Input: colonel orlando montano, deputy minister of defense and public security, gave assurances today that the armed forces will establish a truce on 14 and 15 september, as requested by the permanent dialogue committee, and the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) has pledged to respect it.    (begin recording) (montano) the national dialogue committee's proposal is a good one and the armed forces applauds it, and is in a position to accept it, as long as the fmln also complies with it. (end recording)    speaking at a news conference, col montano said that the maimed fmln fighters' presence at the metropolitan cathedral is an indication that fmln leaders abandon their fighters when they cease to be useful.    (begin recording) (montano) i believe that if the fmln wanted to send those people abroad, as they have done in the past, they could very well have done so.  they have the fighters at the cathedral for propaganda purposes, and to give the impression that the government is inhumane.  i have even read and heard statements by fmln allies who say that the situation of the maimed cannot be negotiated for humanitarian reasons.  however, did they display humaneness when they burned buses, left the people without electricity, or destroyed so many things that benefit the public? (end recording)    referring to the homily delivered yesterday by monsignor gregorio rosa chavez, auxiliary bishop of san salvador, who accused the air force of bombing the santa elena church in usulutan department, col montano said that some leftist clergymen distort the facts for propaganda purposes.    (begin recording) (montano) with their humanitarian image, they often oppose the search for peace, they oppose the country's democratization and, in fact, they often play up to the fmln.  in reality their attacks and disparaging remarks about the armed forces are unfair.  they blame the army for things it is not guilty of or responsible for. (end recording)    to conclude, the military officer said the army is carrying out an operation to ensure safety during the independence festivities.

air force

santa elena church


Input: public order judges will begin working out of the das (administrative department of security) headquarters.  this is part of the protective measures the authorities are implementing to prevent colombian judges from being murdered.  furthermore, security measures at court entrances can be noted, even such implausible measures as this: all people who bear weapons must turn them in at the entrance in exchange for a piece of cardboard.    all these weapons belong to people visiting the palo quemado courts.  on some days, there can be as many as 100 different caliber weapons lying on the table.  they are identified by simple, easily forged pieces of cardboard.  this is one of the security measures used to protect judges working here.  armed policemen carry out body searches on visitors and check out the surrounding areas, but the judges are still nervous.    judges with the most responsibilities -- public order judges -- yearn for severe restrictions such as those that protect italian judges, who convene in secure bunkers that protect them from danger, both to them and their families.  lacking those facilities, colombian judges have accepted the offer made by the das director.    (begin recording) (orlando morales, judicial branch national association secretary) public order judges are going to work out of the das offices.    (reporter) do you know when?    (morales) beginning next week, i believe.  (end recording)


Input: the salvadoran government affirmed today that many of the salvadoran refugees in honduras are linked to the guerrillas but that he will make a "good will" gesture to have approximately 3,800 of them repatriated.    "the government is making a good will gesture by accepting the repatriation of thousands of salvadorans while knowing that many of them are relatives of criminal terrorists (guerrillas), said salvadoran vice president and interior minister francisco merino.    the governments of el salvador and honduras and the un high commissioner for refugees are preparing the return of these salvadorans who fled to honduras at the beginning of this decade to escape from the armed conflict.    merino stated: "we want them to understand that if at any given moment there was a justification for resorting to violence, now, 10 years later, there is no justification at all and the moment has come for beginning a normal life."    according to the vice president, the fact that there are no males among these refugees is evidence that they have links with the guerrillas.    although we did not find men of over 13 years of age, there were many pregnant women," merino told the press.    the government selected settlement areas for the repatriated, where it will give them medical and educational assistance and a functioning infrastructure.    for their part, the refugees have asked to be allowed to return to their places of origin, in war-torn areas in the northern part of chalatenango, san miguel, and morazan departments, or in la union department.    "to send them there," merino said, "would be to condemn them to permanent underdevelopment.  they want to return to places that do not provide what is needed for development or for a normal life."    the christian committee for displaced salvadorans, which claims to represent the refugees, has accused the government of wanting to send the repatriated to "concentration camps guarded by the armed forces."


Input: the extensive border shared by venezuela and colombia is today, more than ever, the cause of concern for the caracas government.  the offensive against drug trafficking ordered by president barco is viewed by local commentators as a dangerous threat to venezuela due to its proximity to colombia, with whom venezuela shares over 2,000 km.    the border with colombia has always been a cause of concern for venezuelan governments.  on several ocassions venezuela had to face raids into its territory, as well as the kidnapping of stockbreeders, smuggling of goods, and drug trafficking by colombian guerrillas and criminals.  the war declared by the colombian government on the medellin cartel opens up the possibility that many of the drug chieftains, and perhaps some drug kingpins, may seek refuge in venezuelan territory.    venezuelan president carlos andres perez warned that if drug traffickers attempt to transfer their industries to venezuela they will have to "face venezuelan justice, and certainly extradition trials." the states of zulia, tachira, and apure --in western venezuela -- border colombian territory and have been the scene of drug trafficking operations many times.  in the past few days venezuelan security forces have increased vigilance at the main border posts because of rumors that drug traffickers have begun moving to venezuela.    governor of zulia state ismael ordaz confirmed to newsmen that the government has intensified control and vigilance measures at the border with colombia.  he noted there is broad cooperation between the venezuelan and colombian authorities in the struggle against drug trafficking.    during a radio program on monday, 4 september, journalist jose vicente rangel, former movement toward socialism presidential candidate, maintained that it is not at this time that drug traffickers are attempting to enter venezuela because they entered a long time ago.  rangel maintained that venezuela annually serves as a bridge for drug trafficking worth some $20 billion.  furthermore, he said, the expensive venezuelan electoral campaigns have also received resources obtained from drug trafficking.    the figures given by rangel are equivalent to 66 percent of the venezuelan foreign debt, which amounts to some $30 million that the government is currently trying to renegotiate.  moreover, rangel said, during the electoral campaign that concluded with the election of carlos andres perez in december 1988, political parties invested some 5 billion bolivares (some $135 million) in propaganda.  this figure is excessive if one takes into account that, as established by the law, the state only contributes 100 million bolivares ($2.7 million) for the electoral campaigns held every 5 years.    rangel added that the possible transfer of colombian drug trafficking operation centers to venezuela is very worrying if one takes into account that venezuelan government officials have openly admitted the lack of vigilance at the borders.  however, while colombia is attempting, perhaps belatedly, not to yield to the economic power and violence of drugs, there seems to be no awareness in venezuela about the grave danger posed by the alleged change of address which, according to some reports, is being planned by colombian drug traffickers.


Input: it is clear that neo-liberalism is the ideology of the north.  if in the past liberalism was a factor that promoted progress and independence in latin america, neo- liberalism is now the state ideology of the more powerful nations.  it is an authoritarian ideology that does not question all types of states, but only the states of the south.  under the guise of eliminating bureaucracy and promoting efficiency, neo-liberalism wants to destroy the state to eliminate any resistance to the hegemony of the world market.    we should not play that game.  ideological nonalignment should therefore redefine the state and defend its strength in our countries.    when i say state i am not referring merely to the individual states that every one of us represents.  i am referring to an accord that our states should reach in each region.  we must recognize that we are united in continental blocs.  we must promote our regional economy.    only through regional initiatives will we have power in the current process of restructuring the market.  it is therefore imperative to call -- in each continent -- more frequent and regular meetings of our movement.  we must organize the nonaligned movement on a continental basis to strengthen it in all places.    many have come to this meeting to propose an administrative structure for our movement to insure its continuity.  this can be viewed as a suggestion.  it is a lot more important, though, to recognize the existence of regional differences and to create intermediate nonaligned movement organizations wherever possible. these intermediate organizations should strengthen the principles of the movement in each region, thus expanding its power.    although it's taken sometime, i believe that we have already adopted this approach in latin america through the creation of the political consultation mechanism of the group of eight, which gives common answers to the economic crisis and to political intervention.    mr president, in honoring our founders -- tito, nehru, and nasser -- i should stress the ethical significance of nonalignment.  without the power of nuclear bombs or money, we have upheld the moral values of mankind to help it to continue to struggle in all fields.    therefore, our movement cannot remain indifferent to the very serious problem of drug trafficking and drug addiction, which has spread around the world.    it is true that this is essentially a problem that affects rich countries, because drug addiction reflects the most refined stage of consumption, the consumption of insatisfaction.  yet it is also true that we, as drug producers or dealers, are involuntary partners.  like neo- liberalism, drug trafficking has perversely tried to take over.    drug trafficking is also a form of hegemony by the large rich markets, which are thereby distorting and corrupting our society. drug trafficking also seeks to destroy states, as it is now doing in colombia.    i believe we should raise the banner of mankind's moral values; we should tell the rich that even if they ignore our claims for justice, we will not ignore their youth and their children, who must be defended from drug addiction.    the u.s. president will formulate a proposal on the subject tomorrow, and we hope it will be an all-encompassing proposal.    the problem is not just over helicopters an ammunition.  it involves an accord between the united states and europe, on one side, and the countries that are directly involved on the other.    the production of drugs, in particular, calls for structural treatment, without which any military aid will be insufficient.    our movement must adopt a strong stand against drug trafficking and undertake joint measures to eradicate it.  the nonaligned movement must also adopt a strong stand against terrorism, particularly when it is linked to drug trafficking, as in peru.    faithful to its moral principles, the nonaligned movement should strongly reject drug addiction and death.  this will show that our nations' respect for human dignity is as strong as that of the most developed countries.    mr president: we came to this summit from peru to reiterate our faith in nonalignment, our anti-imperialist position against colonialism and interventionism, and our decision to side with the nations struggling for freedom and justice.  we came to defend ideological nonalignment.  we came to demand financial disarmament and the recognition of the market value of the debt.  we are here to reiterate our allegiance to the immortal principles that we united behind 28 years ago.    i salute the nations of the nonaligned movement.  thank you very much. (applause)


Input: a radio station newsman has reported that an alleged spokesman for "the extraditables," a group that claims to be linked to the medellin cartel, has claimed responsibility for the burning of a restaurant today and a 5 september sharpshooter attack at the local airport.    a newsman from radio caracol of medellin reported receiving a telephone call from a member of the extraditables claiming responsibility for the burning of a countryside restraurant. the caller justified this action by saying that the restarants' owners paid homage to a military leader.    medellin, which is the drug traffickers' trading headquarters in colombia, was hit by a wave of threats that turned out to be nothing but false alarms that nevertheless prompted the police to constantly patrol the city and evacuate shopping centers in search of nonexistent bombs.    workers said that the restaurant, whose owner was a follower of recently assassinated presidential candidate luis carlos galan, was torched by rifle-toting youths.    they locked four workers in an office until the fire started.  the restaurant suffered 20 million pesos ($50,000) in loses.    he also said that the extraditables are responsible for an attack on 5 september in which a man dressed in combat gear fired an automatic rifle at industrialists and businessmen at the medellin airport.    the sharpshooter, who was shot by policemen, managed to kill 1 person and wound 12 others.  the anonymous caller gave no explanation for the attack, a caracol newsman told reuter.    two weeks ago the extraditables declared "total war" against the government of president virgilio barco after he launched a campaign to repress the drug barons in which 11,000 individuals were arrested and millions of dollars in property owned by drug traffickers were confiscated.

man dressed in combat gear

rifle-toting youths

the extraditables

restaurant

luis carlos galan

automatic rifle


Input: the police reported today that u.s. journalist bernardette pardo, who was sent to colombia by the spanish-speaking univision television network to cover the colombian government's "war" against drug traffickers, was injured last night during an attack in medelliln.    it was learned that pardo was in a restaurant in medellin accompanied by cameraman carlos corrales and colombian movie actor jorge saenz when a medium-intensity bomb exploded in the establishment.    pardo, of cuban origin, suffered fractures in her clavicle and right shoulder blade and wounds in her neck.  she is currently at a hospital in medellin.  corrales was injured by splinters in various parts of his body.    the police reported that the attack was apparently carried out by a couple that was sitting at a table close to the journalists. according to reports, a woman went to the restroom, then left in a hurry followed by the man, who was accompanying her, shortly before the explosion.    on the night of 3 september unidentified individuals placed two bombs in a parking lot and garden of a medellin hotel where several foreign journalists were staying.  the journalists arrived in colombia a few days ago to cover the intensification of the government's struggle against narcotics-trafficking organizations.    although no one was injured in that incident, it was clear that the medellin cartel, the largest drug-trafficking ring in the world, had declared an all-out "war" against foreign journalists who remain colombia.    likewise, colombian journalists were threatened a few days after the government's offensive began, in reprisal for the hard blows dealt to the drug cartel, in the past 3 weeks.    in a statement for a french newspaper, pablo escobar gaviria, the medellin cartel's main "capo" said that journalists and judges "will pay the consequences" of the government's struggle, which has resulted in hundreds of drug traffickers arrested and numerous properties owned by drug traffickers confiscated.    the attack against the univision journalists occurred simultaneously with an announcement by the police in antioquia department -- the capital of which is medellin -- of the arrest of four drug traffickers whose extradition may have been requested by the united states.    the names of the drug traffickers were not disclosed to the press. however, it was learned that their arrest took place during intensive operations which took place in this city during the past few hours as a result of which 21 mercenaries of the medellin cartel have fallen.    members of the same narcotics-trafficking organization detonated two bombs in financial institutions and set a restaurant on fire in medellin, police spokesmen reported.

couple

unidentified individuals

narcotics-trafficking organization

restaurant

hotel

financial institutions

bernardette pardo

carlos corrales

jorge saenz

medium-intensity bomb

two bombs


Input: spokesmen of the bogota mayor's office and the police have reported that city authorities today reinforced security measures to prevent terrorist actions.    security personnel were increased at key public and private buildings, the eldorado international airport, and bus terminals.    after a meeting with the city's security council, mayor andres pastrana issued a decree prohibiting any meetings, gatherings, rallies, or demonstrations in the bogota district.    the decree, which was issued within the framework of the current state of siege, sets sentences of up to 60 days in jail and fines of 60,000 pesos ($150) for the organizers of such demonstrations.    shortly after the decree was issued, a telephone booth in southern bogota was destroyed by a bomb, police reported.  there were no casualties.

telephone booth

bomb


Input: three strong explosions occurred last night in medellin, a drug trafficking center in colombia.    at least five people, including journalists and a television camera crew, were wounded.  two bank buildings and a restaurant were seriously damaged.    the explosions occurred following the televised speech by u.s. president bush on his new antinarcotics plan.

bank buildings

restaurant


Input: colombia and the world received with optimism the bush antidrug plan. the u.s. president announced controls and punishments for those who use drugs.  he also announced that $8 billion has been alloted for this plan, which includes rehabilitation and prevention programs.  the measures have been criticized.  however, the bush plan brings hope in the struggle against drug usage.    (begin recording) (bush) this is a cocaine by-product called crack which was confiscated a few days ago by policemen at a park in front of the white house.  it could have been heroin or pcp.  it looks like candy, but this is turning our cities into battlefields and is killing our children. (end recording)    this is how president bush began his speech, in which he delivered his plan to u.s. citizens on fighting drug traffickers.  the huge number of drug users made the government increase the $2 billion budget last year.    (begin recording) (bush) as you can see on this chart, in 1985 the government estimated that 23 million u.s. citizens were using drugs on a casual basis; that is, at least once during the past month.  last year, this figure dropped by over 1/3, which means that 9 million u.s. citizens have ceased being occasional drug users.  although the overall cocaine usage has dropped, the frequent use of cocaine has almost doubled in the past few years.  these are the casual cocaine users, those who consume crack, and who represent the most serious and urgent problem. (end recording)    president bush's advisers said the president is aware of the difficulties of the plan, however he believes this is the first step in the struggle against drugs.    (begin recording) (bush) today, i sent this document.  our first national strategy on drug control.  i sent it to the congress. (end recording)    bush believes that with this formula he will defeat drug usage in his country, despite criticism from some u.s. congressmen.


Input: the medellin cartel reacted with a campaign of attacks to u.s.  president george bush's antidrug program.  as of this morning the speech had not elicited any official comment on the part of the colombian presidency.    only communications minister carlos elmos stated in very general terms that the problem continues to be "fundamentally that of the consumption in the united states," which he added must "punish the consumers."    shortly after president bush's speech, a wave of attacks shook medellin, the general headquarters of the country's principal drug traffickers.  according to a police report issued today 11 persons, including 2 newsmen, were wounded in the attacks.    the bogota newspapers dedicated their main headlines this morning to the u.s.  president's speech.  in general they compared his speech to a declaration of war: "bush wages war (el espectador), "bush declares war" (el siglo), "8 billion against drugs" (el tiempo).    the newspapers did not dedicate any editorial to bush's speech, but limited themselves to publishing excerpts of his speech, taking special note of the 5-year $2 billion aid plan for colombia, peru, and bolivia.    the colombian television stations, which had announced that they would carry a live broadcast of the overall antidrug plan, finally ended up only transmitting excerpts of the speech on a delayed basis, without explaining the reason for the change of plans.    only caracol radio rebroadcast the text of president bush's speech on a delayed basis with a simultaneous spanish translation.    despite the curfew implemented 1 week ago in medellin and the major military presence in the country's second largest city, two bank branches and a restaurant were blown up while a restaurant was burned.

bank branches

restaurant


Input: this station has just confirmed that eduardo martinez romero, reported to be the financial wizard of the medellin cartel, was extradited to the united states today.    in a few hours, an atlanta, georgia court will receive martinez, who has been extradited by the colombian government after he was indicted by the u.s.  government on charges that he laundered $1.1 billion.  including martinez, 15 colombians have been extradited to the united states, 14 of them during the previous government's tenure, while the extradition treaty with the united states was in force.    the first extradition was effected on the same grounds as that serving to justify this measure toward martinez-- money laundering. after botero (not further identified), the most famous cases were those of carlos lehder, whose extradition was arranged for in less than 24 hours. when the supreme court declared the treaty unenforceable, extraditions were suspended until today, when a new instrument was utilized.  this instrument was announced by president virgilio barco the same night presidential hopeful luis carlos galan was murdered.  this is an administrative recourse that empowers the president to make all decisions.

luis carlos galan


Input: luz amparo gomez serna, a 29-year-old woman from cali, was murdered at 1620 this afternoon.  the la gran colombia university lawyer had just left a fruit stand in the polo club neighborhood in northern bogota and was getting into a renault station wagon driven by her brother, william, when a young man approached her and shot her three times in the head with a 9-mm gun.  the killer, a young man, escaped in a green samurai camper that was waiting for him a few blocks from the site of the murder.    according to luz amparo gomez serna's family, she had never been threatened.  until a few months ago, she worked at the district attorney's office for the national and judicial police and she had specialized abroad in criminal procedures.  she was currently the lawyer for emerald dealer angel gaitain maecha and was defense attorney in the case of the el portal apartments in northern bogota.    she was married and had no children.  her husband, jaime castro, is currently in spain.  a criminal court judge has ordered a coroner's report.

young man

luz amparo gomez serna

9-mm gun


Input: last night a bomb destroyed a branch of the state-owned central mortgage bank in this city. meanwhile, another explosive device thrown at the state-owned agrarian fund, near itagui municipality, failed to go off.    the police reported that the first terrorist action nearly destroyed the credit institution located in guayabal, on the outskirts of medellin in northwestern colombia.    the explosion, which caused no casualties, occured at 0130 gmt on 7 september.    meanwhile, a device made up of 10 kg of dynamite, which was thrown from a motorcycle at a branch of the agrarian fund, failed to explode because its detonation mechanism malfunctioned.    the failed action took place in nearby itagui municipality, which has been enforcing a curfew for the past 8 days along with medellin in an attempt to control the deteriorated public order situation.    beginning tonight, the police and army will redouble security measures in these two cities, because terrorist attacks, which have been attributed to drug traffickers who are waging a war against colombian authorities, over the past week have always taken place late in the evening.

branch of the state-owned central mortgage bank

state-owned agrarian fund

bomb

device made up of 10 kg of dynamite


Input: thirty men with hoods over their faces are at santander square at the national university protesting the measures adopted by u.s. president george bush.  the protesters are setting a u.s. flag on fire, and reportedly are wearing eln (army of national liberation) insignias. we have a report from liliana vigolla.    (begin recording) (vigolla) students protesting at the national university threw rocks during the confrontation with police today. national university students are protesting the measures adopted by the u.s. government concerning aid to colombia to fight drug trafficking.  the u.s. flag was set on fire at the main square. policemen are guarding the main entrance on 30th street.  riot police trucks have surrounded the university campus.  police are trying to quell the protest by using teargas against the students.  shootings and bomb explosions have been heard inside the campus.  at this time, the situation remains unchanged.  (end recording)

thirty men with hoods

army of national liberation


Input: a 20-kg bomb went off at a branch of the central mortage bank located in the belen neighborhood of the city of medellin last night, only 2 hours before the curfew went into effect.    on this occasion, the terrorists' target was a branch of the central mortgage bank located in the belen neighborhood.  according to bomb experts who work for the medellin metropolitan police, the dynamite charge, which partially destroyed the bank facilities, weighed 20 kg.  fortunately, no one was killed or wounded in this attack.    while this was happening, another dynamite charge was defused at the social savings bank in itahui.    according to the authorities' report, the terrorist attacks carried out in medellin over the past 12 days have killed 2 people and wounded at least 20 others, including journalist bernardett pardo of univision network, who, along with her cameraman, witnessed the explosion of a bomb as they were having dinner at a restaurant.    the property damage caused by all the bomb attacks in medellin add up to approximately 300 million pesos.  eight people have been arrested and charged with terrorist activities.    during the wave of violence in medellin, the authorities have defused 14 bombs and confiscated 5 rockets.

a branch of the central mortgage bank

social savings bank

restaurant

bomb

dynamite charge


Input: the government decided to temporarily suspend classes at the state-owned national university of colombia, the largest university in the country, after two devices exploded on campus.    according to preliminary reports, several hooded men occupied a square on campus and began shouting slogans against the united states.    these individuals apparently exploded the devices that wounded two students.

several hooded men

national university of colombia

two devices


Input: the pacification process on which the colombian government and the 19 april movement (m-19) have been working since early this year went into a "crisis" mode today because two members of the rebel organization, which was observing a truce, were murdered yesterday.    the announcement was made by m-19 general commander carlos pizarro leongomez himself, who said the government of president virgilio barco vargas must inform the country of its intentions if it is indeed willing to complete the peace process.    in an incident now being investigated, m-19 guerrillas jairo arturo motta and luz mery garcia were gunned down on 6 september by unidentified persons while riding a bus headed for cali, in the country's southwest.    the two rebels killed lived at the "peace village," where several m-19 columns were housed to facilitate a direct dialogue with the government.


Input: the colombian government has revoked a controversial decree, issued 24 hours before, that empowered the military to take over the mayors' offices in areas scourged by the violence unleashed by drug traffickers.    in the continuation of its offensive against the drug barons and to ensure the safety of the judges, the government intends to transfer the judges handling drug trafficking cases to military bases, attorney general alfonso gomez mendez told reuter.    gomez said that the plan to transfer magistrates includes 20 or 30 judges handling drug trafficking and key political murder cases.    regarding the decree annulled today, government minister orlando vasquez velasquez said the government thought it "advisable" to revoke what was obviously an "unpopular" measure.    asked when the judges would be taken to military bases, attorney general gomez replied: "i cannot mention a specific time. we cannot tell the terrorists just how long the judges will be at their present offices."


Input: the police are continuing to score against drug traffickers and alleged assassins. in the past few hours antioquia authorities detained nicolas gonzalez cardona, who is linked to the medellin cartel as a pilot for pablo escobar gaviria.  gonzalez is also suspected of having participated in the murder of colonel valdemar franklin quintero on 18 august.    this is the second person arrested in connection with this murder. the first was german gonzalez ramirez. in addition, government sources have confirmed that a judge has issued an arrest warrant for jaime valencia martinez, the person who allegedly masterminded the attack on senator luis carlos galan sarmiento.

nicolas gonzalez cardona

german gonzalez ramirez

jaime valencia martinez

medellin cartel

luis carlos galan sarmiento


Input: with the death of guerrilla said hurtado motta and luz mery garcia, a resident of santo domingo who owned a grocery store, the number of m-19 (19 april movement) members murdered has risen to 10 since the peace process began in march.    the m-19's number-one man, carlos pizarro leongomez, said that peace cannot be accomplished if the organization's members are murdered by government institutions.    (begin recording) (pizarro) i am concerned that the m-19 members are being murdered by government officials.    (luz amparo guerra) why are you sure of this?    (pizarro) we have to be sure of who is behind this. i know that it is not criminal groups but government groups, and this is worrisome to me.  (end recording)    the peace process will face many difficulties and stumbling blocks if the murder of m-19 members continues.


Input: on his way home, peruvian president alan garcia today stopped over in bogota, where he met with president virgilio barco and visited el espectador newspaper offices, which were dynamited by drug traffickers last weekend.  apparently the peruvian government agrees that cartagena can host a hemisphere presidents' antidrug summit proposed by u.s. president george bush.    after meeting with barco, garcia told reporters that a commission made up of representatives of drug-affected countries--bolivia, colombia, peru, and the united states-- should be formed but that europe should also participate.    (begin recording) (garcia) if a european representative is absent from the talks on drug trafficking and drug addiction, it will be as if one leg of the table is missing.  (end recording)    garcia also visited luis carlos galan's grave and el espectador's debris and expressed to the paper's owners his sympathy for them because of the terrorist attacks.  over a cup of colombian coffee, he talked with the journalists about drug trafficking, saying: my country is not as badly threatened as colombia because we do not have drug cartels in peru.

drug traffickers

el espectador newspaper offices


Input: peruvian president alan garcia said in bogota today that it has been confirmed that in panama there are "puppet governments which are crudely designated and then removed."    garcia, who made a 6-hour technical stopover in bogota on his flight from belgrade, where he attended the nonaligned movement summit, visited colombian president virgilio barco, with whom he had lunch and to whom he expressed solidarity in the antidrug struggle being waged in colombia.    asked by reporters, garcia said his ambassador to panama has been recalled. "this does not mean, however, that relations between the two countries have been broken."  he advocated latin american "governments that represent their peoples' wills through elections."    "we have confirmed that there are puppet governments in panama and that they are crudely designated and removed.  we latin americans cannot accept this procedure," he added.    he also said that the peruvian government has not recognized the new panamanian government, and pointed out that the antidrug plan launched by u.s. president george bush, "although late, should support the affected countries more strongly."    garcia also urged a presidental summit, including european countries, "for true international coordination against drug trafficking."    while in bogota, and shortly before boarding his flight for peru, garcia visited el espectador's offices, which were damaged by a bomb on 2 september, and expressed his sympathy to the paper's directors.

el espectador's offices

bomb


Input: salvadoran vice president francisco merino escaped unharmed from an attack tonight when the motorcade he was travelling in was ambushed by a guerrilla column near metapan, 105 km to the west of san salvador, according to afp.    merino was returning from a meeting with his guatemalan and honduran colleagues at the guatemalan town of esquipulas when he was attacked.    a soldier was killed in the attack that took place at 0015 gmt, according to what the afp reporter accompanying the vice president's motorcade witnessed.    when the official motorcade approached the guajoyo hydroelectric plant, guerrilla groups opened fire.    when the shots started, merino jumped from his armored vehicle with an automatic rifle and took up a position along the roadside until the attack ended.    after the guerrillas ended the attack, merino returned to metapan, where he was taken to the capital in an air force helicopter, according to the press.    last april, merino's home in san salvador was the target of a dynamite attack which caused property damage.

guerrilla column

francisco merino


Input: a powerful bomb exploded tonight, friday, in the colombian city of medellin, opposite a telephone exchange, causing severe property damage, afp was able to verify.    according to unofficial sources, four people including one child were injured by the explosion. the bomb was apparently hidden inside a car.    the telephone exchange watchman, jaime gaviria, told afp that the bomb had not affected telephone connections. however, the front of the public building, where the car was parked, was partially destroyed.    parts from the pulverized vehicle were hurled hundreds of yards from the site of the explosion and shattered the windows of numerous mansions at the laureles residential neighborhood, located west of the city.

telephone exchange

car

public building

numerous mansions

bomb


Input: it was learned here today that a judicial order has freed luis fernando galeano berrio (alias el negro), who is accused of being one of the financial officials of the medellin cartel and who is subject to extradition to the united states.    galeano berrio was arrested on 25 august in antioquia department during the offensive the military forces have launched against the drug trafficking "barons."  he was released on 7 september, but this was not learned until today.    medellin criminal investigation judge 40 (juez 40) issued the release order because no specific charge was filed against him.    the judge said his office did not receive a request from the u.s. government for the extradition of galeano berrio, who apparently was in charge of accounting for drug kingping gonzalo rodriguez gacha (alias the mexican).    in addition, galeano berrio is also said to be the mastermind of the murder of a councilman in cordoba department and of being involved in a frustrated plan to kill an individual linked to the cali drug cartel, which competes against the medellin cartel for the u.s. drug market.

luis fernando galeano berrio

medellin cartel


Input: colombian defense ministry spokesmen reported today that army troops dealt a harsh blow to the medellin drug cartel over the past few hours.  the army troops seized five farms owned by gonzalo rodriguez gacha, the second most important medellin drug cartel chief.    according to official reports, the troops arrived at a rural area in central boyaca port municipality and raided five farms which, according to preliminary evidence, were used by the mafia to train rightist paramilitary groups.    according to secret police investigations, the paramilitary squads were formed by the medellin cartel to protect its interests.  the members of those squads were trained by israeli mercenaries headed by former lt col jair klein.    it was reported that since the beginning of the colombian offensive against the narco-criminal groups 3 weeks ago, joint army and police troops have seized 15 farms and several urban houses owned by gonzalez gacha.    freddy rodriguez celades, 17, son of rodriguez gacha, is still under arrest, after having been captured by the authorities along with other drug traffickers during an operation against one of the farms owned by the mafia leader.    meanwhile, it was learned today that fernando galeano berrio, suspected to be rodriguez gacha's finance chief, who was arrested a few days ago, was released by a criminal judge.    galeano berrio left his cell on thursday, 7 september, although he is one of the drug traffickers whose extradition has been requested by the united states and despite being charged with the murder of several leftist political leaders.    according to investigations, galeano was in charge of handling rodriguez gacha's finances.  thus, the possibility that galeano worked closely with eduardo martinez romero, medellin drug cartel finance chief, is not ruled out.  martinez romero was extradited to the united states on wednesday, 6 september.    reports published by the bogota morning newspaper el tiempo indicate that the authorities have confiscated 50 vehicles owned by drug baron rodriguez gacha.    according to the documents found at the medellin cartel accounting office, which operated in the middle of downtown bogota, rodriguez gacha could own approximately 400 vehicles, many of them armored vehicles or vehicles with powerful radio communications equipment.    similarly, the army seized a farm owned by pablo escobar gaviria in boyaca port municipality.  escobar is considered the world's biggest drug trafficker.    military spokesmen said that one of the many mafia schools for gunmen operated at that farm.  those gunmen are responsible for the massacres of peasants who worked in the northwestern banana region of uraba.    the operations against escobar gaviria continued yesterday when the group of mercenaries who served as escorts for escobar gaviria's  wife, maria victoria henao, was broken up.    according to reports, close aids of the capo were members of a criminal group called "love for medellin."  this group is responsible for the murders of several prostitutes, homosexuals, and beggars.    it was also known that the members of the aforementioned group placed a car bomb across from the medellin telephone company, injuring five pedestrians and causing millions of pesos in property damage.    the dynamite attacks, which have become the mafia response to the government's heavy offensive, continued today when an explosive device went off at a private factory located in northwestern itagui municipality.

fernando galeano berrio

gunmen

medellin drug cartel

mafia

love for medellin

medellin telephone company

private factory

car bomb

dynamite


Input: an emergency meeting of attorney generals and other top officials from nine latin american nations took place in mexico city to establish a "common front" and protect one another against takeover efforts by displaced drug barons and their armed mafias.    named the seventh international conference for drug control, it was held aug 29-31 here, and representatives praised colombian authorities for their immediate reprisal against drug lords and their mafias.    argentina, chile, colombia, el salvador, guatemala peru, costa rica, brazil and others all expressed the same apprehension, invasion by displaced colombian drug dealers.    the united states, attending unofficially, reportedly did not say much but immediately dispatched 65 million dollars worth of sophisticated military hardware delivered friday to colombia by two enormous c-130's.  here, mafia warlords openly threatened to carry out their terrorist bombings and killings "in broad daylight to show we cannot be stopped."    mexican attorney general enrique alvarez del castillo congratulated those in attendance and offered the experience mexico had acquired during 10 years of an aggressive drug war.    besides moral support, mexico underlined the need for coordinated efforts in laws and action.  first, that courts hand down stiff sentences; second, that no bail be granted in drug trials; third, that all property derived from drug profits be confiscated and legally used to defray costs of combatting drug traffic.    in the final resolution, the nine nations accepted to exchange information, coordinate all activities jointly - but carry them out separately because of the delicate issue of national sovereignty - complete cooperation in all areas and to regard the drug effort as an international problem where producer, dealer and user must all be combatted.    on friday, brazil and colombia agreed to jointly protecting their borders to keep drug dealers out and away from those that have become a serious problem in brazil.    this cooperation is being sought for all cases where there may be danger.  and secretly, every nation is fearful of what a concentrated attack by the narcotic mafia and the terrorism, political and de facto, drug lords can buy with their enormous wealth.


Input: the prosecutor in charge of investigating the assassination of liberal presidential candidate luis carlos galan today issued an arrest warrant for jaime valencia martinez, who has been charged with masterminding the crime.    the judge's decision was based on the fact that valencia martinez owns the office where five individuals charged with carrying out the assassination were arrested a few days ago.    it was learned that, after the five individuals were arrested, valencia martinez telephoned the judicial police to offer $125,000 for the release of the suspects, who were identified as alberto jubis hazvumb, armando bernal acosta, norberto murillo chalarca, pedro zambrano delgado, and luis alfredo gonzalez chacon.    valencia martinez is apparently linked to farming activities and the emerald business.    according to reports, when judicial police agents arrived at valencia martinez' apartment to arrest him, he had already left the building in a hurry.

jaime valencia martinez

alberto jubis hazvumb

armando bernal acosta

norberto murillo chalarca

pedro zambrano delgado

luis alfredo gonzalez chacon

luis carlos galan


Input: the colombian government has authorized the extradition of alleged drug trafficker elena beatriz zuniga to the united states, while soldiers and policemen continue staging intensive operations throughout the country to capture the "lords" of cocaine and confiscate their property.    according to the bogota morning paper el espectador, president virgilio barco vargas and the ministers of the national drug council signed a resolution last night authorizing zuniga's extradition so that she can face drug trafficking charges in u.s. federal courts.    it was learned that zuniga will be sent to the united states "soon" amid strict security measures to prevent attacks by the mafia, which has sworn to kill 10 colombian judges for every drug trafficker that is extradited.

mafia


Input: two policemen were injured and 13 business establishments were destroyed as the result of two terrorist attacks last night in the guatemalan capital.    guatemala city fire department spokesmen reported that the bombs went off at approximately 0400 gmt on 10 september in a residential area in the southern part of the city.    the sources added that the first bomb exploded in a public building, injuring 2 policemen and destroying 13 business establishments.  however, the amount of damage has not yet been determined.    the sources also said that undidentified men hurled a grenade at the "camino real" hotel, to the south of the capital, but when it exploded it only made a hole in the ground.    this week defense minister general hector alejandro gramajo accused army dissidents, extreme right-wingers, and private enterprises of being directly responsible for the guatemalan terrorist acts.    in less than 1 month, 11 leaders of the association of university students have been kidnapped by unidentified men.  the police have said they have clues concerning the students' whereabouts, but have not disclosed them.

army dissidents

extreme right-wingers

private enterprises

unidentified men

business establishments

public building

bomb

grenade


Input: official guatemalan sources have reported that the bodies of four of the nine guatemalan university students who have been kidnapped over the past 2 weeks by death squads were found today near the university campus in the southern part of guatemala city.    the victims, whose bodies showed signs of having been tortured and cut with knives, were identified as silvia maria azurdia and victor hugo rodriguez (a married couple), both studying at the san carlos university political science school; and carlos humberto cabrera rivera, a teacher leader.  these three people disappeared on 23 august.  in addition, the authorities identified the body of leonel chuta camey, of the legal and social science school, who was abducted on friday, 8 september.    according to preliminary reports, the bodies were taken to the guatemala city judicial morgue.    the discovery of the bodies increased the tension that prevails in the country and made guatemalans fear that the other five missing students may have faced the same fate.    meanwhile, the police said yesterday, 9 september, that it does not have "any clues" on the kidnappers' identity.

death squads

silvia maria azurdia

victor hugo rodriguez

carlos humberto cabrera

leonel chuta camey


Input: unidentified individuals today broke into a farm owned by carlos ossa, manager of the colombian institute of agrarian reform (incora), killed a watchman, and set fire to the farm.  authorities view this action as a continuation of terrorism by the drug traffickers in the country.    the incident occurred in sevilla municipality (370 km from bogota), where approximately five individuals shot to death a watchman who tried to prevent them from entering the farm.    after the 18 august assassination of senator and presidential candidate luis carlos galan, the colombian government ordered a relentless offensive against the drug mafias, which have reacted by carrying out bomb attacks and threating to kill officials, judges, businessmen, and journalists.    as incora manager, ossa has launched an intense campaign to confiscate land owned by the drug traffickers and distribute it to peasants as part of the agrarian reform being carried out by the administration of president virgilio barco.    "we are not ruling out that the criminals are taking reprisals against ossa and all the officials who reject the activities by those criminals," a police spokesman told dpa.    in another action attributed to the mafias, several men last night wounded a watchman at an apartment building where maria victoria galan, the sister of galan, lives.  according to the official report, they were planning to attack her.    the resolute action of watchman javier velasco prevented the gunmen, who were riding motorcycles, from entering mrs galan's apartment.    meanwhile, members of the army, police, and security forces continued to patrol the colombian cities to prevent terrorist actions by the drug traffickers who have threatened to kill 10 colombian judges for every mafia chief who is extradited.    the colombian government last night authorized the extradition of elena beatriz zuniga rodriguez, accused by the u.s. authorities of smuggling cocaine.  this brings to two the number of colombians whose extradition is authorized in less than a week.  eduardo martinez romero, suspected "finance chief" of the medellin cartel, was sent to the united states on wednesday.    the bombings have mainly affected bogota and medellin, where authorities have implemented unprecedented security measures to prevent terrorist actions.    a police spokesman said that security has been reinforced in terminals, government buildings, media offices, and aqueducts of the main cities because of constant threats that the mafias will blow up those locations.    many residents of bogota have been commenting on rumors that the drug traffickers plan to place toxic substances in the aqueduct of this city of 6 million people.  the rumor has neither been denied nor confirmed by authorities.

unidentified individuals

approximately five individuals

several men

mafias

mafia

farm owned by carlos ossa

carlos ossa

luis carlos galan

maria victoria galan

javier velasco


Input: cali -- the authorities as well as secret police organizations are astounded at the killing of a national policeman and his 2-year-old son by paid assassins.  the two were killed as they were leaving a local church in narino corregimiento, tulua, in central valle del cauca department.    many people witnessed the shooting of 26-year-old wilson rengifo, who was attacked by unidentified persons as he was leaving the catholic church.    in chilling and cold-blooded fashion, the criminals also killed the agent's 2-year-old son.    the police have not reported the motives of the crime, which has shocked the people of tulua.

unidentified persons

wilson rengifo


Input: medellin -- four men who were travelling in a privately owned blue renault with license plates le-7570, have set fire to two government vehicles in the urban area of rio negro municipality, in the eastern region of antioquia.  two of them were arrested following a shoot-out with policemen, who also seized the vehicle in which the criminals had been travelling.    the arrested men have been identified as diego leon orozco, 23, who claimed he is an electrician; and ernesto gonzalez, also 23.  they were seen spreading gasoline on and setting fire to an antioquia department dumptruck, with license plates ol-1400, and to a national government isuzu dumptruck with license plates op-4184.    the electrical equipment of these two vehicles was severely damaged.  the authorities have said that a third terrorist was wounded and escaped on foot in the company of a fourth one.    a search is being carried out.

diego leon orozco

ernesto gonzalez

third terrorist

fourth one

antioquia department dumptruck

national government isuzu dumptruck


Input: former medellin mayor pablo pelaez gonzalez, 45, was shot to death by unidentified individuals, while traveling between his home and office today.    medellin, the second-largest city in colombian, has been shaken by the drug trafficking mafia and has been under a night curfew since 30 august.

unidentified individuals

pablo pelaez gonzalez


Input: pablo pelaez gonzales, 45, a former mayor of medellin, was murdered today by gunmen who fired seven shots at him, said medical sources at general hospital, where the victim was taken after the attack.    pelaez gonzalez was intercepted by several unidentified individuals while enroute to his office from his home in the el poblado neighborhood in southern medellin, colombia's second largest city, where a curfew has been in effect since 30 august.    the attack took place at approximately 0845 (1345 gmt) when, according to witnesses, at least three unidentified individuals fired from various angles at pelaez' vehicle.    the driver of the vehicle, whom authorities have not yet identified, was also killed in the attack.    pelaez gonzalez had presided over a "session for peace" on 18 august in medellin, which is considered one of the most violent cities in the world.    on that very day, colonel waldemar franklin quintero of the police force in antioquia department, whose capital is medellin, was murdered.    pelaez gonzalez was mayor of medellin between 3 may 1984 and the end of 1985, and was currently the president of the "tin plate and laminating company" (holasa).    the authorities have attributed the murder to the drug mafias, who on 24 august announced a counteroffensive to the government measures, which are a declaration of "total war" against drug trafficking.    on 24 august, after a number of attacks, the "extraditables," the armed branch of the "medellin cartel," who, with the cali cartel are considered the world's leading cocaine producers and distributors, said that they would respond to the war with attacks on "politicians, judges, justices, union and company presidents, journalists, and the oligarchy."    medellin, 200 km to the northwest of bogota, has been beset by a wave of violence unleashed by the drug cartels, which over the past 3 weeks have carried out over 30 bomb attacks that have left many people injured and caused considerable damage.

at least three unidentified individuals

drug mafias

medellin cartel

pablo pelaez gonzales


Input: at the end of a security meeting, medellin mayor juan gomez martinez announced today that the curfew in medellin has been extended for an indefinite period.  the local government made the decision after learning of the killing of pablo pelaez gonzalez, president of the holasa company and mayor of medellin in 1984.

pablo pelaez gonzalez


Input: police sources have reported that a bomb exploded today near the state-owned chilean television facilities. the explosion knocked down a light pole that carried a transformer, but did not cause injuries or a power cut.    the explosion occurred shortly before the national television was due to broadcast the last speech delivered today by president pinochet to mark the 16th anniversary of his adevent to power.    the police and security services quickly began operations in the eastern sector of santiago, where a witness had seen two people who fled after the explosion.

two people

state-owned chilean television facilities

bomb


Input: "none of us wanted the war.  now that we started it, we have to win it." with these words margaret j.  anstee, director general of the un office in vienna, opened the second interregional meeting of the heads of national drug law enforcement agencies (honlea) in vienna on monday (11 september).    the conference, which is scheduled to last until friday, focuses on international trends and strategies in the fight against the illegal narcotics trade, as well as the drawing up of a first "positive balance sheet" since the vienna honlea meeting of 1986, and the 1987 international narcotics conference.  special emphasis will be put on the recent developments in colombia and all other parts of latin america.    "with its fight against the illegal narcotics trade, colombia has assured itself a place in the history of the world war against drugs," anstee said.  this "battle" is not an isolated problem of an individual state, but a concern of the whole world, she said.    "even the murder of a colombian judge, police head, or politician, who was trying hard to bring drug dealers to court, is not merely an attack against his person and his family, not only one against the laws and the government but also an assault against us all, the un official said.    she emphasized that it is now particularly important to ensure that the anti-drug convention, which was concluded in 1988 and, up to now, signed by 71 states, translates into concrete steps as soon as possible -- even before the protracted ratification procedure is concluded.    javier cuello trejo, the mexican who was elected chairman of the conference by acclamation, said: "the struggle against drugs is not only of enormous importance for laws and governments but also for the survival of the entire mankind.  without any exception, we and our peoples are victims of those people who live from suppressing other people."    the situation in the spheres of the narcotics trade and consumption has dramatically deteriorated everywhere in the world during the past 3 years, christoph harsdorf, head of the frg delegation, noted at the periphery of the un conference.


Input: cali -- the judges and court employees of the cali judicial district have been on strike since yesterday to protest the kidnapping of orlando cueller osorio, a court process server of the 12th municipal penal court. four heavily armed individuals, who posed as secret agents, kidnapped mr cuellar osorio from his home in the floralia neighborhood, in eastern cali.    telephone calls made by terrorists say the official has been killed. the authorities have been unable to determine his whereabouts.

four heavily armed individuals

orlando cueller osorio


Input: the human rights commission of guatemala (cdh) charged here today the "shared responsibility" of president vinicio cerezo and the secret service of the army (g-2) in the death of four university students, whose brutally mutilated bodies were found on 10 september in a guatemala city suburb.    the finding comes in the middle of a wave of kidnappings, killings, and dynamite attacks which were unleashed starting in mid-july and which has shocked the guatemalans.  the whereabouts of seven other students, kidnapped by alleged death squads, remain unknown.  these squads have been on the rampage since 23 august.    in a communique to various political, trade union, and human rights organizations, the chdg branch in san jose requested "urgently" the sending of messages to the guatemalan embassies, government, and army condemning the "impunity" of the death squads.    two of the murdered victims -- silvia azurdia and her husband victor hugo rodriguez -- were abducted by eight men in civilian clothes before witnesses who even provided the authorities with the license plate numbers of the two vehicles used by the kidnappers.    the cdhg expressed "deep concern over these events which reflect a total lack of political willingness" on the part of the government to end repression against the people.    according to humanitarian organizations, guatemala holds a record in the hemisphere, 40,000 missing persons in the last 20 years.    on 11 september, it was officially reported that the mutilated and bullet-riddled bodies of three more unidentified guatemalans were found.    one of the university students killed last weekend was carlos humberto cabrera, who had returned to guatemala after several years of exile to take advantage of the guarantees announced by the christian democratic government to repatriate home any guatemalan who wished to come, the local press reported today.    on the other hand, humberto chuta, a brother of one of the victims, stated that "it seems that we are going to live all our lives as if we were dogs."  he requested cerezo "do whatever is necessary to investigate the situation, if he is not responsible for what happened."

president vinicio cerezo

eight men in civilian clothes

the secret service of the army (g-2)

silvia azurdia

victor hugo rodriguez

carlos humberto cabrera


Input: since a mine is a weapon of a military nature and since its use has increased in the past few years throughout various unpopulated areas of the country where mine fields have been planted, the sweeping of this type of weapon will necessarily have to be done gradually for technical and operational reasons.  therefore, the measures to be adopted to suspend their use will be:    1.  end the manufacturing of booby traps.    2.  end to the planting of new mine fields.    3.  immediate removal of all mines planted in areas of high risk for the civilian population and marking of those areas that, for technical reasons -- loss of map of the mined areas -- cannot be swept immediately.    4.  gradual sweeping of the mine fields located in areas of low risk for the civilian population and marking of sites where, for technical reasons, the mines cannot be removed.    5.  this order does not include the claymore mines used in the ambush of soldiers.    we will coordinate the implementation of these measures with humanitarian aid organizations and the people themselves.    likewise, we expect the army to sweep the mine fields that surround the garrisons and fixed military posts located in heavily populated areas.  these mines are constantly harming the people or their domestic animals.    likewise, the army must cease all bombing and shelling of civilian targets.    fmln general command    el salvador, 11 september 1989


Input: early sunday morning terrorists attacked the studios of the channel 6 television station, which is part of the atb (expansion unkonwn) national system.  this attack comes less than a week after a terrorist attack against the facilities of the regional development corporation.    sources from the local television station have told presencia that at approximately 1330, unidentified individuals hurled a molotov cocktail that exploded outside the building in the bancario neighborhood.  some windows were broken.    three days earlier, two small dynamite sticks were thrown at the corporate offices near the ypfb's (bolivian government oil deposits) gualberto villaroel refinery. (passage omitted)

unidentified individuals

studios of the channel 6 television station

facilities of the regional development corporation

molotov cocktail

dynamite sticks


Input: foreign minister guillermo larco cox today labeled the u.s. aid to fight drug trafficking in south america as meager.  he said that the u.s. government should reconsider the aid given to fight drug trafficking.    (begin recording) (larco) i understand the u.s. government appropriated an amount without previous study and without consulting with the countries involved.  if that is true, the u.s. aid can justifiably be called ridiculous.    (reporter) what contacts have you had with the u.s. government to explain that the resources appropriated to fight drug trafficking are not enough?    (larco) the contacts will be made during the meetings to be held by the presidents of bolivia, colombia, and peru with u.s. president bush.  the talks there will be frank and the mistakes made can then be corrected.    (reporter) colombia is facing a serious problem in the struggle against drug trafficking.  what action is the foreign ministry taking to support colombia?    (larco) the president is the one who runs international relations, and president garcia's decision to visit president barco and to honor assassinated senator galan shows the president's support for colombia and the direction of the foreign ministry's activities.  in addition to that, we are working with the colombian and bolivian foreign ministries to prepare an agenda as a basis for a tripartite meeting, as a first stage before the meeting with president bush.  (end recording)


Input: rebel commander shafik handal in the mexican capital today said that the salvadoran guerrillas have proposed nine points "that reflect the aspirations of the entire nation" to the representatives of the alfredo cristiani government.    handal pointed out that they will be studied today and tomorrow during meetings here between representatives of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) and a salvadoran government delegation.    the nine points revealed by the guerrilla commander are:    1. beginning of a process to introduce amendments to the judicial system agreed upon by consensus between the government and opposition parties.    2. joint accord on measures to ensure the end of all forms of repression and full respect for democratic liberties that would be verified by the united nations and oas.    3. pact to continue honest judicial process guaranteeing the determination of responsibilities and punishment of those who are responsible for the assassination of monsignor oscar arnulfo romero and all those involved in death squads.    4. accord to dissolve the economic structure that causes political and social confrontation through the maintenance of reforms promoted by the government of jose napoleon duarte, who preceded cristiani.    5. pact on measures for self-monitoring and professionalization of the armed forces.    6. commitment from the alfredo cristiani government that it will submit accords on constitutional amendments that could emerge from this dialogue that begins today for approval by the legislative assembly.    7. accord to advance legislative and municipal elections to bring about constitutional amendments as soon as possible and accelerate an end to the war in el salvador.    8. mutual guarantees for the operation and settlement of forces that will guarantee respect for a cease-fire without this implying a violation of the national territory.    9. initial steps for the incorporation of the fmln into salvadoran political life.    as for this latter point, handal said that the fmln must become a political party by registering its followers and establishing a rapport with the media.    he pointed out that this guerrilla group has established a "no later than 15 november" deadline to achieve a cease-fire accord.

death squads

oscar arnulfo romero


Input: with moderate optimism, the salvadoran government and the guerrillas opened a dialogue in mexico city today to establish peace in el salvador, with a spectacular prior announcement by the insurgents that they are prepared to declare a definitive cease-fire and become a political party.    this proposal -- which entails a decision to lay down arms if certain prior conditions are met -- did not meet with a matching proposal from the government. the discussions are taking place in a modern building belonging to the social security administration in a residential district in the southern section of mexico city.    commander miguel saenz of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) said during a recess that "the government's commission did not bring any substantive proposal."    all the men were wearing coats and tie, whereas the female fmln commanders were in very formal attire.    the meeting is taking place in a 10-square-meter room in which the government delegates and guerrillas sit face-to-face, with the moderators at the head of the table.  the room has an annex to which the negotiators withdraw during recesses to analyze the other side's positions.    msgr romeo tobar astorga, who is the moderator of the meeting and president of the salvadoran episcopal conference, had asserted before the start of the meeting that he could see a willingness on both sides "to end a war that has caused many victims."    "although i am not a marxist, because that ideology is atheistic and materialistic, i am convinced that it is urgent that this dialogue lead to the peace we long for," he also said.    saenz, who also sounded optimistic but cautious, said during a brief talk with newsmen that procedures for this and subsequent meetings are under discussion, and timetables, stages, and sites should result from them.    shortly before the meeting began, oscar santamaria, who is the justice minister and one of the official delegates, asserted that "there is utmost willingness to achieve peace" on the part of the government.    in addition to santamaria, the other members of the government delegation are presidency minister juan martinez, poet david escobar, and advisers hector contreras and abelardo torres.  tobar astorga is accompanied by msgr gregorio rosa chavez, auxiliary bishop of san salvador.    besides saenz, the fmln is represented by commanders shafik handal, salvador samayoa, ana guadalupe martinez, mercedes letona, mario rojas, and daniel lopez.    at 1045 (1645 gmt), 1 hour before the meeting began, the fmln released its proposal to the press, which includes a cease-fire on 15 november, a definitive end to the hostilities on 31 january, and the incorporation of its leaders and activists into the country's political life through a political party.    the conditions demanded by the fmln include reforms to the judicial systems, an end to all manner of repression, the purging  and professionalization of the armed forces, the full exercise of freedoms (verified by the un and the oas), the reorganization of the electoral system, the holding of the 1991 legislative and municipal elections ahead of schedule, and an investigation into the assassination of msgr oscar arnulfo romero.    the first step the fmln would take once the cease-fire is in place would be to legalize the status of its militants and its media. "this step involves risks, but we are willing to take them," the guerrilla delegates said.    the talks were continuing early in the afternoon without access to the press and amid a discreet security measure established by the mexican government -- just a couple of men with "walkie-talkies" and disguised weapons.    save for an unforeseen obstacle, the meeting is scheduled to continue tomorrow, thursday.

oscar arnulfo romero


Input: a bomb exploded today before dawn in guayaquil at the residence of ecuadoran felipe costa, canada's honorary consul in ecuador.  the bomb partially destroyed the residence, the police confirmed.    no organization or individual has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack, which caused no injuries.  the bomb, which went off today at 0300 local time (0800 gmt), shattered the front windows and destroyed the front doors of the residence and damaged the honorary consul's automobile.    according to witnesses, unidentified men in a luxury car circled the residential neighborhood several times and then threw a package containing several dynamite sticks, which exploded almost immediately.    the personnel consulted at felipe costa's residence and office would not comment on this incident and said the consul could not be reached because he was resting.    canada does not have an embassy in ecuador.  it has an embassy in bogota where it has a roving ambassador.

unidentified men in a luxury car

residence of ecuadoran felipe costa, canada's honorary consul

the honorary consul's automobile

felipe costa

several dynamite sticks


Input: after we announced the implementation of a unilateral truce, 3d brigade commander colonel mauricio vargas ordered the incursion of the arce battalion into our territory in northern morazan department.    since the afternoon of 12 september, the air force, using helicopter gunships and c-47 aircraft as well as artillery, has repeatedly bombed and strafed areas near perquin, endangering the civilian population.    at noon today, 13 september, the arce battalion indiscriminately bombed areas near perkin, where a c-47 aircraft strafed this densely populated area.  as a result of this action, an elderely man named julio rodriguez was killed and several houses were damaged.    the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) holds col vargas responsible for the victims and damage caused by the air attacks and the actions carried out by the arce battalion.    we must note that these actions against the civilian population are taking place at a time when the fmln has shown its goodwill in various ways in order to create the necessary conditions for a serious and responsible dialogue.

3d brigade commander colonel mauricio vargas

air force

houses

julio rodriguez

helicopter gunships

c-47 aircraft

artillery


Input: nicaragua will hold general elections next year in february.  the u.s. government, through its intelligence agencies, has been brazenly maneuvering so that the elections will be favorable to the empire's interests in central america.  besides its intelligence services, the state department has maintained a team dedicated to electoral terrorism to serve the opposition sectors in handling campaign propaganda, distributing money, and falsifying and stealing tally sheets.  these terrorist agents believe that their experience in panama, where they claim they were highly successful, can be applied to nicaragua.    as a first step toward proclaiming u.s. intervention in the february elections in nicaragua, president bush is "considering" making an initial donation of $3 million to the opposition.  the state department has allegedly said that "president bush has been considering resorting to the cia to control the nicaraguan elections and to distribute money to opposition party leaders."    according to the same source, president bush is not discarding the use of the so-called "contras" to harass the nicaraguan government from honduras to create chaos during the elections, giving the united states an excuse to occupy nicaragua militarily."    according to continental observers, president bush has decided "that the nicarguan elections must be won by the united states."    violeta de chamorro's candidacy is a simple cover-up, the same as the candidacy launched by the sectors that oppose our country's constitutional government.    any analyst can clearly see that "the united states is not going to take its hands off central america."  that is why washington is seeking formulas to send money to the opposition, not only legally, but also through illegal channels and phantom organizations, which, under the excuse of "defending democracy" operate in afghanistan, angola, and the middle east; support apartheid in south africa; and engage in other terrorist activities throughout the world.    president bush has said that "the february elections in nicaragua are an opportunity to put an end to the marxist government in nicaragua headed by daniel ortega."  according to analysts, "the u.s. government is ready to spend at least $200 million to win the elections in nicaragua."  it is also ready to expand sanctions against the nicaraguan government, thereby increasing desperation, because it believes that the people's desperation, misery, hunger, and deaths might produce a rebellion favorable to u.s. interests."


Input: official sources announced today that the colombian authorities have discovered that members of the medellin cartel provide altered guatemalan passports to couriers who bring to guatemala cocaine that is later taken to the united states.    arturo chur del cid, director of the guatemalan immigration department, has reported that in bogota, during a recent military operation against drug trafficking, the police seized three guatemalan passports.    the seized documents were issued to german alberto marin ramos, cesar augusto saldana, and irma yolanda samayoa veliz.    chur del cid said: "the passports were issued by guatemala's immigration department.  they could have been stolen and taken to colombia where they were found with different photographs, ready for use by drug traffickers."    the official said that the documents were carefully analyzed and that it has been established that data on the passports was altered and that the photographs were not those of the true owners of the documents.    as a result of this situation, anyone with a colombian visa wanting to come to guatemala must first consult with authorities to see if this is possible.  this is a preventative measure to keep the country from serving as a springboard of drug traffickers.


Input: the colombian government and the 19 april movement (m-19) have postponed signing a peace agreement but have not broken off the negotiations, an m-19 spokesman announced today.    rafael pardo rueda, presidential adviser for peace affairs, announced that after the talks on 13 september in santo domingo (400 km southwest of bogota), the agreement for the m-19 to demobilize and return to political life was postponed.    in statements by telephone to reuter from santo domingo, hipolito blanco, a ranking m-19 spokesman, said "we hope to hold another meeting soon; the topics we must agree upon are complex and we must take time to analyze them."    blanco pointed out that "yesterday's meeting was characterized by cordiality," but "the mechanisms to broaden democracy in the country and demobilization" are issues that must still be studied in-depth.    blanco admitted that one of the subjects being considered is a pardon for m-19 members, including those who participated in the violent occupation of the justice palace in november 1985, when approximately 100 people were killed.    the m-19 is one of six active guerrilla groups in colombia and the one that has made the greatest progress in peace talks with the government.    the group is nationalist in ideology.  it has 1,000 armed men, is best known for its spectacular operations, and may well become the first colombian guerrilla group to lay down their arms indefinitely.    the government and the m-19 signed a peace agreement on 17 march and opened talks in may with political and social sectors called "working tables."    the initial results of the "working tables" -- which ended the first week of july -- will be presented to congress and the presidency in order for them to be transformed into constitutional reforms, laws, or decrees.    some of the reforms deal with the representation of minority groups in congress and mechanisms for the demobilization of the guerrillas.    other guerrilla organizations will probably meet with the government this month to speed up the peacemaking process.    the only guerrilla group that has stayed away from the peace process is the castroite national liberation army, which ceased bombing pipelines on 25 august, but has continued its guerrilla operations.    according to military estimates, the six insurgent groups in colombia have a total of approximately 7,000 armed men.


Input: colombian secret police sources reported that the alledged drug traffickers bernardo pelaez roldan and guillermo bueno delgado were arrested today.  apparently, the united states has requested that these men be extradited to respond to charges against them in that country.    it was reported that pelaez roldan was arrested in bogota and is charged by a court in detroit of conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the united states.    bueno delgado was arrested by the police on san andres island in the caribbean and was immediately transferred to bogota and handed over to judicial authorities.    administrative department of security, das, spokesmen said that requests for extradition of the suspected drug lord have been received from florida and california courts, where he has been charged with smuggling at least 5,000 kg of cocaine into the united states and laundering dollars obtained as a result of this illegal activity.    last week, the colombian government extradited the alledged "financial head" of the medellin cartel to the united states.  he is eduardo martinez romero and has to answer charges in an atlanta court of "laundering" more than $1.2 billion through a panamanian bank.    the drug-trafficking mafias have threatened to murder 10 judges for each colombian extradited to another country, and this threat has the whole country tense and anxious.    there are rumors circulating in several cities that narcocriminal organizations are preparing an operation called "black september" that will be implemented next weekend by poisoning water supplies and attacking commercial centers and night clubs.

drug-trafficking mafias


Input: today, 14 september, the chiefs of the salvadoran army arce battalion state that the fmln has broken the unilateral truce.  the arce battalion chiefs said that clashes took place in the area of perquin and admitted that two soldiers were killed in the clashes.    in regard to those statements, we consider that:    1. for 7 years and after having been expelled from that area, the government forces do not have fixed positions north of morazan department.  since the beginning of our truce, arce battalion troops have begun to enter our territories.  thus, the casualties sustained by the arce battalion are a result of actions in which the fmln acted in defense of its forces.    2. all enemy units that cross the torola river during an operation (word indistinct) become a military target and more so in this case, because the armed forces bombed and straffed perquin civilians, among whom there have been casualties.    3. we reiterate our position of maintaining the truce during the established days just as we have been doing, although up until now the regime has failed to express any goodwill; has refused to allow the evacuation of the war disabled; and has increased the number of bombings against the civilian population.

armed forces


Input: the rebels' decision to express their willingness to abandon the armed struggle and make of the farabundo marti national liberation front (flmn) of el salvador a legal party, far from weakening the guerrilla, strengthens its revolutionary position. a commentary written by rita ceballos from prensa latina notes that in addition of being decisive in the achievement of a drastic internal change, the proposal made by the guerrilla is a political blow to the salvadoran extreme right.    prensa latina adds that the disarmament and peace offer gives salvadoran president alfredo cristiani a situation he has to resolve in the international area. no matter what the official response is during the consultation sessions being held in mexico between the extreme right's nationalist republican alliance and representatives of the flmn, the salvadoran reactionaries will not benefit. the flmn said in the meeting in mexico that either the regime accepts the conditions suggested by the guerrilla or president alfredo cristiani announces he favors a war he cannot win.    the guerrilla proposes the total cease of hostilities before 31 january, end of the repression, self-cleaning of the army, and the restructuring of the municipal and electoral system, among other proposals.  prensa latina comments that the swiftness with which the guerrilla chiefs presented their proposals and their contents left cristiani's cabinet at the defensive as well as its maneuvers to disarm the revolutionaries.  the agreement of arena, the ultra-right ruling party, to talk with the guerrilla opens a possibility for peace in el salvador.  we will have to wait and see.


Input: the pro-castroite army of national liberation (eln) of colombia destroyed a section of the teca - vasconia oil pipeline in the central part of the country last night, the colombian oil enterprise (ecopetrol) officially announced today.    the new terrorist action was staged in puerto boyaca where the oil pipeline was destroyed and much eln propaganda was strewn.    ecopetrol stated that the attack occurred "despite the subversive group's announcement that it will suspend this type of action to facilitate the public debate of oil policy."    this oil pipeline connects vasconia in the northern part of the country with the line that goes to barrancabermeja in central colombia where ecopetrol has its main refinery.    the eln, a guerrilla group that has been waging an armed struggle for 25 years and is led by former spanish priest manuel perez, claims that the sabotage against the hydrocarbons and mining industries is a way of preventing international companies from sacking the country's natural resources.    since january 1988 when it began its attacks on oil pipelines, the eln has carried out more than 130 attacks against the teca - vasconia pipeline, the pacific pipeline, and the country's main oil artery, the cano limon - covenas pipeline.

army of national liberation

teca - vasconia oil pipeline


Input: the third public judge issued arrest warrants for norberto hernandez romero and rafael rivera alarcon and charged them with participating in the murder of liberal party leader luis carlos galan sarmiento.  the same judge issued an arrest warrant for jaime de jesus valencia martinez and charged him with being the mastermind of the crime.  these three persons have not been arrested and are being sought throughout the country.    luis alfredo gonzalez chacon, pedro zambrano delgado, norberto murrillo chalarca, armando bernal acosta, hector manuel zepeda quintero, and alberto jubis haszvumb were arrested a few days ago in bogota and charged with being accomplices to the crime.  the third civil judge also decided to release luis felipe torres, the man who carried a poster and a hat at the murder scene and who was initially accused of having participated in the crime.    it has been reported that jaime de jesus valencia martinez, the alleged mastermind of the crime, offered 50 million pesos to police officials in an attempt to obtain the release of six persons who had been arrested in a luxury apartment in bogota.  valencia is also charged with being the owner of the machinegun that was found in the apartment in which the six suspects were arrested.    the defense claims that there is a sworn statement by former minister carlos obando velasco that certifies that he was with jubis hazvumb on the day galan was killed.  the lawyers also claim that galan sarmiento was killed by an uzi submachinegun and that the one found at the apartment where the six suspects were arrested was an ingram.  ballistic test results have not yet been revealed.  the defense lawyers have appealed the court decision, and now the court will have to decide if the decision issued by the third public judge is to stand.

norberto hernandez romero

rafael rivera alarcon

jaime de jesus valencia martinez

luis alfredo gonzalez chacon

pedro zambrano delgado

norberto murrillo chalarca

armando bernal acosta

hector manuel zepeda quintero

alberto jubis haszvumb

luis felipe torres

luis carlos galan sarmiento

uzi submachinegun


Input: the frg embassy in bogota today rejected a report that some of its officials are linked to the powerful drug trafficking mafias that operate in colombia.    the report was published in the german weekly "welt am sonntag," which based its information on federal investigations office sources who stated that some officials in the diplomatic mission assigned to bogota are linked to drug trafficking and have participated in the operations of the medellin cartel, the biggest drug trafficking organization in the world.    an frg embassy spokesman who was questioned by dpa said: "we know nothing about a mission member who has been linked to drug trafficking."    according to the german publication, approximately $20 million obtained by the medellin cartel for their illegal activities have been transferred from banks in colombia to financial institutions in panama and luxembourg.    last week, the colombian government, which has declared "war" on the cocaine gangs, extradited to the united states eduardo martinez romero, the alleged "financial head" of the medellin cartel.  romero is accused of being the "brain" behind the cartel's money-laundering operations.    at present, martinez romero is being charged at an atlanta court for allegedly laundering more than $1.2 billion in the banco de occidente de panama.  according to "welt am sonntag," this bank sent the drug trafficking funds to the deutsch-suedamerikanische bank.    the drug trafficker's extradition has caused tension and anxiety in colombia because the drug traffickers issued a communique wherein they threatened to kill 10 judges for each colombian sent to another country.    the frg embassy spokesman added that the alleged links of embassy officials with the mafia "were invented by a news agency -- not dpa -- that wrote the information in bonn."  the information was later published by "welt am sonntag," which, the spokesman said, was a newspaper "that was not very important."    so far, the "war" being carried out by colombian officials has led to the capture of several people who are connected to the drug cartel and the confiscation of numerous properties belonging to the "capos" pablo escobar gaviria and gonzalo rodriguez gacha, the biggest mafiosos in the world, according to washington and bogota.

drug traffickers


Input: the setting of explosive devices and the kidnappings are an attempt by some to give the government justification for using a strong hand, president cerezo said.  the president stressed that the bombs and the (words indistinct) of candidates is the work of terrorists.  reporting that the results of the investigations will be presented in the next few days, cerezo arevalo urged citizens to help in the efforts to control violence.    (cerezo) "first, we need the people's willingness to help, which implies having the courage to pass on information to the government, because people fear reprisals from criminals.  however, if we are not all united to fight crime and terrorism, we guatemalans will certainly be affected seriously in the future by this kind of violence, which seems to be spreading throughout the country, as we have said in the past.    "second, i have noticed that some sectors have turned to the international community by requesting that human rights group representatives be sent here, as if the government (words indistinct). people are aware the government is not responsible, yet they hold the government responsible.  i believe that what we should do is turn to the international community -- the government will do this -- so the international community can help us control terrorism.    "third, i must recognize that one of the parties, the union of the national center, has adopted a positive attitude by making suggestions to the government on how to control crime.  we are going to study their proposals.  we believe that although the proposals come from an opposition party, we should analyze them.  we urge all sectors in guatemalan society not to simply adopt the easy attitude of accusing the government.  we should instead adopt the attitude of rejecting crime."    regarding the proposals he will make during his upcoming visit to the un heardquarters and the recent attacks in guatemala, which he said are aimed at destroying the accomplishments achieved during the democratic process, cerezo arevalo added:    (cerezo) "among the issues we are going to point out is that, at this moment, guatemala is the target of an attemp to undermine the consolidation of democracy.  we are going to need the help of democracies that are friends of guatemala, but not in the capacity of judges.  we are going to need total support to control a domestic and international terrorist offensive that is taking place in the country and that seeks to destroy the republic."    there are people interested in having the large number of refugees who have returned to the country since cerezo was sworn in leave the country again to discredit guatemala, president cerezo said.    (cerezo) "during 3 and 1/2 years of democracy, in which we implemented plans and guaranteed the rights of all citizens, guatemala began to welcome all kinds of people: refugees -- guatemalans who have been living in exile for years in mexico and other countries; people who had been threatened and who were living in costa rica and who have returned.  we do not even know where these people work because, for us, they are guatemalans who have returned.  however, we are beginning to receive reports from them.  they have told us they are being systematically threatened over the telephone.  who knows where these people are or how they got their telephone numbers?  how is this done? there are people interested in having these former refugees leave the country to again report that we are violating human rights in guatemala to create a climate of international isolation.  i would say we are being affected by two trends that are fighting against guatemalan democracy." (continued)


Input: colombian air force (fac) commandos and pilots today received orders to stand ready to take off, intercept, capture, or shoot down unidentified or hostile aircraft flying over the nation's territory. the government adopted these measures in connection with the struggle against drug trafficking.  here is a report by amparo monton:    (begin recording) (monton) the order was issued by the colombian air force commands, which also decided to use ground-to-air missiles and other weapons aboard fac aircraft.  according to the instructions manual sent to all air bases, orders are given to capture, destroy, or shoot down planes in 11 instances, which include the following: when planes fly over forbidden or restricted areas; in the event of unauthorized landings; when the (word indistinct) do not establish radio contact with the interceptor plane flying over them; when aircraft land in places not authorized by the civil aeronautics office; when they land on clandestine airstrips.    instructions were also issued to all air commands to keep two armored aircraft on alert at all times either on the ground or in the air.  the only event in which the shooting down of a hostile aircraft must not be considered is when such an action would endanger innocent people or occupied buildings.    in addition, the fac command divided the procedure into four phases, namely: detection, identification, interception, and destruction.  these measures will apply to all suspicious-looking aircraft, including planes of colombian or foreign registry.  (end recording)


Input: banks were the targets this afternoon of new terrorist attacks in bogota.  until then, it was a quiet afternoon on this day of friendship and love.  two dynamite charges were detonated near the das (administrative department of security) offices in the palo quemao neighborhood, destroying the branch offices of the banco popular and the banco santander.  two persons were slightly injured and damage is estimated at over 100 million pesos.  the two bombs exploded at approximately 1700 in the branch offices of two banks, in palo quemao, just two blocks from the das offices.  the explosion of 17 kg of dynamite destroyed the bank branches and damaged 20 neighboring stores.    the authorities are carrying out a vast operation throughout bogota to find the individuals responsible for this attack.

banco popular

banco santander

stores

two dynamite charges

two bombs


Input: in cali, nine persons were injured and there is considerable damage following last night's terrorist attacks against some bank branches.  several charges of dynamite were detonated in several banks located in downtown cali, capital of valle del cauca department.  two military security officers are among the wounded.    these banks were the targets of terrorist explosive attacks last night in cali.  they are the banco de santander in northeastern cali and the la vivienda corporation near caicedo square, in the banking and commercial sector of cali.    (begin recording) (unidentified police officer) the metropolitan police command has decided to restrict to quarters all cali policemen. i request that the citizens cooperate with the metropolitan police and provide any information they may have which could help effectively control these terrorist actions.  (end recording)    damage is estimated at 50 million pesos.

banco de santander

la vivienda corporation

several charges of dynamite