Input: salvadoran president alfredo cristiani today said the government is awaiting a reply from the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) regarding a possible resumption of the dialogue.    cristiani held a news conference at the comalapa airport this morning prior to traveling to taiwan on a tour which, he said, will last until 3 march.    cristiani disclosed that as part of his mediation efforts, the un secretary general has twice sent his personal delegate, alvaro de soto, who has been told that the salvadoran government demands that the fmln halt its hostilities and sabotage activity aimed at disrupting national commerce.    "we know," president cristiani said, "that the fmln has asked for two weeks to study and respond to our latest proposal."    the president referred to an attack last night and early this morning on an electric power substation in northwestern san salvador, describing it as "a publicity ploy to impress the un secretary general."    "we are insisting on a halt to hostilities" because of such actions, which "constitute only terrorism and do not represent a military threat," the president said.    the president denied that the government is looking for economic aid in other regions because of the suspension of frg aid and because of the possibility of u.s. aid cuts.    "this visit to taiwan had been scheduled since before the guerrilla offensive in november.  i received the invitation from the taiwan government when i took office in june," cristiani said.    he added that the objective of the visit is to strengthen relations and trade with a friendly government as well as to express thanks for the technical assistance taiwan has provided.    regarding aid from the frg, he said "efforts are being made to reestablish it.  the frg government is conditioning its aid on respect for human rights and the development of the democratic process in the country."    referring to u.s. aid, the salvadoran president said he is not aware that official decisions or plans exist.  instead, there are personal positions of congressmen or special-interest groups, but this must be fully discussed at the time of the vote for the next fiscal year, which in the united states begins in october.    the president also defended the recent economic measures, which have led to protests against the general increase in prices of staples.  he said these measures were necessary for the country's economy, which was affected last year, first, by the overall cuts in u.s. aid to the region, a reduction of $55 million for el salvador; second, by the drop in international coffee prices, which caused $150 million in losses for el salvador; and third, by the damage from the guerrilla offensive in november.    before leaving on his trip and in response to newsmen's questions, president cristiani also defended the armed forces, stating that the actions in which they have been involved recently have not weakened them and, on the contrary, have strengthened the armed forces because errors have been admitted and those responsible are being prosecuted, such as in the cases of the jesuits and the civilians who were killed on 11 february in chalatenango.    cristiani said that in the latter case there have been no pressures and that from the moment that there was news about the tragedy, the commission that investigates criminal acts was ordered to undertake the appropriate investigation to determine the cause of the tragedy. he said it concluded that the tragedy was caused by a helicopter rocket, but there was no bombing, although the civilians were victims of war actions.    cristiani criticized the fmln for waging battles in populated areas because this endangers civilians.    in conclusion, cristiani said the fmln will never give up its attempts to weaken or divide the armed forces, but he added that the armed forces are becoming more professional every day.

the farabundo marti national liberation front

armed forces

an electric power substation in northwestern san salvador


Input: the communist revolutionary armed forces of colombia's (farc) general staff stated that all the colombian guerrilla movements agree that the catholic church should serve as mediator in a broad peace process between the government and the guerrillas.    the farc's statements are contained in a letter released today that was sent to cardinal alfonso lopez trujillo, president of the episcopal conference, in which the guerrillas respond to recent statements by the prelate, interpreted by the farc as a mediation offer.    although the declaration is only signed by the farc commanders, in certain paragraphs they express themselves as if they were speaking for the simon bolivar guerrilla coordinating board, founded in september 1987.    in addition to the farc, the simon bolivar guerrilla coordinating board is made up of the pro-mao popular liberation army (epl), the pro-castro camilista union of national liberation (uc-eln), the pro-trotsky revolutionary workers' party (prt), and the indian group quintin lame.    the 19 april movement (m-19), which has a leftist - nationalist orientation and which was part of the simon bolivar guerrilla coordinating board, began 16 months ago, of its own accord, a peace process with virgilio barco's liberal party government.    this peace plan, which has stumbled across several political obstacles that has precluded total compliance, could end on 28 february with the m-19 handing over their weapons to a socialist international (is) commission, the final phase being postponed on several occasions since last december.    "your recent statements, cardinal, on opening new roads toward peace seem important to us," the farc commanders state in their letter to cardinal lopez trujillo.    "your eminence says that it would mean great progress for the country if the farc were to take part in a coherent peace process," the note goes on, adding: "your eminence should know that we have been involved in this effort ever since belisario betancur's (former colombian president) amnesty, which stopped a 25-year war."    in 1984, under belisario betancur's social - conservative government (1982 - 1986), a peace process began that resulted in the creation of the legal left-wing patriotic union (up) movement -- initially comprised of former farc guerrillas -- and an agreement rendering the guerrilla group's general staff camp inviolable.    the farc leaders say in their letter to the cardinal that the barco government "did not want or could not continue betancur's policy of peace and reconciliation."    "if the colombian church, judging by the cardinal's statements, serves as an itermediary between the government and the rebels, we applaud that humanistic and patriotic decision," the farc general staff's letter says.    the guerrilla group issued a communique yesterday proposing that the barco government declare a general cease-fire for the 11 march legislative and 27 may presidential elections, to which the government has not yet responded.    however, with previous requests, the government has limited itself to asking the guerrillas for unilateral truces to prove their desire for peace, which has only worked out in the case of the m-19.    all the members of the simon bolivar guerrilla coordinating board, with the exception of the uc-eln, declared unilateral truces during the last few weeks.    the pro-castro group is the only one determined to continue a sabotage campaign against the elections, characterized by kidnappings, attacks on rural villages, threats to officials, and police and army ambushes.


Input: peru has faced the great adversity of foreign imperialism.  peru, a poor and weak but sovereign country, has raised its voice to face the power and greed of the international banking sectors. peru and the peruvian state have refused to pay an unjust debt.  this will be forever regarded as the pioneer and vanguard attitude of the third world.    no one will ever forget that, in the first two months of my administration, the peruvian resources that were scheduled to be used to pay the foreign debt were instead used for the benefit of peru. all peruvians admitted at the time that we had begun a process of capitalization and development.    i have come here today to deliver some tractors.  but i want to tell you that during the apra (american popular revolutionary alliance) administration the number of tractors has doubled.  when the apra assumed power in 1985, there were 5,060 tractors in peru.  but after i deliver these italian tractors, there will be 11,200.  this means that the amount of land being farmed mechanically in peru has doubled.  applause, cheers of "alan, alan"    the hundreds of millions of dollars that has been invested in equipment operating in peru today is the same money that, in a sovereign decision, the fatherland refused to send abroad to foreign international banks.  shouts of "well done" the anti-imperialistic ideal that we uphold is based on this main principle: to retain our resources within peru.    we have also raised our voices to defend the sovereignty and integrity of our continent, because we are a proud and free continent. when we saw militaristic imperialism threaten and invade a brother country, we had the honor -- the sad honor -- of being the only one to raise its voice and to make imperialism, due to the firmness of the peruvian stance, heed our demands and withdraw its invading troops from panama."    i remember the night of 20 december 1989, when at 0500 gmt i was informed from washington that 24,000 american soldiers had occupied panama. i received many phone calls from people who told me: it is a done deed.  let them invade the country.  we do not need to confront them.  i received phone calls from people in peru and abroad telling me that we could not confront them, that we could not make any demands.  they said for us to act as if nothing had happened.  let us recognize the government that they have put in power.  but i said no. people shout "well done" i was told: if you keep silent, you can solve your problem with the imf. but i said no, because the dignity of a nation is not for sale.  no, because the dignity of latin america cannot be bought.  applause, cheers of "alan, alan"    causing fear and astonishment for many people in peru and throughout latin america, i said: we are poor. we have no great military power. we have no planes or bombs.  we have no banks filled  with millions.  but we have the power of reason, which is more powerful.  we have the power of justice, which is greater.  we have the power of freedom, which is more important.  i said that we would recall the peruvian ambassador from washington.  we would withdraw        from the military alliance that we have with the united states, which allowed it to perpetrate this invasion. we would tell the united states that until the last soldier was withdrawn, we would not sit at any negotiating table, not on drugs or on any other subject.    but the peruvian rightist sectors described everything i said on 21 december, eight hours after the panamanian invasion, as insane.  they described it as demagogic theatrics.  they said we should comply with the u.s. actions.  but i said no. although we respect the united states and its people, we do not tolerate imperialistic impositions. we do not tolerate other countries intervening in the sovereign affairs of sister-nations.    i can state with great satisfaction that, 24 hours before the cartagena summit and 2 months after the invasion, the last u.s. soldier withdrew from panama.  this was the sine qua non condition for my attendance at the summit.  applause, cheers    this proves that you can be poor and economically weak, but that you can have the strength that comes from reason, from moral principles; that you can have justice on your side; that you can succeed, that sooner or later you will be successful.  perhaps justice may come late, but it comes.  when i see the oligarchic attack of the prepotent economic power hitting peru, i tell the people that the rightist sectors may be victorious. but it will be an ephemeral, temporary, and momentary victory because it is the people who will succeed, the people who will conquer, because the people are right, the people have justice on their side, and because peru belongs to the people.  applause, cheers (continued)


Input: san salvador archbishop arturo rivera y damas deplored yesterday the economic measures that the government established recently "because they will affect poor sectors only," and insisted on the need to end the war.    recalling from the cathedral's pulpit the promise president alfredo cristiani made in his inaugural speech that he would "struggle for the poorest of the poor," monsignor rivera y damas said the mechanisms used by the government are not the most adequate ones to resolve the serious problems in el salvador.    "if we want to help the poorest among the poor, we must not only honestly and objectively examine the current government model, but seek a definitive solution for the problem of war," the prelate exclaimed.    the highest representative of the catholic church in el salvador said that, in examining the country's economic situation, "the terrorist actions perpetrated by the guerrillas cannot be ignored."    rivera y damas warned: "if war continues to be waged in the country, it will continue to strike at us mercilessly and inhumanly, hour after hour."    the salvadoran archbishop reiterated that the "only way out" of the armed conflict is dialogue and negotiation, because "violence begets only violence."    he also said: "the blood shed in the wee hours of 16 november by the jesuit churchmen who were brutally mowed down is working for the poor more efficiently than their academic and theological activities serving the people's education."    he was referring to the massacre of six jesuit priests who were killed by military men, now under trial.


Input: the cali police have confirmed that u.s.  priest francisco antonio amico ferrari, who had been kidnapped by an eln (army of national liberation) cell, was released in northern cali on 19 february.    priest amico ferrari, who has been working in the andres sanim neighborhood in northeastern cali for 3 years, showed up at his parish, the nuestra senora de la asuncion church, at the end of the 1930 mass last night.  although visibly tired, amico ferrari was happy at having been freed.  the priest said that he was treated well and that he had been kidnapped by an eln cell in protest of u.s. president george bush's recent visit to cartagena.

eln cell

army of national liberation

francisco antonio amico ferrari


Input: as a result of an offensive launched by eln (army of national liberation), epl (popular liberation army), and farc (revolutionary armed forces of colombia) rebels, five peasants and four guerrillas have died, five policemen have been wounded, and property losses in the millions have occurred. the rebel actions took place in the departments of bolivar, meta, santander, northern santander, cordoba, antioquia, and in the arauca intendancy.    according to the authorities' preliminary report, eln guerrillas apparently blew up a power tower in cartagena causing a blackout in most parts of cartagena city.  subsequently, the eln rebels shot at three emergency medical care centers wounding five policemen.    similarly, two bomb attacks on the cano limon-covenas and central de los llanos orientales oil pipelines conducted by eln rebels have resulted in property damage in the millions.  the two attacks occurred in the departments of northern santander and meta, respectively.    two rebels have been killed and four others have been arrested after various clashes between colombian army troops and eln and farc rebels in the departments of santander, meta, and arauca intendancy.    in addition, two epl rebels have been killed in a rural area in cordoba department in clashes with a cartagena battalion military patrol.  the military patrol was conducting search and combing operations in the area.  one soldier was also wounded in the clashes.    similarly, three peasants have been shot to death by alleged epl members in a rural area of tierra alta municipality, cordoba department.  meanwhile, two other peasants, who were accused of helping the police, have been shot to death by alleged eln members in barbacoas, yondo municipality, antioquian middle magdalena.    finally, eln guerrillas blew up a private plane causing property damage in the millions in nueva florida, miraflores municipality, bolivar department.

eln guerrillas

alleged epl members

eln members

army of national liberation

popular liberation army

a power tower

three emergency medical care centers

cano limon-covenas and central de los llanos orientales oil pipelines

central de los llanos orientales oil pipeline

private plane

bomb


Input: on the evening of 20 may 1986, the jenka, a danish cargo ship with an empty hold, was anchored in valparaiso bay.    the ship, which was specially fitted to carry weapons, had been "waiting into line" for 120 days, meaning -- in port operation jargon -- that it was waiting for its turn or for the arrival of its cargo.    the five-man crew was uneasy. they were waiting for a shipment of 400 "wasp" cluster bombs produced by ferrimar (expansion unknown) -- a subsidiary of famae (army ordnance) -- and bound for the middle east. the destination of the shipment was iran. the users: the armed forces of imam ruhollah khomeini.    the secret shipment was having problems on land.    the five crew members made a decision that night, taking on fuel and food and fleeing toward panama. in the dark no one noticed the ship's departure, not the shipping company that was in charge of the ship nor the port's captain -- a navy officer who was supposed to authorize the move. the jenka left an unpaid debt of $30,000 owed to the shipping company.    the case was reported by the press and ferrimar rushed to say that it was selling weapons to pakistan and nigeria. it was also said that the government, for ethical reasons, would not allow the enterprise to offer the "wasp" bombs to iran. in fact, chilean businessman carlos cardoen was already selling "clusters" (preceding word in english) to iraq. doing business at the expense of the two sides confronting each other in the long persian gulf war was not considered appropriate.    the deal, however, was attractive because there could be millions of dollars in profits. countries like brazil and the ussr were known to be selling weapons to both iran and iraq. the ussr was directly selling weapons to iraq and supplying iran through middlemen. chile knew of a similar example: during the beagle channel conflict, which almost ended in a war with argentina, israel sold missiles to both sides.    therefore, in a carefully planned operation, ferrimar and famae were able to sell cluster bombs to iran.    the middleman would be frenchman bernard stroiazzo, the same person who three years later would cause the "iran-corfo" (production development corporation) scandal (hoy, no. 655).    it is only now that stroiazzo's history has been made public. an engineer hired by iran's national petroleum company, he served as a representative of ferrimar and famae to the iranian government in the sale of cluster bombs in 1986. after two shipments of defective bombs, the iranians decided that they could cause more casualties among their own men than among enemy troops. stroiazzo was taken hostage for 18 months.    he managed to leave and traveled to chile. with the help of cni (national intelligence center) director brigadier general hugo salas, he contacted corfo officials who helped him arrange compensation. he arranged a preliminary accord for establishing a toxic waste recycling plant in chile, but the deal failed. he then filed a lawsuit against corfo in the 19th civil court of santiago.  corfo has not yet been notified of the lawsuit. the problem, at least as far as the toxic waste plant is concerned, will be inherited by the new government -- which will take over on 11 march -- and by corfo.    did ferrimar lie to the chilean government?    this enterprise was known to have good contacts with the authorities. among the partners of ferrimar owner aldo pesce were retired general manuel contreras sepulveda, former chief of the national intelligence directorate, dina; general raul reyes, famae director, and colonel carlos carreno, who was a famae executive and an adviser to ferrimar on the production of the "wasp" bombs. (a lawsuit filed with the 14th criminal court of santiago under "robbery of industrial secrets" charges claims that the bombs were built with plans stolen from carlos cardoen by one of cardoen's trusted men.)    to export its bombs, ferrimar needed the authorization of the defense and foreign ministries. the company had to provide what is known in the international weapons market is known as an "end-user certificate" or "final-user certificate." ferrimar got one. it was signed in august 1985 by a nigerian army officer who, according to sources close to the case, had retired a long time ago. a "triangle operation" was carried out to conceal the true operation. it is not known whether the defense ministry has indicted anyone over the deception by which it was victimized.    at the end of january 1986, the first 100 bombs were shipped by plane to bandar abbas airport in iran. each bomb weighed 227 kg and contained 248 ammunition packages, some of them for immediate discharge and others for delayed action.  these were capable of mining large areas for up to 72 hours after a battle.    the first shipment was worth $7 million; $1 million was for stroiazzo and $1.5 million went for the cost of the bombs. the price of the bombs abroad was $14,000 each, but their real cost was only $3,000. the chilean contact in this operation, fernando perez, was to have received $4.5 million.    a test was performed in iran and the bombs did not work. the iranian defense ministry asked that new tests be carried out in chile. (continued)


Input: u.s. ambassador to colombia thomas mcnamara has been declared a priority "military target" of the marxist army of national liberation (eln) guerrilla group, the eln announced today in a communique sent to efe in bogota.    the communique was delivered in the midst of an eln offensive that has lasted for over three weeks.  it has been characterized by kidnappings, attacks on towns, mobile roadblocks on the main highways, and ambushes set for military and police personnel.    according to the guerrilla group, the purpose of the attack is to protest u.s. intervention in colombia, to sabotage the municipal and legislative elections scheduled for 11 march, and the presidential elections on 27 may, and to denounce the "dirty war."    in today's message the eln lists "ambassador thomas mcnamara" as a "priority" military objective at the top of their list.  it added that other targets are "u.s. military advisers," "u.s. citizens who head the multinational texas and occidental oil companies," and "all americans who intervene in one way or another in our nation's internal conflict."    this pro-castro guerrilla group is holding u.s. citizens david leslie kent and james arthur donelly, who were kidnapped in medellin on 12 and 13 february, to protest u.s. president george bush's visit to this country.  (continued)

pro-castro guerrilla group

the marxist army of national liberation

david leslie kent

james arthur donelly


Input: bush met on 15 february in cartagena de indias (colombia) with his counterparts alan garcia of peru, jaime paz of bolivia, and virgilio barco of colombia in what became known as the "drug summit."    u.s. priest francisco amico ferrari, kidnapped on 15 february in cali, was released on 19 february by the eln with a message about "operation colombia," which denounces u.s. intervention in the "dirty war" with which colombia is afflicted.    in today's communique the guerrillas say "the united states has military advisers in the colombian army headquarters to direct the implementation of the dirty war."    they also denounce "the direct leadership of u.s. advisers in intelligence and military repression operations in the areas of conflict."    the eln is also still holding social conservative senator jorge sedano gonzalez, kidnapped on 9 february near bucaramanga, in the northeastern part of the country, along with his secretary jorge mesa, who was released on monday.    the eln released mesa with a message for former social conservative president misael pastrana (1970-1974), reiterating that sedano will be released only if he declares that he is opposed to the dirty war and reveals the whereabouts of fernando porras, an eln member who disappeared in bucaramanga on 5 february.  according to the guerrillas, porras was arrested and "disappeared" by the 5th army brigade, which denies this.    the eln is the only colombian guerrilla group that has persisted in the armed struggle.  the five other rebel groups have declared unilateral truces to guarantee a climate of peace for the upcoming elections.    these groups are the communist revolutionary armed forces of colombia, the maoist popular liberation army, the trotskyist (revolutionary) workers party, and the indian "quintin lame" movement, in addition to the 19 april movement, which is about to conclude a peace process begun 16 months ago.

eln

francisco amico ferrari

jorge sedano gonzalez

jorge mesa


Input: in the past few hours, the so-called camilist union army of national liberation (uc-eln) murdered a police inspector and two of his brothers, who were peasants.  the inspector and his brothers were murdered by the uc-eln who accused them of being army and police informers.  the triple crime occurred on the el limoncito path, in guachica municipality, southern cesar department.  a police spokesman said that the rebels had identified themselves as uc-eln members.  these three new victims of the rebel offensive were taken by force from their homes before they were killed.  the murdered inspector was identified as gustavo ropero navarro, 22, from guachica.  his brothers were identified as mariano and felix ropero navarro, 26 and 24, respectively.  after the crime, the rebels fled into the eastern mountain range.  the eln has started a new wave of violence in the past hours.  it has murdered three peasants in guachicono, southern cauca department, two in antioquia, and three in cordoba.  these people were killed after being accused by the eln of being informants.

uc-eln members

camilist union army of national liberation

eln

gustavo ropero navarro

mariano and felix ropero navarro

felix ropero navarro


Input: contra commander israel galeano, alias franklin, has told tiempo that the anti-sandinist rebels will stay armed, regardless of the results of the 25 february elections in nicaragua, to make sure the democratic changes take place.    "we will maintain our organization intact even if the uno (national opposition union) wins, waiting for profound democratic changes and an end to the repressive regime imposed by the sandinists," said the chief of staff of the nicaraguan resistance (rn).    this past january, the 29-year-old galeano became the leader of about 12,000 nicaraguan rightist rebels based in honduras when the post of commander in chief of the rn army, a post enrique bermudez had held for 10 years, was eliminated.    nicaragua will hold elections on sunday, 25 february, and the main candidates running for president are daniel ortega of the sandinist national liberation front (fsln) and violeta de chamorro of the uno.    the rebels, supported by the united states, have urged nicaraguans to vote for the uno candidate.    "if the uno wins, we will maintain our organization intact to see if on 25 april there is a total transfer of power and profound reforms, and particularly to see if the repressive system disappears," galeano said.    "if the sandinists win or steal the elections, there will be a social disruption against the system and the hardest struggle of recent years will take place," he added.    the contra military chief said that "if the people do not accept a sandinist victory, "we will have to continue fighting."    he assured that the nicaraguans will not accept an fsln victory in the 25 february elections.    galeano added that the sandinists have deployed approximately 30,000 troops in the northern nicaraguan departments in order to "intimidate and murder" uno followers and to prevent approximately 300,000 nicaraguans from voting.    galeano pointed out that the press and the foreign observers of the elections have no access to the areas where the nicaraguan troops have deployed.    "even though the foreign observers claim that the campaign was freely held, the people have had to make sacrifices," he said.    galeano said that about 5,000 of his men are inside nicaragua, and between 10,000 to 12,000 men are in bases in honduras, "not moving,but just observing the electoral process" in nicaragua.    the rebels in honduras are receiving u.s. humanitarian aid in el praiso department and have rejected a demobilization plan approved by the central american presidents.  the rebels claim they do not have any guarantees for their personal security and for the implementation of a democratic process.    "the demobilization is based on the nicaraguan government creating conditions that will encourage the members of the armed rn to join civic life," he added.    galeano said that the dismantling of his forces does not "depend of a simple elections," but rather on "the sandinists leaving power completely."    the contra leader warned that "we cannot lay down our weapons when the causes that led to our taking up arms have not disappeared.  there still is repression, a lack of freedom, and all of this was generated by the sandinists."    he pointed out that in the event the uno should win the 25 february elections, "we would have to carry out a mutual demobilization.  the nicaraguan problem can be solved with an inter-american peace force that will receive all the weaponry and soviet tanks of the sandinists. then, when we are at an even level of forces, we will turn over our own weapons."    the contra chief suggested a national police be created in nicaragua.    franklin said that the contras are willing to continue the peace talks, but perhaps after the elections, with the new nicaraguan government.    he assured that the rebel forces will not carry out "any offensive operations before, during, or after the elections, and will wait and see if there are changes in nicaragua."    he said that the contras are willing to leave their camps in yamales if requested by the government of rafael leonardo callejas.    "if political conditions do not allow us to remain, we will leave (for nicaragua), but our refugeees will stay, as refugees," he added.    the chief of staff of the contras said that his forces will not attack the un peace observors on the honduran-nicaraguan border area.    he said that rn relations with the united states are normal, but declined to comment on the ousting of bermudez, arguing this is a fait accompli.


Input: the annals of the colombian port of cartagena list three extremely fierce sieges.  back in 1586, the "jewel of the caribbean" was captured by sir francis drake, who did not burn the city to the ground only because he received a ransom of 10 million pesos.  a century later cartagena was occupied by the french.  finally, in 1741, the city's defenders successfully fought off an assault by a host of 27,000 pirates headed by sir edward vernon...    the western press described the meeting between the presidents of the united states, bolivia, colombia, and peru held a few days ago in cartagena as a kind of assault.  despite some exaggeration, this graphic description was based on perfectly serious grounds.  after all, the conference did discuss immediate tasks and even a detailed schedule for a joint offensive by the governments of these countries against criminal drug trafficking, which ranks first in the pecking order of crime.    it is indeed necessary to launch an assault against the drug mafia's strongholds, whether in medellin, "famous" for unbridled gangsterism, or in cartagena itself, whose status as a resort is threatened by the selfsame "cocaine barons."  as a matter of fact, this tourist center has been repeatedly shaken in recent months by the explosions of bombs planted by terrorists in the "hilton" hotel, in stores, or at its marinas.  it is no wonder, as reuter reports, that not a single cruise ship has dropped anchor there this season.    yes, the situation is highly alarming, and this applies to the whole of colombia and even to the entire region.  in these conditions the firm resolve displayed by the participants in the cartagena meeting deserves understanding and support: the resolve to finally pool their efforts in the struggle against organized crime and to jointly place a reliable barrier in its path.  these are the intentions shown in the joint statement signed by the four presidents and by the series of special documents.    the aim of these agreements is noble indeed: to besiege the drug mafia in its nests, to cut off the "laundering" of drug dollars, and to deprive the merchants of "slow death" of broad access to the "black market" in the united states, where, as a matter of fact, the lion's share of south america's poisonous export is consumed.  in other words, an important step has been taken to combat one of the main "evils of the 20th century," and it was not for nothing that the meeting's results were positively appraised by un secretary general j. perez de cuellar.    here is a different question: emphasis in cartagena was placed on administrative and police measures and on washington's primarily militarized forms of cooperation with the andean states, but does this conform with their long-term national interests, with their desire to put an end to backwardness and attain a qualitatively new level of socioeconomic development?  after all, a radical solution of the drug problem primarily demands neither combat aircraft not armored personnel carriers, but something quite different.  it is necessary to change the economic profile of vast provinces where the cultivation of coca and marijuana is the sole source of the population's existence.    true enough, the united states has now expressed readiness to assist also in this sphere.  on the other hand, there is an almost total lack of readiness to import from south america the crops which could, in principle, squeeze out coca and marijuana.  it was not for nothing that colombia's president virgilio barco, the white house's closest ally in the struggle against drugs, was forced to declare in cartagena that the u.s. government's rigid protectionist measures are jeopardizing the very future of "alternative" sectors of tropical crop farming -- the cultivation of coffee, flowers, and sugar cane.  and so the "senior partner" appears to be tightening with the one hand the vise in which the drug mafia now finds itself, while using the other hand to protect its market from legal latin american exports.    finally, the last but, i think, most substantive argument. actually, it also casts an unfavorable light on the role of consistent fighter against the drug mafia which washington has now assumed.  this argument is perfectly encapsulated in just one short word: "panama." indeed, did the recent aggression against this sovereign state, one of whose main motives was actually "to punish the drug business bosses," not demonstrate all the flaws of washington's "strongarm approach" toward latin america?  and are there any guarantees that the pentagon will not start "copying" its panamanian experience in other countries in the continent on the pretext of pursuing the "cocaine barons"?    these are far from rhetorical questions, and it is a pity that cartagena simply failed to provide even the slightest clear-cut answers to them.

terrorists

stores

marinas

bombs


Input: the nicaraguan contras charged in tegucigalpa today that on 19 february the sandinist air force used airplanes and helicopters to bomb several communities in zelaya, matagalpa, and jinotega departments, in central and northern nicaragua.    the rebels did not report any dead or wounded in the alleged attacks, which the contras say are part of an offensive begun in the days prior to the elections, scheduled for sunday, 25 february.    in a communique, the contras indicated that their fighters are not attacking sandinist military targets, and that the purpose of the nicaraguan military action was to "create confusion" regarding the electoral process.    on the other hand, commander "franklin" of the nicaraguan resistance (rn) general staff said that the rn will remain "intact," even in the event that the elections are won by violeta de chamorro, candidate of the national opposition union (uno).    "we will remain intact to see if there is a total transmission of power on 25 april, in which the new government will make in-depth reforms, particularly the elimination of the repressive system," he added.    the rn military chief said that if the sandinists win or "steal" the elections, there will be a "social uprising" in nicaragua against the system, and there will be "a harsher struggle than that of past years."    "franklin" said that the sandinists have deployed some 30,000 troops to departments in northern nicaragua to "intimidate and murder" uno sympathizers.  he emphasized that the contras will not put down their weapons, because the cause that led to the creation of those forces -- the sandinists' ascent to power -- "has not yet disappeared," and "the repression continues."    he added that his fighters are willing to leave the camps in eastern honduras if the honduran government requests that they do so, but their families would remain.

the sandinist air force

several communities in zelaya, matagalpa, and jinotega departments


Input: a reliable source today disclosed that the deployment of chilean armed forces to southern chile, including armored units, and the improved technology and quality of the weapons of the chilean armed forces are causing concern in the defense area.    the source specifically mentioned the manufacture of a helicopter by a private chilean factory as well as the purchase of spanish and u.s.-made airplanes and helicopters.    the helicopter, whose prototype has already flown a large number of hours, has received the approval of the u.s. "aviation agency" (preceding two words in english), an indispensable requirement for subsequent sales abroad. it is manufactured by the private chilean factory cardoen which produces cluster bombs and other war materiel that chile exports to third world countries.    the source said that, due to its easy maintenance, operation, and low cost, this helicopter is ideal for export to traditional chilean markets since substantial production is easy to achieve.    the source also indicated that in november, on the anniversary of chilean army aviation, three spanish-made casa 235 airplanes, which can be used to transport passengers and cargo, and 15 u.s.-made enstrom 280 helicopters were presented.    the source did not disclose "other data," which "reveals a strengthening of the chilean naval, air, sea, and combat aviation recently."


Input: two army members were killed and five were wounded during the heavy clashes that took place simultaneously in various places in the capital tonight, military sources reported.  national police agent cipriano aparicio alvarez was killed when alleged guerrilla urban commandos machinegunned policemen at the intersection of no. 5 west street and no. 5 north avenue.  an army member was killed when soldiers in a trench on venezuela boulevard, near (words indistinct) roma, were machinegunned.    it has also been reported that an officer and four soldiers were seriously wounded during a heavy clash with guerrillas at no. 79 north avenue.  the skirmishes took place simultaneously at approximately 1900 in downtown san salvador and in roma, escalon, and la mascota neighborhoods, causing alarm among the san salvador residents.


Input: the recent cease-fire offer by the revolutionary armed forces of colombia (farc) was accepted today by the so-called commission of notables, whose members are five former presidents, and church and business representatives.    however, in a message addressed to the guerrillas' central command, the commission of notables said that, once the cease-fire is put into effect, the farc will have to demonstrate "with unequivocal deeds," their willingness to initiate peace talks.    the farc -- the country's oldest and largest guerrilla group -- has expressed over the last few weeks their intention of decreeing a cease-fire, although yesterday, according to army spokesmen, a farc column killed seven soldiers and kidnapped 15 during an attack on an army garrison.    a few days ago, the commission of notables, made up of former presidents carlos lleras rstrepo, alfonso lopez mic helsen, julio cesar turbay, misael pastrana borrero, and belisario betancur, as well as cardinal mario revollo bravo and businessman fabio echeverri correa, told the farc that the authorities had a right to fight them.    the colombian government is currently holding peace talks only with the 19 april movement (m-19), which will soon be demobilizing their fronts to rejoin civilian life.    at the same time, the army of national liberation (eln) has announced that this year it will step up its attacks in an effort to sabotage the 11 march municipal and parliamentary elections and the 27 may presidential elections.


Input: two u.s. citizens, who had been kidnapped by guerrillas on 12 february in antioquia department in northwestern colombia, were released today.    jamus arthur donelly, an automotive spare parts salesman, and professor davis leslie kent, who spoke to newsmen in medellin, revealed a message from the pro-castroite army of national liberation, (eln) which held them hostage for 12 days.    "the next time there is a massacre or the government causes the disappearance of one of our companions, such as juan fernando porras, the eln will punish the wealthy people, the oligarchy of colombia," the extremist group's message stated.  both donelly, 62, as well as kent, 40, said they were treated well by the rebels, with whom they had broad discussions on the situation in colombia.    according to the two u.s. citizens, the eln kidnapped them as part of the so-called "operation colombia" to protest the recent presence of u.s. president george bush in colombia, which hosted the recent 15 february artidrug summit in cartagena, and what they called "increasing u.s. intervention in colombia."    donelly and kent were turned over by the eln to a commission made up of officials of the antioquia regional attorney general's office and members of the human rights commission in a region near cocorna, 80 km southeast of medellin.

guerrillas

pro-castroite army of national liberation

jamus arthur donelly

davis leslie kent


Input: we believe that the elections in nicaragua will mark a new phase in the central american situation.  things will not be the same in that neighboring nation and i believe that the evolution will favor the achievement of peace at the regional level.  moreover, there are other elements at the world level that also allow us to have hope.  let us not forget that the united nations particularly is striving to organize a new round of talks.  therefore, we believe that the conditions are being set so that peace may be achieved this year.  the church urges those who have anything to do with this decision to do it and thus pay homage to our archbishop msgr (oscar arnulfo) romero, who died 10 years ago, and a man who struggled for peace, engineer (jose napoleon) duarte.  that was our proposal in today's homily.    (reporter) will there be any demand for an investigation or resolution of this case even though msgr romero was assassinated 10 years ago?    (rosa chavez) we are convinced that the solution of this case basically depends on a political decision to do it.  therefore, it could remain unsolved or it could be quickly solved.  we would like to think that a political decision would be adopted, but we have no information to indicate that this will be so.  instead, it is more a wish, i believe it is a legitimate wish, of all the salvadoran people. they want the case to be solved and, above all, they want justice. this blood should bear fruit by achieving peace and respect among men, as a new form of social coexistence in el salvador.  violence should no longer exist among us and reconciliation should quickly become a reality among salvadorans.    (reporter) a washington post article revealed that col.  (guillermo alfredo) benavides has recently been seen at a seaside (words indistinct).  what is your opinion about this?    (rosa chavez) we believe that the trials currently underway will be another test (preceding word in english) for salvadoran justice.  it has failed almost all other tests (preceding word in english).  let us see how it fares this time, not only for the sake of its prestige, but also for the sake of the honor of such a much-sacrificed people and the need to give the people hope.  i believe that important steps have been taken, but the time has come to prove that these steps will lead to a truly just conclusion -- or if they will once again be cut short. let us hope that progress will be achieved and, as we have stated on other occasions, that the names of the intellectual authors of this crime will also be known.  (continued)


Input: monsignor, referring to the week's events, you did not talk about the corruption case mentioned by the government.  what implications might this case have?    (rosa chavez) i think it is too soon to have a clear idea of what may be behind this new situation.  we must wait awhile for some time and learn the details.  we believe that there are worse things which should be solved.  we would not like to expand on this.  all we would like to say is that we think there are still things we should know to have a clear idea of what is behind the announcement made this week.    (reporter) do you think a fraud can be perpetrated in the nicaraguan elections?    (rosa chavez) we think that, regardless of who wins in nicaragua, it will represent a positive step for that country and all of the region.  the nicaraguan church shares our views, meaning the pastors of that nation.  that is why we believe that the achievement of peace could be near for el salvador.  how nice it would be if we availed ourselves of this opportunity.    (reporter) monsignor, the archbishopric's legal assistance has helped clear many deaths in el salvador.  monsignor romero was killed 10 years ago.  does the catholic church and the legal assistance office have any idea of who might be behind this death?    (rosa chavez) we have said many times that there are many clues which lead to certain conclusions but, according to our current legal system, those clues cannot be used as evidence.  thus, one can be certain of who the killers are and still not be able to prove it. that is one of the great frustrations created by our legal system.  it is obvious that we have several ideas, which we have commented on many times, of who the monsignor's killers may be.  once more i say that this is a matter of making a political decision, particularly to clear the case or let it remain unsolved.    (reporter) monsignor, former president duarte has died.  what is your opinion of duarte's role concerning the church?    (rosa chavez) we will state it this afternoon during the special mass with almost all the bishops of el salvador.  that answers your question.  i believe we should see three levels: the man, the christian, and the politician.  the letter that the archbishop sent to duarte's widow, mrs. ines, states some ideas on the man, the christian, and the politician.  this afternoon the archbishop will have a special homily and he will undoubtedly give a more complete description of the church's views.  we can add that he was a man who tried to be consistent with his christian faith.  he was a man who was open to the church's proposal.


Input: several colombian presidential hopefules, liberals ernesto samper pizano and hernando duran and conservative rodrigo lloreda caicedo, expressed their willingness today to hold a dialogue with the extraditables, the armed wing of the medellin cartel, after the extraditables voiced their desire for such talks.    the extraditables asked the colombian government today to come up with the mechanisms to make it possible for them to turn themselves in to the justice system, such as surrendering their weapons, ammunition, and explosives, according to a letter delivered to the group of notables, a group of mediators.    government minister carlos lemos and other authorities rejected the proposals made by the drug traffickers.    there will be no mechanisms and no commissions other than the courts, lemos said when he heard about the proposal sent to the group of notables from medellin.    the group of notables is composed of former liberal presidents alfonso lopez and julio cesar turbay, former social conservative president misael pastrana, bogota archbishop and cardinal mario revollo, and diego montana, president of the leftist patriotic union (up).    liberal senator samper pizano, after learning of the government's refusal to accept the drug traffickers' proposal, said that there are certain warmongering spirits in the government, who must change their attitude so as to put an end to the war.    the presidential candidate added that the offers made by the extraditables could be accepted without dismantling the de jure state or the country's institutions.    hernando duran described the proposal as a step forward in the efforts being made to normalize the situation of the drug traffickers, and he warned that the government and its officers must respond to this proposal.    i believe the new offer tends to create a climate of detente between those involved in drug trafficking activities and the government itself, duran said.    social conservative candidate rodrigo lloreda said that the government has the obligation to respond to the extraditables, and he added that when he becomes president he will do so.    however, lloreda caicedo said that the basic conditions for reaching an agreement on their surrender is to have those who committed crimes turn themselves in and be judged by the colombian justice system.  he added: it is also necessary for them to compensate the victims of their terrorist actions; there should be guarantees for the dismantling of their productive apparatus; there should be a suspension of the processing and shipment of cocaine abroad; and international observers should be brought in to verify the process.


Input: it was reported today in ayacucho that at least 16 members of the "peasant defense patrol" (the civilian militia that fights subversion) died and another 30 were wounded during an attack by a "shining path" column.    truck drivers who transport freight to the zone and who arrived today from machente (la mar province), 196 km northeast of ayacucho, have reported that the shining path attack took place unexpectedly on friday night.  the drivers reports have not been denied nor confirmed by military and police authorities.  they reported that they saw ambulances carrying the wounded to the hospital in san francisco, la mar province.    the number of victims of political violence in peru now stands at more than 600 this year, and the total number of people killed since the "shining path" began its armed struggle in 1980 now totals 18,000 according to a congress commission which is studying the causes of violence in peru.    police sources today reported in ayacucho, 575 km southeast of lima, that according to reports by relatives, over the past week 30 young men were abducted by shining path columns that intercept passenger buses and private vehicles on the highways in the department.    the sources added that the maoist group is recruiting people like that for their organization, under threats of death.    the government today extended the state of emergency for 60 days in nine of the 24 departments into which peru is politically divided, among them ayacucho, because of the terrorist action that persists in those areas.    this measure will be implemented until 2 weeks after the general legislative elections that are scheduled for 8 april 1990.

shining path column

shining path columns

shining path


Input: maria de dolores arjac.    (arjac) it is said that aid to el salvador was stopped (word indistinct) for aid to panama. could it not happen -- with mrs. chamorra's victory -- that readjustments are made in aid to several central american countries, including el salvador?  in this respect, the frg government has already renewed aid to el salvador, but not to other countries.  how do you see this situation?    (cristiani) well, this could well happen, as, obviously, the u.s. government and the senate and house of representatives are free to give aid to whatever country they believe it is advisable to do so. certainly there is a new situation, and many have expressed today that they are willing to help nicaragua, as well as panama and others. this situation could perfectly well lessen the amount of aid to el salvador.  this is a possibility.    (moderator) juan burgos of interpress service.    (burgos) (passage indistinct) un secretary general that are interpreted as that pressure was applied to you and to the armed forces commanders by some political leaders.    (cristiani) i can tell you very clearly, and i believe that the un secretary general can testify to my statements, that our position has been fitting and consistent and that we maintain the position we expressed to him at present.  we did place as a pre-condition that the fmln stop all terrorist actions.  it is hard to understand that the united nations, an organization that has condemned terrorism, cannot back our position, as we are trying to eliminate fmln terrorist actions.  but we have not changed our position, and it is the same one we expressed to the un secretary general.    (moderator) margarita artega of acan-efe.    (arteaga) mr. president, i would like to ask you if the mobilization of peasants today (words indistinct) could be an announcement that the state of siege is about to lifted, as, supposedly, concentrations and mobilizations are prohibited?    (cristiani) it depends on the security situation.  the state of siege is not permanent.  we must analyze the context of the threat that might exist with regard to security.  we have read some reports, though we have not yet confirmed them, claiming that the fmln has said that it does not intend to launch any more offensives.  it is a good sign that the fmln is looking for a way to a dialogue, and this could produce the lifting of the state of siege.  as you know, the state of siege has been greatly reduced.  it is not the same.  we have been reducing it progressively and it is now strictly what is necessary for national security.    (moderator) francisco espinosa for abc news.    (espinoza) (passage indistinct)    (cristiani) well, i do not know.  i believe that for a dialogue to take place, the pre-condition has to be met, regardless of nicarguan election results and what it means for the fmln.  our position is based on principles, on the principle that the people not continue to suffer the violence generated by fmln terrorism.  thus, this is something that has to be met, regardless of the elections.  obviously, i believe the results of the nicaraguan elections will affect the fmln in some measures, and this could include... (changes thought) i do not know.  we would have to see what position they will take in the future, but it could be.  obviously a change has occurred and will have an impact and could move the fmln to change its position.  (continued)


Input: and, therefore, it does not seem like it is a total advancement in a democratic process, because obviously it is not very democratic to have the armed forces of a country under the control of one of its political parties.  the armed forces of a country should respond to the democratic process and to the government that is legitimately elected by the people.  and therefore, this would curtail the freedom of choice of the nicaraguan people in trying to control and govern the country, even though it is not from the position of being president of the country.  secondly, i think that i have mentioned before that it is not the result of the election that will change our attitude with respect to our diplomatic relations with nicaragua, but rather the attitude of the nicaraguan government with respect to aid to the fmln, to the marxist guerrillas in el salvador. and in this case we still have not seen that change taking place. obviously, we feel that with mrs chamorro as president of nicaragua that this aid will stop and therefore make it easier for the resumption of normal relations between el salvador and nicaragua, but it is that attitude that would make a change and not necessarily the result in itself.    with respect to the third question, obviously i think that if mrs chamorro really is in control, in total control, especially of the sandinista army, that there will be a stop in aid, and therefore the fmln would not have nicaragua's logistical and military support for them.  and therefore, this certainly affects them.    (reporter, in english) i think that about one week ago or two weeks ago in the washington post there was a report that colonel benavides was living a rather luxurious life.  i do not know if you have seen that piece.  and also the u.s. ambassador william walker has said that he felt that it was time that, well, the article implies that there was some pressure, or there was some protection coming from the tandona (reference to the 1966 graduating class of the captain general gerardo barrios military academy) to protect benavides, because he (words indistinct) their men and that some lower lieutenants were not going to be receiving any sort of protection and they may have to take the fault for what has happened.  and also william walker had said that he felt that it was time for some of the people in the tandona to step down and for other officers to move up.  what do you think about that (word indistinct)?  should there be that kind of pressure? should some of the guys in the tandona step down from their posts?    (cristiani, in english) well, i think that it is not really the determining factor whether you belong to a specific graduating class within the armed forces that should be what determines whether you continue or not, or be removed or not from the armed forces.  it is your own performance and your own behavior that should be the determining factor.    so, therefore, it is not necessarily that the tandona people, just for being members of the graduating class, (chuckles) that action should be taken against them.  so i think that in that case that is not really the point.    with respect to the other case, i think it is now in the hands of the judicial system in the country on how it goes, what type of defense those that have been arraigned have.  i think that they all are receiving the legal support in the case and the other (words indistinct).    (reporter, in english) as for the dialogue with the guerrillas, before you left for taiwan you conditioned the dialogue on a ceasing of acts of violence.  to be specific, does this mean (words indistinct) all acts of violence?  and also, when do you think that this dialogue can actually take place?    (cristiani, in english) well, if we could try and put into one basket and call that basket with a name with respect to the actions, we are asking the fmln to stop terrorist activities, because terrorist activity is affecting the civilian population.  you just mentioned the fact about a pole that they use for electrical distribution in the country.  just last night they blew up one and there are two people hurt.  two civilians that were passing by were hurt by that explosion. so that is what has to stop.  the fmln has to stop all terrorist activity, because that is the activity that hurts the civilian population.  that is not military activity.  that is something geared against or to confront the armed forces.  so it is that violence that can be summed up in what is called terrorism that we are asking for -- those activities that really affect the civilian population of the country.  (continued)

marxist guerrillas

fmln

a pole that they use for electrical distribution


Input: colombian government minister carlos lemos has hinted that it may have been members of the marxist guerrilla group army of national liberation (eln) who have murdered the 77 followers of the left-wing party the patriotic union (up).    lemos said: i can expect anything from the eln.  he added that he believed that this group makes no exceptions when it wants to kill someone.    the up has blamed president virgilio barco's government and the military for the annihilation campaign against its members, demanding guarantees for their political activities with less than two weeks before the 11 march legislative elections take place.    the up made the report following the murder on 26 february of apartado mayor diana cordoba saldarriaga -- apartado is located 480 km to the northeast of bogota -- and the murder on the evening of 27 february of six more up followers in unguia, a village in choco department.  when blaming the eln, the government minister said that these individuals want to bring anarchy and instability to the country.  lemos added that as part of the eln's destablization campaign, it would not be difficult to imagine that they would have the murder people of other left-wing sectors as their goal, and admitted that there has been a series of threats against various government officials, including himself.  when referring to the up's reports holding the military responsible, he said that this was absurd and added that it is intended to lead the investigations astray and to try to stop the elections in colombia.

members of the marxist guerrilla group army of national liberation

president virgilio barco's government and the military

president virgilio barco's government and the military

diana cordoba saldarriaga


Input: guatemalan president vinicio cerezo has accused u.s. ambassador thomas strook of interfering in the internal affairs of this central american country.    "it is not customary for an ambassador of any country to openly interfere in the internal problems of another country," said cerezo today in reference to the u.s. diplomat.  strook had expressed his concern this week over the guatemalan human rights situation and the guatemalan officials' incompetence in controlling the situation.    cerezo requested that strook define his status, "whether as an ambassador or a private person."  he also asked strook to "consult with his government to find out if this is an official policy or not."    "if it is, we would have to open up a discussion with the u.s. government," said the president.  he added that he is handling the matter with "prudence and sensitivity, but with firmness."    cerezo also noted that if strook "wants to give personal opinions about guatemalan problems, he will have to do so independently from his position as ambassador."    during a speech given to rotary club members on 27 february, the u.s. ambassador criticized how the christian democratic government dealt with the human rights situation.    the diplomat stated then: "i would not be sincere if i told you that the bush administration, congress, and the american people are not seriously concerned about the guatemalan human rights situation."    "the murder and kidnapping of students, political leaders, peasants, and workers have us deeply worried," he added, noting that "the continous reports about unknown persons who have been murdered or kidnapped in the country's rural areas have not only greatly disturbed people in guatemala, but also the world over."    strook stated he was surprised that in none of the cases had the guatemalan authorities been able to capture and take to court "the vile and cowardly criminals who had committed these abominable acts."    during his speech the diplomat also criticized the drug trafficking situation in guatemala and "the sad social and economic reality" of the country, where most of the country's 9 million inhabitants live in abject poverty.


Input: dear television audience, we briefly interrupt our regular programming to offer you a report of general interest.  the film clips we will see in a few minutes were taken this afternoon and early tonight at the residency of the peruvian ambassador in bella vista corregimiento, el cangrejo neighborhood, when people were staging a peaceful demonstration prompted by the panamanian government's decision to grant safe-conducts to some of the panamanians currently at the peruvian embassy.  among the panamanians who sought shelter at the peruvian embassy and who were granted safe-conducts are marcela tason, former private secretary of ousted panamanian dictator manuel antonio. captains heraclides sucre, and gonzalo gonzalez, involved in the killing of major moises giroldi are also at the peruvian embassy.  the film clips show part of the intense protests that took place near, or rather on the grounds of the residency of the peruvian ambassador in panama city.    demonstrators threw stones at the embassy windows and later set fire to part of the residency installations.  (crowd shouts: "this damned thing is on fire!" three times) during the protest not one of the peruvian embassy officials attempted to leave the diplomatic quarters.  peruvian diplomats and even the panamanians who sought shelter at the peruvian embassy and who were at the residency remained inside.  panamanian public force units unsucessfully tried to control demonstrators.  during the incident, a public force member who tried to prevent the incident was slightly injured.  these scenes were filmed this afternoon and during the early evening hours by our cameraman jose casis jr. and show part of the protest actions against the residency.    major edgardo lopez grimaldo, former defense forces public relations officer, and the other captains we mentioned before are currently at the residency.  let us listen to part of the statements by the widow of major moises giroldi.    (begin recording) (adela de giroldi) he (not further identified) told us that he will take us to first vice president and justice minister ricardo arias calderon.    (reporter) did you agree to that?    (giroldi) i do not want to see anyone else killed.  i think there have been enough people killed.  i believe the pressure we have exerted is enough.    (reporter) what will be your position when you talk to the minister?    (giroldi) i want the panamanian government to take action so that the peruvian authorities turn those people over to the panamanians.  i think it is a matter of firmly demanding that the peruvian government turns this people over to panama.    (reporter) however, if there is not a satisfactory response today, by the authorities and the government, what measures will you adopt? will you continue protesting?    (giroldi) of course we will continue protesting.  we will continue protesting because the only thing we are asking for is that these people surrender to panamanian justice so the law can be enforced because they killed....(changes thought) heraclides sucre fired at my husband, have you heard about it, he machinegunned my husband in cold blood.  other officers and soldiers who took part in the 3 october coup were tortured, cut with machetes. (end recording)    the following film clips show a dialogue between president of the republic guillermo endara, vice president ricardo arias calderon, and the widows of officers and militarymen missing or killed on 3 october 1989 in the attempted coup.  the dialogue between the president, the vice president, and the demonstrators was positive.  demonstrators promised to remain calm and wait until panamanian justice determines the responsibility, and issue sentences for those currently at the peruvian embassy.  later on vice president ricardo arias calderon, and president endara made statements to the press.  we will listen first to statements by vice president ricardo arias calderon.  (continued)


Input: the president and myself vigorously deplore what transpired this afternoon at the peruvian embassy.  i had the opportunity along with the president to talk to mrs.  giroldi, and she assured us that her only intention was to stage a peaceful protest and at no time did they plan to include any violent acts.  mrs. giroldi said that she is very surprised that some people whom she does not know and has never seen before promoted violent acts.  she told the president of the republic that she will talk to the people and tell them that there should be no violence and that violence is not the aim.    the president and i appreciate what she is doing; we understand her pain.  we explained to her that the president has not authorized any safe-conducts for individuals who have been charged with murder. those cases are being treated differently by the president and the minister of foreign relations.    (reporter) is a break in relations expected between panama and peru due to the violent actions?    (arias) not at all.  i talked to the peruvian charge d'affaires after our foreign minister talked to him.  he knows that the national government profoundly regrets what has transpired; that the people who were protesting there, such as mrs giroldi, had no plans to carry out violent actions.  unidentified people, whose identity we will try to determine, urged the throwing of fire bombs against the embassy.  the foreign minister and myself expressed our apologies to the peruvian government for any inconveniences or insecurity felt by its personnel.    (endara) these are very regretful incidents.  not only a basic courtesy of civilized people, that is to respect the residences of other people, and more so when they belong to representatives of other countries, but a principle of international law has been violated. that principle is due respect for diplomatic missions.    what really worries us about this incident is a report given to us by the organizers of demonstrations at the embassy.  specifically, by the widows of men murdered by those who are refuged in that embassy; the widow of major giroldi was here, and she told us that all her actions at the embassy have been peaceful.    she told us that today they noticed that totally unfamiliar people were present and these people provoked the violence; they instigated the violence.  obviously, there certain groups are seeking to spoil our efforts to achieve democracy.  they want to prevent the establishment of a democratic system with justice and liberty at all costs.    i believe that this incident must be denounced before the attorney general of the nation.  he should investigate these provocations. nevertheless, the executive branch urges the citizens to not allow people to provoke them into participating in violent actions such as one which occurred today.  the citizens must not allow others to exploit the feelings that all panamnians feel towards criminals and people who have committed crimes and who are holed up in embassies such as this one; we urge citizens to avoid being provoked. (end recording)


Input: the authorities and security organizations have been surprised by the shocking wave of kidnappings carried out throughout the national territory by the self-styled army of national liberation, eln.  over the past few hours, the group has kidnapped 20 people.    among the victims of the eln's so-called camilist union are four mayors, two deputies, six executives, cattlemen, businessmen, farmers, and a policeman.    according to official reports, 12 kidnappings took place over the past 18 hours.  in cesar department, members of the camilist union kidnapped liberal deputy dario quintero patino, 42, in the downtown section of aguachica municipality.  newsman emiliano j. pacheco, who works for the "advances of cesar" newscast of the ondas del cesar radio station, was kidnapped along with the political leader.    early on saturday morning, a gang of kidnappers, apparently eln members, kidnapped cattleman manuel narciso martinez jaroca, nephew of anibal martinez zureta, candidate for mayor of valledupar and former comptroller general of the republic.  in addition, celina ossa de gomez, conservative party leader and deputy, was kidnapped in downtown granada, antioquia.  in tibu, norte de santander, mayor eduardo rolon diaz and mayoral candidate alvaro sarmiento herrera were also kidnapped by the so-called eln camilist union.  the two men were on their way to lunch when they were taken by surprise by the rebels.    at noon yesterday, near savana de torres, santander, alvaro torres, an employee of the agrarian fund; oscar celio torres gutierrez, a spokesman for incora (colombian institute of agrarian reform); miguel cacel, an imat (expansion unknown) official; and a worker from pediaroz were kidnapped.  the eln is also holding noel francisco acevedo and javier ignacio pena, the mayors of el carmen and california, santander, respectively; and liberal party deputy juan carlos duarte, who was abducted by the eln on tenerife road, in the municipal jurisdiction of concepcion.  duarte is a deputy for the renovation of free santander liberal party.    along the road from san vicente to el carmen, also in santander, gonzalo vasquez ardila, manager of the local agrarian fund, and olindo mantilla ardila, a director of the (cotras magdalena) company, were also kidnapped.  the two men were in an automobile with license plate uf-2171 when they were abducted by the guerrillas.  the driver, marco tulio gomez, was also kidnapped, but released several hours later.    hernando torres jaimes, mayor of hacari, norte de santander, is also in the hands of the eln.  in cordoba, cattleman german sierra medina was kidnapped along the el toro road of piedra alta.  in canalete, also in cordoba, cattleman pedro pablo mejia was kidnapped. he was at the la cana estate when the guerrillas kidnapped him.    in pedregales, on the road from zulia to sardinata, the eln kidnapped businessman sergio alarcon.  in el centenario, el carmen, santander, members of the camilist union kidnapped landowner samuel plazas.    the authorities also announced that policeman edison agudelo agudelo was kidnapped by members of the camilist union as he was on his way to fraguas corregimiento in remedios, antioquia, to cash a check.    the authorities and secret service organizations announced that intensive operations are underway in an effort to rescue the hostages alive.  at the same time, they urged local officials and political leaders to refrain from travelling alone to avoid falling into the hands of the guerrillas.    with this shocking wave of kidnappings, the number of such actions in colombia so far in 1990 has increased to 120.

members of the camilist union

army of national liberation

dario quintero patino

emiliano j. pacheco

manuel narciso martinez jaroca

celina ossa de gomez

eduardo rolon diaz

alvaro sarmiento herrera

alvaro torres

oscar celio torres gutierrez

miguel cacel

noel francisco acevedo

javier ignacio pena

juan carlos duarte

gonzalo vasquez ardila

olindo mantilla ardila

marco tulio gomez

hernando torres jaimes

german sierra medina

pedro pablo mejia

sergio alarcon

samuel plazas

edison agudelo agudelo


Input: one military helicopter was shot down today while another one was damaged in quebranda honda near chalatenango city.  therefore, the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) wishes to inform our people of the following:    1.  the anti-aircraft clash took place during a military operation which the dm-1 (military detachment 1) is carrying out in that sector.    2.  early in the morning we fought with dm-1 troops, who were supported by salvadoran air force helicopters.    3.  within this framework, our anti-aircraft units fired on two military helicopters that had fired rockets and machinegunned the area.  our units shot down one and seriously damaged another helicopter.    4.  these actions took place near the capital of chalatenango department, and not near the guancora land settlement.    5.  later, we learned from public reports that one of the helicopters was carrying a team of journalists and attorney general mauricio colorado along with the troops.  to that effect, we regret the injuries inflicted on the journalists, to whom we reiterate our recommendation that they should not travel on any military vehicles or aircraft.  we extend this warning to all civilians and government officials.


Input: one soldier was killed and six more persons were injured, including three newsmen, in an attack against a helicopter in which attorney general mauricio colorado was one of the passengers, official sources have noted, adding that the attorney general was unhurt.    according to the armed forces press committee (coprefa), members of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) machinegunned the helicopter as it was flying to the town of guancorita in northern chalatenango department.  the attack took place when the helicopter was flying low close to its destination, in an area with a heavy guerrilla presence, the military sources said.    the same sources added that the attorney general and his retinue were going to be present at the disinterment of the bodies of the victims of an air force bombing in that department three weeks ago. the sources did not indicate the precise number of persons traveling aboard the helicopter, but did say that the condition of four of the six persons injured, two soldiers and two newsmen, was serious.  the wounded reporters are cameraman manuel diaz and sound man william madrid, of local television station telecorporacion salvadorena (tcs).

farabundo marti national liberation front

mauricio colorado

cameraman manuel diaz

sound man william madrid


Input: military sources reported today that fighting broke out on the night of 5 march in the war-torn chalatenango department to the north of san salvador, where the guerrillas suffered eight casualties.    the armed forces press committee reported that the clashes took place near san isidro labrador, where three guerrillas were killed and five others were wounded.    the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln), which has been fighting the u.s.-backed army for the last 10 years, has traditionally maintained a high profile in strategic areas of chalatenango.    meanwhile, urban guerrilla commandos harassed troops belonging to the 1st infantry brigade last night at the mariona penitentiary, located on the northern outskirts of san salvador, apparently leaving no casualties.    atlacatl battalion troops, which maintain a counterinsurgency operation at the foothills of guazapa hill, to the north of san salvador, confiscated war materiel that the guerrillas had hidden underground.    in another turn of events, fmln sappers who continuously sabotage the electrical power system destroyed several high-voltage posts in la libertad and cabanas departments in the central part of the country, and in usulutan department in the southeastern part of the country.    there were widespread power outages in the three departments while technicians of the state-run electric power companies repaired the damage.    the army and security corps deployed heavy patrols in san salvador and in cities in the country's interior to try and counter the wave of attacks.

sappers

fmln

high-voltage posts


Input: now, just like 13 years ago when a democratic administration was installed in the white house, the relations between guatemala and the united states are particularly tense, and today, just like then, the reason for the tension in their bilateral relations is the human rights situation, because, according to the republican administration of george bush, the christian democratic government of vinicio cerezo does not seem to have enough political will to neutralize the problems that are affecting the security of citizens and individual guarantees.    in march 1977, newly installed u.s. president jimmy carter demanded that the regime headed by general kjell laugerud rectify a domestic policy that, according to the white house, was characterized by repressive practices against the opposition and peasant and labor groups.  the guatemalan authorities reacted by rejecting u.s. military aid.  the same position was adopted, amid very similar circumstances, by the military governments of jorge videla in argentina and augusto pinochet in chile.    relations between guatemala and washington continued to be tortuous during the balance of the carter administration and only improved, relatively speaking, when republican ronald reagan took office in 1981.  however, only years later -- with the commitment to democratization by de facto military governments that led the country from 1982 and 1985 -- was there a conciliatory attitude between guatemala and the united states that brought about quite harmonious relations between the governments of president cerezo and presidents reagan and bush until mid-1989.    on 27 february u.s. ambassador thomas strook criticized the guatemalan authorities' failure to pursue the authors of murders and of kidnappings of political, student, and labor leaders, and thus worsened an atmosphere of confrontation that had resurfaced about six months ago when ambassador strook, who had just arrived in guatemala, objected to the appointment of colonel hugo moran carranza, former director of administrative control, to the post of manager of the santo tomas de castilla port enterprise.  the ambassador justified his objection by claiming that aspects related to international drug trafficking had to be resolved first.    on 6 march, president cerezo said that the united states had hardened its attitude toward the guatemalan regime and that this attitude contrasts with a tolerant posture exhibited toward previous administrations in guatemala:    (begin recording) (cerezo) they have harshly criticized the courts situation.  the supreme court of justice (words indistinct) and as a result of the un action a draft procedural law will be submitted. this should be approved and proceedings should improve in guatemala in about (word indistinct) years.    however, we are dealing with long-term effort.  we have made institutional changes for only four years.  i sincerely believe that the u.s. attitude toward a country that is making efforts to move forward is unfair and overly critical.  it is being more critical of the current guatemalan government than it ever was toward past dictatorships.  the united states has been considerably harsher in criticizing the current guatemalan government (words indistinct) democracy than past dictatorial governments, to which the united states, in certain cases, was an accomplice by saying nothing (words indistinct).  (end recording)    only hours after the president made these statements, the u.s. embassy in guatemala issued a communique stating that if the united states abstained from voicing its concern over human rights abuses, it would indeed be acting as an accomplice.  the communique cites statements made on 5 march in washington by state department spokeswoman margaret tutwiller that u.s. ambassador strook, in his capacity as president bush's personal representative, has on many occasions told top guatemalan officials, in public and private, that those who commit violent acts must be turned over to justice.    strook is currently in washington where he was recalled by the state department for consultations.  according to the diplomatic mission, the ambassador's statements accurately reflect the permanent u.s. position of considering human rights as an issue that must be treated at an international level.  (continued)


Input: chilean president-elect patricio aylwin today conditioned the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with cuba to that country's suspension of its military, political and economic support to chile's manuel rodriguez patriotic front (fpmr) terrorist group. in remarks to efe, aylwin expressed his satisfaction over the peruvian president's decision to attend the chilean presidential inauguration on 11 march. he also noted that la paz must first restore diplomatic relations with chile to hold talks on bolivia's desire for an outlet to the sea.    aylwin stated that cuba's suspension of its support to the fpmr is "a sine qua non condition" for resuming relations, which were severed in 1973 immediately after the military coup in chile. "we want to maintain relations with every country," the chilean president-elect told efe.  he added: "it would be very good for latin america if cuba could effectively rejoin us at this time (...) in which, for the first time in many years, perhaps in decades, there will be democratic governments throughout the continent."    aylwin added: "we have the right to ask cuba to make it quite clear that it will refrain from any act of interference and from supplying any aid to chilean terrorist groups."    the fpmr, which emerged in december 1983, is made up of militants from communist youth groups and other extreme left organizations and young exiles who have returned to the country.  the fpmr made headlines in august 1986 with the discovery of an arsenal that had been clandestinely shipped into northern chile.  the fpmr was also in the news with the unsuccessful 7 september 1986 attack on chile's chief executive, general augusto pinochet, which claimed the lives of five of pinochet's bodyguards.    aylwin also stated that the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with bolivia "is blocked by the bolivian decision to break relations with our country."  commenting on bolivia's aspiration for an outlet to the sea, aylwin said: "we cannot accept conditions for the reestablishment of relations.  if we have relations, we can talk about anything and find solutions to all of our problems."  aylwin continued: "if we do not maintain relations, it is very difficult to hold a dialogue."    aylwin also commented on peruvian president alan garcia's decision to attend the chilean presidential inauguration.  this will be the first time in more than 100 years (since the 1879 war of the pacific in which chile fought against peru and bolivia) that a peruvian president will visit chile, a gesture with "historic significance" for aylwin.    the legacy of the chilean-peruvian war has not yet disappeared despite the fact that the two countries share common interests and have maintained friendly relations in recent years. aylwin described the peruvian president's plan to attend his inauguration "as a gesture which, in addition to greatly honoring me, i must see as very promising for relations between our two countries."    (passage indistinct) country is willing to participate "in every stage." commenting specifically on the group of eight, aylwin noted that this group may become a larger latin american organization.  in aylwin's opinion, the group of eight -- which is made up of argentina, brazil, colombia, mexico, peru, uruguay, venezuela, and panama (which is currently excluded because of its domestic political situation) -- emerged primarily to support democratic movements in some latin american countries.    now that democracy has spread to virtually all latin american countries, the group of eight could become "the seed for a broader organization, because the reasons that prevented other countries from joining have gradually disappeared."


Input: the 19 april movement (m-19), one of the main colombian guerrilla organizations, delivered their weapons today to a socialist international (is) special commission at the m-19 camp located in the mountains of southwestern colombia.  the delivery began at 1030 local time (1530 gmt) and proceeded for a few hours before the press was permitted access to the camp.    the delivery of the weapons, with which the guerrilla group has fought during the past 16 years, took place two days before the political pact or the definitive peace agreement by the m-19 and colombian president virgilio barco's government was signed.    before surrendering their weapons, the m-19 guerrillas shot them into the air for the last time.  then they gave their weapons to their top leader, carlos pizarro, who delivered them to the is commission, made up of venezuelan, swiss, british, and finnish military personnel.    the is commission, a presidential representative, 600 m-19 members, and over 200 local and foreign newsmen witnessed the weapon delivery ceremony at peace village in santo domingo, cauca department, 400 km southwest of bogota.


Input: here is an excerpt of what an official report by the government and the nationalist republican alliance, arena, regard as a completely reckless publication and without any credibility.    the communique is by the so-called death squads, and an excerpt of it released a few hours ago through various local and foreign media reads as follows:    to the news media, political parties, the catholic church, unions, workers, peasant organizations, and diplomatic missions: the undersigned, supreme commanders of the death squads who met on 13 february somewhere in san salvador in an extraordinary assembly and who represent all our chapters and cadres scattered in the country's 14 departments, strongly and manfullly declare: sentence unfinished as heard    the document, with paragraphs highlighted by the authors, states that the officers and enlisted men involved in the jesuits' murders must be released before holy week, or else they will physically eliminate all civilian and religious personnel, inside and outside the government, who have anything to do with this case.    the communique notes: never before in the history of el salvador has any officer been tried, and as we have learned, no soldier has been, and must not be, subject to any law of the republic.  it adds: keep in mind, lest we begin to carry out reprisals, that throughout our history we have always gone unpunished, a privilege that we are not ready to lose.    a statement by the government and arena, which are mentioned in the communique, totally rejected the document that, we repeat, was distributed in san salvador a few hours ago.  in a warning to the news media, the authors say that the media are obligated to make this communique known, or else their installations and staff will suffer the consequences of their disobedience.  the authors of the communique also refer to a newspaper that they regard as their official mouthpiece, and they warn that, for the good and security of the country and the fatherland, this newspaper must be clearer in identifying people and figures who have already been judged and condemned in order to capture and destroy them.    meanwhile, terming the communique as reckless and the entire situation as despicable, the government and arena reject any ties to any death squads.    the communique by the self-styled death squads is signed by aquiles baires (leader of the secret anticommunist army), the maximiliano hernandez martinez squad (escuadron maximilianio hernandez martinez), the alliance of anticommunist action (alianza de accion anticomunista), and the committee for the salvation of the fatherland comite pro salvacion de la patria.  (continued)


Input: good evening, listeners.  in order to bring calm to all san salvador residents, and also to people living in the interior of the country, we inform you that a few minutes ago, experts of the electric light company of el salvador, caes, confirmed that despite a few attacks on some power towers, energy service is completely normal throughout san salvador.  the caes experts added that there was a short power outage in large parts of san salvador, but that the situation is back to normal now.  the experts said that they also detected some damage in the energy system.    as you may have heard on this radio station earlier, harassment operations were carried out in several parts of san salvador at approximately 2115 tonight.    farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) leftist guerrillas attacked military positions in san ramon, ayutuxtepeque, mejicanos, and cuscatancingo tonight.  it was said that a number of fmln members conducted lightning attacks on those military positions and then withdrew from the area immediately.    it was reported that the attack in san ramon lasted approximately 15 minutes, after which the army took control of that entire area. reports state that after the attack in ayutuxtepeque the guerrillas moved toward el carmen hill and counterinsurgency battalion members were pursuing the rebel columns there.  it was also reported that the rebels attacked military positions in cuscatancingo and on el fito street, mejicanos jurisdiction.    a few minutes ago it was reported that the shooting ended in ayutuxtepeque and in the other parts of northern san salvador, and that an air force helicopter is overflying the area to counteract the rebels' movement.    it was also confirmed that energy has been restored in some parts of san salvador, but not in cuscatancingo and ciudad delgado, where the guerrillas blew up several power towers.    the armed forces press committee (coprefa) has only stated that no casualties are reported as a result of these harassment operations, especially in the area of ayutuxtepeque.  coprefa indicated that 1st infantry brigade members have already taken strategic positions throughout northern san salvador and that these men are supported by salvadoran air force helicopters, which are lighting the area with spotlights and flares.    according to the official report, the situation at this time is completely normal in northern san salvador, despite the panic that spread at approximately 2115 when heavy shooting, machinegun fire, and the detonation of powerful bombs were heard.    neither coprefa nor the specific military positions that were attacked have reported casualties so far.  it was said that tomorrow morning coprefa will issue an overall report on the results of these clashes.  salvadoran red cross sources said tonight that they do not know of any civilian casualty resulting from these armed incidents.    this has been a report on the attacks carried out in northern san salvador tonight.  we invite you to join us tomorrow for a report on the development of events.

farabundo marti national liberation front

several power towers

powerful bombs


Input: salvadoran president alfredo cristiani has accused the guerrillas of maintaining "inflexible stands" regarding resuming the dialogue that will allow ending the 10-year-old armed conflict.    in an official statement today, president cristiani said that "the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) does not want to listen to the cries of the people who are rejecting violence."    for cristiani, the fmln "is the only party responsible for the terrorist actions, as it maintains inflexible stands" about the peace process.    the rebels, who rose up in arms 10 years ago, recently said that as long as there is no true attempt to bring about a democratization, its armed struggle "continues being as legitimate as it was 10 years ago."    following the november 1989 offensive, the cristiani government and the fmln asked un secretary general javier perez de cuellar to intercede and seek an agreement that will bring about the peace talks.    heeding this request, perez de cuellar appointed diplomat alvaro de soto as his personal representative.  as of last december, de soto has been meeting with both parties, the church, and salvadoran political sectors.    the cristiani statement terms as "false" the charges raised by the fmln to the effect that the government is responsible for hindering the resumption of the peace efforts.    "president cristiani has reiterated to mr. de soto a true willingness to seek through a serious dialogue and not a tactical or much less propagandistic dialogue the solution to the armed conflict," the document points out.    the salvadoran government thanked de soto's "interest and hard work" in complying with the un secretary general's commitment of seeking peace in the country.


Input: it has just been reported to us that all fighting stopped in santiago de maria at 0100 and that, as of approximately 0615, when this reported is being filed, there has been no more firing in the area.    there had been heavy rifle fire and bombings up until 0100.


Input: it has been officially announced that colombian and venezuelan authorities dealt a harsh blow to the guerrilla army of national liberation (eln) when, in a border region, they broke up a rebel column that operated in both countries.    the military operative led to the capture of 12 eln members who had kidnapped several cattle breeders and property-owners in the border area.    one of the guerillas, roberto albarracin rodriguez, was captured in the venezuelan town of ruasdualito by members of the venezuelan judicial technical police (ptj), while colombian authorities captured 11 others in the eastern arauca department.    the eln, the most radical of all the armed groups operating in colombia, has threatened to sabotage next sunday's municipal and legislative elections.    over the past few days, eln fronts have kidnapped several mayors, government officials, and cattle breeders, and they have stolen peasants' identity cards, without which they cannot vote.

the guerrilla army of national liberation