Input: therefore, the western european press, political parties, labor unions, and general public are very strongly rejecting cristiani's regime.  the congresses and parliaments of many western european countries are saying that the cooperation the salvadoran regime receives should be reevaluated.    (reporter) comrade salvador samayoa, the government network is reporting that u.s. aid to cristiani will continue.  the colonels have also said that the fmln cannot defeat the armed forces because the latter has military and economic aid from the u.s. government. returning to this point, comrade samayoa, what is your view?  what options does the u.s. government have concerning el salvador, and what impact has the new situation had on u.s. policy toward el salvador?    (samayoa) as i said, the u.s. government must take into consideration that a new internal situation of generalized popular, political, and social discontent is taking shape, and that from this moment on its policy in el salvador will undergo isolation and will be rejected by the american people, and even by very important sectors within the house and senate.    so far, the u.s. administration has stubbornly continued providing aid and support to a regime that is obviously criminal and genocidal, and that policy is (words indistinct) currently a very strong debate in the united states.  the options available to the u.s.  government are to sink with the cristiani regime, which is obviously moving toward defeat and military and political destruction despite all the propaganda it has made, or to change its opinion while there is still time.  the alternative of a change of government, a replacement of cristiani's regime or the military hierarchy, is already under discussion.  these, therefore, are the two alternatives available to the united states: either change its policy in time and replace cristiani, or the government will sink because its propaganda is not working.    the u.s. ambassador has made a fool of himself.  he said the guerrillas had 1,500 men in san salvador, and he has listed casualty figures according to which the fmln suffered over 500 deaths, over 400 wounded, and others captured.  according to the figures quoted by the u.s. ambassador, who provides government war bulletins and has almost become the salvadoran defense minister, the fmln only has 200 men left in san salvador.    what i find inexplicable is the government's need to use 40 or 50 war planes and helicopters, along with its artillery and elite battalions, to bomb and destroy cities, especially san salvador.  that is why their propaganda has backfired on them.  in the united states the press and general public know full well that the fmln offensive is in full force and is moving forward, and that the u.s.  policy is reaching the point of total failure.    (reporter) to conclude, comrade samayoa, what is your message on radio venceremos to the comrades who have maintained their positions in san salvador, san miguel, zacatecoluca, usulutan, and various points of the national territory?  what is your message to the fighters and the people?    (samayoa) to all the comrades who are fighting in trenches throughout the length and breadth of our country, i must say that the affection and admiration you have generated throughout the world, the solidarity with your struggle, and the surprising strength and heroism you have displayed are now receiving support from almost all of the countries of the world.  therefore, our struggle not only is not alone, but it has now achieved maximum support of all types: political, material, economic.  solidarity has multiplied hundredfold over the past few days, and it will be an inexhaustible source of support that will contribute to completing the fascist regime's destruction.  the people of the world admire the struggle the comrades and fighters in all the cities in this country are waging, and they very clearly understand that the struggle is for a just cause and against a completely illegitimate, fascist, and criminal regime.    the comrades can rest assured of this international support, which is currently very great.  it is impressive to see all of the affection and admiration that our fighters are receiving from all over the world.    (reporter) thank you very much, salvador.  our greetings to all the other comrades.    (samayoa) thank you, (words indistinct).  thank you very much.


Input: attention.  we have reports that there is heavy fighting going on in the northern part of san salvador and in apopa.  pay close attention.  the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) has intensified fighting against special battalions in san salvador.  we also report that during this fighting in san salvador, at 1600 this afternoon, our anti-aircraft crews downed a salvadoran air force helicopter.  we hit the helicopter near saquiro in arce street and it crashed.  we are to receive more details and a report about the crew's fate later.    we repeat, a salvadoran air force helicopter was downed in san salvador at 1600 today.  this is the second helicopter we have downed in urban combat.  at the beginning of our offensive we reported that a helicopter had been downed and one of its pilots had been killed.


Input: comrade salvador samayoa, we have heard reports on statements by the u.s. ambassador in san salvador, william walker, who said that despite the bombings his government, the bush administration, will continue giving military aid and support to the cristiani government.  however, it seems the situation has changed following the assassination of the jesuits.  at this moment, how does the united states perceive the new situation in el salvador?    (samayoa) at the level of the u.s. people, there is a total repudiation of the fascist criminal government and of the salvadoran armed forces because of the bombings -- which have become a true genocide -- in various densely populated cities and neighborhoods in el salvador, as well as because of the assassinations perpetrated by the salvadoran army against the jesuit priests at the central american university (uca).  there have been very radical demonstrations expressing much indignation by various u.s. social sectors.  moreover, in some of those demonstrations, the police barricades were broken. important u.s. political personalities such as jesse jackson, one of the most prestigious leaders in the united states, participated in the demonstrations.  there have also been demonstrations in boston, chicago, new york, san francisco, and los angeles.  in at least 20 cities in the united states people have expressed all their repudiation and indignation over the cristiani government and the u.s. policy in el salvador.    since the assassination of the uca priests, a large number of important u.s. senators and representatives are saying that u.s. military aid to the salvadoran armed forces and government should be cut and suspended.  senator kennedy in particular made a very strong statement, saying the salvadoran armed forces' attitude simply expresses the failure of 10 years of u.s. policy -- which has been spent feeding, training, arming, and financing an armed force that carries out assassinations.  in addition to senator kennedy, there are many u.s. senators and congressmen who are requesting the total suspension of military aid to el salvador.  at this time, the cristiani government and armed forces have the highest level of repudiation in the united states in the past 10 years.  however, the u.s. government, (words indistinct) the state department, and the white house continue supporting the (salvadoran) criminal regime and giving it further emergency aid.    (reporter) comrade, yesterday we learned about articles published in the main u.s. newspapers the new york times and the washington post, which strongly question the government, specifically president cristiani, the chief of the fascist dictatorship.  what is the situation of the cristiani speech and his alleged legitimacy, not only in the united states but also at the level of the european community?    (samayoa) the alleged legitimacy of cristiani collapsed.  in the united states, they said cristiani was (words indistinct) had good intentions, but the right-wing (words indistinct) and the death squads did not let him work.  the speech failed because it is now clear that as commander in chief of the armed forces, cristiani is responsible for the genocide in san salvador and other departments in the country (words indistinct).  the media have also reported the arrest of u.s. religious men and of swiss, french, spanish, and japanese citizens. the salvadoran government is a government accusing everyone of cooperating with the guerrillas, and this has caused a total loss of the government's prestige. editorials on 18 november in the main u.s. newspapers (words indistinct) cristiani is not more than (words indistinct). at embassies and consulates in most countries in western europe -- in italy, spain, the frg, france, sweden, denmark and everywhere -- there have been demonstrations called by labor unions, political parties, and people's movements in those countries to express repudiation.  in london, one of the most prestigious human rights organizations, amnesty international, urged everyone to stage demonstrations in front of all salvadoran embassies and consulates. (continued)

salvadoran army


Input: the guerrilla offensive has not been defeated and cannot be defeated. international reports indicate that the revolutionary forces have become strong in the city, that they are making tactical movements, and that in spite of the barbarism with which the armed forces has been operating, the guerrillas maintain all of their operational capabilities.    the situation cannot defeat us.  there must be a solution, and the salvadoran people are increasingly, and in different ways, becoming involved in the revolutionary process to defeat the fascists and the genocidal tactics they are using.    we believe that what is happening is having an impact on international public opinion, and this undoubtedly will have an effect on the armed forces and could result in an effort to save the institution.    we believe that in the armed forces there are officers and soldiers who reject fascism.  there have been many desertions in the army files.  many orders are being disobeyed, orders of a genocidal nature usually.  this is the starting point of an event that will stun political opinion in el salvador.    we believe that if this savage killing of people does not stop, the military institution will be signing its own death sentence.  the people cannot tolerate a military that functions under a most savage and despotic regime, and the cristiani government is in hot water, we could say.    the revolutionary offensive, as i have noted, is being developed. we have solid positions in four of el salvador's main cities, and as we have said before: no one is going to push us out.  victory for democracy has been assured.  the world will back us in the face of the savage genocide by the government forces, especially by the fascist military elements in el salvador.    (reporter) to conclude, commander, the funeral rites for the the priests who were murdered in san salvador are taking place at this moment, around noon time, and alfredo cristiani and his wife are attending this ceremony.  do you have any message for the salvadoran people, for the students from the catholic university, for the christian people, for the people in general, who are mourning the death of these worthy jesuits?    (roca) we have already expressed, and i will reiterate it now, the deep sorrow of the fmln militants and the people in general over the loss of these worthy jesuit priests who have been consistent strugglers for democracy and peace in el salvador.  we share the feelings of the salvadoran religious community.    i would like to note that the presence of cristiani at the burial for the jesuit priests calls for a national and international outcry in demand for punishment for the persons responsible for this atrocious assassination.    cristiani cannot go to that burial and do nothing about people to whom he opened doors so that they could commit these killings. everybody must demand that cristiani respond to the people's indignation by punishing the persons responsible for the crime. cristiani cannot speak about having moral authority for attending that burial unless he punishes the people who are responsible.  it is not enough to punish the assassins.  there must be a thorough investigation of the wave of crime that has been unleashed in el salvador.  the most notorious crime has been the killing of the jesuit priests, but in the past 8 days many common people and community leaders have also been murdered.  the bombing has been intense.  the salvadoran people are enduring much pain and they demand that the people responsible for it be punished.    we again reiterate the pain of the people over the death of the jesuit priests.  we believe that the catholic church must bravely and loudly demand justice in the face of these crimes.


Input: san salvador, 19 nov (acan-efe) -- salvadoran clergymen from the catholic, lutheran, and baptist churches have claimed that they are being "persecuted" by groups operating in the country in the style of the ultrarightist "death squads"    medardo gomez, a lutheran church bishop, said today that clergymen are subject to "persecution."  he said that members of the police force are "besieging" shelters established by the religious groups to benefit thousands of victims of the fighting.    the lutheran bishop said that six germans, four u.s. citizens, a canadian, and a spaniard were arrested by the treasury police 2 days ago in a church in san salvador, where the troops were looking for "guerrilla collaborators."    the foreigners were detained after having helped to aid civilians who took refuge in churches in san salvador after fleeing from the bloody clashes between the military and rebels in the mejicanos, cuscatancingo, zacamil, ciudad delgado, san jacinto, and soyapango neighborhoods, located in the northern and northeastern parts of the capital.    several priests, including daniel lopez, a spaniard, had to evacuate their parishes, which are located in the embattled areas, after the churches were surrounded by soldiers.  lopez had to leave the santa maria de los pobres church in the la chacra slum area in eastern san salvador after it was bombed by the air force, according to one of lopez' assistants, who is also a spaniard.    religious sources told the press that treasury policemen assaulted some 50 refugees in the san roque shelter, located in southern san salvador, when they were searching for a priest named cortez.    the religious leaders said that the persecution was stepped up after the start of the guerrilla offensive in the capital, which began on 11 november and so far has left some 1,000 dead, including 6 jesuit priests who were assassinated.  (passage omitted)

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santa maria de los pobres church


Input: fifty-five spaniards were evacuated from el salvador today for security reasons in an air force plane which left the country at 1545 (2145 gmt) from the international airport at comalapa.    spanish deputy foreign minister inocencio arias was on board the plane.    the airplane's departure was delayed to wait for arias and other spanish officials to arrive at the airport after attending the funeral of six jesuit priests, five of them spaniards, who were killed on thursday.


Input: the following is an updated report of the military situation.    the armed forces inform the salvadoran people that the areas in san salvador where army troops are currently conducting counterinsurgency operations are the guadalupe and los santos neighborhoods of the soyopango municipality, and san sebastian (word indistinct) at ciudad delgado.  the armed forces expect to expel the remaining small rebel redoubts from these areas in the next few hours.  there were harrassment actions in apopa this morning, but no casualties were reported.  the army controls the mejicanos and zacamil neighborhoods.    the armed forces control the situation in the western part of the country.  the situation in the eastern part of the country is also under control, except for a few terrorist groups currently being expelled from the city of san miguel.    the armed forces joint command staff reports that 840 terrorists have been killed and 558 have been wounded as of today.  the army has suffered the loss of 220 soldiers, who heroically offered their lives to defend the fatherland from communism.  also, 457 soldiers have been wounded.    the following war materiel has been conficated: 446 rifles of different calibers, 87 grenade launchers, (words indistinct), 22 machineguns, 18 submachineguns, and a large amount of ammunition and other war materiel.


Input: this is our responsibility, this is our mission, and we are willing to give our lives in sacrifice, as has been proven by the many heroic soldiers who are dying in this struggle to defend justice, peace, democracy, and the well-being of these people whom we love so much, the salvadoran people.    armed forces, do not fear the enemy.  go forward with your resolve and spirit.  our faith in god and our christian principles give us the truth and the strength to continue destroying the forces that are trying to wipe out our history, tradition, values, and citizens' principles.    for each officer and soldier lost in the struggle, there is no other mission but to defeat the enemy, to destroy the terrorists' plans, and to once and for all wipe out this maneuver, this attempt to destroy the institutionality of el salvador.    this is a timely occasion, salvadoran people, to say that the armed forces as an institution at society's service deeply regret and have been dismayed by the incidents at the jose simeon canas central american university.  we condemn, point at, and deeply reject these irrational and violent actions, which are aimed against salvadoran intellectuals.  we, like the salvadoran people and the international community, also point to, question, and totally reject these actions which only bring mourning and grief and, furthermore -- as the terrorist forces have done on other occasions -- create confusion, deceit, and further torment the salvadoran people who have already suffered so much.    the armed forces convey their deepest condolences to the national and international jesuit community, and we are willing -- as the government has pointed out -- to carry out thorough investigations, so that sooner or later we will find those responsible for this situation and apply to them the punishment they deserve for such irrational, violent actions that only bring grief, tears, and blood to our salvadoran people.    salvadoran people, i believe the time has come to further demonstrate our stoicism.  i believe this is the time to define, in a true citizen's spirit, our resolve to defeat, our resolve to win. within a short while, a few hours, or a few days, we will join the salvadoran people to celebrate the victory of democracy, justice, and peace over the irrational violence unleashed by the fmln.    this may also be a timely opportunity to point to the terrorist forces that are still trying to hurt our civilian population, to tell them that their cause, the cause of violence, irrationality, and disrespect for the people's will, is lost.  to this effect, the armed forces are urging the terrorist forces to surrender, to lay down their weapons, to stop the violence, and to join civilian life in society, in peace and harmony, so that we also -- as the armed forces and as an institution -- can respect their lives and incorporate them into society, and so that together -- today, tomorrow, and always -- we can build a country full of love, well- being, peace, and faith in god.


Input: eduardo colorado, attorney general of el salvador, stated today that there is a plan, possibly prepared by the guerrillas, to attack salvadoran bishops and "create greater problems for the government" of alfredo cristiani.    in a news conference, the official said that "it would be advisable for the bishops to leave the country or not appear in public."    colorado, who did not want want to provide further details about the alleged plan, said that the main target might be msgr gregorio rosa chavez, auxiliary bishop of san salvador, since several of his relatives are guerrillas.    the attorney general did not rule out the possibility that persons who have lost relatives in the war "might carry out the plan" that "might be organized by the terrorists to create a greater crises for the government."    the attorney general said he sent a letter to pope john paul ii asking him to remove from the country the bishops who reportedly support the so-called "people's church."  according to colorado, this "people's church" is responsible in part for the violence in the country.    he did not specify which bishops are mentioned in the letter sent to the pope, but various sources insist he is referring to archbishop arturo rivera y damas and auxiliary bishop rosa chavez, who support a political solution to the conflict in the country.    in the letter, the attorney general suggests that pope john paul ii remove these salvadoran bishops since, he insists, "it is 1,000 times better to prevent these incidents than to have to investigate them."    the attorney general's letter to the pope was sent 2 days after six jesuits (five spaniards and one salvadoran) and two women were killed in san salvador by a group of 30 to 40 men wearing military uniforms, according to witnesses.

guerrillas

men wearing military uniforms

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gregorio rosa chavez

arturo rivera y damas


Input: the armed forces maintain control in the capital.  after 6 (number as heard) days of intense battles between the army and the terrorist criminals of the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front), the salvadoran armed forces have shown their professionalism by achieving total control in the capital.  the locations where there were the biggest problems -- the slopes of san jacinto hill in the south and soyapango, ciudad delgado, mejicanos, and zacamil -- have been retaken by the army during the weekend.  even though the army had dislodged the marxist - leninists from mejicanos, civilian access to that area has not been permitted because the guerrillas mined the entrances to several neighborhoods and several houses of people who did not cooperate with them.  in ciudad delgado, armed forces soldiers fought small groups of guerrillas who had hidden in houses and who put up some resistance, which was quickly controlled by the armed forces.  the armed forces maintain absolute control over amatepec and ciudad credisa neighborhoods.    onward brave soldiers.  continue fighting to keep our fatherland free with guarantees for all honest salvadorans.


Input: the salvadoran capital, which has been the scene of fierce fighting between the salvadoran army and guerrillas over the past week, is slowly returning to normal.  for the first time in 9 days many businesses and workplaces opened their doors and many buses were operating.  after many days in which most vehicles on the streets were ambulances, official or military vehicles, and vehicles belonging to newsmen, the capital awakened today to heavy traffic with buses, taxis, trucks, and private vehicles.    the 24-hour "curfew" decreed by the armed forces in the densely populated neighborhoods of ayutuxtepeque, cuscatancingo, and mejicanos in the northwestern part of san salvador was suspended, salvadoran president aflredo cristiani announced on television last night.    the "state of siege" and "curfew," however, will remain in effect, from 1800 in the evening until 0600 in the morning.    in two outlying neighborhoods of the capital, guerrilla redoubts and soldiers have continued to clash, particularly in the neighborhoods of apopa, ciudad delgado, and soyapango.    private vehicles cannot operate in much of mejicanos neighborhood, one of the main guerrilla bastions last week, as a result of the trenches dug by the rebels and debris piled on the streets from destroyed buildings and homes.    the situation is also returning to normal in some parts of the interior, except for some cities such as san miguel in the east and zacatecoluca in the south where there is still fierce fighting in which elite army units are involved.    in the capital city, the red cross and other humantarian assistance organizations are beginning the tasks of cleaning up the rubble and rebuilding thousands of homes affected by the fighting and bombing, according to the preliminary assessments.  international red cross sources said that some 50,000 persons have had to abandon their homes and are lodged in churches, stadiums, schools, and other buildings set up as temporary lodgings.    international emergency assistance has also begun to arrive bringing first aid for the many civilians who were wounded and are being treated in the hospitals where hundreds of the more than 1,000 who were treated last week remain, according to salvadoran hospital sources.    president alfredo cristiano reported on a radio and television network that "a few redoubts" guerrilla redoubts remain, that the armed forces have continued to advance, and that "the situation will be totally controlled soon."    he said that the war victims will be given economic assistance and that his cabinet will implement "reconstruction programs," with which he invited the private sector to cooperate.    the state radio is celebrating the "defeat of the red hordes" of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) in a tone of resounding victory, constantly rendering tribute to the leaders and soldiers of the battalions that have participated in expelling the guerrillas from the capital and other cities.    "the terrorists fled in disarray," according to the state radio, which commented on the military situation that circles close to the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) interpreted as a "tactical withdrawal."    the fighting and bombings in the capital and other parts of the country have left a toll of more than 1,000 dead, hundreds wounded, and tens of thousands homeless.


Input: a friend of the jesuit priests, the first to arrive on the scene, said that he counted some 500 or 600 bullet holes.  he said that these shots were fired from some distance, with a machinegun set up on a tripod.  the priests were also later shot in a garden nearby.  according to information that the society of jesus received following their own reconstruction of the crime, which they have released to the authorities investigating the case, the killers, approximately 30 men in uniform, arrived shortly before 0230.  they machinegunned the house before entering, dragged the priests out, put them in front of a wall that is still stained with blood, and shot them.  the priests were also shot in the head with a long-range weapon; however, these shots were fired from some distance.  a lawyer, helping in the investigation of this case and who has asked to remain unidentified, said that this was determined because there were no gunpowder marks on the victims.    at the time the crime was carried out, a curfew was being observed throughout the city.  (words indistinct) and the house where the priests lived was surrounded by soldiers.  together with this information, gathered by several institutions and prominent persons to prove that the murder was carried out by soldiers, we must stress that the house was also searched by the soldiers 2 days before the crime was committed.  a jesuit priest who was describing the scene said that only the area previously searched by the soldiers was destroyed.  he said that the library was burned and the rooms had been ransacked. according to the priest, $5,000 that father ignacio ellacuria had received in barcelona -- part of an award given the university -- were taken from one of the rooms.    the use of long-range weapons would also explain why the brains of the dead were scattered about.  this was seen by the first persons who arrived on the scene.  others said that the bodies were destroyed because ak-47 and m-16 assault rifles were used in the attack.  the bodies were so utterly destroyed that embalming was not possible. this was reported to acan-efe by society of jesus superior jose maria tojeira.    regarding the two murdered women, the cook elba julia ramos and her 15-year-old daughter marisela, all indicates that they were machinegunned in the small room where they slept. there was so much blood that it seeped under the door, and a vertebra and pieces of a skull can still be seen under a sofa in the small room.  the preliminary investigations seem to indicate that the victims were not tortured as earlier reports had stated.    meanwhile, salvadoran president alfredo cristiani reportedly said yesterday that the armed forces high command has not ruled out the possibility that the killers of the six jesuit priests could have been soldiers.  they have not ruled out the possibility that soldiers could have killed the priests, and they are determined to investigate the incident and punish the responsible parties.  this was said by the salvadoran president in statements to acan-efe and other foreign news agencies.  cristiani, who insisted on the need to avoid unfounded conclusions, added that the military does not think it will be affected by something done by individual members of the institution.    we can clearly see now that there are some contradictions.  at this moment there are three positions.  there is the position of u.s. ambassador william walker -- he is like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand.  there is proof that rules out all doubt.  how can 40 men in uniform be in a militarized area for 60 minutes and not hear shots being fired and bombs exploding?  why did the army not send in troops to find out what happened only a few blocks from colonel rene emilio ponce's office?  the 40 men were in the area for a whole hour. they had already searched father ellacuria's home.    our question for william walker: if this was not done by the armed forces, then why were they there searching the premises for a whole hour and even stealing $5,000?  they searched drawer by drawer.  the disorder they left behind was quite evident in the clips shown on television.  they searched the area for an hour to see what they, the murderers, could find to steal.  however, ambassador william walker says that he does not know if the army committed the crime.  (continued)

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elba julia ramos

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ak-47 and m-16 assault rifles


Input: as we said earlier, there are three positions.  this proves that there are contradictions surrounding this case.  there is william walker, acting like an ostrich with his head stuck in the ground.  and there is cristiani's position -- the death squad member who wears a tie, who (words indistinct) after the international community (words indistinct), and who said that rash judgment should not be passed and that no one should be in a hurry to accuse the government or anyone else.  and there is also the general staff and defense ministry position blaming the fmln.  why?  if it is true that there is a civilian government in el salvador, then why can the defense minister appear before the television cameras contradicting cristiani, going against what cristiani had said?  who gives the orders here, larios or cristiani?  if cristiani gives the orders, then the defense minister must obey cristiani and refrain from making accusations before a serious investigation is held.  however, this is not the case.    this further proves what we have been saying.  the civilian mask fell on saturday.  the defense ministry holds the real power in the country.  the defense ministry censors the press.  the soldiers are the ones censoring the television stations, and not the arena (nationalist republican alliance) followers or other civilians.  the general staff, the soldiers, are gagging the press, imposing the state of siege, giving the final orders.  it is important to look into this closely because gen larios, in an empty speech -- we heard him deliver a rhetorical and empty speech -- accused the fmln of killing the priests and said that the army controls the country.  we point out these contradictions (words indistinct).    by saying that they did not do it, that the armed forces did not do it, the defense minister admitted that he did it, that he is one of the killers.  that is what gen larios is saying, that is what he said in his public statement.  (words indistinct) no doubt, and the international community has (words indistinct).  we do not believe in the government's investigations because we have past examples of it. we have monsignor romero's case and we have the case of the revolutionary democratic front leaders, who, a few years ago, were arrested in broad daylight during a police operation.  however, not a single soldier has been punished.  we do not believe in cristiani's justice.  the international community is putting on the pressure and cristiani will have to do something.  he will probably put up some act.  the u.s.  congress also has its eyes on el salvador.  they are debating the issue of aid to el salvador.  there is something else the u.s.  congress must think about.  the u.s. department of state said that it is pleased with the way cristiani acted in the face of the fmln offensive.  this means that the u.s. department of state has approved the dropping of white phosphorus over zacamil and the destruction of 500 homes.  this means that the u.s. department of state has approved the killing of the jesuit priests, and also the massacre of several salvadoran citizens who were taken from their homes and killed on the same black night when the jesuit priests were killed.

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Input: reliable sources have informed the national network that guillermo rojas, the leftist trade union leader, died in soyapango municipality where heavy combat between the salvadoran army and the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) criminal terrorists has taken place.  guillermo rojas was one of the top leaders of the trade union of salvadoran social security institute workers, stiss, and founding member of the leftist unts (national union of salvadoran workers), a front for the marxist-leninist fmln groups.    the sources added that the circumstances surrounding guillermo rojas' death have yet to be clarified.

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guillermo rojas


Input: here is a very important point that u.s. ambassador william walker should take into consideration.  ambassador walker seems to be a very bad investigator, as he is still in the dark as regards the cowardly murder of the jesuit priests. after the funeral of the jesuit priests, the u.s. ambassador still expressed doubts regarding the authors of this crime.    well, we have received a report stating that the murderers of the jesuits fired more than 500 shots and stayed in the residence of the slain priests for 1 hour.  in other words, 40 men in the uniform of the salvadoran army were a few blocks from the general staff participating in shooting that lasted several minutes, and remained in there for 1 hour, in an area under the army's control, in an area under the control of the general staff.    we have a question for the u.s. ambassador.  how could 40 men in salvadoran armed forces uniforms, and with police and army patrols only a few meters away from the jesuits' residence, remain in that place for 1 hour if they were not members of the armed forces?    ambassador william walker, if you still have any shame, tell the world and answer this question: if the armed forces general staff did not kill the jesuit priests, how could the murderers -- as this international dispatch says -- remain in the residence for 1 hour after the heavy shooting, after killing the priests with machineguns in tripods, as the cable says?    we will read this dispatch which is being read all over the world. maybe william walker does not even read international dispatches, because he cynically said after the priests' funeral that he had no evidence or indication that the crime was committed by the armed forces.  well, ambassador william walker, we will read this dispatch to you:    the (word indistinct) in uniform who killed six jesuit priests and two companions in san salvador on thursday fired more than 500 shots and remained at the scene of the crime for almost 1 hour.  we repeat: they were in the priests' residence for almost 1 hour, according to private investigations conducted by various institutions.    a few hours before the funeral, the scene of the crime reveals some of the circumstances concerning the machinegunning of the priests. (continued)

men in the uniform of the salvadoran army

salvadoran armed forces

machineguns in tripods


Input: the three spanish members of the international peace brigades, freed today by the salvadoran national guard, said that the authorities ordered them to leave the country because they were suspected of collaborating with "terrorist delinquents."    "we are being thrown out of the country," said frances riera, one of the spaniards detained this morning together with his fellow countrymen esther domenech and luis perez, a guatemalan under refuge at the episcopal church, and another three foreigners -- a colombian, a canadian, and an american.    riera said they were detained at 1005 gmt, while the city was "under curfew" and under a "state of siege," and that national guard members "knocked on the door, entered, separated us, took the foreigners aside, and delivered us an anticommunist harangue."    "they told us they were arresting us for our own protection because foreigners were being threatened by terrorist delinquents.  at the national guard we were made to sign a statement in which we appear as suspects of collaborating with terrorist delinquents," riera added.    the three spaniards are at the spanish embassy, after ambassador francisco cadiz immediately went into action to get them freed.    a total of 15 people were detained, nine of them salvadorans, and we "know nothing of their whereabouts," riera said.  he added that they had remained in detention for over 1 hour, stressing that "we were never mistreated nor were we asked any questions."    riera said that there are more than 135 people at the episcopal church who were left homeless by the war, and more are expected today.    "people have to remain there (at the episcopal church) because they have no place to go.  there are no places left after the salvadoran air force bombings," riera stressed.    he added that the church "has evidence that whole neighborhoods were set on fire."    riera reported that at the end of august "armed men, dressed in military uniforms," entered his home and "intimidated us."    the three freed spaniards will return as soon as possible to madrid, via guatemala, a spokesman for the spanish embassy in san salvador reported.


Input: the main command of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) has expressed serious concern at the direct u.s. interference in the salvadoran conflict.  on friday the northern quarters of the country's capital san salvador were once again subjected to massive bombardments by military aircraft in which u.s. pilots took part, a report from the insurgent "venceremos" radio station says.  according to fmln intelligence data, u.s. pilots arrived in el salvador 13 november and are taking part in combat operations conducted by army subunits in densely populated quarters of the capital.    approximately 500 homes in the capital's sakamil (name as transliterated) quarter were destroyed as a result of bomb strikes and missile bombardment by salvadoran aircraft, journalists accredited in this country reported over the telephone.  they attest that the salvadoran air force are using missiles and, probably, napalm.

salvadoran air force

homes

bomb

missiles and, probably, napalm


Input: president george bush has said that the united states intends to continue military and economic aid to el salvador, the scene of fierce clashes recently between salvadorean insurgents and the pro-american regime's army.    speaking at the andrews air force base, maryland, on monday, the president strongly criticised the prevailing congressional sentiments in favour of the termination of aid to the salvadorean government.    "this concept of the congress, of some members -- talking about cutting off aid to el salvador is absolutely unacceptable to me as president." he said.    "we support president cristiani and his efforts to restore order," bush said.    the president accused the farabundo marti national liberation front, fighting for national independence and democracy, of being financed by "marxists".  meanwhile the volume of washington's military and economic aid to the salvadorean regime is known to exceed 1.5 million dollars.    "to continue to have a handful of countries around -- a very small handful -- supporting the outdated concept of marxist guerrillas, is unacceptable to the united states," the president said.  "and i am to tell the congress of the united states that i will not accept, as president, a cut off of aid to el salvador," he said.    the president said "we cannot condone killing" in el salvador, ignoring the fact that the notorious "death squads", paramilitary extreme right-wing formations, have killed scores of thousands of civilians in the past few years.  civilians, suspected of links with guerrillas, are immediately executed, the american press has reported.    according to the associated press, there are 55 american military advisers in el salvador, some of them involved in terroristic "death squad" operations, as well as many u.s. secret service employees.


Input: a dispatch from the capital reaching our station at 0715 (1315 gmt) this morning states: at this moment, 0715, fighting has intensified in the vicinity of the sheraton hotel, as well as in the zona rosa.  police patrols are being ambushed in san benito and escalon neighborhood, which are exclusive residential districts of the hihg army command and the oligarchy.  fierce fighting is taking place in the capital, according to reports reaching our station at 0715 this morning.


Input: we have seen dispatches released by u.s. news agencies reporting that the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) has taken hostages.  the fmln does not take hostages; our actions are not against foreigners. therefore, no hostages have been taken.  the fmln ensures the safety of all foreigners who may be trapped in the areas of conflict areas throughout the country.  the fmln does not take hostages, it is not the way the fmln operates.  therefore, once and for all we wish to state that there are no foreigners being held hostage by the fmln.  the fmln does not take hostages.  therefore, the information being released by the u.s.  news agencies is not true.  the fmln does not take hostages.  there is no reason why we should take hostages, we are not terrorists.  we do not hold foreigners hostage as some u.s. news agencies are reporting.    we will be releasing a communique on this matter shortly.  however, we wish to state that the fmln does not take hostages.  the foreign dispatches released are groundless.  the dispatches state that the fmln is holding foreigners hostage.  that is not true; we do not take hostages, it is not our policy.  we are clarifying this for the diplomatic corps and international community.  we do not want them to be caught off guard by the information being released by foreign news agencies.    there are no hostages, taking hostages is not our policy.  if a foreign citizen -- u.s. citizen or any other foreigner -- is trapped in areas of conflict, the fmln will ensure his safety.  our fighters have been ordered to protect the physical integrity of any citizen affected by the current situation in el salvador.    we wish to be very clear that there are no hostages, it is not the fmln policy to hold hostages.


Input: we briefly interrupt our scheduled program to bring you a last minute report.    according to afp, reliable eyewitnesses have reported that the salvadoran guerrillas this morning occupied the sheraton hotel located in escalon neighborhood, northeastern san salvador. oas secretary general joao baena soares is currently staying at the sheraton hotel. farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) rebels reportedly positioned themselves on the roof of the hotel where secretary general baena soares is staying shortly before 0830 (1430 gmt).  according to a reliable source, at 0830 the rebels had not captured baena soares. the source added that baena soares' personal bodyguards were killed in the clashes that continue around the hotel.  it was also learned that helicopters were bombing the escalon neighborhood, where the rebels raised barricades early this morning with the apparent intention of isolating the area.    an unidentified and nervous- sounding person, who manned the sheraton hotel switchboard early this morning, told a reporter that he could not transfer any calls and hung up abruptly.  since 0630 (1230 gmt), the telephones at the sheraton hotel are not being answered.

salvadoran guerrillas

farabundo marti national liberation front


Input: imevision correspondent for central america epigmenio ibarra was detained by the salvadoran armed forces for a few hours after being in a car accident in merliot neighborhood.  ibarra was released last night and taken to a hospital were he is being taken care of.  our reports state that his condition is stable.    epigmenio ibarra, known for his important and outstanding incursions into the salvadoran battlefield, has been the victim of frequent salvadoran armed forces attacks.    we, the imevision workers, repudiate this attack on epigmenio ibarra, who was arrested and released last night.    clashes between the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) and the salvadoran army resumed yesterday afternoon after a period of apparent calm in el salvador.    shooting in escalon, san benito, and merliot neighborhoods worsened after the air force bombed the densely populated area.  clandestine radio venceremos has asserted that the areas occupied by the rebels during the last few days continue under their control.    there is heavy fighting between the guerrillas and the government forces in zacatecoluca department, and northern san salvador is under fmln control.    (begin recording) (fmln commander jorge melendez) we trust that despite the enormous bloodshed, the way in which the army is facing our attacks reaffirms the absolute justice and legitimacy of our struggle. (end recording)    the army has been unable to advance due to the the guerrilla tactics.    (begin recording) (unidentified army member) at present, our men are entering the area and combing the area block by block, because we have too many civilians in this area.  (end recording)    thousands of salvadorans have sought refuge in churches and red cross buildings.    oas secretary general joao baena soares has visited the areas most afffected by the fighting.  in washington, president george bush refused to withdraw the u.s. aid for salvadoran president alfredo cristiani's government.    meanwhile, salvadoran foreign minister jose manuel pacas has rejected all possibilities of a dialogue with the fmln rebels.  in venezuela, it was reported that the round of talks between the guerrilla movement and the salvadoran government scheduled to be held this week was suspended for an indefinite period.


Input: in an irrational act of criminal terrorism, a group of fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) outlaws occupied part of the sheraton hotel facilities with the malevolent intention of taking the oas secretary general hostage.    thanks to quick action by the glorious armed forces, the oas secretary general is now under the protection of special units who are in the process of evacuating him from the site.    the visit to our country by distinguished oas secretary general baena soares has a peaceful purpose. therefore, we totally condemn the fmln making him an objective of its terrorist actions.    the salvadoran government strongly condemns this action.  at the same time, it urges the international community to join the outcry of all civilized and democratic nations that condemn the fmln for this cowardly attack on the oas secretary general.

outlaws

farabundo marti national liberation front

baena soares


Input: the armed forces has foiled the terrorist attempt to kidnap the oas secretary general in this capital. specialized army troops this morning foiled an attempt by the fmln terrorist groups to kidnap oas secretary general joao clemente baena soares, who was staying at the el salvador sheraton hotel, in the escalon neighborhood in the northwestern part of the capital.    troops of the bracamonte battalion and the cavalry regiment, supported by the air force, surrounded the area while two groups of specially trained units entered the hotel.  the first group provided maximum protection to the illustrious oas secretary general, while the second group overpowered the group of extremists who had entered the hotel lobby with the intention of kidnapping baena soares.    the troops are currently cleaning up the small diversionary operations of the terrorists in the vicinity of the club campestre at the end of general escalon drive, close to the warehouses of the central electoral council and the extension of 75th avenue north.    at the present time, in a desperate attempt to save their lives due to the speedy reaction of the armed forces, the terrorist group that had intended to kidnap the oas secretary general took a group of hotel guests as hostages and are holding them captive on one of the floors of the hotel.    the armed forces expects to resolve this situation in a favorable manner in the next few hours, and they are trying to ensure the physical wellbeing of the hostages.

terrorist groups

fmln

joao clemente baena soares


Input: authorized spokespersons have informed the national netowrk that armored personnel carriers were used to evacuate the 20 persons being held hostage by the terrorist farabundo marti national liberation front, fmln, criminals at the sheraton hotel.  the spokespersons added that the hostages have been taken to a safe place.  the hostages were u.s. citizens who were taken hostage when the cowardly fmln killers attacked the hotel in an attempt to kidnap oas secretary general joao baena soares.  baena soares is also under the protection of a special armed forces corps.  regarding the condition of the 20 hostages, one was reported to have a leg injury.  the injured hostage is a u.s. citizen who works for aid.    the cowardly fmln killers, through their clandestine radio station, is broadcasting lies in an attempt to lift the morale of its members. the international community knows the truth; our glorious armed forces have the situation under control.

criminals

farabundo marti national liberation front

joao baena soares


Input: well, we believe that today it is particularly important to hear the remarks of comrade castro of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) in this program.  i consider it particularly important because the latest reports we are receiving state that the guerrillas are carrying out a tactical retreat, a tactical redeployment.  i would like to ask you, castro, what the objectives behind this tactical retreat or redeployment of the guerrilla movement are.    (castro) following 10 days of fighting in various places in the country, especially in san salvador, where the regime conducted criminal bombings, going as far as using phosphorous bombs, and to avoid further loss of civilian lives, that is, of people directly involved in the fighting, the fmln has decided to carry out a tactical retreat in order to concentrate its forces to continue to strike in other places against the enemy: the salvadoran army.    (agudo) castro, does this mean that the political-military maneuver has already ended?    (castro) no. the political-military maneuver continues.  the objective is to open areas for negotiations and, if possible, to create conditions that would be conducive to dislodging that criminal government which is today making our people suffer.    (agudo) after nearly 10 days of fighting, does the fmln consider that the operation has achieved its political objective?    (castro) we believe that this operation has achieved several objectives.  in the first place, we have shown the salvadoran army and the world our political, military and diplomatic capabilities.  the enemy claimed that we are weak.  they even stated that it would be impossible for the fmln to hold a position in san salvador for 1 day. we have held more than 10 positions for 10 days and they had to use all of the sophisticated weapons delivered to them by the u.s. government to force us to retreat, to carry out a tactical maneuver in order to avoid more deaths and to be able to continue to take actions in other areas of the country, including the capital itself.    (agudo) we are concerned about one thing: there is a group of guerrilla fighters, of rebel forces that are retreating from the capital.  isn't the salvadoran army in a position to surround them, to annihilate them?    (castro) no. it is impossible for the army to surround or to annihilate our comrades.  we have demonstrated our great maneuvering skills in the course of this war.  we have time and again broken sieges, and it is impossible for them to annihilate us.  i repeat, we have just retreated in order to relocate our forces in places that would enable us to deal even harder blows to the enemy.  (continued)


Input: havana university professors, workers, and students have repudiated the brutal assassination of priests ignacio ellacuria and ignacio martin bora, rector and vice rector of academics, respectively, of the university of el salvador (as heard), who were killed by the salvadoran regime.  in a declaration issued in havana, the university group also condemns the assassination of four other priests and one of their employees and her child, who were killed as the gunmen entered the rector's home on university grounds.  the communique says that these illustrious latin american people have become part of the list of thousands of martyrs who have given their lives for the victory of the people.  the university group also called upon other honest universities, professors, and students throughout the world to denounce the monstrous act to which the u.s.  government is an accomplice because of the basic aid it provides to el salvador.

gunmen

salvadoran regime

u.s.  government

ignacio ellacuria

ignacio martin bora


Input: lima, 21 nov 89 -- newspaper expreso today reported that the peruvian police have announced that a new leftist terrorist organization has been noticed and that the investigations into the subject are at quite an advanced stage.    the newspaper quoted technical police director lieutenant general fernando reyes roca, who confirmed the existence of a new guerrilla organization, the patriotic front of liberation (frente patriotico de liberacion) (fpl), whose members seem to belong to a radical united left (iu) sector.    reyes roca said that the group was detected by the state intelligence services and that fpl leaders were arrested in the past few hours.    police sources have said that the fpl might be a splinter group from the peruvian communist party or from radical factions of other iu groups. it has been said that some fpl leaders may have received military training in the camps of el salvador's farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln).    two terrorist groups are currently operating in peru. they are the maoist "shining path," which is a splinter group of the tupac amaru party, which is made up of dissidents of several leftist sectors.  (as published)


Input: the armed forces have successfully put an end to the terrorist operation carried out at the sheraton hotel.  this morning s-3 units of the salvadoran armed forces successfully put an end to the terrorist operation carried out by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) at the sheraton hotel, rescued the hostages, and evacuated the people trapped on the premises.    during the operation the fmln terrorists attempted to kidnap oas secretary general clemente baena soares.  the regional organization sent baena to the country to analyze the salvadoran situation, but in a violent and cruel operation the terrorists attempted to take him hostage to try to negotiate an agreement with the government of the republic.    however, in a rapid action operation, airborne troops managed to rescue the oas secretary general, although several foreign officials and an undetermined number of civilian guests at the hotel unfortunately continued to be held hostage.    this terrorist action against the life and security of nationals and foreigners finally ended this morning when the operation was completed.  the rescue operation has been widely praised because the armed forces once again demonstrated its professionalism and skill, because it managed to save the hostages and the persons trapped without endangering their lives or shedding any blood.

terrorists

farabundo marti national liberation front

clemente baena soares


Input: the el despertar refugee center in san salvador, managed by jesuits, was evacuated today because it was hit by a missile fired by a military plane last night, religious and diplomatic sources have said.    spanish citizen jose maria tojeira, superior of the jesuits in central america, told acan - efe that a rocket hit el despertar but that none of the 4 priests and approximately 100 refugees, who have been there since last week's bloody confrontations, was hurt.    the 4 jesuits, including director richard howard, a u.s. citizen, were trapped with the refugees at el despertar for 24 hours because of clashes in the sector between the armed forces and guerrillas.  the latter yesterday broke into the hotel where oas secretary general joao baena soares was staying.    a source of the spanish embassy in san salvador told acan - efe that he had to convince the salvadoran government and army to stop the air strikes against el despertar, located in san antonio abad in the capital's northwest.    because of the fighting around the sheraton hotel, two other jesuits yesterday were trapped at the sacred heart secondary school, where several dozens of people have sought refuge, the order's superior for central america told acan - efe.    according to tojeira, the evacuation of the refugees was discussed with salvadoran archbishop arturo rivera damas.  the refugees were taken to places considered safer.    the jesuits regretted that the air force fired against this refugee center, which they have been managing for 6 years, when the war in el salvador increased its tempo.    jesuits ignacio ellacuria, ignacio martin baro, segundo montes, amando lopez, juan ramon moreno, and joaquin lopez, the first five spaniards and the last a salvadoran, were killed in san salvador on 16 november.

guerrillas

armed forces

el despertar refugee center

the sheraton hotel

richard howard

joao baena soares

ignacio ellacuria

ignacio martin baro

segundo montes

amando lopez

juan ramon moreno

joaquin lopez

missile


Input: the political parties, nationalist republican alliance, arena, authentic christian movement, mac, and the national conciliation party, pcn, have set up a permanent committee and expressed full support for the government and the armed forces, solidarity for the administration of president alfredo cristiani, and recognition for the work carried out by the armed forces as the legitimate armed branch of the people.    representatives of the three parties agreed to defend the interests of the salvadoran people from the terrorist aggression, and said that they have joined efforts to attain the conditions of security and tranquillity needed for the salvadoran people to obtain the complete peace they yearn for.


Input: national guard personnel stationed in san miguel have captured the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) terrorist commander who goes by the pseudonym aristides; this took place in a neighborhood in that town. aristides had been operating in a large sector of the eastern part of the country for some time, and had committed all types of crimes against the salvadoran people.    commander aristides has provided the armed forces with important information directly linking the cynical nicaraguan president daniel ortega's government to the fmln.


Input: the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) delegation failed to show up in caracas, venezuela, to continue the dialogue meetings with the salvadoran government, as was agreed upon by both parties at the meetings in mexico city and san jose, costa rica.    the national and international community is well aware that one of the points included in the mexico city agreement states that neither of the parties can withdraw unilaterally from the dialogue process. during the san jose meeting the parties agreed that the peace dialogue meetings would continue in caracas on 20 and 21 november 1989.    a salvadoran delegation traveled to the venezuelan capital according to the pledge taken in mexico city, and seeking to fulfill the pledge with seriousness and responsibility.  the fmln delegation failed to show up, thus proving once more that its members do not have the political willingness and good faith needed to find negotiated solutions so that the fmln ceases its hostilities -- as indicated in the tela agreements -- and so that a just, lasting, and dignified peace is achieved, which is what our people hope for and deserve.    nevertheless, the government of the republic wishes to state that despite the terrorist aggression prepared by the fmln against the salvadoran people while giving statements that it advocates peace, it is willing to continue the search for peaceful solutions without any kind of pressure, in a civilized way, and within the framework of the constitution of the republic.


Input: the national assembly of corregimiento representatives, exercising its legal powers and considering:    that the salvadoran people are enduring a brutal violation of their most elementary rights by alfredo cristiani's administration,    that the u.s. government is openly intervening to support the salvadoran government's actions against its people,    that the most reactionary sectors of the salvadoran society along with the death squads are sowing chaos and murder amid a conniving silence by governments in the region,    that, although they are experiencing anguishing times the salvadoran people have always shown solidarity with the struggle of the panamanian people, and    that u.s. imperialism wants to repeat in panama the drama which the salvadoran nation is enduring,    it is resolved:    1.  to express solidarity with the embattled and brave salvadoran people at this time of struggle and sorrow because they are defending the integrity of their homeland,    2.  to express our utmost condemnation of the criminal attitude of the salvadoran government and the murderous forces which are acting in farabundo marti's homeland,    3.  to condemn the conniving silence of the governments in the region which style themselves as defenders of democracy and human rights,    4.  to express our strong rejection of the u.s. government's military and economic intervention in the salvadoran conflict,    5.  to make a fraternal appeal to the salvadoran people to find a solution to their political problem in a climate of brotherhood and social justice, and    6.  to send a copy of this resolution to the media.


Input: to the salvadoran people and the international community:    the farabundo marti national liberation front, fmln, considering that:    1.  the international community's demand for a cease-fire, as requested by the un secretary general and the oas secretary general, the group of eight, the governments of the eec, canada, the soviet union, sweden, and finland, is a fair demand for humanitarian and political reasons and is aimed at stopping the loss of human lives as well as preventing bloodletting between the two salvadoran armed forces;    2.  the brutal aerial and artillery attacks have caused mostly civilian victims in the low-income districts and the destruction of thousands of homes;    3.  a manhunt has been unleashed for the leaders and members of trade unions, religious and educational institutions, and opposition political parties, which has resulted in murders, captures, searches, and persecution, the extent of which is difficult to gauge, and other victims of the persecution have gone underground or left the country, giving rise -- because of these actions per se and the concealment of truth -- to a climate of state terrorism;    4.  a postponement of the cease-fire would result in further damage to the salvadoran population and more armed confrontations, and this would not allow conditions to be created to end the war in the cities, the countryside, and san salvador's metropolitan area;    5.  there are sectors in the armed forces, arena (nationalist republican alliance), pcn (national conciliation party), mac (authentic christian movement), and in the united states that want a prolongation of the war and, therefore, oppose a cease-fire; and    6.  we are acting with flexibility, guided by the nation's patriotic interests, the situation of true emergency that has been created, and the desire to find a political solution to the armed conflict, and because of the social, military, political, and economic polarization, it is urgent that all forces act swiftly and take steps to put a definitive end to the war,    therefore:    1.  we state our immediate acceptance of a cease-fire under verification by the united nations in response to the demand of the political, social, and religious forces of the salvadoran nation and the international community, which have addressed us to propose it. (continued)


Input: the government of the republic of china (roc) wednesday expressed its regrets over the el salvadoran situation that has resulted from military attacks launched by left-wing guerrillas.    chen yu-chu, spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs (mofa), said that with the assistance of such communist countries as cuba and nicaragua, the left-wing guerrillas had launched large-scale military attacks on san salvador, the salvadoran capital, and other major cities in an attempt to forcibly subvert the legitimate government. the attacks killed many unarmed civilians.    chen pointed out that the atrocities committed by the salvadoran guerrillas had been strongly condemned by people all over the world.    "i also regret and condemn the salvadoran guerrillas' brutal action," the foreign ministry spokesman said.    "we believe that under the able leadership of salvadoran president alfredo felex cristiani, peace, security and prosperity will be restored soon in el salvador," chen said.    meanwhile, the ministry of foreign affairs denied a foreign wire report that the republic of china embassy in san salvador had been occupied by salvadoran leftist guerrillas.  all embassy staff members are safe, the ministry said.    the american cable news network (cnn) reported in its tv news casts that the roc embassy in san salvador has been occupied by the guerrillas.  the cnn report caused deep concern at the ministry of foreign affairs, which immediately cabled its overseas missions to try to contact the roc embassy in san salvador.    the miami office of the coordination council for north american affairs was finally able to contact chinese ambassador to san salvador shen jen-piao.    according to ambassador shen's report, the roc embassy in san salvador has not been occupied by the guerrillas and all staff members were safe.  however, the area around the embassy, the ambassadorial residency and the staff housing area had become a battle field and the only access to the outside was by telephone, mofa said.    mofa said that ambassador shen had ordered all staff members to stay at home and wait for further instructions.


Input: a colombian citizen was captured by the u.s. secret service in panama after he placed a bomb in a movie theater at one of the u.s. southern command's military bases.    apparently, the bomb was supposed to have gone off when the movie theater was showing one of its daily movies at night.    according to (radio) impacto sources, the individual confessed that the (dignity) battalions, headed by (benjamin) colamarco and following noriega's orders, are ready to begin a campaign of terror at u.s. bases.    over the past few days, the u.s.  southern command has reported several bomb threats at its military installations, and, for this reason, security at the bases has increased.

colombian citizen

movie theater

bomb


Input: attention, attention, salvadoran people; attention, attention, salvadoran people: the national information center, cin, reports that the terrorist delinquents are spreading false rumors that you should leave your house because that is a measure adopted by the armed forces -- with the intention of exerting psychological pressure on the population.    however, the salvadoran people are officially notified that those are false rumors being spread by the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front).  the armed forces are here to protect the citizenry, and no one has been asked to leave his place of residence.    salvadoran people, your courageous and heroic armed forces are here to continue defending you from that cowardly and savage fmln aggression.  citizen, do not leave your house, because the fmln can take advantage of this and use you as a shield to carry out more crimes against you.    salvadoran people, your trust in the armed forces encourages us to continue defending you from those fmln delinquents.  salvadorans, do not leave your house because it could be looted by the fmln hordes. do not heed the false rumors bring spread by the terrorists.    the cin keeps you informed on what is really taking place.  the fmln resorts to lies when its plans are countered by our glorious armed forces' professionalism and rejected by you, courageous salvadoran people.    long live the armed forces!  long live the salvadoran people!  long live the republic!


Input: chile has resumed diplomatic relations with czechoeslovakia as of wednesday, 22 november (as heard). this information was released by foreign minister hernan felipe errazuriz.  the minister added that this is the fourth socialist country with which chile has normalized relations.  he also explained that this step is part of the president augusto pinochet's policy to increase the presence of chile throughout the world.    the minister indicated that the chilean community in el salavador and the members of chile's diplomatic mission there are fine, following the raid staged by the farabundo marti national liberation front on the sheraton hotel in el salvador.    (begin recording) (reporter) what information does the foreign ministry have about chilean residents in el salvador?    (errazuriz) as we reported yesterday, there are permanent contacts between the ministry and the chilean embassy in el salvador and, obviously, with the salvadoran ambassador in santiago.  basically, both the members of the chilean community and the members of the diplomatic mission are fine.  we have received information to the effect that there is clear involvement of cuba and nicaragua in the recent terrorist onslaught in el salvador, and we want to express our solidarity with the salvadoran people's struggle to defend their democracy. (end recording)    the chilean foreign minister explained that the peruvian government has officially decided to suspend normal movement of people across the border between tacna and arica.  he added that border restrictions also apply to bolivia and ecuador.    errazuriz added that the chilean foreign ministry is in touch with the peruvian government, the chilean embassy in lima, and peruvian customs officials in an effort to normalize the movement across the chilean-peruvian border.    the foreign minister concluded by saying that the chilean government has appointed ambassador santiago benadava executive secretary of the chilean-argentine commission for physical and economic integration. santiago benadava will thus replace general enrique morel.

farabundo marti national liberation front

sheraton hotel


Input: mr. walker, when will you tell your president bush to stop being so rude.  he has been talking too much.  (words indistinct) hear your own people speak demanding peace.  this is not right.  is this is the democracy you people want to exist here?  but you people are wrong, mr.  walker.  it will be impossible here because the people are a volcano in eruption.  whoever puts his hand in the fire will get burned, mr.  walker.  stop sticking your nose into someone else's business.  you should rather send away, once and for all, those countrymen of yours who have been sent here as advisers.  they are advisers, all right, but of the death squads.  i have just one piece of advice for you.  understand once and for all that whoever puts his hand in the fire will get burned.  the lava of this erupting volcano is boiling, mr.  walker.  understand that the people will not take one step back.  all for peace.    we have been reading the summary of our news monitoring.  u.s.  pentagon military officials and many nonmilitary analysts are surprised over what they call the farabundo marti national liberation front's offensive capabilities.  a report states that pentagon officials are very surprised over the fmln maneuverability and offensive capabilities.  the fmln actions of the past days has spoiled all the intelligence reports that salvadoran military men sent to u.s.  officials containing information on the fmln manpower-weapons ratio and our military ability to operate.    the fmln has never lost its military capabilities.  some analysts view the salvadoran war as a war between two armies.  that is a mistake because the salvadoran war is not a war between two armies.  it cannot be viewed as if it were a regular war such as the iran-iraq war.  el salvador is living through conflict that is mainly social in nature, a conflict that is rooted in social injustice.  the fmln did not emerge from a military school with a rearguard in another country, but it is made up of the people themselves. fmln combatants have learned to fight in actual clashes.  they have gained ground inch by inch; it has organized the people.  the fmln does not forcefully recruit people.  therefore, it is not periodically renewing its ranks as the army does through forceful recruitment.  to the fmln, the main goal is to organize the people, to get as close as it can to the people.    because of the economic crisis, social injustice, and lack of democratic opportunities in (el) salvador, thousands of salvadorans have no other option than to take up arms and fight to achieve better living conditions in the face of the government's brutal repression, economic injustice, and unemployment.  to change this situation, thousands of salvadorans decided to take up arms and learn to wage war by fighting daiily.  that is the history of the fmln.    therefore, it cannot be said that two armies are fighting each other. the logistics apparatus of the fascist government' (armed) forces is not comparable to our forces.  they bring to our country tons of bombs, rifles, boots, and material through ports and military airports.  although the governments of nicaragua, cuba, and the ussr could help the fmln, as many are saying, the firepower of our forces could never be compared to the army's.    nevertheless, the fmln has opened in all countries, including the (united) states, the necessary ways for us to obtain our arms and ammunition.  we have the right to this.  how does the fmln learn to fight-- by fighting.  we are now fighting in cities.  every military analyst knows how difficult it is to fight in urban areas.  the fmln fighting in san salvador, san miguel, zacatecoluca, and usulutan has shown the organization's tremendous ability to wear out the enemy, take and hold positions, and maneuver in the city just as it has done in rural areas.  the fmln ability has surprised the military analysts at the pentagon.  our front has always had this ability.  but now we have changed our strategy and tactics to defeat the enemy plans.  the (armed) forces have a specific plan regarding the actions by patrols (words indistinct), special operations. the fmln had to change its strategy to strike at the small forces that tried to infiltrate our zone under cover.  only thus could we annihilate and defeat these forces and their strategy.  and this is what we did.  this is what must be observed, how the fmln has changed its military strategy to face the one used by the (armed) forces.  of course, we have accumulated great experience over the years, which we have applied these last days in combat in (san) salvador and (san) miguel.  armored personnel carriers are being destroyed in streets and avenues; helicopters are being shot down; soldiers are being taken prisoner; and arms are being seized.     military analysts are wondering how a guerrilla army can operate for so long in an urban area.  in addition, logistics must be taken into consideration.  the (armed) forces are constantly getting ammunition through the ilopango (air) base.  the fmln has been able to carry out this operation because of the people's support.  thousands of capital residents cooperated by keeping silent when they saw the guerrilla columns pass by.  they did not warn the (armed) forces.  why?  because the people see in these guerrilla columns their own army.


Input: commenting on the new end to hostilities proposal made by the guerrillas last night, former christian democratic deputy minister gerardo lechevalier today said his party "supports all efforts" seeking to halt war actions and to search for peace in el salvador.    lechevalier told acan-efe that christian democrats "support all efforts that will help attain soon and end to hostilities, and the start to negotiations that will bring peace to el salvador, a peace we need so badly."    the former culture and communications minister and pdc leader said he agrees the army should participate in the negotiations, "to clear up matters inherent to the military -- within the framework of the peace negotiations."    the farabundo marti national liberation front last night announced it is willing to accept "immediately" a cease-fire with un verification, and to negotiate with the armed forces the end of the war which in the past decade has left over 70,000 killed.    lechevalier maintained there is already an agreement that will allow the united nations and the oas to "oversee the faithful compliance of the agreements on a possible cease-fire," as established in the central american peace agreements known as esquipulas ii.


Input: general juan rafael bustillo, commander of the salvadoran air force, today defended the military actions that the army carried out during the fmln (farabundo marti nationa liberation front) offensive.  the military chief said that if there has been drastic action against the fmln rebels, it has only been to defend the civilians from what he described as a foreign aggression.  in this way, gen bustillo replied to statements by san salvador archbishop arturo rivera y damas, who said the army's response to the fmln offensive in san salvador was excessive.    (begin recording) (bustillo) many comments can be made but what must be asked is why did the rebels seek the urban areas?  what is their justification?  that is the condemnable aspect.  the salvadoran people and the media should not be confused about whether we acted strongly as msgr rivera y damas said.  it is true we have been strong and we will continue to be strong.  but we must understand that the terrorists began the action, that is how the problem began.  that is what must be judged and not how we reacted. (end recording)    gen bustillo said the main role of the air force is the defense of the fatherland.  he added: there is no room here for guerrillas and much less for those of the fmln who call themselves defenders of the people.  gen bustillo said this fmln offensive was not prepared in the last few days.  instead, he said, it must have been prepared at least 18 months ago.  he said it has taken time to oust the rebels because the armed forces have not wanted to harm the civilian population, among which the insurgents hid.    (begin recording) (bustillo) it is difficult for us to annihilate these terrorists when they take people as hostages. that is why for years they began infiltrating and establishing the means to use the people as a cover. we can see that what they have been doing in the mountains and the villages for the past 9 years, they have now carried out here in san salvador and other big cities.  they have taken cover behind the people, and that is why it has been very hard and difficult for us to annihilate them.  we had to be careful so as to cause the least harm to the people. (end recording)    he also said the seizure of the sheraton hotel is an isolated incident that only seeks international attention.  bustillo said a negotiated solution has just been a game for the rebels so no one in el salvador should consider it as a solution to a 10-year-old war that has left more than 60,000 dead.    (begin recording) (bustillo) the dialogue and a negotiated solution have been a tactic used by the fmln for several years.  we can now clearly see that neither the people, armed forces, nor the politicians should consider them as an alternative.  it can be clearly seen that all this time during which some individuals of this administration and the previous administration had been seeking a solution through dialogue, the fmln had just been preparing for this offensive. (end recording)    asked what plans the armed forces have in the face of another fmln offensive, the general was emphatic:    (begin recording) (bustillo) annihilate them.  annihilate them.  that is the only thing we can do. (end recording)    the general made these statements to this newscast after he listed the weapons that were seized and the casualties sustained by the army. bustillo said four officers of the paratroopers battalion were killed and several were wounded.  he said 20 soldiers died in the military actions (time frame not specified).


Input: general miguel antonio gomez padilla, national police director, reported today that pablo escobar gaviria, number one in the medellin cartel, and one of the ochoa brothers, also a kingpin in the group, are apparentley surrounded and should be captured any time.    general padilla told reporters at 1500 gmt today that the search for some of the medellin cartel leaders had been intensified in the past 2 days somewhere in the middle magdalena in colombia's northern center. he refused to identify the place so as not to hamper the operations.    he also said that the search is being conducted by the police's elite group, supported by army and air force troops.    gen padilla said: "for the past 2 days, special elite police members, supported by the air force and military units, have confronted drug traffickers in the search for drug trafficking capos who will be captured later."    "at this time, we are operating in a specific area against the medellin cartel."  he also said that "pablo escobar and one of the ochoa brothers" are possibly encircled and that the clashes "apparently have resulted in two men being killed and numerous others being detained."    the high-ranking officer asked newsmen for time "to complete the action and, possibly, to report that we have achieved victory."    police sources said that the operations are taking place in the concorna municipality area, in antioquia's middle magdalena region, between medellin and bogota, some 180 km northwest of the colombian capital, where guerrillas of the camilist union - national liberation army (uc-eln) are also active.    the medellin cartel is regarded as the world's most important drug trafficking organization and, according to the u.s. police, is responsible for 70 percent of the cocaine smuggled into the united states.    pablo escobar and jorge luis ochoa vasquez, the cartel's number one and number two men, respectively, are ranked among the world's 20 richest men by specialized u.s. magazines like "forbes" and "fortune," which estimate their personal wealth at over $3 billion.    jorge luis ochoa has two brothers who are also regarded as important drug kingpins.


Input: pablo escobar gaviria, head of the medellin cartel, has escaped from the colombian police trap which was set up 2 days ago to capture him, police sources said.    escobar, regarded as the operations chief of colombia's largest cocaine - exporting group, fled "virtually in underwear," one of the officers in charge of the operations said.    chief of police general miguel padilla had earlier reported that the drug trafficker had been "surrounded" and that "his capture was imminent." padilla also said he was "almost sure" that the operation, in which the army and the air force also participated, would yield "positive results."    the colombian authorities surrounded and raided four estates owned by escobar gaviria in the middle region of the magdalena river, in colombia's northern center.    on the estates, called "las palmas," "el oro," "la paz," and "florencia," 50 bodyguards and 5 women were detained.  two unidentified people were killed in the ensuing clashes.    the police seized rifles, israeli-made uzzi submachineguns, and several grenades.    according to a police source, the police elite troops have continued to comb the areas near the raided estates in an effort to track the escapees, who could include one of the three ochoa brothers, who are the cartel's heads.    the operations are being conducted in the cocorna municipality, in the middle magdalena in antioquia, between medellin and bogota, 180 km northwest from bogota.    the medellin cartel is considered responsible for 70 percent of the cocaine that enters the united states illegally.


Input: salvadoran president alfredo cristiani rejected the proposal submitted by the rebels on 22 november for an "immediate" cease-fire with the army under the united nations supervision this afternoon.    (the rebel proposal) "is hardly serious.  we do not feel this proposal has been addressed to the government. it is not serious. again (the guerrillas) assert that there are two armies. there is just one army in el salvador," the rightist president said.    cristiani's statments were momentarily interrupted by an intensive air raid by six salvadoran air force planes which are bombing guerrilla positions in the slopes of the san salvador volcano.    colonel rene emilio ponce, chief of the salvadoran armed forces general staff, who was accompanying cristiani, asserted that the army is chasing an undetermined number of "guerrillas who are fleeing in great confusion."


Input: just as we reported this afternoon, fascist cristiani and ponce, the visible head of la tandona (reference to the 1966 graduating class of the captain gerardo barrios military academy) held a peculiar news conference which not even the cuscatlan radio network even dared broadcast.     the news conference had just begun this afternoon with cristiani and some reporters.  ponce was beside him.  suddenly, an explosion occurred which startled both cristiani and ponce.  the nervousness of cristiani and ponce did not fade away.  they were scared.  the reporters asked for an explanation of the explosion.  after stammering for a while, ponce said it was a bombing by the army on the slopes of the (san) salvador volcano.    in the news conference, cristiani rejected the fmln's (farabundo marti national liberation front) position, which he described as a proposal.  but the fmln has made no proposal.  the fmln has but echoed the clamor of the international community and various organizations, all of which demand a cease - fire in the country. consequently, cristiani has not rejected a cease - fire proposal, but the position of the international community.


Input: honduras today demanded from nicaragua the "immediate withdrawal" of sandinist troops concentrated along common border areas and warned of its intention to "repel any action that violates honduras' territorial sovereignty and integrity."    honduras, in a note sent by foreign minister carlos lopez contreras to his colleague miguel d'escoto, stated its "concern due to the announcements nicaraguan spokesmen are making on taking military action against their armed opposition, wherever they may be."    in the honduran deparment of el paraiso, on the nicaraguan border, there are some 12,000 armed anti-sandinists, based there since 1982, who resist demobilization and argue that there is no democracy in nicaragua.    to this effect, lopez contreras pointed out that "the border area threatened by sandinist army and artillery, holds some 15,000 hondurans, also camps of unarmed former nicaraguan resistance fighters, many whom are crippled, with their families."    the honduran protest note says that "to indiscriminately bomb the honduran civilian population would be a barbaric act, and if it were carried out invoking a so-called right to military actions against their armed opposition, it would be a conscious massacre."    the foreign ministry warned that "the honduran government does not resign its right to repel any action that violates our country's sovereignty and national integrity."    nevertheless, the officer clarified that the honduran army has not moved additional troops into that border area.    lopez contreras insisted that the "contras," who are at camps near nicaragua, are "mostly civilians and unarmed former fighters."    the honduran foreign minister's statement contrasted with the fact that the "contras" themselves have reiterated their refusal to turn in their weapons to the international commission of support and verification (ciav).    the ciav, made up by oas and un delegates, was created in september to direct the "contras'" demobilization, repatriation, or resettlement process, agreed in august at the presidential summit.    the presidents set the demobilization date for 5 december.    the talks on this topic, held in washington between the "contras" and the sandinist government, sponsord by the ciav, and in the presence of the honduran delegates, were suspended indefinitely on wednesday.    foreseeing "possible incidents," the honduran foreign ministry said it has informed of the oas and un secretaries general.


Input: cristiani emphasized that the armed forces are capable of countering any aggression on the civilian population.  he also termed as a complete failure the terrorist offensive, which was spurned by the citizenry, adding that the international community had harshly criticized the fmln's terrorist actions.    (cristiani) "let us say that the armed forces and the salvadoran government are prepared to militarily counter the aggression for as long as the fmln wants to.  the fmln decided to launch an offensive because it thought that the salvadoran people supported it (words indistinct) the people have spurned it once again.  the only thing the fmln has managed to achieve is to earn the salvadoran people's scorn."    "we want to talk about a cease-fire and negotiate a cease-fire but we believe that the ending of hostilities should be the first gesture because that is the only way we can talk to the fmln.  if this does not occur, i do not think that one single salvadoran will trust the fmln in the least (words indistinct).  we, meaning the armed forces and the government of the republic, do not want to (words indistinct)."    the president said that there is a possibility that the curfew will be modified, particularly in places where order has been completely restored.  he also explained that his government has never sought a military solution to the armed conflict because that is clarified in the constitution.     cristiani "we have never sought a military solution.  the fmln is the one which has opted for a military solution.  we have not (words indistinct) government of the republic with weapons and we have not sought the armed forces to do it.  the fmln is the only one trying to seize power with its weapons.  the armed forces has only fulfilled its duty, which is to counter an armed action."    "furthermore, we believe that this aggression is (words indistinct) nicaragua and cuba, because nicaragua and cuba (words indistinct) the fmln would have no possibility of (words indistinct) peace in el salvador."    the president asserted that his government will continue with the dialogue process but it must be fully convinced that the rebel groups are willing to put down their weapons and join the democratic process in a peaceful and voluntary way.  he explained that the government's role in caracas, venezuela, was limited to notifying his counterpart, carlos andres perez, about the salvadoran situation and reasserting the government's position given the fmln delegation's absence -- which confirmed their lack of willingness to achieve peace.


Input: whenever we have made any peace proposal, the cristiani government answers by saying it's impossible to achieve peace and that our proposals are not feasible because we must respect the constitution. that is what arena (nationalist republican alliance) always says. well, we would like to ask (u.s.  ambassador) william walker -- who has said in the united states that the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) peace proposals are not feasible because they violate the salvadoran constitution -- if the constitution does not prohibit foreign troops from coming to our country without the government's approval?  we would like to ask the cristiani government and the legislative assembly why u.s. army special forces came to el salvador, as president bush himself announced?  we saw these special forces in the streets of san salvador, violating the constitution that you people claim to defend.    we want to ask the patriotic officials: why are there three armies right now in this country?  there is the fmln army, the la tandona (reference to 1966 graduating class of the capt gen gerardo barrios military academy) army, and president bush's army.  so, what is the answer?  whenever we propose a political solution to the conflict, we are told it is impossible because it violates the constitution.  however, president bush violated the constitution that the government and the legislative assembly claim to defend when he sent a foreign military force to this country.  he also violated the sovereignty of this nation.  therefore, gentlemen of arena and of the high command, this love for the constitution and the laws that you claim to have is false.    we want to ask colonel ponce: why is there a foreign military force in our country right now?  doesn't the constitution that your armed forces claim to respect prohibit it?  in other words, when the nation wants a political solution for the sake of peace, you people say it is impossible because we must respect the constitution.  however, when president bush arrogantly announces in his presidential plane that his forces have carried out operations in a san salvador hotel, then the constitution is worth nothing.    we want to appeal to the armed forces officers to think about this situation.  there are officers being killed on the battlefields.  for example, an officer from the morazan battalion died in altos de la cueva in san miguel; lieutenants have been killed in san salvador city; dozens of lieutenants have been wounded or killed in the last 10 days.  officers, you know about this.  so we want to call on the lieutenants, the captains, the patriotic officers, to think about this situation.  you are being told you are defending the constitution. what constitution?  after all, a herd of gringo rambos is here; and with their yankee boots, they have trampled on the constitution.  so officers, what are you defending?  what do you think about this?  this situation is unacceptable for any salvadoran patriot.  officers, we know you are listening to us in the garrisons to find out what is happening, because the government network is hiding this information from you.  you must think over this situation, officers.  you are shedding blood, losing arms and legs in the battlefields, sacrificing your lives, seeing how the capital city is being destroyed by the bombings, and you are told this is being done to defend the constitution.  however, mr bush decided to send a herd of rambos who are good for nothing.  after all, they did nothing, except cover their faces like common criminals.  so, officers, what are you fighting for? what is at stake here?  is it communism, or this or that?  is it because msgr romero was a communist and therefore murdered?  was it because the jesuits were communists and therefore murdered?  now it is said that the christian democratic party members are communists. others say that the journalists, the teachers are communists; everyone is a communist.  is this a nation of communists?  what is this?  we must start to think about this situation at this critical hour for the nation.  (continued)


Input: mexico bitterly condemned friday the assassination of six jesuit priests thursday in el salvador, said a communique issued by the secretariat of foreign relations (sre).    the sre communique underlined that president carlos salinas de gortari's administration also expresses its consternation and profound concern for the current situation in that central american nation.    "what has recently occurred in el salvador proves the urgent need for a cease fire and the beginning of direct conversations in search of peace, as has been called for by other central american nations in the esquipulas and tela peace accords," indicated the release.