Input: concerning the massacre at the fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation) headquarters, the fmln reports the following:    1. we blame this cowardly crime on the general staff and colonel rene emilio ponce, who yesterday promised to react to our attacks on the general staff.  it has been confirmed that the high command is waging war against the people (words indistinct) established in san jose with regard to his view of the hostilities, that he considers popular movements to be fmln support organizations.    2. this terrorist action, added to those committed at the university; upon the homes of political leaders; and at the headquarters of the oscar arnulfo romero committee of mothers, relatives of political prisoners, missing, and murdered people (comadres), which have resulted in 9 deaths and 46 injuries, create a new situation in the country that forces the people's struggle to implement the use of self-defense.    the fmln had relaxed some of its positions in an effort to open a true negotiation process, but this inadmissible situation reaffirms that it is not possible to abandon the armed struggle.    3. these events carried out by the high command and la tandona (name given to 1966 graduates of the captain general gerardo barrios military school) endanger the caracas meeting.    we join in the profound grief of the popular movement and the members of fenastras over their comrades' death, especially that of their beloved leader febe elizabeth velazquez.  all of these people are added to the growing list of crimes that these sinister forces have perpetrated over the past 10 years.  only a resolute, combative struggle with weapons in hand will do justice for all of these crimes.    la tandona and arena (nationalist republican alliance) mean dictatorship and war.  everyone must go against arena and la tandona.    (signed) general command of the fmln -- commanders salvador santos sereng, francisco bovell, shafik jorge handal, eduardo sancho, joaquin villalobos    (dated) 31 october 1989, el salvador


Input: liberal party member fabio roa, candidate for mayor of puerto lopez, meta department, in the country's southeast, and his brother - in - law norberto saavedra were shot to death in a busy street of this town in broad daylight, it has been reported in bogota.    as a result of the double homicide, mayor ricardo bravo established a curfew, effective for an indefinite period between 1800 and 0600, and forbade the sale of alcoholic beverages.    roa and saavedra were gunned down by hitmen in a jeep. the gunmen escaped after perpetrating the crime before numerous passersby, who looked on in astonishment in the busy street.    authorities immediately initiated a comprehensive military operation to try to locate the assassins.

hitmen

fabio roa

norberto saavedra


Input: farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) forces today attacked the 4th infantry brigade installations in el refugio, chalatenango department. the report indicates that guerrilla forces attacked the 4th infantry brigade's installations at 0300 with artillery pieces, hitting the sleeping quarters and lookout positions.  five 4th infantry brigade casualties have been confirmed so far.  let us all be against arena (nationalist republican alliance) and la tandona (name given to 1966 graduates of captain gerardo barrios military academy, most of whom hold top positions in salvadoran armed forces) to the end!    furthermore, today at 1150 guerrilla forces, in combination with militia forces, ambushed a military truck convoy moving from east to west on the coastal highway, near the place known as la finquita, tecoluca jurisdiction, san vicente department.  the strength of our attack resulted in one heavily damaged truck and seven casualties.


Input: mr president, regarding point no. 6 in which you spoke about specific results concerning the demobilization of the contras, to what specific amounts is the nicaraguan government referring to?  are you saying that 20 percent, 10 percent or 50 percent of the contras have to be demobilized in order for the cease-fire to be implemented again?    (ortega) the important point is to begin implementing the plan. then, the number of contras that are demobilized would be established according to the decisions made at the united nations.  that is, how many contras can be demobilized right away, how many of them will be returning to nicaragua, how many will go to third countries. therefore, to the extent the plan is being implemented, we will be willing to reinstate the cease-fire.    (reporter) mr president, up until last week, the u.s. congress discussed giving more aid to the contras.  no one even wanted to talk about the contras, it was a stale issue.  however, it has become a burning issue overnight and everybody is now talking about aid for the contras and even the possibility of giving military aid to them.  last night, the u.s. senate issued a resolution strongly condenming the nicaraguan government.  my questions are: first, why has there been such a sudden and unexpected change.  second, what is your message to the u.s. congress.    (ortega) u.s. congressmen are only concerned about their reelection.  with the due respect that some of them deserve, u.s. congressmen are only worried about their reelection.  i have talked to many of them here and they are cynical.  they tell me: i disagree with that but i have to think about those who elected me.  if those who elected me have a different opinion, then i have to express support for their viewpoints and forget about my own opinion.  let us not mislead ourselves.  you know very well how u.s. congressmen act. therefore, it was easier for them to simply approve funds for the contras as they had done -- because the congress had approved the so-called humanitarian aid for the contras (words indistinct) and let the war continue, and leave the burden on the central american governments, especially on the nicaraguan government and people who are suffering the effects of this war.  therefore, we have been reporting the killings, the assassinations, the crimes, the contras attacks, and the yankee congress has remained silent.    therefore, we see an easy-going attitude in the u.s. congress. obviously, when we announce we are not going to extend the cease-fire the u.s. congress reacts immediately.  they react because they are fully aware that they are meddling in nicaraguan politics.  they will have to resume discussions on the nicaraguan issue, and they do not want to discuss the nicaraguan issue again.  it was easy to set aside the nicaraguan issue and to simply approve funds for the contras so the contras could continue killing nicaraguans while everything else remains calm -- let the peace plan continue as far as it can and as far as president bush allows it to develop.  the u.s. congressmen can then forget about the nicaraguan issue and work on other domestic or international issues in which they are more interested.    however, when nicaragua says: we will not extend the cease-fire, then they raise an outcry.  why do they raise an outcry?  because they know they will have to resume discussions on the nicaraguan issue. moreover, there might be a feverish congressman who will propose giving military aid to the contras.  well, let them discuss military aid.  do they want to discuss military aid, well that is their problem.  we simply believe that the way the yankee congress actions will ease or hinder the electoral process.  the development of elections on 25 february will depend now on the yankee congress and on the yankee president.  it will depend on them.  we have the desire to do it.  however, whether or not the elections are held on 25 february will depend on them.  (continued)


Input: the red cross has announced that one person was killed and another injured by the explosion of a car circulating this afternoon near the salvadoran army's 1st infantry brigade in san salvador.    according to the red cross, the dead man, who was not identified, was driving the vehicle which, to all appearances, was to be placed near the military headquarters, one of the most important in el salvador.    the explosion injured one civilian, a female street peddler who was nearby and had to be taken to a hospital.    following the explosion, military troops initiated a large-scale security operation.    it has also been reported that a bus was burned today by unidentified individuals protesting the dymanite attack perpetrated yesterday by unidentified individuals against the headquarters of the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras).    the attack against fenastras killed 10, including leader febe elizabeth velasquez, and more than 30 people injured.

unidentified individuals

salvadoran army's 1st infantry brigade

bus

headquarters of the salvadoran workers national union federation

febe elizabeth velasquez

dymanite


Input: mariela espinoza villegas, a higher court magistrate in antioquia, was assassinated this evening in medellin.  magistrate espinoza villegas was recently appointed to the post and was a native of abejorral municipality.  she was attacked when entering her home.  two policemen who were acting as her bodyguards and a private citizen were wounded in the attack.    meanwhile, congressman manuel francisco madero, a conservative party representative in congress, was assassinated this evening in bogota when two men opened fired from a vehicle.  madero, a 60-year- old politician, represented rio negro province.

two men

mariela espinoza villegas

manuel francisco madero


Input: the peruvian government today turned responsibility for the internal order in lima over to the armed forces, 2 days before an "armed strike" declared by the maoist shining path terrorist group goes into effect.    according to an official report, the militarization of lima was declared at the same time a group of 100 hooded shining path activits staged a demonstration, engaged in a shoot-out, and hurled explosives at the police in la victoria district.    interior minister agustin matilla reported that 2 people died and 15 others were wounded in the the clash, which place while a religious group was carrying out a peaceful march.    according to a decree, the armed forces will take control of lima department and el callao province, next to the capital, where a state of emergency is in force.    on 23 october, the peruvian government extended for 1 month the state of emergency in lima due to an outburst of the political violence that has resulted in more than 350 deaths nationwide last month.    despite the state of emergency, which suspends important constitutional guarantees, until today internal order was the responsibility of the national police.    president alan garcia today told the media that the police arrested 149 people, of whom about 100 are alleged shining path members, during today's riots.    the peruvian chief of state said that the riots were meant "to hinder" the municipal elections scheduled for 12 november.  he added that his administration will exert "all the necessary energy to combat subversion."    the shining path members today demonstrated with shouts favoring the "armed struggle," and they handed out leaflets calling on the people to engage in an "armed strike" on 3 november.    the shining path, which has been engaging in warfare for the past 10 years, intends to paralyze lima with the "armed strike" -- a general strike under armed coercion -- only 9 days before the municipal elections.    the "shining path" has also announced it intends to boycott the elections (passage indistinct) leader of the organization, abimael guzman.    the main peruvian political parties, the church, and labor and professional organizations have called, for the same day, a demonstration in favor of peace and in defense of democracy, which is considered to be threatened by terrorism.    the "shining path" has intensified its armed activities nationwide due to the 12 november municipal elections.  as a result, hundreds of candidates have withdrawn from the race.    in its proclamations, the "shining path" threatened "to annihilate, sooner of later" all candidates who run in the municipal elections. the municipal elections are being held just 6 months before the presidential and congressional elections, which are scheduled for 8 april 1990.

activits

shining path

explosives


Input: for the third day in a row, the bloodbath continues to rock this capital city and the end to this situation, which is alarming the people, does not seem to be near.  according to reports, the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) urban commands failed once again this afternoon when they attacked the headquarters of the 1st infantry brigade located in laico neighborhood.  the fmln urban commands fired two rpg-2 rocket launchers which hit a private vehicle with license plate 72246 that was passing the military garrison.  as a result of the rebel attack, an agronomist, identified as 57- year- old jose hermogenes martinez, was killed.  we did not take pictures of his body because it was totally mutilated as a result of the strong explosion.  also injured was a street vendor identified as maria del carmen perez.    (begin recording) (unidentified speaker) there were four men in a pickup, two seated in front and two in the back.  the two who were in the back took out the bazookas and fired on the garrison's gate.  a man driving a suzuki drove at the same time the rockets were launched and he was hit.    (reporter) how many people were in the vehicle?    (unidentified speaker) four.  the car where the injured man was? only one person, the man who was injured.    (reporter) how many people were in the vehicle from where the rockets where fired?    (unidentified speaker) four persons.    (reporter) at what time did that happen?    (unidentified speaker) about 30 minutes ago, at approximately 1530.    (reporter) how many rockets were fired?    (unidentified speaker) two.    (second unidentified speaker) the man was in the car.  after the devices exploded -- we do not know what kind were fired -- there was smoke and gunpowder all over the place.  his clothes and body were totally destroyed.  when we took him to the rosales hospital we talked to a doctor, and he said that they were going to do all they could to save his life.  (end recording)    meanwhile, colonel francisco elena fuentes, commander of the military garrison, regretted the attack and said that these attacks are within the framework of the violence unleashed in the past few days by groups that are out of control.    (begin recording) (fuentes) you have already seen the vehicle.  we believe the rockets were aimed at the gate, at the guards standing at the entrance of the headquarters.  perhaps they were aimed at me because i had been in the area 5 minutes earlier.    those people are completely out of their minds.  they do not care if the kill innocent civilians.  these could be groups that the fmln can no longer control or perhaps they are only killers who only know how to murder people.  (end recording)    the injured persons were taken to rosales hospital in san salvador where they were given emergency treatment.  the street vendor says that it was a miracle that she was not killed.    (begin recording) (perez) i do not know what happened.  i was just sitting there and i heard the noise (words indistinct).  (end recording)    meanwhile, the fmln urban guerrillas set fire to a public bush in santa marta, san jacinton neighborhood.  the rebels distributed leaflets stating that they burned the bus in reprisal for the killing of leftist leader fede elizabeth velasquez.

urban commands

urban guerrillas

fmln

headquarters of the 1st infantry brigade

public bush

jose hermogenes martinez

maria del carmen perez

rpg-2 rocket


Input: the nicaraguan government today condemned the dynamite attack on the headquarters of the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras).    a communique issued by the presidency accuses the death squads of perpetrating the 31 october attack in which a powerful bomb exploded at the fenastras headquarters killing nine people, including the well-known union leader elizabeth velazquez.    this terrorist attack against fenastras, which revives recent history in the neighboring country, proves the criminal nature of the ultraright-wing forces serving imperialist interests, and reveals their true intentions, despite their hypocritical statements about desiring peace, freedom, and democracy, the document states.    the communique adds that this and other crimes oblige the salvadoran government to defend its people's human rights and to find and punish those who are guilty.    shortly after the attack, the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) said that it was carried out in response to the 30 october guerrilla attack on the army's general staff headquarters.

death squads

farabundo marti national liberation front

headquarters of the salvadoran workers national union federation

elizabeth velazquez

dynamite


Input: the guerrillas' announcement today that they decided to suspend their dialogue with the salvadoran government caused great surprise among various circles in the country that vowed to make new efforts to reestablish them.    the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) suspended its dialogue with the government of president alfredo cristiani to protest a dynamite attack on the headquarters of a labor union on 31 october that left 10 dead and 30 injured.    according to the guerrillas, the government and the armed forces are responsible for the dynamite attack on the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras).    the fmln, in a communique signed by its top five leaders, stated that "we must not allow our presence in the dialogue to be used to cover up the government's responsibility for that massacre."    it also demanded that the oas, united nations, and the church offer guarantees to el salvador's opposition groups.    reverend edgar palacios, coordinator of the permanent committee for the national dialogue (cpdn), which is made up of over 60 social organizations, told acan-efe that "we regret this kind of decision very much, but we will immediately contact the guerrillas to try to resume the dialogue."    palacios added that "if the door of dialogue and negotiation is closed, the door of war will open."    eduardo colindres, leader of the christian democratic party, the main opposition party, said that the dialogue between the government and the guerrillas "must continue."    "the government of the rightist nationalist republican alliance (arena) must investigate and punish those responsible for the crime committed against fenastras; however, the dialogue must not be suspended," colindres added.    juan jose martel, leader of the social christian people's movement (mpsc), which is a member of the leftist democratic convergence, expressed surprise over the guerrillas' decision.    martel said that right-wing salvadoran groups are trying to eliminate the dialogue process, which seeks to end the war through negotiated political means.    so far, no government spokesman has reacted to the fmln's decision to suspend the dialogue that began in mid-september and would have continued on 20 and 21 november in caracas, venezuela.    palacios, along with other religious, political, and labor leaders, headed a march to accompany the bodies of 10 workers who were killed during the dynamite attack on the fenastras headquarters in downtown san salvador, only 200 meters from a national police garrison.    the union members' bodies, including that of fenastras leader febe elizabeth velasquez, were accompanied by several thousand workers who shouted antigovernment slogans and carried red flowers.    tension was high during the march, mainly because of the heavy military presence in san salvador's main streets and because the union members detained at least 30 plainclothes policemen who, according to the unionists, infiltrated the demonstration.    the march ended at the general cemetery where the bodies of the union members were buried.

government

armed forces

salvadoran workers national union federation

febe elizabeth velasquez

dynamite


Input: venezuelan president carlos andres perez and costa rican president oscar arias are working hard so that the break in the talks between the guerillas and the salvadoran government will be only temporary.    arias today in san jose announced that on 6 november he will meet in san jose with representatives of the salvadoran rebels, adding that he had talked with president perez regarding the need to "call on the parties involved to maintain their willingness to talk."    the costa rican president, who did not disclose the time and place of his meeting with the rebels,, said that his goal is to "urge them to promise that the suspension of the dialogue will only be temporary."    arias, 1987 nobel peace prize winner for his peacemaking efforts in central america, admitted, however, that "perhaps this is not the best time for the talks between the government and the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) to be resumed."    in the past 8 days in el salvador, there have been several attacks on military installations and labor union headquarters, during which 10 persons were killed and many injured.    the salvadoran guerrillas decided to suspend the talks with the government -- the first round of talks held in mexico city in september and the second round in san jose, costa rica, in october -- following the 31 october attack on a labor union headquarters in san salvador that resulted in the deaths of 10 labor leaders.    "i view this interruption of the dialogue with great saddness and regret; however, i believe that this is only a stumbling block in a peace process that is not a very easy one," the costa rican president said.    president arias said that he had asked his venezuelan colleague -- who was to have hosted the next round of talks between the salvadoran government and the fmln -- to join in his efforts to urge the parties involved to maintain their willingness to talk "when the situation improves."    "on the path for peace there will be times when steps backwards are taken -- like the one currently being taken in el salvador and previously in nicaragua," president arias said in allusion to the decision made by nicaraguan president daniel ortega's government not to extend the cease-fire with the contras.

labor union headquarters


Input: salvadoran president alfredo cristiani today announced that his government will attend the meeting with the salvadoran guerrillas scheduled for 20 november in caracas, venezuela, despite the farabundo marti national liberation front's (fmln) decision to suspend the dialogue.    cristiani disclosed that the government will investigate the circumstances of the attack that killed 10 trade union members on 31 october, which the fmln has blamed on army and government sectors.  on that date, the fmln decided to suspend the dialogue that had began on 17 october in costa rica.    however, the salvadoran president rejected "the irresponsible and malicious accusations made by the fmln that the attack had been carried out by the armed forces with the authorization of the president of the republic."    after suspending the dialogue, the salvadoran guerrillas asked the united nations, the oas, and the salvadoran catholic church "for guarantees for opposition organizations."    the presidents of costa rica and venezuela, oscar arias and carlos andres perez, respectively, today offered their mediation to get the dialogue under way.

army and government sectors


Input: vice president francisco merino says that the guerrillas are hurting themselves by carrying out attacks such as the one perpetrated recently.  he said the rebels are acting like ostriches by hiding their heads under the sand.    (begin recording) (merino) logically that is no solution. they must realize that the people have rejected them.  the people condemn all of these actions.  the latest attacks are hurting the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) itself.  they have been isolated internationally, the people have rejected them, and the government and the army are fulfulling their constitutional role.  therefore, they must continue with the talks and participate in them seriously by reaching agreements that can bring peace to all. the terrorist aggression makes no sense.    (reporter) what is the government's position?  will it continue with the talks?  will it go to the talks even if the guerrilla commanders do not attend?    (merino) the government definitely has a commitment to the people. it is a commitment the government has made.  besides our willingness to achieve peace we are also committed to these talks.  we will continue on this road.  it is certainly a difficult road but we must continue on it.  i believe that the san jose meeting like the one in caracas, and maybe others after that, has been quite difficult. however, we have discussed all the problems and the guerrillas will logically reach the conclusion that they will have to sit down at the table.    (reporter) they ask for guarantees for labor organizations.    (merino) i believe we cannot give them more guarantees than the ones we have already given them.  there is a general feeling that these people only understand strong actions.  however, the government has reviewed the situation quite well, and we are not going to fall into that trap or make that mistake.  otherwise, we would give them the opportunity to accuse the government.  we will logically be prudent.  (end recording)    vice president merino said that despite the difficulties the government is determined to continue the dialogue.  the fmln guerrillas withdrew from the talks and demanded security for labor union organizations following the attack against fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation), in which 10 labor union members were killed, including opposition leader elizabeth velazquez.    next week, guerrilla leaders will meet in san jose, costa rica with president oscar arias to seek solutions to the complex situation in el salvador.

fmln guerrillas

fmln

fenastras

elizabeth velazquez


Input: concerning the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) communique, the salvadoran government hereby announces the following:    1.  on the day of the terrorist attack against fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation), the government strongly condemned the attack and announced its plans to carry out a thorough investigation.  however, it is regrettable that fenastras leaders have been hindering the investigations that could clear up the attack.    nonetheless, the government reiterates its determination to carry out a thorough investigation, and will even bring to the country some experts in this field so that with the help of modern science and technology they will help the investigative committee clarify this bloody and criminal attack and establish who is responsible.    likewise, the government has decided to appoint a commission that will guarantee the investigations, and it will invite the following: one representative from the united nations; one representative from the oas; one representative from the salvadoran bishops' conference; one representative from the political parties; two labor union representatives, one of them being from fenastras; dr ignacio ellacuria (jesuit priest and rector of the jose simeon canas central american university); the attorney general of the republic; and the minister of justice.    2.  the government of the republic has supplied evidence from the beginning that it is sincerely seeking peace.  the dialogue commission attended a first meeting with the fmln in mexico, and accepted a commitment, as follows, and i quote: both parties commit themselves not to withdraw unilaterally from the dialogue.    the fmln's withdrawal from the dialogue is not only a violation of the mexico agreement, but also (word indistinct) the salvadoran people's hopes for peace.  far from suspending the dialogue, the fmln should understand that the search for peace is now more necessary than ever in order to halt the bloodshed.    3.  evidently, in situations like this one, the enemies of peace are trying to make the dialogue fail.  the recent terrorist actions are an insult to the civilized mechanisms that have come up at the negotiations table.    the government hereby notifies the salvadoran people and the international community that the dialogue commission will continue to do its work, and it will not withdraw from the talks in spite of the sorrowful events that have brought more mourning to the salvadoran people in recent days.    4.  in these difficult moments that our country is experiencing, the government reiterates its call for the people to remain calm, so that in a prudent and understanding manner we will join efforts to help reach peace and not promote violence, which only serves to  hinder the dialogue.    (issued in) san salvador, 3 november 1989

recent terrorist

fenastras


Input: commander leonel gonzalez, on friday night mr alfredo cristiani announced some measures which the government will adopt in connection with fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation) and the dialogue.  the fmln announced it had suspended its trip to caracas, but cristiani said that the government commission will go to caracas regardless of our decision.  what is your opinion on the government's decision?    (gonzalez) in my opinion, two positions on the dialogue and the negotiations process were made evident in san jose.  the government of alfredo cristiani and the armed forces high command view the dialogue as an opportunity for talking, buying time, and building a good image for themselves.  on the other hand, the fmln is working for a real negotiations process.  the fmln has opened a broader debate, a debate that includes discussions with and the participation of political parties, the social forces, the church, all the sectors. we have initiated a national dialogue.  as we see it, the goal is part of a whole, it is not everything.  the entire process of allowing the participation of the social forces is important also.    in recent days we have seen actions unprecedented in the history of el salvador.  there was the attack on workers in which 10 workers died and 31 were injured.  the fmln cannot ignore this fact.  this is part of the process.  we have said that we are going to establish contact with observers and mediators to analyze the situation, and we will discuss this process with the political parties and the social forces. what we want is to consolidate the negotiations process.  we are not trying to enhance our image; our people know who is telling the truth.    in san jose we made a solution proposal that envisages democracy, human rights, and a process to find a way out of the salvadoran conflict.  on monday and wednesday of next week we are going to meet in washington with oas and un representatives.  also on monday in san jose, costa rica, we could be in contact with the costa rican government to analyze the situation.    we will analyze developments to determine the position of the cristiani government.  if actions by the cristiani government close the possibilities of caracas, then we will adopt measures.  what we have done is to announce a suspension to create conditions for making progress toward real negotiations, as the san jose agreements establish.    (reporter) then why is the government going to caracas, commander?    (gonzalez) i believe that the announcement on the government delegation going to caracas is aimed at enhancing the government's  image, at creating a smoke screen around the massacre committed against the popular movement.    (reporter) now that you mention the fenastras massacre, what do you think about the creation of a commission to investigate this case that cristiani has announced?    (gonzalez) one of the points of our san jose proposal calls for changing the salvadoran legal system because it is vitiated and is in the hands of one single party.  so, in this framework, conducting an investigation is like putting the case inside a forgotten drawer. this is what happened to the monsignor romero case, the case of the revolutionary democratic front leaders, and the cases of thousands of workers who have been murdered and whose cases have been forgotten. the purpose of this commission is to create a smoke screen around the grave human rights violations being committed by the cristiani government.  we believe that the persons who have been invited to form part of this commission should not lend themselves to playing a part in the effort to hide what is really behind all this.  what the cristiani government wants is to divert away from emilio ponce all the accusations and charges, and ponce is the one who is directly involved in this kind of attack.  the state policy of the cristiani government is repression, and this state policy is being implemented by the cristiani government, cristiani, and the high command, and they are doing it through the repressive bodies, regardless of whether they function as civilians, as death squads, or in uniform.  (continued)


Input: colonel francisco elena fuentes, commander of the 1st infantry brigade, in analyzing recent acts of violence in san salvador, has reported that groups out of the control of the farabundo marti national liberation front - revolutionary democratic front (fmln -fdr) alliance could be responsible for the most recent acts of violence.    the military commander was careful in making his statement.  he said that he has no evidence that those groups are responsible for the explosions in the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras) and comadres (committee of mothers and relatives of the past, the army has been blamed, and later it has been discovered that fmln terrorists had carried them out.    elena fuentes recalled that a few days ago there was an explosion on the national university campus and he went there and it was established in front of student leaders that the explosion was caused by a grenade that went off in the hands of a young leftist who was handling it.  by then, however, statements had already been made accusing the military.    elena fuentes also referred to internal purges within communist groups, purges like the case of melida anaya montes, alias commander maria; salvador cayetano carpio, alias marcial; and others.    he said: "it would not be strange to find that these actions have been the result of a purge or a diversionary tactic by the communists to attract political attention and gain the people's support, which everybody believes they are losing."    it was recalled, with all due respect, that the name of one of the victims of the fenastras attack, febe elizabeth velasquez, was mentioned in the investigations being carried out by international organizations over the embezzlement of aid from european countries that was to benefit the most needy people in our country, but that ended up in the hands of terrorist groups to be used for terrorist purposes.    elena fuentes stated: "time and investigations will tell what really happened."    he said that the purpose of these attacks, especially the one on the defense ministry, for which the fmln - fdr claimed credit, as well as the attacks on comadres and fenastras, was to give the fmln - fdr leadership justification to withdraw from the dialogue.    elena fuentes said that the terrorist guadalupe martinez said in managua yesterday that the leftist leadership is considering not going to the dialogue meetings because of the attacks.

fmln terrorists

young leftist

fmln

military

army

fmln - fdr

salvadoran workers national union federation

committee of mothers and relatives of the past

national university campus

the defense ministry

grenade


Input: it has been reported in this capital that a delegation of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) will meet this week in washington with un and oas representatives to analyze the country's situation and the future of the talks between the rebels and alfredo cristiani's administration.    commander leonel gonzalez, one of the five fmln general command members, issued a statement through radio venceremos -- the official voice of the guerrilla organizations -- and said that the meetings will start tomorrow 6 november.    other fmln delegates will meet tomorrow with costa rican president oscar arias, who has stated his concern regarding the talks between the rebels and cristiani's government after right-wing squads assassinated 10 labor leaders.    commander gonzalez said "that the cristiani administration's double-faced conduct is precluding the possibilities for achieving a peaceful solution to the salvadoran conflict."    "the cristiani administration and the army oppose real negotiations, and their concept of a dialogue is to talk and talk -- but only to gain time and project a good image at the national and international level," the rebel leader said.    referring to this, gonzalez asserted that the government's decision to send its delegation to the 20-21 november meeting in caracas, whether the guerrilla representatives attend it or not, is aimed at "creating a smoke screen to cover the massacres perpetrated this week against the people's movement."    commander gonzalez also referred to cristiani's announcement that a commission will be created with the participation of un and oas delegates to investigate the 10 labor leaders' massacre.    "it is impossible to carry out an investigation with a corrupt judicial system like the one in el salvador ," gonzalez said.  he recalled that the authorities have not been able to solve the murder of san salvador archbishop oscar arnulfo romero in 10 years.  the guerrilla blames major roberto d'aubuisson, one of the government party's ideologists, for romero's murder.    the fmln commander also warned that the army "has launched a campaign to confuse national and world opinion by accusing the guerrillas of perpetrating terrorist actions."    the armed forces actually want "to cover up their repressive policy because they have shifted from selective arrests to mass arrests -- and from genocide to indiscriminate attacks," he added.    the guerrilla commander also announced that the guerrilla forces will maintain a high level of military actions throughout the country as long as there is no possibility of continuing a real dialogue - negotiation process which leads the country to an everlasting peace.

right-wing squads


Input: the us house of representatives has approved by a majority vote an anti-nicaraguan resolution which grants $4 million worth of so-called humanitarian aid for the contras. analyst marina petrovskaya discusses the subject.    this resolution in essence allows the continuation of the dirty war against nicaragua.  the somosa forces have lately increased their terrorist actions in several parts of nicaragua by killing civilians and sandinist soldiers.  as witnessed by the (word indistinct), this has not happened by chance.  many contras turned themselves into the nicaraguan authorities when and amnesty was declared.  they admitted that they received orders from their leaders in honduras to cross the border and, by means of terror and threat, forced civilians to vote for the opposition candidates.    suprisingly, the somosa forces have not aimed at more ambitious goals.  instead of being condemned by washington they are receiving complementary aid from it.  curiously, this new (word indistinct) for the contras coincides with the granting of $9 million to finance the electoral campaign of the nicaraguan opposition, just when mrs violeta de chamorro has received $3 million for herself.    such us government aid for the nicaraguan rightist sectors alarms the nicaraguan and the international communities.  elections will be held in nicaragua in a few months following the national democratization process which is being conducted in keeping with the commitments assumed by the nicaraguan government, according to intelligence reports from guatemala and honduras.    this democratization process cannot be normal since confrontations between contras and (word indistinct) are increasing, and these are the responsibility of the united states.  as is known, the sandinist authorities have been forced to suspend the cessation of military operation against the somosa forces, which had been in effect since may 1988.    meanwhile, washington has accused the sandinists of violating democracy and of hindering a (word indistinct) political solution.    (words indistinct) such an evaluation of the sandinist action is unjust in order to achieve peace and security in the region, including nicaragua, it is necessary that all the parties involved in the conflict make an effort, not just one.    look at the situation in el salvador these days.  it looked like the conditions for a cease-fire had improved and this is why we applauded the negotiations between the government (words indistinct). but the progress made was rejected by the rightist groups which refused to hold constructive negotiations.  this is why the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) refuses to hold the third round of negotiations until the government officials change their old methods of solving internal problems without guaranteeing the security of the leftist forces.    it seems to me that the events taking place in nicaragua and el salvador are similar because the peace efforts in the two countries are being obstructed by military forces financed by the u.s. government, which continues to keep a heated environment in those countries and to look for solutions from a position of force.


Input: six people were killed and five wounded today in a bomb attack that destroyed a peasant home in the town of quinchia, about 300 km west of bogota, in the coffee-growing department of risaralda, quinchia mayor saul botero has reported.    a spokesman for the 8th army brigade said that the attack was apparently the work of guerrillas of the maoist popular liberation army, who supposedly planted the bomb in the home of antonio zuluaga, located at vereda la union, a few kilometers from quinchia.    botero said that the motive for the bombing is unknown.

guerrillas

maoist popular liberation army

peasant home

bomb


Input: police sources reported today that jorge castillo garcia, nicaraguan consul in costa rica, who came here to promote the demobilization of the contras, was seriously injured. he was shot on the evening of 5 november at a tegucigalpa restaurant.    arnaldo amador, security guard at the domos restaurant told police that castillo, visibly drunk, tried to take a motorcycle from in front of the restaurant. amador ordered castillo to surrender, believing he was a thief.    according to amador the nicaraguan consul attacked him, hitting him on the head. amador says he then shot castillo with his submachinegun, wounding him in the left side of the chest, very near the heart.    castillo garcia was rushed to the hospital where he is now "recovering", while amador has been arrested by the police.    a few minutes after the incident, which occurred at 2200 on 5 november, donal oliva, secretary of the nicaraguan embassy here, came to the restaurant to get details of the incident.    oliva said that castillo garcia had left the embassy about 2 hours before.  he said that castillo had arrived in honduras last week to promote the demobilization of the contras, established along the nicaraguan border.


Input: the country is experiencing one of the worst anticommunist and terrorist campaigns in a long time. this campaign is similar to the one unleashed between 1964 and 1970.  the situation is further aggravated because it is taking place under a dictatorship that will stop at nothing to achieve its objectives.    during his speech in coihaique, pinochet threatened to end the state of law.  this has been followed by other threats by (deputy opponents, and by equally threatening statements and systematic aggression against army members who criticize the dictatorial regime.    meanwhile el mercurio and the progovernment news media have orchestrated a campaign that is financed by buchi's electoral managers. this campaign uses editorials, attributed articles, and paid ads that are aimed at misinforming and manipulating public opinion.    the objective is to create a mood of aggression toward the left and toward the communist party, a mood that would justify any kind of provocation.    the worst example was a recent paid ad published by buchi's electoral managers on an alleged threat of communist strike squads that were going to gun down the progovernment candidate. it is well known that this statement, reportedly made by a young christian democratic party leader to la segunda on 31 october, was later flatly denied by the christian democratic leader himself.  despite this denial, buchi's campaign managers are still harping on the subject, trying to create an atmosphere of violence and unease.    the brutal murder of jecar neghme, unsolved like so many others, has been followed by other serious events including the kidnapping of the driver of volodia teitelboim, the secretary general of the communist party. this was a threat to comrade volodia teitelboim's safety and physical integrity. there has also been harassment of leaders and candidates of the communist party and other democratic parties, an increase in the number of arbitrary arrests of opponents in general, the establishment of a new joint command headed by the defense minister. the alleged objective of this command is to fight crime, but the people have rightly guessed that it is a cover for political repression similar to that conducted by a prior organization that bore the same name.    in this anticommunist and antidemocratic atmosphere, meetings have been held with officers and relatives of military men. during these meetings the audience is misinformed, threatened, and urged to oppose democratic changes.  they are also urged to hoard staples and to take special measures to provide for extreme contingencies.    there is yet another especially serious development about which we want to inform the people.  we have received information from various sources to the effect that the crowning point of this anticommunist campaign will be an attack on a high-ranking army officer who has been criticized for his involvement in human-rights violations.  the charges against this officer made by communist party candidates for senators, and the demonstrations held against him by the relatives of the victims, will be used to blame the communists for this attack.    we want to reiterate our absolute rejection of human rights violations and our demand for truth and justice. however, we also want to make it clear that we are struggling to have every crime and every violation investigated and the culprits tried.    the atmosphere of fear and psychological warfare is aimed at twisting the popular will of the chilean people and destabilizing in advance the next democratic administration.    we call upon the citizenry to be prepared to display unity and democratic organization so as to guarantee the normal development of the ongoing electoral process and to be on guard against any provocation aimed at creating a climate favorable to an interruption of the process.  we must deploy our forces if we are to ensure the victory of freedom and democracy in a landslide victory for patricio aylwin on 14 december and the election of a congress capable of guaranteeing progress toward the government system that most chileans want.    signed: chilean communist party    dated: santiago, 2 november 1989

jecar neghme


Input: from this standpoint, the proposal brought by the christiani government delegation to san jose sought to gain time while keeping the image that the government was engaged in a dialogue.  however, the government was not really seeking the path toward a negotiation.  on the contrary, it sought to conduct under the shadow of the dialogue actions that will give it an advantage over the fmln, including terrorist attacks like this one.  the operation against the fenastras leadership is part of the cristiani government policy, and so is the wave of repression against the mass movement from the onset of this government.    the proposal submitted in costa rica included mass groups as part of the enemy.  all these things are part of the government policy.  we cannot allow the government to hide this policy behind the dialogue, as this policy allows actions like the one at fenastras to go unpunished and do not lead to a true solution of the conflict.  that is why the fmln suspended its participation in caracas, but has not suspended its participation in the dialogue.  in fact, the fmln has undertaken bids to conduct a mediation so that the adequate conditions for a dialogue are created and actions like the one in fenastras do not continue.  deep down, we feel that in order for the dialogue to turn into a negotiation that will end the salvadoran conflict...(changes thought) the progress of the mass movement in el salvador with all the existing forms of struggle is what will compel the other side to really sit down at the negotiations table.    so long as the other side feels that it can defeat the people, it will not be truly committed to negotiating an end to the conflict. when it sees that the people will defeat it, and that it is forced to negotiate, then a negotiation will truly take place in the country.    (reporter) commander mario lopez, the latest developments, even following the fenastras attack, indicate that government policy does not seem to change regarding the human rights violations and threats to the mass movement.  in fact, the lutheran church, or rather its pastor leardo gomez, has received death threats.  do you think an internal purge in the armed forces is possible?  do you think that with that internal purge it can be possible to stop the extreme human rights violations in the country?    (salvatierra) the fmln has proposed an internal purge in the armed forces as an important factor in the process of dialogue or negotiations, meaning that the armed forces themselves must get rid of the corrupt and criminal elements.  however, the crux of the matter is the need to purge the armed forces.  the fmln has told them: purge yourselves.  however, that is practically impossible.  on one side, the need to have a true purge in the armed forces becomes apparent, because otherwise we cannot make progress and have true democracy in our country.  recent developments are proving the fmln is right.  on the other side, it is clear that the criminal elements control the military power and have influence over the country's political power.    the presence of la tandona (reference to 1966 graduates of the captain gerardo barrios military school) in front of the television cameras, following the dialogue session in costa rica, was meant to tell the people: we rule and can do as we please.  then the attacks came.  i feel that the need to end that situation is evident to all, as well as how right the fmln stand is.  i now want to reiterate that we cannot achieve that goal unless we force the armed forces and the government to carry out that purge.  by forcing them, i mean that the people's force must tell them to do that if they want to survive.  the demand that colonel rene emilio ponce (chairman of the joint chiefs of staff) leave, as he is one of the chief culprits of the above-mentioned policy, will grow stronger.  the people must press and are pressing this demand.


Input: commander mario lopez, following recent incidents and terrorist actions such as the attack on fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation), the u.s. official assistant secretary of state for inter-american affairs bernard aronson came to our country.  he said that u.s. assistance will depend (words indistinct). what do you think about his visit to our country?    (salvatierra) it is basically aimed at saving cristiani's prestige and image, as this has been a matter of great concern for the u.s. government from the beginning. they need a potable image, an image that portrays legitimacy, and an image of moderation that will not isolate the government internationally. the fenastras incident undoubtedly unmasked cristiani's government. therefore, aronson's visit is aimed at saving cristiani's image and supporting cristiani's initiative of creating a commission to investigate those incidents, in order to foster hopes and credibility among some groups regarding the government's interest in clarifying the incidents. that was aronson's intention.    as a matter of fact, cristiani's image is important for the aid itself. aspects related to human rights play a very important role in the debates at the u.s. congress, where the aid is approved. therefore, that aid would be endangered if the debates on violations of human rights in el salvador are intensified. it could have an effect on that. so what they are really trying to save is the aid to continue supporting the war.    in that regard, we must also remember that within the doctrine of low intensity warfare, the political aspects of the counterinsurgency plan play an important role (words indistinct) that will not appear to be in the extreme right; a government that appears to be more in the center than in the extreme right, in order to create expectations within some groups regarding the government's credibility, and also at the international level. while trying to defeat the rebels militarily and through repression, it is necessary to maintain an acceptable image of the government.    (reporter) you are a member of the fmln's political-diplomatic commission.  as a result of the fenastras incidents, our front cancelled its attendance at the caracas meeting. what are the possibilities for restoring the talks and continuing the dialogue - negotiation with the government?    (salvatierra) the fmln is interested in a real dialogue, a dialogue that will lead to a negotiated solution of the conflict; in other words, a dialogue that will lead to negotiations.  we differ with cristiani's government on this.  from the beginning, arena (nationalist republican alliance) has expressed its willingness to participate in a dialogue, but not to negotiate.  they have a totally different concept.  (continued)

terrorist

fenastras


Input: three militants of the salvadoran leftist social christian people's movement (mpsc) have been killed by army soldiers in the city of sonsonate, approximately 50 km west of san salvador, according to members of that political organization.    among the victims are cecilio rivera, who was responsible for mpsc organizational activities in eastern sonsonate department.  rivera was shot to death along with two other party militants whose identities were not revealed.  juan jose martel, a top mpsc leader, told afp that after leaving the organization's office on the night of 6 november, three members were arrested by "a group of armed soldiers in civilian clothes belonging to sonsonate's military detachment no. 6.    "we have learned of people who have been captured by these same individuals and have appeared in the garrison later on.  therefore, we have no doubt that army soldiers killed them," he added.    martel explained that the three bodies were found on tuesday near the city's cemetery where they were going to be buried by local authorities as unidentified persons.  he noted that, by chance, a neighbor identified rivera, and this allowed him to spread the news.    those responsible for the triple crime left a piece of paper on the bodies which read: "because they betrayed the fatherland."    condemning this murder, martel said that "this new action shows, once more, that in el salvador there is no democracy and no respect for human rights, and the death squads continue to operate."    on 19 october, suspected death squad members staged a bomb attack on the home of mpsc secretary general ruben zamora, wounding two people and causing considerable property damage.

group of armed soldiers

death squad members

home of mpsc secretary general ruben zamora

cecilio rivera

bomb


Input: subunits of the peruvian ground forces and police, supported by armored personnel carriers, have conducted a major operation to arrest groups of armed extremists on the student campus of the san marcos state university. the operation took place after several terrorists broke into the building of the national industrialists society, where they set off three bombs causing extensive damage to the building.  after the attack the extremists fled to the university campus.    as a result of the operation around 100 students were arrested on suspicion of terrorist activity.  weapons, ammunition, and subversive literature were confiscated from some of them.    political terrorism has become part of everyday life in peru. recently a series of armed attacks has been carried out in various parts of the country by the extremist grouping sendero luminoso, which is trying to disrupt the municipal elections planned for 12 november. in tirapata village (puno department) a sendero luminoso detachment seized the local mayor and shot him in the central square in front of local residents who had been made to go there.  in the town of san clemente terrorists threw bombs at the homes of mayoral candidates from various political parties.  in the village of coris (ancash department) sendero luminoso fighters set fire to the telephone exchange and the municipal council and also took away the inhabitants' voting cards -- the main identification document in an election.  they threatened to deal with anyone who takes part in the municipal elections.    as a result of the extremists' threats around 90 mayoral candidates have withdrawn their nominations, as have hundreds of contenders for municipal council seats.

extremists

sendero luminoso detachment

sendero luminoso fighters

building of the national industrialists society

homes of mayoral candidates

telephone exchange

municipal council

voting card

bombs


Input: the lautaro popular rebel forces (frpl) and the lautaro youth movement (mjl) held their clandestine plenary session in santiago 5 months ago.  one of the decisions adopted during the session was to recruit minors, shantytown youths, and high school students "to fight a guerrilla war in chile, because they have plenty of motivation."    this policy is outlined in documents and reports that those terrorist groups have circulated in shantytowns and among their members.  some of those documents and reports have been seized from boys who were arrested on charges of being directly involved in looting of commercial premises and in the bloody murders of carabineros personnel.    some of those documents say that "socialist countries are our strategic allies," and that the movements identify themselves with "the revolutionary form of struggle and with the struggle in the trenches that cuba, nicaragua, and el salvador have used" to remain in the forefront of latin american socialism.    the two terrorist movements maintain that "seizure" of land, lootings, occupation of educational institutions, and "the recovery of firearms" are the main tactics to be undertaken by the masses in order to "gain elbow room."    in the documents, the movements advocate the dissemination of violence within the masses, the adoption of defensive measures in order to begin an offensive, and "a war by everyone" as an inevitable step for taking over the country.    the movements maintain that "the fact that the rebel elements have discovered their own geographical zone, the power of the masses, and the massive potential of youths, is one of the major achievements of the people's movement."    the documents emphasize the terrorist actions performed by the manuel rodriguez patriotic front (fpmr) and by the movement of the revolutionary left (mir), stressing that the mjl and the frpl are the two other chilean extremist organizations that "implement the policy of the victory of the people's revolution."    as for the so-called "war by everyone," the documents points out that "in the chilean version, there are irregular forces with training in subversive tactics and strategy."    the movements maintain that their members operate in the streets, in education and labor centers, in high schools, and in shantytowns, adding that "the tactical sequence of action among the masses should begin and end with popular uprisings, which lead to a higher stage of transition toward "the people in flames" or "the people in arms."    the movements admit that "the art of revolution consists of awakening the ambition for power by teaching the masses to dream of something else."    another paragraph of the lengthy documents states that: "we do not deny the need to reach political accords", which we -- as a matter of principle --comply with, because "the objective is to adopt a position of independence and of initiative in the offensive, because the revolutions are fought in the streets and in the different regions of the country."    concerning the creation of the two movements (beginning in 1983), the documents state that "our political-military proposal takes root in the "war by everyone," a system which socialist countries and triumphant revolutions have used to defend themselves from imperialism.  the most intense expression of this policy has been reflected by the vietnamese revolution, by the sustained struggle in el salvador, and by the resistance to the spanish invasion by the mapuche people, under the leadership of lautaro. how to obtain weapons    in a document dealing with the "revoltionary program for chile," the movements claim that "our weapons are obtained through the people's initiative, through weapon seizures from the enemy (this is a clear allusion to the murder of carabineros, whose arms they seize), and through international solidarity."    the documents emphasize "the offensive war which we are now waging seeks to asphyxiate the enemy, overwhelm it, and impede its initiative and the concentration of its forces.  we should always try to cause as much destructive damage to the enemy as possible."    the terrorists call on "youths to wage this revolutionary struggle on a nationwide basis," adding that "even though the heaviest burden rests on the cities, the country and rural areas are conducive to the installation of strategic facilities."    the report on the first national plenum (which is dated may 1989) has been especially dedicated to "all high school and mid-level students who have been recruited by our groups."    among the slogans included in the documents, which the lautaro movement members will use this year, are phrases like "we are a new revolutionary generation," "we are happy, we are rebel, we are armed, and this is how we will carry out the revolution," "the fatherland for the people," and "free love and guerrilla."    after outlining the eight tactical operations which make up "the revolutionary course for the masses who will face the political break" during the rest of the year, the two movements state that "we total approximately 500,000 all over the country, and since 1983 we have fought in more than 30 territories and fronts."    finally, as part of a series of clear terrorist instructions, they claim that they work "in coordination with the fpmr and with the mir,"so that "with the youth, the people, the arms, and the ideas, we may take over chile."


Input: nicaragua says that the honduran army is moving the contras to olancho this week so they will escape inspection by (word indistinct).    (azcona) no, no, no. the honduran army has no relationship, no contacts, with the counterrevolutionaries.  (words indistinct)    (reporter) mr president, what is your opinion of carlos flores' speech in...(changes thought) which has been severely criticized by some and praised by others (words indistinct)?    (azcona) i think it was a good speech. it is directly in line with what i have said; that is, that the imf's prescriptions cannot be accepted and applied to this country, for instance, because the people will not put up with measures like those which have been proposed by the imf and endorsed by honduran private enterprise.    (reporter) what about flores' statements saying that relations with the united states will be different in his government?    (azcona) i do not know. the relations with my government have been relations of total unity. i think he was not referring to this administration. he must have been referring to a previous    (reporter) (question indistinct)    (azcona) no. i am not being pressured. what i said the other day has been misinterpreted. when i said i needed oxygen, it was not oxygen that newsmen, or businessmen, or intellectuals were going to give me. i was going to give myself the oxygen by not vetoing an amendment to the law on elections that increases the political debt and (words indistinct) per vote, pitting the parties against each other--my party and that of our adversary. in other words, i am not asking for favors from anyone or any such thing. i have my chin held high. now, if anybody throws a blow at me i will return it if i can. i will do so within the bounds of nobleness and propriety, but i will return it. so, it is not a question of me asking for oxygen. i am quite at ease, not like a mini-editorial writer said the other day--editorial writers can be quite mean, you know (laughter)--who said that i slept like a log the first 2 years. i always sleep like a log (laughter) and do not (word indistinct).    those who thought they would make me leave here a physical wreck or something of that sort will not succeed. i think he is the one who cannot sleep like a log with the dirty conscience he must have because of the dreadful things that are written in those editorials.    (reporter) mr president, it has been learned that aid has even cut the aid for small programs, because...(changes thought) and that honduras has to pay over 2 million (currency not specified)...    (azcona) (interrupting) that is not true, not true. all aid programs are ongoing. a few days ago, the press also made an improper interpretation when i said that military aid was being cut.  no. what happens is that, in the case of aid, if there is a delay in payments of over 1 year on any program, the disbursements of all programs are stopped. there was a payment corresponding to military aid, or military commitments, that had not been made. so, we had to  make it because otherwise the disbursements not only of the military sector but of all would be suspended. in other words, all that is covered, and, as i say, all that is proceeding quite well.  (continued)


Input: the salvadoran army said today that two "attackers" had lost their lives when they confronted soldiers after having "robbed and raped" the owner of a business in a city of western el salvador.  opposition sources, however, rejected this account and described the incident as "murder."    juan jose martell, leader of the social christian people's movement (mpsc, opposition), rejected the military version and accused the army of "murdering" party leader cecilio rivera and two other party supporters.    the armed forces press committee said that rivera and apolinario alfaro -- the third person was not mentioned -- lost their lives when they confronted, along with four other men, troops of military detachment no.  6, in sonsonate, 65 km west of san salvador.    the military report added that the "criminals" had robbed a small shop, whose owner, maria teresa lopez, had been "raped" by the attackers.    martell said that the bodies of the (mpsc) members were found last night at the sonsonate cemetery along with a sign that read: "because they betrayed the fatherland."    "we have evidence that those responsible for rivera's murder and the two other (mpsc) supporters are soldiers of military detachment no. 6," martell stressed.    the (mpsc) is part of the leftist democratic convergence coalition, which took part in the 19 march presidential elections.    in another turn of events, the army has accused the guerrillas of kidnapping approximately 30 peasants in cuscatlan and santa ana departments, located to the north and west of san salvador, respectively.    meanwhile, the rebels stepped-up their sabotage against the electrical power grid by destroying two high-voltage pylons and seven power poles in guazapa, chalatenango, and ilobasco, locatede north and east of san salvador.

soldiers of military detachment no. 6

guerrillas

rebels

army

social christian people's movement

high-voltage pylons

power poles

cecilio rivera

apolinario alfaro


Input: the colombian government ruled today that the strike by judicial branch employees, including judges and magistrates, is illegal.  the strike, which began on 3 november, is to demand the adoption of security measures.    government minister carlos lemos said today that the strike by the judicial branch "is illegal because its employees provide a public service."  "the government," he added, "has tried to handle this situation very carefully, understanding that the judicial branch is upset because of terrorist actions against its members."    the drug traffickers began their terrorist attacks against the colombian judicial system in 1984 with the assassination of justice minister rodrigo lara bonilla.  during the 2 months of the "total war" colombia has been waging against drug traffickers, some 20 magistrates and judges have been killed by "narco-terrorists."    the national association of judicial branch employees (asonal-judicial) today reiterated that the strike is indefinite and will continue until "the government satisfies our needs."    justice minister roberto salazar manrique said today that the strike is "totally illegal."  therefore, he added, "it will be necessary to take disciplinary measures."  "justice must work so that violence does not succeed in colombia," he said.    the asonal-judicial strike involves some 5,000 judges and 20,000 judicial officials.


Input: the msgr oscar arnulfo romero federation of committees of mothers and relatives, fecmafam, has criticized the visit to our country by bernard aronson, assistant secretary of state for inter - american affairs. the group said that by reiterating u.s.  government support for the salvadoran government the continuation of our country's military struggle is encouraged. however, the group noted that aronson's presence also serves to reveal a deterioration in the image of the alfredo cristiani government because of the recent upsurge in violence.    (beging recording) (unidentified person) what does yesterday's visit by this u.s. citizen mean?  it means that u.s. president george bush is concerned that the image of the person to whom he has provided all his aid to continue murdering salvadorans is in danger.  cristiani has been condemned abroad for his repressive actions. (end recording)    fecmafam also rejected the creation of a commission to investigate the fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation), as proposed by president cristiani.  the group feels investigations of crimes have never been fully conducted and the guilty have never been tried.


Input: the police has reported that alleged members of the army of national liberation (eln) kidnapped today two mexicans in the arauca oil zone, near the colombian-venezuelan border.    engineers armando caycedo camargo and carlos mores, who work for the mexican consortium ica, were kidnapped when they were traveling toward the sarabena township, in the northeastern part of the country.    oil exploitation and the association of colombia with foreign enterprises are eln war targets.    eln guerrilla fighters captured over 3 months ago another mexican engineer, who was employed by an american oil company.

alleged members

army of national liberation

armando caycedo camargo

carlos mores


Input: with just three days to go before the municipal elections scheduled for 12 november, terrorists have stepped up their violence and security forces have intensified their antisubversive operations in several peruvian regions.    shining path members last night bombed an office of the ruling american popular revolutionary alliance (apra) party in lima, injuring four people, one of them seriously.    during the attack the office was set on fire. an eyewitness said that some 150 electoral cards were burned. the cards, which are the only valid document for participation in the elections, had been taken to the party office so that the voting station could be defined.    police sources have reported at least six bombings last night in the andean city of ayacucho, 575 km southeast of the lima.  the sources, however, did not mention the buildings that were attacked.    on 7 november, shining path terrorists blew up 4 pylons in the vicinity of ayacucho, razing to 17 the number of pylons that have been blown up by this maoist organization in ayacucho and in zones of huancavelica department in the past few days.    a shining path "elimination commando" murdered a national police commander on 7 november in the residential lima district of miraflores.  the police have reported a power outage in towns of the huaylas valley, in the mountainous region of the northern department of ancash, following the destruction of two pylons.    in one of the towns -- ranrahirca -- the sources said that the shining path members set the city hall facility on fire, destroying valuable documents.  in la oroya, junin department, in the central peruvian mountain range, public buildings were bombed and a car-bomb was detonated.    reports received from ayacucho and from other rural areas say that terrorists are stopping vehicles in highways and that they are stripping passengers of their electoral cards, which they then destroy.    in view of this escalation of violence, the government on 7 november decreed a state of emergency in the 10 provinces of the department of lima, placing them under military control.  this is the peruvian department with the largest population and with the largest number of voters.  it has more than 6,000,000 people, and includes the port of callao.    on 6 november, the military authorities imposed a curfew between 1000 and 0500 in the departments of junin and pasco in the central mountain range.  the same measure has already been enforced in ayacucho, apurimac, and huancavelica.    the political-military command of the ayacucho emergency zone last night issued a communique enforcing strict measures that will be observed by the people during the elections.    the communique states that as of 13 november, those electoral card that do not bear the seal that is stamped at the voting stations and which proves that the bearer has cast his vote will be arrested and "placed at the disposal of the courts."    it adds that if someone wants to travel,to make administrative arrangements, to obtain documents, or to perform commercial transactions, they will have to show their electoral card with the corresponding seal, under penalty of being forbidden to proceed.    during a press conference yesterday, the technical police presented 27 alleged shining path members who were captured in southern lima provinces and in ica. they are charged with being involved in at least 40 attacks and murders of authorities, and with planning future attacks against electoral offices and candidates in the upcoming municipal elections.    combined military and police forces yesterday raided the san fernando school of medicine of the lima university of san marcos, arresting 600 persons and seizing explosives and propaganda material.    on 6 november, during a search of the san marcos university campus in lima, the police seized firearms, explosives, and terrorist propaganda material.

terrorists

members

shining path

office

buildings

pylons

city hall facility

public buildings

car-bomb


Input: the motor transport workers union (uta) began an indefinite strike at midnight, contradicting government orders which stated that the uta and the argentine federation of automotive passenger carriers (fatap) must solve the salary problem through negotiations.    the situation on the third day of the stoppage is slightly better, although a large number of people are still waiting on the streets trying to get on the few buses being driven by their owners.    a few minutes ago, deputy secretary for transportation nestor fernandez announced that at midday only 30 percent of the usual number of buses in the federal capital were working normally; because of this, measures will be adopted to ensure that at least 50 percent of the buses will run today.    representatives of the federal police, the buenos aires provincial police, and the national gendermerie are meeting at transportation secretariat offices to study ways of restoring normal bus service.    subway chairman jose barbero reports that his sector's services have also improved, and five subway lines are functioning normally. although the subway personnel are members of the uta, they have decided to suspend their strike.    the railroad service is normal.  more coaches will be put into service, and the number of trains in service will be increased, but trains of the roca line connecting constitucion to la plata through the temperley stretch are delayed because of a derailment.    uta secretary general juan manuel palacios has confirmed that the indefinite strike will continue and that the uta will not accept compulsory negotiations because this is not a legal solution to the conflict.  he says that this would merely put off the problem for a month or so.  palacios added that it would only create more difficulties for the workers.    fatap director luis carral asserted that the business sector will double its efforts to put the buses back into service.  carral said that in view of compulsory negotiations fatap will urge workers to return to their jobs unless they want to be dismissed.    transportation sector businessmen have informed the transportation secretariat that a few drivers are returning to work.  businessmen believe that in a few more hours 40-50 percent of the buses will be functioning normally.    president carlos menem commented this morning on the uta attitude:    (begin recording) (menem) this is an emergency situation.  we cannot pay more than we have.  i believe that the businessmen have offered a basic salary of around 75,000 australes per month.  until yesterday this amount represented nearly $100, and this is a good increase.    evidently, there is a political infiltration of ideas that are not shared by all argentine people. i do not believe the infiltration comes from peronist or radical movements.  this is the  work of the ultra-left.  (end recording)    menem asserted that those who want to work and who are sacrificing themselves for the benefit of the people will be rewarded.  he urged them not to leave their posts.  menem added that yesterday many members of the public asked him not to give in.  the president said he has decided not give in, not because he is stubborn, but because people who need the public transport services cannot be defrauded.    asked if the railroads that join the strike will be closed down, menem said:    (begin recording) (menem) the railroad lines that strike will be closed.    (unidentified reporter) but many people will be left without transportation.    (menem) we will find a way of getting these people to their jobs. we cannot accept this type of attitude.  or would you prefer to see the country explode?  (end recording)    at 1700 this afternoon the cabinet meeting that started last night will be reconvened.  the cabinet members attending the meeting will analyze the difficulties created by the uta decision to continue the strike.  the meeting will be held at the (words indistinct) room under the chairmanship of interior minister eduardo bauza.  justicialist leader antonio caffiero will attend the meeting.  pres menem will not attend.    it has been reported that 50 bus companies have been urged to return to normal work; otherwise decree 429, which provides for the temporary confiscation of buses, will be implemented.  this decree, which has been mentioned by president menem, establishes that buses will be confiscated and driven by national gendarmerie personnel.    in a justicialist party communique signed by antonio caffiero, the party expresses its support for the decisions made by president menem.    commander adalino barberi, the national gendarmerie director general, has reported that the transportation secretariat officials are still studying the measures to be taken to confiscate the buses from the owners who fail to follow government instructions.


Input: the government of president alfredo cristiani yesterday reaffirmed its willingness to thoroughly investigate the attack against fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation).  it also made an appeal so that no accusations lacking scientific support are made in order not to generate speculations that politicize this case.    in an official communique, the government made the preceding statement because of the "biased propagandistic campaign being developed by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) and other political and labor union organizations, seeking to create a distorted view of the recent terrorist attacks in the country."    the communique recalls that on the same day of the terrorist attack against fenastras, the government condemned such criminal action.  the communique also expresses the government's intention to conduct a thorough investigation within a framework worthy of confidence.  the government has decided to create a commission that will be composed of representatives from the united nations, the oas, cedes (salvadoran episcopal conference), political parties, labor union organizations -- including one from fenastras -- dr ignacio ellacuria, the prosecuting attorney's office, and the justice minister.    however, fenastras leaders have continued hindering the investigation at the site of the incident, the communique adds.    the government communique states that the fenastras refusal to participate in the commission could be interpreted as "an intentional plan by fenastras leaders to prevent the investigation to determine who is responsible for this terrorist attack."  therefore, the government communique requests the abandonment of such an attitude.    the government, the communique adds, believes that the investigation is legal and that fenastras has the moral duty to help in the investigation to clarify this case.    the government of president cristiani reiterated its appeal to citizens to abstain from making accusations lacking scientific evidence, in order to prevent speculation that hampers the normal development of the judicial process that has already begun.  the government reiterated that "its true objective is to clarify this barbaric action and to punish those responsible, no matter who they are."    "we request all citizens to abstain from issuing speculative opinions, and, should they have something to report that would help clarify this regrettable incident, they should do it within the judicial process," the official government communique states.    the government reaffirmed its determination to continue searching for peace through peaceful means and dialogue.  according to the mexico agreements, the flmn is also obliged to continue with the dialogue process and "cannot unilaterally withdraw because it would be violating not only those agreements, but also the aspiration of our people, which is to attain peace," the communique says.

terrorist

salvadoran workers national union federation


Input: luis corvalan, former secretary general of the chilean communist party (pcch), has requested a nuremberg-style trial for members of the current administration if patricio aylwin wins the upcoming elections.    corvalan's statements were published in the latest issue of cosas magazine. he justified the existence of the manuel rodriguez patriotic front (fpmr) and the communists' right to have military training.    the former pcch secretary general said that his party is working hard for aylwin's triumph on the 14 december elections. he said that if aylwin wins the elections, the pcch is ready to paralyze the country if any sector threatens the new administration.    the pcch leader pointed out the need to modify the chilean judicial branch substantially. he requested special courts, like the ones that existed in nuremberg, to try the members of the current administration.    corvalan requested the freedom of the so-called political prisoners, including fpmr and lautaro movement terrorists. he said he does not care whether leftist sympathizers are involved in any crime, including in the murder of carabineros.    the pcch will help patricio aylwin face his enemies during the next administration, corvalan said.


Input: judicial sources have reported that the body of an unidentified man was found on 9 november on a road 17 km from san salvador.  the victim was approximately 28 years old, his face was disfigured by three shots, and his hands were tied.    judge fredy arevalo examined the body, which had three large-caliber-weapon wounds on the face and lacerations on the chest.    the unidentified body was found yesterday by residents of the area, who said that around midnight they heard six shots fired.    two bodies, one headless and the other with bullet wounds, were found on 8 november in soyapango, east of san salvador.    judge larry oviedo identified the dead men as salvador bonilla, 38, and jose antonio marquez, 42.

salvador bonilla

jose antonio marquez

large-caliber-weapon


Input: what does this tell us?  what message does this convey?  it tells us that these organizations, the so-called support organizations -- the coprefa (armed forces press committee) calls them fronts -- are components of the enemy side in the war.    when they sit down to talk to the main representatives of the enemy, the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front), and when they negotiate issues like the end to hostilities, the government immediately make demands and all these political, ideological, psychological, etcetera, etcetera, actions stop.  the message this conveys is that as far as the government is concerned, all those organizations are part of the enemy side in the war.  what happened later was the creation of many such fronts.  the repression has been going on for quite some time and had increased.  however, the government had never presented an idea like this one.  once it did, everything became very clear.  all the past actions are part of the government's and the army's war actions against all these expressions and demonstrations by the salvadoran people.    the fenastras (salvadoran workers national union federation) massacre was part of this plan.  the killing of 3 members of the mpsc (social christian people's movement) in sonsonate carried out by the 6th military detachment in front of witnesses -- they left messages on the bodies stating that they were traitors to the homeland -- was carried out with the clear intention of sending another message.  the message is: not only in theory do we consider you components of the enemy side.  you are the enemy and that is why we are killing you. (end recording)    regarding the visit to el salvador of bernard aronson, assistant secretary of state for inter-american affairs, commander jorge shafik handal said:    (begin recording) (handal) the heads of the armed forces and military units who carried out these crimes remain in office.  those who gave the orders remain in office.  then how can an investigation be carried out?  a chain of command must be followed in the military. if a subordinate is going to be interrogated, one must first ask permission from his superior, and they are the superiors.  besides, no one knows who the subordinates who participated are.  that information must come from the army.  that is why we have said that the least they can do before they begin investigating this incident is remove colonel rene emilio ponce.  that would be the right thing to do.  i would even add that there are a few others who should be removed.    if we were living in a country with a democratic political system and with labor unions, that would be common practice.  it would not even be necessary to bring this up at a public debate.  the first thing the president should have done as commander in chief of the armed forces -- he is involved in these crimes because he is commander in chief of the armed forces -- is remove them and not say that he was not consulted on this matter.  he claims he knew nothing about this, but we have our own sources of information and we know that he knew. but if he wants us to believe him when he says that he did not know, then the first thing he should do is what any man with any self-respect would do: ask for an investigation.  however, he is hindering the investigation, which is what is always done when something like this happens.  when things like this happen, a few -- those who want to see matters clarified -- resign, while others are removed. (continued)

6th military detachment


Input: the mexican government has asked colombia to intervene in protecting and facilitating the release of the mexican citizen juan carlos mir, kidnapped last tuesday by a colombian guerrilla group.    the mexican foreign relations secretariat (sre) stated that the request was made through the mexican embassy in colombia. it added that it received confirmation yesterday of mir's kidnapping. mir works for the mexican consortium associated construction engineers, ica.    the sre noted that it gave instructions to the mexican diplomatic office in colombia to intercede in this case. the guerrilla group called army of national liberation (eln) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.

army of national liberation

juan carlos mir


Input: "there may be some links between the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) and some chilean guerrilla groups," salvadoran foreign minister dr manuel pacas castro said in santiago de chile.  during his official visit to chile, the salvadoran minister met with president augusto pinochet and other government officials.    pacas castro and his chilean counterpart hernan felipe errazuriz signed a joint declaration expressing "their concern over terrorist actions in latin america and the foreign support to subversive groups."    the two ministers stated that the "guerrilla" actions hinder democracy and economic development, and basically affect the most needy sectors."    in the document, chilean foreign minister errazuriz expresses "the support of the chilean goverment for the peace process promoted by president alfredo cristiani and for the peace efforts in central america."    following the signing of the declaration, foreign minister pacas told newsmen that "guerrilla movements in latin america are of castro-communist inspiration."  he also criticized the presidents of cuba and nicaragua.    "the main instigator is fidel castro," he added.  "all those groups have a common denominator and adopt their own methods in each country."    pacas did not rule out there may be some links between the fmln and chilean guerrillas.  "i am not aware of a direct relationship," he clarified.  "however, i have not ruled out that possibility because citizens from other countries have arrived in el salvador to fight."    in conclusion, he added: "we have always said that the salvadoran guerrillas have had their training centers in nicaragua."


Input: fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) militiamen and urban guerrillas inflicted 261 casualties on the armed forces during october.  these casualties include seven noncommissioned officers and two officers.    in the same period of time, the fmln damaged three uh - 1h helicopters and a push-pull o-2 lightplane.  in addition, five vehicles, all of which were part of military motorcades, were destroyed in two large-scale ambushes.    also to be noted are actions in the quezaltepeque area, the wearing out of enemy troops on the san salvador volcano slopes, in chalatenango and cabanas departments, and other places in the country. we also must mention the daring of our urban guerrillas, who attacked the staff in san salvador.


Input: mexican narcotics police have arrested colombian citizen jorge humberto chalaria, known as "el negro," the representative in mexico of colombian drug trafficker gonzalo rodriguez gacha, otherwise known as "el mexicano," the top chief of the medellin cartel, the attorney general's office (pgr) made known today.    chalaria, 30 years old, 5 other colombians, 1 venezuelan, and 12 mexicans have been arrested "in the last 2 days" and 550 kg of pure cocaine have been confiscated in operations conducted in this city and in the states of sonora and tamaulipas, a pgr spokesman said.    the gang of drug traffickers led by chalaria were able to deliver over 50 tons of pure cocaine to the states of california and florida in the last 4 years, the pgr spokesman added.    "el negro" confessed that he had been in mexico since 1988 under the orders of gonzalo rodriguez gacha, according to the same source.    the international drug trafficking gang had the protection of arturo cuellar tijerina, commander of the tamaulipas judicial police, who was also arrested.    cuellar and a group of policemen under his orders supplied fuel to the drug traffickers, who brought the drug into mexico by means of light aircraft, which landed on clandestine runways near the border with the united states.    those arrested confessed that american julio chagy de la rosa, a miami resident, distributed the drug and "laundered" the money obtained in the drug trafficking business through a company called "ital bagno," which supposedly manufactured stoves.    they said that on 29 october they received a load of 550 kg of pure cocaine from colombia, brought into the country from a ranch located in sonora. the narcotics police detected the illegal operation at the ranch and arrested alfonso castillo armenta and his daughter, who had modern radio communications equipment to make contact with the colombian planes and with "el negro."    the investigations led the police to a residential neighborhood in this capital, where "el negro" had rented a home in which he lived with a venezuelan woman by the name of criatina rosas rodriguez, who covered up the activities conducted by her companion.    the arrest is the third heavy blow dealt on the international drug trafficking business by the mexican police in the last 3 weeks.    on 19 october, the police arrested colombians rodrigo dizunza ochoa, nephew of drug trafficker fabio ochoa, and alfredo aguilar castro, nephew of colombian drug trafficker rodriguez gacha, who had 10 kg of pure cocaine in their possession.    early this month, mexican rafael munoz talavera was arrested.  he allegedly owns the 20 tons of pure cocaine discovered in a warehouse in los angeles, california, in september.    since president carlos salinas de gortari took office last december, the mexican narcotics police have confiscated 23 tons of pure cocaine and have arrested nearly 10,000 drug traffickers.


Input: pereira -- three persons were injured and heavy material damage was reported during a new terrorist wave that hit pereira last night.  three bombs exploded at the front doors of a political party headquarters and two banks.  the almost simultaneous blasts were heard at approximately midnight.  the residents in the downtown area were shaken by the explosions.  injured by the shock wave were: an unidentified taxi driver; elmer machado, a young beggar who was sleeping on the sidewalk near one of the banks; and raul castano gutierrez, a baker who was passing by.  the injured persons were taken to the social security's san jorge hospital and the pio xii clinic, and it was reported that they are out of danger.    glass was broken and office furniture and equipment destroyed at the liberal unity headquarters, a group that follows the guidelines of presidential hopeful cesar gaviria trujillo; at the las villas savings and loans office; and at the international bank of colombia branch. the pereira security council, presided over by municipal secretary bernardo gil jaramillo, is currently holding an urgent meeting. secretary gil jaramillo said that the most drastic and effective measures will be adopted to bring the situation under control, to find those responsible for last night's attacks, and to prevent further incidents.    the attack on the liberal unity headquarters occurred a few hours after the directorate called a meeting with civic, union, cultural, sports, and religious groups to choose their candidate for mayor.  the candidate will run on the alvarista conservative movement ticket headed by senator emiliano isaza enao.    this is the second attack in 2 months.  on 6 september three bombs exploded -- three others were defused -- resulting in 60 million pesos in damage and 17 persons injured.  one of the injured lost a leg.

political party headquarters

las villas savings and loans office

international bank of colombia branch

elmer machado

raul castano gutierrez

bombs


Input: the patriotic resistance front 1827 (ejercito de resistencia patriotica 1827), (erp-27), a heretofore unknown leftist guerrilla organization, announced its presence today in honduras with a propaganda action.    two devices designed to distribute propaganda exploded in this capital, issuing the first erp-27 public communique in which the organization demands that the nicaraguan "contras" and "the u.s. troops" leave the country.    the erp-27 claimed "the honduran people's right to fight with weapons and every possible means until the u.s. military occupation and all forms of foreign subjugation end."    the guerrilla organization's communique also demands respect for the presidential agreements which seek to achieve peace in central america and "the end of the criminal war against the nicaraguan government and people."    there are no additional details on the erp-27 in honduras but its public appearance coincides with a new anniversary of the la trinidad battle, which occurred on 11 november 1827, the first military victory of national hero francisco morazan. morazan, a honduran by birth, is the most important historical figure at the central american level. he fought against conservative sectors to create a single republic under liberal ideas, and he was executed by his adversaries in 1842 in san jose, costa rica.    morazan is extolled by the popular and political movements in the country, and there is even one guerrrilla organization called the "morazanista front for the liberation of honduras.    the erp-27 is the sixth leftist organization which has declared itself "up in arms" against the honduran government.