Input: guatemala's clandestine organization "secret anticommunist army" (esa) has claimed responsibility for wednesday's terrorist attack against the residence and office of aleksandr trushin, tass correspondent in guatemala.    an esa bulletin distributed to the news media states that the attack against the soviet news agency "was to express rejection of the socialist-leaning measures" adopted by the vinicio cerezo arevalo government.    the document explains that "this is a warning," because if arrest warrants are issued for the five civilians involved in the abortive 11 may coup, "actions will be undertaken against members of the guatemalan christian democracy," which is the ruling party.    the attack, carried out with two bombs, was perpetrated against the soviet newsman's home, located in a residential area south of this city.  this occurred on 18 may.    the explosive devices were hurled from an automobile.  it destroyed an entrance and windows of the home as well as trushin's car. however, neither trushin nor his wife were injured.    the communique by esa, a paramilitary organization that emerged in the 1960's, adds that it "will not rest until the communist aggression has been stopped and its defeat achieved."    it also says that "the current government is promoting revolution. if it wants war, it will have war because we are ready to die and to fight against communism any time."    the document, signed by commanders "ubico torokzik" and "rafael netanagiuhi," says that defense minister general hector gramejo, foreign minister alfonso cabrera, and president vinicio cerezo arevalo planned the coup.    according to this communique, in the recent trip to cuba by raquel blandon, wife of president cerezo arevalo, she met with libyan ahmad mustafa (not further identified) "to ask him for economic support for the next general elections in 1990."    esa is opposed to the issuance of arrest warrants against mario david garcia, danilo roca, nicolas buonafina, gustavo anzueto vielman, and mario castejon.  these are the civilians whom the cerezo arevalo government has accused of involvement in the coup attempt.    this group stresses that the attempt was a "ploy promoted by gen hector gramejo.  that is the basest thing that the defense minister could have done: to sell himself and his military colleagues."    esa members describe themselves as "guatemala's progressive patriots," and they reaffirm that the attack on the tass mission "was a warning."

guatemala's progressive patriots

residence and office of aleksandr trushin

trushin's car

aleksandr trushin

explosive devices


Input: the colombian government intends to carry out a "constitutional coup" to consist of transferring part of its power to the armed forces to physically eliminate progressive sectors, colombian patriotic union (up) leader bernardo jaramillo told the media.    according to reports by the official (czechoslovak) ctk press agency, jaramillo said that the judicial branch is not helping the colombian government in this attempt to transfer power, as is evident in the fact that it has rejected several presidential decrees that stress the current state of siege norms that have been in effect in colombia since 1948.    jaramillo charged the government with "lacking the political willingness" to halt the murder of activists and political and labor leaders and the massive murder of peasants, as well as to purge army members "clearly committed to these crimes and to drug trafficking, as confirmed by the colombian attorney general."    "the links between the guerrillas or national liberation movements with the narcotraffickers provides the united states with a pretext to meddle in latin american affairs, as was clearly evident recently in panama," jaramillo added.    the visit to prague of jaramillo and the accompanying delegation is part of a european tour, which is consistent with the resolution approved in april during the 7th up national plenum that sought to promote the party's presence abroad.


Input: today the national center security zone command denied the killing of peasants in cayara, ayacucho.  the command issued the following official communique:    1. at 2300 on 23 (as heard) may, near cayara, victor fajardo province, ayacucho department, a group of approximately 100 subversives ambushed a two-vehicle army patrol on a relief operation between the towns of san pedro de guaillas and huancapi.    2. the following members of the peruvian army died as a result of this criminal attack: captain jose urbulu simo, second sergeant angel vargas samara, and corporals favian roldan ortiz and carlos espinoza de la cruz.  fifteen army personnel were also wounded during the attack, four of them seriously.  the captain and other personnel killed during the operation were buried on 16 may in lima and huaras, respectively.    the army personnel killed six unidentified subversives while repelling the attack.  the evidence indicates that an unspecified number of subversives were also wounded.    3. peruvian army reinforcement patrols pursued the subversive column, which took flight in the direction of cayara.  the patrol found the town completely empty and abandoned with the exception of some children and old people who reported that four dead bodies were left in the town's church.    4. during the search operation around cayara, the patrols clashed with subversives and killed an unspecified number.    5. on 16 may the political-military command reported the attack to the prosecutor's office in ayacucho and asked the court to intervene. the peruvian army has also begun an inquiry into the matter.    6. the false report by local authorities of the killing of a large number of people from cayara is completely groundless.  the report of an alleged bombardment is also false.  all this has the sole purpose of hindering the action of the forces of order who are trying to capture the criminal subversives who ambushed the army patrol.    7. the search operation continues and the results will be reported as soon as they become known.    lima, 18 may 1988    (signed) public relations office, national center security zone command


Input: we inform the working class, students, and salvadoran people in general: as of 16 march, the date set by the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) to begin its national transportation stoppage, all our militia units will be in fighting spirits and will attack transportation vehicles such as taxis, minibuses, pickup trucks, government vehicles, buses, (words indistinct), and all vehicles that do not abide by the stoppage.  we will burn and blow up vehicles.    we warn the population not to ride military vehicles, because they will be ambushed.  in emergency cases at night or early in the morning, people should ride private or first-aid vehicles and should display a white flag. we also urge the salvadoran people not to vote, because that vote will contribute to worsen the war and will support the counterinsurgency plan of the yankee imperialists' and their servile local authorities.    it has been proved that neither the christian democratic party nor the nationalist republican alliance want a political solution to the war.  in response to their refusal, let us not vote in the 19 march elections; let us vote in the 15 september elections.    that must be the people's response to the 19 march elections.  the ballot boxes and their respective (word indistinct) will be sabotaged, and personnel participating in that election game will be subsequently annihilated, because their participation means they agree with the elections and support the worsening of the war.    no to the 19 march elections, because they are a demagogic and fraudulent maneuver and because they are a denial of peace.

militia units

farabundo marti national liberation front

all vehicles that do not abide by the stoppage


Input: this morning, just 4 days before the presidential elections, guerrillas staged a 6-hour attack on several military installations in the northern chalatenango department.    radio farabundo marti, a guerrilla radio station, claimed that during one of the attacks, in the town of tejutla, 13 army soldiers were either killed or wounded.    in a preliminary report, the army admitted to only 3 soldiers wounded, and said that 3 guerrillas had been killed and some 20 others injured.    the main attack, with mortar and rifles of various calibers, was launched at the installations of military detachment no. 1, in the central part of chalatenango department.


Input: agriculture minister jaime de la sotta and foreign minister hernan felipe errazuriz will leave tonight for the united states in an attempt to achieve the lifting of the ban on imported chilean fruits.  they will take lan-chile flight 141 that departs at approximately 2100 from santiago and goes directly to new york.    in new york, the two ministers will take another plane to washington and will arrive at approximately noon tomorrow. in the u.s. capital they will meet with officials of the food and drug administration.    the main objective of the trip is to achieve the lifting of the ban on imported chilean fruits.  u.s. officials announced the ban over an unusual television network following the discovery that some chilean grapes were laced cyanide.  de la sotta stated that this is an example of the damage that terrorism can cause.    (begin recording) (de la sotta) you can see and measure the scope of a terrorist act such as the one we have just experienced, the sole objective of which is to cause harm. this can be demonstrated by the advertisement, not a clear and concrete advertisement, but an anonymous telephone call by which they warned us, that is, they warned the embassies they called, that they would carry out such an act.  this call was made 3 days after the departure of the fruit shipment.  we attempted to control the situation to the extent possible, following technical procedures concerning the amount of samples taken.  then we announced that the situation was under control, that it was an anomyous call and as such could not be taken seriously.  later, in the shipments that arrived in the united states last weekend, the presence of cyanide was detected in two grapes.  (end recording)    de la sotta added that all possible efforts will be made to overcome the impasse.  the major problem now involves the 17 million boxes that arrived at their ports of destination ready for distribution.  now no one knows what to do with them.  there are 7 or 8 million boxes more being shipped to the same ports, and 3 million boxes remain in the country, ready to be shipped. de la sotta said that the cyanide was found in two single grapes.    (begin recording) (de la sotta) the essential thing, i believe, is (words indistinct) that the united states can adopt measures.  we will talk with the health officials to give them the necessary assurances so they can lift the ban as soon as possible.  (end recording)    in order to face the problem, the government has created three comissions to study the different aspects of the problem, the agriculture minister stated.


Input: manuel feliu, chairman of the industry and trade confederation, has estimated that the losses caused by the act of economic terrorism against our country will be more than $880 million.    (begin recording) (feliu) it is the result of a terrorist boycott.  it is the beginning of a boycott.  all chileans must unite against this problem because it affects all of us, not only the chilean government.      (reporter) what economic damage can this boycott cause the chilean fruit industry?      (feliu) the damage is enormous.  it can amount to more than $800 (as heard) million in expenses before the end of this exporting season.  this huge loss will create all types of problems, not only for the farmers, exporters, and financial sector, but also for the sea and air transportation industry, the insurance industry, and all sectors of the national economy related to fruit export activities.    in short, it causes a series of huge problems for the workers, the businessmen, and all people involved in those exports in one way or the other.  (end recording)    feliu made these comments at the end of a visit he made to the production, trade, and agricultural unions to offer his solidarity to members of the agricultural sector.


Input: farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) urban commandos destroyed a truck owned by tropical soda company at approximately 0730 today on the main road of dolores neighborhood.    the strong explosion, which destroyed the front part of the truck, caused minor property damage to nearby houses and to vehicles parked in the area. the information released indicates there were no casualties as a result of the explosion and adds that three young men placed the dynamite charge and warned the driver to leave the area.    according to residents of the area, a beer truck was also blown up 3 days ago in that same place.  that truck was owned by la constancia beer company.    in addition, an agriculture ministry vehicle was partially destroyed by a dynamite charge.  the attack took place at the corner of roosevelt ave and 53th avenue south near the agriculture ministry at approximately 0900.    according to a witness, the dynamite charge was placed by a young man who left in a white pickup truck that was waiting for him on the other side of the street.  the destroyed vehicle belonged to the agriculture ministry project department.    although we could not confirm this report, agriculture ministry employees asserted that a vendor walking on the area was wounded as a result of the explosion.  windows of nearby buildings and the windshield of another ministry vehicle were also broken as a result of the explosion.  no organization claimed responsibility for this attack, although it was said that the christian democratic party has been using those vehicles for its political campaign.    another report stated two gas stations were sabotaged by fmln urban commandos in several parts of san salvador, without inflicting any casualties.  one of the gas stations is located on the road leading to san antonio abad.  a four-person rebel group placed a powerful bomb inside the gas station office at approximately 1600, causing serious property damage.    the office and equipment of the second gas station, known as texaco - los congos, was also seriously damaged as a result of two explosions.      in addition, a public transportation bus was stopped on the road to montserrat.  the incident did not cause any property damage but did cause fear among area residents.    official sources added that two paramilitary men were murdered by fmln units early this morning in the northern end of san salvador.      the report indicates angel marroquin hernandez and jose angel flores, members of the santo domingo canton civil defense, were abducted and subsequently murdered by the rebels near (name indistinct) bridge, guazapa jurisdiction.  in addition, three treasury police members were wounded during a rebel attack last night.  the attack took place on army boulevard. finally, a minor was seriously wounded this morning after urban commandos detonated a bomb near a power tower in soyapango city.

urban commandos

young man

four-person rebel group

rebels

farabundo marti national liberation front

truck owned by tropical soda company

beer truck

nearby houses

vehicles parked in the area

agriculture ministry vehicle

windshield of another ministry vehicle

gas station office

office and equipment

public transportation bus

power tower

angel marroquin hernandez

jose angel flores

dynamite

bomb


Input: urban guerillas attacked the presidency in san salvador with mortar fire tonight, causing some damage but no casualties, according to initial official reports.    the attack occurred at 1835 (0035 gmt).  eight explosions were heard.    it was not reported whether president jose napoleon duarte was at his office at the time of the attack.  the attack was presumably carried out by farabundo marti national liberation front urban guerrillas.

farabundo marti national liberation front urban guerrillas

farabundo marti national liberation front

presidency

jose napoleon duarte

mortar


Input: a guard was wounded in the attack staged tonight by urban guerrilla commandos on the government house in southern san salvador, official sources confirmed to afp.    the attack at 1835 (0035 gmt) was confirmed by a spokesman for the national guard, which is responsible for guarding president jose napoleon duarte, who was not in his office at the time of the attack.    the government house is located near the armed forces transmission training center, which was also the target of rebel mortar and rifle fire, according to the same source.    a national guard spokesman said the rebels used "mobile artillery platforms," known as "catapults."    the rebels also blew up two high tension posts leaving the government house in the dark.    san salvador residents were alarmed by the strong explosions during the attack, while military helicopters immediately began patrolling various parts of the city.

urban guerrilla commandos

government house

armed forces transmission training center

high tension posts

mortar

rifle


Input: reports from san salvador indicate that at 1910 tonight, 15 march, fighting and explosions continued in various neighborhoods and sections of the city.  fighting is especially intense in the san jacinto neighborhood on los diplomaticos avenue, where a traffic jam has resulted.    strong explosions have also been heard in the 15 de septiembre neighborhood, and our reports indicate that at 1910, barricades were still burning and explosions could still be heard on ejercito boulevard. barricades and explosions have also been reported near banco capitalizador, and attacks have been made against police forces in various parts of the capital.


Input: the peace proposal presented by the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) general command sparked a debate of unprecedented broadness and duration to attain a national agreement to solve the conflict.  the progress achieved must be increased, strengthening the unity and broad support of sectors that advocate peace with social justice and national independence.    in this process, we have shown flexibility toward proposals presented by the government and the political parties.  nevertheless, the christian democratic party (pdc), arena (nationalist republican alliance), and the military high command have closed the door to the possibility of holding elections without war, in conditions of cleanliness and equality that would turn them into an opportunity to solve the conflict.  they insisted on holding the elections as part of military plan that tries to appear to be democratic to justify to the u.s. congress why there should be continued shipments of weapons and more millions in aid.    there will be new election fraud and disputes between those who murdered monsignor (oscar arnulfo) romero and massacred 70,000 salvadorans, and the voracious corrupt devourers of millions who have mortgaged the country's sovereignty.  a fraud will take place in a militarized country, where more than half of the municipal offices are not functioning, and where the military manipulates the ballot boxes, votes, and results -- and they will do it again, as they have always done.    within this framework, we have the legitimate right to support the people's feelings and reject the 19 march elections, urging them to fight and reject the attempts to turn the elections into an instrument to continue the war, urging them not to vote or to void their ballot.  the elections will attempt to legitimize the war, and they will be held in the midst of a war.  the armed forces will be bombing civilians; the police will be capturing, torturing, and assassinating; the jails will again be filled with political prisoners.  psychological warfare will be launched by the military high command by waving the specter of genocide over the population; this amid the dramatic poverty of the deprived masses. (continued)


Input: in the presence of some 50 members of the parties that comprise it, the center-right political coalition coalicion politica de centro derecha has been officially formed. the ceremony, held at the national party headquarters in the old and venerable fernandez concha club, was presided over by sergio onofre jarpa, patricio phillips, and jaime tormo.    during the ceremony, radical democratic party head jaime tormo said that the three parties will now start analyzing their common positions, under the effective coordination of national renewal secretary andres allamand.    jorge martinez, of the national party then read a joint declaration. the three parties reported that one of their goals is to restore the middle class's dignity and its opportunities for jobs, because this class has always been the greatest sponsor of national intellectual, material, and social development.    another goal is to prevent the coalition from becoming a super party or merging with other parties. this coalition will continue to exist as such, and its objective is to promote cooperation, both among member parties and with parties that may want to join them in the future.    the first official act of the center-right political coalition was to send a cable to u.s. president george bush to point out the serious consequences of the measures the united states has adopted against chilean fruits.      the cable, which was read by andres allamand, stated:    (begin recording) in view of the groundless and exaggerated measures taken by some members of your administration against chilean fruit exports, we call your attention to the fact that these measures will ruin a large sector of chilean private enteprise, will leave hundreds of thousands of workers jobless, and will cause a serious imbalance in our balance of payments. these measures will seriously affect the good relations the chilean people have always had with the u.s. people, and they will deeply injure those who, like us, defend free economy and free trade.    most serious, however, is the fact that these measures apparently reward the terrorist activities against chile, because they help the terrorists achieve their goals. (end recording)     the cable adds that chile has earned justified prestige as a serious and effective exporter; that it has been honoring its foreign debt at a sacrifice; and that it has cooperated in several public welfare projects sponsored by the u.s. government. in view of all that, the coalition requests an urgent solution to the problem.


Input: a guerrilla unit that operated in the merendon mountain range, in the omoa hills area, 100 km northwest of san pedro sula on the guatemalan border, was dismantled over the weekend by combined national army units.    members of the ii artillery battalion, special tactical battalion, ii infantry battalion, and iii infantry battalion participated in the operation.  according to local residents, the army captured eight alleged subversives and seized supplies, military uniforms, and marxist literature.    la tribuna visited cuyamel, rio chiquito, tegucigalpita, comayagua, cuyamelito, potrerillos, san carlos, corinto, and quebrada seca in cortes department, where the people were obviously worried because they could not explain the military movements.    the villages were militarized on tuesday last week while specialists in antiguerrilla tactics were deployed to "comb" the local mountains.    according to local residents, the eight alleged guerrilla members -- who were captured and later taken by helicopter to the 105th infantry brigade headquarters in san pedro sula -- reportedly included an old man and a minor.  the people added that strange people come down from the mountains at sundown, reportedly in search of food.    the people stated that someone tipped off the police to the activities of the suspicious looking persons who came from the mountains.  consequently, the army set up an air lift.  the landing strip was located in a clearing near the town of pueblo nuevo.    military vehicles were frequently seen with soldiers coming or going to the mountains.  "painted - face" soldiers were seen going to the mountains, which they "combed" until they reached pinalejo, santa barbara.    "the silence in these mountains was sometimes disrupted by shots and we were afraid.  we had no other choice but to cover ourselves from head to toe," an old man, who was too afraid to reveal his name, stated.    during the day, the people mingle with the men in uniform, who sometimes stop people to ask where they come from and carefully search vehicles -- particularly when traveling to and from the militarized communities.    colonel erick o'connor, commander of the 105th infantry brigade, arrived on saturday to inspect the area where the operation has been carried out. he refused to issue a statement when approached by la tribuna's reporters, but announced that the command post would issue an official report today.


Input: defense minister general carlos eugenio vides casanova today urged the population to vote in the 19 march elections despite the risks posed by the guerrilla boycott.    vides casanova said the army is ready and has implemented military measures to counter the boycott against the 19 march elections, in which 1.8 million salvadorans will elect the successor to christian democratic president jose napoleon duarte.    vides casanova admitted the rebel boycott will reduce the number of voters and that this measure will affect all political parties in the same degree.  he stressed the farabundo marti national liberation front wants to discredit the democratic process and capitalize on the number of null votes and abstentions.    vides casanova noted elections will take place 19 march in 240 salvadoran municipalities but that there are 22 towns, particularly in the northern and eastern region, where voting will not take place because they are in very dangerous areas.    vides casanova said that despite guerrilla terrorist activities, the army continues to respect the cease-fire declared on 28 february to support president duarte's peace proposal.


Input: the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) has decided to combine the people's rejection of the 19 march elections with an intensification of actions throughout the nation. this includes the nationwide transportation stoppage, which we now declare to be indefinite.    the rejection of the 19 march elections by our people and the impact of our actions have led the regime to launch a campaign of disinformation, aggression, and threats against the civilian population in a bid to confuse the population and, in addition, to set the stage for an electoral fraud.    in order to make matters clear to our people as well as to the local and international press, we report the following:    1.  the gagging of the national press is part of the plan to cover up the fraud that will be committed on 19 march.  in addition, the control over the media is intended to attribute terrorist actions to the fmln.    2.  the regime has tried to blame us for a number of actions, such as the attack on a red cross ambulance, among others, for the same purpose.  the fmln has a definite policy of not harming the civilian population.  the hurling of grenades at bus stops is a common practice of army personnel and it is therefore preposterous to blame the fmln.    3.  a number of false communiques with an obvious terrorist tone have appeared.  they clumsily glorify violence and threaten the press in terms that are quite unlike those appearing in documents in which we outline our official position.  we emphatically state that the fmln has in no way or at any time threatened the press or the citizens.  we recall the fact that our official communiques are signed by our general command and broadcast through our stations.    we reiterate that the fundamental thing at this time is to reinforce and expand unity in the search for peace through every possible means.  the struggle which we are waging with weapons in hand is aimed at an army that has once more denied to our nation the possibility of finding a formula for a negotiated solution at an important crossroads in the nation's history.    we made a proposal to hold free elections, in peace and for peace, but the army stubbornly insists on holding fraudulent elections, at war and for war.  consequently, the elections will be held during war.


Input: we are going to give you a report on something that happened a few minutes ago in the center of san salvador.  we have on the telephone a listener who is going to tell us about two explosions just before noon that left at least five persons wounded.  please go ahead with the report.    (listener) sonora listeners, this is a last minute report.  just a few minutes ago, at 1130, two bombs exploded here at the eastern end of the central market.  five persons were seriously wounded in this terrorist attack.  they were just taken to the rosales hospital.  the wounded include a child and a woman.  we did not get their names because the authorities did not let us do so.  red cross personnel took the wounded to rosales hospital.    the people around here are very frightened and are running around.  the people were buying food when the explosions occurred.  they are nervous and are trying to quickly find transportation.  the explosions were heard far from here.  at the market's eastern gate, where the fruit stands are located, we were told by passersby that a man working there was the most seriously wounded by the bombs.  all the wounded were taken to the hospital.    the terrorists left a communique that was immediately picked up by the national police.    the people are fleeing the market.  they cannot continue shopping because it is assumed this was a warning to keep the people from going out or going to vote.

two bombs


Input: on the eve of presidential elections, more than 80 percent of public transportation in san salvador is paralyzed while a majority of the residents are not receiving potable water or electric power.    reports arriving this morning from the outskirts of the capital, state that cities such as mejicanos, san marcos, apopa, isustepeque, and delgado, among others, have not received basic public services for the past 3 days.    the national police this morning reported that public transportation in san salvador has been more than 80 percent halted for the 3d day in a row and only certain minibuses and light cargo vehicles are serving certain routes.    workers at the eastern and western bus terminals of this capital report that the transportation situation is similar to yesterday's.  no buses have arrived or departed san salvador for the country's 13 departments.    much central american commercial transportation is also paralyzed by the transportation stoppage in el salvador since many railroad boxcars are being held up at the salvadoran borders unable to enter the national territory.    meanwhile, at least two bombs placed near electric power poles were detonated this morning in san salvador.  one was placed at 16 west street in the ivu neighborhood, in the southern area of the capital, and a fragmentation grenade exploded near the santa isabel neighborhood.  a telephone junction box, the exact location of which has not yet been determined, was also destroyed.    military security has been stepped up throughout this capital and its outskirts only 24 hours before presidential elections.  official sources this morning reported that armed forces troops are mainly patroling san salvador gas stations, since farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) urban commands have threatened to destroy them.    it was also reported that salvadoran air force helicopters are overflying the capital to protect vehicles that are transitting the main streets of san salvador, despite the transportation stoppage decreed by the insurgency 3 days ago.  reports also state that the national and treasury police are offering free transportation to people heading for their respective work places.    the army is using loudspeakers on military vehicles to urge the people to vote in presidential elections tomorrow.  for sunday's elections, the army will deploy a large number of units to transport voters, who will be going to their respective polling places throughout the country.    in the salvadoran capital, police-military security has been stepped up less than 24 before the 1989 presidential elections.  we have noticed a larger number of security personnel near the seven voting centers the central electoral council has set up in san salvador municipality.      in the outlying cities of northern san salvador, such as mexicanos, cuscatancingo, and apopa, transportation is still completely paralyzed in the wake of the ground transportation stoppage decreed by the fmln, which is in its 3d day today.    meanwhile, reports from chalatenango, 72 km north of san salvador, state that the entire department is without electricity due to rationing that the cel (lempa river hydroelectric executive commission) has imposed on the entire country after fmln guerrillas carried out large-scale sabotage operations against the electricity network early this week.    military sources consulted this morning in chalatenango said that there have been no clashes between military forces and guerrillas in that area for the past few hours.  these sources said that the voting booths that will be installed in 33 municipalities of that northern department are ready.  they added that the number of military units in that area of the country has been increased.

fmln guerrillas

fmln

public transportation

ground transportation

electric power poles

telephone junction box

electricity network

grenade


Input: only hours before tomorrow's elections begin at 0700, before the people begin casting their votes to elect a new president and vice president, the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) continues with its transportation stoppage and its attacks on military garrisons.    today at approximately 2130 (0330 gmt), a group of rebels launched a surprise attack on the headquarters of the salvadoran air force.  some shots were fired, some bazookas were also fired, but it is not known if they actually hit a target inside the base.  however, air force spokesmen have said that the attack was launched from santa lucia colonia.  no damage or casualties resulted from this attack on the air force headquarters by fmln rebels.  the soldiers guarding the area repelled the rebel attack.    a search operation is under way in the area to find the rebels who attacked the air force base this evening.  no casualties or damage resulted from this attack.

farabundo marti national liberation front

transportation


Input: army helicopters fired rockets this morning on san ramon neighborhood in san salvador, where some 100 guerrillas attacked a civil defense post.    afp reporters witnessed the military action, which began at about 1330 gmt following heavy shooting that had been heard sporadically for more than 1 hour in this neighborhood in northern san salvador.      according to local radio stations, over 100 members of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) invaded san ramon less than 1 hour before the presidential elections polls opened today.


Input: over 20 bomb explosions were heard in the predawn and early morning hours today in san salvador before the presidential elections were to begin at 0700 (1300 gmt).    at 0300 (0900 gmt), a series of explosions preceded a total blackout in the salvadoran capital, which has been practically militarized by the army.    there were clashes between guerrillas and government troops in several capital city neighborhoods and areas on the outskirts of the capital.    local radio stations reported the guerrillas attacked military units this morning in san ramon, a town close to the capital.    guerrillas of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) are carrying out actions to obstruct the elections, including attacks on the electrical system and a surface transportation stoppage.

farabundo marti national liberation front

electrical system

surface transportation


Input: the dictatorship has carried out another cowardly action. pay close attention: on the night of 18 march, two reporters were cowardly shot in soyapango.  last night, reporter roberto navas and luis galdamez were shot by troops of the dictatorship.    the threats by attorney general roberto garcia and vides casanova threats fell upon reporters luis galdamez and roberto navas last night.  we are vigorously condemning this new cowardly action carried out by vides casanova's troops and commanding officers.    in the area of soyapango at approximately 2200 last night, reporters roberto navas and luis galdamez were cowardly strafed by troops of the dictatorship.    reports given by soyapango residents indicate that (air force commander)  juan rafael bustillo's troops are patrolling and continuously sowing terror in that densely populated area.    reporters roberto navas and luis galdamez were riding a motorcycle at approximately 2200 when they were victims of indiscriminate shooting.  we support the condemnation presented by our comrade reporters we give... (9-second break in reception).    we have learned that journalist roberto navas died instantaneously as a result of the shooting by jose napoleon duarte's troops. (words indistinct) seriously wounded.  luis galdamez is critically ill while roberto navas died instantaneously.  the two reporters were members of the team of reporters (words indistinct) reuter.    while condemning and vigorously supporting the journalists' protest (word indistinct) we urge you to repudiate this kind of action, which (words indistinct).    during today's transmission 6-second break in reception and of vides casanova.  the (words indistinct) civilians and the indiscriminate shooting of private vehicles, red cross vehicles, and reporters (words indistinct) cowardly actions (word indistinct) generalized (words indistinct) vides casanova's troops are carrying out within the repressive framework of the 19 march election farce.

commanding officers

vides casanova's troops and commanding officers

roberto navas

luis galdamez


Input: (clandestine) radio farabundo marti in spanish to el salvador at 1311 gmt on 19 march broadcasts approximately 35 minutes of military reports, including clashes between the salvadoran army and farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) guerrillas that took place on the eve of the salvadoran elections and are taking place on election day itself, and details on the effects of the transportation stoppage on the election process.    a number of reports indicate that explosions and shootouts are heard in san ramon, san antonio abad, ciudad satelite, and other areas located on the outskirts of san salvador and in san salvador itself, where over 20 explosions have left the entire capital without electricity.  one report adds: "no one is voting today, 19 march; transportation is nonexistent, and no one is voting in san salvador or in any other part of the country.  the 19 march election farce is a complete failure."    another report states that fmln guerrilla units clashed with military detachment no. 1 troops in san miguel de mercedes, chalatenango department, at 2200 on 18 march, inflicting five casualties.  the report adds that guerrilla units attacked army forces in tejutla, chalatenango department, inflicting over 20 casualties:  "after our attack, the enemy began shooting at tejutla church, claiming fmln guerrillas were hiding inside."    a report from morazan department says the fmln damaged an air force helicopter, seized one m-60 machinegun and a prc-77 communication radio, and inflicted four casualties on military detachment no. 4 troops.    a santa ana department report advises that "heavy" clashes took place in metapan, tejutepeque, and ilobasco.  another report indicates fmln forces attacked the air force headquarters at approximately 2100 on 18 march.    another report states that "heavy" clashes took place in chinameca and san vicente city; fmln units attacked army positions in berlin, usulutan department; and the clashes still continue in usulutan department.    the next report states that fmln units clashed with lenca battalion troops for several hours in san miguel de mercedes, chalatenango department, inflicting a total of 15 casualties.  in addition, "we recovered one m-60 machinegun, one m-79 grenade launcher, and one prc-77 communication radio."    the last report states: "we have inflicted many casualties in san ramon, usulutan department, and throughout the rest of the country, where heavy clashes are presently taking place.  vehicles are not circulating in san salvador, and civilians have not gone out of their homes."

farabundo marti national liberation front

transportation

electricity


Input: the salvadoran army accepted responsibility this morning for the death of two reporters who were shot by soldiers in the past few hours in the capital and in the eastern san miguel department.    according to the official report, in both cases, the soldiers fired when the reporters, both salvadorans, ignored orders to halt.  however, friends of the victims maintain this is not true.    a spokesman for the army press committee said that last night, an air force member fired at photographers roberto navas and luis galdamez, salvadorans who work for the british reuter news agency, "when they failed to stop at a military checkpoint" at a capital city avenue.    navas died and galdamez was seriously injured.  galdamez was left lying in the street until he was picked up "several hours later," by his own account, and taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery.    according to hospital sources and reuter, galdamez is now "out of danger;" it will not be necessary to amputate his right arm, as was originally feared.    another reporter, mauricio pineda, a sound technician for canal doce television of san salvador, died this morning in the eastern part of the country at a crossroads, when a soldier fired at pineda's vehicle while he was on his way to cover today's elections.    the army spokesman emphasized that in both cases, "the soldiers fired on suspicious-looking people who did not respect the stop sign at a military checkpoint."    however, galdamez said he and navas, who were on a motocycle, did stop at the checkpoint and that the soldiers fired on them without justification.    raul beltran, one of mauricio pineda's coworkers, said the canal doce team was traveling in a station wagon with white flags and signs indicating they were reporters and that the soldiers fired without having first given any indication the reporters should stop.

an air force member

soldiers

the salvadoran army

roberto navas

luis galdamez

mauricio pineda


Input: after a 1st hour in which there was a very small turnout at the polls, the number of salvadorans going to vote in the capital city and other towns is increasing. thousands of voters were standing in lines at mid-morning.    army and police units surround the polls while military helicopters continue to fly over the city.    fidel chavez mena of the ruling christian democratic party (pdc) told the press he has received reports from his followers throughout the country to the effect that 95 percent of the polls have been installed and are operating, after overcoming some early morning problems in some of the places.    the polls opened at 0700 (1300 gmt) and will close at 1700 (2300 gmt).    the bomb explosions and shooting heard throughout the early hours in san salvador were no longer heard after 1000 (1600 gmt).      however, attacks against vehicles and clashes between the guerrillas and the army continue to be reported in various parts of country's interior.    the guerrillas continue to boycott the elections with a blockade of all land transportation, but they have announced they will not directly attack the voters or the polling stations.    highway checkpoint soldiers killed two salvadoran reporters, roberto navas and mauricio pineda, in two separate shootings late last night and early this morning.  navas was a photographer from an international news agency, and pineda was a sound technician for a local television channel.    prominent among the electors, both in the capital and in neighboring towns, are many members of the main opposition party, the rightist nationalist republican alliance (arena), who are carrying banners and other visible signs of their party preference.    surveys have shown arena's candidate, alfredo cristiani, will almost certainly win the elections.    acan-efe correspondents who toured voting booths in the capital and other towns saw soldiers and policemen carefully checking all voters before allowing them to enter the voting areas.    voters who arrive in automobiles have to leave them more than 200 meters away.    in apopa, a town some 12 km north of san salvador, the voting booths opened very late, because their location was changed at the last minute, which generated protests from the delegates of several parties and led to brawls between arena and pdc supporters.    in the early morning, military helicopters used flares several times to light up apopa and its environs, presumably to locate guerrillas.    members of the democratic convergence, an alliance of leftist parties, said in apopa they have received death threats to dissuade them from voting.    in the small town of tonacatepeque, some 16 km northeast of san salvador, the delay in beginning the voting was only half an hour long, and the election process is proceeding normally.     in san ramon, another town close to the capital with 30,000 inhabitants, the voting began after a considerable dealy because of a guerrilla incursion in the dawn hours.    army helicopters fired rockets for several hours at the slopes of san salvador volcano, in the northern part of the capital, presumably at the guerrilla columns that attacked san ramon.

guerrilla columns

highway checkpoint soldiers

san ramon

roberto navas

mauricio pineda


Input: coronel largow, a dutch reporter from a dutch television channel, was killed today in a shootout in san francisco javier, usulutan department, in eastern el salvador.      he is the third journalist killed in el salvador in the last 12 hours while covering today's presidential elections for several media.    the report was given by largow's colleagues and working companions, who called san salvador from usulutan, but they gave no further details on the case.

coronel largow


Input: we have just confirmed that dutch reporter cornell lagrow of a dutch television station was killed this morning as he was covering a skirmish in the town of san francisco javier, usulutan department.    a sound technician of the (cbs) television network was also killed.      according to reports, cornell lagrow was dead on arrival at san pedro hospital.  lagrow was brought to this capital.  he was killed while covering events in san francisco javier, usulutan department, where there has been heavy fighting between the guerrillas of the farabundo marti liberation and the army.

farabundo marti liberation

cornell lagrow


Input: defense minister general eugenio vides casanova has told the news media 12 guerrillas and 1 soldier were killed while 15 soldiers were wounded during the early morning battles that took place in various parts of el salvador.      gen vides casanova also told the media the guerrillas from the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) have today engaged in 10 clashes, 20 harassmeents, and 3 sabotage actions.    "there have been many attacks but without any results," the defense minister said, adding that by noon, "normalcy" had been restored in most parts of national territory.    however, he admitted that in eight municipalities, the polling stations had been unable to open, which brings to 29 out of 262 the number of municipalities where elections have been suspended.    vides stated that halfway through election day, one-third of the over 1.8 million voters had cast their votes for a new salvadoran president.


Input: general augusto pinochet has significantly curbed his criticisms against the united states, but has stepped up his attacks on the chilean opposition, in connection with the temporary embargo that the united states levied on chilean fruit exports.      "the duty of the u.s. government is to protect the health of the population of their country," pinochet said, in marked contrast to his statements a couple of days ago.    the chilean chief executive called the embargo that the united states levied on chilean grapes after cyanide was found in such grapes in philadelphia "a serious measure."  the embargo was partially lifted yesterday.    pinochet said that the anti-u.s. reactions in chile were "unfair" and reaffirmed that "the duty of the u.s. government is to protect the population of their country."    the chilean president also harshly criticized the opposition, especially those "who are underhandedly acting against our country," calling them "turncoats."    pinochet asked:  "how many of them have gone to the united states to beg, to whine, and to spread tales in order to stop loans to us?  has everyone forgotten that there is a gentleman who has been asking the united states not to give us any more loans?"    the chilean president admitted that "the united states had been attacked" because "their initial measure was hasty.  it amounted to using a tank to kill a flea.  it was a harsh measure which had the immediate result of stopping our shipments of fruit abroad."    pinochet emphasized, however, that the united states was not to blame, but rather "those who have requested a boycott against (words indistinct)."


Input: colonel alexander mendez, commander of the 4th infantry brigade, the main garrison in the northern part of the country, has told acan-efe that over 500 guerrilla fighters attacked two towns in chalatenango department hours before the presidential elections started.    according to the officer, the clashes, which began at 2200 last night and ended at 0500 today, resulted in the death of seven rebels and one soldier near the towns of tejutla and san miguel de mercedes.  alexander mendez said at the el paraiso garrison that the high number of guerrilla fighters included "attackers and others who provide cooperation and care for the wounded."    the officer reported 17 casualties, including 9 wounded soldiers.    a peasant woman died when a bomb exploded in her kitchen during the attack on san miguel de mercedes.  the explosion also blew off her sons' legs, the military commander said.    mendez stated that five houses were destroyed during the attack on san miguel de mercedes, 7 km from the capital of chalatenango department.    the salvadoran officer confirmed that three u.s. military advisers had traveled to chalatenango to help counter the guerrilla offensive.    acan-efe was able to ascertain that one of the officers included a u.s. air force colonel, who was wearing fatigues and carrying an ar-15 rifle on his shoulder.    mendez asserted that there are usually four u.s. military advisers at the 4th infantry brigade, and added that they are allowed to carry weapons like the ar-15 "whenever the circumstances require it," although they may not participate in offensive operations.    the clashes caused panic among people in chalatenango who could hear the heavy firing between the guerrillas and the salvadoran army shortly after the voting tables opened.    according to the salvadoran officer, last night's guerrilla attack is "one of the most important in the latest offensive" launched by the farabundo marti national liberation front in september.    mendez said that the guerrilla attack was carried out with numerous weapons.  he emphasized the use of the new ak-m rifles, "a new version of the famous gdr-made ak-47."

guerrilla fighters

farabundo marti national liberation front

kitchen

houses

ak-m rifle


Input: here in el salvador if they wanted to establish a mechanism (words indistinct) to slowly establish peace in the entire region.  those are the efforts (words indistinct).    (reporter) what can the government do about the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front)?    (ponce) we can ask them to join the country's democratic, civic life to (words indistinct) people to live in peace.    (reporter) how do you view the voting situation and the security and surveillance the armed forces is providing, especially now that the armed forces are being charged with the death of two journalists?  i think you are aware of that.  tell us something about that.    (ponce) we are the first ones to regret the death of the canal doce newsmen who died in san miguel and the reuter correspondent who died here on army boulevard.  those deaths are the result of the prevailing unrest and nervousness.  there are bullets being fired all over the place and, unfortunately, those reporters were the first to get hit.  this continues to be a problem that the armed forces has (words indistinct).    (reporter) did the army suffer casualties during the incidents in san ramon?    (ponce) i can tell you that a bracamonte battalion corporal died and another soldier was wounded.  however, the 1st infantry brigade and bracamonte battalion soldiers reacted quickly and repelled the terrorist activity that is currently causing chaos in san salvador.      (reporter) have other incidents been reported?    (ponce) it is difficult to believe what the fmln is saying. their spokesman in mexico city said they would not attack the voting tables. however, we have heard that voting tables have been attacked in 15 areas of the country.  attacks on voting tables were reported in chalatenango, san antonio, ciudad barrios, carolina, and north (word indistinct).  in usulutan, the fmln planted two bombs just outside the city to frighten the people.  however, our people's democratic nature is telling the fmln:  we do not want terrorism, we want peace, and we are using peaceful means to achieve power and choose our president and vice president.    (reporter) how is the voting process progressing throughout the country?    (ponce) there are 27 municipalities where elections are not being held. we know for sure that there are municipalities, like cinquera and arambala, where (words indistinct), and we also know that (words indistinct).  we know there are 27 municipalities where there will be no voting and there are others that (words indistinct) that the representatives of the political parties and members of the municipal voting table boards (words indistinct).    (reporter) how many soldiers are protecting the voting table boards throughout the country?    (ponce) about 80 percent of our soldiers are part of the democracy plan. we are going to continue offering the same protection after the voting centers are closed (words indistinct).    (reporter) we have read some reports that the armed forces are urging the people to vote for the christian democratic party (pdc).  will the soldiers be allowed to vote?    (ponce) first, i emphatically and categorically deny that we are urging the people to vote for the pdc.  we have sent a memorandum to all the commanders and (word indistinct) chiefs advising them that we must have a completely apolitical attitude and refrain from participating in any political activity.  we must protect all political parties, we must protect all the voting centers, and we must ensure the safety of the areas surrounding the voting centers.  we are not interested in who wins the elections; we are interested in making sure that the will of the people is respected and (words indistinct).  this is a day for the salvadoran people to prove their democratic nature.    (reporter) will soldiers be allowed to cast their votes today?    (ponce) as soldiers we all have the right to vote.  but before we cast our vote we are going to fulfill our duty.  our duty is to guarantee safety.  this will not create a problem.  for example, if a soldier's identification card was issued in san salvador but he is stationed in aguilares, he will be allowed to vote at a specific voting center.  those who can vote will do so as civilians and they will be unarmed.  (words indistinct) mostly administrative personnel and (word indistinct).    (reporter) (words indistinct) the rebels have threatened to launch a large attack.  do you have enough men to fight them at this time?    (ponce) since 1982, we have (words indistinct) democratic process in the country.  the people (words indistinct) before and after the elections. (words indistinct) amid sabotage to the power system.  we are also experiencing a water problem (words indistinct).  we are going to exercise our right as established in the constitution and we are going protect the integrity of the people, our sovereignty, and (words indistinct). (end recording)

farabundo marti national liberation front

armed forces

voting table


Input: jose ricardo perdomo, chairman of the central electoral council of el salvador, announced the end of the presidential elections in the country in a telephone interview with tass.  the counting of votes in sunday's election in the presence of foreign observers was in progress, and preliminary results would be declared later on monday.  political observers believe that alfredo cristiani, candidate of the right-wing nationalist republican alliance, has won.    staff members of the (central electoral) council noted in an interview with (tass) that voting began slowly in the morning.  a total of 1,835,000 voters were registered in the country with a population of five million. according to estimates of journalists in san salvador, the percentage of salvadoreans who abstained from voting was higher this time than at the 1984 presidential election which was won by jose napoleon duarte, candidate of the christian democratic party.    constant armed clashes between detachments of the farabundo marti national liberation front and army units interfered with the presidential election.  on the eve of the election, the insurgent radio stations (venceremos and farabundo) marti broadcast reports that guerillas would not attack polling stations.  insurgents attacked military garrisons in morer than 20 inhabited localities throughout the country on sunday, putting out of action some 150 government troops.  guerillas also downed a helicopter gunship in usulutan region.  as a result of insurgent actions, a considerable part of the country remains without electricity or telephone communication.  the insurgent operation to block highways and railways continues.    (vides) casanova, salvadorean minister of defence and public security, admitted that the election did not take place in 29 out of 262 districts in the country due to the fact that the army could not restore control over those territories.    apart from motor vehicles with troops and military partols, only taxis with journalists covering the voting drove in san salvador on the election day.  press cars had white handkerchiefs fixed to aerials.  this precaution was taken after military patrols killed three journalists:  robnerto navas, a reuter news photographer, coronel lagrow, a dutch tv correspondent, and mauricio pineda, a staff member of salvadorean television.  luis galdamez, another reuter correspondent, was seriously wounded, and his arm will probably have to be amputated.

military patrols

farabundo marti national liberation front

electricity

telephone communication

highways

railways

robnerto navas

coronel lagrow

mauricio pineda

luis galdamez


Input: a bomb planted near the u.s. embassy in this capital was defused today by the police.    according to early reports from the bomb squad, which is subordinate to the fire department, an anonymous call received at the u.s. embassy reported that the bomb was about to explode.      the american embassy in la paz is 3 blocks from the plaza de armas and 3 blocks from the government palace, and the legislative palace.    a team from the bolivian bomb squad managed to locate and defuse the bomb at 1810 (2210 gmt).      no person or terrorist organization has yet claimed responsibility for planting the bomb.

u.s. embassy


Input: the day of fighting that resulted in enormous abstention during the 19 march elections represented an overwhelming victory for the people. this was a fighter's way of repudiating the war elections that were held after the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) peace proposal was blocked.  it also represented a defeat for the reagan administration, which was bent on carrying out a deadly war against our people disguised as a hypocritical centrist and falsely democratic christian democratic government.    we struggle for a just and negotiated peace with genuine democracy, social justice, and national sovereignty, and we gave a world-resounding blow to the enemies of peace.  the thousands of fmln fighters who fought throughout the country, cities and interior, encouraged by an unprecedented intensity and simultaneity; the tens of thousands of union members, peasants, students, teachers, displaced persons, unemployed persons, government and municipal workers, mothers and family members of political prisoners and missing persons, members of community organizations, believers and representatives of all the churches who took to the street to demand that the fmln peace proposal be accepted and who later repudiated the 19 march warmongering elections; the hundreds of thousands of citizens, more than 1 million persons with valid voting cards, who refused to vote, and the more than 200,000 who cast a void or blank ballot--something the central electoral council, the nationalist republican alliance (arena), and the christian democratic party (pdc) are trying to hide; the tens of thousands who voted for the democratic convergence; and the hundreds of thousands who were not interested in getting their voting card that would allow them to participate in these discredited elections are the immense majority of the salvadoran people who said no to the counterinsurgency war and yes to a just political and negotiated solution to the national conflict.  yes to a real democracy; no to the traditional lie of a vote that only serves to justify and facilitate u.s. military aid, which promotes the continuation of the war and worsens the serious problems of poverty, misery, unemployment, and repression being experienced by our people.    the 19 march elections were held, but hundreds of thousands of salvadorans who live abroad were kept from voting.  many of these people fled the country because they were being persecuted or because the armed forces forced them to leave their homes through their bombings and other atrocities.  they are active salvadorans.  thanks to their work, hundreds of thousands of other salvadorans, members of their families who have remained in el salvador, can survive.  however, these people were denied their right to vote, a right the fmln proposal to turn the elections into a mechanism for peace would have granted them.    mr alfredo cristiani has declared himself the winner in an election that saw the largest abstention in these years of war.  more than 60 percent of the salvadoran people did not vote or cast void and blank votes.  the votes cristiani got do not total 20 percent of the salvadoran people.  many of those who voted for cristiani were deceived by arena's propaganda that promised employment, housing, education, schools, public health, economic recovery and prosperity, etc.  cristiani and arena know they are getting a country drowning in an economic and political crisis, with a growing revolutionary war, and they will not be able to keep those promises.  no one can do anything without first achieving a just peace.  for all these reasons, alfredo cristiani's election cannot be considered either morally or politically legitimate.  (continued)


Input: far from achieving a truce the day the recent presidential elections were held, a general increase in violence throughout the entire country was the result of the civil war in which the united states and the military have submerged el salvador for the past 9 years.  on the one hand there was the militarization of the elections themselves and the indiscriminate bombing and machinegunning of the civilian population, which left a toll of hundreds of victims as well as three newsmen murdered by army members.  on the other hand there were military actions by the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln), which, among other things, inflicted 150 casualties on the army and brought 90 percent of traffic to a standstill.    the voting statistics paint a similar picture:  in 29 of the 262 municipalities in which the country is divided, there was no voting at all. of the 2.2 million salvadorans who should be on the voting lists, only 1.8 million were registered, and while 60 percent of the voters showed up at the polls for the 1984 elections, this figure was completely inverted this past 19 march.    today -- just like before the balloting began -- peace, democracy, and social harmony in el salvador (will not be reached) as long as the united states and the army continue to usurp the power formally represented by a civilian government, and any presidential elections -- in addition to yielding another farce similar to the one that has just been staged -- will only result in an atmosphere of violence that might extend even further and reach even bloodier proportions.    if, on the contrary, those who really hold power were interested in a negotiated, peaceful solution to the salvadoran conflict, they would at least be taking the first serious steps to meet with the other belligerent force:  the fmln.    for the time being, however, the new electoral farce has accomplished nothing but to provide overwhelming proof that it is entirely unviable and ineffective.


Input: his name stands at the top of the hit list of the colombian death squad: oscar duenas, member of the executive committee of the patriotic union (up) and city counselor of tunja, north of the capital of bogota.    in a talk during his visit to berlin this week, he emphasized the dramatic situation in his home country.  it is characterized by an unprecedented annihilation campaign, which is aimed mainly at functionaries and officials of the patriotic union -- a movement that includes communist, left-wing, and other democratic forces.  more than 800 up politicians have already had to pay for their support for a democratic colombia with their lives, oscar duenas noted.      the colombian patriot said that the all-powerful narcotics mafia, in alliance with the large landowners, right-wing military, and parts of the oligarchy are behind all these attacks.  they fear for their power and are prepared to use any means to preserve it.    from his own experience, oscar duenas reported how the death squad persecutes its opponents.  a group which calls itself "rambo" has waylaid him several times.  however, up to now he has always been warned in time. there is always the danger of his being shot at from a window, a passing car, or from behind a bush.  this is why the government provides him -- and other up politicians -- with bodyguards around the clock.  "even though this means a permanent threat, we will continue to fight!" oscar duenas affirmed.    asked about the possibilities of a political solution, the city counselor of tunja sees an opportunity if the government cooperates with all democrats in the fight against gang terrorism and does not try to split up the movement of the left.


Input: two new shootouts have been reported in the past few minutes at the pavon prison farm, where inmates mutinied sunday after raiding the armory.  the rioting has resulted in -- according to preliminary reports -- at least 8 deaths and approximately 16 injuries.    meanwhile, human rights attorney gonzalo menendez has arrived at the penitentiary, approximately 35 km southeast of guatemala city, to talk with the mutinous inmates.    the 1,350 inmates at pavon began rioting sunday after they raided the armory and seized the weapons they are using to hold 800 visitors, including 100 children, hostage.    whether the last two shootouts have resulted in casualties has not been disclosed.


Input: a nicaraguan delgation will leave for honduras on tuesday to negotiate the release of approximately 1,000 civilians who were kidnapped by the "contras" more than 5 years ago, a parliamentary source has announced.    the special delegation is composed of members of the national reconciliation commission, headed by nicaraguan cardinal miguel obando y bravo, and opposition deputies.    the sandinist government has stated that the "contras" are holding more than 1,000 nicaraguan civilians in honduran camps.      the delegation also includes social christian leaders erick ramirez, mauricio diaz, and monsignor abelardo mata, director of the human rights commission of the nicaraguan episcopal conference.    in addition to visiting the anti-sandinist camps, the delegation plans to meet with honduran president jose azcona hoyo and honduran church officials.    colonel efrain gonzalez, honduran ambassador to nicaragua, told acan-efe that his government does not mind the delegation's visit to honduras to find out what happened to the kidnapped persons.      the nicaraguan resistance denies that it is holding more than 1,000 civilians, as the sandinists allege, but admits it is holding nicaraguan soldiers.


Input: a local radio station has reported that alleged shining path members and mercenaries at the service of drug traffickers today attacked an important police station in the jungle district of uchiza, and that there may be many casualties on both sides.    the radio station radio programas del peru (ppr) bases their information on a report from a spokesman of another police station of the national police located in tocache, 145 km south of uchiza.    the radio station said that it was able to contact the tocache police through a ham operator and that the information received indicates that fighting lasted for several hours may have caused many casualties.    radio programas said that the so-called "narcoterrorists" attacked the police station with firearms and explosives.    the uchiza police station is 550 km southeast of lima and has a compliment of about 50 policemen. the police spokesman told the radio station that the number of terrorists who attacked the police station is not known.    a peruvian telephone company source said that the communication between lima and uchiza, both telephone and radio, "are interrupted" but the reasons for this was not given.    uchiza is located in the san martin department, in the alto huallaga region, which has been dominated by shining path for the last 2 years and has allied itself with powerful drug traffickers according to prime minister armando villanueva del campo.    both uchiza and tocache are considered potential zones for growing coca and for making cocaine base. they have been under a state of emergency and military control since 1987.    according to the national police, peru is the largest producer of coca and the biggest potential seller of cocaine base to international drug traffickers.


Input: this is communique no. 011-89 released by the interior ministry which states:    1. on 27 march, from 1710 to 2250, the police base in uchiza, mariscal caceres province, san martin department, was attacked by armed narcoterrorists.    the group was made up of approximately 300 male members of the shining path and notorious local drug traffickers, some of whom are colombian.  the men arrived in six or seven trucks from two opposite directions.  after the battle, they fled with their wounded and dead comrades which, according to local residents, totaled about 50 men.    2. this is considered a narcoterrorist attack because on 25 march at 0500, the national police arrested nine colombian drug traffickers from whom cocaine base and weapons similar to the ones used by the atackers were confiscated.    3. the aggressors used sophisticated, long-range, automatic weapons such as grenade launchers.  they also had three mortars, an enough ammunition to maintain a long fight.  some of the cartridges found in the area show that they come from weapons not normally used in peru.      4. due to a shortage of ammunition because of the absence of reinforcements, who were held up by bad weather conditions, the following policemen died in combat: major carlos farfan correa, captain walter moscoso cardenas, lieutenant walter renguifo lopez, first sergeant willian escalante caceres, corporal alipio arcela madrid, corporal antonio contreras navarro, corporal luis cardenas valera, corporal reinaldo macias fernandez, agent eric felix pacherri, agent huila sibda aquino, officer carlos ricra papara, sergeant maximo vera tocksen, sergeant victor salazar clave, sergeant vigil segovia rebolledo, sergeant ruperto moscoso carrera, sergeant victor rizo escobedo, sergeant luis castro guisado, sergeant fernando rojas baldeon, sergeant luis quipe martinez, sergeant leonardo hugaz ramos, corporal ologuren garcia ortiz, corporal rolando aiquipa contreras, guard jose zina caetano, and guard acalardo jara soto.    corporal aspilla cordoba is missing.  three other civilians, two women and a man, also died and a young girl was wounded.    5. at the end of a 6-hour courageous defense of the uchiza police station, the narcoterrorist attackers robbed the local branches of the national bank and of interbank and, using special tools, opened vaults, took funds, and destroyed documents.    they also attacked and robbed three pharmacies and stores, the public registration office, and private property.  the terrorists also left bullet holes on the uchiza church.      6. the following officials went to uchiza early this morning: the president of the council of ministers and interior minister, the defense minister, the director general of the national police and other senior police officers.  army and police forces were also deployed to uchiza to safeguard security there and in the surrounding area.

male members of the shining path

local drug traffickers

shining path

police station

local branches of the national bank and of interbank

three pharmacies and stores

pharmacies and stores

public registration office

private property

uchiza church

carlos farfan correa

walter moscoso cardenas

walter renguifo lopez

willian escalante caceres

alipio arcela madrid

antonio contreras navarro

luis cardenas valera

reinaldo macias fernandez

eric felix pacherri

huila sibda aquino

carlos ricra papara

maximo vera tocksen

victor salazar clave

vigil segovia rebolledo

ruperto moscoso carrera

victor rizo escobedo

luis castro guisado

fernando rojas baldeon

luis quipe martinez

leonardo hugaz ramos

ologuren garcia ortiz

rolando aiquipa contreras

jose zina caetano

acalardo jara soto

aspilla cordoba

automatic weapons

mortars


Input: orlando quiteno, spokesman of the lempa river hydroelectric executive commission, has reported that in the past few hours, the salvadoran guerrillas destroyed at least 10 power transmission towers, damaging seven high voltage lines in the northern and central parts of the country. quiteno said that the new sabotage caused a 25-percent energy loss in san salvador.  the damage to the energy system caused traffic jams in san salvador and a virtual paralysis in activities because of energy rationing.    the resumption of the sabotage against the energy system is accompanied by the resumption of rebel attacks against brothels, two of which were destroyed in the last 24 hours, although no casualties have been reported. the brothels reportedly have been attacked because it is believed that women are exploited there.  in addition, urban guerrillas blew up a public bus in a neighborhood located north of san salvador; no casualties have been reported.

salvadoran guerrillas

urban guerrillas

salvadoran guerrillas

power transmission towers

high voltage lines

brothels

public bus


Input: the following is a last minute report.  one hundred prisoners have succeeded in evading the surveillance of the armed prisoners who are inside pavon prison.  after overcoming a series of obstacles and risking their lives, 100 prisoners escaped from where they had been shut in and went to pavon prison's administrative offices for their own safety.  once they arrived, the prisoners asked prison authorities to transfer them elsewhere.    after the prisoners were properly identified at the prison warden's office, they were taken to a zone 18 penitentiary in guatemala city.      we repeat:  one hundred prisoners escaped and sought protection from the authorities, who immediately sent them to a penitentiary in zone 18 for their protection.    according to the prisoners, the rioters continue to maintain their position that the government must fulfill all their demands.  the rioting prisoners shot at the escapees, thus frightening the children and the elderly who remain inside the prison.


Input: one person was killed and three others injured tonight as the result of a bomb explosion in downtown san salvador.  the explosion took place on first avenue west, between the (vicas) store (begin recording) (unidentified speaker) (words indistinct) were taken to the rosales hospital.  one of them is marilin ramirez, who lives in sacamil neighborhood of the (word indistinct) neighborhood, (words indistinct) no.  5.  the other person is dora milagros argueta maroquin, who lives in (word indistinct) neighborhood no. 15-36.  this person was taken to the hospital by the green cross.  the other person is silvia ayala, who lives in (words indistinct) no. 5, telephone number 92760548. (end recording)

marilin ramirez

dora milagros argueta maroquin

silvia ayala


Input: a report from san miguel department states that farabundo marti national liberation front antiaircraft units ambushed a salvadoran air force helicopter in arenales canton at 1700 gmt on 29 march that was traveling from usulutan to san miguel department.  our units' effective antiaircraft fire hit and damaged the helicopter.  the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in jucuapa.    this report confirms that the pilot was killed and one crewmember was injured as a result of the emergency landing.  we repeat:  the pilot was killed and one crewmember was injured as a result of the emergency landing. that is the report we are receiving from jucuapa, where the helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing.    the report adds that a few minutes after the ambush, a helicopter gunship arrived in the area launching rockets and indiscriminately firing at the la noria and la pena cantons' civilian population.  we send our revolutionary greetings to san miguel department, because we recognize our comrades' good marksmanship.

salvadoran air force

rockets


Input: the honduran armed forces intelligence corps yesterday thwarted "operation summer 89," which was a sandinist people's army (eps) plan to sabotage and pillage towns on the honduras-nicaragua border.    a military source made this announcement, adding that 15 days ago, an eps battalion stationed in somoto was deployed to the eastern part of honduras, and enroute they were joined by 300 men who were instructed to wear u.s. army and contra uniforms.    according to the source, of the 300 men, 50 entered honduran towns, among them alauca, samayares, oropoli, and santa maria, where they carried out sabotage and pillage in the hope that residents would blame the contras and retaliate against them.    moreover, he added, five men had the audacity to enter the 6th infantry batallion's positions in ojo de agua to make a sketch of the 110th infantry brigade batallion's exact location and establish the actual location of honduran troops in that sector.      the source said the sandinists who entered honduran territory used booby traps to carry out their actions, and were equipped with assault weapons, rpg's, and ak-47 machineguns.      to conclude, the source said "operation summer 89" was scheduled to begin yesterday, 30 march, but the armed forces are constantly on alert to avoid any wrongful actions and to guarantee national integrity and sovereignty.

sandinist people's army

booby traps

assault weapons

rpg


Input: mr manuel cepeda (spelling of name as received), member of the executive committee of the cc of the colombian communist party (pcc) and editor in chief of the voz newspaper, visited this country from march 28 to march 31.    he had a meeting with mr dimitur stanishev, secretary of the cc (central committee) of the bcp (bulgarian communist party), who acquainted the guest with the latest moments of the activity of the bcp in implementation of the tasks related to the innovative processes in the different spheres of the sociopolitical life in bulgaria.  opinions were exchanged on the condition of the international communist movement, on the need of creative reconsideration of the internal and international realities in the spirit of the aims and content of the new political thinking.    mr cepeda spoke of the exceptionally hard and comprehensive conditions for the activity of the colombian communists and the representatives of the different democratic organizations in colombia.  he said that almost 1,000 activists and members of the colombian communist party and the patriotic union have died during the recent years killed by assassins hired by the reaction.  in this connection the guest pointed out the need of activation and broadening of international solidarity in defence of the progressive, patriotic and democratic forces in colombia, solidarity with the struggle of the people's masses in the struggle for preservation of democracy, for peace and social progress.    mr manuel cepeda had a meeting with mr radoslav radev, editor in chief of the rabotnichesko delo daily.  they discussed the opportunities for broadening of the cooperation between the papers of the bcp and the pcc.


Input: the future arena (nationalist republican alliance) government is illegal because the results of the 19 march election, more so than in any other past election, do not represent the wishes of the majority of the salvadoran people.  those elections were marked by abstention as a result of the rejection of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) peace proposal.  those elections were held while there was a war and while the country was divided.  this clearly showed the duality of power that exists.  this clearly showed that the majority of the people are demanding a negotiated solution to the war.  without negotiation, no one can rule in el salvador.  therefore, a military solution or the surrender of the fmln is not possible.  the future government has two options: to be a government that will increase the war or to be a government that will move toward peace.    the fmln joins all the national and international forces that expressed their concern for arena's coming to power.  we do not believe in its (word indistinct) campaign in which they are trying to present themselves as moderates.  in less than 20 days, and without formally assuming power, there has been an increase in repression and social tension, as has been expressed in dozens of missing persons, murders, and arrests throughout the country. labor union offices and the national university campus have been cordoned off; civilians have been victims of terrorist attacks; grenades and bombs have been exploded in public places; and the fmln is blamed for those attacks.  journalists have been murdered; there has been a systematic intimidation of the press and attempts to curb freedom of expression; and members of the death squads linked to roberto d'aubuisson have been released from prison.  there have been threats of seizing land that belongs to cooperatives; there have been announcements that the banking system and foreign trade will be privatized and that many government workers will be fired.  there is a climate of terror throughout the country.  this climate of terror is the result of the arrogance and the desire for revenge on the part of arena and sectors of the armed forces.  arena has clearly stated that it will have a policy of killings and total warfare and has given no sign of wanting peace.    it is urgent that an adequate framework for dialogue be created.  this means arena must:    1.  cease all killings, arrests, disappearances, and terrorist attacks on civilians; it must respect the press and freedom of expression and put an end to militarization of workplaces, military cordons, and all repressive actions perpetrated by the armed forces and the death squads.    2.  arena must respect the nationalization of banks, foreign trade, and agrarian reform.  it must ensure that cooperatives' property will be respected; that there will be no appropriation hearings involving people who have benefited from agrarian reform; and that there will be no economic measures aimed at forcing those people into bankruptcy or into selling their land.  likewise, arena must promise that there will be no mass dismissals of government workers.    3.  arena must promise a real dialogue and not a useless dialogue aimed at bringing about the fmln's surrender.  arena, and the sectors it represents, has and always has had real power.  they are responsible for all that happens in the country.  they cannot claim, as salvadoran president jose napoleon duarte and the christian democratic party have claimed, a lack of authority to control repression or a lack of power to negotiate.    arena has economic, judicial, and legislative power and it has even seized power in the executive branch.  arena has its own paramilitary forces, death squads, and controls an important sector of the armed forces. (continued)


Input: the bomb attack on the chilean--u.s.  cultural institute in santiago has caused considerable damage.  police have reported no victims.  the shock wave, however, has damaged the institute's windows and those of several nearby houmes.    the chilean-u.s. cultural institute is located at 1475 moneda street in the center of donwtown santiago.    the powerful bomb, which was placed at the institute's main entrance, damaged a car parked nearby.  all the glass in the car, licence plate no. gp 7720, was destroyed.    police bomb-squad experts called to the site are now investigating the attack.

nearby houmes

chilean-u.s. cultural institute

car

powerful bomb


Input: nicaraguan president daniel ortega saavedra today criticized the ratification of a bilateral military aid agreement between the united states and honduras because, he said, it deals a blow to the peace agreement signed in el salvador in february.    at that meeting, the central american presidents asked governments both in and outside the region that openly or covertly provide aid to unconventional forces to immediately halt their aid.    on 29 march, the u.s. and honduran governments ratified the additional protocol of a bilateral military aid agreement.    the nicaraguan president made these remarks during today's inauguration of a hydroelectrical project in asturias, jinotega, northern nicaragua, that will save the country approximately 200,000 barrels of oil every year.    ortega said that the united states cannot criticize the arms buildup in the region while it promotes military maneuvers and brings weaponry into central america, particularly into honduras.      the president said that the presence of u.s. troops in honduras heightens tension in the region and deals a blow to the el salvador agreement.    the hydroelectric project inaugurated today is located in apanas lake, jinotega department.  it will send electric power to the central america and carlos fonseca plants, which together will produce over 4 million kilowatts of electricity an hour.    according to an official source, latin american and european capital was used for the construction of the asturias project, which took 5 years to complete.


Input: a military patriotic service (smp) youth was killed and a second one injured during a honduran army attack at el paso naranjo, somotillo, chinandega department.    (the) nicaraguan (defense) ministry reported that a (honduran) army patrol attacked a (nicaraguan border patrol unit yesterday morning when the) nicaraguan unit was conducting its routine patrols.    (the) honduran troops used (m-16 rifle fire, heavy and light machineguns, and) m-79 grenade launchers, killing (smp) youth (jesus) mendez and wounding (smp) youth (andres santana) martinez.


Input: commander (bayardo) arce has decribed the opposition's trip to guatemala as a "blunder" and said that it would be regrettable if the political parties went to that meeting to look for a "leader" to confront the sandinist national liberation front (fsln) from among those counterrevolutionary chieftains.    arce, a member of the (fsln national) directorate, insisted that the opposition's meeting with the mercenaries is a "blunder" from any point of view since whichever party decides to be the umbrella organization for all these groups will not gain any prestige.    nonetheless, he said the best thing would be for the contras to find out who will be the stepping stone for them to enter the country, inasmuch as it is a defeated mercenary force that has been unmasked as dependent on the u.s. government.    "i do not believe they have the nerve to say that they are now a political party, and that they are looking for someone who will be their stepping stone in order for them to join the civic struggle now that the the war option has been defeated," he added.    the sandinist leader insisted that if the opposition goes to guatemala to look for a "leader" to confront the (fsln) in the elections, this will demonstrate that the political parties are weak.    he added the contra chieftains do not have the qualifications to become presidential candidates since they are more criminal than the counterrevolutionaries themselves who carry out ambushes, while their cheiftains sit in luxury hotels in tegucigalpa, san jose, miami, and washington encouraging the aggression against the nicaraguan people.     when asked about fsln activities for the next election campaign, arce said that his party is not out preparing for elections but is continuing to work toward the fulfillment of all the tasks that the nicaraguan people are carrying out, particularly the struggle for peace and for the economy.    we will prepare our forces for the february 1990 elections, but first we have the tasks ahead for celebrating the 10th anniversary of the revolution, he added.    the committee that will organize the celebrations will be announced on 19 april.    (commander) arce said that the next election campaign might be more "interesting" if the parties that believed that the (reagan) administration would defeat the revolution militarily and abstained from the 1984 election would decide to join the civic struggle.    due to the peace efforts of the revolution, even the contras could participate in the elections, and we will find out who's who and each party will be able to explain what it has done for the nicaraguan people, the sandinist leader said.


Input: the march organized by former ecuadoran president leon febres cordero and his supporters has taken place in guayaquil without major incident because the small group of demonstrators was controlled by members of the national police posted along 9 october avenue, the site of the disturbance. former president leon febres cordero, his wife, and several of his close supporters marched down the port city's main avenue for a few minutes and then, according to reports from his neighbors, went to his house.  the former president and his close friends have remained inside the house since 1705.    the disturbances in guayaquil resulted in two injuries.  one of the injured persons is 1st company policeman luis castro roman, who has been admitted to luis vernaza hospital.  policeman castro roman was shot by one of the demonstrators.  the bullet lodged in the right side of his chest. the bloody incident occurred on boyaca and 9 october avenues.  also injured during the demonstration was a citizen who has not been indentified.    sources close to the government have reported that the national police did not use firearms during the demonstration.  leon febres cordero's march in guayaquil began at 1600 with a very small group of persons.  the group gathered on boyaca and 9 october avenues.  the demonstrators began their march but were immediately controlled by the police with the use of tear gas and water.  febres cordero's wife was also present on 9 october avenue; she walked a short distance to meet her husband.  they then left the area where the disturbance took place.    in conclusion, the demonstration planned by the social christians and former president febres cordero's supporters resulted in two injuries.

one of the demonstrators

luis castro roman


Input: the group of 14 opposition party delegates have returned from guatemala, where they signed an alliance agreement with the counterrevolutionaries and hosted a news conference at the international press club in managua. guillermo potoy, delegate from the social democratic party, said that the contras are willing to lay down their weapons if there is democratization in the country.    (begin recording) (potoy) i believe that the nicaraguan resistance would be willing to come to nicaragua.  judging from what they said, i believe they would be willing to return once it appears that there is democratization.  they trust the 14 or 15 opposition political parties and support the decisions made by these parties concerning the elections.  in el salvador, the war intensified during the elections, and those who financed the war continued to finance it in order to (words indistinct).  in nicaragua, the humanitarian aid ensures that not a single shot will be fired.  i believe this is a positive contribution.  we must begin at the beginning, which is where we should have been, and not where we are now. (sentence as heard)    just look at where we are now.  what has happened in the last few years in nicaragua?  there has been plenty of war, many deaths.  now a peace process has begun in nicaragua.  this helps ensure that not a single shot will be fired and that the elections will be held in peace.  then we nicaraguans will be able to comply.  it is up to the nicaraguan government to institute democracy in nicaragua, which will ensure an automatic end to the war.  i believe there is no reason why we, the nicaraguan civic opposition, would not be willing to join any effort once democracy has been achieved in nicaragua.  (end recording)