Input: after an exhaustive investigation, the salvadoran archbishopric legal assistance office issues the following statement regarding the massacre of the six jesuit priests:    the operation carried out to murder the six jesuit priests and the two maids lasted longer than 1 hour.  during all that time, the perpetrarors fired their weapons and detonated explosives.  this was proved by the finding of many shell casings near the jesuits' residence.  the witness' statements also confirmed that the weapons were fired over a long period of time.  the number of individuals who committed the crime was large.  they were wearing army uniforms.  the witness saw approximately five individuals wearing army uniforms. the witness saw the men.  she also heard the shooting, the closing of doors, and the breaking of glass in various parts of the facilities. the witness said that five individuals entered the servants' entrance of the jesuits' residence.  other individuals entered the residence by the door located in the northwestern end of the building, which is the area where the priests have their rooms.  another group entered the jesuit center, searched it, and burned it with sophisticated weapons such as flamethrowers.    3.  (no numbers 1 and 2 as heard) the salvadoran military intelligence, the perpetrators, knew the jesuit center and the jesuit residence.  in other words, they knew the uca (central american university) facilities.  on monday, 13 november, individuals wearing army uniforms specifically searched the jesuit center and residence.    4.  the scene of the crime is located inside an army control and security area since the armed forces joint chiefs of staff is located in that same general area.  the army maintains permanent military surveillance posts at the democracia building, the manuel jose arce military neighborhood, the northern uca entrance, at the various uca schools, and at la ceiba de guadalupe and jardines de guadalupe neighborhoods.  all those areas are well guarded by soldiers.    5.  despite the evident and verifiable militarization of the area where the crime took place, the curfew, the extended and heavy firing inside the uca premises, the detonation of explosives for an extended period of time during which the perpetrators remained inside the jesuit facilities -- which gave the perpetrators time to search the jesuit priests' rooms, kill them along with the other two victims, and search and burn the jesuit center church, thus proving the size of the operation -- the armed forces did not react as they would have if this operation had been carried out by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front).  this indicates that the soldiers in charge of security in the manuel jose arce military neighborhood and the armed forces joint chiefs of staff installations were aware of the operation that was being carried  out.    therefore, the archbishopric's legal assistance office concludes that all the evidence indicates that military personnel of the salvadoran armed forces are responsible for the murder of the six jesuit priests and the two maids.

individuals wearing army uniforms

five individuals wearing army uniforms

salvadoran military intelligence

jesuits' residence

jesuit center church

weapons

explosives

flamethrowers


Input: the salvadoran government has not proposed to the nicaraguan government resuming diplomatic and consular relations, president alfredo cristiani explained on 13 december at the presidential palace.    "i have not talked about unilaterally normalizing relations, nor are we thinking of doing this unless the nicaraguan government complies with certain requirements that we presented in a document in san jose," the president said.    in a news conference hosted on 12 december, he said that the presidents of guatemala, honduras, and costa rica had urged some type of dialogue or negotiations with ortega to seek normalizing relations with nicaragua, and as a result he presented the documents with the requirements.    until the afternoon of 13 december, the nicaraguan regime had not answered the minimum conditions for el salvador to reestablish or normalize relations with managua.    el salvador suspended all types of relations with nicaragua on 26 november, after the salvadoran army discovered a plane coming from managua with weapons for the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).    cristiani has insisted that "without the material support that the sandinist government gives the terrorists operating here, they would not have been able to launch the unsuccessful offensive of 11 november in san salvador and other important cities around the country.    the president said that in san jose, costa rica, he showed ortega a great deal of evidence of the nicaraguan intervention in salvadoran affairs.    he also showed all the presidents a video in which members of the fmln are shown receiving training in nicaragua, and in which fmln leaders such as jorge shafik handal and others are shown receiving instructions in managua, and other evidence.  after viewing several minutes of such evidence, ortega got up and told the presidents he was going to make a telephone call, but he never returned to the room, cristiani said.  "in other words, ortega was never able to deny he is sending weapons and help to the fmln," the president pointed out.


Input: nicaraguan president daniel ortega has called on the u.s. government to respect the peace agreements signed by the central american presidents.  at a meeting with residents of niquinomo, ortega talked about the agreements signed by the presidents of the region during the meeting in san isidro de coronado, costa rica.    (begin recording) (ortega) the agreements signed in costa rica are another step foward in the interest of peace in central america. however, we are not completely satisfied, because, as i was telling the central american presidents yesterday, it is one thing to agree on something and sign an agreement, but what we do when we return to our countries is quite another.  there must be consistency between what is signed and what is done.  if we sign an agreement and promise to respect human rights, then we must respect human rights - - not kill priests and brutally repress the people as in el salvador.  if we agree that the contras must be demobilized, then the honduran government must do its part to ensure that the contras are demobilized.  we must demand that the u.s. government respect the agreements.  the problem we face is that after every presidential summit is held and agreements are signed, the yankee government does not respect them and continues to do as it pleases.  i hope the u.s. government will, once and for all, respect the agreements signed by the central american presidents.  the united states can show its willingness to respect these agreements by refraining from hindering the dialogue between the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) and the salvadoran government and the search for a negotiated solution to the salvadoran conflict.  if the u.s. government is truly willing to respect these agreements, then it must no longer give the contras money to murder the nicaraguan people. like the central american presidents said, that money should be given to the international commission of support and verification.  only in this way will the contras stop being a threat to the nicaraguan people. (end recording)


Input: we now go over to deigo armario at the moncloa palace for a report on the press briefing by government spokeswoman rosa conde:    (armario) at the press briefing following the meeting of the council of ministers, rosa conde said that the government suspects that this morning's attack in valencia could be the work of the grapo (1 october anti fascist resistance groups) terrorist group.  she says that they do not have sufficient evidence to say the same thing about, or attribute responsibility for, the attack which occurred here in madrid.  (passage omitted)    finally, we shall now hear rosa conde reading the message which the government is sending to chile:    (begin recording) (conde) the government wishes to express, firstly, its congatulations to don patricia aylwin for the majority support which he has obtained from the citizens of his country.  moreover, the government wishes to express its solidarity with all chilean democrats, who with this new encounter with liberty and democracy are beginning a new era in their history.  (end recording)    finally, rosa conde said that the spanish government is actively committed to boosting the economy of that country, which is now embracing democracy.  that is all.


Input: colombian national police director has announced that gonzalo rodriguez gacha, the so-called military chief of the medellin drug cartel, better known as the mexican, was killed today during a confrontation with police.    general miguel gomez padilla said that the mexican, 39, died along with 15 of his men during a police operation conducted at the covenas beach resort on the colombian atlantic coast, 750 km northwest of bogota.


Input: colombian national police director general miguel gomez padilla has reported that jose gonzalo rodriguez gacha, the mexican, and military chief of the medellin cartel, died today during a confrontation with the national police.    gen gomez said that the mexican, 39, was killed along with his son and 15 bodyguards during a police operation conducted in an area between the towns of tolu and covenas, 750 km northwest of bogota.    police chief gen carlos casadiego reported that the mexican had died during an operation that began several days ago.    gen casadiego added: "we conducted a surprise attack.  we found them, they offered resistance and died in the confrontation."    gen casadiego said that for several days the police have been on the track of the second most wanted man in colombia after pablo escobar gaviria, the number one of the medellin cartel.    last august, the colombian government offered a 100-million peso ($240,000) reward for anyone who could give information regarding the mexican.


Input: the national police, through general carlos arturo casadiego, deputy general director of that institution, informed the press this afternoon that the national police have killed jose gonzalo rodriguez gacha, a.k.a. the mexican, his son freddy, and 15 others.    the incident occurred near the cobenas - tolu area, in a place known as (tolugas), where the police clashed with a group of individuals.    as we said, based on direct reports from the national police, rodriguez gacha, his son, and 15 others were killed in the clash.    police reports are still not complete.  general casadiego told rcn that he is awaiting additional details from that part of the country.

national police

jose gonzalo rodriguez gacha

freddy

others


Input: the colombian 19 april movement (m-19) has asked venezuelan president carlos andres perez for political support to secure compliance with the agreements signed between the guerrillas and the government of colombian president virgilio barco.    everth bustamante, the m-19's international relations secretary, said today in caracas that on 14 december he informed perez about the grave political crisis which had exploded in his country in recent days.    the resignation of the presidents of colombia's two largest political parties, as well as the colombian congress' position in favor of submitting to a referendum the ruling on extraditing drug trafficking suspects, in defiance of the government's position, has created a political vacuum in the country and, bustamante said, the government no longer has a monopoly of power.  this situation, he added, creates doubts about compliance with the agreement signed in november 1988 (as received) by the m-19 and the government.  in line with this agreement, the rebels would surrender their weapons.    in recent months the venezuelan president has met on several occasions with representatives of the colombian government and the m-19 and has proposed that the socialist international receive the arms of this guerrilla organization which wants to join colombia's political life.    bustamante said that the situation that has emerged has imposed a delay in the surrendering the weapons which had been scheduled for 19 december.  he did not give a new date for this action, but he did not discard either the possibility that it could be in january of next year.    an acute political confrontation exploded in colombia when the colombia congress decided, against the government's will, to submit to a referendum the practice of extraditing drug trafficking suspects to the united states so that they may be tried there.    bustamante noted: this makes it evident that many legislators support the demands of the drug traffickers.  bustamante admitted, however, that these extraditions violate colombia's constitution.    according to the m-19 leader, "the only way" of overcoming the current political crisis is to postpone the elections scheduled to take place next year and to convoke a constituent national assembly and a referendum to decide on constitutional reforms.    these two points form part of the agreement signed in november 1988 (as received) by the m-19 and the government.    bustamante, who leaves tomorrow for mexico city and london, called on the colombian guerrilla groups to surrender their weapons if the government convokes a constituent assembly.


Input: yesterday, maria julia hernanadez, director of the archbishopric legal assitance office, made official statements before the court regarding the murder of the uca (central american university) priests.    in response to a request issued by the salvadoran 4th criminal court, maria julia hernandez made statements before the court regarding the murder of six uca jesuit priests.  the priests were killed on 16 november.    according to hernandez, her statement was personal and she limited herself to reporting on the investigations she conducted at uca after the murder.  in her statement, hernandez said that she found four bullet casings inside uca.  the prosecutors then alleged that she had committed a crime by picking up evidence.    (begin recording) (hernandez) i made personal statements as a witness. i told them what i saw and heard at the site of the crime. that is what i did.  the prosecutors asked me about the evidence i had gathered at the site of the crime.  i picked up four bullet casings. the prosecutors said i had committed a crime.  that is, therefore, the crime i committed.  (end recording)    although she did not provide sufficient facts to formulate an opinion, hernandez said that as an institution, the archbishopric legal assistance office believes that the evidence, which she did not mention, indicates that armed forces members, who remain unidentified, are responsible for the murder of the jesuits.    (begin recording) (hernandez) the church already issued its official document clearly stating that there are armed forces members involved in the murder of the jesuit priests.    (reporter) on what does the church base that assertion?    (hernandez) on the investigations conducted by the archbishopric legal assistance office.    (reporter) yes, but what proof does the church have to make that assertion?    (hernandez) all that is contained in the church document that was already released.  you can get that document if you want.  (end recording)    in addition, maria julia hernandez denied statements made by some military chiefs who said that witness lucia cerna, who is out of the country, was never manipulated or pressured.    (begin recording) (hernandez) i was introduced to mrs cerna by the head of the provincial jesuit order on monday, 20 november.  in front of him, mrs cerna made her statement.  and she made that same statement before the judge and the prosecutors at the spanish embassy. they are witnesses to those statements.    in other words, she made the statement at the spanish embassy before i met her.  i could not have manipulated her at all.  (end recording)    the 4th criminal court procedures regarding this case will continue in order to try to clarify the death of the jesuit priests including ignacio ellacuria.  christian democratic party leader fidel chavez mena and san salvador auxiliary bishop msgr gregorio rosa chavez still have to make their statements before the court.

armed forces members

armed forces

ignacio ellacuria


Input: the colombian senate today approved a pardon law that authorizes colombian president virgilio barco to "pardon" over the next 6 months the armed groups that have demonstrated their desire for peace.    the measure initially favors the 19-april movement (m-19), which promised the government to surrender its weapons and give up violence in order to become a political party.    the pardon law is one of the commitments made by the government in the agreement signed with the m-19 as a result of the negotiations that began last march and that should conclude with the total demobilization of the m-19 and the delivery of its weapons to the socialist international.    once its main leaders, against whom there are serious charges for aggression against the state, are pardoned, the m-19 will become a legal, political group.    the m-19 was scheduled to deliver its weapons on 19 december, but the action was suspended until a decision is made regarding the agreed upon creation of a "special electoral district, which would "guarantee the m-19" an active presence in the national congress.    that measure, which is part of the "package" of constitutional reforms proposed by the government, was suspended at the congress, which could not reach an agreement on it before the end of its regular session.    the reforms also included the holding of a referendum to consult the colombian people on the extradition issue.  legal extradition was adopted through an administrative measure in order to fight drug trafficking.  the colombian chamber of representatives' approval of the inclusion of the extradition issue in the referendum caused a political crisis with the resignation of the presidents of the liberal and conservative parties.    today the plenum of the colombian congress did not approve the holding of a plebiscite in september 1990, in which the voters would decide to either approve or disapprove the extradition of drug traffickers, because of the resignations of former presidents julio cesar turbay ayala and misael pastrana borrero, leaders of the liberal and conservative parties, respectively.    today, in addition to the decision made in congress, which along with the chamber of representatives will close its regular session period on 17 december, gonzalo rodriguez gacha, a.k.a the mexican, one of the most wanted colombian drug traffickers and the number-two man in the medellin cartel, was killed during a clash with the police.


Input: general, who conducted the operations -- the elite forces, the special operations group (goes) ...how many units participated in this action?    (casadiego) it was a strike that was conducted by a specialized group, but the work was accomplished by all departments of the national police in general.  this work was undertaken by all those who are in charge of fighting drug trafficking.    (reporter) how was the government and president informed about this?    (casadiego) just as i am reporting it to you.  i told the president that we had identified rodriguez gacha, his son, and 15 others after the operation was carried out.    (reporter) what did the president tell you after you gave him the news?    (casadiego) it was simply a national police report to the president.  later on, we will provide him with the details after the inspectors return.    (reporter) what else did you find in the area where the operation was carried out?  did you find weapons?  were some people able to escape?    (casadiego) no, i have no more details.  we are just receiving the information over the radio, and we cannot give details over the radio.    (reporter) what can we expect in the next few minutes regarding this information?    (casadiego) without doubt, this information will be announced with fuller details by the director of the national police. the generals and the national police staff are meeting here.  we are going to conduct a series of operations to consolidate the area and to do what the law requires.    (reporter) what about the other major drug cartel leaders?    (casadiego) we are doing our job and this is proof that we are doing our job.  i believe that colombia must congratulate the national police for the job they have done.    (reporter) general, you have said the area is being reinforced. does this mean more national police troops are being deployed to the area?  will the operations continue in search of other drug cartel leaders?    (casadiego) we are searching and blocking off the area. that is what we are doing.    (reporter) is that the report the national police have released to the government and to colombians?    (casadiego) that is the report we have released to them, and we ask all citizens to continue cooperating with us.  they can be sure that we will try to significantly cut the number of crimes being committed.


Input: gonzalo rodriguez gacha, alias the mexican, one of the most dangerous colombian drug traffickers was killed today along with his son freddy and a group of bodyguards at a farm presumably owned by drug trafficker pablo escobar gaviria, located between tolu vand cobenas, in sucre department.    the governor of sucre told the government minister that it is possible that pablo escobar is in the same area which has been surrounded and all flights have been restricted.    regarding this historical news, which could be the most important of the decade on the subject of public order and the government's struggle against the drug traffickers, here is a report on a news conference attended by viola congote:    (begin recording) (gomez padilla, in progress) ...gonzalo rodriguez gacha, alias the mexican, between cobenas and tolu, specifically at the tolugas farm.  there was a clash in which the police killed this man, his son, and five individuals who were accompanying him.    (reporter) are you absolutely sure that it was gonzalo rodriguez gacha?    (gomez padilla) he has been fully identified as gonzalo rodriguez gacha, alias the mexican.    (reporter) (question indistinct)    (gomez padilla) for a long time, the national police in collaboration with the das and other state intelligence agencies have been gathering intelligence data which today has yielded positive results.    (reporter) how many policemen participated in the operation?    (gomez padilla) several specialized units of the national police participated in the operation along with the police in cordoba and sucre departments.    (reporter) are there any policemen wounded?    (gomez padilla) we do not know of any policemen being wounded.    (reporter) how long did the clash between the army and the bodyguards or between the police and the dead killed last?    (gomez padilla) right now we do not know exactly how long the clash was.    (reporter) are the corpses still at the site of the incident or will they be immediately transferred to bogota?    (gomez padilla) we have sent criminal arraignment judges there, as well as national police inspectors.  the judges will decide what to do.    (reporter) how was it confirmed that it was actually gonzalo rodriguez gacha?    (gomez padilla) based on means we have of confirming his identity.  (end recording) (continued)


Input: all private aircraft and flights in the country have been placed under military control and subject to strict restrictions by the colombian air force (fac).  no private aircraft will be allowed to leave any airport terminal or fly in colombia's air space without the permission of the military authorities.  the aircraft will be subject to the regulations concerning the violation of colombia's air space.    permits for private aircraft are now under the control of military authorities, which are exerting total control of the air space.  the northern air force command base, located in barranquilla, has been reinforced with planes sent from palanquero air force base to control colombia's caribbean coast. kfir, mirages, m-5s, combat planes, and t-33 and t-41 reconaissance aircraft are constantly patrolling colombian air space.    meanwhile, all commercial and private air operations in sucre department and the colombian caribbean coast have been placed under military control with heavy restrictions.  the fac assumed control with combat and reconaissance aircraft.  the commercial airports' control towers have warned that the fac has the air space under control and any airplane flying over the zone may be shot down if it is declared a military zone.  private airplanes must have their flight plans checked with the military authorities.


Input: chilean terrorists might be involved in the kidnapping of important brazilian businessman.  this morning an antikidnapping squad of the police of sao paulo, brazil, located businessman abilio diniz, director and main shareholder of one of the largest economic groups in brazil.  abilio diniz is in the hands of a group presumed to be chilean terrorists.    five chileans were arrested last night.  another four are holding the brazilian multimillionaire in a house in the sao paulo neighborhood of jabaquara.  the kipnappers, who are said to be members of a group called chile's independence movement, demanded an unspecified sum in dollars for their guerrilla activities, an armored vehicle. weapons, and a plane to get away.    the wealthy businessman was kidnapped last monday in sao paulo by a group that drove up in ambulance as diniz was jogging in a city park. the local police honored a request from the businessman's family to keep silent to protect the victim.  police sources expressed the suspicion that the kidnappers of abilio diniz are from the same group that kidnapped the publisher luiz salles and released him after a ransom of $2.5 million was paid.

chilean terrorists

chile's independence movement

abilio diniz

luiz salles


Input: according to nicaraguan interior minister tomas borge, president carlos menem has told him that argentina will ask the united states to suspend the support to the contras.    borge made this statement to noticias argentinas after a meeting with president menem at the olivos presidential residence.    borge is visiting buenos aires to participate in the meeting of the coordinating board of latin american political parties (coppal). president menem will close this meeting next monday.    borge said that the argentine president "favors a negotiated solution" to the nicaraguan conflict, and he added that foreign minister domingo cavallo shares the same idea.    regarding trade relations between argentina and nicaragua, the sandinist leader only said that they are "in a process of being discussed."    he added that the sandinist movement participated in the costa rican meeting of central american presidents because it feels that "peace is an essential requirement for the region and especially for nicaragua."    borge added, however, that the sandinist national liberation front raises peace "as a banner" in the electoral campaign currently under way in that central american country.    borge said: "the united states was not pleased with the results of the presidential meeting in costa rica, as it was not pleased with the results of the esquipulas and tela meetings."    he added: "the united states is interested in keeping the counterrevolution alive to apply pressure to the nicaraguan electoral process."    he continued: "although the contras' have been strategically defeated, they still cause problems with their incursions and terrorist attacks."    borge explained that the costa rican agreement calls for the "compulsory demobilization" of the contras, while concerning the farabundo marti liberation front in el salvador, the "demobilization is voluntary."    he said that the central american presidents are supporting the salvadoran government of alfredo cristiani in order to ensure that "human rights are respected in that country and to neutralize the barbarity committed by the salvadoran army."    borge added that in costa rica the presidents reiterated the agreements made in esquipulas and tela and that cristiani's government has been urged to conduct "a true negotiation with the farabundo marti front.  (no end quote as received)    borge added that in nicaragua there is "participative democracy," and that "this democracy will be confirmed in the next elections."    "we do not want a democracy subordinated to the u.s. imperialism," he said, adding that "nicaraguan participative democracy has also adopted many elements of what is considered traditional democracy."    he said that the demolition of the berlin wall "is good," but he added: "in the world today there are many walls to be torn down, including the wall that divides the north and the south and the wall between the rich and poor countries."


Input: an elite national police force, specially trained for this type of commando action, carried out the operation in which gonzalo rodriguez gacha was killed.  the special armed corps (cuerpo especial armado), cea, was established by decree no 814 of 19 april 1989.  this corps is more commonly known as the elite force.    the group was initially formed by 250 qualified policemen and was given responsibility for the struggle against death squads, bands of paid assassins, and self-defense or private vigilante groups that are sometimes called paramilitary groups.  the anti-terrorist force members were trained at the police non-commissioned officers academy located in a mountainous region in the outskirts of bogota for 3 months. later on, these men were sent to different areas within the country, especially in antioquia.    the elite forces started to work on 2 may, and results appeared very soon after that.  the cea undertook an operation named rainbow (arcoiris) and dismantled 10 cocaine processing laboratories in the mid-magadalena region in less than 8 days.  general benjamin franklin lost his life during this operation.  later on they also dismantled an assassin training school at meta, destroyed clandestine airports, and aborted a terrorist plan in cartagena that included dynamiting its naval base, main industries, and cais (immediate attention centers).  after luis carlos galan was killed, the elite forces held two big operations in yacopi, the rio negro region where rodriguez gacha established self-defense groups.  the operatives had the objective of capturing rodriguez gacha but he managed to escape.  the special forces also conducted an operation at cocornac in an attempt to capture pablo escobar but he also managed to escape.  the blow delivered by the elite forces yesterday, in which the mexicano (gonzalo rodriguez gacha) fell, was accomplished with hard intelligence, investigation, and espionage work.  here is what police director major general miguel gomez has to say:    (begin recording) (gomez) we are very satisfied to have accomplished our mission.  our institution has responded to the demands of the country.  we are helping colombia rid itself of all forms of violence generated by these criminals.  (end recording)    the elite forces will continue its work with 1,000 men, 17 helicopters, the advise of british and italian experts, and the united states' economic and logistical aid.

cuerpo especial armado

gonzalo rodriguez gacha


Input: the salvadoran armed forces reported today that four soldiers and two guerrillas were killed in skirmishes in the eastern usulutan department on saturday.    a spokesman for the armed forces press committee (coprefa) said that the soldiers and rebels were killed in fighting in el nisperal, usulutan.    however, the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) asserted through its clandestine station radio venceremos that its fighters killed 25 soldiers, wounded 30, and captured 24 at el nisperal, and that all of these soldiers belonged to the lempa battalion.    the coprefa spokesman noted that 14 soldiers and 8 guerrillas were wounded in the skirmishes and added that the army is combing northern usulutan department "to erradicate the small terrorist redoubts."    in addition, coprefa reported that on saturday night, groups of insurgents harassed the national guard's main headquarters and treasury police positions along the northern edge of soyapango, san salvador jurisdiction.  the report does not mention any military casualties.    the source added that the armed forces began "a strong military operation with air cover" today in guazapa hill, about 20 km north of the capital, and in other guerrilla-infested areas.


Input: the relative calm of the past few days in san salvador was interrupted this afternoon with strong explosions that can be heard coming from the northern sector of the capital city.    the strong explosions, one after another, were first heard at 1645 local time (2245 gmt) when thousands of salvadoran were returning home from work.    eight strong explosions were heard in 6 minutes while "a-37" combat planes flew over san salvador.    columns of black smoke can be seen in the northern sector of the city.    a spokesperson for the armed forces press committee told acan-efe that the explosions are occurring near the guazapa volcano where "at this moment, clashes are being reported" with rebels of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).    the source said that the planes are dropping 500-pound bombs and cthat the offensive is part of an operation that the army launched on saturday and which continued today with air support.


Input: the colombian communist party (pcc) central committee has issued a statement condemning the recent attack against the installations of the das (administrative department of security) and expressing solidarity with das general director general alfredo maza marquez.    the pcc leadership notes that on several occasions it has endorsed gen maza's statements, which are "candid, courageous, and shed light on the nefarious role certain groups in the army and police leadership have played in helping organize bands of hired killers and their unpatriotic efforts as go-betweens in hiring mercenaries who train the fascist bands and murder colombians."    the pcc central committee adds that:    "the measures against drug trafficking that have been enacted by president barco's administration will be ineffective unless the army' upper echelon is reorganized immediately and purged of its corrupt elements.  only in this way will the "elite force" be prevented from continuing to carry out gangster-style assaults and be made to gear its actions toward the groups which are really destabilizing the democratic processes through crime and bribery; that is, the paramilitary groups that are operating in the middle magdalena region, meta, caqueta, cordoba, the uraba area in antioquia, and in other places, as gen maza has reported with substantial evidence."

administrative department of security


Input: this is a communique from the general command of the fmln to all salvadoran people and to our heroic leaders and fighters:    on 11 november, all of our forces began the major national offensive that gave a strategic turn to the war.  our fighters have carried out countless heroic and daring acts since them.  neither the concentration of the elite battalions in san salvador nor the millions of dollars of u.s. military assistance or full range of u.s. technology and experience could prevent our forces from entering and occupying extensive urban areas and organizing strategic harassment of the city.    our heroic fighters assaulted the country's five major vital centers -- san salvador, san miguel, santa ana, usulutan, and zacatecoluca.  beginning on the 11th, the war theatre irreversibly moved from the countryside to the main cities.  to postpone imminent collapse and to stop a people's uprising, the fatally wounded military leadership and the fascist government ordered that the low-income neighborhoods be bombarded.  they did not care how many civilian lives it would cost.  with all of its elite and regular battalions, the enemy army was reduced to the defensive and to guarding the cities. extensive areas around the rest of the country are liberated territory.    the war is now where it can be defined -- in the vital centers.  there is no way the oligarchs' exclusive economic program can take off and the fascist government of arena (nationalist republican alliance), with its genocidal brutality unmasked, is internationally isolated and hated by the people for its crimes.    this great effort of audacity and heroism that began on 11 november has placed the military leadership and the cristiani administration in their most critical position of the 9 years of war.  thus far, during this extraordinary effort -- which has given to el salvador and the world real hope for democracy and peace for our country -- 401 of the most generous and brave sons of our homeland have fallen in combat. this list is headed by our dear and unforgettable comrade commander dimas rodriguez, to whom we owe decisive contributions in the conduct of our struggle toward victory.    the following military commanders who fell in combat also made a contribution: jorge orlando sandoval cervellon, commander oscar; jehova vasquez, commander cirilo; ovidio lopez, commander orlando morales; commander misael gallardo; commander nicolas alberto saravia, wilbert; commander ricardo miranda, esteban ruiz; and the commander odir political directors (responsables) -- jose santos yanez, pepe; and milagro alvarado, judy.    we release the names of these heroes in order for the people to register them eternally in the highest place in our history.  their devotion multiplies and strengthens the people's power.  hundreds of new fighters already have the weapons and enthusiasm of those who have fallen.  they are at the frontline of this power of the future which is building, before the world's admiring eyes, democratic and just el salvador.    alongside our heroes, thousands of other salvadorans have fertilized the path to peace with their blood, victims of the fatally wounded beast -- the fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation) union members, the jesuit priests, the anonymous people massacred in the genocidal bombings.    the realization of a genuine and definitive change is ensured by the great power of our revolutionary army, of all of our people, and of world solidarity.  those who fell taught to us the courage and determination to finish this extraordinary effort, to conquer what we think the people justly deserve -- democracy, progress, and peace.    eternal glory to the heroes and martyrs, builders of democracy and peace.  the offensive continues, victory is near.    (signed) fmln general command; commanders salvador sanchez ceren, joaquin villalobos, eduardo sancho, francisco jovel, and shafik jorge handal.    (dated) 18 december 1989, el salvador


Input: the first question we ask comrade leo cabral is: what are the results of the offensive after 1 month?    (cabral) today, 11 december, after 1 month of a glorious and victorious offensive, we have some thoughts regarding this latest fight.  we want to stress that all our offensives have centered around the main cities in our country.  one of the most important and significant achievements of this struggle by the people and the fmln is having maintained the besiegement on the most important political and economic points, most especially on the country's capital.  there has been great pressure in the case of san salvador, and the fmln has forced the joint chiefs of staff, colonel ponce, and the fascist high command to change their strategic tactics three times.    you will recall that the joint chiefs of staff first tried to dislodge the fmln forces that had entered since the evening of 11 november.  when the first puppet army strategic defense tactic failed, they then tried to isolate the fmln forces from one another and annihilate them one by one.  for this, they concentrated special forces, especially using elite battalions, in a siege modality for annihilation.  this also failed.  faced with the second failure of their special tactics to end the offensive in a few days, as cristiani and the high military command had said, they moved a great number of operational forces from the country's interior, such as the elite battalions, to set up an extensive siege to defend the capital city and prevent our forces from entering it.  as all our people have been able to see -- and international public opinion has also been able to verify this through a great amount of information flowing through international reporters -- that siege to keep out the fmln has also failed.  this means more victories and successes, such as incursions into the escalon neighborhood and the southern area of antiguo cuscatlan, and two important attacks on the joint chiefs of staff.    right now we see that the puppet army's special city operation is their third and last plan.  they have formed four commands to control the city, which will also be defeated by our fmln military forces.  we also must add to this list of achievements that the great concentration of enemy army operational forces in the capital has caused a great national imbalance in forces.  this means that extensive areas of the country are without the protection of the puppet troops.  we have taken advantage of this and have worked on organizing the people and raising a people's power, an alternative to local reactionary power.    we also record as a successful offensive during this first month the fact that our enemy's intelligence work has been completely smashed.  the searches, which have been entrusted in an improvised manner to military troops concentrated in the cities, especially the repressive corps, have attempted to restore all the intelligence data banks to be able to try and destroy the people's struggle.  we must also record as one of the successes of our general offensive during this first month the fact that the puppet army was forced to abort another plan.  even though there were some bloody events, such as the murder of the jesuit priests, along with a great amount of kidnappings and missing people and arrests of members or leaders of grassroot people's movements, we feel that the army and repressive corps are incapable of attending to the fmln offensive and the besiegement at the same time that they are trying to carry out their annihilation of the people's movement.  so this is another success.  (continued)

army

repressive corps


Input: many political, union, university, religious, and civic organizations have been "beheaded" by the offensive launched by the salvadoran guerrillas a month ago, by the army's response to the offensive, and by extremist groups' retaliatory actions.    these organizations -- most of which actively favored a political solution to the salvadoran war -- have been left without main leaders because, according to party members and supporters, they have been killed, forced to hide or leave the country for "security reasons"    the jesuit central american university's (uca) main leaders were murdered.  according to religious organization sources, approximately 50 priests -- salvadoran and foreigners -- have left the country because they felt "persecuted" by the army which links them to the guerrillas.    the editorial of the 15 december edition of "proceso" -- a uca weekly publication -- asserts that the murder of the six jesuits on uca premises on 16 november, occurred at the same time when several churches and union headquarters were being searched by "people in uniforms."    "proceso" mantains that "apparently, they wanted to strike one single blow and behead every organization labeled by government propaganda as an fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) facade."    however, salvadoran president alfredo cristiani said before he left to attend a central american presidential summit in costa rica, that his government does not persecute religious leaders.    three days after the guerrillas started their largest offensive in the decade -- on 14 november -- guillermo ungo and hector oqueli, the main leftist opposition leaders, left el salvador, saying that they had received death threats in messages broadcast over the government's radio network.    leaders of the general confederation of workers (cgt) -- which is linked to the christian democratic party -- have reported that they are being persecuted and blame the army and the guerrillas for "violating human rights."    cgt leader jose luis grande preza asserted that "to recuperate and mantain their privileges, the extreme rightists have unscrupulously turned the army against its own people and generated repression and persecution against the church, the opposition, and union movements."    before leaving for guatemala to obtain support for a cease-fire in el salvador, grande preza said the guerrillas "violate human rights in the name of revolution" and that "each side justifies its violence, but the only truth is that the people always end up burying the dead."    ludovico samayoa, deputy of the main opposition christian democratic party (pdc), asserted that two pdc municipal officials in ilobasco had been arrested by army members in the past few days. ilobasco is located 60 km northeast of san salvador.    "the government has initiated a generalized repression to dismantle the party and frighten our members with these arrests," said samayoa.    human rights commission coordinator miguel montenegro said that his office, as well as other offices of organizations that oppose the government, "were searched and destroyed by bombs" in the eastern city of san miguel.    ignacio ellacuria, one of the six jesuits murdered on 16 november, founder of "proceso" and uca director, had noted a few months before his death that "the salvadoran political process had entered a new phase of moderation and flexibility with the increase of political spaces."    in contrast the editorial that appears in the next edition of "proceso" stresses: "it is the hour of the long knives.  the malestrom of blood that has come upon the country in the past month has shred to pieces the phase of moderation in which the main participants of the salvadoran political process had been involved."

army

government

office

other offices of organizations that oppose the government

guillermo ungo

hector oqueli

miguel montenegro

ignacio ellacuria

bombs


Input: the kidnappers of businessman abilio diniz will remain at the disposal of the sao paulo police for 10 days.  the businessman was kidnapped on 11 december and released on 17 december.  according to the police, the investigations are also helping to clarify the kidnapping of another businessman, luis sales. (passage omitted)

luis sales


Input: a few months ago, it was speculated that changes of command in certain armed forces key posts would take place late in 1989.    colonel rene emilio ponce, joint chief of staff, disregarded this possibility and said that the situation of violence in the country, particularly since the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) offensive, requires, more than ever, that the armed forces are militarily stable.    (begin recording) (ponce) i think the situation in the country demands military stability.  changes could provoke some unrest.  we think no significant changes in the military command should be made at present because of the current situation.  should any changes be made, it would be for major reasons in the service. no high-level changes have been anticipated, however. (end recording)    referring to the rebels' activities, col ponce said the armed actions initiated, particularly in san salvador on 11 november, have ended with unfavorable results for the guerrillas.  he advised, however, that the guerrillas will continue to sabotage the country's economy and perpetrate terrorist actions.    (begin recording) (ponce) i can tell you that the fmln has failed, militarily speaking.  the fmln's famous all - the - way offensive has ended in tremendous failure, determined by the salvadoran people.  we can anticipate that the fmln will continue its sabotaging actions and terrorism which could destroy stores in san salvador, as well as posts and pylons on highways. the salvadoran people can rest assured, however, that an offensive action by the fmln at present can be disregarded. (end recording)    regarding the christmas and new year festivities, which have been marred by the wave of violence, many people have wondered whether the 2300 - to - 0500 curfew is still in force.  ponce said the possibility of lifting the curfew at least on 24 and 31 december is being considered so that the salvadoran families can enjoy these festivities.  he added that such a measure, however, will depend on the fmln's stance.  finally, ponce reported that the fmln machinegunned a building with coffee harvesters in santa ana and maimed two people simply because they refused to stop harvesting coffee.

farabundo marti national liberation front

building with coffee harvesters


Input: medical spokesmen of the santo tomas hospital have accused the u.s. invading troops of preventing ambulances from transiting and providing medical attention to the many wounded in strategic sectors of the panamanian capital.    jorge diaz, medical director of the hospital, told the colombian radio station caracol that the foreign soldiers are firing machineguns at ambulances that are passing though the city.    according to the doctor, the hospital, one of the most important in panama, has received about 50 dead, while over 100 are recovering from serious wounds.    he said that only six or seven members of the defense forces have been taken there; thus most of the victims are inhabitants of low-income areas shelled by u.s. airplanes.    "from the santo tomas hospital, we heard the bomb explosions.  many homes are on fire, because it has been an indiscriminate attack," diaz said.    similarly, alfonso zamora, dpa correspondent in panama city, said dramatically to the colombian station: "we are on the floor." he said the exchange of fire has intensified in various parts of the capital.


Input: ecuador today condemned the u.s. military forces' action in panama, which it described as a "flagrant violation of international principles," but said that it was general manuel noriega's "undemocratic stubbornness that caused the situation to deteriorate to this point."    in a communique read by foreign minister diego cordovez, who was head of the oas mission that tried unsuccessfully to mediate in panama's political crisis, the ecuadoran government demanded an immediate end to the "foreign intervention" and "full respect for panamanian integrity and sovereignty."    however, the ecuadoran government considered it "absolutely necessary" that a "democratic regime" restore institutional normalcy in panama and guarantee respect for the torrijos - carter treaties.    after a private meeting with president rodrigo borja, cordovez reiterated the official offer to participate in any negotiating efforts that might be initiated "to resolve the conflict in panama."    by mandate of the assembly of american foreign ministers, in may and august cordovez headed efforts to find a negotiated solution to the crisis generated by the regime's annulment of the 7 may elections, presumably to prevent what was announced as a clear opposition victory.    "intensive efforts were made to prevent the conflict that has exploded today," cordovez said.  he reiterated his "broadest willingness" to "continue supporting the search for a nonviolent solution."


Input: the panamanian charge d'affairs in our country, jaime cerda, did not (as heard) make an urgent call to all latin american people to repudiate the u.s. intervention in his country.    (begin recording) (cerda) we definitely call on the world, on the conscience of the world, to end this situation.    (reporter) it has been said that the torrijos-carter treaty could be one of the main reasons for this conflict that has been brewing for some time between the u.s. government and the panamanian state.  do you believe, as a citizen, that there is a short-term solution to this conflict?    (cerda) that would depend on the good faith of the u.s.  government toward panamanians.  i believe that no people, no man, independently of what he may think of the governments, can agree with this type of intervention by the world's most powerful power directed against a small people who do not have the resources to confront the military might of the united states.  according to international press agencies reports, civilians are being killed there are many militiamen who are fighting the u.s. soldiers.  i reiterate my call to the people of the world, on the latin american people, on our peruvian brothers to declare themselves against this act of aggression that cannot be tolerated by free nations.    (reporter) in panama, where are the clashes taking place?    (cerda) in panama city.  international press dispatches have mentioned this.    (reporter) what is the social cost so far?  is there some estimate?    (cerda) well, international dispatches speak of 50 dead, mostly civilians.  from the santo tomas hospital, which is a public health hospital, there has been no information on the number of people that been given medical attention, nor from other hospitals.


Input: military and civilian sources have confirmed that heavy fighting between rebels and soldiers broke out this evening in ciudad merliot, an area west of san salvador.    the fighting began at 1830 (0030 gmt) when farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) columns entered ciudad merliot, a middle class neighborhood located approximately 12 km southwest of san salvador.    according to police sources, the fighting was reported in the areas of jardines de la hacienda and jardines del volcan, where the government troops are using air support.  the helicopters fired rockets against supposed rebel positions.    the shooting could be heard in downtown san salvador. meanwhile, residents of the affected areas told local radio stations that there was heavy shooting.    the armed actions are taking place within the framework of an offensive launched by the fmln in mid- november.  according to army sources, the offensive has resulted in 5,000 casualties, civilian casualties not included.


Input: in barranca district this afternoon, president alan garcia reiterated his rejection and the peruvian people's condemnation of the invasion of panama by u.s.  troops.    the head of state described this action as an act of robbery and piracy.  he noted that this represents aggression not only against the panamanian people but against the sovereignty of all latin america.    garcia said that this insult and outrage against sovereign peoples cannot occur on the threshold of the 21st century.    (begin recording) (garcia) a dramatic event is shaking all latin america at this moment. beginning early this morning, the invading forces of the united states of america have penetrated and intervened in latin american territory in panama.    this is why i am late, because since early this morning we have been witnessing an astonishing act of imperialist robbery and piracy tarnishing the sacred soil of panama and latin america.    we are just latin americans. if a latin american is offended and attacked, then we are all offended and attacked. and you, the huanca peasants, must know that in panama in the (words indistinct) there are also peasants who are now the victims of the u.s. invasion. and we must stand up to rescue (words drowned out cheers and applause).    seventy years elapsed before general omar torrijos managed to sign an agreement with president jimmy carter for the panama canal to be turned over to panamanian sovereignty.  since that 1977 treaty, however, many things have happened and efforts have always been made to prevent the canal from being returned to latin america.    they do not want to leave the canal zone where they have their troops, their airplanes, and their bombs to threaten the continent and tell all of us that if we do not behave well they can invade us at any moment.    i cannot accept what was done this morning when the new president of panama was sworn in on a u.s. base in the canal zone.  the americans do not have the right to say who is going to govern in latin america; only the latin american people have the right to decide their destiny.  applause and cheers    in the last 14 hours, 24,000 men and more than 100 combat vehicles have entered panama city, and the helicopters have attacked military installations adjacent to the civilian zones.  we have been told that hundreds have been killed.  as president of peru, as a chief of state, and as a representative of the poor peasants i cannot silence our protest.  i cannot silence our condemnation.    i call on the latin american people; i call on the youth of latin america in the face of this imperialistic attack.  we cannot remain silent.  we may be poor, we may have problems, but we are dignified people, we are free, we are sovereign (drowned out by applause).  (end recording)


Input: a peruvian diplomatic source has confirmed that emilio torres, aide to the peruvian military attache in panama, was wounded today during a shootout among civilians near his home.    in statements to acan - efe, peruvian charge d'affaires luis sandiga said that torres, technician first class in the peruvian army, was shot and that the bullet fractured several ribs and punctured his right lung.    according to the doctors attending torres, the prognosis is "guarded, but he is doing well" following surgery that was performed at the santo tomas hospital in panama city.    several isolated acts of violence have been reported in panama city since 20 december, following the u.s. military intervention.    meanwhile, sandiga said three armed men, in civilian clothes, on december held a gun on him and took his car.  the incident occurred when sandiga was on his way to the embassy.    "even though i identified myself as a peruvian embassy official and told them that the car had diplomatic license plates, the unidentified armed men took the car and headed toward an unknown location.


Input: official sources have confirmed that jorge adolfo vargas, second secretary at the nicaraguan embassy in guatemala, was shot to death today in guatemala city by several unidentified men.    a spokesman for the municipal fire fighters told acan-efe that the nicaraguan diplomat was walking in a residential area in southern guatemala when unidentified men in a vehicle with darkened windows fired at him with 9-mm weapons.    the source pointed out that vargas, 38, was shot six times and died on the spot.    the nicaraguan embassy also confirmed the report for acan-efe but offered no details.    so far the authorities are unaware of the murderers' identities or the motive for vargas gonzalez's murder.

several unidentified men

jorge adolfo vargas

9-mm weapons


Input: the manuel rodriguez patriotic front (fpmr), the largest clandestine leftist guerrilla group in chile, announced today that it will attack "any u.s. objective in chile" in view of the u.s. invasion of panama.  through a telephone call to the media, fpmr spokesperson mariela vargas -- a member of the fpmr's "autonomous" sector -- reported that the fpmr will attack any u.s. objective in chile."    vargas stated that "we categorically reject and condemn the u.s.' terrorist invasion of the panamanian nation." the fpmr promotes "all forms of struggle" against the military government.    she said that according to reports supplied by the "dignity" battalions (organized militias), u.s. helicopters continuously bombed the san miguelito sector in panama city this morning.    mariela vargas added that "we believe that all nations and democratic forces have the moral duty to denounce this action and to undertake specific measures against such an unjustifiable criminal action."  mariela vargas also urged the chilean people "to actively demand the immediate withdrawal of the invader."


Input: colonel rene emilio ponce, chief of the salvadoran joint staff, has stated that the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) does not have the slightest chance to launch a new offensive because the rank-and-file of this organization are totally demoralized due to the heavy casualties that they have taken.  he added that these casualties include nine "commanders."    col ponce added: "the armed forces have defeated the fmln in the northern zone and in soyapango, san salvador, san miguel and morazan, causing in the process over 2,000 casualties including several commanders and mercenaries."    the fmln has publicly admitted that "commanders" hernan solorzano ("dimas rodriguez"), jorge orlando sandoval ("oscar"), geomar ari ("cirilo"), ovidio lopez ("orlando morales"), and "political officers" jose santos llanes ("pepe") and milagros alvarado ("judy"), have been killed.    terrorist leaders misael gallardo, nicolas alberto saravia, and ricardo miranda have also been killed since the beginning of the failed fmln offensive on 11 november.    col ponce reported that many mercenaries, including some who looked european, died during the clash with the army in colonia escalon. ponce added that the families of these mercenaries are now inquiring about them in nicaragua.    col ponce believes that the sabotage which the fmln is carrying out by burning busses, destroying power pylons, and staging small- scale attacks, are merely the "last kicks" of a drowning person.    assisted by the air force, the salvadoran army continues to strike at the few terrorists strongholds in the north, parts of the capital, and other areas in the interior.    ponce indicated that the fmln is spreading lies in an attempt to maintain its credibility and to cover up the heavy casualties it has taken.  the casualties really number over 2,000 although the fmln claims only to have lost 400 people.    the official armed forces report issued on 30 november states that the fmln sustained 2,132 killed in action during the offensive while the government lost 476 troops.    col ponce added that the investigation continues into the death of four people who died in the crash of a plane that was bringing arms for the fmln from nicaragua.  the crash occured in an isolated area of usulutan department.    until yesterday the fmln had not admitted that the crew of the plane carrying arms that crashed on 25 september belonged to terrorist groups.  according to the fmln the crew members were salvadorans.    the terrorists reported that the dead crewmen were pilot osvaldo alfaro aguinada, also known as "luis" and "antiaircraft gunners" romel hernandez argueta ("helo"), isidro parada martinez ("denis"), and santiago rauda posada ("william").    col ponce stated that this "rumor is a communist maneuver to make sure that daniel ortega does not get blamed in the light of the international pressure against him because of his subversive campaign in area countries."    ponce added that the current strategy of the defeated fmln is limited to talking about false victories to news media that they control, so as not to demoralize their rank-and-file; to refuting army reports; and to disseminating false figures on casualties allegedly inflicted to the army.


Input: three members of the international peace brigades (brigadas de paz internacionales) assigned to guatemala were attacked yesterday by alleged criminals who stabbed them near the their brigade headquarters on mariscal street in this capital.    according to authorities from the international peace brigades, the victims were two canadian women and an american male citizen.    the report states that the three members were returning to their headquarters when they were intercepted and attacked by two young men who stabbed them.  the aggressors first stabbed the two women in the chest, causing deep wounds.  the american man tried to defend the two women but he suffered cuts on his hands and wrists, and around his waist.    the international peace brigades in guatemala report states:    we consider that the attack on their members represents an action of intimidation against this organization and the humanitarian task it carries out in guatemala.  the aggressors did not ask for money or try to steal anything from the three victims.  during the attack the women dropped their purses and the attackers did not try to steal them.    we consider that this is another attack in the escalation of violence to intimidate the international peace brigades, whose personnel have been receiving death threats since may.  two grenades were hurled at the organization's headquarters in august.    the international peace brigades are an international organizations that promotes the theory and practice of non-violence, seeking peace through non-violent means.  this peace involves negotiation, dialogue, and other non-violent methods.    the international peace brigades do not interfere in guatemalan domestic affairs or in the activities of any guatemalan organization. they only give humanitarian help and maintain an independent attitude.

alleged criminals


Input: peruvian ambassador in panama mario castro arenas today asked the peruvian president to send military planes to panama to evacuate peruvian citizens who are in danger.    the ambassador told a local radio station that he had urged peruvian president alan garcia to send planes that could also bring food and medicine to the panamanians.    castro arenas, who has been in lima since august this year, recalled by his government, said that early this morning he received a desperate call from a group of peruvian citizens who were afraid that they were about to be attacked by a mob of panamanians.    the ambassador explained that there is "widespread looting" in panama because the poorest people are hungry, and he added that the situation is one of "chaos and anarchy and not of tranquillity as the people in lima believe."    castro arenas explained that the attacks on buildings from which u.s. soldiers are being resisted is constantly threatening the civilian population.  he said that he could hear "the bombs going off" over the telephone.    castro arenas said that there are approximately 3,000 peruvians in panama.  he added that several people have sought refuge at the peruvian embassy in panama but did not specify the exact number.  he also said that "there is no one there to take care of them."    according to the ambassador, the peruvian diplomats are all blocked at their homes; their cars have been taken away, and one of them has been wounded by a gunshot.    castro arenas said that he is constantly receiving calls that keep him informed of what is going on in panama.  he said that the nations that have been showing so much concern over what is happening in panama should start urgently sending food and medicine and "not stop at mere declarations."


Input: the revolutionary national movement party has condemned the u.s. military intervention in panama and said that the northern power does not have the right to violate the principle of self-determination.    an official communique of the social democratic party demands the suspension of that military intervention and respect for panamanian sovereignty and for the principles of nonintervention and self-determination, which are recognized by the international community.    "the u.s. government does not have any legal right to deploy its military troops and murder civilians and soldiers who are defending their fatherland," the communique states.    "no matter who general (manuel antonio) noriega is, panama is not under u.s. political jurisdiction, and, in accordance with international law, we cannot accept such acts of aggression and force," the communique adds.


Input: from 10 to 12 december, presidents of five central american countries held a special meeting to mediate between the salvadoran government and guerrillas.  but so far no agreement has been reached by both sides on bringing about a cease-fire during christmas.  their 1-month-long fierce battle has left 3,000 people dead and also cast a shadow over the central american peace process.    the current civil war in el salvador was triggered off by the destruction of the headquarters of the labor federation, the country's biggest trade union organization.  on 31 october, an ultrarightist "dare-to-die squad" supported by the government and the military used a heavy bomb to bombard the headquarters building of the labor federation, killing and wounding over 40 people including principal leaders of the federation.  on 2 november, the guerrillas issued a statement strongly condemning the terrorist activity of the squad and declaring the cancellation of the third round of talks with the government scheduled in venezuela.  on the same night the guerrillas launched a large-scale offensive "to eliminate fascism."  about 8,000 guerrillas swiftly captured many towns and strategic positions northwest of the capital and cut key communications lines between the capital and the hinterland.  in the meantime, they also attacked some 50 government army bases and police stations in the hinterland, thus controlling 30 percent of the country's territory.  they have established "local people's governments" in 8 of the 14 provinces throughout the country.  during this period, the government dispatched armored cars and air force units to carry out counterattacks.  they wantonly bombarded the residential areas near the capital city occupied by the guerrillas.  after 8 days of fierce battle, the guerrillas shot down 12 government fighter planes and helicopters; destroyed 34 tanks, armored cars, and patrol cars; and captured a large amount of arms and ammunition.  subsequently battles continued in regions outside the capital city.  since early december both sides have engaged in fierce battles in the capital city and the hinterland. the guerrillas used mortars to attack the building of the government army general staff headquarters, the u.s.  embassy, and the presidential restaurant, whereas the government army dispatched planes to bombard the guerrilla positions.  fierce battles have also broken out in chalatenango, san miguel, and other towns, thereby causing heavy casualties and property losses.    this war has deep-rooted causes.  el salvador is a small country with an area of 21,000 square km and a population of 5 million. during this 10-year-long war, 70,000 people have died and the national economy has been seriously destroyed.  the ultrarightist nationalist republican alliance (arena) won the general election early this year, thus aggravating the conflict between the guerrillas and the government.  prior to the election, the guerrillas put forward a peace proposal demanding six months' posponement of the election so as to make their participation possible.  but this proposal was rejected by the government.  because almost half of the voters did not vote, the guerrillas declared it did not recognize the cristiani government. pressed by domestic public opinion and urged by the central american peace agreement, the government and the guerrillas held two rounds of talks in september and october.  during their talks the guerrillas demanded that the government stop its suppression, introduce political, economic, and judicial reforms, reorganize the armed forces, and punish the "dare-to-die squad."  the government insisted that the guerrillas should lay down their arms before reforms were carried out.  the hard-line position of the government reflected the established policy of the ruling party, which has all along stood for ruling the country by military means, advocated the suppression of democratic forces, and supported the "dare-to-die squad" in carrying out assassination.  a university president in central america was assassinated by the squad for criticizing the ultrarightist policy of the ruling party.  recently the ruling party supported the "dare-to-die squad" in attacking the labor federation's building. this ignited the current civil war and undermined the peace process in the country. the guerrillas issued a statement on 12 december condemning the meeting of the five heads of state for being partial to the ultrarightist salvadorian government.  they made it clear that they would not accept any effort to dissolve the guerrilla forces and would carry on their struggle.  (continued)

guerrillas

"dare-to-die squad"

headquarters building of the labor federation

u.s.  embassy

presidential restaurant

heavy bomb

mortars


Input: guatemalan christian democratic president vinicio cerezo today called the guatemalan people to "think" during christmas about the panamanian, salvadoran, and romanian people, who are experiencing a "difficult" situation.    during a message delivered through a national network, cerezo said that "christmas is a special time to sit around with the family and reflect upon the future and the goals one wishes to attain."    president cerezo said: "i would like to reflect with you, because when one takes a look around the world, one sees the great difficulties that many countries have been experiencing to achieve and build democracy."    cerezo mentioned the case of romania, where workers who were demonstrating to demand wage increases and a democratizing process were shot by the security forces resulting in thousands of dead and wounded.    cerezo also talked about the crisis panama is currently experiencing and said that now the "panamanian people are going to have a very sad christmas and will face many difficulties to get food."    president cerezo stressed that "problems should be solved through dialogue, that war should be avoided and that guatemala must prevent disaster from reaching the country, as has happened in other nations."    cerezo admitted that guatemala is paying a high price to solve its economic situation, but he stressed that all the nations of the world had to pay high prices to be able to make progress.    cerezo stressed that "japan, which is one of the most developed countries of the world, experienced a world war.  germany also experienced difficult times and learned the lesson that the war did not bring any benefits to them."    cerezo said that the 4 years of his government, which was inaugurated in january 1986, "have been truly interesting."  he said that he has faced problems and that he has been criticized, but he added that the crisis, however, is being solved through dialogue.    president cerezo added that the economic measures adopted by his government have increased the cost of living.  cerezo said that guatemala is one of the three latin american countries that have registered economic growth, because there are more businesses, stores, and employment here.


Input: ecuadoran embassy sources have reported that 55 ecuadoreans, including ecuadoran agriculture minister mario jalil, were evacuated last night from panama in an airplane from their country.    the airplane, which is the first to land in panama after the u.s. military intervention, landed a cargo of medicine at omar torrijos international airport, after first having landed at the u.s. howard air base.    an ecuadoran diplomat said that "the airport smelled of dead bodies."  the nearby tocumen air base was the battleground for harsh clashes between u.s. and panamanian troops, and it was bombed by the united states.    an airplane from mexico also arrived in panama last night bringing food and medicine, but with the purpose of evacuating mexican citizens back to their country.    other airplanes from spain, colombia, germany, and several other european and latin american countries are waiting for u.s. southern command authorization to enter panamanian air space and land in panama.


Input: foreign minister hernan felipe errazuriz has made it clear that the chilean community and diplomatic personnel in romania are safe and sound.    the foreign minister also pointed out that the cuban government of fidel castro is the only one in the world, along with albania, that has not understood that there are new winds of liberty and progress blowing.  the foreign minister pointed out that it is quite normal for fidel castro to ignore this fact because he has been in power for the past 30 years.    regarding chile's relations with panama, the foreign minister said that he is very satisfied that the situation is returning to normal in that country.  he also said that it is a very positive sign that ships with chilean exports will be able to resume normal use of the panama canal beginning on 27 december, as these ships had been held back.


Input: when i apply all my argumentative and rethorical energy to the subject of panama, and i do so with absolute sincerity, not simply to take a stance, but because as a latin american i feel greatly offended in a way that you could not understand.  i feel terribly offended.  if i make demands and if i condemn, i know that nobody will quickly follow me down this road of firmness and condemnation. but this is a secondary aspect. i wish i were followed, but if am not, this does not detract from the justice of what i am doing. one tries to do what is intrinsically good, not simply what one can necessarily win.    (reporter) (question indistinct)    (garcia) pardon me. it would be worse if you didn't do it.  it would be less effective, though it would be somewhat effective. don't be unjust.  it would be even less effective if we all remained silent and said: yes, uncle sam, you are the master and we must obey. we are the uncle tom in latin america.    (reporter) (question indistinct)    (garcia) look, i don't expect....(changes thought) we don't have to mix them (passage indistinct). we continue our negotiation with the imf, and that to me still seems very positive. may it not turn out as the illusion i had that relations were changing at the poltical level. first, i would not allow a hardening of peru attitude toward the united states.  there is a hardening when one slaps someone else in the face.  in this case we have a concrete subject of discussion. there is a great issue to discuss between latin america and the united states.  you don't have the right to invade.  who called you?  endara himself had to say -- because he knows what the panamanian people thinking, though a percentage of them are indifferent -- that he did not call them.  do you know what that means?  president endara says that he didn't call for the invasion.  this should be automatically understood. for some reason he said it.  so i would not call it a hardening. i beg you to understand the exact shade of the term. we are energic in opposing a concrete fact, but what do the people of new hampshire, the people of california, the people of georgia, the people of jefferson, of whitman, of linclon -- that great defender of human rights and racial equality -- what have they have to do with that act? we have to respect the greatness of the united states. from latin america, the united states is seen in various ways. for the time being, i see it as the rome of the modern world. i have always thought that the latin americans must be understood inside the united states. the latin american experience has to seen inside the united states. then a sound relationshinp will emerge between the two continents. because the united states is the rome of the modern world -- for the capacity of its atomic legions; for their having concentrated science and philosophy, although both were brought over from europe as the romans brought them from greece; for their having generated an extraordinary technology, and for their being a democracy -- the united states must be respected.  we will have to distinguish all that from a particular act by the u.s. administration. this is why we say americans referring to the people of the united states, and say yankee to define some acts by the u.s. administration. so i don't believe, sir, that there is a hardening, and i also believe that they understand it very well. i believe they understand me when i tell them that i cannot sit at the table with them when they are killing panamanian people. let the ministers, the police chiefs, the prosecutors, the attorney generals sit at a table.  that is good.  but the representative of the nation?  do you understand what i mean? i think this is a good opportunity to explain it. i do not believe it would be a bad thing for mr mantilla to sit with mr bennett or with the justice minister of colombia. i do not believe this would be bad. this is the proof that we want to continue the antidrug plan. but those who personify the nation cannot meet.  we cannot do so under the present circumstances.  so this is not hardening.  as for the imf, i believe that it is an absolutely different matter.  these matters are well differentiated. i am not here as a demagogue, as some right wing media assert.  those people are fightened when i draw a lot of people despite my poltical decline.  i am not being a demagogue, and i am not here because the best way to win votes is to indulge in anti-american politics from here until 28 july 1990. i will not lapse into that irresponsibility. here we have a concrete fact that has nothing to do with our cultural, commercial, political, and economic relations with organizations where the united states may or may not have influence. i separate things very well.  (continued)


Input: the argentine chamber of deputies today "strongly repudiated" the u.s. military intervention in panama by approving a declaration sponsored by the justicialist party (pj) and the radical civic union (ucr) blocs.  the proposal met with strong opposition from the democratic centrist union (ucede) deputies.    the declaration proposed by pj deputy juan pablo cafiero calls for the immediate withdrawal of the u.s. troops that invaded panama to oust general manuel noriega's government.    it also urges the united states to "strictly comply with the torrijos-carter treaties" on the future of the panama canal.  the declaration rejects all types of dictatorial regimes, implicitly referring to noriega.    this statement was included in the declaration at the suggestion of federal party deputy ruth monjardin after obtaining the support of jose manzano, the speaker for the pj bloc; saturnino arana (pj), chairman of the foreign relations committee; and ucr deputy dante caputo.    the declaration also received the support of intransigent party deputy oscar alende, christian democratic party deputy hector gatti, and popular democratic party deputy alberto aramouni.  deputy luis zamora of the movement toward socialism rejected the declaration on the grounds that it was meaningless "to ask anything of a country that is killing panamanians."    the ucede opposed the declaration, and bloc speaker federico clerici was mocked by pj and ucr deputies when he read an alternate declaration prepared by ucede deputy adelina dalessio de viola, which urged the governments of both the united states and panama to "stop using violence."    ucede deputy francisco duranona y vedia criticized the declaration by stating that it implied support for general noriega's regime. deputy federico zamora, also from the ucede, lamented that "there are so many forgetful people here.  a lot is being said about what happened in panama, but nothing is being said about romania."    former foreign minister and ucr deputy dante caputo supported the declaration and said that "to accept the u.s. invasion would be tantamount to admitting that the end justifies the means," adding that such ideas must be rejected, even though panama may have had an "illegal, dictatorial and corrupt" government.    toward the end of the debate, pj bloc speaker jose manzano said that "by criticizing this savagery we seek to help relations between the united states and latin america (le hacemos un favor a la relacion de estados unidos con america latina).  he added that the united states has different standards for the desire for freedom of tall blond east germans and of short dark panamanians."


Input: a bomb exploded in the bathroom of the chilean-u.s.  cultural institute at 1467 moneda street while 360 students were in the building.  the police have said that the bomb contained 1 kg of explosives made up of ammonium gelignite and anfo (ammonium nitrate- fuel oil).  the bomb was set off by a fuse system.    the bomb caused serious damage to the 5th-floor mens room.  the police reported that the explosion caused a panic but no casualties.

cultural institute

bomb

1 kg of explosives


Input: father jose maria tojeira s.j. (society of jesus), the jesuit provincial spokesman for central america, has released a note denying inexact reports on the case of the murdered jesuit priests.  he said that they not were marxist guerrilla sympathizers.    the note reads as follows:    23 december 1989    prov. 264/89    director dutriz    director of la prensa grafica    san salvador    dear mr.director:    the newspaper which you direct, on 21 december 1989, published on pages 6 and 7 two articles on the six jesuit priests that were murdered on 16 november.  these articles are written in such a way that they distort the reality of the case or they incorrectly describe the activity of the society of jesus.    on page 6 an article entitled "fratricidal struggle," which is signed by mr. luis pazos, says that "the priests were marxist guerrilla sympathizers" and that the university in which they work "is known in el salvador as an intellectual center for guerrillas."    the article speaks of "these priests' neomarxist-philosophical position which is contrary to christian doctrine."    i wish to state that:    1. the murdered priests were not sympathizers of the marxist guerrillas.  they only tried to talk with the different sectors in conflict in el salvador, seeking to mediate in an effort to find peace with justice.    2. perhaps some people in el salvador consider the uca (central american university) as an intellectual center for guerrillas, but there are also many people who think that the uca courageously follows the church's social doctrine.  this statement, if made without the reservation that it only represents the views of a group of people and the fact that the article forgets to mention the many others do not believe, is in our opinion a manipulation of the truth.    3. the position of the priests was not "neomarxist" in the philosophical field.  father ellacuria came from the school of the spanish philosopher zubiri, whose thoughts were deeply rooted in christian philosophy.  father amando lopez wrote his doctoral thesis on the spanish philosopher and priest amor ruibal.  the "zubirian" inclination of father ellacuria was internationally known in most philosophical schools.  those who accuse the murdered priests of having neomarxist philosophical positions are publicly acknowledging their ignorance.    4. statements such as these, which were repeated in other media before the murder of the priests, partly promoted their murder.  we therefore consider their repetition to be a very serious matter.    on page 7, and in an editorial article, the newspaper mentions the need to avoid "the damage caused by private pseudo-investigations, wherever they might come from."  on this statement i want to simply add that in a case like this the injured party has every right, both in el salvador and in any other part of the world, to conduct its own private investigation.  furthermore, unless publicly and irrefutably proven harmful, no one has the right to condemn it "in advance" saying that it is playing detectives.    i beg of you mr. director, based on the right to reply and the justice that the murdered jesuits and those who believe in them deserve, that you publish this clarifications in your newspaper with the same desire to reach your readers as those who wrote the articles.    yours truly.    father jose maria tojeira    society of jesus provincial."

ellacuria

amando lopez


Input: countrymen: now that the new year is just moments away, we appear before the nation, as we have done in the previous years of our administration, to express our most sincere wishes for the personal well-being of all honduran people. our greatest wish is for each individual in the nation, without exception, to enjoy well- being and peace at home. we can affirm that during our tenure we have constantly striven toward the higher goals of collective progress and well-being in the specific situations we have faced during these 4 years of government -- situations that are natural to a developing country like ours.    on 25 january 1990 we will present to congress a report summing up the achievements made during our administration. thus, all the people will be truthfully informed of our accomplishments and of the projects that have been undertaken so that the honduran people can develop material and social conditions in accordance with the historical evolution to which we aspire, both as individuals and as a state. (passage omitted)    we have expressed our desire for peace at six central american summits, where we defended the democratic processes and condemned any form of totalitarianism as well as the terrorist actions that have caused many deaths and brought sorrow to the central american people.    i am proud to say that the tela summit has contributed to the search for peace and democracy in central america, especially in those countries plagued by violence.    we have always maintained that great sacrifices are necessary if we are to make social progress, and we have constantly worked to establish the necessary conditions for the country's development.    our achievements are lasting and have given the country better prospects for the future.  that has been our main objective.  we did not resort to demagoguery, and we spoke the truth -- during the electoral campaign and later as the leader of the nation's destiny -- so as not to create false expectations among the people.  (passage omitted)    i want to reassert that once i step down from the presidency, i will continue from the private sector to strive for the unity of the honduran people so that with effort and work we may improve our living standards.  (passage omitted)    finally i want to express my sincere desire for success -- for the well-being of the fatherland -- to rafael leonardo callejas romero, who will take office as president on 27 january l990.  thank you very much.


Input: the press and information directorate of the presidency announces to the nicaraguan people and to the international community that according to preliminary reports, on 1 january at 1930, a group of counterrevolutionary mercenaries, financed by the u.s.  government, ambushed members of a religious group headed by msgr pablo smith, bishop of the bluefields apostolic vicariate, in a place known as ojo de agua, located between aranchamba and coperna, northern atlantic region, resulting in the death of nuns maureen connaly, an american citizen, and teresa rosales misquita.  bishop pablo smith and francisca colomer misquita were seriously wounded.  this is part of the escalation of violence by the u.s.  government, which invaded panama and conducted a military incursion into the home of the nicaraguan ambassador in that country.    the nicaraguan government condemns these serious incidents, which endanger the peace efforts conducted by the central american presidents and supported by the nicaraguan people.  nicaraguan president daniel ortega saavedra calls on the international community and on the country's political and social forces to condemn this brutal crime perpetrated against religious people.  this action is similar to the assassination of the six jesuit priests perpetrated in san salvador on 16 november 1989 by the salvadoran army, which just as the counterrevolution and the other rightist nicaraguan forces, defends the aggressive policies of the united states.    managua, 2 january 1990.

salvadoran army


Input: the blow dealt to the latin american conscience by the u.s. intervention in panama is about to deflate the optimistic hopes for a joint struggle against the drug trade.  even george bush's 15 february meeting in cartagena de indias, colombia, with the presidents of bolivia, peru, and colombia -- the leading producers of coca leaves -- is in jeopardy.  peruvian chief executive alan garcia made it known that he will not attend the meeting in protest of the panama invasion. bolivian president jaime paz zamora is being questioned by the bolivian supreme court over the extradition to the united states of former colonel luis arce gomez.  the court regards paz zamora's decision on this matter as undue exercise of jurisdictional powers and an attack on the judicial branch.  bolivian chief justice edgar oblitas charged that the extradition of arce gomez, who was a notorious drug trafficker, an executioner and a plotter, has prevented the authorities from clearing up several recent events in bolivian history, which thus remain just partially known.    for its part, colombia reacted with surprise and indignation to reports that the united states plans to establish airspace and naval patrols within colombian jurisdiction without consulting with bogota. the white house in washington stated later that the patrols will take place over international waters and that they will entail concerted actions.  it is known, however, that an eventual blockade of the colombian coast is part of a package of special measures coordinated by u.s. defense secretary dick cheney.    the colombian police, who have been credited with seizing 80 percent of the total annual amount of cocaine seized worldwide, have in recent weeks dealt severe blows to the medellin cartel drug lords. the punitive u.s. action would in practice entail that the united states does not recognize these achievements and would create an embarrassing situation for president virgilio barco in a year when colombians will elect a new president, members of congress, mayors, departmental deputies, and councilmen.    the claim that the action is intended to more effectively prevent the drug trade is highly suspicious, taking into account that it will not be matched by equivalent stiff measures in the country holding the world record in drug consumption and that u.s. troops are currently occupying colombia's neighboring country, panama.    where does the u.s. desire to chase criminals end and where does its imperialist desire to limit latin american sovereignty and to decide the fate of our peoples start?  the panamanian case is an example.  it is not not only legitimate but necessary for us to be distrustful.


Input: five colombian citizens and two argentines, including a woman, have been identified as the individuals allegedly responsible for the theft of a latn (national air transport company) plane in the chaco region on 3 january.  the argentine woman was working in a hotel and her accomplices entered the country as tourists in august.  according to their hotel registration forms, some of them are veterinarians and others are tour guides.    according to a report on the stolen two-engine latn cessna released during a news conference at the investigative police department this morning, it is not known if the plane was insured.    the individuals who participated in the theft were identified as colombian citizens juan jose gill, 33, jorge quevedo paredes, juan carlos marin, alberto echeverry, and alvaro humberto basto mancera, and argentine citizens miguel angel anzevino and silvana alejandra novillo, 24. (passage omitted)