Input: calm appears to be returning to the country following the death of one noncommissioned officer and six soldiers on 23 february as a result of guerrilla attacks in five antioquia department municipalities, the kidnapping of a mayor, a government official, and a candidate in cauca department, and the death of a guerrilla in guaviare.    the guerrilla actions began on the evening of 22 february when a large column of the popular liberation army (eln) entered turbo municipality, northeast of antioquia department, and sabotaged the power system leaving the entire area without electricity.  national army spokesmen said that one noncommissioned officer and six soldiers were killed, four were wounded, and 15 others were kidnapped during the attacks against military bases and police installations in segovia by the 4th front of the farc (revolutionary armed forces of colombia).    meanwhile in bogota, military forces commander nelson mejia henao denied that colombia is in guerrilla hands and reaffirmed the troops' unyielding determination to defend national order and democracy.  the highest-ranking officer, who expressed regret over the deaths of the soldiers in segovia, antioquia department, said that this type of incident is normal within the framework of the war that the government is waging against armed subversion.    last night, president virgilio barco vargas, after the closing ceremony of the 25th agrarian congress of the (fac) (expansion unknown), said that the guerrillas are desperate and this is reflected in their actions.  nevertheless, the armed forces will continue to fight subversion anywhere in the country, he added.  the president expressed his satisfaction at the release of santander department senator jorge serrano gonzalez, whom he described as one of the most important people that colombian democracy has at this moment.  he added finally: i hope that is he already at home with his family.

guerrillas

popular liberation army

power system

jorge serrano gonzalez


Input: the salvadoran government maintains its stance regarding the dialogue process and its resumption.  we believe it constitutes the most expedient way to achieve peace in the country, and we are going to continue along that path.    (moderator) aida montalvo.    (montalvo) in regard to the renegotiation of the foreign debt, when are you planning to go to mexico, and how will the salvadoran debt with that country be renegotiated?    (cristiani) the timetable for the trip is still undecided.  there is not definite date.  i think it may take place in april or may of this year.  our first scheduled visit will be to venezuela.    (moderator) carlos mario marquez of agence france presse.    (marquez) (words indistinct) social aspects.  i would like to know what the status is of that, since some support having primary meetings and then a summit, so to speak?    (cristiani) i do not think that is the cause of that problem.  we said that the resumption of the talks must take place when the fmln enters the dialogue process with a serious attitude.  we maintain our stance that they must stop all violence that is directly and indirectly affecting civilians, that is, all the terrorist activities the fmln conducts.  this is a small request that obtained the support of all the central american presidents at the san isidro coronado meeting in costa rica.    i think that this is the cause of the problem.  they have asked for changes in format, and we said we had no problem with most of the requests we have received.  we are now waiting for the fmln, since they asked for time to analyze things a little before having the meeting.  we are awaiting the visit of mr. de soto in early march. obviously, the dialogue has not taken place because there are some differences, (words indistinct).  i think the chief difference is that the fmln does not want to agree to stop terrorist actions, and that is why there is no dialogue now.    (moderator) epigmenio ibarra.    (ibarra) mr. president, yesterday in nicaragua, daniel ortega said at a rally that he will wage a constructive opposition.  he said that the revolution did not die with the elections.  he said that the sandinist national liberation front (fsln) will rule from below.  we sense a pretty complex climate for the transition in nicaragua.  what do you think about daniel ortega's statements?  how do you view the possibility that there may be a true transition from power to power instead of a transition of government in nicaragua?    (cristiani) as i have said before, statements by ortega and other representatives of the sandinist front are a source of concern.  they could indicate that the elections may have been very free and honest, but also a farce as far as improving the democratic process is concerned.  the nicaraguan people would be denied the right to freely pick their rulers and the right of these rulers to act as they deem best.  i would say that the nicaraguan revolution belongs not just to the fsln.  the fsln was one of the participants in the revolution in nicaragua against anastasio somoza.  the fact is that a consensus existed among all sectors that supported that revolution.  the fsln has no monopoly on or exclusive control over that revolution.    i believe that in ideological terms there are differences between the views of ms. chamorro and uno (national opposition union), that is, the new government-elect, and the views of the fsln.  yet, the people picked the government.  it is worrisome to hear some statements that the fsln will rule from below.  we believe they would seek to do that by keeping control over the army.  let me repeat: there is nothing democratic about a political party controlling the army.  the army must respond to the government and the country's democratic process, and not to just one political party.  we believe things have not been settled yet.  we believe that there are still many things left pending.  (continued)


Input: the embassy communique points out that the united states did not submit either one of the two human rights resolutions on guatemala that are currently under discussion in geneva.  according to the observers, this clarification came in reply to statements made by cerezo that the u.s. position in this regard differs from that of most countries within the international community:    (begin recording) (cerezo) all these actions (words indistinct) the united states pointing the finger to human rights issues are aimed at (word indistinct) in geneva, because i have the impression that what it wants at this time is to have guatemala condemned and to a certain extent tarnish our international image, because the success of the esquipulas ii plan gave guatemala, as an autonomous and independent country, a lot of room for action.    that is what it wants to do, because it is not good for large countries to see countries like guatemala, with a certain degree of autonomy and independence, achieve historic successes by showing that our country is right in discussions with certain u.s. groups.  they now want (words indistinct).  my personal opinion is that they now sort of want to get back at us for the esquipulas ii plan.  (end recording)    in reply to these statements by president cerezo, the u.s. embassy pointed out in its communique of 6 march that the u.s. government had supported the esquipulas ii peace process from the very beginning.  it added that ever since the signing of the esquipulas accord, guatemala has received $600 million in u.s. aid.  this shows, according to the embassy, that u.s. support for guatemalan democracy continued to be strong after the signing of the esquipulas ii document.    in any case, from president cerezo's perspective the u.s.  attitude in this situation reflects the traditional inclination of that country's governments throughout history to dictate rules to other nations regarding what they should do.  cerezo compared guatemala's situation in matters of criminal investigation to the situation in several u.s. cities where the police are unable to control crime.  as an example, he cited washington, d.c., where assaults, murders, and crimes frequently related to drug consumption have reached very astonishing levels in the past few years.    as for the departure of ambassador strook, cerezo said that the diplomat has not been withdrawn from guatemala, but returned to the united states for consultations by order of the state department.  in statements made minutes after receiving the credentials of the new frg ambassador, however, cerezo said that his return was, to a certain extent, due to a decision we made.


Input: general gustavo leigh guzman, a former military regime government junta member and former commander in chief of the air force, and air force general enrique ruiz, retired, a partner in leigh's real estate office, were seriously injured during an attack this morning.    according to witnesses' reports, two 23 to 25-year-old individuals walked to gen. leigh's office, on the fourth floor of the building located at 95 luis talle ojeda street.  (passage omitted)    witnesses said they heard two bursts of gunfire: one burst of three shots lasting three seconds and another burst of seven to eight shots lasting longer.  gen. leigh's secretary, joanna santis retamal, came to a window to report the incident.    other reports said that the two individuals broke into the offices and entered gen. leigh's private office.  (passage omitted)    the individuals used 9 mm semiautomatic pistols.  according to the experts, gen. ruiz was hit three times and gen gustavo leigh was hit five times.  the bullets hit gen. leigh in his eye, nose, right arm, right leg, and stomach.    the two attackers then walked down the stairs and escaped toward providencia.  (passage omitted)    the government has expressed its strong condemnation of the attack on gen. gustavo leigh, the former commander in chief of the air force and member of the military regime's government junta.  on his way to the hospital on express orders of the president, interior minister enrique krauss rejected the attack:    (begin recording) (krauss) we have asked the police authorities to fully clarify this incident.  these attitudes and acts do not help in the effort required to reunite all chileans.  (end recording)    krauss said it was a regrettable incident because it hurt the spirit and purpose of the government and opposition's work.  the attack against leigh would make a good pathological study, the minister added.  (passage omitted)    the national coordinating board for political prisoners has said the attack on gustavo leigh does not reflect the current situation in the country.  communist party leader jorge martinez, movement of the revolutionary left (mir) leader carlos ruig, and manuel rodriguez patriotic front (fpmr) leader francisco escobar heard the news while holding a news conference at the prison house.    the fpmr's francisco escobar said he is sure his organization was not involved in the incident because, as he said, we are not going to achieve anything with it.  (passage omitted)    mir representative carlos ruig said that the mir would not carry out any armed action at this time, irrespective of the level of gen. leigh's involvement in past repressions.    communist leader jorge martinez said that he is committed to respecting the democratic transition.  he said that he does not believe that this type of action will contribute to the country's progress and stability.

two 23 to 25-year-old individuals

gustavo leigh guzman

enrique ruiz

9 mm semiautomatic pistols


Input: the panamanian government is prepared to face a rupture of diplomatic relations with mexico and peru to enforce the law, foreign minister dr. julio e. linares asserted when referring to former collaborators of former general noriega who sought shelter in these embassies several weeks ago.    the mexican embassy in panama city has announced that it has granted diplomatic asylum to rafael arosemena, former manager of the national bank of panama.  however, the panamanian authorities have confirmed that they would not grant him a safeconduct to leave the country, and they sent a note to the mexican embassy urging it to desist from offering him protection.    according to the public prosecutor's office, rafael arosemena is involved in authorizing the payment of checks for $12 million, made out to cash by former colonel marcos justines.  meanwhile, heraclides sucre and gonzalo gonzalez, former majors in the now defunct defense forces, have sought asylum at the peruvian embassy in panama city. they are accused of killing major moises giroldi, who led the foiled coup d'etat against noriega in october 1989.    "we are willing to pay whatever price is necessary to enforce the law, because these political refugees are common criminals and they have no right to that benefit," linares stated when asked by critica libre if panama would be willing to stop the people who have sought asylum at the mexican and peruvian embassies from leaving the country without facing a trial for the crimes they reportedly perpetrated during the previous regime.    linares said that panama will maintain its position of not granting safe-conducts to these refugees, even if the mexican and peruvian government insist on granting them diplomatic asylum, and admitted that this will likely create an international conflict.    nevertheless, linares said that he hopes there will be no need to break diplomatic relations with either of these countries, which insist on keeping former collaborators of former gen noriega as refugees, and he emphasized the need to reach an understanding with these nations.    "we hope that relations with mexico will not cool off or reach a breaking point given the affection that unites us as free nations," linares added.    he revealed that the peruvian embassy sent a note to the panamanian government stating that it will continue to give diplomati protection to the refugees in its embassy, because legal proceedings were started against them after they had been accepted by the diplomatic mission.    "we are preparing a note of reply to the peruvian government," foreign minister linares said.    the following persons are still refugees at the ecuadoran embassy: former public works minister rene bultron, former labor minister cesar martans, former national mortgage bank manager julio shaik, former irhe (institute of hydraulic resources and electrification) director leovigildo herrrera, and former tourism director bernardo dominguez.    last week the foreign minister reviewed the possibility of granting safe-conducts to five of these former officials in the previous regime, provided there is no case pending against them.  according to the official, these refugees face charges for plotting against the state's security, a political crime.    referring to the case of former legislator luis gomez, who sought asylum at the cuban embassy, linares said they will have to make an evaluation.


Input: good evening, a communique has just been issued at the national capitol.  the communique has been signed by all the democratic forces of the country, with the exception of the liberal party.  the communique asks the government to offer full guarantees during the elections process and to postpone the elections.  the following is the communique that has been issued in the eliptico room of the national capitol:    (begin recording) (unidentified speaker) we report to the colombian people and the people of the world the following:    1. we once again condemn the vile murder of presidential candidate dr. bernardo jaramillo.  this murder has made evident the lack of guarantees in the country, guarantees that the government has systematically denied the opposition parties.  we reject the manipulations in which official organizations are engaged in connection with investigating this crime.    2. we denounce that the official apparatus is at the service of only one candidate and that it is prepared to establish party predominance that would in practice be a rejection of democratic pluralism.    3. we demand full guarantees for all the forces participating in the elections and equitable access to the state media so that these forces can make known their political positions.    4. we request guarantees that the new electoral system will not have the same difficulties that existed during the 11 march elections, the results of which are still unknown.    5. under the current conditions, we ask our representatives in the national electoral council to abstain from participating in discussions and decisions of that council.    6. in view of these circumstances, we have agreed to temporarily suspend our election campaigns and demand a postponement of the presidential elections scheduled for 27 may.    7. we insist that the ratification of carlos lemos simmonds in the government ministry represents the biggest obstacle to the democratic opposition to finding an institutional interlocutor in national government.    8. we announce the immediate presence of international (words indistinct) to verify that the electoral guarantees we are demanding are granted and to observe the elections process.    9. the permanent committee of the opposition hereby states its decision to work for the formation of a constituent national assembly that must have a democratic and pluralistic composition with the deciding participation of the national (word indistinct) to approve a new constitution and to contribute toward finding political solutions to the social conflict of colombia.  we appeal to the leaders of the country to urge the national government to defend and respect human rights.    10. we reiterate our position that the only way out of the armed conflict in the country is a negotiated political solution.    11. we urge the liberal party to postpone its national convention in solidarity with the patriotic union and the colombian people.    12. we acknowledge the catholic church's call and we will promote this call through this committee.    13. in defense of a pluralistic democracy we will maintain the permanent committee of the opposition we have created.  we hereby ask our followers and all our countrymen to remain on a state of alert.    this committee will hold a new meeting tuesday 27 march, at 1500, in the chamber of representatives.  we urge all political and social forces interested in these objectives to actively participate in this meeting.    resolution;    democratic socialism, the popular movement (words indistinct), the broad front (words indistinct), the nationalist action for peace, and the 19 april movement (m-19) want to leave on record the following:    the negotiation process between the national government and m-19 that began on 10 january 1989 and that produced on 9 march 1990 a peace agreement will be affected by the murder of bernardo jaramillo, but will not result in an end to the search for peace by the two parties.    we will continue to work for a political solution to the armed conflict in colombia.  (end recording)

bernardo jaramillo


Input: fmln-fdr (farabundo marti national liberation front-revolutionary democratic front) terrorist groups have continued their treacherous attacks against civilians and police officers in the capital and throughout the countryside, openly ignoring the agreements reached by their leaders with a government delegation in geneva, switzerland.    the armed forces telecommunications instruction center (citfa) reported that a man and a woman were critically wounded when the vehicle in which they were travelling near olocuilta, la paz department, was machinegunned by fmln terrorists on the evening of 4 april.    the wounded are mauricio campos and concepcion herrera, who were taken to a health center by the red cross, the sources added.    the national police reported that two of its agents and a civilian were fired at by terrorists at 1800 on 4 april, as they inspected a car crash between the highway to comalapa airport and 49th south avenue in the montserrat neighborhood.    "the policemen were machinegunned down by people in a moving vehicle and sustained wounds which have left them in extremely critical condition," a security corps spokesman said.    the two agents were assisted by people who repudiated the attack.    a pedestrian, later identified as manuel alvaro mendoza, was also struck by the bullet and he is at rosales hospital.    a military spokesman also reported that a group of persons who identified themselves as fmln-fdr members kidnapped a peasant, jose manuel posada, near la colmena, in el carmen district, cuscatlan department.    meanwhile, 9-year-old yohalmo antonio ortiz was injured by shrapnel when terrorists threw a bomb at civil defense members in nejapa, north of san salvador, while harassing the paramilitary group's outpost. the boy is at bloom hospital.    in the document signed by the government delegation and the fmln-fdr leaders, the latter pledged not to engage in terrorists attacks that might damage assets or injure persons, but "urban commandos" or "terrorists squads" that operate in san salvador have either not been informed of this resolution or they act independently, the military sources said.    referring to the 2 april car bomb explosion perpetrated in santa tecla, the fmln-fdr claimed responsibility for the attack in a communique, and said that it was "an action aimed directly at the police" and that "they regret the death of a civilian," but they did not mention compensation for the relatives.    also, the fmln-fdr claimed responsibility for the attack on general rafael humberto larios's son-in-law, accusing him of being a military pilot -- when in fact he has been a civilian pilot and he was working in a small automobile spare parts distribution company at the time of the attack.    the young man, otto milla, is still in a coma and his pancreas was removed in the latest surgical operation.

fmln terrorists

fmln-fdr members

urban commandos

farabundo marti national liberation front-revolutionary democratic front

vehicle

paramilitary group's outpost

mauricio campos

concepcion herrera

manuel alvaro mendoza

jose manuel posada

yohalmo antonio ortiz

otto milla

bomb

car bomb


Input: following is a compilation of reports on drug seizures and arrests related to drug trafficking in bureau coverage area from 15 to 21 april. colombia    the colombian police today confiscated a 162 kg shipment of pure cocaine from the caribbean port of santa marta, magdalena department. the cocaine was to be shipped to genoa, italy, it was officially reported.    according to the port police commander major orlando reyes, this shipment is one of the largest confiscated in the past few months. last august the colombian government declared "war" on drug trafficking maffias.    the confiscation of the cocaine occurred as the colombian authorities were pursuing three sicilian gangsters who recently came to colombia to negotiate larger drug shipments to europe with the cartels.  ecuador    early on the morning of 20 april, an ecuadoran army patrol seized a boat sailing the san miguel river and found 83 55-gallon barrels of acetone, which is used to process cocaine.  the boat's destination was apparently putumayo, colombia. one colombian and two ecuadoreans were arrested.   mexico    the federal judicial police has reported that approximately 6.5 tons of marijuana and a clandestine airstrip were found in san juan nepomuceno municipality in chihuahua state.  police arrested 20-year old jose antonio robles garcia and 30-year old jose guadaulupe benavides carbajold. the suspects had attempted to hide the marijuana in papaya shipments to the united states.    mexican drug agents have arrested u.s. citizen steven andrew henry for possession of 8 kg of cocaine.  the police found traces of cocaine when they searched his vehicle on a road near chetumal and when they went to his house on punta puntitic beach, south of cancun, they found 8 kg of cocaine.    federal judicial police agents have arrested five members of a drug trafficking gang and seized 1 kg of pure cocaine at a clandestine airstrip in ocampo municipality in coahuila state.  the police arrested abelica garcia sanchez, francisco vasquez sanchez, alfredo villareal guzman, jesus presas arredondo, and fernando quintela galindo.  the airstrip was being used to bring in drugs from colombia. the drugs were then unloaded and taken to the united states through santa elena, located 40 km from piedritas.    federal judicial police agents have arrested three u.s. citizens and a mexican who operated a clandestine laboratory to produce crack in puerto penasco, sonora state.  john murphy, diana foster, dany childres, and jose gonzalez oliva were arrested.    attorney general enrique alvarez del castillo reported in ixtapa on 20 april that the police seized 2.2 tons of pure cocaine when they arrested the members of a drug trafficking gang in caborca, sonora state.    the mexican police have dealt a huge blow to drug trafficking by seizing more than 1.5 tons of cocaine base during an operation in culiacan, sinaloa state.  drug agents arrested three members of the drug trafficking gang.    police in sonora, mexico seized 2,536 kg of pure cocaine, the largest seizure of the year so far, it was announced today.  at a news conference the authorities said that the cocaine was seized between 17 and 19 april near the town of caborca, where police discovered clandestine landing strips, presumably used by airplanes coming from colombia.  during a shootout between policemen and approximately 10 presumed drug traffickers, nine of the latter escaped and one was captured.  since president salinas de gortari took office in december 1988, mexican authorities have seized more than 45 tons of cocaine.


Input: good afternoon, we have just received a statement issued by president virgilio barco vargas concerning the murder of mr.  carlos pizarro leongomez.  the message reads as follows:    carlos pizarro's murder is a monstrous crime that has cut short the life of a man who had shown his will for peace and his commitment to colombia.  the crime was directed at hindering the development of the electoral process and destroying the reconciliation process that the government and m-19 (19 april movement) carefully constructed, surpassing many obstacles.  in this case, as in many others, this painful tragedy should serve to consolidate the ideals of peace and pluralism for which so many colombians have struggled -- one of them, carlos pizarro.  it should serve to reassert our repudiation of violence and our faith in democratic procedures.    further on the president's message notes:    pizarro's relatives and his followers know that the government, and i personally, feel strong wrath and sadness, but we will not be discouraged.  we will uphold the banners of reconciliation, pluralism, and the right to freely and peacefully express any idea.  we will also continue to unmask and combat enemies of peace.    the president adds in his message:    i interpret the desire of all colombians who admired carlos pizarro's democratic vocation, by warning those who are responsible for this tragic murder that they will not manage to destroy what has been worked for so hard and with the support of political forces and the people who voted for peace on 11 march to open a road for peace that is clear, possible, and defined.    the president's message continues:    you know that during this peace process, many enemies and difficulties were surpassed, but none has been so large as this tragedy that has shaken all colombians.  the obligation that lies before us is to keep open the road to peace that the murderers of carlos pizarro want to destroy.  article 95 of the electoral code indicates that when a presidential candidate dies, another person in his own movement has the right to take his place.  in compliance with this norm, the government will offer every facility for the registry of a new m-19 presidential candidate, so that he can continue to hoist the flags of peace and pluralism as is proper for a democratic debate.    the president also says in his message:    i have asked the government minister and the peace adviser to meet as soon as possible with m-19 representatives so that together they may study alternatives to confront such a serious situation. as soon as possible, the government minister will also direct contacts with the rest of the political forces to request their opinions about the present situation and to continue to give all the necessary guarantees so that the electoral process may develop according to what is established in the constitution and our laws.    the message ends:    i invite all colombians who are tired of so much violence to come to the polls in the next elections and vote for peace and pluralism. i invite all political and social forces to join in solidarity with the electoral process and defend the institutions that are threatened by violence.  it is time for good sense and prudence.  it is time to rise to the occasion and show our commitment to democracy.    this is the text of president virgilio barco's message on the murder mr. carlos pizarro leongomez.

carlos pizarro leongomez


Input: guerrilla groups have reported 185 salvadoran armed forces casualties during clashes which occurred in the last few hours in six of the country's 14 departments, but the army claims that it only sustained 48 casualties in those clashes.    according to radio farabundo marti, a radio station of the guerrilla group, the casualties were sustained by the armed forces in clashes which occurred on 1 and 2 may and early this morning when several ambushes, attacks, and sabotage aimed at the economy were carried out in several places throughout the country.    radio farabundo marti has reported that the military actions, the largest since the rebel offensive in november 1989, which resulted in thousands of casualties, is part of the "with the workers and for democracy" military campaign.    the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln), which does not give details on its casualties, has said that the armed forces sustained 30 casualties in ilobasco, cabanas department, located approximately 55 km from san salvador.    nevertheless, according to military reports issued eight hours after the clashes in that town, the armed forces killed 11 guerrilla members and sustained six casualties.    radio farabundo marti has also reported that the guerrila forces caused 28 army casualties in clashes on 2 may in la laguna, chalatenango department, located approximately 90 km north of san salvador.    the armed forces press committee (coprefa) admitted that the government troops sustained 11 casualties in these clashes, adding that they inflicted three casualties on the rebels.  coprefa also reported that 26 houses were damaged.    coprefa also reports that military actions have occurred in cabanas, la libertad, chalatenango, santa ana, la libertad, and san salvador departments during the past two days.  in some places the electrical systems were sabotaged, causing long blackouts.    the guerrilla forces' general command issued a communique in san salvador on 2 may, stating that the military actions are in response to "the triumphant and arrogant attitude of the government and the military, for the fmln's alleged weakness, which precludes the negotiation process."    the communique reasserts their willingness to continue the negotiation process with the government to end a war which has lasted more than a decade.  the negotiation process is being undertaken with the mediation of un secretary general javier perez de cuellar.    perez de cuellar's special envoy, alvaro de soto, arrived in san salvador on 2 may as part of the negotiations.  he met with president alfredo cristiani and the national dialogue commission today, and later he will meet with other leaders.    guillermo ungo, secretary general of the social democratic national revolutionary movement (mnr), told acan-efe that opposition leaders could "possibly" meet with fmln delegates in mexico city to learn their views concerning the negotiations.    "the meeting will have an open agenda so that everyone's position can be heard and so that the role of the political parties in the negotiations can be determined," ungo said.

guerrilla members

government troops

armed forces

farabundo marti national liberation front

houses

electrical systems


Input: salvadoran president alfredo cristiani stated today that it would be no problem for the fourth penal judge, who is in charge of the case of the jesuits murdered by a group of soldiers, to order that cadets who are taking courses abroad return to the country.  it was recently reported that several officers who testified during these investigations are now attending training courses abroad.  it was also reported that the military school's registration book for persons entering or leaving the premises had been lost, including the pages that correspond to november 1989. today, cristiani talked about this matter and said the judge should continue to investigate and not just make statements concerning the problems.    (begin recording) (cristiani) i do not believe there is any problem in the officers returning to the country if a judge orders that they come to testify.  all that is required is for the judge to summon them; they would be brought to the country to testify and, after that, returned to their training courses.  groups of soldiers are frequently sent abroad to take training courses to make them more professional; this applies not only to personnel from the military school, but from all armed forces units.    concerning the other matter, the judge has to investigate it.  i believe that instead of just staying there, the judge should continue to search for evidence.  tell me, what is the difference if they are brought back from suchitoto or from the united states if they must testify before the judge?  there is no difference at all.  (end recording)    the president spoke today at the el salvador military airport before he left for costa rica to attend the inauguration ceremony of president-elect rafael calderon fournier.  he also said that the united states conditioning 50 percent of the aid given to our country could cause the rebel front to increase their actions.  he accused the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) of using dialogue for tactical reasons.    (begin recording) (cristiani) we have stated that an action of this type would be very untimely, as it could make the most radical fmln members decide to continue the war and, thus, hinder the dialogue process.    (reporter) however, (words indistinct) pressure government for them (words indistinct) with fmln.    (cristiani) i would ask the question: who has always showed goodwill and sincerely sought an agreement and who has not done this? history shows that in the past, the fmln has used the proposals by (jose napoleon) duarte's government and my own for tactical reasons. it has not been the governments.  i believe that the fmln must understand and be pressured to really search for a political solution. (end recording)    also today, the un secretary general authorized a spokesman to announce that talks between the government and fmln will be renewed on 16 may.  the panorama that surrounds this new encounter, however, presents an entirely different pattern from meetings in the past, because both sectors have met with political parties represented at the (word indistinct).  furthermore, although the government has not done the same with the country's social forces, the rebels will try to do so this week.  undoubtedly, the results that could be obtained from the dialogue could be much more important than those obtained during past negotiations, because almost all the sectors that have become involved, directly or indirectly, in the negotiating demand that the agreements attained be based on internal cooperation.

group of soldiers


Input: official sources have reported blackouts in many parts of the country because of guerrillas sabotaging the electric power system during the night of 31 may and the morning of 1 june.    according to a military bulletin, the guerrillas destroyed 12 electric poles and 2 power pylons in the central and western parts of the country in less than 12 hours.    in the eastern part of the country, the lempa river hydroelectric executive commission (cel) reported that one of the country's main power lines was out of service on the morning of 1 june because a number of pylons were destroyed.    the armed forces press committee (coprefa) reported that on the morning of 1 june guerrillas, using mortars and rifles, attacked a cel sub-station in the natividad canton in the western department of santa ana. there were no casualties, but the guerrillas had damaged a transformer.    on the morning of 1 june, there was a blackout throughout most of the capital caused by urban commandos of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).    the guerrillas have increased their activity on the first anniversary of president alfredo cristiani's government.  cristinai is scheduled to address the nation on 1 june to comment on his first year in office.    the army has increased its patrols aided by helicopters that overfly the capital city.    coprefa reported that one soldier was killed and seven were wounded on 1 june during an ambush of a military convoy near texistepeque, west of san salvador.    according to coprefa, another soldier was wounded in a guerrilla ambush against the elite bracamonte battalion on a highway in central el salvador.

urban commandos of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln)

farabundo marti national liberation front

electric poles

power pylons

cel sub-station

transformer

mortars

rifles


Input: cauhtemoc cardenas, national coordinator for the party of the democratic revolution (prd), said during a news conference on 7 june that the visit to mexico by salvadoran president alfredo cristiani is a visit by "a repressive ruler who oppresses a large sector of his people."    at the same news conference, prd senator porfiiro munoz ledo said that, as a sign of protest, his party will not attend the 8 june congressional session, which will be attended by cristiani. munoz, who is deputy for the federal district, said that "cristiani is the head of a repressive government that is guilty of flagrant human rights violations."    he said that "there is evidence that cristiani was involved in the murder of the six jesuit priests" which occurred on 16 november in san salvador.  he also referred to the "illegal" arrest on 31 may of mexican professor maria eugneia ochoa garcia, whom the salvadoran government accused of having connections with the salvadoran guerrillas.  she was released on 7 june.

salvadoran president alfredo cristiani

government


Input: police sources have reported that unidentified individuals planted a bomb in front of a mormon church in talcahuano district. the bomb, which exploded and caused property damage worth 50,000 pesos, was placed at a chapel of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints located at no 3856 gomez carreno street.    the shock wave destroyed a wall, the roof, and the windows of the church, but did not cause any injuries.    carabineros bomb squad personnel immediately went to the location and discovered that the bomb was made of 50 grams of an-fo (ammonium nitrate-fuel oil blasting agents) and a slow fuse.    carabineros special forces soon raided a large area to try to arrest those responsible for the attack, but they were unsuccessful.    the police have already informed the appropriate authorities, that is, the national prosecutor and the talcahuano criminal court, of this attack.

unidentified individuals

chapel of the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints located at no 3856 gomez carreno street

bomb

ammonium nitrate-fuel oil blasting agents


Input: the prosecutor of the military court trying the people responsible for the killing of 124 inmates accused of terrorist activities held in the lurigancho prison on 19 june 1986 has asked for 25 years imprisonment for the person responsible for the killing.    prosecutor juan carbone herrera requested the 25 years imprisonment for general rolando cabezas alarcon of the republican guard "for ordering the shooting of 124 of the san pedro prison inmates (lurigancho)."    the lima daily expreso said that the prosecutor disclosed that "after they surrendered, the inmates who had been rioting in the industrial wing of the prison were forced out through a hole in the wall to the back yard, where they were murdered by troops under the command of republican guard lieutenant oswaldo marquina."    on orders from gen cabezas, lt marquina and the men under his command opened fire on the inmates, who were killed almost instantly.    prosecutor carbone asked 15 years for marquina, who alone killed 22 inmates. (passage omitted)    according to carbone, no measures were taken to make the inmates stop rioting, nor was an operation planned to regain control over inmates, and the killing was not stopped by the officers who were there.    prosecutor carbone also requested 6 years for general jorge rabanal, who was in charge of the operation, "because he could have prevented the massacre had he coordinated actions with gen cabezas."


Input: today peruvian military officials established a curfew in tingo maria because of the strike by peasants and coca growers to protest the destruction of their coca fields.    since 20 august the strikers have been blocking the road linking huanuco with tingo maria, huanuco department, in the northern jungle where there is drug traffic activity.    the strikers also blocked the marginal de la selva highway, isolating tocache, uchiza, juanjui, and aucayacu, which are well-known centers for drug trafficking.    the strike is supported by the shining path, according to reports disclosed in lima today.    the coca growers oppose the use of the herbicide called "spike," which the government is planning to use to destroy the clandestine coca plantations.    according to unofficial sources, a group of terrorists linked to drug trafficking reportedly wounded a police officer in an attack on a police helicopter. terrorists also attacked a civil guard post in nuevo progreso, north of tingo maria, ucayali department.


Input: the military court upheld the indictment of felipe sandoval, youth sector president of the christian democratic party, who was tried for offending carabineros.  the military court also decided to release sandoval on bail. he was arrested on 17 august. the court decision was 3 to 1.    also today, military prosecutor fernando torres silva met with supreme court president luis maldonado for 30 minutes to discuss several issues related to cases under torres' jurisdiction, such as the attack on general pinochet and the kidnapping of colonel carreno.    it was learned that torres officially submitted a request for the extradition of three chileans arrested near buenos aires, who are reportedly linked to the kidnapping of col carreno. the supreme court must now process that request.


Input: aminta platero was killed when her car was hit by another car driven by former deputy public security minister rinaldo golcher. at the time of the accident, golcher was accompanied by u.s. military attache angel menendez. the incident occurred at 0100 on 26 august at the intersection of west 1st street and north 51st avenue. col golcher was supposedly in israel where he was sent as the salvadoran government's military attache; however, the well-known leader of the death squads was seen at 0100 in downtown san salvador accompanied by none other than the u.s. military representative in our country. this happened only hours after colonel (adolfo arnoldo) majano's bodyguards were murdered.    the circumstances surrounding this incident raise several questions. what were these two soldiers doing at 0100? where were golcher's bodyguards? where were his companion's bodyguards? the two men were probably returning from a corruption center, a night club--one of those exclusive clubs where the u.s. advisers and other u.s. and salvadoran government officials spend the dollars they steal from the funds allotted to el salvador and where they plan crimes against the people.    much more could be said; however, the truth is that the incident was no mere accident. mrs platero is another victim of the madness affecting an army directed by u.s.  advisers. there is not much difference between this incident and the hurling of a grenade by a soldier driven crazy by the psychological terrorism practiced by the army advisers and chiefs. there is no doubt in our minds that golcher will not be tried for this new crime, just as he has not been tried for the many crimes he has been responsible for as chief of the repressive corps and death squads.


Input: a corporal and a guerrilla have been killed in the most recent clashes between the army and the fmln.  according to military reports, corporal alexander molina granados was killed as he was trying to defuse a mine placed by the insurgents on la noria bridge, in san marcos lempa. according to military authorities, a lieutenant and five civilians who were passing through the area at the time were injured by the explosion.    meanwhile, troops of the civiplan battalion killed an fmln guerrilla in a skirmish on the slopes of la cruz hill in chalatenango department.    residents of quetzaltepeque reported that the rebels downed an electric tower last night on the outskirts of the town.

insurgents

fmln

la noria bridge

electric tower

alexander molina granados

mine


Input: the general management of aerolineas de nicaragua, aeronica, condemned yesterday's attack on its regional offices in guatemala city. aeronica general manager julio rocha said: we condemn these terrorist actions, endorsed by u.s. imperialism. he described the action as a political attack. once again we have witnessed actions by guatemalan rightist sectors which, endorsed by u.s. imperialism, are trying to intimidate us and to block the development of our national airline, rocha added.    the general manager added that the guatemalan police are in charge of the investigations to find the perpetrators of the attack who, using an unidentified vehicle, hurled two fragmentation grenades at aeronica's regional offices in guatemala city. (passage omitted)

guatemalan rightist sectors

aeronica's regional offices

fragmentation grenades


Input: opposition sectors and extremist movements are preparing for violent actions, including bombings and attacks on private property, for 30 august when the name of the plebiscite candidate will be announced. this was stated by copper workers union leader guillermo medina, who said that according to information he has and what has been published in the press, it is easy to see that such violent actions have been planned.    medina also said that the government decision to lift the states of exception is positive, although it will benefit a vociferous minority. medina said that 70 percent of the silent majority is not concerned about living under states of exception because they are working people concerned only with their labor activities.


Input: very reliable security sources have reported that the clandestine entry of fpmr (manuel rodriguez patriotic front) members, who fought alongside the marxist angolan government, has recently been detected in the country.    the extremists, all chilean nationals selected from fpmr members, first completed their theoretical training in guerrilla warfare in cuba before traveling to angola with cuban troops. the cubans were assigned to the defense of the marxist government that is fighting against the unita rebels. having finished their practical training in a country where approximately 50,000 troops are stationed, these fpmr terrorists returned to cuba, from where they traveled to europe, before finally returning to chilean territory.    the sources said that these terrorists are "sleepers" and will be ready to act in major terrorist operations, about which the security services have some information. (passage omitted)


Input: rancagua -- the national vanguard offices in this city were attacked on 29 july at 2220.  unidentified individuals detonated a bomb that damaged the windows of the national vanguard offices and those of the neighboring houses.

unidentified individuals

national vanguard offices

neighboring houses

bomb


Input: dear mr president:    on the road toward achieving peace, we have often experienced setbacks and difficult times. powerful forces are trying to justify violence and war every time diplomatic channels or commitments are not followed or met.    when there is an armed struggle and when thousands are killed on the battlefield, those who promote violence never conclude from those useless killings that war is futile. they do not believe that peace can be achieved through dialogue and negotiation.    it will always be easier to rectify mistakes when the weaknesses are political or when errors are made on the road to peace. we cannot bring the dead back to life, and violence born of hatred takes a long time to heal.    i believe, mr president, that it would be encouraging if you were to rectify some political decisions your government made following the unfortunate incidents at nandaime.  it is important to reopen the communications media that are closed. it is necessary to release the prisoners and to revoke the sentences imposed upon them as punishment for involvement in those incidents.  the peace plan to which we are committed obliges us to restore confidence as soon as possible. our most sacred commitment is to continue progressing on the path toward democratization.    it is imperative that your government and the nicaraguan contras resume negotiations to secure a permanent end to military actions in nicaragua. this could very well be an encouraging example for many central american and other countries. i offer you our costa rican territory for the resumption of such negotiations. i also offer you all the assistance within my means to enable such negotiations to take place.    i understand that you will attend the upcoming inaugural ceremony in ecuador. i believe it would be a sign of confidence in the future of peace, a noble gesture toward rodrigo borja, and would aid in strengthening the ecuadoran democratic process if you attended the ceremony in quito after reversing the setbacks incurred as a result of antidemocratic actions, such as penalizing the communications media and depriving men and women of their liberty.    only if we have the strength to correct our mistakes and the vision to continue on the path outlined in the peace plan can central americans prevent the continuance of the armed aggression against our peoples. a latin american commitment to peace also requires efforts to achieve independence and democracy. we will not be granted another political opportunity to forge history. it is unlikely that there will be a new opportunity for reconciliation to allow today's youth a different future, a new opportunity to put aside their weapons and to work for a better future.


Input: today it was reported that yesterday the peruvian police confiscated weapons belonging to the dea, a u.s. organization engaged in the fight against drug trafficking. the arms were in the possession of three members of an international criminal group called the green leaf. (passage omitted)    after an intense shoot-out in the ate-vitarte district of lima, personnel of the anti-terrorist directorate have arrested (name indistinct) reyes, 44; carlos alonso rivera, 39; and guillermo zevallos, 36. they have been charged with drug trafficking.    the police caught the drug traffickers selling drugs on the street in broad daylight. police confiscated two u.s.-made 45 caliber automatic pistols bearing the dea acronym and 6 kg of cocaine hydrochloride worth $500,000.


Input: a judge has ordered the release of former captain alvaro sanabria, who is implicated in the assassination of msgr oscar arnulfo romero, because of contradictory statements by a key witness. court sources have explained, however, that the constitutional court will now have to decide whether or not to accept the acquittal of the soldier.    the decision issued by justice romeo aurora acquitting and ordering the release of the former captain was made, according to the document, because amado antonio garay reyes--the alleged driver of the person who assassinated msgr romero--cannot be considered a reliable witness.    the judgement presented to the constitutional court notes that this witness has made statements that contradict testimony he gave at the 4th criminal court 7 years after the crime was committed. for this reason, the judge, based on articles 497 and 498 of the penal code and article 53 of the constitutional procedures law has ruled that there is no merit for arresting the military man, who has been tried in absentia.    however, court officials have explained that this document issued by judge aurora is only a report on his ruling, which according to the law can be either revoked or confirmed by the constitutional court. for this reason, this decision is not being viewed as a final ruling. (passage omitted)

former captain alvaro sanabria

oscar arnulfo romero


Input: today luis caceres, ucr secretary general and a national deputy, promised chilean radical party (pr) leader ricardo navarrete that a delegation of ucr leaders will be sent to observe the plebiscite that will decide chile's institutional future in early october 1988.    during a news conference held with the chilean pr leader, who said (words indistinct) that an opinion contrary to the continuation of general augusto pinochet as chilean president will prevail in the plebiscite.    the no vote will win because chileans are fed up with the past 15 years of suffering, including torture, killings, and humiliation, said navarrete. he added that the opposition will monitor the balloting, thus safeguarding the plebiscite from any fraudulent actions.    on 30 august, the top authorities in the chilean regime will nominate their candidate--it is taken for granted that it will be pinochet--so that the citizenry can vote yes or no in the plebiscite, thus deciding whether this candidate will govern the country for the next 9 years.    navarrete added that after the victory of the no vote, the opposition will ask for another plebiscite in order to ammend the constitution promulgated by the current regime in 1980 so as to ensure a call for democratic, free, and open general elections. nevertheless, navarrete noted: if we are defeated honestly, we will respect the plebiscite's outcome, although we will continue to struggle.


Input: bogota inravision television cadena 1 in spanish at 1730 gmt on 1 september broadcasts approximately 3 minutes of reports by national police director general jose guillermo medina sanchez, who confirms that 15 civilians were killed "tuesday night" in el tomate, canaletes municipality, cordoba department, by a gang "possibly belonging to the popular liberation army." the initial report mentions 10 killed, but gen medina mentions "12 killed, 15 injured, and 26 shacks burned." the reporter asks gen medina if those who were killed belonged to a civil defense group, gen medina says they did not. in another report, which lasts 1 minute, the announcer says president virgilio barco will tonight disclose his government's peace proposal, which contains three basic points: "regional dialogue, demobilization, handing over of weapons, and pardon." the rest of this report gives the 40-year background of violence.  near the end of the cast, the announcer adds to the initial report on the el tomate attack with a 3-minute update that adds "2 injured, 21 houses destroyed, and 1 bus burned." reporter osvaldo castilla describes video images of how the area was left. castilla reports that "tuesday night, while residents slept or watched television, 30 guerrillas dressed in military uniforms set the shacks on fire, indiscriminately shooting those who ran for their lives, while spraying gasoline on others and setting them on fire." the announcer says that besides the dead, there are several people missing, and that the attackers left slogans painted on walls. the announcer says the attack is thought to have been carried out by an army of national liberation group.

gang "possibly belonging to the popular liberation army."

30 guerrillas dressed in military uniforms

popular liberation army

army of national liberation

houses

bus

fire


Input: early this morning, two powerful bombs rocked san salvador's metropolitan area. according to reports, the bombs were planted by fmln urban guerrillas.  the powerful bombs were planted in two government vehicles, license plates 6906 and 6895, used by the rural basic health plan section of the health ministry.  the destroyed cars were parked at first street west and 21st avenue north. the bombs, planted under the car hoods, shattered the windshields and destroyed the car bodies. strangely enough, the rebels did not leave leaflets, as is their custom. (passage omitted)    in a communique read this afternoon over the phone, the fmln general command claimed responsibility for the destruction of the two vehicles. they said this is part of the urban guerrillas' latest campaign to sabotage government property.

fmln urban guerrillas

fmln general command

fmln general command

government vehicles, license plates 6906 and 6895, used by the rural basic health plan section of the health ministry

two powerful bombs


Input: in recent military operations, armed forces units killed one rebel, seized 45,000 cartridges and other war materiel, and destroyed an underground hideout.    the terrorist died in a clash with 6th infantry brigade units. the soldiers had detected an fmln column deploying near la arana hill in estanzuelas, usulutan department.    the 1st infantry brigade also reported that libertad battalion troops found an underground warehouse near the el castano farm in nejapa, north of san salvador. in the warehouse, the brigade units found 45,000 cartridges of various calibers and a large amount of material for manufacturing explosives.    in addition, atlacatl battalion counterinsurgency units recently seized 15 fragmentation grenades, 5 claymore mines, 5 booby traps, 10 units of tnt, loaded cartridge clips, and 7 knapsacks containing civilian clothing, olive-green uniforms, and communist propaganda. these items were apparently left behind by wounded rebels who managed to flee after a clash with the battalion members at the foot of el chino hill in san francisco morazan, chalatenango department.    furthermore, 2d infantry brigade units patrolling the zone of el rodeo in el congo, santa ana department, discovered a 200-meter underground hideout big enough to conceal at least 250 insurgents. the brigade units proceeded to destroy the hideout.


Input: interior, migration, and justice minister juan carlos duran has said that since 1985 president victor paz estenssoro's administration made great progress in the struggle against drug trafficking for the benefit of bolivian society.    the interior minister said that the current administration has obtained great achievements in its struggle against drug traffiking by eliminating 80 percent of this illegal activity.    duran said that during paz' administration about 1,000 people connected with drug trafficking have been arrested, 1,000 cocaine laboratories have been destroyed, and 20 tons of drugs have been confiscated.    he said that bolivian society has witnessed these achievements as part of the government's effort to eradicate drug trafficking from the national territory.    the interior minister expressed great annoyance at an article published by the newspaper el pais, of madrid, spain, in which felipe kempff, son of the murdered bolivian scientist noel kempff, asserts that the bolivian and u.s. governments allow the manufacturing of cocaine and use the procedes to finance the international struggle against communism.    duran said: "i will ask the district prosecutor to summon felipe kempff to court in order to make him tell everything he knows. he must say to whom the cocaine laboratories belong, how much drug it can process, and whom it benefits."    after felipe kempff reported the alleged existence of a second cocaine laboratory in huanchaca, the special antinarcotics forces raided the area for 15 days and were unable to find any other laboratory except for one that was dismantled in 1986, minister duran said.

noel kempff


Input: two terrorist attacks were carried out in lima last night.    the lima agrarian unit (unidad agraria de lima) and the economy ministry were the targets of the insane terrorist actions.    a powerful bomb exploded in the front of departmental agrarian unit no 6, located on block no 5 of uruguay avenue. the attack came at approximately 2230 last night. members of the civil guard, the republican guard antiexplosives brigade, and the peruvian investigative police went to the site of the explosion.    the members of the republican guard antiexplosives brigade are investigating to determine the magnitude of the bomb used in this attack. (recorded passage omitted)    the economy and finance ministry building was another target of the terrorists' actions this evening. the terrorists planted a bomb inside a vehicle belonging to emol entero. the bomb went off at approximately 2230.  (recorded passage omitted)

terrorists

departmental agrarian unit no 6

economy and finance ministry building

vehicle belonging to emol entero

powerful bomb


Input: the chilean human rights committee has handed general pinochet a public petition requesting him to explain to the country some serious crimes, which cannot be denied, that occurred during his term in office.  this petition expresses the concern of the chilean people regarding these crimes.    the petition was released by representatives of the chilean human rights committee, which is headed by lawyer jaime castillo velasco and maximo pacheco, who was education minister during president eduardo frei's administration.    the petition, which is addressed to mr augusto pinochet ugarte--appointed president of the republic for another period of government (as heard) and the highest executive branch representative for the past 15 years--points out some serious human rights violations, which must be explained.    these violations occurred during the period following 11 september 1973, when national life became uncontrollable, several homes were raided, and many people were harassed and killed. the petition also requests clarification on cases of people who inexplicably have been missing since their arrest for reasons still unknown.  (passage omitted)    through its children and adolescents' department, the chilean human rights committee has explained its concern over the use of children in propaganda spots supporting the yes-vote, which are broadcast on television.  (passage omitted)    the communique released by the human rights committee ends by urging the advertisement professionals who created this type of propaganda to be more creative and positive instead of adding horror to the pain of the chilean nation.


Input: three new terrorist attacks were carried out early this morning, at an airport in barranquilla, at the communist party headquarters in florencia, and at the cerro azul military installations in uraba. the police confirmed that unidentified individuals armed with machineguns attacked the colombian air force installations in the capital of atlantico. there were no casualties.    the malambo area, close to the barranquilla international airport, where the air base is located, was immediately militarized. guards at the site repelled the attack, which was apparently staged by guerrillas.    similarly, it was learned that a bomb exploded today at the communist party headquarters in the capital of caqueta, causing considerable property damage. it was immediately announced that no one had been injured or killed in the extremist action.    it was also announced that suspected subversives staged another attack on the installations of the battalion stationed in uraba at cerro azul, near turbo.    these terrorist attacks took place 1 day after the serious attack launched at the 2d army division headquarters in bucaramanga, which resulted in seven people injured and considerable property damage, affecting nine homes.

terrorist

communist party headquarters

2d army division headquarters

homes

bomb


Input: last night in san clemente district, 9 km north of pisco, a group of terrorists dynamited machinery belonging to albolones peruanos, inc.    approximately 20 terrorists barged into the plant armed with submachineguns and molotov cocktails and overpowered some 20 workers in order to dynamite some machinery.  after doing so, the terrorists fled from the site.    members of the security forces responded and asked for support from the city of ica.

approximately 20 terrorists

machinery belonging to albolones peruanos, inc

molotov cocktails


Input: the plan included several points. the purpose of this plan was to pressure general noriega to resign from his military post in late august.    the psychological objectives of this plan were: to intensify and spread the repudiation of noriega within the fdp; to intensify and spread the repudiation of noriega's collaborators by mentioning specific names; to convince noriega that he had lost fdp support and that his regime was unsustainable; to convince noriega's panamanian collaborators that he had lost fdp support and that his regime was unsustainable; to convince foreign governments and noriega allies, particularly cuba and nicaragua, that he had lost fdp support and that his government was unsustainable; to convince governments that were hostile to noriega, especially venezuela and colombia, that he had lost fdp support and that his regime was unsustainable; to convince foreign revolutionary movements that dealt with noriega, such as the fmln and the m-19, that he had lost fdp support and that his regime was unsustainable; and to move the anti-noriega sector within the fdp to support specific actions against noriega's regime.    the fdp members, officers, and troops were the targets of this plan.  we see how some were taken in by the psychological operations plan.  the targets of this plan were gen noriega, noriega's panamanian collaborators within the fdp, some civilians, foreign governments that are noriega's allies, foreign governments that are hostile to noriega, and foreign revolutionary organizations that deal with noriega. they identified all of noriega's vulnerabilities, as well as the vulnerabilities of all the targets we have already mentioned.    there were certain themes used in these psychological operations, and the media fell for them many times. this is why we repeatedly asked them not to fall for this misinformation.    these themes included: by imposing his arbitrary nature and corruption, noriega is perverting the fdp and promoting the disintegration of that military institution.  the fdp have become a mafia that is heading toward disgrace. this is a topic that has been discussed in leaflets and many publications.    by disrupting the constitutional order at his whim, noriega is provoking a profound social, economic, and political crisis that is ruining the country. this is done to hide those who are truly responsible for the crisis we are experiencing. the longer noriega remains in power, the more probable becomes a u.s., cuban, or soviet intervention.  the domestic and international conflicts provoked by noriega negatively affect the personal well-being of the fdp members and their families.    noriega's fall is inevitable and the fdp should not fall with him. to save the fdp and the republic of panama, the fdp must remove noriega from office. this is why there were siren songs that an internal coup was under way.    the state security organizations have been following this case for 5 months and we know the fugitives are in the united states. we know where they left from. no one can deny the association of certain u.s. citizens who are involved in this operation with the panamanian groups that were captured.    we have the evidence, the weapons, the instruments used for misinformation, the plans, and the maps with the targets for violence. important people who were going to be kidnapped had also been marked on these maps. they had marked the bridges that were to be destroyed.    gentlemen, we know the power of weapons and we know how to use them.  we know the damage they can do. therefore, before there was a violent confrontation between the panamanian people and their fdp, we went one step ahead of their plans. if arrests were made, it was because we wanted to avoid a confrontation with inexperienced groups that allowed themselves to be used for the personal benefit of those who received, with a siren song, the promise of the panamanian people's $30 million that eric arturo delvalle was going to use for subversive acts, bloody acts to bathe our people in blood, as in the case of the struggle of our brother countries in latin and central america.    we will not permit that. that is why we decided to go one step ahead and foil these plans that have a certain purpose and that would result in mourning and pain for panamanian families.    we have the evidence and those who were arrested were damn well arrested: alberto conte, fred boyd, and all those people who have been working behind the scenes so eduardo herrera and friends can live like kings in the united statets, so they can live their lives drinking champagne and eating pheasant.    eduardo herrera was dismissed from a diplomatic post for smuggling 40 boxes of whiskey per week into israel.  he is the kind of person protected by the pentagon and elliott abrams. he is elliott abrams' hero.    theresa wellington of the (u.s.) embassy in mexico, who gave these people--who left panama for mexico-- their visas in 10 minutes by abrams' orders, has also become one of our people's enemies. (end recording) (continued)


Input: this morning at approximately 0630 the christian democratic party (pdc) headquarters in the city of arica was attacked. the pdc's premises are located at 683 sotomayor street, in the downtown area of the city. the identity of the attackers is unknown.    the report was filed by former congressman humberto balza, the president of the pdc's local chapter, who has also received death threats in the past few hours.    this is what balza told radio chilena's "primera plana" feature:    (balza) (begin recording) unidentified individuals attacked the pdc's premises, located at 683 sotomayor street, breaking the windows of the premises and trying to break down the door. luckily, our guard went outside to see what was happening and the attackers took off, leaving abundant yes-vote propaganda with the photograph of the candidate. the attackers also shouted threats against the members of the party's board.    we have already told the arica public, but now we want all of the chilean public to know, that the supporters of the yes-vote are desperate, because they see there are now more no-vote supporters than yes-vote supporters.    this is why the latter are threatening people, why they are trying to steal identity cards, and why they are resortig to any type of action that will create unrest in order to give confidence to the supporters of the yes-vote and to create an atmosphere for any type of action to be taken on 5 october. (end recording) (passage omitted)

supporters of the yes-vote

unidentified individuals

pdc's premises

humberto balza


Input: two soldiers and a rebel were killed in skirmishes around the country in the past few hours. military reports state that a national guard officer was killed while fighting an fmln attack near jucuapa. another report indicates that the authorities have identified the corpse of policeman david diaz cortez, who was killed at daybreak today in a skirmish by rebels against suchitoto military.    a rebel was killed during a skirmish with the army near tecoluca, san vicente department. finally, the armed forces reported that the fmln on wednesday destroyed antel (national administration for telecommunications) installations in san francisco chinameca, la paz department.

fmln


Input: fifteen soldiers were killed today in colombia during an ambush by farc communist guerrillas in caqueta's southern jungles, military sources reported from florencia, the capital in that area of the country.    another 13 soldiers were wounded in the same attack.    reports at 2345 gmt on 2 october were partial, but it was reported that a military patrol was attacked on a road under construction between pauguil and cartagena del chiara.    farc rebels killed 28 soldiers during an ambush in the same area in late 1987.


Input: the police have arrested juan antonio leon montero, aka comrade jose, who is regarded as an important member of a terrorist column that conducted attacks in the san martin jungle under the leadership of terrorist victor polay campos, aka comrade rolando.    the dircote (antiterrorist directorate) has also reported that leon took part in terrorist attacks with nestor serpa cartolini, another top mrta leader.    according to investigations, a so-called comrade lucho convinced comrade jose to join the mrta in july 1986.    until march 1987 leon distributed leaflets on streets and squares, painted slogans on the walls of public buildings, and delivered food--which was stolen from well-known business firms--in shantytowns.    in mid-august 1987, leon got into touch with comrade mario, with whom he traveled to the village of tarapoto to join the mrta northeastern column led by polay campos and emilio salas saldana, aka comrade moises, among others.    as a member of the mrta, leon participated in the attack against the civil guard posts of tabalozos, san martin, and solitor. during the first half of november, he participated in an attack on the gc (civil guard) in the township of juanjui.    during this attack, gc lieutenant jorge cieza lacho was killed by the mrta terrorists, who also seized large amounts of weapons, ammunition, and grenades. a few hours later the terrorists attacked the village of san jose de sisa.    leon was arrested in lima by dircote personnel. leon had been kept under surveillance for several months after his return from the jungle, where the mrta was practically annihilated by the army.    leon was placed at the disposal of the court on terrorist charges.


Input: a terrorist attack, in which czechoslovak bombs were used, has destroyed four high tension towers in the central region. this attack has cut the electricity supply to a vast region between copiapo and santiago. the blackout occurred on saturday night, 1 october, and lasted for approximately one-half hour in the metropolitan region.    according to endesa (national electric power, inc.), one of the towers knocked down was located on km 24 of the melipilla-rapel highway.    the tower, located in the maitenes sector, is one of the main towers of the high tension network.    another tower destroyed by the terrorists was tower no 430 in the itahua-alto jahuel sector, which is connected to the main electricity network.    in addition to these four destroyed towers, other explosions were heard that same night in santiago. they were caused by bombs planted by terrorists who seek to frighten the population.    according to police sources, the bombs used to cause so much damage are powerful czechoslovak-made plastic bombs, of the same type that were found among the clandestine arsenals smuggled into the country by the marxist leftists at carrizal bajo.    the terrorists also used tnt in their bomb attacks.

terrorists

high tension towers

powerful czechoslovak-made plastic bombs

tnt


Input: terrorists of the maoist shining path group during the past few hours killed a university professor, a policeman, and a pedestrian, while the police authorities reported today that an armed attack against the u.s. embassy in lima has been frustrated.    in the central andean town of huancayo, 350 km east of lima, professor herminio parra, who has criticized subversive movements, was shot at the door of his house early in the morning on saturday by four terrorists who claimed to be his students, his widow rita avendano reported.    in paucarbambilla, a locality in huanuco, two shining path members this past weekend machinegunned a civil guard and a pedestrian at the door of a police club, and detonated a car bomb, police sources have reported.  they added that the attackers left communist propaganda at the site.

four terrorists who claimed to be his students

terrorists of the maoist shining path group

shining path

embassy

herminio parra


Input: personnel of the copiapo investigations department have arrested four terrorists that were involved in several actions designed to disrupt public order in the atacama region.    the atacama authorities have issued a communique on the identity and background of the arrested terrorists as follows: rafael jenaro vega sambra, alias flaco victor, who was in charge of the miltiary training of the communist youth at a regional level; cristobal modesto carrasco unate, alias christian, who belongs to the movement of the revolutionary left (mir), and is in charge of distributing explosive materiel; jorge raul lopez cubillos, alias modesto, merchant, member of the collective directorate of the socialist party; and dibi ulyses farias diaz, who is also a member of the socialist party collective directorate.    an arsenal containing guns, dynamite sticks, various types of explosives, fuses, detonators, molotov cocktails, marxist literature, and a mimeograph to print subversive material were found in the home of farias diaz.


Input: an explosion has destroyed a section of the multipurpose pipeline running from barrancabermeja to bucaramanga. the explosion occurred in alto de san pablo while gasoline and propane gas were being pumped to bucaramanga. we have a report now from teresa rueda.    (begin recording) (rueda) communications to and from puerto petrolero and bucaramanga have been cut off since early today, after an attempt to dynamite the multipurpose pipeline destroyed a 100-meter section of the central highway.    the supply of gas to bucaramanga will also be affected by this event. it is estimated that it will take at least 3 days to restore normal traffic, because it will be necessary to use dynamite to remove rocks currently blocking the highway.    the attempted sabotage occurred at the 65-km mark on the bucaramanga - barrancabermeja highway, 20 km from the place where a military convoy was ambushed last wednesday. this is the second time that an attempted sabotage of the bucaramanga - barrancabermeja multipurpose pipeline, which carries propane gas, gasoline, and acpm (not further identified) has taken place. the explosion destroyed a 30-meter section of pipeline, and sparked a fire that has not yet been extinguished.    losses caused by the sabotage, which has been attributed to the eln, have yet to be ascertained. it is estimated that repairs to the highway alone will cost the public works ministry 5 million pesos.    (ismael orozco, public works director for the 5th district) well, after initial talks with ecopetrol (colombian petroleum enterprise) technicians today, beginning at 1700, after the fire is under control, they will begin restoring service on the oil pipeline.    (rueda) at this time, there is traffic congestion near the sugamoso bridge. (end recording) (passage omitted)    while still on the subject, ecopetrol's president, who traveled this morning to barrancabermeja to attend a forum on the magdalena river, reported that, so far this year, terrorist attacks have cost his company $300 million.  we have this report from maria clara gracia.    (begin recording) (gracia) ecopetrol has lost 95 billion pesos in revenues this year due to the 44 terrorist attacks on the cano limon - covenas oil pipeline. in these attacks, 13.2 million barrels of crude oil have been lost. the areas most affected by these attacks are in sucre, arauca, norte de santander, and santander departments.    (reporter alvaro ayala) doctor, could these terrorist attacks lead to an increase in fuel prices in colombia?    (dr andres restrepo londono, president of ecopetrol) obviously, there will come a time when, faced with increasing internal production costs and falling revenues, we are going to have to consider compensating our losses with an increase in domestic oil prices, but that is a measure we are not about to adopt at this time.    (gracia) today's landslide, which destroyed a section of the multipurpose pipeline between barrancabermeja and bucaramanga, has resulted in estimated losses totalling 1.435 billion pesos. (passage omitted) (end recording)

terrorist

eln

section of the multipurpose pipeline running from barrancabermeja to bucaramanga

100-meter section of the central highway


Input: a small home-made bomb exploded at dawn today at the headquarters of the shoe industry workers union, in this city, causing small material damages.    the bomb, made with black gunpowder, was planted at 0330 on the windowsill of the building located on 2157 tucuman street in barrio alta, cordoba, where the bomb interrupted union functions. this union is headed by miguel montero.    the explosion caused some panic near the area, but it was soon discovered that the blast only shattered windows.  no casualties were reported. (passage omitted)

headquarters of the shoe industry workers union

small home-made bomb

black gunpowder


Input: security forces have detained three more alleged terrorists in copiapo on charges of conducting terrorist activities in the region. details on these terrorists activities have not yet been reported.    tacama university student walter araya is reportedly among the nine people who are being held at the investigation service precinct. also among the detainees are: rafael vegas ambra, cristobal carrasco onate, jimmy farias dias, jorge lopes hubilla, victor serrano seguel, and ernesto guzman morales.    copiapo lawyers have submitted pleas for injunctions in favor of the detainees and of the families whose homes have been raided.


Input: it was disclosed in this capital today that a bomb exploded at the front door of the home of a peruvian army general, causing damages but no casualties. the bomb went off 48 hours after a member of the army sustained a bullet wound.    the terrorist attack was perpetrated at dawn on saturday, 9 october, by a group of unidentified individuals who hurled a bomb at the home of general enrique franco, in the san borja neighborhood in lima, from a passing vehicle.    the bomb seriously damaged the general's vehicle, destroyed his home's front door, and shattered its window panes, as well as those of neighboring houses.  according to the local media that obtained information from police sources, the explosion, however, did not hurt any of the members of the general's family, who were sleeping at the the time.    two days ago, an army technician, who was driving home, sustained a bullet wound when a group of unidentified individuals, riding in another vehicle, fired their weapons at him. the incident occurred near la bandera plaza in the pueblo libre district of lima.

group of unidentified individuals

home of a peruvian army general

general's vehicle

neighboring houses

enrique franco

bomb


Input: belize's state radio on thursday reported that a guatemalan gunboat fired at a british naval vessel that has been conducting a survey in belize's waters. the radio said the incident occurred last sunday in the waters off southern belize.    the report said that the hms fawn, which has been conducting holographic surveys, was reportedly in belizean territorial waters--near the median line where the sea boundaries of honduras, belize and guatemala meet--when "a guatemalan gunboat ordered the ship to stop." the instruction was ignored, the radio said, "whereupon the guatemalan vessel fired a shot in the direction of the british survey vessel."    the british dispatched two royal airforce fighter planes to the "general area and once the british harriers appeared at the site of the incident, the british communicated by telephone with guatemalan authorities," the radio reported. agreement was reached for the guatemalan vessel to withdraw from the area.    british authorities have taken up the matter with guatemala and trust that guatemalan authorities will take measures to ensure "that an unfortunate and dangerous incident" which occurred on sunday "will not recur," the radio said.    in early october the guatemalan naval patrol in the same general area in the south of belize, seized a honduras registered boat along with its honduran crew and five belizeans including five fishermen and a marine biologist who were conducting deep sea fishing research in the area. the belizeans were later released after the belize government approached guatemalan authorities.  belize prime minister manual esquivel later told a press conference that the honduran vessel was in guatemalan waters when it was seized.    relations between belize and guatemala have been strained by their territorial dispute. guatemala claims a section of belize--a claim which the former british colony rejected.


Input: the political-military command has issued a communique reporting that three terrorists have died and four were arrested in an armed clash between an army patrol and a terrorist column.    the communique says that a few days ago a group of terrorists clashed with the army in the chilhua region, la mar province, ayacucho department. some terrorists were detained and put at the disposal of the san miguel police station.


Input: two bombs set off by fmln urban guerrillas last night partially destroyed the recently built la torre de cristal building on roosevelt avenue in san salvador.  the explosions caused no injuries, but damage to the eastern side of the first floor is estimated at several million colons. it is not known who owns the building.  (passage omitted)    in other military actions, one guerrilla was killed and two soldiers were injured in clashes in san vicente department.  according to official reports, the clash took place near tecoluca when rebels tried to attack troops from the military engineers detachment.    the fmln last night blew up the administrative offices of the (name indistinct) seaside resort in la paz department.  there were no injuries.    at daybreak today, fmln guerrillas blew up a power pole at galera quemada canton, ilobasco jurisdiction.

fmln urban guerrillas

fmln guerrillas

fmln

recently built la torre de cristal building

power pole

two bombs


Input: honduran military sources yesterday reported that several times in september, eps soldiers entered honduran territory and harassed the 6th infantry battalion observation post in el pital, cifuentes, el paraiso department.    the raids into honduran territory and the harassments occurred as follows:    1. on 19 august 1988, eps troops set up communications tracking equipment (radar) in loma fria, which was protected by missiles and antiaircraft machineguns.    2. on 21 august 1988, eps soldiers kidnapped honduran citizens rosalio mejia rodriguez and her son guillermo saul mejia herrera, who were taken to nicaraguan territory.    3. on 6 september 1988, an eps patrol entered honduran territory and harassed the 6th infantry battalion posts located in el pital, cifuentes. our troops responded to their fire and suffered no casualties.    4. on 9 september 1988, eps soldiers attacked with machinegun and mortar fire the 9th infantry brigade battalion post in cerro pelon, la lampara, quebrada del oro, and tapalchi, in poteca river, paraiso. during the attack, soldier jose mario chicas diaz was wounded.  our troops responded to the fire and reported no (further) casualties.    5. on 10 september 1988, eps troops continued attacking the same 9th infantry brigade battalion post with 50-mm machineguns; patrols were increased and personnel and weapons were deployed to the guapinol, comarca, paraisito, and comarca guanito sectors, near the poteca river.    6. on 14 september 1988, eps soldiers harassed with machinegun fire the 9th infantry brigade post located in el guineo and pueblo nuevo, cifuentes. no casualties were reported.    7. on 18 september 1988, eps soldiers attacked positions held by the 9th infantry battalion at la congolona on the poteca river with 82 - and 120-mm mortars, rpg-7's, and rifle fire. the fire was returned without any reported casualties.    8. on 19 september 1988, eps soldiers attacked, with mortars, rifle, and rpg-7's, positions held by the 6th infantry battalion in el pital, and also in aduena vieja, guasapo, and cifuentes. our troops returned the fire without any reported casualties.    9. on 20 september 1988, the eps freed hector rosales mejia rodriguez and his son guillermo saul mejia herrera, who had been kidnapped by eps troops on 21 august 1988.    10. on 24 september 1988, eps troops harassaed with rifle fire a 6th infantry battalion position in aduana vieja, cifuentes, without any reported casualties.    11. on 25 september 1988, eps troops harassed aduana cifuentes with rifle fire, without any reported casualties.    12. on 25 september 1988, eps troops shot a 120-mm mortar that fell 75 meters from casa de ladrillo in cifuentes.

eps soldiers

eps

rosalio mejia rodriguez

guillermo saul mejia herrera

hector rosales mejia rodriguez


Input: the leftist national liberation army (eln) kidnapped two soldiers in northern colombia in the past few hours. this brings to 24 the number of military men held by rebels.    according to 2d brigade commander general juan salcedo lora, the soldiers are artillery battalion members and were kidnapped while working on a highway in poponte, in the northern cesar department.    meanwhile, an officer and four policemen are expected to be released in the next few hours. the farc kidnapped these men 6 weeks ago when the rebels attacked minca in the sierra nevada de santa marta area.    an official committee, formed by government officials from the national rehabilitation plan and the attorney general's office and members of the "democratic coexistence commission"--a multiparty organization that searches for political solutions to colombia's problems--was contacting the rebels today to work out the final details of the five military men's release.    the remaining 17 policemen--taken by the rebels during an attack on northern san pablo municipality on 5 october--are still held by the rebels. talks for their release have not moved forward because the army refuses to accept third parties as mediators.


Input: attention: the manuel jose arce urban command has brilliantly sabotaged a commercial building belonging to the bourgeoisie in the escalon neighborhood, causing heavy economic losses to the idle class. at least 37 businesses were destroyed.    the same urban command carried out other sabotage at the (name indistinct) parking lot--specifically, in the pink zone, or actually in what should be called the red zone. other sabotage took place at the lancer motel near apopa.    in a communique, the manuel jose arce urban command states that on 15 september, a lengthy organizational process to create a new political-military group--in which 25 delegations representing neighborhood commands participated--ended with the establishment of the manuel jose arce urban command.    the communique warns the army high command, its officers, christian democratic and arena (nationalist republican alliance) officials, and u.s. advisers that the manuel jose arce urban command is a weapon that will be used against them wherever they may be--at home, work, and at recreation and corruption centers. in addition, their property has been declared permament military targets until they stop the bloodshed against the people. (passage omitted)    in the past few hours, the fmln's pedro pablo castillo urban command executed an air force officer as part of the "murder the criminals" operation against repression, the massacre in san vicente, and the persecution of the university community.    the execution of an air force pilot officer was carried out in san salvador's las brisas neighborhood. we can imagine the happiness of our people upon hearing the news that one of the criminals among criminals--that is, one of the pilots who have bombed villages and cantons throughout our fatherland--was killed as a result of revolutionary justice. from now on, bombs will not only explode in the villages of chalatenango, cabanas, usulutan, morazan, and northern san miguel; more powerful bombs will now explode more frequently in the escalon and san benito neighborhoods, that is, in the neighborhoods of the rich, in their recreation centers, mansions, and wherever else they may go.

manuel jose arce urban command

commercial building

businesses

parking lot

lancer motel


Input: huancayo -- two army members were killed and two others were taken hostage by a group of terrorists who this morning intercepted two buses on the marginal highway, 30 km west of satipo and 280 km northeast of huancayo.    approximately 30 heavily armed terrorists, including 6 women, blocked the highway with stones and tree trunks at 0600 to intercept a bus owned by the lobato co., another bus owned by the los andes co., and two trucks loaded with fruit and lumber. the vehicles were traveling from satipo to huancayo.    the terrorists made the passengers get off the buses and then examined their identification cards. four of the passengers, who turned out to be army members dressed in civilian clothes, were separated from the group.    two of those identified as soldiers were killed immediately, while the other two, apparently army officers, were taken as hostages toward atalaya, in a montainous region. (passage omitted)


Input: according to military sources, a bloody guerrrilla offensive today left 35 guerrillas and 5 soldiers dead, 6 civilians wounded, and 5 bridges partially destroyed.    the outbreak of the violence coincided with the reply from all the rebel groups to an official peace plan and with the confirmation by the labor federations that they will hold a general strike on thursday despite government efforts to prevent it.    the so-called national guerrilla coordinating board (cng) proposed to president virgilio barco the holding of a summit between the rebel leaders and the government, defense, and energy and mines ministers at a place and date to be agreed upon.    the document proposed that the mediator of the dialogue be the democratic coexistence commission (comision de convivencia democratica), headed by msgr dario castrillon, president of the latin american bishops conference. the document is viewed as the cng's official reply to the government's peace plan.    guerrillas of the farc and the popular liberation army (epl) attacked four towns in northern colombia, leaving 17 guerrillas and 2 soldiers dead and 3 bridges partially destroyed.    the defense ministry reported that farc guerrillas ambushed a military convoy in huila department, killing three soldiers. it also reported that three rebels were killed in clashes in southern colombia.    it added that nine guerrillas of the army of national liberation were killed in clashes with troops of the 4th infantry brigade on the border of antioquia and choco departments and that six farc rebels were killed in caqueta department.    suspected guerrillas dynamited at dusk a bridge in bogota's urban center, injuring six people. the bridge did not sustain major damage. another bridge was blown up in santander department.    military sources said these were rebel actions in support of the strike and they charged that workers, peasants, and bus drivers are being threatened to force them to join the strike.    president virgilio barco headed a meeting of the national security council to adopt measures to prevent disorders during the planned strike and to guarantee public transportation for the people.    the government and the workers yesterday broke off their talks after being unable to reach agreement on an increase of the minimum wage and on a freeze in the prices of staples.    the strike, called by the united workers confederation and the general confederation of labor, will protest the fact that the government has not replied to labor demands they presented in may.

guerrillas of the farc and the popular liberation army (epl)

popular liberation army

farc

bridges

bridge


Input: we are facing an escalation of violence caused by the fmln, which shows its military weakness more than anything else. the fmln is supposedly attacking military targets, but neither a jail nor a shopping mall is a military target. commercial areas or amusement places are not military targets. car bombs went off in such places lately. they went off at a chain of (words indistinct) and at a shopping mall. the fmln's strategy is simply to increase its terrorist actions.    for that reason, it is regrettable that the salvadoran government describes the fmln as a group in arms, because they are merely terrorist criminals. (passage omitted)    there is political weakness, because the armed forces are not given clear missions. we see the actions of the armed forces and the security corps are frustrated, because they spend time, effort, and men capturing terrorists while the government subsequently releases them for humanitarian reasons.    i believe the government must apply the laws more forcefully and stop deceiving the population with words such as democratization and with its great political demagogy. (end recording)    finally, ochoa perez criticized the meeting costa rican president oscar arias will hold with representatives of the fmln general command today. he said oscar arias is not the right person to deal with salvadoran internal affairs.

fmln

shopping mall

chain

car bombs