flores

hugo martinez

raul ramirez

jaime estevez

victor manuel vasquez

rafael romero

lucia

maria asuncion romero

pedro gonzalez erazo

bartolo rodriguez

maclovia gonzalez

virgilio ortiz cruz

virgilio ortiz

roberto mena


Input: salvadoran people, we cannot but thank you and recognize the way in which you are bearing the fmln aggression.    we truly have a duty toward the salvadoran people and we will give you all our support.  we are willing to give you everything that we can possibly give you so that (word indistinct) can live in peace and tranquillity.    echoing that attitude, salvadoran people, we must also help our soldiers.  we must give them all the cooperation they need in order for the current situation to end as soon as possible.  we must call for national unity.  we must all cooperate to save our homeland from the terrorist aggression.  we must all unite to achieve peace and tranquillity as soon as possible, always taking into account the situation our country is going through.    we must support our democratic process, our institutions, and we must totally reject the fmln terrorist forces.  we must face those forces through a united front.  we call on all of our country's democratic and political forces to form a united front; to reject violence as a way of solving problems in el salvador; and to unite in our aspiration to live in a democracy and in peace, tranquillity, and respect for the laws.  briefly, we must unite to live in a de jure state in which the people can live in harmony and tranquillity.    it is therefore necessary that all political parties join efforts, not around a government or an institution, but for the salvadoran people to achieve their dearest goals.    we are receiving the international community's support.  the international community is supporting salvadoran democracy.  we have received encouraging messages from countries such as great britain, which has vigorously condemned the fmln terrorist action.  we have received a message from the eec, in which that group is telling the fmln that the armed struggle is not the solution to the problems and that to be able to solve our problems, we must first have peace and then achieve the country's social and economic development. those goals must be attained through a peace process.  the government had already began that process and the fmln tried to break it.  the peace process must be based on the esquipulas ii agreement and especially on the tela agreement.    we have also witnessed how different political and ideological tendencies have become unified in other countries.  (continued)


Input: unfortunately marred by a carabinero's assassination, we have returned to democracy.  patricio aylwin has been elected president of chile. i congratulate him and his followers, and i wish him success in his government, for the good of chile and chileans. his triumph is not a defeat for our ideas. my campaign was constantly focused on the idea of freedom -- both political and economic -- private property, and the social market economy.  it had to be this way because this is the future chileans want, and if our ideas gain ground, that is more important than the name of the man charged with implementing them.    but those ideas must be disseminated even more with incessant work. in a democracy, the opposition also governs.  history has placed us in the constructive opposition for the next 4 years. we will be willing to cooperate for the good of the country, but we will stay alert to defend our vision of the future. i am convinced that an intelligent opposition can do much for the country, particularly if that opposition is backed by the nearly 2 million people who today supported my candidacy.    the work that lies ahead will to a large extent be carried out in congress. the information now available suggests that the pact for democracy and progress has gained a valuable representation in both houses of congress. let my congratulations go to the future deputies and senators of democracy and progress. i seize this occasion to let them know that they can count on my support.    i am satisfied with the number of votes i won, considering the unfavorable circumstances. i am satisfied with the enthusiastic and generous work carried out by my electoral staff and by the political parties.  i thank them for their support.  i want to especially thank each of the men and women who voted for me. to the millions of chilean men and women who in sunshine or rain throughout chile filled up stadiums, plazas, and streets, chanting out slogans for the future; to those who saw the street with the symbol of the star of hope; to those who pasted my picture on walls, windows, and notebooks; to those who encouraged me in this tiresome but moving campaign with an embrace, a handshake, or a smile; to all those i want to express my deepest thanks.  i will keep them in my heart for the rest of my life.    when we initiated this presidential campaign -- an honor that you know i never sought -- i told my followers that just like climbing a mountain, there were moments of advance, fatigue, and falls, but i trusted that, mustering all our energy, we would outdo ourselves and reach the summit. i am satisfied because i believe that each one of us, as individuals and as a political force, have outdone ourselves and climbed a lon way up the mountain, battling for our ideas and for votes. we did not reach the summit, true, but this must not dismay us. today we are closer to the summit than when we started.  thank you very much, everyone. good night.


Input: the state's secret services still have no clues regarding the two u.s. citizens who were kidnapped in the past few hours by guerrillas of the eln (army of national liberation) during operations in medellin.    the victims were identified as david lecky, director of the columbus school, and james arthur donnelly.  both were kidnapped by the so-called nelson mandela cell of the eln 48 hours before the presidential drug summit in cartagena.    madrid efe in spanish at 2132 gmt on 13 december reports that bogota radio cadena nacional lists the kidnap victims as "leslie kent, professor of the columbus school in medellin, and james arthur donnelly..."

nelson mandela cell of the eln

army of national liberation

david lecky

james arthur donnelly

leslie kent


Input: 1. we have learned about the patriotic invitation included in the document signed by monsignor mario revollo bravo and by the distinguished former presidents alfonso lopez, julio cesar turbay, and misael pastrana as well as by patriotic union president diego montana cuellar.    2.  to respond to such proposals, we reiterate our well-known peace commitments expressed in our most sincere and frank statements.    3.  we fully share the criteria expressed by them regarding the survival of the state and government, which was democratically elected, against organizations and people like us, who have shown no regard for the law by fighting institutions and the legally established order.    4.  after evaluating our conduct under the previous concept, we are only interested in peace, tranquillity, and democracy for our fatherland and for our people.    5.  as a result, we accept the victory of the state, the institutions, and the legally established government.  we will lay down our weapons and other means of struggle for the sake of the country's best interests.    6.  we accept the legal order that is currently in force with the hope that the government and society will respect our rights and will allow us to return to our families and communities.    7.  as an absolute proof of our interest in achieving peace, we have decided to immediately release mrs patricia echavarria and her daughter as well as other people who are being held hostage as circumstances permit.  we would like to add that we are not responsible for all the cases of kidnapped people of which we are accused.    8.  we offer our services as mediators to achieve peace with the emerald traffickers, the so-called paramilitary groups, and the so-called hired assassins with the only purpose of ending the violence that is hurting our colombian fatherland.    9.  we have decided to suspend the shipment of drugs and to turn in our weapons, explosives, laboratories, clandestine landing strips, and other elements that are related to our activities as soon as we get constitutional and legal guarantees.    10.  there will be no more bombings anywhere on national territory and we have ordered the suspension of all types of executions of political leaders, government officials, association leaders, judicial officials, journalists, policemen, and soldiers.    11.  the essential reason for our struggle has been and will always be our families, our freedom, our people, our lives, and our rights as citizens of this fatherland.    the extraditables, 16 january 1990

the extraditables

patricia echavarria


Input: brave salvadoran people, on this occasion and as defense and public security minister, professional soldier, and a salvadoran citizen, i am very pleased to be able to bring you this message. above all, this message conveys our most respectful and thoughful greetings to the salvadoran people and our hopes that, during this troubled time, you will remain calm and have confidence and faith in your armed forces.    a few moments ago, you heard the voice of the first soldier of our glorious armed forces, the voice of the president of the republic and general commander of the armed forces.  at this time, i wish to express the feelings of each and every member of the armed forces, of the institution that at this moment is being institutionally challenged.  we, as soldiers born of this people to serve this people, express our solidarity with that message of confidence, security, and hope sent by the president of the republic.    everyone has heard about what has happened in our country in the past 48 hours.  no conscientious citizen, no real salvadoran, is unaware of the aggression to which we have once again been subjected by the f m l n's (farabundo marti national liberation forces) treacherous terrorist forces.  evidently, this action, this terrororist action, is only aimed at causing pain and sorrow for the people and at destroying the real feelings, inspiration, and will of the people.  on this occasion, the armed forces step forward to defend the people, the people who are demanding the obliteration of these terrorist and cowardly forces.    the attitude of our courageous people, the attitude of the people who today are writing one of the most brilliant pages in our history, creates an opportunity for the armed forces, guarantor of security, order, and tranquility, to say: salvadoran people, the armed forces are with you; the armed forces assume their professional duty of defending the most sacred interests of our homeland, of our country, el salvador.    the salvadoran armed forces, as an institution, have never forgotten their duty and today reiterate their absolute willingness and determination to make the biggest sacrifice if this becomes necessary, so that you, salvadoran people, can aspire to a future full of happiness and well-being.    we praise the determination of the people.  we applaud and congratulate the people for their determination and the stoicism with which they, the brave salvadoran citizens, have confronted these moments of tragedy and challenge.    we say: salvadoran people, this institution -- your armed forces -- is at your side.  the armed forces are willing to shed their blood and give their lives precisely so that the children of our people, so that the children of our children, can aspire to a worthy, free, just, and independent life.    we wish to congratulate our people for their attitude.  we wish to congratulate all the salvadoran people because, with their words of encouragement sent to us through different means, the institution feels stronger and more willing to defend the real aspirations of the salvadoran people.    this brave attitude -- this attitude that reflects the real salvadorans -- is, without doubt, the strongest response and the worst punishment the terrorist forces could receive.  (continued)


Input: general carlos arturo casadiego torrado, second in command of the colombian police, has reported the death of gonzalo rodriguez gacha.  (police director) general gomez padilla, who is in cali, will travel to bogota and will soon hold a news conference to provide more details on the death of this criminal.    in an interview, gen casadiego torrado informed rcn of the operation mounted in the area where the incident occurred.    (begin recording) (casadiego) we have been informed by those operating in that area that rodriguez gacha, his son, and the people with them have been killed.    that is the information we have available.  we do not have details on the operation yet.  it was the result of long-term intelligence work carried out with great professionalism, which gave us information on where he could be found.  we deployed special groups to carry out that task.    (reporter) general, exactly where did the operation, in which rodriguez gacha, his son, and 15 others were killed, take place?    (casadiego) in a rural area, as you know, in the northern part of the country.  i do not know the exact location.    (reporter) has it been officially reported that rodriguez gacha and his son were killed?  is this an official report from the national police?    (casadiego) that is the information i have.  that is the information i have received from the scene of the incident.    (reporter) who are the other 15 people killed?    (casadiego) we have not identified them yet.  officials are traveling to the site to officially identify the bodies.    (reporter) were they assistants, bodyguards, escorts?    (casadiego) yes, we are sure of that.    (reporter) have weapons or other items been confiscated?  we have heard that important documents were found.    (casadiego) yes, we know that weapons were found which were used to protect this man.  however, as i said, we do not have the details on the incident yet.  we have been told that rodriguez gacha and his son were killed, as well as other individuals who were with him.    (reporter) who else is there?  is there a commission of judges?  we understand that a few moments ago a plane departed with representatives from the criminal investigative directorate and the attorney general's office.    (casadiego) i do not know if representatives from the criminal investigative directorate have traveled there.  we sent police inspectors, judges, and we know that the commanders of the three neighboring departments will also be there.    (reporter) how was the operation planned, and has the president been informed?    (casadiego) as i said, this operation is the result of arduous work by the national police.  it was a very important mission.  for a long time we have been carrying out these types of operations.  we are still doing this type of work and will continue to do so.  (continued)

special groups

colombian police

gonzalo rodriguez gacha


Input: the fmln will maintain these unilateral actions during a sufficient and moderate period of time to allow the government and the armed forces to carry out the corresponding actions that will contribute to creating a serious climate for negotiations.  in this sense, we demand the government and the armed forces to:    1.  immediately cease repression, stop assassinations, arrests, use of torture on political prisoners, security corps actions against demonstrations, strikes, and other people's activities. we also demand the lifting of the siege against the national university, labor union offices, and offices of other people's organizations, and an end to searches against these organizations.    2.  permit the immediate repatriation of all refugees, with no restrictions, to the places they select.  to lift the siege and restrictions on the movement of people at the already established resettlements, and on the conflict areas where the army prevents the arrival of supplies.    3.  cease the attacks on the freedom of expression in the form of assassinations, intimidation, and dismissal of newsmen, and pressure on the media in general.    4.  suspend conscription, which is carried out only among the low income sectors of the population.    5.  stop using land mines and booby traps, which have caused hundreds of casualties attributed to the fmln.  stop bombing civilian targets and inhabited areas.    the fmln, in turn, agrees to stop actions that directly affect the government's war economy and imbalance the army's defensive system. the fmln agrees to stop using such weapons as the mines that have inflicted thousands of casualties on the army.  some of these actions have affected the population, either directly or indirectly.  we demand that the government stop using repressive measures that directly affect the population and their democratic rights.  we will not, however, accept as a government goodwill gesture our war disabled leaving the country for medical treatment, if and when this departure takes place.  we regard this as a basic humanitarian right subject to international accords, such as the geneva convention, signed and ratified by the salvadoran state.  the fulfillment of these accords has been demanded from the government by various organizations and the latest un human rights commission resolution.    as of today, we will be watching the actions of the government and the armed forces on the five points proposed.  we invite the government and the armed forces to demonstrate true willingness for peace by taking the actions we have proposed and initiating a serious negotiating process to end the war.      fmln general command.      el salvador, 7 september 1989.


Input: the attack in which five venezuelan soldiers were killed at the border with colombia has been blamed, according to some reports, on colombian guerrillas and drug trafficking gangs operating in colombia.    venezuelan president carlos andres perez blamed colombian drug trafficking gangs for the attack -- in which five guards were killed -- perpetrated on 26 october in the border state of apure against a national guard patrol in the area.    referring last night to the drug trafficking gangs, perez said this is "a provocation for venezuela because they are trying to extend their claws to our country."    however, jorge romero, governor of the border state of tachira, which borders the state of apure, maintained this was an "attack with very powerful explosives" perpetrated by "members of the colombian guerrillas, presumably from the army of national liberation army, against a national guard jeep."    according to romero, it has been determined during the preliminary investigations that the explosives that killed the five soldiers were buried in a road near cutufi, and set off by remote control as the military vehicle passed by.    last night, the defense ministry ordered the arrest of five alleged colombian guerrillas, whom it blamed for the attack.  however, the attackers reportedly crossed the border into colombia.

members of the colombian guerrillas

colombian drug trafficking gangs

army of national liberation army

national guard jeep

very powerful explosives


Input: the salvadoran armed forces today announced the seizure of a considerable amount of weapons from the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) guerrillas at a safe house in the northern section of this capital.    according to the report, the arsenal is the largest one seized from the guerrillas over the last few months.    a police officer stressed that the weapons -- 348 soviet-made ak-47 rifles, 118 automatic pistols, 29 grenade launchers, approximately 159 ammunition sacks, swords, fragmentation grenades, and over 100 explosive blocks with detonators and slow-burning fuses -- were among the supplies found in an fmln warehouse in san salvador.    a official communique noted that "military intelligence services have learned that terrorist groups were smuggling soviet-made weapons from nicaragua in specially-outfitted trailers to equip the urban commandos as well as the militias to enable them to commit terrorist acts on 1 june."    salvadoran president-elect alfredo cristiani of the rightist nationalist republican alliance will assume this country's presidency tomorrow; the armed forces have deployed 10,000 troops for the ceremony.


Input: ... if the colleagues at the central studio have any questions for the bogota electrical energy institute employee who was at the site of the incident.  we are observing a terrible scene of desolation and death because all the passangers going to cali, valle del cauca department, died.  there is no single survivor according to national police reports.  they are awaiting criminal instruction judges.  however, the electricity company worker may answer questions posed by studio reporters.  later on we will have more official information.    (studio reporter) can you confirm the arrival of the police's bomb squad?  authorities fear the crash may have been caused by an explosion rather than an accident inside the airplane.    (reporter) the f-2 judicial police and criminal statistics experts are here.  they feel that the accident may have been caused by a terrorist action.  the remark was made based on witness accounts. they noted that this may have been a terrorist attack because airplanes do not have this kind of accident unless there is an explosion, something that has very serious consequences.  according to reports by the national police f-2 experts, the airplane broke into six pieces.  it is completely destroyed, which is why the 106 passengers aboard are strewn across an area 6-8 km wide.    access to the airplane's remains is difficult because this is a mountainous region.  the casquito (word indistinct) is through the road that goes from bosa, cundinamarca department, to the school (not further identified).  authorities say that this area is located very close to sluice number 3, muna 3, which feeds water to the dam.  the situation is very difficult and dramatic.  right now, experts are collecting samples and trying find all they can to learn for sure if this was a terrorist action or a serious accident caused by a flaw in the mechanical system of the hk-1803 airplane.

terrorist

hk-1803 airplane


Input: the colombian government has extradited to the united states five (number as received) individuals within the last few hours, including jose rafael avello silva, also known as el mono avello. the authorities reported that avello is wanted by a u.s.  court for commiting many crimes, including conspiracy and complicity in crimes against the u.s. economy.    the government of president virgilio barco vargas reopened the process of extradition via administrative channels after the law on extraditions was struck down by the supreme court.    the authorities reported that el mono avello, who is the leading figure in the so-called medellin cartel, was extradited this morning at 0530. he left aboard a u.s. drug enforcement administration plane.    the following are awaiting extradition: guillermo bono delgado; manuel julian palma; victor eduardo vera mosquera; commercial pilot ricardo de la cuesta marquez; robert james sokolowsky salak; nelson cuevas ramirez; and evaristo porras.    the colombian authorities also reported that emilio reynosa aguilar was expelled yesterday from the country. he is wanted by the peruvian courts, and there was also a request for his extradition.  however, the colombian and peruvian governments agreed that it was best to expel reynosa aguilar from colombia. he is wanted by two lima courts for helping prisoners escape and for other crimes.    on 6 september, president virgilio barco vargas extradited economist eduardo martinez romero to a court in atlanta, georgia.  the u.s. authorities charged martinez romero with laundering approximately $1.2 billion from the sale of illegal drugs.    later, at 0330 on 14 september, the following were extradited: ana elena beatriz rodriguez tamayo, eduardo pelaez roldan, and italian citizen roberto victor carlini aroca.    the government of virgilio barco vargas decided to carry out administrative extraditions on 18 august, following the assassinations of colonel waldemar franklin quintero, commander of the antioquia police, and luis carlos galan, a senator and presidential hopeful for the liberal party.


Input: salvadoran president-elect alfredo cristiani condemned the terrorist killing of attorney general roberto garcia alvarado and accused the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) of the crime.    legislative assembly president ricardo valdivieso and vice president-elect francisco merino also declared that the death of the attorney general was caused by what valdivieso termed the guerrillas' "irrational violence."    garcia alvarado, 56, was killed when a bomb placed by urban guerrillas on his vehicle exploded as it came to a halt at an intersection in downtown san salvador.    "we have to condemn this incident, it is a guerrilla act," alfredo cristiani, nationalist republican alliance (arena) president-elect, who will replace christian democrat jose napoleon duarte on 1 june, stated.    cristiani said that "these are the risks faced by someone who enforces the law."  he noted that "the guerrillas' irrational attitude makes it increasingly difficult to believe they want peace."    according to cristiani, the attack took place because attorney general garcia alvarado warned that "he would take measures against urban terrorists."    vice president-elect francisco merino said that when the attorney general's car stopped at a light on a street in downtown san salvador, an individual placed a bomb on the roof of the armored vehicle.    "the driver told the attorney general about the bomb.  the vehicle swerved and the bomb exploded, causing the top of the vehicle to collapse on the attorney general's head," merino stated.    guerrillas attacked merino's home in san salvador 5 days ago with explosives.  there were seven children, including four of the vice president's children, in the home at the time.  a 15-year-old niece of merino's was injured.    "these incidents," cristiani said, "frankly cause us to become more aware of the fact that we must not permit terrorist actions to occur in el salvador."    the president-elect ruled out the possibility that these attacks "will prevent the inaugural ceremony from taking place."    "i am certain that the inauguration will be on 1 june.  we will not jump overboard or make a run for it.  we know what we are up against and will go on," he stated.    cristiani said the guerrilla attacks are intended to prompt a government and military reaction so the fmln can "exploit it" abroad to "politically isolate the new government."    ricardo valdivieso, president of the legislative asssembly and an arena leader, said the fmln and its "front" groups are responsible for the "irrational violence that killed attorney general garcia."    valdivieso said the legislative assembly will approve drastic laws to "halt the wave of violence."  he said the attorney general "was apolitical, worked for justice, and did not deserve to die like that."    according to the police and garcia alvarado's driver, who escaped unscathed, the attorney general was traveling with two bodyguards. one of them was injured.    the attorney general's body was destroyed by the bomb that exploded over his head.    no group has claimed credit for the attack yet, but police sources claim it "is characteristic of the fmln urban commandos."    the same sources confirmed that garcia alvarado had been threatened on several occasions by salvadoran urban guerrillas.    moments after the attack, army and police units cordoned off the area and began an all-out military operation to find those responsible.    garcia alvarado, father of six, was appointed attorney general on 23 december 1988.  he was considered to be closely linked to arena. on several occasions, however, he said he did not represent any party and was carrying out his job "impartially and with the intention of enforcing the country's laws."

guerrillas

fmln urban commandos

farabundo marti national liberation front

attorney general's car

merino's home

roberto garcia alvarado

bomb

explosives


Input: at least seven peruvian presidential guards travelling aboard a military bus were killed today in an attack in downtown lima.    the bus was transporting 24 members of the "husares de junin" presidential escort regiment from the "barbones" barracks to the presidential palace nearby.    according to radio reports 12 soldiers were injured in the attack, as were some pedestrians, including a child.    it is believed that the bus was damaged by a car bomb explosion. the car bomb was near the barracks, which are 1,200 meters from government palace, which is in turn about 500 meters from the congress building.    the military guards who were attacked were scheduled to relieve the presidential palace guards at 1300.    the colorful uniforms and the military steps of the about 60 "husares de junin:" guards who participate in the changing of guard ceremony are a daily attraction for tourists and passersby who gather at the plaze de armas in the historic center of lima.

military bus

"barbones" barracks

car bomb


Input: the government of the republic of guatemala yesterday strongly condemned the murder of jorge adolfo vargas gonzalez, second secretary of the nicaraguan embassy in guatemala.  vargas was murdered yesterday morning in zone 10 of this capital.  claudia arenas, public relations secretary of the presidency, has said that "this is a regrettable act that we strongly condemn."    she added that "during a talk with interior minister carlos a. morales villatoro, it was reported that an investigation of the murder was immediately ordered to uncover the murderers, arrest them, and bring them to court."    the government spokesperson added that "the government of the republic deeply regrets that this violent action has taken place against a member of the diplomatic corps accredited to our country."    the murdered diplomat, jorge adolfo vargas gonzalez, was the second secretary of the nicaraguan embassy in guatemala.    foreign minister ariel rivera this morning also condemned the murder of the second secretary of the nicaraguan embassy in guatemala, jorge adolfo vargas gonzalez.

jorge adolfo vargas gonzalez


Input: the supreme court ruled today that most of the decrees issued by president virgilio barco to face the situation of public order in the country are constitutional. the decrees were issued on 18 august, the same day senator luis carlos galan sarmiento was assassinated.    let us find out which decrees were approved and which were declared unconstitutional.    the supreme court declared the following decrees constitutional: administrative extradition, as long as there are public order problems and as long as the country is under a state of seige; the implementation of fines and procedures to punish people becoming rich through illegal means; and fines that are imposed for use of force to achieve a political outcome.    the supreme court declared the following decree unconstitutional: the system being used to raid, confiscate, occupy, and expropriate property.    according to the supreme court, the mechanism being used was administrative and it should be done judicially, by order of a judge.

luis carlos galan sarmiento


Input: education minister yitzhaq navon today demanded in the cabinet session that the government return all israelis who illegally provide military training abroad.  the government must put an end to the disgrace some israelis cause to all of us.  here is a report by our political correspondent natan gutman:    (begin recording) the weekly cabinet session dealt with the colombia issue only briefly.  defense minister yitzhaq rabin briefly referred to the issue mainly because he was asked by other ministers to do so.  deputy prime minister yitzhaq navon said that the government must put an end to the disgrace caused by some israelis. defense minister rabin merely stated that the whole issue of the involvement of israelis in colombia is under investigation.  defense elements made clear at the meeting that since 1986 there has been a need to acquire a specific permit for any security activity by an israeli body abroad.  it was further made clear that the hod hahanit (spearhead) company did not have such a permit, and has been warned not to operate in colombia.    at the conclusion of the session, cabinet secretary elyaqim rubinstein said that the israeli government disassociates itself from any such activity.  it was further stressed that israel considers the struggle against the plague of international drugs a very important quest.    as for the situation in the territories, the defense minister explained that the feeling of a deadlocked political process leads to an escalation of the intifadah (uprising).  it was stressed that the masked men create a real legal problem.  minister sciaki suggested that orders be issued to allow shooting at masked men if suspicions warrant.  (end recording)    finance minister shim'on peres' draft law on streamlining bureaucracy was approved today in the cabinet by a large majority of 14 to 2.  sharp exchanges between the finance minister and some likud ministers took place.  our economic correspondent yaron kulas reports:    (begin recording) (kulas) the debate on the draft law on slashing bureaucracy reopened the loud disagreement between the finance minister and likud ministers moshe nisim, roni milo, and ehud olmert. only two ministers objected to the proposal: 'ezer weizman, who said that the true economic problem today is the intifadah; and ecology and environmental protection minister roni milo.  (passage omitted)    ten ministers abstained from voting.  the plan was endorsed, however, by a large majority.  the knesset will convene to ratify the draft law early next week.  (end recording)


Input: venezuelan president carlos andres perez' brother-in-law was kidnapped in colombia, according to family sources in caracas.  a report broadcast on a private television channel stated that unidentified assailants kidnapped norberto rodriguez -- brother of venezuela's first lady blanca rodriguez de perez -- in colombia's northern santander department, where he was tending to personal matters.    according to the television report, the venezuelan government contacted colombian authorities to obtain more information on the incident.  no reasons were given as to why rodriguez' relatives fear that he might have been kidnapped.

unidentified assailants

norberto rodriguez


Input: the rector of the central american university (uca), father miguel francisco estrada, has described the government's report that armed forces elements are responsible for the killing of six uca priests as most important, although he also noted that the report is incomplete.    (begin recording) (estrada) i believe it is incomplete because we do not yet know who committed the crimes.  we only know that they belong to an institution, and this of course is only partial information.    (reporter) did you know that the government was going to make this announcement last night, or was it a surprise?    (estrada) i think it was a surprise because we had been in touch with the president and with the crime commission, which is the one carrying out the investigations on orders from the president and the government.  they promised us that if we were to cooperate by providing information, they would do everything possible to resolve the problem and carry out the investigations.    at that point i was skeptical, because the persons who have testified have accused the armed forces, and i had never seen a salvadoran president or the armed forces making a serious effort to clean up its image and carry out investigtions to put members of the armed forces in prison.  i was skeptical.  i had never seen that happen, but facts show that i was mistaken. (end recording)    father estrada has admitted that there has been international pressure to have this case investigated, but he optimistically believes that the decision to investigate has been adopted also for the sake of the prestige of the armed forces.    (begin recording) (estrada) i am inclined to believe that the armed forces are acting not only as a result of pressure, but also because they could be denied military or economic aid.  i believe that a crime such as the one being investigated goes against the very essence of the armed forces, which exists to protect the citizens, not to harm them. (end recording)    father estrada said he trusts in the moral strength of president cristiani to see this case through to the end.  he cautioned, however, that so far nothing new has been said and that a listing of the people involved and a just sentence would be news.

members of the armed forces

armed forces


Input: in lima today, unofficial sources reported that at least 2,500 people have been detained by the peruvian police in raids carried out in search of hector delgado parker, a local television impresario, and his kidnappers.    the police raids began shortly after the kidnapping of delgado parker, a former adviser to peruvian president alan garcia and one of the most important television impresario.  delgado parker was kidnapped in downtown lima wednesday (4 october) by a commando of the pro-che guevara group tupac amaru revolutionary movement (mrta).    as a result of the terrorist action, delgado's driver was killed, and delgado's bodyguard was seriously wounded, while delgado himself was violently abducted by the mrta activists.    according to the sources, the raids carried out by the police, who detain people without identification papers and suspects after checking on pedestrians and vehicles, took place on lima's access roads as well as in some suburban areas of this city and even in downtown lima.    the peruvian national police have reported that some 2,000 agents of the antiterrorist directorate (dircote) and the kidnapping division are participating in the search operations ordered by president garcia.    in telephone calls to lima media, the mrta has claimed responsibility for the kidpanapping of hector delgado parker. television "channel 5," of which the kidnapped businessman is part owner, was among the media mrta called.

commando of the pro-che guevara group tupac amaru revolutionary movement (mrta)

tupac amaru revolutionary movement

hector delgado parker


Input: defense minister general eugenio vides casanova has visited la alameda roosevelt to observe the voting process.  he also said an investigation will be conducted into the murders of three reporters, two salvadorans and a netherlander.  there will also be an investigation into the wounding of a salvadoran reporter and a cbs reporter.    (begin recording) (vides) this is the same question asked (words indistinct).  the election process is proceeding normally in all municipalities except seven.  clashes were reported in two municipalities and the elections were suspended in two others.  one of them is el sauce, with which communications have been cut off.  the other is santa elena, where a clash occurred.  i think people will vote here later.  no voting is taking place in four other municipalities.    (reporter) (question indistinct)    (vides) i have no other information.  at the time i departed, i sent for reports from the hospital.  i was told he died, but we have to gather more data on how the incident happened.    (reporter) (question indistinct)    (vides) we have always held reporters in the highest regard.  all armed forces members have been informed of this.  but problems arise when some people ignore checkpoints and the guards try to stop them. i hereby appeal to people to obey checkpoints.  we are the first to regret these incidents.  we have very good and close relations with the media and know (words indistinct).    (reporter) will this have repercussions?    (vides) serious repercussions will certainly occur, but you can rest assured that what happened was unintentional.  some people ignored the order to stop.  the people should be more alert and aware of the situation because of the rebels' attacks.  (end recording)

armed forces members

armed forces


Input: a.  we hereby voice our willingness that there be an immediate in situ cease-fire with international supervision and an overall and definitive simultaneous negotiation leading to a national consensus based on democratization, demilitarization of society, and respect for the rights of salvadorans.    b.  in order to hold good negotiations, we feel it is necessary to establish immediate guarantees for the respect of human rights, democratic freedoms, and political and social groups through:       1.  lifting of the state of siege and repeal of the law on refo the penal codes, also known as the antiterrorist law that was recently approved by the legislative assembly.       2.  release of all political prisoners.       3.  allowed departure of fmln war disabled and medical treatmen fmln wounded.       4.  immediate dismissal of the following commanders and officer colonel rene emilio ponce, chairman of the joints chiefs of staff, for his responsibility in decisions made by the armed forces high command to carry out indiscriminate bombings against the civilian population and the assassination of the six jesuit priests; general rafael bustillos, general rafael antonio villamariona, and lieutenant colonel juan antonio martinez varela, commander and executive officers of the air force, for their direct responsibility in the bombings of the civilian population; colonel orlando zepeda, deputy defense minister, for having signed the order to assassinate the six jesuit priests; colonel heriberto hernandez, director of the treasury police, which is the corps that carried out the murders; and captain alfonso chavez garcia, who was the direct perpetrator of these murders.  all of these dismissals are needed for the credibility and effectiveness of the decision to establish guarantees for the respect for human rights and as a first step in the purge of the salvadoran armed forces, which is necessary for the dismantling of the bloody military dictatorship of the past 60 years.       5.  the in situ verification of the respect for human rights must be carried out by the inter-american human rights commission and the un work team on the forced disappearances.    c.  we think it is indispensable to reorganize the negotiating table to ensure that opposition political parties and social groups are able to fully participate along with the government and the fmln. this will assure a national consensus solution.    messrs presidents: the scope of war in our country demands realistic viewpoints, viable and urgent solutions.  you can contribute so that the negotiations will prevail over war and the central american peace process will yield specific results.    we reiterate our appreciation to your contributions,    the fmln general command, el salvador, 8 december 1989.

colonel rene emilio ponce, chairman of the joints chiefs of staff

colonel orlando zepeda, deputy defense minister

colonel heriberto hernandez, director of the treasury police

treasury police

captain alfonso chavez garcia

armed forces high command


Input: the situation in the city of rosario has worsened since nightfall. there are reports of widespread shooting among gangs of looters, policemen, and armed civilians defending their property.    several police stations, including that of the neighboring towm of villa gobernador galvez, were attacked by people who presumably sought to take them over. according to police sources, these attacks were repelled.    police personnel are complying with the provincial government's order to use their firearms. it is believed that there are more fatalities, but it is not known how many.


Input: the police have reported that three terrorist attacks here in bogota and in the caribbean port of cartagena left two dead and three injured.    the most serious incident took place at the historical beach resort where a bomb exploded on the 6th floor of the hilton hotel killing two people and seriously injuring another.    almost simultaneously another bomb exploded in front of a bank in another part of cartagena, partially destroying the building and injuring a guard and a passerby.    meanwhile, in bogota, a bomb exploded at a branch of the city's electric energy enterprise in the suburb of quirigua.  the company's offices were destroyed, and approximately 50 neighboring residences were damaged by the blast.    according to a guard at the company, who escaped unhurt, two individuals who were passing by the building placed the explosives and fled.  the guard said he barely had time to get away from the bomb before it went off.    guests at the hotel, where practically all the windows were destroyed, had to be evacuated to other lodgings.    cartagena had up to now escaped the wave of dynamite attacks that have been taking place in the country's large cities for the past several weeks.  authorities attribute the attacks to drug traffickers.

two individuals who were passing by the building

drug traffickers

hilton hotel

bank in another part of cartagena

branch of the city's electric energy enterprise

neighboring residences

bomb

dynamite


Input: some 9,000 carabineros members will participate in a special police plan before, during, and after the official transfer of power ceremonies in our country.  this was reported by general alfredo nunez allende, the carabineros order and security director, who also described the latest terrorist attacks as isolated events which are under control.    (begin recording) (nunez allende) we will be responsible for the security of the population and of the foreign guests in keeping with our duty requirements.  as for the recent attacks, i must say they are regrettable and i wish they had not taken place, however, this kind of action has been taken into consideration in all our plans.  we have adopted all the measures we think are appropriate in case this kind of activity takes place.  we will also try to prevent this kind of action during the presidential inauguration so that people under our protection will not be affected.    (unidentified reporter) why has terrorist activity increased in the past few days?    (nunez allende) i think that this is normal within the current process, it is not a specific factor or objective.  the attacks are in keeping with what we have been observing in the past few months.  (end recording)    the carabineros order and security chief also reported that reinforcements will be brought in to santiago from other parts of the country, and he added that the dissolution of the national intelligence center will not affect the normal work of the carabineros.  he also said that in face of the recent terrorist attacks, the appropriate measures have been adopted.  as far as he knew, he said, the army will not participate in establishing order and security during the transfer of power ceremony; this will be exclusive responsibility of chilean carabineros.    as for the recent terrorist attacks, he said there is no evidence that they are part of a plan, although he admitted that extremist activity has increased lately.  however, such actions are within what was expected.  he said that the security personnel that will be brought in by the foreign guests have already coordinated their actions with those of carabineros.    on 5 march, the carabineros will announce a detailed report on the transfer of power ceremony and on the measures that will be adopted, especially regarding the circulation of cars.  the security plan will be similar to the one used during pope john paul ii's visit to chile.


Input: bogota did not escape the terrorist actions of organized criminals on friday night. two national police officers assigned to the dijin directorate of judidial police and investigations intelligence corps were shot to death as they passed by on a dijin motorcycle in front of a home in western bogota.    the criminals intercepted sergeant carlos julio bonilla, who was driving the motorcycle, and corporal luis alberto chavez, as they entered the home. both policemen died instantly. the paid assasins fled in a motorcycle and in a vehicle that awaited them a few meters away, according to witnesses.    authorities carried out an intense operation in the city to locate the perpetrators of this latest crime.    elsewhere, several armed individuals shot repeatedly at the newspaper el siglo's facilities. this is a new act of harassment against the media. el siglo editor hipolito hincapie was interviewed.    (begin recording) (hincapie) the incident took place at 2120. individuals in a blue renault 12 fired several times at the facilities. the facilities are as they were prior to 2120, and the employees are working as usual.  (end recording)    the damage was minor and, fortunately, there were no victims, thanks to the prompt reaction of the marines guarding the facilities.

individuals in a blue renault 12

newspaper el siglo's facilities

hipolito hincapie


Input: roberto santana rojas, a member of the dominican communist party (pcd), has died while serving as a volunteer in the salvadoran guerrilla group farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln), it was reported today.    according to pcd secretary general narciso isa conde, the 26-year-old santana rojas was killed on 3 september while fighting in the southeastern front, in usulutan department.    isa conde reported that the communist militant, who left a year ago to fight in el salvador as a volunteer guerrilla fighter, had belonged to the dominican navy.    the communist leader explained that the body of santana rojas "will not be brought to the dominican republic for the time being, because he was killed in an area under the control of the salvadoran army." santana rojas is the third pcd member to die in el salvador over the past 3 years.


Input: it was officially reported that a policeman was wounded today when urban guerrillas attacked the guards at a power substation located in downtown san salvador.    several urban guerrillas opened fired on members of the national police who were guarding a lempa river hydroelectric executive commission (cel) substation that was damaged during the attack.    the wounded policeman was immediately taken to the military hospital in san salvador.    the attack occurred at 1130 (1730 gmt)--less than 3 hours before a demonstration through the main streets of san salvador began.  the demonstrators attended the funeral of the 10 union leaders who were killed on 31 october during an attack on a union headquarters.    the police stepped up surveillance throughout san salvador to prevent new acts of violence.    on 1 november urban guerrillas attacked the headquarters of the 1st infantry brigade with rockets.  during the attack, one person was killed and another wounded.

urban guerrillas

lempa river hydroelectric executive commission (cel) substation

union headquarters


Input: colombian justice minister monica de greiff briefed president virgilio barco today on her official visit to the united states to ask for help in the fight against drug trafficking.    the 32-year-old colombian minister returned last night aboard a commercial flight from washington, where she had traveled on 25 august with her family amid strong rumors that she would not return to colombia and that she would resign from the post she has held since 16 july.    justice ministry sources said today that de greiff "is maintaining her heavy agenda" and added that "nothing has been said about her leaving the country soon."    the rumors about her imminent resignation because of the threats against her and her family, including her 3-year-old son, miguel jose, have stopped with her return to bogota.    according to official sources, monica de greiff's visit to washington was to explain "the difficult situation in which the colombian judicial branch carries out its dangerous job."    part of the $65 million in aid the united states has promised to colombia to fight drug trafficking has already arrived in the country. it includes bulletproof vests, armored automobiles, and communication equipment for judges and officials of the judicial branch.    the colombian justice minister, who studied law at bogota's university of el rosario and in the united states, will meet with the press tomorrow after having presented her report on her trip.    so far this year three judges who were in charge of cases against drug traffickers have been killed.  in this decade, 200 people, including judges and attorneys, have been killed by drug traffickers.

drug traffickers

monica de greiff

miguel jose


Input: the entire rebel homeland, el salvador, is bedecked with the farabundo marti national liberation front's (fmln) flags on a day of great victories for the working people!    today, 19 march, we have inflicted more than 150 casualties on the dictatorship's troops.    radio farabuando marti continues to receive innumerable war reports on the overwhelming blows dealt by all our forces, the salvadoran people's vanguard!  we have caused 38 casualties in chalatenango, 20 in morazan, 35 in usulutan, 25 in san salvador, 15 in santa ana, and 9 in san miguel, during the first 14 hours of 19 march!  the people's avalanche advances through the streets to achieve their rights and attain peace!    we have also damaged five helicopters in 5 days of fighting and today, 19 march, we damaged five helicopters.


Input: condemning the smear campaign against his country, cuban ambassador to bolivia angel brugues has strongly rejected the accusations made in washington by florentino aspillaga, a former cuban government official, describing him as a "traitor to the fatherland, a deserter, and an immoral person."    claiming that aspillaga was involved with the "groups of criminals who were recently discovered in the cuban interior ministry," brugues said that "one cannot believe in this kind of individual." brugues thus answered the remarks made by aspillaga, who said that, in 1976, cuban prime minister fidel castro ordered the killing of bolivian general joaquin zenteno anaya.    in a statement released yesterday afternoon, the cuban ambassador regretted that the united states is providing shelter for this kind of person and using them as "parrots to smear the cuba revolution."    the news agency prensa latina addressed this issue in a journalistic dispatch. it reports that ambassador brugues had pointed out that "the u.s.  philosophers and theoreticians who tried to throw socialism into the garbage can of history have launched a new attack against cuba."    the cuban ambassador added: "they intend to bring international discredit upon cuba and poison cuba's relationship with the fraternal bolivian nation, a relationship marked by friendship and mutual respect. to this effect, they again resort to using hypocrits like the deserter in question."    brugues added: "on principle, cuba has not resorted, and will not resort, to terrorist methods like those used by the united states against cuban leaders, as stated in the records of the u.s. congress."    he added: "we reiterate to gen zenteno anaya's widow and children, and to the bolivian military men who, complying with their mission, confronted "che" (guevara), that cuba does not harbor any rancour or hatred.  cuba has never acted, and will never act, motivated by base revengeful feelings."    in conclusion, ambassador brugues expressed his conviction that the bolivian-cuban ties will not be affected by this smear campaign. (passage omitted)


Input: salvadoran president jose napoleon duarte tonight called for spain, mexico, venezuela, and nicaragua to mediate with the salvadoran rebels so they will not boycott the 19 march presidential elections.    "there can be no peace without democracy, and voting is the path to democracy," duarte said in a speech transmitted by a nationwide radio network.  in this speech, he urged the guerrillas to lay down their weapons and join the salvadoran political process.    duarte issued this call to the governments of these four countries and to pope john paul ii to intercede with the fmln in support of the elections.    in the past few days, the rebels have called for a transportation stoppage to begin on 16 march, have ordered gas station owners to refrain from selling fuel, have announced that they will destroy power lines, and threatened to kill election officials.    on sunday, 19 march, 1.8 million salvadorans will cast their vote to elect the man who will replace duarte.    the salvadoran president called on the people to vote and said the government and the army "will guarantee the safety of the elections."    following the failure of the negotiations, during which the rebels proposed the postponement of the elections and the creation of "a new electoral framework," the fmln has asked the people not to vote or to "void" their ballots.

salvadoran rebels

fmln

transportation

gas station

power lines


Input: fire department sources reported today that guatemalan army troops killed nine peasants by mistake on 17 august.  the soldiers mistook the peasants, who were civil self-defense patrol (pac) members, with a rebel column.    according to the same source, military officials have stated that the incident, where three peasants were also wounded, had been a "tragic mistake."    the incident took place when northeastern coban base troops mistook the civilian patrol for a rebel column and attacked it.  the attack resulted in 9 indian peasants killed and 3 wounded, including a 17-year-old.    according to the information supplied by the coban fire department, the incident took place when a pac patrol was combing the area for a rebel column that had been seen in "la providencia" farming community area.    the civilian patrol was returning to its community on 17 august, when the army troops, who were also searching for the rebel column, fired at them believing they were part of a rebel group.    the civilian patrol unit, approximately 70 persons, did not fire back at the soldiers.  according to the account given by one of the survivors, the civilians shouted and made signs to the troops until, finally, the soldiers realized their error.  the soldiers, however, realized their mistake only after nine civilians had been killed.    guatemalan defense minister general hector alejandro gramajo was queried about the incident. he said it was caused by "regrettable confusion" and that an army command staff commission had already been sent to investigate it.    gramajo said the commission is to establish how the incident occurred, but admitted that initial reports indicate that there had been confusion between army and pac units.    the military chief said: "the information we have up to now is confusing as both the army and pac had moved men because there were reports that a rebel unit was in the area."

northeastern coban base troops

guatemalan army


Input: medellin continues to live through a wave of terror.  following last night's attack on a bank, which caused a lot of damage, a load of dynamite was hurled against a police station. fortunately no one was hurt.  however, at approximately 1700 today a bomb exploded inside a fast-food restaurant.    a medium-sized bomb exploded shortly before 1700 at the presto installations located on (words indistinct) and playa avenue. approximately 35 people were inside the restaurant at the time.  a worker noticed a suspicious package under a table where minutes before two men had been seated.  after an initial minor explosion, the package exploded.  the 35 people had already been evacuated from the building, and only 1 policeman was slightly injured; he was thrown to the ground by the shock wave.  the area was immediately cordoned off by authorities while the other businesses closed their doors.  it is not known how much damage was caused; however, most of the damage was occurred inside the restaurant.  the men who left the bomb fled and there are no clues as to their whereabouts.

two men

bank

fast-food restaurant

medium-sized bomb


Input: today, relief organizations evacuated dozens of people who were locked inside "la centroamericana" building in san salvador where the costa rican embassy is located.  however, the embassy continues to be occupied by approximately 50 demonstrators.    ambassador jesus fernandez and another two diplomats, as well as three salvadoran television journalists, are still being held hostage.    approximately 50 people left the building in which they were locked for 5 hours following the occupation of the embassy by members and sympathizers of the msgr oscar arnulfo romero federation of committees of mothers and relatives (fecmafam) of political prisoners and murdered and missing people.    the ambassador and other embassy officials still remain on the third floor of the building, which was surrounded by dozens of riot policemen expert in antiterrorist struggle, armed with high-caliber rifles.    red cross, green cross, and relief command members participated in the evacuation of the offices in the building.    colonel alejandro sanchez, deputy director of the salvadoran national police, said that "the problem could be solved within the next 24 hours, but official sources ruled out the use of force.    mauricio sandoval, director of the presidency's communications secretariat, went to "la centroamericana" building, located in el salvador's business district, to learn about the situation and described the occupation as a "propaganda act" in view of the fact that the second round of talks between the salvadoran government and the guerrillas, scheduled for 16 and 17 october in san jose (costa rica), is drawing closer.    the fecmafam occupied the costa rican embassy to protest "an increase in repression against popular organizations unleashed by alfredo cristiani's fascist government," fecmafam spokesmen said.    most of those occupying the embassy are women wearing white scarfs and youths carrying wet handkerchiefs to avoid the effects of tear gas.    sandoval disclosed that a working commission has been formed to maintain consultations with the costa rican government "and is making pertinent contacts" to seek a quick solution to this problem.    the official stressed: "we will not begin negotiations" with the embassy occupiers, whom, according to the ambassador, are armed.    the presidential spokesman also reported that, in the wake of these incidents, fernandez had a slight cardiac problem, but has already gotten over it.    according to this official, fernandez' wife sent him medicine and food.    sandoval announced that an official communique will be issued within the next few hours.

members and sympathizers of the msgr oscar arnulfo romero federation of committees of mothers and relatives (fecmafam) of political prisoners and murdered and missing people

msgr oscar arnulfo romero federation of committees of mothers and relatives (fecmafam) of political prisoners and murdered and missing people

jesus fernandez


Input: honduran president jose azcona hoyo today said that the situation in el salvador has reached "abominable and horrendous" extremes.    the president cited the killing of the jesuit priests in san salvador on 16 november as proof of "the incredible levels of violence reached in the neighboring country."    azcona said that he is being kept informed about the developments in el salvador, even speaking with his counterpart, alfredo cristiani, but did not volunteer any details about the matters discussed.    various honduran political, social, and religious organizations have expressed views similar to those voiced by the president of honduras, a country that shares a 417-km border with el salvador.    in a statement released today, the honduran episcopal conference "deplored the sad incidents that resulted in the cold-blooded murder of six jesuits."  the honduran bishops stressed that "the fratricidal struggle is a bitter result of the injustice that the salvadoran people have been suffering."    in similar terms, the christian democratic party and the social democratic innovation and unity party, agreed that violence in el salvador finds its roots in those who do not understand actions in favor of the oppressed and the people's true liberation.    the honduran armed forces have been closely following the salvadoran military situation, and they also condemned the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).  ranking officers, including new military commander colonel arnulfo cantarero, maintained that el salvador is a victim of "communist aggression."    however, the military officers say that they will remain outside the salvadoran conflict, which increased when the insurgents began a general offensive a week ago.


Input: i believe that the climate of flexibility is embracing the entire political, military, and economic world system and that the banks will have to be content with collecting less than what they originally thought.  there was a triumphant presentation of an offer to reduce a country's debt by up to 20 percent, but as far as we know that offer has not materialized.  furthermore, a 20-percent reduction is not significant, not great enough to solve the problems of poverty and the financial obligations of latin america.  the reduction must be much greater.  a reduction of 10 or 20 percent will do little; everything will remain the same.  we believe -- and i have been saying this to every latin american president -- that only through our adoption of firm and dignified positions will the adversary relent.  (passage omitted)    (garcia) let me now say a few words about a different subject, the establishment of relations with north korea. i believe the opposition has raised a tempest in a teacup; it has raised an issue that is of no relevance to the peruvian people.  first, we uphold the concept of universality of relations, of maintaining relations with all nations. colombian president virgilio barco established relations with north korea a few months ago; he did not have to face a savage opposition telling him that he was throwing himself into the arms of terrorism. nobody has complained to carlos andres perez or to salinas de gortari about maintaining relations with north korea.  for that matter, nobody has objected in bolivia, austria, or sweden, because in those countries there is no reactionary right to argue that to recognize north korea is to court destruction.    second, someone -- and i do not want to mention him by name -- has said that relations have been established with a terrorist state. this is a tremendous error, because 20,000 rifles sold to us by north korea at $90 apiece -- $10 less than anywhere in the world -- have made it possible to save and defend the lives of tens of thousands of civilian guards from the national police and have made it possible to eliminate and eradicate subversion in many parts of the country.    third, international relations are not designed to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.  if so we would have to break relations with australia or with finland.  one must maintain relations with all the peoples of the world.  under such criteria, since peru recognizes the frg, it should close its embassy in the communist gdr.  this manichean criterion, this obtuse criterion, this outmoded criterion is no longer valid; the berlin wall has been razed.  how can one say that this country should be recognized and another shouldn't?  peru will not accept any imperialist veto on its world relations.  we have had enough of the 1960's and 1970's when passports said we could not travel to the soviet union or cuba.  peruvians have the right to travel wherever they wish, like they wish, and when they wish.  this is freedom, and it cannot be curtailed by the establishment of off-limits areas around the globe.    finally, several of the gentlemen who now oppose the establishment of relations with north korea have been honored, illustrious guests of the north korean government.  the other day i heard some people speaking vehemently on this topic, while some other people nearby had been honored guests there.  journalists can seek out and determine how many of those who now oppose these relations have been honored guests in north korea for weeks.  now, for political reasons, they are opposed to the establishment of relations with north korea. (end recording)


Input: msgr gregorio rosa chavez, auxiliary bishop of san salvador, said today that president alfredo cristiani's message revealing the names of the persons reportedly involved in the six jesuits' slaying represents "a decisive turn toward the end of impunity" in the country.    rosa chavez said in his sunday homily that "this has augmented the possibilities for the salvadoran people to recover their trust in the government's institutions."    nevertheless, in a statement given later to the media, the auxiliary bishop emphasized that the implicated military "do not represent isolated cases of persons who violated the norms of an institution, but are actually part of a formation and thought scheme according to which the defense of human rights is something subversive."    according to rosa chavez, "the military world wrongly understands the church's mission in the defense of human rights."    "asked about eventual responsibilities not specified by the president, rosa chavez answered: "this grave action is the result of a conspiracy--at least a conspiracy of silence."    he emphasized that, consequently, the step taken yesterday by the salvadoran president "is very important, even if it is not the last one."    the bishop recalled that this year is the 10th anniversary of msgr oscar arnulfo romero's assassination, "which has yet to be solved," and asked the government to carry out "all the legal actions to investigate the cases of thousands and thousands of salvadorans whose lives were taken by guerrilla groups or the army."    rosa chavez said that the church fully agrees that the crimes of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) should be investigated "with the same zeal" with which the jesuit priests' slaying has been investigated.    "however, we have asked that the investigation be exhaustively and thoroughly carried out without giving it a propagandistic appearance," he added.    the bishop emphasized that the two ideologies confronting each other in el salvador equally disdain human rights.    "marxism is the root of the fmln's abuse and the national security doctrine represents the basis of the armed forces' unacceptable repression," he said.

military


Input: the main reason for coming up with this version was to (words indistinct) masterminds of the crime (words indistinct) to find out who the perpetrators were.  with this version, cristiani and the high command are trying to come up with extenuating circumstances for the trial and to place the responsibility for the assassination of the jesuits on mid-level military officers.  the colonels who were involved in the crime could be set free and their responsibility would only be related to the fact that the crime was committed within an area under their command.    this version of the crime is aimed at leaving the armed forces high command free from any responsibility and to only slightly touch the members of la tandona, especially col orlando cepeda, who was the one who signed the order to assassinate the jesuits, and col rene emilio ponce, chief of staff.  col guillermo benavides, who is a member of little importance within la tandona, was indirectly involved in the crime.    however, the (word indistinct) is self-evident.  the decision to carry out an operation to kill popular and religious democratic leaders was made by the general staff of the armed forces (words indistinct) 4 days after the fmln offensive began.  this operation was part of a complete counteroffensive plan of the armed forces, which included the massive use of all the firepower of the air force against poor neighborhoods and the killing of democratic people's movement and church leaders.    alfredo cristiani, who was taken to the headquarters of the general staff for security reasons and assumed control of the defense plan, was fully aware of the genocide plan.  u.s. officers and advisers were also at the general staff headquarters at the time to discuss and approve this genocide plan.    the plan was implemented on the evening of 16 november.  all labor union offices in san salvador were looted.  the offices of humanitarian organizations, political parties, and religious centers were also looted.    the plan was implemented at the installations of the uca.  the days that followed saw a continuation of the arrests, persecutions, and assassinations.  the offices of all the (words indistinct) were attacked.  its leaders were forced to seek refuge or to leave the country to escape this manhunt.  this is a policy for which the high command and alfredo cristiani are directly responsible.  (words indistinct) the u.s.  ambassador and u.s. embassy personnel are fully aware of this.    the need to come up with this version comes from the precarious predicament that the government and the armed forces have found themselves in in view of the debates taking place in the u.s. congress to decide the fate of aid to el salvador, which is linked to the results of the investigation of the assassination of the jesuit priests on 16 november.

armed forces high command

mid-level military officers

members of la tandona

col orlando cepeda

col rene emilio ponce, chief of staff

col guillermo benavides

general staff of the armed forces

alfredo cristiani

u.s. officers

advisers

armed forces

labor union offices

offices of humanitarian organizations

political parties

religious centers


Input: at least six persons were killed and several injured when a car bomb exploded today outside the offices of the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras) in the heart of san salvador, the police reported.  the explosion occurred at 1230 (1830 gmt) and caused panic and confusion.    fenastras belongs to the national union of salvadoran workers (unts), the largest national organization opposed to the government.

offices of the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras)

car bomb


Input: official sources announced that a u.s. state department hercules c-123 cargo plane was partially destroyed early this morning when an incendiary bomb exploded at the monteria airport.  monteria is the capital of cordoba department and it is located 490 km north of bogota.    a spokesman for the monteria police advised afp via telephone that the front part of the plane, as well as the cockpit, were burned when a bomb, planted by unidentified persons, exploded.  no victims were reported.    the u.s. embassy in bogota confirmed that the plane was "seriously damaged" by the flames; however, the embassy did not specify the origin of the fire.  according to embassy spokesman peter samson, the plane is the property of the u.s. state department's international narcotics matters (inm).    the plane, which was returning to the united states after fulfilling a mission in peru, had been parked at the monteria airport for the past 2 weeks.  the plane was forced to land in monteria after one of its engines failed, the embassy spokesman added.    according to the monteria police, the fire broke out after an explosion was heard.  the firemen intervened quickly to prevent the fire from spreading and completely destroying the plane.    the fire broke out at 0430 (0930 gmt), a few hours before two c-130  planes--u.s. military cargo planes--arrived at bogota air force base with military materiel sent to help fight the battle against drug trafficking launched by the colombian authorities.

unidentified persons

u.s. state department hercules c-123 cargo plane

incendiary bomb


Input: in a communique addressed to the local media, the peruvian guerrilla movement tupac amaru revolutionary movement (mrta) today claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of 102 people.    among the many businessmen who have been kidnaped from different industrial and business sectors is carlos enrique ferreyros, alias "the kind of the machinery industry."  ferreyros was kidnaped on 2 december.  the mrta is asking $10 million ransom for ferreyros' release.  this is the largest ransom the mrta has ever requested. (passage omitted)

tupac amaru revolutionary movement

carlos enrique ferreyros


Input: attention: a report from san salvador states that fighting continues in the northern sector of the city.  our forces are finding little resistance from the so-called troops brought from the interior of the country. the report states that during today's clashes in ciudad delgado, los alpes, guadalupe, and san patricio neighborhoods, the treasury police suffered three casualties.  we inflicted two casualties on the treasury police in los alpes neighborhood, and the 6th military detachment suffered one casualty during a clash in san patricio neighborhood.  it has also been reported that fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) forces have set up barricades on the northern trunk road and power lines have been sabotaged.  as a result of this sabotage, an area of san salvador does not have power.  we have also learned that two transformers were destroyed on km 10 of the northern trunk road, where barricades were also set up.  the report adds that the enemy showed up 90 minutes after the barricades had been set up and heavy fighting resulted.  the enemy troops suffered four casualties; our forces have reported that they have not encountered problems on the northern trunk road.  at this hour, 1613 (2213 gmt), the rebel presence in increasing on the northern trunk road.    attention: during yesterday's attack, with people's artillery on 4th infantry brigade troops, we inflicted eight casualties.  these eight casualties have been confirmed.    at noon today, clashes with 1st military detachment troops was reported in la cruz hill, san miguel de mercedes jurisdiction.  we repeat: today at noon, fighting was reported in la cruz hill, san miguel de mercedes, chalatenango department.    this has been the latest report we have received.  there is fighting in ciudad delgado, los alpes, guadalupe, san patricio, and our guerrilla columns are spreading throughout the northern part of the city.  it is now 1615 (2215 gmt) and the high command has not reacted.  this gives us an idea of how low morale is among the soldiers in san salvador.  this new blow against the enemy forces in san salvador has caused the morale of the enemy forces to drop even further.    attention: we have just learned that there has been a rebel ambush in the northern sector of san salvador.  the report adds that at 0630 (1230 gmt) today, rebel forces ambushed a vehicle transporting national guardsmen. the ambush occurred on km 9.5 on the northern trunk road.  the guardsmen were heading into an area where the fmln rebels have set up barricades.  a powerful guazapa-type mine and rifles were used in the ambush.  at least 10 casualties, including a national guard officer, were inflicted.  we repeat: a national guard officer is included among the casualties we inflicted during this ambush carried out on km 9.5 on the northern trunk road.    likewise, we have learned that fighting continues in mejicanos, ayutuxtepeque, ciudad delgado, and soyapango.  heavy fighting is also being reported in apopa and mariona.  rebel forces are spreading out throughout the northern area of san salvador and they are finding little resistance.  at 1616 (2216 gmt), this has been the report received at radio venceremos.  we are receiving reports from our liberated terroritories, from chalate (chalatenango), morazan, san miguel.  greetings to our forces in san salvador; onwards fighting comrades; our people are supporting you in san salvador.

farabundo marti national liberation front

power lines

transformers


Input: police are investigating an alleged declaration by a spokesman for the peruvian shining path terrorist group that confirmed that a meeting had taken place in valparaiso.  the communique, which was signed by an individual named americo pepote, who said he was acting in the name of the extreme leftist terrorist group, was published in newspapers recently.    pepote said that after the meeting in valparaiso, details of which were denounced in congress, the basis for the creation of the first communist international of the american continent was established. (passage omitted)    pepote also announced that extreme leftist organizations will hold another meeting in sao paulo, brazil, at an undetermined date.


Input: attention please, listeners of yskl.  we continue reporting on the recent incidents in the capital.  according to reports we have received, the presidencial residence located in the escalon neighborhood was target of an attack tonight.    we have also learned that two vehicles of the salvadoran red cross have also been attacked.  one of them was totally destroyed by fire in the mejicanos sector, and an ambulance was attacked near the national university.    we have also received reports from the northern national guard sector in the san joaquin neighborhood and surrounding areas, from where the attacks against the national guard headquarters are being launched.  here is francisco benitez with an important last minute report.  go ahead, francisco:    (begin relay) good evening yskl listeners.  we have confirmed that clashes continue at this time of the night near the university of el salvador between urban commandoes of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) and members of the 1st infantry brigade who are in area surrounding the university of el salvador, specifically in front of the institute of urban housing, ivu, offices.    this is a dark sector.  all civilians, pedestrians, and drivers are asked to avoid this sector because heavy shooting continues in the area between rebels and members of the 1st infantry brigade.  we have confirmed that there is a heavy exchange of fire in this sector.  we have been told that pedestrians and drivers should be warned to avoid this area, as there is heavy shooting near the university of el salvador.  we have confirmed this.  we can hear shooting everywhere in this sector, particularly in front of the ivu offices.    members of the civil defense in mejicanos have just confirmed that they are also fighting in mejicanos at this time of the night.    stay tuned, as we will continue reporting.

presidencial residence

vehicles of the salvadoran red cross

ambulance


Input: the respected el espectador newspaper has reported that colombian justice minister monica de greiff, a key official in the war on drug trafficking, has resigned.    meanwhile, medellin metropolitan police announced that, early this morning, unidentified persons placed 11 bombs in various government bank branches. seven of these bombs exploded, causing damage, but there were no victims.    justice minister monica de greiff, 32, went to the united states on 25 august to submit a specific plan on the use of a $2-million u.s. grant to provide security to colombian judges.    el espectador said that "rumors of a possible cabinet reshuffle grew, and it was fully confirmed that justice minister monica de greiff had resigned and will stay for an indefinite period in the united states."    a justice ministry spokesman declined to comment on the newspaper report, but a political source of the ruling party told reuter he had heard the minister was going to resign.    another source said greiff will stay in the united states for 12 days and that she will tender her resignation upon her return.    greiff, who was appointed on 16 july, was asked before leaving the country if she was a wartime or peacetime minister.  she replied: "i am a peacetime minister."    local news media and political sectors interpreted this comment as an advanced notice of her resignation.

unidentified persons

government bank branches

bombs


Input: guatemalan president vinicio cerezo has presented to the venezuelan government a proposal to restructure the san jose agreement.  the proposal covers the supply of oil and the sale of finished products.  another point included is the refinancing of the guatemalan debt with venezuela, which totals $200 million.    the guatemalan president's activities began today at miraflores palace when, prior to the signing of the two agreements, the venezuelan president held a private meeting with his guatemalan counterpart.  the presidents then held a formal work session with the participation of two commissions at the ministerial level.  guatemala, like other countries that benefit from the san jose agreement, are facing the problem of not being able to honor all commitments on debts as they mature.  the restructuring of the san jose agreement was one of the points discussed by president cerezo during a news conference today at the ayacucho room of the presidential palace.    (begin recording) (cerezo) we have proposed a 20-year term to restructure the debt, with a six-year grace period, at four percent interest.  obviously, this has not been the usual procedure at the venezuelan investment fund nor is this included in the san jose agreement.  for these reasons, because this proposal does not fit venezuelan law, we need to discuss and adjust the terms to the law and the san jose agreement.  however, there is willingness to discuss the terms.  we will obviously have to make the same proposal to the mexican government, from whom we expect the same attitude and understanding, and we are certain we will have it. (end recording)    within the formal cerezo visit, two important agreements between venezuela and guatemala were signed today.  one of them is a cooperation and friendship agreement.  another is a scientific and technological cooperation agreement in energy and mining matters, which will strengthen bilateral relations.  as energy and mines minister celestino armas said upon signing the agreements, this will permit carrying out joint oil exploration operations.    (begin recording) (armas) for example, in the area of oil exploration, there are very interesting prospects in guatemala that could result in great interest for guatemala and for venezuela.  with regard to mining, we have been discussing the possibility of making some progress in the mining sector in guatemala and the possibility of helping guatemala discover mineral deposits that could be very attractive for our economies. (end recording)    following the news conference held at the miraflores palace, guatemalan president vinicio cerezo went to the cela (economic comission for latin america).  the cerezo agenda included a dinner he will host tonight for his counterpart carlos andres perez.


Input: a noncommissioned officer and seven policemen were killed today in southern colombia when guerrillas dynamited the vehicle in which they were travelling, huila department authorities have reported.    the sources attributed the attack to members of the 17th front of the revolutionary armed forces of colombia (pro-soviet farc) which operates in that region, about 250 km from bogota.    after ambushing the patrol on a highway leading to san antonio bajo, the rebels stole the policemen's weapons, which consisted of 8 rifles, 2 guns, 1 grenade, and 1,600 cartridges.    combined army and police troops, supported by helicopter gunships, immediately began the pursuit of the rebels who fled toward the eastern mountain region.