Input: nine years ago today, then ecuadoran president jaime roldos aguilera died when his plane crashed while on a flight to the interior of his country. the small plane suffered the accident while flying the president, his wife, and a delegation that included high- ranking army officers from quito to loja province.  all of them died.  the relatives of the late president expressed doubts that the plane crashed accidentally and filed charges as private citizens, but the case was later closed.    doubts have been expressed several times about the alleged accident, and the case resurfaced again when a new investigation was opened and one of the witnesses disclosed that there is evidence of participation by the u.s. cia in the death of roldos and his retinue. ernesto buenano, roldos' political adviser, asserted before a multiparty commission of the ecuadoran congress that the plane accident in which the former president died did not result from human error or technical failure but from sabotage, which consisted of contaminating the plane's fuel to cause its engines to stall.  the witness pointed out that there is incontestable evidence about this and urged the commission to investigate the persons who were responsible for supplying fuel to the president's plane.    it is worth mentioning that roldos' administration was characterized by a progressive orientation, and more specifically by his direct opposition to u.s. attempts to dominate the latin american countries.  the former president was openly in solidarity with the sandinist national liberation front of nicaragua and the salvadoran insurgents.  his adoption of this stance led u.s.  imperialism to consider the roldos doctrine as a danger to its interests.    when one recalls the position of the former ecuadoran president, the disappearance of former panamanian leader omar torrijos herrera also comes to mind.  torrijos' death was similar in circumstances to that of jaime roldos, and his patriotic attitude with regard to his country's sovereignty was also similar.  torrijos and roldos were a nuisance to u.s. plans in latin america and both were murdered, as various sources have disclosed.  former chilean president salvador allende (words indistinct) it cannot be said that the cia's hand directly took his life, the organization did help destabilize his progressive government.    the investigations on jaime roldos' death and what was said at the time about the alleged accident suffered by omar torrijos reveal once more the sinister plans of the u.s. cia against our latin american and caribbean people, who must remain on the alert.

u.s. cia

jaime roldos aguilera


Input: guatemalan president vinicio cerezo left here today for his country at 1400 (1600 gmt), official sources in the venezuelan capital have confirmed.    cerezo, who was visiting caracas officially since 17 may, signed two technical and scientific cooperation agreements on energy matters with his venezuelan counterpart carlos andres perez.    the guatemalan president also secured an agreement in principle to refinance the guatemalan oil debt to venezuela in the amount of $200 million for a 20-year term, with a 6-year grace period, at 4 percent interest.    venezuela supplies guatemala with 7,000 barrels of oil per day within the san jose agreement wherein it is engaged with mexico to sell oil under special terms to central american and caribbean nations.    cerezo said that the total debt of the countries who benefit from the oil supplied by mexico and venezuela amounts to $3 billion, for which international refinancing is sought.  this topic will be broached at the upcoming central american economic summit to be held in guatemala.    the guatemalan president was seen off at the maiquetia international airport by president perez.


Input: following is a compilation of reports on drug seizures and arrests related to drug trafficking in bureau coverage area from 11 may to 18 may. colombia    national police in bogota dismantled three cocaine processing laboratories and seized one ton of cocaine, it was reported on 17 may. honduras    honduran police in tegucigalpa seized six tons of marijuana at a plantation located in ocotepeque department in the country's western region.  the police interrogated several persons linked with the drugs and reported that the marijuana had a market value of $1 million.    police lieutenant jose daniel amador ordonez reported that honduran carlos manuel lopez mata was the owner of the plantation where the police discovered marijuana valued at $8 million lempiras.  mata escaped together with salvadorans luis and guillermo guerra who were also connected with the drugs found.  the police officer said the drugs were ready to be shipped to el salvador through the border region of el rincon de marchala.      honduran police have seized 58 kg of cocaine which drug bands intended to smuggle into the united states.  the police discovered the drugs inside vehicles with camouflaged compartments in the northern city of san pedro sula, 255 km from tegucigalpa.  the traffickers planned to take the drug from panama to the united states.  five hondurans and colombian rodolfo antonio montoya were arrested in this connection.  it was also learned in tegucigalpa on 18 may that colombian drug leader guillermo leon velasquez, who is at the service of the medellin cartel, was arrested on 15 may and deported to the united states where he is accused of killing a person six years ago. the report added that leon velasquez, known in medellin as "chiruza," is responsible for seven other murders. mexico    federal judicial police (pjf) agents seized 1,850 kg of cocaine when a colombian aircraft crashed in the town of escalon in ciudad juares, chihuahua.  the drugs were being flown to the united states. pjf commander guillermo gonzalez calderoni said that the drugs were found 30 km northeast of the city of jimenez.  the drugs are reported to have a market value of 1 billion pesos.    federal highway police in saltillo reported that 781 kg of pure cocaine, which was being transported in a trailer from guatemala to houston, texas, was seized today.  police commander jorge eslava said that angel guadalupe rivera rivas, driver of the trailer, and baltazar figueroa mateo, his assistant, were arrested.    the national defense secretariat reported on 13 may that a total of 632 kg of marijuana were seized in different operations carried out in the states of jalisco and oaxaca from 8 to 11 may.  most of the persons arrested were turned over to the pertinent authorities.  the report adds that over the same period a total of 37 hectares (26 with poppy plants and 11 with marijuana) were destroyed and 122 firearms were seized.  the same source added that members of the 18th infantry battalion in ixcotel, oaxaca, clashed with drug traffickers on 10 may, resulting in the deaths of a soldier and a civilian.  the police arrested 11 persons and seized 300 kg of marijuana, two vehicles, and large caliber weapons.    during operations carried out in ciudad obregon, saltillo, and mexicali, antidrug policemen seized 1,382 kg of cocaine base and one and a half tona of marijuana, and arrested 10 alleged drug traffickers, the attorney general has reported.  in mexicali, antinarcotics policemen seized more than one and a half tons of marijuana and arrested five drug traffickers.  during the ensuing clash, marco antonio resendiz gastelum, the leader of the band, was killed.


Input: a military spokesman has reported that one civilian was killed and five other people, including a policeman, were injured today as a result of the explosion of a grenade thrown at a police patrol car by alleged urban guerrilla commandos.    the civilian who was killed has been identified as jose ovidio gomez, a taxi driver, and the injured policeman is ricardo antonio martinez.  martinez and the other persons who were injured, some seriously, were taken to a san salvador medical center.    according to the source, the grenade was thrown at 0630 (1230 gmt) today.  the attack took place near the central marketplace, san salvador's most important supply center, which is very crowded at that time of day.    the source attributed the attack to urban guerrilla commandos, but the guerrillas have not claimed credit for it.    this is the first attack that has taken place in the salvadoran capital since the peace negotiations between the government and the farabundo marti national liberation front began last wednesday in venezuela.    the talks are in their sixth day today and there is an atmosphere of optimism.  according to sources close to the dialogue, important progress has been made to secure the pacification of el salvador, which for a decade has been enduring a civil war in which more than 70,000 people have died.

alleged urban guerrilla commandos

police patrol car

jose ovidio gomez

ricardo antonio martinez

grenade


Input: chilean president patricio aylwin will today report on the first 70 days of his administration and will make important announcements concerning his future plans in a speech to a plenary meeting of the chilean congress that will mark the beginning of special congressional sessions.    aylwin's speech awakens considerable expectation because of recent unpublicized clashes between aylwin's administration and general august pinochet, who has been throwing his weight around as commander in chief of the army, and also because of the growing rightwing opposition to the actions of the democratic administration.    political analysts have pointed out that the presidential speech will coincide with the "end of a government-opposition honeymoon" that had marked the initial weeks of the new administration.    the administration's initiatives regarding human rights, tax reform, the democratization of local governments, and other steps aimed at depriving military courts of their powers have worsened the conflict and have made things more difficult for aylwin's administration.    this is happening because, while the rightwing parties are leaning more and more toward pinochet every day and longing for his authoritarian regime, the leftwing parties and even sectors of the coalition of parties for democracy have been criticizing aylwin for alleged "lukewarm" approach to the implementation of the democratic changes that he promised during his electoral campaign.    the rightwing has taken due advantage of several unsolved terrorist attacks over the recent weeks to prop up its opposition in congress to bills related to human rights.    however, according to recent opinion polls, aylwin will make his speech amid growing popularity, much higher than the support he obtained at the 14 december elections.    the presidential speech to congress at the legislative palace in valparaiso, 125 km west of santiago, will mark the return to a long-standing democratic tradition that chileans used to enjoy every 21 may.    on this day, the report to congress was yet another reason for popular rejoicing because it coincided with the "naval glories day" which is also commemorated on 21 may in memory of the chile's top naval hero arturo prat who died in the naval battle of iquique during the 1879 pacific war.    since congress was closed down during the military regime, general augusto pinochet used to read his state of the nation address on 11 september, the anniversary of the military coup d'etat through which he seized power.    according to political analysts, aylwin's speech may provide the key to the layout of chile's transition in the future.  the manner in which the president will make his report is rather curious because theoretically this report should encompass one year of government, while aylwin has been president for only 70 days during which the administration has been harshly criticized by the rightwing every time the administration had something bad to say about the prior military regime.    general pinochet personally told aylwin that he felt offended by aylwin's labor day celebration speech on 1 may.    during his latest private meeting with the president, pinochet told aylwin that he felt that the "truth and reconciliation" commission that aylwin had created to investigate human rights violations during the military regime was a direct attack on the army.    pinochet also told aylwin that by way of "protest" against these actions he would not attend the luncheon to which the president had invited all the commanders of the armed forces branches.    according to leaks about this meeting, aylwin told pinochet: "watch your step, general" and reminded him that offensive behavior against the president could harm pinochet's image even within his own institution, the army.    pinochet did not attend the luncheon, however, sending instead general hugo salas, the third highest-ranking army officer and the former chief of the cni (national information center), the secret police of his regime.    pinochet failed in his attempt to convoke the national security council and to make this council issue a statement against the "truth and reconciliation" commission, but pinochet's sortie in the political arena awoke concern laced with fear, as one government official admitted to efe.  the source, who asked to remain anonymous, added that "pinochet is aware of the fear he awakens and he uses it adroitly."    the former president will not attend the today's ceremony in congress although the commanders of the other armed forces branches, the very same ones that did not support his attempt to convoke the national security council, will be present.    pinochet claimed that he has "institutional reasons" for his absence and has left for northern chile where he is currently touring army garrisons.    analysts believe that the "pinochet effect" will be noticeable in aylwin's speech through greater moderation in announcements of new institutional changes and through more benign assessments of the previous military regime.


Input: the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) informs the salvadoran people and international community:    1.  simultaneously with the initiation of the caracas meeting on 16 may, the armed forces launched a general offensive with aerial bombings, massive artillery attacks, and the deployment of paratroopers and infantry soldiers to all our rural fronts.  following five days of intense combat, we have confirmed that it is a routine operation and not a large-scale offensive.    2.  our forces have rejected the enemy's general offensive and to date have downed one helicopter, damaged two others, and inflicted dozens of casualties on the enemy troops.  we deny that commander leoncio pichinte was killed in combat.    3.  while the government accuses the fmln of having violated the confidentiality of the talks, cristiani and (words indistinct) the process have been making a series of statements concerning confidential issues.    4.  from the signing of the geneva agreement, the government has increased its interference of our radio venceremos and radio farabundo marti, which reflects the government's weakness. it cannot stand to have our positions known.  therefore, there is clearly no freedom of expression, which in turn delays the possibility of a cease-fire because it hinders the national debate we need in order to reach a political solution.    5.  from the above situation, we conclude that the government has used the caracas meeting as part of a war plan, with cristiani participating at the psychological warfare level with a view to pointing out the contradictoriness of the fmln's political activity.    with the negotiation and the interference of our radio stations, the fmln has silenced the confidentiality argument, while the army is trying to militarily annihilate us and is openly proclaiming it by saying that it has attacked command posts and killed fmln leaders.    6.  the fmln reiterates that as long as a cease-fire is not agreed upon through a political agreement that will end the army's impunity, and specific pledges are not made to demilitarize the country, it reserves the legitimate right to defend itself even by launching offensives, regardless of their scope, whenever necessary anywhere within the national territory.


Input: fellow countrymen: i address you at a moment when all good colombians are filled with pain.  terrorist actions have brought sadness and mourning to dozens of our poor homes, as well as to families of national leaders.  colombia's enemies have dedicated themselves to attacking unarmed citizens.  their insane actions are ending the lives of innocent children, women, and honest colombians.  at these trying times, i send all those who have suffered the consequences of this irrational wave of monstrous crimes my deepest sentiments of solidarity.  i want to tell all the victims' relatives and friends that we share their sorrow and sadness.    the country and antioquia department have been dealt a strong blow today.  another great man has been assassinated.  liberal leader federico estrada velez was violently murdered in the streets of medellin.  the loss of senator estrada velez leaves the liberal party and antioquians without one of its great leaders.  he is to be added to the list of martyrs that have been murdered for their thoughts and brave attitude in confronting the country's problems.  federico estrada was a fighter in this administartion and, as our colombian ambassador to italy, contributed to the improvement of relations with that country and with the european community.  the country recalls him for his recent actions as the proponent and promoter of the constitutional reforms project at the senate.  his brillant political and professional career allowed him to reach the highest positions of the colombian congress and of the judicial branch.  he was a supreme court magistrate, university professor, parliamentarian, the national and departmental leader of the liberal party, a public servant of many years, and a tireless worker for the wellbeing of the people of antioqua.  his life was ended at a time when the country and his party needed his experience and knowledge.    to his wife, his four children, his followers, and all antioqueans, i send a heartfelt message of condolence in the name of all his fellow countrymen.  the people are sick of this irrational violence.  all colombians get angry each time a barbaric act takes place and each time one of our leaders is murdered.  let us turn this anger into a public condemnation of those responsible for these actions, in a decided action by all against the empire of crime, and in effective solidarity with government officials.  recovering peace and tranquillity is a joint task.  every day we must demand more efficiency from our public forces but we must also give them more solidarity and support so that they can efficiently comply with their serious responsibilities.  this is what the government has been doing; it has supported them morally and materially.    to defeat terrorism and impunity depends above all on the cooperation of citizens.  we must all become like soldiers in the search for peace because the future of our families, our principles, our rights, and our democracy are at stake.  let those who promote violence face an invincible army of 30 million honest colombians.  no one should take advantage of this painful moment the country is enduring.  the interests of colombia are above all other considerations.    on the eve of the elections and the decision by the honorable supreme court of justice on the constitutional assembly, and after a thorough analysis of the most recent public order disturbances, i have deemed it appropriate to send the foreign minister to represent colombia at the andean group presidential summit.    as you are aware, the andean group presidential summit will begin tomorrow in cuzco, peru.  this meeting was called with the objective of achieving new progress in the integration of the subregion, through new mechanisms for integration and with the creation of the andean presidential council.    the foreign minister will be entrusted with reaffirming colombia's full commitment to the integration process and to concerted new joint actions with peru, ecuador, bolivia, and venezuela to face the problem of the consumption, smuggling, and drug production.    fellow countrymen: i hereby reiterate my deepest condolences to all those who have been affected by violence.  it is at this time of sorrow and sadness when we colombians should be more united than ever. i want to invite you to use the suffering and the memories of those who have fallen as a force that will give us more courage and determination to continue to progress in building colombia in peace, free of terrorism and violence.  good night.

federico estrada velez


Input: all media in guayaquil and many correspondents who have come to the port of guayaquil to cover the fourth alfaro lives dammit (avc) national conference are still unaware of where the meeting is being held.  the surrendering of weapons in the hands of this group will be discussed at this meeting.  the four-day meeting began on 18 may at the guayas electoral tribunal.  however, the meeting was continued later at an undisclosed location in guayaquil.  during their sessions, in addition to making a decision on the surrendering of weapons, avc leaders will also assess the agreement they signed a year ago with the president rodrigo borja government.  the accord made it possible for them to cease the armed struggle in exchange for a government dialogue with social sectors in the country.  prior to the beginning of the fourth avc national conference, avc leader santiago dillman reported on 18 may that the final decision on the surrendering of weapons was a logical step -- after taking into consideration that the armed struggle in ecuador and in the rest of latin america is no longer the proper course.  therefore, he announced, this alfarist meeting will also analyze the decision to organize a new political party or to allow avc leaders to join an already existing group recognized by the supreme electoral tribunal.    these are some of the points on the agenda of the avc meeting, which is expected to conclude on 21 or 22 may with a historical resolution.  however, avc leaders -- among them santiago dillman, marco troya, pedro moncada, and janeth sosa -- have preferred not to disclose the site of the meeting, which has frustrated the work of journalists.  the avc leaders plan to discuss the possibility of delivering weapons in the hands of avc members to a socialist international delegation in a ceremony similar to one recently held by the 19-april movement in colombia, which in the past has staged several well-known military actions, including the kidnapping of businessman naim isaias with the help of the avc.    the avc has said it wants to participate in the country's institutional life.  in order to do this, it will pledge to surrender its weapons -- the symbol of its rebellion -- which it will continue with or without weapons, avc leaders have said.  the avc leaders continue meeting at an unknown location in guayaquil and expect to reach an agreement soon on laying down their weapons, which would then be destroyed immediately.

19-april movement

businessman naim isaias