Input: colonel rene emilio ponce, chairman of the armed forces' joint chiefs of staff, today pointed out that the country's situation does not warrant lifting the current state of siege.  the legislative assembly is expected to discuss whether to continue this measure next week.    (begin recording) (ponce) our stance is completely offensive throughout our national territory.  we will maintain this policy whether there is a state of siege or not. (end recording)    the top military leader commented on the decision that the legislative assembly must make on 8 february.  col ponce said that this is a political decision and whatever the legislative assembly decides will be respected by the armed forces.  however, he noted that full guarantees for national security would be nonexistent if this measure is repealed.    (begin recording) (ponce) we will respect the decision of the institutions tasked with making the decision.  we believe that the situation is not yet normal enough to warrant the lifting of the state of siege. however, the decision is in the hands of the assembly or the government.    (reporter) why do you believe that there are no conditions for lifting the state of siege?    (ponce) the plans of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).  the fmln plans to continue its terrorist, selective, and indiscriminate actions, and its attacks in the capital and the countryside.  i believe that there are no conditions.  the situation is not yet normal. (end recording)    as for an offensive that the fmln had planned for last week, the military leader said that it was foiled because army intelligence detected it in time.  col ponce added that the most recent guerrilla attacks in the capital aim to frighten civilians.    (begin recording) (ponce) we believe that the fmln is seeking to maintain a psychology of fear and complete insecurity and distrust among the population, because this works in their favor.  they are involved in a purely terrorist, selective, and indiscriminate scheme.  i have mentioned the indiscriminate nature before.  their recent attacks are selective.  they seek to destabilize the government, create distrust in the government, and create insecurity. (end recording)    as for the victoria and martillo operations, col ponce said that the fmln had sustained 2,352 dead from 11 november 1989 to 30 january 1990, and he regretted the death of 537 army troops.


Input: col guillermo alfredo benavides, primary person implicated in the murder of six jesuit priests and their two employees, was officially removed today from his post as director of the salvadoran army military school.    benavides' replacement was part of a high-level reorganization in the armed forces which, according to western diplomatic sources, reflects an intention to make gradual changes throughout the year,    benavides, who is accused of having given the order to kill the jesuits (five spaniards and one salvadoran), will be replaced as director of the military school by col ricardo alfonso casanova, who was formerly commander of the 6th infantry brigade, based in the eastern usulutan department.    col heriberto hernandez, who to date has been director of the treasury police, will be transferred to usulutan, a department where guerrillas are constantly active.  hernandez will be replaced by col ciro lopez roque.    in addition to the military school and the treasury police, the changes primarily affect commanders in the areas of persistent guerrilla activity, such as usulutan and chalatenango, and the arce battalion, an elite unit to combat the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln), which is based in the eastern department of san miguel.    these transfers and appointments affect a total of 12 colonels and, although the armed forces described them today as "routine changes," diplomatic sources feel that they are designed to seek greater efficiency in military action.  the sources feel that more changes will be made throughout this year.    the first reshuffling in the armed forces for 1990 was announced on 1 january, that is, shortly after the fmln offensive, the scale of which surprised even the army itself, as military sources admitted.    on that date, general rafael bustillo, chief of the salvadoran armed forces and one of the officers most openly opposed to dialogue with the fmln, was relieved of his duties and sent to europe as a military attache.    replaced with bustillo were the chiefs of the military detachments of cuscatlan and la union, in the central and eastern parts of the country, respectively, and the chief of army intelligence.

guillermo alfredo benavides

salvadoran army military school


Input: the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) hereby notifies the salvadoran people and the international community of the following:    1. we see as positive that mr cristiani has accepted un secretary general javier perez de cuellar's participation in the negotiation process in el salvador.  we feel that the mediation of the un secretary general and the framework of that international organization seriously commit both parties to negotiation and offer true possibilities so that the process will lead toward a solution that will put an end to the war in our country.    2. in view of these possibilities, it is highly negative that the bush administration has announced that the economic and military assistance to the government will be increased in the forthcoming fiscal periods.  if this decision is ratified by the u.s. congress, it would mean a definite determination to prolong the war and the failure of the possibility that could lead to the negotiated solution of the salvadoran conflict.  the assistance strengthens the extremists.  the political pressure makes it necessary to take political actions and strengthens the negotiated solution.    3. the army continues to carry out permanent military offensives and repression.  there continue to be a state of siege, murders, arrests, and persecution against people's and religious organizations; the press continues to be controlled; and international agreements continue to be violated as the evacuation of fmln war cripples is not allowed.    col ponce openly proclaims his "victory and hammer" offensive against fmln positions.  this is not compatible, as the government wants the fmln to unilaterally suspend operations.  as long as there are repression and large military offensives, and a cease-fire is not agreed upon by the parties, we are obliged to remain at war and make offensive use of our military force in any part of the nation to achieve serious negotiation that will find a just solution to the war.    (signed) the fmln general command    (dated) 2 feburary 1990, el salvador


Input: some people naively think that a country curry favor with the u.s. just by being democratic. some people have placed themselves at the service of this superpower, as long as the superpower has had need of them.  however, once they have outlived their usefulness, not only are they abandoned, but now they are even kidnapped, jailed, and sentenced.    this happened to perez jimenez of venezuela; leonidas trujillo of the dominican republic, who was murdered by the cia; somoza of nicaragua; and lately noriega of panama.    these men are valued only as long as they are useful to the united states. once they are no longer useful, they are no longer regarded as men.  apparently something similar happens with countries.  if a country has any political, military, or strategic value, that country will enjoy washington's preference. however, once the interest no longer exists, the aid is over. if the interest decreases, the aid decreses.    honduras is a typical example of this policy for the world to see. the poindexter trial showed that over the senate's objection, special aid was granted to honduras in exchange for converting it into a leased territory for contra operations.    the years in which our territory shamefully served to shed blood in one our neighboring countries, are years in which honduras was regarded as a country deserving military and economic aid.    with the change of u.s. policy, after it accepted its military failure against nicaragua, honduras is no longer the apple of its eye, according to the united states.  that is why the united states is not only grudging its aid, but is not even granting the scant aid already approved, unless honduras agrees to additional conditions.    there is something else.  since the united states is the imf's most important member and supporter, it has asked the imf to tighten the screws on honduras, and to even let honduras use up its meager gold reserves until honduras is forced to say, "forgive me, master."    as we can recall, when the gold standard was abandoned for the dollar standard and special drawing rights, the imf, and other measures were created, each country deposited gold reseves to back up its currency exchange.  thereafter, its monetary backing would depend on its reserve of dollars and other strong currencies.    that is how getting foreign reserves became the main concern of nations, if they wanted to maintain the parity of their currency.    as a result of the oil crisis, which on the one hand saved the oil-producing countries, and on the other hand dealt a blow to the oil importers, plus the uncontrolled foreign debt that the petrodollars boom brought with it, the countries went to the hilt in debt.  at the same time they lost huge sums in the international markets because of the drop in the prices of coffee, silver, tin, copper, and other export products.    in short, the source of exchange decreased for everyone, even though production of each item increased.  debts grew until they became nightmares that absorbed almost all the country's foreign income.  the monetary reserves that were backing the currencies fell. that is why in latin america there has been one devaluation after another, country after country.    in the beginning the imf used what was called a stand-by loan, which helped countries when they ran short of reserves.  with those emergency loans they could maintain the parity of their currency, until they could balance their reserves.    however, countries like honduras, which were deeply indebted, began to fill their lack of international reserves with loans and donations. even so the country continued to pay its imports and expenses in foreign exchange, until it reached the current situation in which we cannot pay the debt. we are overdue $140 million in payments on our debt. our credit is no longer good. the imf has no more money to give to honduras to continue its vicious cycle of getting into debt to pay off its debts.  yet the united states has asked the imf to tighten our screws.  (continued)


Input: we are saying hello at this hour to north santander governor eduardo assaf elcure.  dr assaf, good day.    (assaf) good morning, rcn (station call sign).    (reporter) mr. governor, what information does the departmental administration have about events dealing with public order, such as regrettable incident in arboledas (murder of arboledas mayor pedro jesus hernandez).    (assaf) the official reports on the regrettable case in arboledas at noon today, and those carried by rcn and other stations, describing the way in which mayor pedro jesus hernandez was murdered while inaugurating a dining hall for children at juan bueno, arboledas municipality, lead us to believe that something extremely serious is happening.  hernandez was going to inaugurate on 20-25 february four or five works that are important for the development of the communities and had been demanded by them for a long time.  this leads us to believe that the situation is really difficult and that other measures will have to be adopted to prevent a continuation of these regrettable actions, which destabilize public order in the department.    i think that after the peace talks with m-19 (19 april movement) are concluded next week, dr. octavio pardo should in some way promote a truce with the national liberation army (eln) and the epl (popular liberation army) to see if it is possible to begin a dialogue and keep the bloodshed from continuing in our country, most particularly in our department.  over the course of a month, two mayors, who were characterized as the fightingest mayors -- in the sense that they launched, executed, and completed works -- have been killed in our department.    (reporter) mr. governor, how many mayors did you say have been killed during that time?    (assaf) what did you say?    (repoerter) mr. governor, do you believe that, for instance, civic or political leaders in the area of north santander can participate in talks with the epl and the eln to make serious proposals to the government about a possible truce, as you suggest?    (assaf) in view of our current situation, that is, in view of the fact that a month ago the mayor of abrego was killed and the arboledas mayor was killed yesterday, i believe that the country is pleased that the pacification process with m-19 will end this week.  so, why not look for avenues of communication with the (1-second break in reception) and the epl to establish a truce, at least during this electoral period, so that all colombians, especially those of north santander, can freely exercise their sovereign right to participate in an election and express their satisfaction with or condemnation of the people who are currently governing the municipalities?  (continued)

pedro jesus hernandez


Input: you have already heard the opinion, for example, of the agrarian bank, probably also that of enci (national enterprise for industrial marketing), casa, the cora project (words indistinct).  the coca growers issued a communique a few days ago stating that they are not against the eradication of coca plantations but complaining about the agrarian bank's unsatisfactory service in granting loans.  this communique was published by the media a few days ago.    (garcia) yes, we heard about this and are analyzing it.  but the problem of the 200,000 hectares used for illegal coca growing by far exceeds the capacity of the agrarian bank, of the national coca leaf enterprise (empresa nacional de la coca), or the enci to finance fertilizer.  this is a subject that must be discussed at the continental level.  the huallaga valley is an enclave of the u.s. consumers.  it is a perverse problem with economic repercussions and it is distorting and destroying the possibility of our planting other crops in that area.  this is why we must consider it from a continental viewpoint, discussing it with the country where the problem originates, where it is consumed.  the enci and the agrarian bank problem is important, but it is very small in comparison to the seriousness of the overall problem.    (reporter) mr. president, is it true -- as it was said in the united states -- that the peruvian government is refusing to replace the plantations because it is not economically convenient?    (garcia) no, according to solid information i have at hand from the state department and the department in charge of drug trafficking, our government has made the greatest efforts during the past few years to eradicate coca plantations.  a few months ago they released a report to the u.s. media from may 1989 that showed that peru had broken all records for eradicating coca in 1988, in keeping with its international agreements.  peru eradicated more than 5,000 hectares of coca plantations that year, thus stabilizing the overall amount of hectares used for coca growing.  nobody, much less the united states, can say that peru has done nothing.    we have carried out vast operations and have continued our silent task to eradicate these plantations, sometimes with regrettable consequences.  the peasant who is faced with bare land after the coca is uprooted either engages in terrorist activities or is condemned to live in misery.  this is why we need an overall economic and social development alternative that must be part of a reevaluated latin american-u.s. relationship.    (reporter) mr. president, the situation is now the opposite to what the united states is doing for (words indistinct) a meeting put forward by the presidents, because they give $1 to fight drug trafficking while there are $100 for consumption.    (garcia) you are right.  it is believed that the total cost of cocaine sold on the u.s. streets is $100 billion.  only $8 or $9 million is being offered to fight the illegal production of coca and  to replace the crops here in peru.  what the united states -- the        main consumer -- has been offering is not proportional to the magnitude of the problem.    if there were no consumption in the united states, peru would not produce coca leaves, except for the traditional, ancient uses of peruvian people.  the problem begins there.  the responsibility for providing massive resources should be assumed through concerted dialogue, not unilateral measures, because there are hawks in the united states.  the hawks are the boldest militarists who believe that troops can be sent to the huallaga valley, thus solving this serious problem.    such an action would represent the violation of a nation's sovereignty, an unwanted unilateral intervention.  we want a serious, responsible, concerted, far-reaching socioeconomic policy.  this is our objective for cartagena.    (reporter) mr. president, changing the subject, the electoral campaign has entered the final stretch.  opposition parties have constantly mentioned your name and what you have said or have not said.  what is your opinion of the campaign?    (garcia) those are minor sins by the opposition.  they are using elements that are not totally legitimate, but i will not waste my time passing judgment on my dear friend enrique chirino soto or on any of the lawmakers.  i understand their desire and their need to be elected.  otherwise what would they do in the future?  if they want to use my name, let them use it, even if it's in a negative way.  i have listened to so many things over four and a half years in office that i am actually a little pleased by the fact that they are desperately using my name.  at least i am helping them.    (reporter) since the elections will be held on 8 april, when will school classes begin?    (garcia) i saw that the education ministry issued a note announcing that classes will begin on 1 or 2 april.  i would like to propose to the education minister that classes begin after 8 april.  it would be meaningless to begin classes and to then discontinue them in order to open the schools for the elections.  classes could therefore begin on 10 april or when the ministry decides.  this should be after 8 april. we should concentrate all of our efforts on opening the voting sites. i am announcing that classes will begin after 8 april.


Input: president rafael leonardo callejas romero said tuesday honduras is facing an extremely challenging situation and the republic of china can help a great deal in solving the problems confronting his country.    callejas, inaugurated on jan. 27, told the cna honduras is facing a crisis which his new administration, with help and support from the republic of china, will be able to tide over.    honduras lacks foreign exchange to buy oil, medicine and food from abroad.  tegucigalpa's foreign debts total well over u.s.  dlrs (dollars) 200 million.  "we are facing a steep shortage of basic foods, corn in particular," callejas said.    a potentially rich country, honduras can overcome all its difficult problems and achieve prosperity in the long run, but it needs a shot in the arm, callejas said.    the republic of china, callejas appealed, can extend "short-term bridge loans" to honduras to help solve the problems of acute shortage in food and other necessities.  "a short-term credit of dlrs 5 million, for instance, can help us make up for the shortage and then we can move ahead," callejas said.    "the situation is a critical one," callejas said, "but we will be able to cope with it and surge ahead for greater prosperity, and what we now need is a short-term help from our friends in the republic of china."    he said the people of honduras have yet to sense the crisis they are facing now.  the financial crisis, in particular, is comparable to the one the republic of china faced in and shortly after 1950.    "my administration knows what shall be done," callejas said.  he will let the people fully understand the crisis and cultivate a sense of crisis that is needed to rally themselves behind the government to move forward.    the people of the republic of china have set a "good example" for other nations in crisis to follow, callejas said.  "over the past 40 years," he pointed out, "you have demonstrated what can be done to overcome the difficulties and achieve prosperity."    aside from the short-term credit, the republic of china can send a high-level mission to advise honduras on how to solve its long-term financial problem, callejas said.  "your country has experience in this field," he added, "and we hope we will benefit from your experience."    another field of cooperation between the two countries is trade and investment, callejas said.  honduras is setting up an industrial park, and investment from the republic of china is more than welcome, he added.    the republic of china is opening its market to foreign imports, and a small percentage of taiwan's tobacco market, if honduras can earn it, "will help a great deal and start a chain action of development," callejas said.  the foreign exchange generated from the sales of tobacco can be used to pay back some of tegucigalpa's foreign debt. the repayment will earn more international credit, which in turn supports other projects of development.    the presence of a u.n. military observer group in honduras, callejas said, will help stabilize the situation in central america. the mission is to help ease the tension along the borders of el salvador and nicaragua, which was heightened by guerrilla activities.    callejas has visited the republic of china twice before.  he toured the republic of china as minister of natural resources in 1968 and again as chairman of the national party in 1988.    asked if he would attend the presidential inauguration in taipei on may 20, callejas said he would "try my best to go (to taipei) myself." if he is unable to attend, he added, he will send his president of the national congress, rodolfo irias navas.    "if i cannot visit the republic of china in may," callejas said, "i will make a visit to your country before the end of this year."  most likely, he added, he will pay a state visit to the republic of china in november.    in return, callejas said, "we will be honored to have your president, president li, visit us."    relations between honduras and the republic of china are "extremely close ones," callejas said.  "and we in honduras hope to further cement those extremely good relations," he pointed out.    such good relationships should not be monopolized by the governments, callejas said.  "we need more contact among the people in all walks of life, on cultural, social and commercial levels, so that we may continue improving the extremely good relationship that has existed between our two countries," he pointed out.


Input: this morning president vinicio cerezo hosted a news conference at the president's palace office.  the president was asked about the human rights situation in our country.  in addition, (words indistinct) presented by the united nations rapporteur of the un human rights commission.    (begin recording) (cerezo) (words indistinct) of the commission that has arrived in guatemala (words indistinct).  we all must admit that in 1989 there was (words indistinct) that created an atmosphere of terrorism and (words indistinct).  on various occasions and in several criminal and political cases, it was decided that (words indistinct) that continues progressing, but there is an even better way yet.  the truth of the matter is that the institutions that are going to protect human rights are making more progress each day and becoming more operational.  the authorities are becoming more cooperative every day with the various institutions that are concerned about the human rights situation.    (words indistinct) to create a new system for locating missing people.  we have found a system that allows us to locate many missing people, and (words indistinct).  (passage indistinct).    frankly speaking, (name indistinct) is a serious man who deserves all of my trust and respect for his capabilities.  he has said that we have problems in controlling some terrorist groups, and what we need is assistance in improving our efficiency.  he has pointed out some defects in our penal procedures which make it difficult for us to keep these people in prison.    however, his conclusions do not necessarily mean that we are getting worse.  that has not been mentioned in the news.  his conclusions notes that in spite of these observations that he had to make as united nations observer for guatemala, the situation in our country has obviously improved, compared to the previous years.  we are taking all of this into consideration.  this has been included in a written report that will be noted in geneva in order to consider treatment for guatemala.  (continued)


Input: a socialist international mission, made up of prominent leaders of that organization, arrived in the country on 23 january to "demand" that the guatemalan government conduct an exhaustive investigation into the murder of salvadoran opposition leader hector oqueli colindres and guatemalan gilda flores.  their kidnapping and subsequent murder took place in our country and thus, guatemalan authorities, without any kind of meddling, should solve this case.  guatemalan courts of justice have the duty to request, as part of the investigation, the testimonies of witnesses and conclusions of experts involved in the case.  according to guatemalan law, there is a period allotted for initial investigations during which no public statements can be made or pressures exerted which might hamper the course of justice.    this is why the fact that a delegation, which is made up of respectable people who deserve our admiration, not only because of their outstanding political virtues, but also because of their honest behavior as citizens, is coming to "demand" that our authorities investigate the crime, as if they were not already officially doing so, is to a certain extent hampering justice.  it happens that the illustrious visitors came here with the evident goal of accusing the alleged authors of the double crime.  in public statements, they have already said that "forces of the guatemalan and salvadoran extreme right" murdered them.  these statements are as uncalled for as those uttered by president cristiani in el salvador when he said that the murderers of the six uca (central american university) jesuits were fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) guerrillas and was later forced to retract, when the investigations revealed that members of the salvadoran armed forces carried out the murder.    in the face of domestic and international pressure, and the comdemnation of the brutal murder of the social democratic leaders, president cerezo decided to establish an investigative commission to which he plans to add a representative of an international organization.  on 23 january the socialist delegate who is in the country (without naming it) clearly referred to a legally registered guatemalan political party, which enjoys full political rights, as the "nanny" party of the nationalist republican alliance, arena, of el salvador.  he is levelling serious charges, which could even create legal and political conflicts between guatemala and el salvador, by insisting that the crime was politically motivated, which seems to be evident, and by linking the crime to political parties of the two countries.  with the due respect that the presidential commission deserves, the supreme court of justice should be consulted about what should be done next because the case is under the purview of guatemalan courts, especially those in jutiapa jurisdiction.  those courts should be the ones tasked with collecting the evidence, issuing the summons, and making the necessary statements.  anything else constitutes interfering with justice.  in this regard, the fact that president cerezo is guessing about who might be the author of this repudiable bloody murder is inappropriate because it is not his duty to do so, even if the socialists threaten to seek condemnation against guatemala at the united nations for violations of human rights which are looming over his government.

members of the salvadoran armed forces

armed forces

hector oqueli colindres

gilda flores


Input: colonel rene emilio ponce, chief of the armed forces joint chiefs of staff, categorically denied today that there are any rifts between salvadoran army officers and u.s. military advisers, as asserted this week by the u.s. media.    "i know nothing about this.  our relations with the north americans are normal as usual," ponce said to journalists, adding, "the u.s. advisers have helped us very much in the professionalization of the armed forces, and they continue to work with us."    the military officer stated: "there are always those who try to force or break the strategic alliance between the salvadoran government and armed forces and the united states."    reports from the u.s. congress said that the arrest of eight army members linked with the assassination of six jesuit priests and two women on 16 november has provoked serious disputes between some military commanders and the u.s. adviser corps detached to the country.    ponce participated on wednesday, 7 february, in the ceremony to turn over command of the military school to colonel ricardo casanova, replacing colonel guillermo benavides, one of the men involved in the assassination of the jesuits.    ponce reported that the military officers accused of the crime are imprisoned at the national police general headquarters, but they are still in active service and are receiving a salary while the courts issue a ruling on this case.

colonel guillermo benavides

army


Input: during the last few days, the presidential candidate for continuism, daniel ortega, has been insisting on his intention of a quick reconciliation with the u.s.  government.  nevertheless, he says so amid slander and threats that invalidate the sincerity of his remarks.    for ortega and his spokesmen, to be respected by the u.s. government and to manage an agreement with the united states is now his party's "best guarantee," that party's great electoral offer.  the only possible explanation for this incoherent and contradictory attitude is as a reelection strategy, realizing the popularity of the idea of normalizing friendly relations with the bush administration. ortega has not wanted to remain distanced from that aspiration, which the people judge as indispensable to improve the crisis they are in.    the truth is that any unnecessary distancing of relations between the u.s. government and the sandinists was due to the latter's initiative.    everyone knows the efforts made by both mr bowdler as well as lawrence pezullo to attain cordial relations with the sandinist government that followed somoza debayle's.  the strong pressures on the dictator to resign were decisive in his departure.  the carter government's massive and early aid was decisive in stabilizing the revolutionary regime.    the fsln (sandinist national liberation front) national directorate, however, had other instructions from havana.  as soon as they got out of the airplane, they took it out on the "yankees, enemy of humanity," which were only seeking an unprejudiced relationship with the new leaders.  that rhetoric would have been less obvious if it had not been that the true purpose of that confrontation campaign was to justify its mission of setting central america on fire and thus distracting the united states with a strategy of destabilizing the area, which is convenient to ussr interests.    the fmln's (farabundo marti national liberation front) general staff moved to niacaragua, and the clandestine radio station venceremos began broadcasting from managua while the whole country became a sanctuary for salvadoran terrorists and a logistics resupply base.    the u.s. administration made one last effort at manzanillo, but deputy foreign minister tinoco only went to read a prepared text, using that brilliant opportunity as a center stage for propaganda and disturbance.    menawhile, the slogan "if nicaragua won, so will el salvador," flooded radio stations, banners, watchwords, graffiti, and boastful speeches, while the salvadoran guerrillas made every effort to overthrow the government and the guatemalan revolutionary bands did likewise, devastating el peten.    deputy secretary of state enders came himself to hold talks with the fsln's general directorate, proposing an arrangement that would guarantee stability in exchange for their messiah-like project of subverting the region.    when these talks failed, what followed was inevitable and is regrettable.    now, even though the sandinists may try after 10 years to make up for lost time, trying to put things right, the recipe continues to be the same: one, "genuinely free and just" elections in nicaragua, and two, the removal of their inciting hands from central america.  on these lines, secretary of state james baker's declaration last week was clear and categorical: convincing proof that the elections were honest, "something very hard to determine, unless ortega allows congressinal observers," and convicing proof that nicaragua has stopped sending arms to el salvador.  if the elections are fraudulent, sentence has already been passed: "the united states could make nicaragua's situation tougher."  in other words, ortega would confirm himself only as a guarantor of war and misery.


Input: president augusto pinochet said here that this is the last city he will visit during the first part of his nationwide tour to bid take leave of the citizenry as chief of state.  he also thanked the chilean people for their hard work to make progress.    the president said he was pleased to observe optimism among the people in the northern region as in the rest of the country.  pinochet said in copiapo that those who try to tarnish the honor of the armed forces and forces of order are against chile.  he made these statements during a public ceremony at the alhambra theatre in copiapo, where he was honored for his government work in the past 16 years.  after enumerating the achievements in the third region, the president referred to his completed mission.    (begin recording) (pinochet) we have completed our mission because we have behaved in keeping with the armed forces tradition.  we maintained the honor we inherited from our historic heroes.  those who ignore the great work carried out by the national defense institutions are being irresponsible with history.    those who try to tarnish the honor of the armed forces and forces of order are against chile and its essential institutions.  this is not acceptable, ladies and gentlemen. (applause) (end recording)    before meeting with the copiapo citizenry, the president also referred to the violent attacks that took place in santiago.  he said that these attacks will not hinder the talks on the transfer of power. he added that he did not have full reports on the subversive attack.    (begin recording) (pinochet) i think it is normal, a situation in keeping with the dynamics of current politics.  i do not foresee greater consequences to it.  when i get back there possibly (passage indistinct)    (unidentified reporter) mr. president, there has been a terrorist attack in the capital, what do you know about it?    (pinochet) i cannot tell you, i have been told over the phone, but it is confidential information which i cannot repeat, but i do not think it is too serious.    (reporter) mr. president, that does not break away (passage indistinct).    (pinochet) according to what i know so far, nothing has happened that could turn into anything more serious.  things are going along just the same, with the small problems that arise daily within the dynamics of politics, but as i just said, i do not think (words indistinct).    (reporter) mr. president, do you think that this attack was committed by those who escaped from the santiago prison?    (pinochet) that is what i mean; i do not think it is very important since reactions of violence have increased.  it could have been them. according to the information i got, it could be serious but not as much as to think that this is the end of the world. (end recording)    finally, president pinochet said he still had no further reports on the terrorist attack in which another carabinero was slain, and he regretted the dissolution of the cni (national intelligence center) which was a specialized organization well acquainted with the terrorist cells.    the chief of state will end his tour of northern chile in serena. he will return to santiago today.


Input: col. rene emilio ponce, chief of the salvadoran armed forces general staff, said today that 145 guerrillas and 53 soldiers had been killed in 386 clashes in january within the framework of the counterinsurgency operation "victoria."    col. ponce said that the army had destroyed 61 camps and thwarted 48 logistical guerrilla operations throughout the country in january, while the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) said it had inflicted 532 army casualties, including 10 officers, in armed confrontations during the month.    col. ponce held the guerrilla movement responsible for the "murder" of 19 people and added that 22 rebels had deserted from the fmln ranks.  he stated that the rebels had conducted 235 sabotage operations against the telephone, energy, and transportation systems, as well as the government infrastructure and private property.    operation "victoria," which began in january, was aimed at attacking the guerrilla groups that stayed behind in the outskirts of san salvador and the country's main cities after the rebel offensive of 11 november 1989.    ponce said that 45 percent of the salvadoran army (approximately 30,000 soldiers) is participating in the nationwide operation "victoria."    the army confiscated 186 weapons of various calibers during the confrontations in january.    ponce added that 1,980 people, most of them youths, have been kidnapped by the rebels since 11 november and are receiving guerrilla training in chalatenango, morazan, and usulutan departments.    according to official sources, in the last decade the salvadoran guerrilla movement has caused economic losses to the country of approximately $430 million as a result of telecommunication and energy sabotage operations.


Input: colombian foreign minister julio londono paredes said today that it is very hard to think of some important breakthrough in the fight against drugs "when at the same time the international coffee agreement collapses and tariffs and obstacles are raised against our nations' export products."    in an interview published today by the venezuelan daily newspaper el nacional, londono noted that the antidrug summit scheduled to be held in cartagena next week is important in that the international community and several countries, particularly the united states, have begun to realize that "the drug problem is universal."    "it is important that the united states, which was declaring us solely and exclusively responsible for the problems only four years ago, be represented by its president at a meeting with his colombian, peruvian, and bolivian counterparts, and thus properly assume its role as coparticipant and a party jointly responsible in this matter," he said.    in answer to a question as to what will happen with the good-neighbor committees in his country after he steps down due to the change in administration in colombia, londono said:    "the colombian commission -- and i know the venezuelan commission too -- is multipartisan.  i know it includes representatives from the liberal party and its various factions, from the conservative party, and also from the patriotic union.  it is a national, not partisan, commission, and therefore, since we have presented some achievements to the two countries, i am convinced that the same policy will continue because it has been welcomed by the colombian people and their leaders."    for his part, venezuelan foreign minister reinaldo figueredo planchart asserted that the problem of delimiting sea and undersea areas between the two countries, which has existed for decades, is equally important to colombia and venezuela, although it must not be forgotten that other very important matters are also pending. "there are many other things for which the communities at the borders want solutions, and these are the maters we are going to attend to on a priority basis," he said.    when asked if the delimitation problems will be solved during the administrations of presidents virgilio barco (colombia) and carlos andres perez (venezuela), he asserted that "we must not set fixed deadlines on matters."    this week londono and figueredo toured the extensive frontier between the two countries and directly learned about the situation at the colombian-venezuelan border, where smuggling of goods, drug trafficking, and kidnappings proliferate.


Input: colombian president virgilio barco vargas said he will ask u.s. president george bush -- during the 15 february drug summit to be held in cartagena -- for greater assistance to bolivia and peru, the world's biggest producers of coca leaves.    during an informal talk with newsmen, barco said that at the summit he will ask president bush to provide economic and military assistance to fight the "war" he himself declared on drug- trafficking mafias after various terrorist actions last august.    although he did not specify the kind of aid or how it should be provided, barco vargas said the economic measures he will ask for would concentrate on a greater opening of the u.s. market to exports from andean countries affected by production and chemical processing of cocaine.    in addition to presidents bush and barco, bolivian president jaime paz zamora and peruvian president alan garcia will also attend the summit.  they are expected to present proposals on the substitution of other crops for coca leaves -- the base for making cocaine -- while bearing in mind the economic well-being and social development of peasants engaged in this activity.    the four presidents will meet for no longer than five hours and will sign a document in which they will define strategies to develop an overall struggle against drug trafficking.    according to unofficial reports, the points that will be included in the joint document include strengthening andean economies by increasing exports, and the "total struggle" against international drug-trafficking gangs by reducing demand, consumption, and supply of hallucinogenic drugs.    barco vargas said industrialized nations should "especially help the fraternal countries of bolivia and peru, which have great needs."    one of the colombian objectives at the antidrug summit will be to make the united states understand its coresponsibility for the serious cocaine-trafficking problem because of its almost 14.5 million drug addicts and because of its sales of weapons and chemical components -- which seem to have no official control -- to mafias.    at least 5,000 men from colombian security corps are already patrolling strategic sites in cartagena to prevent any act of terrorism that could be perpetrated by the drug cartels during the summit.


Input: the director of a salvadoran catholic church human rights group has said that the u.s. government attitude does not help attain progress in human rights in el salvador "because the army is being blackmailed with military aid."    "legal assistance office" director maria julia hernandez has said that for years the united states has supported the thesis that there has been an improvement in human rights in el salvador.    during a meeting with foreign press correspondents hernandez said: "that is a thesis based on its own premises.  it is self-deceiving."    during the past decade, the united states has provided $4.5 billion in economic and military aid to el salvador, which allowed el salvador, among other things, to increase its army from 12,000 to 56,000 men.    according to maria julia hernandez, "the armed forces are even more arrogant and have increased the number of indiscriminate arrests" under the nationalist republican alliance (arena) government that took power last june.    she reported the reappearance of "death squads," and maintained that those groups were always "involved" with the military.    "there has never been or ever will be a death squad totally alien to the army, because that would mean a power independent of the armed forces," hernandez said.    according to legal assistance office statistics cited by maria julia hernandez, 218 people were reported missing in 1989, and 31 assassinations, including those of prominent government officials, were blamed on the farabundo marti national liberation front.


Input: today, 11 february, at 0900, the salvadoran air force began bombing and firing rockets against a settlement of repatriates in huancora, san isidro labrador jurisdiction, chalatenango department, with two a-37 planes and four helicopter gunships, killing six persons, wounding three others, and destroying several homes.  in view of these actions, the fmln states:    1. we strongly condemn this cowardly attack, which was carried out purposefully because the place is completely visible and identifiable as an area populated by repatriates.    2. this new crime destroys the vaunted false image of professionalism by the salvadoran military and shows that the violation of human rights is a daily practice in the army.    3. this action also shows the lack of will on the part of the air force to achieve a negotiated solution (to the conflict).  the persistence of these crimes against defenseless people confirms the need for us to remain armed and to use our military power to achieve a negotiated solution and protect human rights.    we call on all humanitarian and religious organizations to present themselves at the place to confirm the occurrence of these actions and to denounce them with full vigor.

the salvadoran air force

a settlement of repatriates

rockets


Input: the salvadoran armed forces denied today that their planes had bombed a refugee camp and civilian settlements in the departments of chalatenango and morazan, located north and northeast of san salvador, as religious sources had reported yesterday.    a communique released by the armed forces states that five persons, including four minors, were killed, not as a result of the bombings, "but as a result of the clashes" between soldiers and guerrillas at the "corral de las piedras" refugee camp in chalatenango department.    the armed forces accused the guerrillas of firing rockets "that hit several houses," and it reported that a soldier and six guerrillas were killed in the clashes, which lasted between 0600 and 1400.    however, eduardo alas, the bishop of chalatenango, told the media today that five people were killed and at least 14 civilians were wounded when the camp was attacked from the air.    "according to the entire community," alas said, "a rocket or a grenade-type device fell on one of the houses with many people inside, including children.  i saw the mutilated bodies of the children and holes in the roof.  there was a lot of machinegun fire."    moreover, the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) condemned the "cowardly attack" on the refugee homes, which, he said, were "higly visible and identified as civilian housing."    "this incident shows a total lack of commitment by the armed forces to reach a negotiated solution, and it reaffirms the need to maintain the armed struggle and to use military power to reach a negotiated solution so that human rights are respected," the fmln said in a communique released today.    the fmln also condemned an alleged bombing of the town of cacaopera, in morazan department, which the armed forces have denied.    according to the guerrillas, a woman was wounded and a sugar cane harvest was destroyed by the bombs, but according to col mauricio vargas, military chief of the region, "there was no bombing, but clashes with a group of guerrillas with the support of helicopters."    the military chief promised, however, to carry out the "pertinent investigations to learn what happened in the region."

the salvadoran armed forces

a refugee camp

the town of cacaopera

a sugar cane harvest

rockets

grenade-type device

machinegun


Input: the national police's dijin (directorate of judicial police and investigations) has revealed a terrorist plan that the national liberation army, eln, was planning to carry out in northern and eastern colombia in march, and added that this subversive group is divided by differences between its leaders.    a communique issued by this security organization states that, following an exhaustive intelligence investigation, it was concluded that this guerrilla movement is divided, because an eln faction refuses to accept the decisions of former spanish priest manuel perez martinez.    it also states that the dissident group has accused the former spanish clergyman and top eln leader of monopolizing economic resources, preventing the modernization of the rank and file, maintaining a security group made up of criminals, assuming paternalistic attitudes, and using the marxist ideology for his own benefit.    the report also revealed that the insurgent organization was planning to carry out a so-called key operation in northern and eastern colombia that would have included the kidnapping of personalities, the occupation of towns, and the assassination of top armed forces officers.    meanwhile, troops of the national army's 5th brigade have intensified search and control operations in a rural area of san vicente de chucuri municipality, middle magdalena, santander department, after killing six eln subversives and seizing abundant war materiel.    according to the defense ministry's administrative report, there was a clash between units of the (luciano de luger) battalion and guerrillas of the eln's captain parmenio front in la tempestuosa path, san vicente de chucuri municipality, santander department.  six unidentified insurgents were killed and weapons of various calibers, ammunition, uniforms, documents, and subversive propaganda were seized.    members of the 5th brigade are patrolling various municipalities of santander department to guarantee normal elections and activities of the national civil registry.


Input: the salvadoran government has publicly announced its regret over the death of several children and civilians in the guancorita canton, chalantengo department, on 11 february, and has ordered an investigation to clarify the case, which is being blamed on the air force.  the massacre took place at a camp of salvadoran refugees who had been in honduras.  according to residents, salvadoran air force helicopters strafed the camp following a clash between government troops and guerrillas of the farabundo marti national liberation front.    meanwhile, air force commander general rafael villamariona denied the accusations but admitted soldiers belonging to a detachment stationed in chalantenango had received air support. "the participation of the air force is effected according to regulations, which is why it could not have bombed civilians," villamariona said.    in the wake of this grave incident, chalantenango diocese bishop msgr. eduardo alas helped to provide relief to the wounded and heard testimonies from residents.  they said that the helicopters had dropped "rockets," according to the bishop.    on monday, military sources confirmed heavy fighting had taken place in the area known as corral de piedra, guancorita canton, some 80 km north of san salvador, and that several civilians were killed and at least 15 wounded as a result of the fighting.  mass groups have demanded punishment for the persons responsible, since the victims, most of them minors, were repatriates from honduras who had settled between guarjila and san jose las flores, which is where they had come from.    the army states that it also captured a rebel identified as abel dubon chevarria, who according to the official report disclosed that the rebels had used their catapults against the houses in the town. however, the area residents deny this report.

salvadoran air force

a camp of salvadoran refugees who had been in honduras

rockets


Input: one of the u.s.  citizens who was kidnapped in medellin today, presumably by guerrillas of the army of national liberation (eln), was released a few hours after being taken hostage. according to a police report, the guerrillas told the victim that his kidnapping was a way for his captors to protest president george bush's visit to colombia.

guerrillas of the army of national liberation

the army of national liberation


Input: one of the two u.s. citizens who was kidnapped in the past few hours in the capital of antioquia has been released by the eln (army of national liberation) guerrillas. according to a report from the authorities, james arthur donnelly was released unharmed by the subversives at an unidentified site in medellin. donnelly was told by the rebels that he had been kidnapped to protest the upcoming visit to cartagena by president bush.    the u.s. citizen told the authorities that he had not been mistreated.    the members of the new nelson mandela urban command of the eln's camilist union have announced that in the next few hours, they will also release david leslie kent (name as heard), the other victim, with a message regarding their position on the drug summit which is scheduled to begin in cartagena on 15 february.

guerrillas

the members of the new nelson mandela urban command

the new nelson mandela urban command

james arthur donnelly

david leslie kent


Input: at approximately 1915 (2115 gmt) today, a bomb went off at the gate of the university of chile on bernardo o'higgins avenue between san diego and arturo pratts streets. according to carabineros, the bomb had been planted by members of the communist party of chile (pcch).  the police report states that the extremists left behind pcch leaflets.  the explosion, which according to carabineros took place following disruptions of public order caused by pcch militants along ahumada street, was felt over a radius of several blocks.

members of the communist party of chile

the communist party of chile

the gate of the university of chile

the bomb


Input: three policemen were killed and one was wounded today in an ambush set by guerrillas of the maoist popular liberation army (epl) in the northwestern municipality of arboletes, it was officially reported in bogota.    according to the report, the epl guerrillas detonated a powerful dynamite charge while a police patrol was on a search mission in arboletes.    meanwhile, insurgents of the national liberation army (eln), colombia's most active guerrilla group, released two officials from the electoral registry who were carrying messages for the government.    the eln has vowed to sabotage the legislative and presidential elections, which will be held on 11 march and 27 may, respectively.

insurgents of the national liberation army

the national liberation army


Input: general miguel maza marquez, director of the colombian secret police, today said in cartagena de indias that he does not believe the "extraditables," a group that represents the largest group of drug traffickers in the country, are willing, as they have claimed, to achieve peace.    maza marquez, who arrived in cartagena de indias along with president virgilio barco -- the host of the drug "summit" that will be held in this city on colombia's caribbean coast -- added that the partial turnovers that the drug traffickers have made of raw materials and weapons in recent weeks "prove very little."    according to the colombian general, the drug traffickers "turn over one ton (of dynamite) but they hide seven tons."    the director of the administrative department of security (das), the secret police at the service of the executive branch, made this statement in regard to the voluntary turnovers made by the medellin cartel, the largest cocaine-exporting group in the world.    the "extraditables" began their turnovers during the last week of january, after announcing their surrender to the state, as proof of their "good will" -- to earn them "less strict treatment" by colombian society.    today the drug traffickers "delivered" three laboratories, with a capacity for processing 20,000 kg per month, to 25 colombian journalists.    the facilities, located in the choco jungle region on the panamanian border in northern colombia, have been termed by the journalists as "the biggest" labs available to the drug traffickers.    nevertheless, the turnover was minimized by the das director, who said that these production centers "have not been used for a long time."    during a news conference prior to the meeting between the presidents of bolivia, colombia, the united states, and peru, miguel maza marquez emphasized today that the colombian state's "goal" is still "to capture the drug traffickers and turn them over to colombian justice."    the chief of the secret police insisted that there is nothing to indicate that there is a possibility of holding a dialogue or reaching an agreement with the narco-terrorists.    the anti-drug summit will be held tomorrow in cartagena de indias with the intention of coordinating joint policies to end the production, processing, and export of coca leaves and cocaine in latin america.    the presidential summit will last only four hours, and it will conclude with the signing of a document that, judging from the draft, will strengthen multilateral relations to counter the production, export, and consumption of drugs.


Input: the pro-castrist union camilista - army of national liberation (uc-eln), the most belligerent in colombia, today repudiated u.s. president george bush's visit in the country and warned that "we will be in cartagena."    the guerrilla group's "communique no. 1" on "operation colombia" was sent to efe and it said that "in repudiation of mr. bush's presence in cartagena, we are going forward operation colombia."  "the mandela commandos" have been created for this purpose.    addressing the colombians, "the people of peru and bolivia, and the international media," the uc-eln said: "we consider the u.s. president's visit a mockery to colombia's dignity and sovereignty."    without identifying them, it announces that the "nelson mandela commandos of our organization have seized u.s. citizens and later we will later reveal the conditions for their release."    as of today, the only information available is on kidnapping victim u.s. professor david leslie kent.  kent was kidnapped on 13 february in medellin, 250 km northwest of bogota.    another u.s. citizen, james arthur donelley, was kidnapped on 12 february approximately 25 km from medellin and released on 13 february with a message which rejected bush's visit.    approximately 2,500 colombian troops, policemen, and secret agents have been deployed to guarantee the security of the "summit" that will be held on 15 february in cartagena de indias by the presidents of colombia, virgilio barco, bolivia, jaime paz zamora, peru, alan garcia and george bush from the united states.

nelson mandela commandos

pro-castrist union camilista - army of national liberation

david leslie kent

james arthur donelley


Input: u.s. priest francisco amico was kidnapped today in the city of cali by an unidentified group.  this was reported by another colombian priest, rafael lopera, who is a member of the "basilian community," to which amico belongs.    although no one has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping, it could be part of the "operation colombia," announced by the pro-castrist army of national lilberation, camilist union guerrrilla group (uc-eln) in protest for president george bush's visit to colombia.    two other u.s. citizens were kidnapped on 12 and 13 february by a uc-eln "nelson mandela" command group in medellin, 250 km northeast of bogota.  they were arthur donelley, an industrialist who was released on 13 february with a message which protested the bush visit to colombia, and professor david leslie kent, who is still being held by his captors.    priest rafael lopera said that the kidnapped priest is a parish priest at the "andres sanin" neighborhood on the eastern side of cali, a city located 400 km southwest of bogota.    lopera added that "the basilian community has eight members, four of whom are priests."  he reported that amico disappeared this morning on his way to the "sisters of theresa of calcuta" neighborhood, where he was going to officiate a mass.

an unidentified group

command group in medellin

the pro-castrist army of national lilberation, camilist union guerrrilla group

pro-castrist army of national lilberation, camilist union guerrrilla group (uc-eln)

francisco amico

arthur donelley

david leslie kent


Input: britain and argentina tonight agreed to resume full diplomatic relations which were broken off in 1982 after the invasion of the falkland islands. the announcement was made tonight in london, buenos aires and madrid, where two days of talks between senior officials have hammered out the deal.  the foreign office stressed the decision would have no effect on british sovereignty of the falklands, where 1,000 britons were killed and wounded during the war.    britain has agreed to lift the 150-mile military protection zone around the falklands from march 31.  at the same time new mutually agreed security arrangements will come into force.  these will involve 25 days advance notification by each side of military manoeuvres in certain areas.  it has also been agreed there should be 48-hours notice for naval ships which want to approach closer to the coast than 50 nautical miles and 70 nautical miles for aircraft.    full diplomatic relations will come into force as soon as the protecting powers for the two countries have been informed.  britain's interests in argentina have been represented by switzerland since 1982.  argentina's interests in london have been represented by brazil from the same period.    talks on fisheries around the falklands will continue.  a working group on south atlantic affairs is to be set up.  its first meeting will take place within the next 12 months.  an argentine visit to war cemeteries in the falklands will be allowed to go ahead.  this will be worked out through the international red cross.    both sides have also agreed that visas requirements will be abolished.  britain and argentina have also agreed to cooperate on drugs and the environment.    the british delegation to the talks was led by sir crispin tickell, ambassador to the united nations and the argentine delegation by senor garcia del solar, special representative of president carlos menem.    the agreement is the outcome of a series of contacts between the two countries over the past few months.  in october, it was agreed to establish consular relations.  air links between buenos aires and london resumed a few weeks ago.  a party of british mps and prominent public figures have just returned from buenos aires after the inaugural flight by british airways.  an obstacle to the resumption of relations over the past few years was the argentine refusal to declare that hostilities between the two countries were at an end.  however, the newly-elected argentine government made clear last year that such hostilities could now be considered at an end.  britain, after talks last october, agreed to raise no obstacles to argentine efforts to establish closer trading relations with the european community.  the argentine economy is now seen to be in a severe plight.  president menem has watched his popularity decline as argentina inflation has remained at a high level.    britain and argentina will also establish a direct communication link between their respective military authorities.  the purpose is to reduce the possibility of incidents and to limit their consequences if such incidents should occur.  according to the statement, this hotline will increase common knowledge of military activities in the south atlantic.  the link will be under the supervision of the argentine and british foreign ministries.  british ministers have made clear that adequate defence arrangements will be maintained for the falklands.    foreign office minister timothy sainsbury returned to london last weekend after a visit to the falklands where he reassured islanders there was no weakening in britain's commitment to their defence.    foreign secretary douglas hurd tonight described the agreement with argentina as "very satisfactory" and that it "underlines the fact that we have no quarrel with argentina".  he said: "this has been achieved without any sacrifice of sovereignty.  i hope it is a turning point that will lead to a new relationship between britain and argentina." mr hurd told reporters at the foreign office: "i hope that trade between britain and argentina can be accelerated.  it is for the falkland islanders to decide on their own contacts with the mainland."    asked if the instability in argentina might lead to a new attempt to seize the falklands, he said: "i think that is becoming less and less likely."  he expressed appreciation that the readiness of the government in argentina to make this advance which britain had reciprocated.  "the outcome is very satisfactory," he said.  the british protection zone had been replaced "with something from a security point of view that is better.  we have replaced it with an advance notification system on the approach of ships and aircraft. that from a security viewpoint is an improvement."  he hoped that the agreement would be well received in the falklands and noted that the falkland islanders had already been given an assurance of britain's continued commitment.    the exchange of ambassadors and the ending of visas would take place quite soon.    asked if sovereignty of the falklands could ever be discussed with argentina he said: "i do not see how that can be discussed by us given the history and principle that is involved."    labour welcomed the move to resume full diplomatic relations.  mr george foulkes, a front bench spokesman on foreign affairs, said it meant the two countries were now almost back to their respective positions before the 1982 conflict.  but he added: "we must now pull out all the stops in developing trade relations between our two countries."  this included considering all opportunities for british investment in argentina and the development of cultural, sporting and other links.


Input: the santa cruz preparatory meeting was held under strict security measures and its conclusions have been kept under strict secrecy. this veil of secrecy seemed to have been lifted when the morning newspaper hoy published a long agenda under the heading "total war against drug trafficking."  the government, however, has neither confirmed nor rejected the authenticity of the report.  (silence is golden).  at a meeting at the interior minister's office on 31 january, the minister told coca producers that hoy did not report the preliminary agenda...  and that the president's criterion of "coca in return for development" has prevailed.  if this is the case, and if there is consensus on this position, why hasn't the country been informed?    the situation has been further complicated by the remarks by peruvian president alan garcia, who said that "when everything seemed to have been agreed upon" one of the countries introduced changes that have "changed the structural features of the issue."  what is this new concept?  is it about sovereignty or independence?    the progovernment propaganda has monotonously reiterated over the past few days that to govern means to inform.  fine.  we agree that to inform is part of the art of governing.  to inform, however, also means to tell the truth, especially if it deals with an issue that is fundamental to the future of bolivians.  the government should be consistent, at least with this principle.    president jaime paz zamora has repeatedly proposed the replacement of coca production through development programs.  yet the remarks by u.s. embassy deputy chief of mission marilyn mcafee have dealt an anticipated blow that has caused some officials to hesitate.  "there is $15 million for replacement," she said.  (there is $60 million for repression).  barely recuperated from his surprise, the foreign minister said that the u.s. help is a "bilateral issue and, consequently, it will not be directly addressed" at the cartagena summit.  the interior minister, who has more experience in this type of situation, did not attach much importance to mcafee's statement and stressed that "more exact figures will be mentioned at the cartagena summit."  who is telling the truth?  will the cartagena summit address the economic aid?    after this peculiar situation, the united states seems to have chosen interdiction and eradication -- repression -- to fight drug trafficking.  the strategy of "war against drug trafficking terrorists" has prevailed.  this strategy lends itself to interventionist military policies, similar to the presence of u.s. marines in bolivia in the past, or, in the future, the creation of a multinational military force that would jeopardize regional political and military stability.    when the trafficking of cocaine was carried out as a covert operation (1984-87) involving the cia and the u.s. army -- for the purpose of providing military supplies to the contras -- cocaine trafficking was not a crime.  the links between noriega and drug trafficking were a matter of secondary importance as long as he provided information and support for their war against nicaragua.  but now the united states does not mind invading panama or turning colombia into an inferno to capture noriega or some of the major colombian traffickers on this crusade against drug trafficking.  that is the u.s. government's double-faced morality.    another scandal hit u.s. society last week.  marion barry, the mayor of washington, the capital of the empire and also the capital of crime, was caught in an fbi trap.  he was filmed consuming cocaine. his followers claim that it is a white conspiracy to prevent a black mayor from running for another term.    but the interesting point for us is the controversy between bennett, the u.s. government strategist for the struggle against drug trafficking (the bennett plan), and washington police chief fulwood. while bennett has questioned the efficiency of the washington police, claiming that this area receives the largest amount of federal support for the struggle against drug trafficking, fulwood has said that bennett is wasting time "talking without doing absolutely anything" (newsweek, 29 january).  the newsweek journalist said that even before the barry scandal it was possible to see that the bennett plan had become "only a dirty battle of words."  bennett's strategy for the prevention and repression of drug abuse in the united states has been a total failure.  bennett therefore believes that the best way to cover his failure is to turn toward latin america to relieve the fury of his impotence, ordering warships and planes to control maritime and air traffic.  as usual, those of us who live in the "backyard" have to pay for the mistakes of u.s. policy.    this is not a story of suspense.  the suspense has been created by the attitude of the government.  the country needs to know the conclusions of the santa cruz summit.  otherwise we will have to accept that a smoke screen has been deployed over the cartagena summit.


Input: the debt and its interest have steadily grown, but the value of our production has decreased, so it has become increasingly impossible to pay the debt.  therefore, we are faced with the same old story: lend me 100 million and i will pay you 110 million and still owe you 120 million with the new interest.  this rotation of credit does not produce any material assets like raw materials and assembly plants did in the past.    consequently, this relation is no longer feasible; it is useless. we have become increasingly poor, and we owe more and more.  why not change to more rational relations like is being done by civilized persons who know how talk multilaterally?  we would thus eliminate the foreign debt problem, which no one will be able to pay and, consequently, no one will be able to collect.  that is what we are talking about.    financial capitalism no longer produces material assets and does not generate anything -- but it certainly continues to impoverish us -- so an enormous financial and technological force is accumulating in the united states, europe, and japan.  they have no one to sell it to because we have become increasingly poor.  suddenly they have an opportunity in eastern europe and they are there, full of illusions about creating new markets in that area -- and they have forgotten about latin america, which purchased machinery from the united states and europe for 50 years.    i think that is unjust and should be discussed as a whole.  the united states has... changes thought what more does it want, if it has the resources that it no longer spends on atomic bombs or on men and weapons in europe?  it has to invest those resources so that they may yield something.  where?  in poland?  in czechoslovakia?  why?  why not in latin america?  we are here and we have common problems like drug trafficking.  that is what we have to discuss.    (amat) what are peru's revenues, in dollars, for the coca crops?    (garcia) the most conservative estimate is approximately $700 million.    (amat) with what are you going to replace that $700 million if the coca crops are abolished?    (garcia) that is the crux of the problem and that is why we came to talk.  it is obvious, it is true that i have an ethical and moral obligation to end it, but it is also true that i have to eliminate the peasants' coca crops to achieve this.    (amat) mr. president, what about the peasants of peru and bolivia? colombia's case is different because coca is processed here.  would the peasants be willing to change those crops for others?    (garcia) if they are given a long-term guarantee, yes.    (amat) but would they change coca for tomatoes, oranges, and cacao?    (garcia) it is not easy to change it for coffee, tobacco, cacao, annatto, or palm trees.  the u.s. government has studied all this. i have a 600-page report from the u.s. government that discusses the alternatives for replacing the 80,000 hectares in the guayaga valley -- which is the largest coca-producing area in the country.  it would cost $600 million to industrialize the area on a long-term basis.    (amat) but, mr. president, coca practically grows wild; it does not require much work in the countryside.  how can a government like yours convince a farmer to invest much more money in a product that would be much less profitable?    (reporter) let me add something to that...    (garcia, interrupting) excuse me.  it is a vicious circle.  the peasant produces coca because he has no money.  i will not ask him to invest money he does not have to change the product.  the united states has to buy the new product to achieve this.  the united states has to guarantee that it will buy the product.  look, how many trillions does the united states buy as imports in other countries? a fraction of this would change the destiny of colombia, peru, and bolivia.    the united states should say: if i buy $600 billion in products abroad, i will buy $10 billion -- of anything -- in peru, colombia, and bolivia.  it could be tomatoes, palm oil, coffee, chocolate bars, anything.  this would change the history of these countries.  (continued)


Input: i have spent the last six years of my political life saying things clearly.  many people describe that attitude as vehemence or radicalism.  i disagree with that view.    when the united states invaded panama -- and i was aware of what noriega was -- i said that despite that fact, the invasion had been a crime.  we demanded the immediate withdrawal of the u.s. troops.  i said that if the immediate withdrawal did not take place, i would not attend the cartagena summit, because i could not sit at the same table with the u.s. president while a latin american country remained invaded.  and it happened.  it happened.  the troops had to withdraw. and we have held a cordial meeting for that reason.    (amat) mr president, you have convinced us (words indistinct) things the way you see and feel about them.  will you tell us frankly -- frankly -- what is your opinion of the summit?  what happened at the summit?  what important conclusions were reached at the summit?    (garcia) frankly, and in a nutshell, it was positive.  it created a multilateral atmosphere, and we talked very candidly.  as for me personally, i had the opportunity to meet a continental politician like bush, and i found him to be a pragmatic person.  i probably disagree with him on more than half of the things he thinks, but i do not think that human beings are obliged to be identical. what is important is to look at each person for his good points -- however few or many they may be -- to establish a rapport on that basis.    (reporter) what is being planned?  what is next?  what is going to be done to continue... (changes thought) in order for the presidents to keep in constant touch to fulfill what they signed?    (garcia) well, there will be constant communication.  it is easy to talk with the u.s. president, who is not god.  there are telephones to do that.  mr. bell invented a little gadget over a century ago called the telephone and we, the presidents, communicate with each other -- with barco, paz zamora, and president bush, to ask: will we or will we not do what we pledged to do?  if we do not, at least it will not be my fault or that of the latin americans.    (amat) we are in the midst of an electoral process in colombia, and the peruvian president is also facing an electoral process...    (garcia, interrupting) and you know the candidate, fortunately. (chuckles)    (amat) mr. president, it looks like the opposition is going to defeat you in your country?    (garcia) it is a possibility, it is true.    (amat) why?    (garcia) look, anyone who listens to your question would think that five years ago, when i assumed power, peru was a country full of gold, very rich, the way it was before the spanish conquest -- orderly, and without problems.  five years ago it had a developed terrorist problem.  it had a foreign debt of 14.5 billion and was extremely poor.  five years have elapsed.  i explained to you once  that i tried to make it grow at great speed and managed to do so. then we faced a decline, and we are now stabilizing the situation.    however, many people feel that a person can solve many things because of the impetuosity in his personality.  sometimes this is the problem of being honest or having an impetuous personality or harboring many hopes -- or selling them.    the truth is that -- like five years ago -- we have a poor country, a country that owes money, a country that has just as much or more subversive terrorism, and this makes people uncomfortable.  i cannot understand it.  however, that is what we politicians are for -- to burn out in our work for democracy to survive.  i will be replaced by someone else who thinks like me or totally different from me.  he will replace me and democracy will stay, a civilized system. this is the most important thing.  (continued)


Input: colombian president virgilio barco vargas has said that he will not hold talks with narco-terrorists because colombian law is not negotiable.    barco made that statement following the cartagena summit, in which bolivia, peru, and the united states also participated.    rejecting any possible talks on the subject, barco stressed: colombian policy has not changed -- drug traffickers must stop their illegal business activities, surrender everything, and respect the law.    president barco said that the cartagena summit clears the path for adopting commercial measures to strengthen the economies of our countries.  he also told his colleagues that, for the first time, and by facing the problem from all its angles, they have agreed on a common strategy for future actions in the struggle against drug trafficking.


Input: military and civilian sources have reported that early this morning the farabundo marti national liberation front, fmln, set on fire two cotton processing plants in san miguel, some 142 km east of san salvador, causing great property damage, according to military and civilian sources.    according to reports, fmln members attacked the "canessa" and "el obrajuelo" cotton plants in san miguel department, destroying heavy equipment, warehouses where hundreds of quintales of cotton were stored, and the main buildings.  fortunately, no one was hurt.    spokesmen representing the owners reported much property damage and noted that the incident is part of the fmln's campaign of sabotage against the economy.    heavy clashes were also reported in morazan department, in the country's northeastern region, during which at least two soldiers were killed.  however, the armed forces press committee has not reported the incidents that occurred last night and early this morning.    several towns in eastern el salvador are without power since 14 february due to sabotage actions.  electricity is also being rationed in various sectors of san salvador, following the destruction of five high tension lines, according to official sources.    however, bomb attacks on shopping centers in san salvador are less frequent.  recent attacks had caused great concern and prompted a strong protest from the chamber of commerce and industries of el salvador, which demanded an end to the wave of attacks against nonmilitary targets.

fmln members

the farabundo marti national liberation front

the "canessa" and "el obrajuelo" cotton plants

high tension lines


Input: a military source has reported that the salvadoran air force bombed guerrilla positions along the side of san salvador volcano, approximately four km from san salvador, this afternoon.    the military spokesman, who did not give many details about the action, said that the army is conducting a "combing operation" in the area of the volcano in search of rebel redoubts.    in early january, the armed forces began operations "victoria" and "martillo" with the intention of eradicating farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) positions located on the outskirts of the country's major cities.    the military source did not state whether there have been casualties as a result of the bombings.


Input: terrorist actions against san salvador's commercial establishments continue, creating alarm and concern among private enterprise groups.  coprefa (armed forces press committee) reports today that at 0620 fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) urban cells placed dynamite sticks in four commercial establishments in mid-town san salvador; namely, a bank, a hotel, a car dealership, and a store.    the report adds that the banco cuscatlan, located on 6th west street and cuscatlan avenue; the ritz hotel, located on 7th south avenue and ruben dario street; the nasa car dealership, located between 25th north avenue and 3d west street; and the mike-mike store, located on pasaje montalvo and 1st north avenue, suffered partial damage.  there were no victims.    coprefa also reports that 1st infantry brigade soldiers discovered the bodies of five guerrillas inside a cache during a combing operation conducted on saturday, 10 february.  it was established the five men had been left behind after the so-called "offensive to the top," and perished when their other comrades left them "covering the withdrawal."    nine extremists were killed the past weekend during fighting with military detachment no. 4 in the corinto area, morazan department.  it is said the fmln guerrillas were taken by surprise when they tried to enter the town.  two soldiers died in the fighting.  coprefa reports that the salvadoran air force provided support.  in addition, the command of el paraiso's 5th brigade, in chalatenango department, reports the death of one of its soldiers during fighting with subversive groups in the village of el zungaro, in chalatenango, on saturday.  in addition, the atonal battalion states that one of its soldiers was killed in combat with rebels in the area around avalos farm in santa elena, usulutan department.    third infantry brigade troops report seizing 22 ar-15 rifles, eight m-16 rifles, and four fal rifles, as well as two soviet-made ak-47 rifles.  in addition, 17 steyr brand submachine guns, one rpg-18 grenade launcher, three soviet-made pistols, 3,800 cartridges of different calibers, 94 cartridge clips, several tnt sticks, 75 pounds of aluminum powder, and a large quantity of material to make explosives were confiscated.  the arsenal was found in a cache in la escondida jurisdiction, san miguel department, by troops of the 3d brigade, leon battalion.  this unit reports a clash with the extremists on the outskirts of san miguel, during which war materiel was seized.

urban cells

farabundo marti national liberation front

the banco cuscatlan

the ritz hotel

the nasa car dealership

the mike-mike store

dynamite sticks


Input: defense minister gen. hector alejandro gramajo spoke on 7 february at a news conference just a few hours after learning of a new guerrilla attack that took place at daybreak on 7 february, against the tecpan, chimaltenango police garrison. the guerrillas stole four .38 caliber revolvers, four m-1 carbines, and .30 caliber ammunition and took police patrol car no.  ch-02.    during wednesday's news conference, the army released a summary of guerrilla activities starting in early december, when subverisve commandos destroyed the bridge spanning the coyolate river.  during a four-day period in december, the guerrillas sabotaged an electrical tower outside the capital and set fire to a vehicle belonging to the technical-agricultural training institute on the road to solola.    two more acts of sabotage against electrical installations took place the first week in january.  a few days later, three government-owned vehicles were set on fire -- one belonging to bandesa (national agriculrural development bank) and two belonging to the public health ministry, which were transporting vaccines to a clinic. during the last days of january, there was another act of sabotage against the electrical system in quezaltenango and an attack on the village of pochuta that caused personal injuries and property damage.    since the weekend, a post at the kilometer 42 road mark along route ca-9 was attacked and a civilian was killed.  at daybreak on 14 february, the national police garrison at tecpan, chimaltenango was attacked, but no casualties were reported.    according to the minister of defense, the leftist guerrillas' new directives came from a recent meeting held in a central american country, which the military commander did not identify.    (begin recording) (gramajo) they ask me (words indistinct) internationalists.  we have confirmed information that a meeting was held in one of the central american countries in october 1989.  north vietnamese advisers -- one of them is now a vietnamese general, but the meeting was attended by vietnamese and cuban generals basically -- met with subversive leaders and discussed the strategic plan for the central american area under the current situation they are suffering. thus they decided on a desperate plan where the revolutionary people's war was going to focus on taking to its own and only coming to towns to make its (word indistinct).  eventually, they would get the population to go against the state and then take over power that has been abandoned.  this plan was adopted because time is against them; the plan is no longer for a revolutionary people's war, but based on pure terrorism because the international (words indistinct) and also to promote activities within guatemala, mainly related to the upcoming elections.  (end recording)    according to gen. gramajo, some rivalries have started among the different guatemalan national revolutionary unity (urng) groups, such is the case of the rebel armed forces (far) who have penetrated areas were the revolutionary organization of the people in arms (orpa) operated, such as the areas of pachlum, peten, and godinez.  orpa now maintains itself south of chimaltenango, in the northern area of escuintla and sacatepequez.  the poor people's guerrilla army (egp) centers its actions against bases.    the defense minister also explained the army's position concerning the possibility of reinitiating talks with guerrilla representatives.    (begin recording) (gramajo) as you may have noticed, we only refer to the three groups in which they operate.  however, we are only talking about armed activities.  the constitution says that there cannot be armed bands and (words indistinct) in combat zones.  (words indistinct) euphemisms: dialogue, talks, and conferences.  this, however, is not a matter that concerns us.  we have been very clear in this sense.  we have serious reservations about the validity of a conference, or talks, or whatever that has only been used as a tactical instrument at a specific moment.  el salvador has suffered much in this regard. (end recording)

subverisve commandos

the bridge spanning the coyolate river

an electrical tower outside the capital

a vehicle belonging to the technical-agricultural training institute

three government-owned vehicles

the electrical system in quezaltenango

the village of pochuta


Input: the media today received an urgent message which was signed by marta ospina jaramillo, i.d. card no.  43033612, issued in medellin, in which she says that the national liberation army (eln) has requested the formation of a commission to receive u.s. citizen david leslie kent, who has been kidnapped by the eln.

national liberation army

david leslie kent


Input: panama    in his "lighting" column, luis ardines states that "i do believe that the antidrug summit in colombia will yield very positive results. the main cocaine producers (colombia, bolivia, and peru) and the united states, which is the main consumer, will have to reach an agreement that will give us hope that it is possible to erradicate the scourge of drugs, which is killing the youth of the continent." peru    peruvian president alan garcia says in an interview after the summit that "i am satisfied with the conceptual statement of the declaration of cartagena.  i hope it becomes reality and that there is seriousness in the appropriation of resources to replace and limit drug trafficking."    when asked to summarize the summit's results, he says: "frankly, and in a nutshell, it was positive.  it created a multilateral atmosphere and we talked very candidly." in conclusion, he says that colombians "must have confidence in that latin america, together with the united states, will confront the problem of drug trafficking."    peruvian president garcia during a visit to santa marta, colombia to pay tribute to liberator simon bolivar, says that the meeting in cartagena "opens doors to multilateral negotiations instead of the bilateral negotiations that the powerful utilized to divide latin america." venezuela    venezuelan television carries a video report reviewing the summit and its results, highlighting that it ended "with a positive result," namely "the joint declaration signed by the presidents" to "fight together the drug trafficking trade" and the united states' pledge to "provide financial aid to replace the coca crops."  the video report also features selected excerpts of the statements given by the four presidents.     venezuelan president carlos andres perez met with former argentine president raul alfonsin and former colombian president belisario betancur in caracas to analyze the cartagena drug summit's results. betancur emphasized that "the united states sells the chemical components needed to process" the cocaine, not to mention that this country "is the most important drug consumer" in the world.   colombia    former colombian president belisatio betancur participated in a latin american democratization symposium held in caracas and termed as "positive" the cartagena drug summit, particularly because "it resulted in specific conclusions" which "have filled our countries with hope."    diego garcia, president of the andean lawyers commission, termed the cartagena summit as "rhetorical and insufficient because it was centered on repression rather than structural changes," adding that the amount pledged by the united states for the anti-drug struggle was "very little."  garcia added that "the idea is not for developed countries to give money" to latin american nations, because the ideal thing would be to "establish different economic relations, reduce taxes, give preference" to latin american products, and "define the quota system."


Input: official spokesmen reported here today that the colombian government and m-19 (19 april movement) will sign a final peace agreement on 19 february.    the sources added that, this weekend, interior minister carlos lemos and m-19 leader carlos pizarro will agree on the time for the ceremony, which will be held at the national capitol.    the signing of the agreement--which involves the demobilization of m-19, the delivery of its weapons to a commission from the socialist international, and the reincorporation of its members into civilian life--has been repeatedly postponed.    government spokesmen added that after the signing of the document, pizarro and his deputy and ideologist antonio navarro will hold a news conference to explain the program that the organization, which is in the process of becoming legal, will carry out to participate in the 11 march legislative elections.    in some areas of the country, m-19 will present its own list of candidates, while in others it will participate in coalition with traditional parties and leftist groups.    the peace talks, recently sealed with an amnesty for the subversives, began between the administration of president virgilio barco and m-19, an extreme leftist and nationalist group struggling for almost 20 years, in early 1989.    the m-19 occupied the dominican embassy in bogota for two months. the group held approximately 20 foreign diplomats hostages.  in addition, the m-19 stole 5,000 weapons from a military garrison and carried out the bloody takeover of bogota's justice palace, an action that claimed the lives of 100 people.

an extreme leftist and nationalist group

5,000 weapons from a military garrison