Input: it is a pleasure for me to meet with president virgilio barco for the second time, in my role as president of venezuela, to to continue reviewing -- 6 months later -- issues which are of mutual interest to our two nations.  i also wish to prove with this action that we are willing to carry out our plans for cooperation and mutual understanding.  on this occasion we are proving that we want to permanently follow up the goals established during our first meeting.    however, president barco, on this occasion i wish to state -- like i personally told you on the telephone upon learning the unfortunate and tragic news about the assassination of luis carlos galan, an admired friend and a great colombian -- that i wanted to hold this meeting because the venezuelan feelings which i represent and personify compelled me to personally express to you, as president of colombia, venezuela's and the venezuelan people's solidarity with the extraordinary and admirable struggle that colombia is currently waging against an enemy of mankind -- drug trafficking.    i want to state here that this was enough reason for the venezuela government to request, through its president, a personal interview with president barco so that it may be known that venezuela's solidarity goes beyond words.  (continued)

luis carlos galan


Input: a dark cloud of skepticism loomed over the talks between the salvadoran government and the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) at the end of the first round of talks today, because the participants in the dialogue were unable, repeat unable, to reach agreement on the basic points for a possible cease-fire.    the delegations met at the pastoral house of the clarist nuns' congregation in moravia, 4 km from san jose.    oscar arias, the costa rican president and nobel peace prize winner, visited the place and encouraged the participants at the meet "because the salvadoran war is senseless and should not, repeat should not, continue."    arias added: "i know of nothing that is better than dialogue."    gregorio rosas chavez, the auxiliary bishop of san salvador, stated: "i foster hopes that an agreement will be reached."    when the meeting started and, after the initial formalities, the representatives began to discuss the key points.    the fmln proposed the following points at the meeting:    1. the need to advance the date of the general elections;    2. the people responsible for monsignior oscar arnulfo romero's murder to be sent to trial;    3. reforms to the political constitution;    4. purging and professionalizing the army;    5. ending repression;    6. full enforcement of democratic rights;    7. reforms to the salvadoran judicial system;    8. provisional economic measures to deactivate political and social confrontation.    in synthesis, the salvadoran government proposed "stopping hostilities as soon as possible under the supervision of the oas and un delegates."    juan antonio martinez, head of the salvadoran government delegation, also proposed that "fmln members be given all the required facilities to return to salvadoran political, social, and economic life, immediately after a cease-fire has been implemented."    after the first round of talks was over, joaquin villalobos, one of the leaders of the fmln delegation, said: "we reached no specific accords."    another fmln leader shafick handal pointed out that "the salvadoran government's proposals are unacceptable to us for the time being."    representing the government, salvadoran justice minister oscar santamaria said: "we made little progress; the government holds a specific position on how to achieve a cease-fire, which is what the salvadoran people are expecting."    at the end of the first round of the dialogue, the salvadoran government and the fmln are deadlocked on an essential issue -- the cease-fire.    the fmln maintains that a cease-fire should follow government compliance with a number of measures while the salvadoran government  maintains that a cease-fire must come before any changes take place.    it was learned that the salvadoran government categorically rejected an fmln proposal to hold new elections soon.    the fmln also categorically rejected the government's cease-fire proposal, because that "would constitute surrender."    "we want a cease-fire, but they must comply with certain steps that we are proposing," commander joaquin villalobos said.    "we want a cease-fire first and then negotiations," salvadoran presidency minister juan antonio martinez said.    the second round of the dialogue will take place on 17 october at 1400 gmt.


Input: the government of the republic of el salvador strongly condemns the base and cowardly murder of ms dolores isabel casanova porras, carried out this morning by fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front) terrorists in santa tecla as the innocent victim was on her way to her sports exercises.  this crime, viciously and coldly carried out by the fmln, clearly shows the world the fmln is an organization led and made up by individuals for whom human life means nothing.    this despicable crime perpetrated against ms casonova porras confirms the fmln is implementing a death-like terrorist plan that includes the murder of public officials and their relatives, as the president publicly charged on 14 october.  condemning this new crime by fmln urban cells, the government asks: how can fmln leaders in costa rica talk of peace and respect for human rights when defenseless persons are being ruthlessly and irrationally murdered on orders from the fmln?    the government hereby conveys its deep condolences and solidarity to ms casanova porras' family over this irreparable loss. moreover, it asks the international community of nations and human rights rapporteur professor pastor ridrejo to take due notice of this despicable human rights violation carried out by the fmln at a time when the salvadoran government delegation is engaged in a dialogue in good faith and with the best political intentions to reach peace, something the salvadoran people yearn for.    the government holds the fmln responsible for jeopardizing the dialogue process to reach peace, and hopes that the fmln adopts a responsible stand and that its peaceful words are matched by deeds.

farabundo marti national liberation front

dolores isabel casanova porras


Input: no cease-fire agreement was reached at the end of the second day of the current round of negotiations between delegates of the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) and the salvadoran government.    the delegations met in the pastoral house of the congregation of the nuns of st clare in moravia, 4 km from san jose.    during the dialogue, the delegates became involved in a discussion on implementation of a possible cease-fire and the fmln insisted that there must first be approval of a plan to amend the salvadoran constitution, that the army be purged, that the repression end, that modifications to the judicial system be started, and that measures be adopted to guarantee the country's democratization.    for their part, the salvadoran government delegates insisted that the fmln must declare an immediate halt to hostilities effective 18 october.    the government proposal indicated that "it commits itself to halt all offensive operations and to offer guarantees to respect the rights of all guerrillas so that they can join the country's political, social, and economic life."    fmln commander joaquin villalobos said: "we cannot accept the government's conditions for the cease-fire because that would mean a surrender on our part."    fmln spokesman miguel saenz said: "there are no agreements with the government because there are no concrete replies to our requests."    saenz said: "since there is no flexibility on the part of the government delegates, there are no agreements for peace in our country."    justice minister oscar alfredo santamaria said: "first we need the fmln to cease hostilities, then the government will guarantee that the guerrillas can return to the mainstream of society.    santamaria reiterated: "we want peace, an end to the war, and an end to the killing, the pain, and the bitterness of the salvadoran people."    un envoy alvaro soto and oas envoy ricardo gjivoje are attending the dialogue as observers, as well as msgr gregorio rosa chavez, auxiliary bishop of san salvador.    during the second day of talks, there was friction between the fmln and the government when information secretary mauricio sandoval openly accused the fmln of murdering ana isabel casanova (name as received), daughter of colonel oscar edgardo casanova, director of the armed forces studies center.    fmln commander "luisa" mercedes del carmen retana immediately denied sandoval's charge and said: "the fmln had nothing to do with that murder perpetrated today in san salvador."    the murder also prompted accusations in the meeting by the salvadoran government representatives who said: "the fmln is in the habit of perpetrating this sort of actions when important meetings are being held."    the fmln delegates said: "the charge against the fmln is groundless."    this afternoon, msgr gregorio rosa chavez seemed very skeptical about the results of the san jose talks, "because for the dialogue to succeed it is necessary and urgent that the two sides, the government and the fmln, yield a little."    it is possible that the dialogue may continue tomorrow when the salvadoran government and the fmln announced they will issue separate press releases.

farabundo marti national liberation front

ana isabel casanova


Input: the authorities have reported that radio announcer diego vargas escobar was assassinated today in medellin, in northwestern colombia.  this is the second such crime to shake medellin in less than 12 hours.    the police said vargas escobar, 56, was shot to death by two men riding a motorcycle as he arrived at his house at 1950 (0050 gmt 18 october).    the authorities reported that the assassins fled after committing the assassination.  they said they do not know the motive.    diego vargas escobar had worked at cadena radial colombiana (caracol) until 2 months ago, and since then he has been working at the voice of america.    the announcer's assassination came only 12 hours after "the extraditables," the armed wing of the medellin cartel, gunned down judge hector jimenez rodriguez in medellin, the country's second most important city, located 250 km northwest of bogota.

assassins

the extraditables

diego vargas escobar

hector jimenez rodriguez


Input: the salvadoran government and the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) today agreed to institutionalize the dialogue and to meet in other countries every month despite the disagreements between the two sides.    although the government could not convince the guerrillas to lay down their weapons and return to political life and the fmln could not succeed in securing from the authorities "true guarantees" for democratization and security prior to ending the armed struggle, the protagonists of the dialogue seemed satisfied at the end of the meeting.    monsignor gregorio rosa chavez, san salvador auxiliary bishop and mediator in the talks, told acan - efe that last night's meeting was "difficult yet fruitful" after costa rican president oscar arias visited the convent site of the meeting.    arias met for a while on 17 october with the delegation members and the mediators at the saint clare convent, where the dialogue is taking place, and succeeded in unblocking the meeting, which had been bogged down in the morning, according to rosa chavez.    arias, who was awarded the 1987 nobel prize for his peace efforts in central america, said while leaving the meeting with the negotiators and mediators on 17 october that he was moved to intervene because he wanted to "encourage the sides to keep negotiating."    arias stressed the difficulty in finding a rapid solution for a problem of violence that has lasted 10 years and killed more than 70,000 people. he pointed out that "there is still willingness to seek peaceful ways to end this bloody confrontation."    according to the information available, both sides are willing to "go over some ideas," presented in this meeting, and keep elaborating on them in the context of the salvadoran situation.    regarding the cessation of hostilities, which was mentioned as the main point early in the meeting but has not yet been approved because of a disagreement between the sides, an accord was finally reached to "clarify" the meaning of the phrase.    according to fmln spokesman jesus rojas, the government delegation has continued to indicate that "it has no decisionmaking ability" and this has caused uncertainty in the negotiations.    cesar marti, another fmln member, said "substantial accords" have not been anticipated, but the "the dialogue has been saved."    rosa chavez said the meeting, the second since direct contacts were resumed in mexico city in september ends today.    today it will be announced where and when the 3d meeting will be held, perhaps in caracas, although the rebels insist that the meeting site should be san salvador.


Input: peru has given bolivia free zones in two peruvian ports to facilitate that country's access to the sea. bolivia lost its pacific coastline in a war against chile in 1879.    this agreement was reached during a meeting between peruvian president alan garcia and bolivian president jaime paz zamora on board a ship anchored on the highest lake in the world, laka titicaca.    "it has been a fruitful meeting because we agreed on several issues that go beyond the rhetoric of international relations," the peruvian chief of state said after the session.    "we met to definitively implement an old peruvian offering," garcia added.    according to the joint declaration that was released to the public after the presidential summit, the free zones are located in the ports of matarani and ilo, in southern peru, in keeping with an offer made by the peruvian government in 1979.    this is the first time that bolivia has gained access to free zones in peruvian ports. the only free port bolivia previously had access to was the chilean port of iquique.    an official communique states that the bolivian free zone locations areas, and operations systems in peruvian ports will be defined during a meeting of bolivian and peruvian experts, who must prepare proposals within 60 days.    the two presidents decided to create a maritime transportation company with two companies from each country. the presidents instructed their declaration, the chiefs of state decided that peruvian lead and silver concentrate will be processed in bolivian metal plants. they also decided to create a binational company to market minerals.    the two presidents, the communique states, "expressed their will to promote the creation in the future of a binational ministry for the complete development and management of the high plateau region shared by the two countries."    garcia and paz zamora ratified "their conviction to carry out bilateral trade within the andean integration program," and the peruvian administration promised to grant bolivia facilities "to encourage trade of bolivian agriculture and agro-industrial products."    on the subject of drug trafficking, the two presidents "reiterated their political will" to coordinate actions against illegal drug trafficking, according to the commitment assumed on 10 october by garcia, paz zamora, and colombian president virgilio barco in the peruvian city of ica.    bolivia and peru are two of the world's main producers of coca leaves, the raw material for making cocaine, of which 80 percent is processed in colombian laboratories.    the two chiefs of state also decided to "review and modernize" public transit between their two countries "in keeping with historical, geographic, and economic relations" between bolivia and  peru.    in a remarkable sidelight, president alan garcia decided to rename the peruvian ship "ollanata," where the meeting took place, the "great marshal andres de santa cruz," after the fifth bolivian president and sponsor of the peruvian- bolivian confederation.    one of the agreements included in the 18-point final declaration states that bolivia will be able to send navy officers with the next peruvian mission to antarctica.    the presidential summit was held on the waters of lake titicaca, 3,800 meters above sea level.    a bomb exploded today at dawn in the peruvian town of yunguyo, near the lake, very near where the presidential summit was to take place.    although the explosion did not cause any casualties, the local police station did sustain some property damage.


Input: peru has given bolivia free zones in two peruvian ports to facilitate that country's access to the sea. bolivia lost its pacific coastline in a war against chile in 1879.    this agreement was reached during a meeting between peruvian president alan garcia and bolivian president jaime paz zamora on board a ship anchored on the highest lake in the world, laka titicaca.    "it has been a fruitful meeting because we agreed on several issues that go beyond the rhetoric of international relations," the peruvian chief of state said after the session.    "we met to definitively implement an old peruvian offering," garcia added.    according to the joint declaration that was released to the public after the presidential summit, the free zones are located in the ports of matarani and ilo, in southern peru, in keeping with an offer made by the peruvian government in 1979.    this is the first time that bolivia has gained access to free zones in peruvian ports. the only free port bolivia previously had access to was the chilean port of iquique.    an official communique states that the bolivian free zone locations areas, and operations systems in peruvian ports will be defined during a meeting of bolivian and peruvian experts, who must prepare proposals within 60 days.    the two presidents decided to create a maritime transportation company with two companies from each country.  the presidents instructed their declaration, the chiefs of state decided that peruvian lead and silver concentrate will be processed in bolivian metal plants. they also decided to create a binational company to market minerals.    the two presidents, the communique states, "expressed their will to promote in the future the creation of a binational ministry for the complete development and management of the high plateau region shared by the two countries."    garcia and paz zamora ratified "their conviction to carry out bilateral trade within the andean integration program," and the peruvian administration promised to grant bolivia facilities "to encourage trade of bolivian agriculture and agro-industrial products."    on the subject of drug trafficking, the two presidents "reiterated their political will" to coordinate actions against illegal drug trafficking, according to the commitment assumed on 10 october by garcia, paz zamora, and colombian president virgilio barco in the peruvian city of ica.    bolivia and peru are two of the world's main producers of coca leaves, the raw material for making cocaine, of which 80 percent is processed in colombian laboratories.    the two chiefs of state also decided to "review and modernize" public transit between their two countries "in keeping with historical, geographic, and economic relations" between bolivia and peru.    in a remarkable sidelight, president alan garcia decided to rename the peruvian ship "ollanata," where the meeting took place, the "great marshal andres de santa cruz," after the fifth bolivian president and sponsor of the peruvian- bolivian confederation.    one of the agreements included in the 18-point final declaration states that bolivia will be able to send navy officers with the next peruvian mission to antarctica.    the presidential summit was held on the waters of lake titicaca, 3,800 meters above sea level.    a bomb exploded today at dawn in the peruvian town of yunguyo, near the lake, very near where the presidential summit was to take place.    although the explosion did not cause any casualties, the local police station did sustain some property damage.


Input: special security measures were adopted at the congress today.  only parliamentarians, journalists, and employees are allowed to enter the building.  the general public has been banned.  these measures were implemented after a paid assassin was killed right in bolivar square by a grenade he was trying to throw at the congress building.    the aborted action by the terrorist on 18 october forced the authorities to reinforce security at the congress. however, bolivar square was poorly patrolled.  several onlookers arrived at the square early this morning to see where the terrorist was killed when the grenade exploded.    (begin recording) (unidentified security officer) those who cannot show proper identity cards will not be admitted.    (reporter) does this include representatives and senators?    (officer) yes, anyone who has legitimate business here at the congress.  (end recording)    the measures caused various reactions and angered some congressmen.    (begin recording) (reporter) why was this senator not admitted?    (officer) because he refused to be searched, as everybody must be.    (unidentified congressman) searching congressmen is not very nice, but it would be worse if one were killed.  (end recording)    employees did not escape the check either.  the police even cordoned off the outside areas near where the commissions work.

paid assassin

congress building

grenade


Input: ...which is the overall result, but also analyzed the manner in which this meeting was held because we believe, and we have always believed, that the people must be informed, the people must know the truth.  initially, this second meeting with the fmln is a followup to the mexico accord in september.    we want to begin by briefly explaining what the mexico accord was, particularly what we agreed to discuss in the meeting in san jose, costa rica.  we have here the text of the mexico accord, and in the chapter concerning the next meeting it says: the topic of discussion will be the end of hostilities, based on proposals by the government and the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front).    in view of the mexico accord, our delegation began to work on a proposal that would make every possible effort to outline what could be an end to hostilities.  why have we insisted on this topic? because we want an end to violence in our country, the end of weapons firing, the end of bomb explosions, the end of mines mutilating the little hands and feet of children in rural areas.  we want to see an end to the destruction of el salvador, and an atmosphere of cordiality and tranquility with greater possibilities for the dialogue process.    that is the philosphy, because we believe that the salvadoran people, and each one of you as part of the salvadoran people, do not deserve this violent situation, this hostile situation generated by the armed groups of the fmln.    the proposal is also based on the central american peace plan, esquipulas ii, and the subsequent agreements signed by the five central american presidents.  i would like to recall the tela agreement, the last agreement.  in part iii, the agreement reads as follows:    the fmln is strongly urged to end hostilities in an immediate and effective manner to hold a dialogue that will lead to giving up the armed struggle; the fmln members will return to democratic life. (continued)


Input: ruben zamora, leader of the popular social christian movement and the democratic convergence, was unharmed following a terrorist attack.    zamora said the country is suffering from a wave of violence launched by groups that do not want the negotiations to succeed. he also said there are ultrarightist groups that do not seek a negotiated settlement because they believe their interests will be harmed, and added that there are groups within the armed forces and arena (nationalist republican alliance) that do not want the negotiations. he said these groups tend to react with increased violence.

ruben zamora


Input: the fmln has done nothing but insist on an immediate answer to all of this.  logically, i cannot say that their's is a serious position because when a number of documents are put forward, a period of time is required to analyze them.  however, the fmln immediately rejected the government's proposal, saying that it would not accept it.  what does this mean?  that the fmln no longer wants to talk about the end of the hostilities, but wants to introduce new topics at the san jose meeting.    however, despite the fmln's position, and although there has not been an in-depth study of all the documents, one can see at first glance that the proposals they have put forward are totally absurd.  i will cite an example: you know very well that the fmln has admitted to being unable to maintain a position, that if it attempts to occupy a town, in less than 24 hours the armed forces drive it out.  it cannot maintain a position in the country.  nevertheless, the fmln proposal attempts to establish territorial limits with the government.    while it is true that the fmln exists and is a reality, i believe that reality has a dimension, a size.  the results of the past elections, the results of something over 3 percent (won by the democratic convergence), indicate that the fmln is a reality but a very small one, and that it does not have the right to force a government and a people to violate their constitutional system.    meanwhile, the fmln has come up with the totally absurd notion that the government must dismiss the entire (military) class of '66, the defense minister, and the commander of the air force.  that is totally absurd, it is a ridiculous position that does not truly show any intention to movement toward peace.  the fmln proposal also calls for the government to instruct the legislative assembly to change all of the supreme court justices.  these, salvadoran friends, are totally absurd positions; although these are somewhat different, their previous positions are ever present.    the government will not at any time violate the constitution, it will never question the sacrifices that you and all the salvadoran people have made during these long years in order to gradually strengthen the democratic process, which may not be perfect -- and we would like to discuss different ways of perfecting it -- but we will never sell it or sacrifice it, especially under circumstances which, by all means, are absurd.    what is worse, however, is that along with the attitude the fmln has displayed in costa rica, along with its rejection of everything the government says, its attempts to modify the agenda we had agreed upon in mexico, its efforts to introduce a series of documents, and its demand for immediate answers, it has initiated a strategy of murders here in el salvador.  everyone has noticed; they murdered a reporter's wife and son.  why?  because they had a relative in the armed forces.  they have murdered an innocent young girl, at a safe distance, in a cowardly manner, only because she was a relative of  an armed forces member.  yesterday they attempted to murder a former military man who also has a relative in the armed forces.    what does all of this mean?  that the fmln intends to talk over there (costa rica) and to make an entire case out of its defending human rights, while murdering people and violating the human rights they claim to be defending, on a daily basis.  all of these fmln attitudes force us to dialogue, and as i said at the beginning, i must be completely clear and open.  i must tell the salvadoran people the truth.    i believe that so far the fmln has not displayed the political resolve to achieve peace.  first of all, the fmln does not want to talk about ending the conflict, it does not want to give the entire country -- you and i, my dear viewers -- the opportunity to stop living in this whirlpool of violence, to live in peace, and to allow the process to progress in the search for solutions that will gradually give us firm and lasting peace, within an atmosphere of tranquility.    the fmln's attitude is one of provocation.  it wants to provoke the government into getting up from the dialogue table; it has tried to anger the members of the commission by insulting them.  all in all, the fmln is trying to force the government to desist.  why are they seeking this?  because all they want is a little more image, the image that they have completely lost because their spaces have been closed. no one in the world will continue to justify an armed struggle.  that is a thing of the past.  (continued)

fmln


Input: president arias was right when he said that perhaps fidel castro is the only one who insists on the situation -- and who seems to have not yet returned from the sierra maestra where he was in 1959. that seems to be the attitude of the fmln leaders.  what else do the armed forces, i mean (corrects himself), does the fmln want with all these absurd proposals and attitudes?  it is seeking to divide the armed forces.  it is seeking to isolate the government of the republic.  it wants to (discredit) the government image, which has been consolidated little by little at the international level, because we are showing to the world that there is a democracy here, that a democratic process is being consolidated, and that the forces that already exist within the democratic system are forces that truly want and seek peace, rather than forces that assassinate and cause destruction.  therefore, we can no longer think at this moment, that the fmln has only viewed the dialogue from a strategic point of view.    however, we want to say something.  all this strategy should not confuse the salvadoran people.  we must be calm because the government of the republic will not give an inch and will continue, through rational means, to struggle and search for peace, to which you and all salvadorans are entitled.  we are not going to fall into the traps the fmln is trying to put before us.  however, at this moment, what we should see is who wants peace and who does not want to search for peace.  up to this moment, the fmln has given no evidence it wants to attain peace and tranquility for you, the salvadoran people.    nevertheless, we must not be pessimistic.  although it is true that one cannot say, for propaganda purposes, that outstanding results were obtained at the meeting in san jose, costa rica, some results were attained.  the dialogue process will continue and that should eliminate all traces of pessimism.  we must think that the dialogue process that began in mexico was not broken in san jose, costa rica, and that this process will continue next month in caracas, venezuela. the issue again will be ceasing hostilities.  we are becoming more and more aware of the various positions, and there is less room to play strategic games with the dialogue process.    the salvadoran government is willing to discuss any subject in this dialogue process.  however, we must do this in an orderly manner. when we reach an agreement, such agreements must be respected.  that is the attitude that should prevail if there is a true political desire to achieve peace.  therefore, once again i want to conclude my message by making an appeal for unity.  we must be united for peace. all sectors -- political, labor, religious, and business -- must demand that the fmln show a true desire to achieve peace.  we must demand that the fmln stop trying to use peace in el salvador for strategic purposes.  if the fmln truly wants peace, why does it continue to smuggle weapons -- probably  from nicaragua -- into el salvador.  today, a truck from nicaragua loaded with weapons and explosives for the fmln was confiscated at the border with honduras.  this shows that the fmln is not yet seriously searching for peace in el salvador.  however, the unity of the salvadoran people should force the fmln to search for peace.  the unity of the salvadoran people should close political space so the (fmln) will stop its strategic games.  all of us, united, should demand that the fmln take the dialogue process seriously, equally as seriously as the salvadoran government.  we firmly believe we must search through peaceful means to have peace and calm in el salvador.    salvadoran brothers, let us not dismay.  we have always said that we should not have excessive enthusiasm.  this is not an easy problem, there will be obstacles, it is a difficult problem.  however, we have always said you can be sure that your government is working for peace and will not cease to work for peace.    may god bless you.  good evening.


Input: this has really been an agreement that reflects the government's interests, as well as the interests of the terrorist front.  in this respect, we agree with the text of the san jose accord.    (reporter) at a news conference held yesterday at the und, the nationalist democratic union, it was said that the participation of two u.s. advisers and one u.s. military adviser prevented greater progress in the dialogue.  how do you feel about that?    (larios) we must never forget that terrorists try to confuse and try to foster an attitude and actions in the people solely to justify themselves.  at no time was the military delegation, which participated as advisers in the dialogue, able to influence the decisions of the dialogue commission.  their role as advisers enabled them to give advice to the dialogue commission, but it is absurd to think that the presence of our two military advisers and other advisers prevented real and complex positions from being taken at that meeting.    (reporter) there is no u.s. adviser...    (larios, interrupting) moreover, we cannot.... (changes thought) no u.s. adviser accompanied our delegation.  if there was one, he went strictly on his own.  your question, therefore, is important, because it allows us to tell you that the salvadoran military delegation never hampered the work of the government delegation during the talks.    (reporter) the nongovernment human rights commission presented the relatives of tortured and captured persons.  it accused 1st infantry brigade commander francisco elena fuentes and other officers of having ties to the death squads.    (larios) i have been dealing with these kinds of reports over the past few days.  friends -- and here i am appealing to my friends -- let us not allow the terrorists' desperate actions to confuse and convey a false message to the people.  the fact is that this is part of the strategy of deceit, lies, and disrespect for the people and the country's democratic institutions implemented by the terrorists.    (reporter) (words indistinct)    (larios) let me repeat that this is part of the above-mentioned strategy.  we must not be deceived.  we know full well who the persons are who are trying to sow mistrust and confusion among civilians.  we are a responsible, serious, and formal institution.  it is up to us to investigate all these violent incidents and deaths.  we will do our duty by conducting an investigation. (continued)


Input: today, we have information about a very painful event that occurred in barranquilla.  barranquilla residents are very concerned tonight following this afternoon's car bomb explosion, which wounded at least 10 persons and caused extensive damage.  the explosion occurred when a car filled with tourists was parked in front of the royal hotel. fortunately, there were no fatalities.  officials captured one of the terrorists; his name is jose ramirez, aged 24, and he is from armenia. another terrorist who participated in the car bombing is still at large.

terrorists

jose ramirez

car

royal hotel

car bomb


Input: authorities continue to deal successful blows against terrorism. captured today were two (as heard) extraditables and one bomb planter, which is what people here are calling these terrorists.    the terrorist, who gives his name as gonzalo pinzon lagos, 24, was captured by dijin (directorate of judicial police and investigations). he confessed to participating in bomb attacks early this month against the energy towers located at rojas avenue and 75th street and in cafan sarsamora.  a terrorist working for the john bolanos lopez gang was killed in this attack.  ricardo bolanos rodriguez, the gang leader's father, was also arrested.  he is accused of recruiting terrorists.  this morning, he was going to put a bomb at the azulejos corona store, along the medellin speedway.    an extraditable was captured by the police while he was in the cerrejon installations, in the town of maicao, guajira intendancy.  he comes from barranquilla and is identified as robert jamis socologuisqui sala.  the state of south carolina is requesting his extradition, but meanwhile he will remain at dijin installations.

terrorist

gonzalo pinzon lagos

ricardo bolanos rodriguez

john bolanos lopez gang

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azulejos corona store

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Input: britain and argentina today agreed to resume their consular relations and direct air and sea links severed during their war over sovereignty of the malvinas (falklands) islands seven years ago.    after three days of substantive talks in madrid, the two countries agreed "to lift all remaining restrictions" on trade and financial exchanges, said a joint communique issued here today.    they also expressed a wish to normalize their ties "with a view to resuming diplomatic relations," it said.    the discussions were held between british negotiator crispin tickell, britain's ambassador to the united nations, and veteran argentine diplomat lucio garcia de solar.    the talks, arranged after the two special envoys met in new york in august, were extended a day beyond its two-day schedule.    they agreed to hold further negotiations to strive for the resumption of the two countries' diplomatic relations broken during the 1982 malvinas war. the next substantive meeting will be held on february 14-15, 1990.    during the madrid talks, the two countries put aside the controversial issue of sovereignty over the south atlantic islands, which blocked their first reconciliation attempt in bern, switzerland, in 1984.    the communique said that the talks allowed both sides to hold their respective positions on the issue of sovereignty over the islands and that nothing of their agreement could be interpreted as a change in their positions.    as regards fisheries, the communique said, both delegations had different positions but agreed "to set up a working group with a view to making proposals" to be submitted to further discussions.    argentina hopes for the lifting of the 150-mile (240-kilometer) exclusive zone around the malvinas islands imposed by britain after the 10-week war, which killed more than 1,000 people.    a british trade mission will visit argentina from november 27 to december 1, this year, and a new cultural agreement could be expected as normalization advanced further, according to the document.    links and contacts between the falklands and the continental mainland would be developed as beneficial.    britain also agreed to help argentina establish its cooperative links with the european community, which has rejected commercial ties with the latin american country because of its unnormalized relations with britain. britain is one of the 12 members of the european community.    describing the agreement as remarkable, tickell, the british chief negotiator, said: "we have taken a very large step towards diplomatic relations ... we are not there yet."    argentine negotiator del solar expressed optimism for the resumption of full diplomatic ties and said: "my impression is that this will not be too long."    the anglo-argentine rapprochement was initiated by argentina's president carlos menem, who took office in july. menem said on the second day after his inauguration that talks could be resumed on restoration of the two countries' diplomatic relations without discussing sovereignty over the malvinas islands.    he voiced the hope that the diplomatic relations could resume by christmas, a timetable that britain said is extremely ambitious.    however, observers here said the madrid agreement has paved the way for britain and argentina to talk to each other without touching the thorny issue of sovereignty over the islands.    by reaching the agreement, britain and argentina have taken a stride toward reconciliation, they said.


Input: colonel rene emilio ponce, chairman of the armed forces joint chiefs of staff, today said that the weapons confiscated by honduran troops were sent from nicaragua and intended for the urban ponce referred to the recent seizure of weapons from a van with a salvadoran license plate which were sent by the nicaraguan government via costa rica to the fmln.  he said that the arsenal included a large quantity of explosives and high caliber weapons that were hidden in secret compartments of the van, which was carrying furniture for a salvadoran family.    (begin recording) (ponce) this demonstrates once more that the nicaraguan government continues supporting the fmln struggle and is directly supporting the urban commandos, which are the fmln death squads in this city.  these manuals have been prepared in nicaragua and bear the fmln letterhead.  they are intended for the urban commandos and include tactical instructions as well as directions on how to use arms.  (end recording)    in addition, col ponce showed a document that was seized at el tigre hill, usulutan department, on 30 july, dealing with military theory and urban war which, he said, the fmln is carrying out in san salvador.    (begin recording) (ponce) the document says the following in one of its paragraphs: the war against the authorities must be total and must reach their properties, families, homes, work places, and vacation retreats. we must always give priority to executions, but harassment, psychological warfare, etc, are also part of this policy and may be carried out by the less experienced echelons to develop experience in using weapons.  this shows that the claim that was made by the terrorist ringleaders in costa rica is not valid.  it is not true that they disagree with this line.  (end recording)    according to ponce's statements, the actions uncovered by military intelligence are totally at variance with the topics discussed at the negotiating tables in mexico and costa rica, because they talk about reaching peace but their actions show the contrary.


Input: nicaraguan president daniel ortega decreed a 3-day national mourning period in the wake of the sahsa boeing 727 plane crash in which 65 nicaraguans where among the passengers.    the crash killed 120 of the 137 passengers who were travelling to tegucigalpa and houston in the united states.    the nicaraguan immigration office has extended free entry permits to the relatives of the victims, while the honduran embassy in this capital has granted relatives of the victims permission to enter the neighboring country.    the sandinist government has made a soviet aircraft available for bringing the remains of the nicaraguans back to nicaragua.    a total of 99 passengers boarded the honduran sahsa boeing 727 flight this morning.  the plane crashed at 0800 (1400 gmt), 40 km south of tegucigalpa, a few minutes before landing at toncontin airport.


Input: according to unofficial reports at least 80 percent of the approximately 130 passengers who were killed in today's crash of a honduran airline sasha boeing 727 which occurred in southern tegucigalpa were foreigners.    sixty-five of these foreigners were nicaraguans who boarded the airplane in managua during a stopover on its way from costa rica.    included among the foreigners were four cubans, three frenchmen, three americans, two swedes, two spaniards, one finn, one argentine, one bolivian, one czechoslovak, one soviet, one englishman, one belgian, one chilean, and one costa rican.    among the fiften survivors identified by the honduran authorities are spaniards carlos and vivian pellas, australians ronald and hellen devorouth, americans kurt schreffer, james brandrick, conny montealegre, and tonny frech, and paraguayan ramon sanchez.    the frenchmen who were on the airplane were jean georges cabinet, maurice albert pierson, and bernard georges levallois and his nicaraguan wife.    the spaniards killed in the accident were francisco javier iraneta and maria del valle lozano, secretary of the spanish ambassador in managua.    the passengers named by the authorities included americans evans lockwood, gregory vincent paglia, and an unidentified woman.  paglia was apparently carrying a diplomatic passport.  they also identified swedes ander johansson and ake carlsson.    traveling on that airplane were the following european citizens: finn hilkra helen serjamo, briton huk kuet wong, czechoslovak zdeenik kliapa, belgian carl jean nellis, and soviet mikhail starouchik.    also travelling were latin americans carlos alano egan (argentine), jesus herrera (bolivian), daniel rodriguez osorio (chileno), and mario rodriguez, a senior officer of the costa rican presidential house.    the boeing 727 left costa rica at 0600, made a stopover in managua, and crashed at approximately 0745 before landing in tegucigalpa, from where it was going to fly to houston, texas.    in nicaragua, daniel ortega decreed 3-days of mourning and announced that four airplanes were going to fly the relatives of the victims to honduras to bring back the remains.


Input: the arsenal confiscated in honduras confirms the sandinist government violation of the tela agreements.  (colonel rene emilio ponce) chairman of the joint chiefs of staff said the communists are not to be trusted because they always take advantage of the seriousness and goodwill of others.    col ponce explained how the honduran armed forces discovered the coming from nicaragua.  he said the truck was first sent to costa rica in order to confuse the honduran authorities.  the cargo seemed to be furniture earmarked for a salvadoran businessmen, ponce said.    the weapons were discovered by a honduran soldier at the border area known as el espino, in choluteca.  the soldier said the weapons were discovered by accident when he loosened a welded section of the truck which revealed a secret compartment in the vehicle.    col ponce added that when the soldiers searched the truck they found several soviet made ak-47 rifles; uzi submachineguns, rpg-7 rocket launchers, 60 mm mortars, radio communications equipment, plastic explosives, fragmentation grenades, cartridge clips, wire and electric detonators, delayed-action fuses, and instruction manuals for the weapons in urban combat.    finally, col ponce emphasized that this is how the nicaraguan communist government continues violating its own commitments by sending weapons to our country so rebels continue killing other salvadorans.


Input: after meeting with president menem, former montoneros chiefs fernando vaca narvaja and roberto cirilo perdia have stated that they will become "leaders" of the national reconciliation movement and entirely support the justicialist government economic program.    the members of the revolutionary faction of the peronist movement have asked president menem to pardon montoneros leader mario firmenich, who is currently being held at the caseros prison.  vaca narvaja and perdia also announceds the they will ask for a meeting with army chief of staff general isidro caceres, pj (justicialist party) leader antonio cafiero, and top leaders of the catholic church with the goal of "achieving national reconciliation."    vaca narvaja and perdia went to government house today at noon to thank president menem for their pardon and to express "our commitment to do whatever possible to strengthen the process of reconciliation and national unity."  this remark was made by vaca narvaja to some 50 journalists gathered in the presidential press room.  he told the journalists that president menem received them and told them that they will enjoy all the rights granted to argentines.  he also asked them to join the productive revolution.  interior minister eduardo bauza was also present at the 40-minute meeting.    during the news conference, the recently pardoned montoneros leaders pointed out that they asked the president to pardon mario firmenich.  they implicity admitted that the military men who led the process of national reconstruction could be released.    vaca narvaja said in response to a question that the montoneros "have made a commitment at the lujan basilica national sanctuary," and that "it is not possible -- nor it is correct or just -- to carry out armed or clandestine actions when democratic institutions are fully effective."    asked about the money collected in the kidnapping of impresario jorge born, roberto perdia said that "this matter was not discussed" with president menem.  "we maintain our decision that the funds will become available so that they can be used to solve the problems troubling our people," perdia added.    perdia also noted that "most of the people have shown obvious signs of understanding the presidential message and of working for the final pacification."    asked if the money obtained from the kidnapping of born would be returned, perdia responded that "it will be returned to people who can best use it; we believe that no one can refuse or block this money from being returned to its legitimate owners, the people, who built the country's wealth with their labor."    regarding the subject of missing persons and in response to a question on whether this "was a closed case," perdia emphasized that "it is necessary to think in the future about the rights of those who are alive and to build the country without forgetting the past." perdia also sadi that "past events must be registered in the people's conscience, in the people's memory, so that future generations will learn our good and evil experiences."    when a cameramen from a foreign television station asked him when the montoneros would return their weapons, perdia said that "we have not used weapons since 1983" because "we have been saying that there is no room for weapons whenever there are democratic ways."    but the cameramen loudly insisted: where are the weapons?  perdia responded: "there are no weapons.  they were used in combat when there was a military dictatorship.  there is no reason for them in a democracy."    vaca narvaja pointed out that the guarantee of not taking up arms "lies in the people's conscience, because argentina has said 'never again' to military coups and guerrilla warfare."    "the second guarantee is that the political steps that we take before the people must be credible enough; therefore, some time must pass for our actions to be confirmed," vaca narvaja added.    concluding, the two montoneros leaders performed a self- criticism of the montoneros organization, stating that it went undergroud "in an untimely fashion, because there were still sovereign ways left for the people to express themselves."


Input: a military spokesmen has said that two policemen and three guerrillas were killed today during clashes in different parts of colombia.    in a public establishment in a village near bugalagrande, cauca department, 500 km west of bogota, seven men, who had resisted a routine search, attacked a police detachment and killed two policemen who had killed one of the group.    sources from the army's third brigade, with headquarters in cali, the capital of the department, said that the attackers were apparently members of the 21st front of the communist revolutionary armed forces of colombia (farc, pro-soviet).    meanwhile, the army's fourth brigade, with headquarters in medellin, has declared that two alleged members of the army of national liberation (eln, pro-cuban) were killed in a clash with regular troops who seized weapons and war materiel near salgar, antioquia department, 550 km northwest of bogota.


Input: san salvador radio cadena yskl in spanish at 1212 gmt on 9 october reports that "according to 3d infantry brigade commander colonel mauricio ernesto vargas," belloso battalion troops seized five soviet-made ak-47 rifles, 2,000 cartridges, and a large amount of explosives following a clash with subversive elements in san cristobal canton, sesori municipality, san miguel department.  the report quotes col vargas as saying that "there is evidence that the rebels suffered several casualties, who were taken by their comrades to inaccessible areas in the region."  the announcer does not give a date for the report.    (clandestine) radio venceremos in spanish to el salvador at 0000 gmt on 19 october reports that farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln) units inflicted 10 casualties on the army on 17 october, seizing one m-72 rocket launcher and two cartridge belts with ammunition for m-60 machineguns.  the announcer says that one fmln militant was killed in the action.    a second report notes that "on 18 october guerrilla forces attacked national guard units and civil defense criminals in the town of chinameca for 1 hour, during which time the guerrillas also sabotaged a transformer."    another report, this time from santa ana, notes that as a result of an fmln ambush on the san salvador-santa ana highway, near san juan buena vista, the army's 2d infantry brigade suffered approximately 15 casualties.    (clandestine) radio venceremos in spanish to el salvador at 0000 gmt on 23 october broadcasts a 1-minute military roundup report that opens with the announcement that the fmln inflicted 74 casualties on the army during the past week.    this report notes that the fmln carried out three ambush operations during the week: one in chalatenango department, one on the san salvador-santa ana highway, and the third on the pan- american highway.

guerrilla forces

transformer


Input: the group of "extraditables" in colombia, believed to be the armed branch of the medellin cartel, said today that it is prepared to declare a truce if the congress of the republic forms a "grand commission on a dialogue for peace."    the traffickers of the medellin cartel, who along with the members of the cali cartel form the most important cocaine processing and distribution organizations in the world, made their proposal in a letter addressed to luis guillermo giraldo, president of the colombian congress.    the "extraditables" say that the dialogue commission must include, among other people, cardinals mario revollo y bravo and alfonso lopez trujillo, medellin mayor juan gomez martinez, former minister joaquin vallejo arbalaez, former attorney general carlos jimenez gomez, and former parliamentarian guido parra montoya.  the "grand commission" must also include "representatives of leftist mass organizations and the self-defense groups, and should seek a truce between the right wing and the left wing," according to the letter.    the drug kingpins said that they "agree that the topic of extradition should not be included in the referendum," because "we do not have the capability of mobilizing the masses in the struggle concerning the turnover of citizens."    in the letter, the armed branch of the medellin cartel lists four points that it believes could restore public order in colombia.    three of the points deal with nonextradition, and the fourth calls for the lifting of the state of siege, because it was under the powers granted in a state of emergency issued on 18 august that president virgilio barco's administration applied a number of measures to combat the drug trafficking.    on that occasion, when presidential hopeful luis carlos galan was assassinated, barco declared an "all-out war" on the drug mafias, reinstated extradition by administrative channels without prior judicial proceedings, and announced the confiscation of the drug traffickers' property.  in a declaration issued 6 days later, the "extraditables" announced a "counteroffensive" against the government, the judges, the press, and the "representatives of the bourgeoisie" in reprisal for the official actions.    at the end of the letter issued today, the drug traffickers urged the public to "reflect," and added: "we all want to end the drug trafficking."    "the government," they said, "wants to end it through actions of war, while we offer to end it through a dialogue for peace."  the letter ends with the question: "who is right?"


Input: the possibilities for a dialogue with drug traffickers have increased in colombia during the past few hours after the extraditables announced they are willing to end the war.    three of the leaders mentioned in the extraditables' letter that contained a proposal to take part in a commission that would reportedly begin making contacts for the dialogue today accepted the mission and said that they are ready to cooperate in the country's peace efforts.    they are medellin mayor juan gomez martinez, former liberal legislator guido parra, and former conservative minister joaquin vallejo.  meanwhile, cardinal mario revollo said that "the matter must be studied."    the extraditables proposed creating a negotiating commission in a letter sent from clandestinity to liberal senator luis guillermo giraldo, president of the national congress.    the possibility of a dialogue is under consideration by some political groups, despite the position assumed by the government of liberal president virgilio barco, who has repeatedly stated his opposition to any step leading to negotiations with drug traffickers and drug terrorists.    barco, through government (interior) minister carlos lemos, has publicly said that a dialogue with terrorism is impossible, at least in the near future.    in view of the situation, some political sectors have speculated on the possibility of negotiations between barco's successor, who will be elected in free elections in may 1990. barco will leave power on 7 august 1990.    the mafia has promised to end the wave of terrorism unleashed several weeks ago if barco's government suspends the extradition of drug traffickers to the united states.    they have also proposed accepting the decision of the supreme court of justice, which recognized the legality of the measures adopted to face the mafias, but did not recommend extradition by executive decree.    the court ruled that international law prevails over colombian law, and noted that extradition through a state of siege decree is not compatible with the current colombian-u.s. treaty.    colombia and the united states signed an extradition treaty in 1979 which, although it is still in effect, cannot be applied because at the end of 1987 the supreme court itself invalidated the law that enforced it.    however, several colombian jurists said today that only the colombian foreign ministry can determine whether to accept the court's decision or to continue acting by executive decree.    in their peace proposal, the extraditables demanded that the government "grant colombians their legitimate right to defense, allowing them -- as deported foreigners are allowed -- to exhaust all legal means under administrative law before renouncing sovereignty and turning them over by extradition."    vallejo, parra, and gomez martinez -- the three members proposed by the mafia to participate in the negotiating commission -- said today that they are willing to work in favor of peace in the country.  they agreed that differences can only be eased through dialogue.    "i am willing to talk," said gomez martinez, mayor of medellin, where the medellin cartel operates.  over a year ago, gomez martinez was the target of an attack by the the extraditables, who tried to kidnap him. "i am waiting for the government's okey to begin the dialogue," he added.    vallejo, who disclosed that in mid-1988 he presented to barco's government an initial dialogue proposal from the extraditables, said that "i am willing to talk in order to achieve peace."    parra, a former parliamentarian and friend of pablo escobar, the medellin cartel's chief, said that "i am willing to contribute to the peace efforts."    other sectors, particularly political groups, agreed that negotiation is the only way to put an end to terrorist violence in colombia.


Input: the government said today that it will continue to extradite colombian citizens sought by the united states. the government will use administrative channels because there is currently no extradition treaty with that country.    in a communique issued by the national security council, the executive branch also denied any possibility of participating in a dialogue with drug traffickers.    the national security council's communique states that the government policy is to struggle against drug-trafficking groups and their criminal organizations.  the communique adds that the policy allows no room for transactions, negotiations, or dialogues. therefore, the government rejects any proposal to mediate with drug traffickers -- even if the proposal is directly issued by the extraditables or their spokesmen.    the communique states that the government has announced that it will continue to enforce legislative decree 18-60 of 1989, which allows for extraditions through administrative channels.  this decree was unanimously approved by the supreme court of justice.    the national security council justifies its decision by recalling the many acts of terrorism perpetrated by drug traffickers -- 222 in 2 months -- and the names of the victims.  the communique says that the drug traffickers are now trying to disguise their criminal positions by claiming that they advocate peace.    the discussions about the enforcement or suspension of colombian citizens' extradition was the main topic discussed today in juridical and political circles in our country and in the united states. journalists and lawyers carefully read the supreme court of justice's ruling on the decree allowing for extraditions through administrative channels.  everyone wanted to know why the extraditables said, in a letter issued yesterday, that they fully abided by the court's ruling.    the court ruled that, although the extraditions via administrative channels are allowed by the constitution in cases where there is already an international treaty, the extradition must be carried out according to the treaty.  the court believes that the ruling is quite clear.    (begin recording) (government minister carlos lemos) the government must decide if there is a treaty with the united states or not before it enforces the extradition through administrative channels.  (end recording)    nevertheless, the court's ruling does not end the extraditions to the united states because, even though the court believes that an extradition treaty is still in effect with that country -- the one signed in 1888 -- and that it should be enforced instead of  resorting to extraditions through administrative channels, the government clearly says there is no extradition treaty with the united states.    (begin recording) (government minister carlos lemos) the 1979 treaty had been annulled by the supreme court of justice, but according to the state council, that treaty replaced -- so to speak -- the 1933 treaty signed in montevideo and the 1888 treaty.  therefore, things are now the same as yesterday or the day before.  (end recording)    meanwhile, the bodyguard of el espectador's chief of distribution in medellin, pedro luis osorio, was assassinated this afternoon in a downtown area of antioquia's capital.

pedro luis osorio


Input: the police have reported that a carbomb exploded tonight in a residential sector in this colombian port of cartagena, slightly injuring only two people, but causing much damage.  the bomb seriously damaged the telephone exchange of the bocagrande tourist and residential district, a hotel, a restaurant, two medical clinics, and a construction site.    according to one of the two women who were slightly injured, the bomb was placed by two men in a car, which they hurriedly abandoned 40 meters from the telephone office.    the area, which was blacked out when the electric lines were destroyed and was littered with glass, was cordoned off by police, who launched a search throughout the city for the terrorists.    sergeant martinez of the fire department said that the bomb had caused much damage, although he abstained from giving an estimate until the buildings are examined.    although no one has claimed credit for the bombing, press sectors blamed it on the drug mafia against whom the government has declared war.

terrorists

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telephone exchange of the bocagrande tourist and residential district

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Input: bolivian officials have expressed their concern over the presence of peruvian shining path terrorists on the border between the two countries.  the also announced the deployment of military forces along the border.    in remarks published today by the local press.  general felipe carvajal, commander general of the national police, stated: "the shining path is operating along our borders and we have done nothing about it so far."  (passage omitted)    defense minister hector ormachea yesterday announced that military troops will be deployed from bolivian cities to the border areas.    according to the defense minister, the next deployment of military forces to reinforce the border areas follows reports on "the unprecedented entry of foreigners who are plundering" the country's natural resources, including wood and gold.    moreover, the police commander has stated that terrorism "is a permanent latent factor" in bolivia.  as an example he mentioned the indian-marxist organization "zarate willka armed forces of liberation."    this group began its activities in august 1988 when it attacked the official motorcade in which the then-secretary of state george shultz was traveling.  no injuries where caused by the attack.    on 24 may this year, the same organization murdered two u.s. mormon missionaries on a crowded street in la paz.


Input: a dispatch from lima.  terrorist acts were carried out on wednesday evening in the peruvian capital against the embassies of the ussr and the prc. unknown people who drove up to the ussr embassy in a car placed a bomb under one of the soviet diplomats' cars.  by a stroke of luck there are no deaths or casualties.  the criminals managed to escape.  within 15 minutes the terrorists detonated a car stuffed with explosives that had been left at the entrance to the premises of the diplomatic representation of the people's republic of china.  fortunately here, too, there were no human casualties.  police are carrying out a search for the attackers.  to date none of the armed extremist organizations active in peru has claimed responsibility for these crimes.

unknown people

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soviet diplomats' car

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diplomatic representation of the people's republic of china

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Input: two policemen guarding the ecuadoran consulate in medellin were killed today by unidentified gunmen, it was officially reported.    police spokesmen reported that the two policemen were guarding the diplomatic mission when three men walking nearby, in downtown medellin, began firing at them.  the authorities said they did not know who is responsible or the reasons for these killings.

three men

ecuadoran consulate


Input: nicaraguan president daniel ortega announced tonight in the costa rican capital that he will suspend the unilateral cease-fire decreed on 21 march 1988, and will improve the organization of his country's defense because "we cannot go on with our hands tied."    ortega, addressing students in the auditorium of the university of costa rica's law school, confirmed that "we have no other way out but to suspend the cease-fire" in order to "hit the contras hard," because -- he assured -- they have failed to respect the truce on numerous occasions.    "the cease-fire extensions are over," ortega said, stressing that "we cannot go on with our hands tied," and he promised to provide further details regarding this statement on 28 october at a news conference.    "the straw that broke the camel's back," he said, was an attack on 21 october when the contras murdered 19 peasants who were on the way to register to participate in the electoral process.    "we must guarantee the elections," ortega underscored, pointing out that 2 days ago two activists from the fsln (sandinist national liberation front) were also murdered, which constitutes "an attempt against the electoral process."    in view of this situation, he added, on 22 october "i met with the army commanders and we concluded that our hands were tied" with the cease-fire decree.    "the united states is not really willing to demobilize the contras and the contras avail themselves of the cease-fire to increase their actions," he added, emphasizing that "we cannot maintain it under these conditions."    "we must seek a way to guarantee the life of the nicaraguans, so the cease-fire must end," he stated, adding that the top-echelons also decided to "organize the defense of our country even better."    referring to the central american peace plan, ortega emphasized that "we must fulfill our pledges" concerning the contras' demobilization, and the honduran president advocates it even though the united states is not willing to do that.    the nicaraguan president wore a uniform and had a red and black handkerchief tied around his neck upon his arrival at the university, located in eastern san jose.  he was cheered and applauded by an euphoric audience that had been waiting for him since 1800.    ortega also spoke about other topics during the hour, mainly those discussed at the hemispheric summit he is attending along with 15 heads of state from the continent -- including the foreign debt, disarmament, and development.    "i have come to this meeting with the desire to talk to all of the heads of state participating," he noted, adding that "i am pleased with the talks i have held," on the economic problems, the debt, trade, the drug trafficking fight, the situation in central america, and the need to a promote the north-south dialogue.    in addition, he said that he discussed the coffee problem with brazilian president jose sarney, colombian president virgilio barco, and the costa rican president in view of the need to seek a common latin american position to fix the coffee price.    regarding el salvador, the nicaraguan president insisted that "not even the slightest comparison can be made between the contras and the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln)."    "the contras' camps are in honduran territory and the fmln's camps are in el salvador, he said, pointing out that "this is verifiable," and "el salvador's problem is not nicaragua's problem." (quotation marks as received)    regarding panama, ortega said that we defend self-determination and "all of latin american should be concerned that the panamanians are the ones who find a solution to their problems."    at the conclusion of his "chat" with the students, ortega went immediately to the national theatre, in downtown san jose, where the 16 heads of state of the continent were scheduled to dine tonight, during the continuation of the events marking the centennial of costa rican democracy.


Input: on the morning of 26 october the editorial office received telegrams from reuters and afp from the peruvian capital, which said that bombs had gone off the day before outside the soviet and prc embassies in lima.  our correspondent yevgeniy bay contacted vladimir kotov, head of the tass department in peru, by telephone and asked him for the details.    (kotov) according to the police, unidentified persons drove up to the soviet embassy building and planted a bomb under a car belonging to one of our diplomatic personnel.  they hardly had time to drive off before an explosion rang out.  one car was totally destroyed and three neighboring vehicles were damaged.  this happened at 2015 local time. and at 2030 hours a volkswagen parked near the entrance of the prc embassy exploded after being packed with dynamite.    fortunately, there are no casualties and no members of the diplomatic missions are hurt.  the buildings are not really damaged.    (bay) so far, according to the information agencies, none of the terrorist groups operating in the country have taken responsibility for this action, although the police suspect the extreme left-wing maoist organization, "sendero luminoso."    (kotov) judging by the hallmark, it could quite well be.  as is well known, "sendero luminoso" has carried out several attacks on soviet missions and our citizens in the last 3 years.  many remember the incident when four unidentified people telephoned the soviet embassy -- allegedly to deliver some sort of package.  in the end, one of the terrorists got into the embassy grounds and, at that moment, the "package" exploded in his hands.  and several months ago (izvestiya reported this) terrorists planted a bomb under a bus in which soviet fishermen were traveling.    (bay) an extension of the state of emergency in the country has been announced in connection with the escalation in terrorist actions. how does the situation in the country look from where you stand?    (kotov) the state of emergency was introduced here in february 1986 and has been extended virtually every 30-60 days since then.  it is in effect in 35 percent of the country's territory, particularly in lima and the capitals of a number of departments.  however, the wave of terrorism is showing no sign of abating -- either on the part of the far right or the far left.  in october alone, their actions claimed 200 lives.    "sendero luminoso" is trying to intimidate the population and wreck the municipal elections planned for 12 november.  they have partially achieved their aim.  to the uninformed, peruvian statistics are simply horrifying: in the last 3 years, 64 mayors of various small and medium-sized towns in the andes have been killed.  naturally, there are few brave enough to take the risk of holding this post.    (bay) what kind of conditions are soviet representatives in peru living and working in?    (kotov) so far there have been no restrictions on our freedom of movement.  however, the escalation of terrorism naturally affects our wellbeing.  people live in a state of tension.  you expect something awful to happen at any moment.  you have to show the maximum caution everywhere: both at home and on the street.

unidentified persons

"sendero luminoso"

soviet embassy building

car

prc embassy

bomb

bombs


Input: five women were murdered and their bodies thrown from a moving vehicle early this morning in el poblado neighborhood of medellin.  three young men were gunned down by hired gunmen in a public establishment in bello norte municipality.    the body of deputy gabriel jaime santamaria montoya continues lying in state at the antioquia departmental assembly where the patriotic union leader was assassinated on 27 october.

hired gunmen

gabriel jaime santamaria montoya


Input: salvadoran president alfredo cristiani said today that the decision to suspend the cease-fire in nicaragua, as it has been announced by nicaraguan president daniel ortega, would be "very unfortunate" and "would pose problems for the central american peace plan."    during an interview granted in san jose to cnn, a u.s. television network, cristiani also said that he has discarded the possibility of a military intervention in panama.  regarding his talks with the armed opposition in his country he said he is "cautiously optimistic."    cristiani said he would be "disappointed" if the nicaraguan president were to suspend the unilateral cease-fire decreed on 21 march 1988.  this would prove, cristiani said, that ortega is not willing "to respect the promises made in the framework of the central american peace plan" signed in 1987 by costa rica, el salvador, nicaragua, guatemala, and honduras.    according to cristiani, ortega has already broken his commitment by continuing to send arms to the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln), as honduras revealed this week.    cristiani admitted, however, that "not much can be done" if ortega upholds the decision he announced on 27 october in san jose where he and 15 other chiefs of state of the continent attended an inter - american summit.    regarding panama, the salvadoran president said that the oas countries will "continue making efforts, especially diplomatic efforts, to establish democracy" in that country "in the near future." he discarded the possibility of a military intervention in panama. "no one here (in san jose, where members of the panamanian opposition were also present) is in favor of a military intervention in panama."    cristiani stated his support for u.s. president george bush with regard to the recent coup attempt in panama.  cristiani said that bush "did what he had to" when he rejected a military intervention on the side of the coupists.  regarding the peace talks his government is holding with the farabundo marti national liberation front (fmln), cristiani declared himself "cautiously optimistic" and noted that contrary to the talks held between the fmln and former president jose napoleon duarte, the current meetings are not "isolated events."  now, he said, "the process is completely different."  this process, he added, is the "result of an agreement signed last september in mexico by the two sides."    regarding charges by a salvadoran soldier, cesar vielman joya martinez, who said this week that he participated in assassinations committed by a death squad on orders, according to him, from the salvadoran high military command and who also noted that u.s. military advisers had to know what was going on, cristiani said that these charges are part of "fmln efforts" to discredit his government.    martinez will be "sentenced to jail for having done what he has said he has done," cristiani said.  the salvadoran president  admitted that this type of incident still occurs but noted that the salvadoran authorities punish crime.    cristiani concluded by stating: "martinez is a deserter and a warrant for his arrest has been issued."    joya martinez, who fled his country in july and sought political asylum in the united states, made his statements to a group of journalists in washington.


Input: "the extraditables" clandestine group today claimed responsibility for last night's dynamite attack against a police air base at guaimaral, 25 km to the north of bogota, killing a noncommissioned officer.    through anonymous phone calls to various media in the northeast of medellin, antioquia province, the extraditables claimed responsibility for placing a bomb inside one of the small airport's bathrooms.    the extraditables are comprised of the main colombian drug trafficking capos, who, through violent acts, attempt to make the government give up on its decision to extradite them to the united states.    the authorities are saying nothing about the attack and denied newsmen access to the terminal.  the airport houses aircraft used by antinarcotics police.


Input: peruvian drug trafficker emilio reynoso aguilar, alias "retaco i," arrived in lima today under strict police security.  reynoso was extradited from colombia to be tried here on charges of murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, robbery, and other crimes.    "retaco i" is linked to colombia's medellin cartel.  he was handed over to peruvian police officers who had traveled to colombia to bring him to lima, where he is under indictment by nine different courts.    reynoso is known in lima as "the escape king" because he has escaped from peruvian jails a number of times disguised as a woman or a police officer.  reynoso escaped from the justice palace after taking the police officer guarding him hostage.    "retaco i's" brothers have similar aliases; they are called retaco ii, iii, and iv.  all of them have accounts to settle with the courts, but only one of them is currently in jail.    "retaco i" left peru on 1984 to continue his criminal career in other countries.  he finally ended up in colombia, where he worked with drug traffickers until his arrest.  reynoso is considered very dangerous.  the problem for the peruvian police will now be to keep "the escape king" in jail.


Input: radio venceremos in spanish to el salvador at 0000 gmt on 30 october broadcasts a weekly military bulletin.  according to the report, "the fmln (farabundo marti natiuonal liberation front) inflicted a total of 52 casualties in various attacks on enemy positions and ambushes on moving military convoys during the week that has just ended.  these casualties include an artillery lieutenant."    the report goes on to say that "antiaircraft actions have occurred in cinquera, cabanas department, also this week.  as the station reported earlier in the week, a uh-1h transport helicopter was damaged.  artillery troops were attacked between san pablo tacachico and san isidro, la libertad department.  coprefa (armed forces press committee) has admitted that an artillery lieutenant was included in the casualties.  troops from the 5th infantry brigade, who operated in cinquera out of their jurisdiction, were worn out during the week."    the station also says that "the atlacatl battalion was attacked on the slopes of the san salvador volcano, nejapa jurisdiction.  fmln troops also attacked local troops in san agustin in usulutan department, yamabal in morazan department, and suchitoto in cuscatlan department.  various sabotaging actions occurred during the week.  san vicente department, in the paracentral front, suffered sabotage on the greatest number of pylons and posts by our sappers."


Input: colombia's army of national liberation (eln) guerrillas has claimed responsibility for the attack, in which five venezuelan soldiers were killed, on the border area between the two countries.  the guerrillas have announced they will continue harassing the venezuelan military forces.    in an official communique delivered to the press in the city of san cristobal, venezuela, the eln "domingo lain saenz front" said that on 26 october it blew up with 20 kgs of dynamite a jeep in apure state's border area.  five members of the venezuelan national guard's border patrol, which was covering the cutufi area, were killed.    the guerrillas' message states the national guard jeep was blow up by "chance" because the army was the target of the attack.    the eln said it will continue attacking venezuelan soldiers to wipe out the military presence in the border area, adding that this attack was carried out in response to the death of a guerrilla commander near the town of el amparo, on 29 october 1988.  on that occasion, 14 venezuelan fishermen were killed by venezuelan security forces in an incident that has not been clarified by the courts


Input: argentine foreign minister domingo cavallo today announced that the nicaraguan government has asked the argentine government to "intercede with the other central american countries and with anyone else that may have influence over the contras" to make them disband.    the foreign minister, who accompanied president carlos menem to costa rica and nicaragua, said that "in order to make the nicaraguan electoral process easier, menem has answered that he will do everything he can to help bring peace to that region."    cavallo added that in view of that "i will begin contacts with other foreign ministers to get an objective view of what we can do."    the foreign minister explained that during menem's brief meeting with daniel ortega in managua, the argentine chief executive received "information about the continuing operations of the contras, during which 18 peasants were killed recently."  he added that "unfortunately the resurgence of hostilities could jeopardize the electoral process" that is taking place in that central american nation.    on 28 october menem had expressed his disagreement with nicaragua's decision to terminate the unilateral ceasefire. this decision had prompted an incident involving u.s. president geroge bush, who accused the nicaraguan president of behaving "like a wild animal at a party."    during his meeting with menem, the nicaraguan leader justified the decision by listing the violent actions that the contras have carried out and explained that for the ceasefire to be reinstated "the contras must disband in keeping with the decision reached by the latin american presidents at the meeting in tela (honduras)."    cavallo said that according to the report of the argentine members of the oas observation team, so far, "the electoral mechanisms set up for the 25 february 1990 elections are working well," and that there is "intense" political activity in nicaragua.    asked whether the sandinists respect the opposition, cavallo stated that violeta chamorro, during her meeting with menem in costa rica, had stated that "the use of official news media is allocated discriminatorily, but in general she expressed satisfaction with the current process as compared to the previous ones."


Input: at 0920 today powerful explosions were felt in the southwestern part of san salvador.    we were covering a ceremony at the presidente hotel when we heard these powerful explosions from various locations near the facilities of the armed forces joint chiefs of staff on la reforma street.    we repeat: approximately 30 minutes ago, presumed urban commandoes stormed areas near the facilities of the armed forces joint chiefs of staff and started hurling explosive devices that fell on a gas station -- specifically the san benito gas station -- located on la reforma street, 200 meters north of the facilities of the joint chiefs of staff.    according to preliminary reports from the scene, jose ernesto vasquez, 72, who was working at the san benito gas station on la reforma street at the time of the explosion, was killed.  two other employees of the same gas station were seriously injured.

urban commandoes

facilities

san benito gas station

jose ernesto vasquez

explosive devices


Input: there was a strong explosion early this morning.  a bomb went off at the building of the "msgr oscar arnulfo romero" committee of mothers, relatives of political prisoners, missing, and murdered people in el salvador, located on north second avenue between 15th and east 17th streets.  the explosion did extensive damage to this office, and three persons were seriously injured, including u.s. citizen brenda hoovarit, 41.  also injured were lucio gutierrez and 4-month-old elmer antonio alvarenga, son of argentina alvarenga.  they were taken to a hospital by the red cross.    the explosive device, which went off at 0230 (0830 gmt), damaged the committee's building.  red cross workers rushsed to the scene to take the injured to the hospital.  the blast was heard all over san salvador.    i repeat: u.s. citizen branda hoovarit, lucio gutierrez, and elmer alvarenga were injured.  they were taken to different hospitals by the red cross because they sustained serious injuries due to the intensity of the explosion, which destroyed the committee's offices.

building

brenda hoovarit

lucio gutierrez

elmer antonio alvarenga

explosive device


Input: a bomb in a car parked outside the fensatras (salvadoran workers national union federation) building detonated and caused a strong explosion.  we can report that seven people were killed.  we repeat: 7 people were killed and 12 were seriously injured....    (studio reporter, interrupting) where did the bomb explode?    (beltran) at the fenastras building.  labor leader febe elizabeth velasquez and seven (number as heard) other people were killed. twelve were seriously injured.  among the injured are two girls who were close to the main entrace of fenastras' building. when we say that the explosion was caused by a car bomb, we mean that a pickup truck parked outside the building's main gate totally destroyed this building.  meeting at that time were leaders of (2-second break in reception) in downtown san salvador. this is our report from the site of the explosion.    (studio reporter) a few minutes ago a car bomb was detonated outside the fenastras building.  the bomb was in a pickup truck with license plate number 15242.  approximately 7 people were killed and 12 injured, including 2 minors.  it was also reported that the building was destroyed.  we have been informed that police units and salvadoran red cross officials are at the scene.

febe elizabeth velasquez

car bomb


Input: the attack with explosives that has been perpetrated by unidentified individuals against the office of the oscar arnulfo romero committee of mothers, relatives of political prisoners, missing, and murdered people, left four wounded and substantial property damage.    national union of salvadoran workers, unts, spokesmen said that one of the wounded is u.s. citizen brenda fugart, two comadres activists identified only as pablo and margarita, and a 4-month-old minor called nelson antonio.    the unts members said that persons living near the office, located in the san miguelito district of this capital, noticed that the attackers were soldiers in uniform.    the comadres members have scheduled a news conference at 0900 today at the site of the attack, during which they will report on the condition of the people wounded in the explosion and the amount of the property damage, which took place at 0215 today.    the armed forces press committee, coprefa, denied any responsibility for the attack and, instead, blamed the fmln (farabundo marti national liberation front).  according to coprefa, all the fmln has tried to do with this attack is to paper over yesterday's foiled attack against the armed forces general staff.    in another report, the armed forces claimed in a report that they inflicted eight casualties on the fmln in fighting during the last few hours in several parts of the country.  the military report points out that troops engaged insurgents in the villages of chiapas, tamulasco, and tepeyac, all of which are in the jurisdiction of chalatenango, chalatenango department.  one guerrilla was killed, and four guerrillas and one soldier were wounded in this action.    in addition, in a battle at finca catorce, jurisdiction of quezaltepeque, la libertad, a rebel was killed and two were wounded. the military report adds that early today three harassment actions against civil defense posts were reported.  these took place in san jose aguacatitan, jurisdiction of san marcos; el carrizalillo canton, in metapan, santa ana; and against members of the artillery brigade in ilobasco, cabanas department.  no casualties were reported on either side during these actions.    finally, according to a police report, alleged urban guerrilla commandos this morning killed an employee of the 1st infantry brigade in san salvador.  this incident took place at 0430 today between san antonio abad street and antel - (national administration for telecommunications) (montebello), in the western sector of the capital.  the victim was identified as juan carlos merios.  he was an administrative official of the 1st infantry brigade.  according to the coroner's report, merios' body had four bullet wounds.

unidentified individuals

urban guerrilla commandos

farabundo marti national liberation front

office

brenda fugart

pablo

margarita

nelson antonio

juan carlos merios

explosives

bullet


Input: medical sources have announced that opposition labor leader febe elizabeth velazquez died in a hospital this afternoon as a result of the dynamite attack against the headquarters of the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras).    the labor leader died in the operating room of the hospital where she was taken after unidentified individuals this afternoon placed a powerful explosive device at fenastras headquarters, which left 7 other people dead and 30 injured.    hospital sources confirmed at 1545 (2145 gmt) that febe velazquez, age 27 and the mother of three, died from severe skull injuries.    meanwhile, a salvadoran radio station announced that unidentified individuals this afternoon levelled machinegun fire at a watchman, whose identity was not disclosed, in a neighborhood in northern san salvador.    this morning, a civilian employee at the 1st infantry brigade was shot to death in the miralvalle neighborhood, also in northern san salvador.    so far no organization has claimed responsibility for these two murders or for the placement of the explosive device that destroyed the fenastras headquarters.    an american identified as mike hammer, who was injured in the attack perpetrated by unidentified individuals (at fenastras headquarters), was taken to the operating room this afternoon.    the leading opposition unions and non-government humanitarian organizations will hold a news conference this afternoon at the site of this morning's attack.

unidentified individuals

salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras)

febe elizabeth velazquez

mike hammer

dynamite

machinegun


Input: several salvadoran leftwing parties and labor unions have scheduled a general strike on 1 november to protest the attack perpetrated today against a labor union headquarters, causing 9 deaths and injuring more than 30 people.    seven leftwing party leaders who called the strike, humanitarian organizations, and labor unions are accusing the army and the "most radical" sectors of the government of perpetrating the dynamite attack against the headquarters of the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras).    humberto centeno, one of the top leaders of the national union of salvadoran workers (unts), has asked the salvadoran workers to stage a strike on 1 november beginning at 0600 (1200 gmt) throughout the country.    the opposition political and labor leaders described the dynamite attack against the fenastras headquarters at noon today as a "massacre."  the attack left 9 people dead and more than 30 injured.    the armed forces condemned the "terrorist attack" against fenastras, and denied that the military perpetrated it.  centeno accused defense minister general humberto larios and ultra-rightwing deputy roberto d'aubuisson -- linked by the opposition to the "death squads" -- of the "massacre."    "we must stop work tomorrow as a sign of grief and mourning, and attend the burials of our massacred comrades," centeno said.    the attack on fenastras is the second attack perpetrated against opposition organizations in the past 24 hours, following a guerrilla attack on the salvadoran armed forces general staff on 30 october, which caused the death of 1 civilian and injured 15 people.

government

headquarters of the salvadoran workers national union federation (fenastras)

salvadoran armed forces general staff

dynamite


Input: peruvian interior ministry sources have reported that a member of the peruvian national police, who is also and interpol commander, was killed today in lima by presumed shining path terrorists during a offensive unleashed 12 days before the municipal elections. (passage omitted)    in lima, another commando that apparently also belonging to the maoist "shining path" armed organization, shot dead peruvian national police sergeant luis caceres tavara, 24.    two high-voltage power pylons were sabotaged on the night of 29 october, causing a partial blackout in the peruvian capital.    during the blackout, terrorists threw incendiary bombs at a police precinct, injuring three policemen.    the police believe that these attacks was perpetrated by the shining path.    peruvian interior ministry sources have pointed out that 160,000 national policemen are confined to barracks as of today.  their confinement will end after the holding of the municipal elections on 12 november.    according to provisional data, during october more than 350 people were killed in peru as a result of the terrorist offensive against the elections.    the shining path has called has called a boycott against the elections and an "armed stoppage," that is, a strike under the threat of attacks, for 3 november.    in response, the main political parties have asked the people to participate in a "march for peace and the defense of democracy." this march is also scheduled for 3 november in lima.

power pylons


Input: salvadoran president alfredo cristiani tonight condemned the "terrorist" dynamite attacks against a union and a humanitarian organization, which killed 9 people and injured 36 and expressed his condolences to the victims' relatives.    "i hereby express my heartfelt condolences to the mourning families.  these terrorist actions cannot be justified at all," cristiani said through a national radio and television network.  he warned: "we will conduct the necessary investigations to identify those responsible so they can be severely punished."    he reiterated, however, that the official dialogue commission will go to caracas on 20 november with determination to "make the talks with the guerrillas fruitful and find a political solution to the armed conflict."    opposition union leaders attributed the dynamite attacks to "recalcitrant government and army sectors who oppose the dialogue."    cristiani, who offered protection to "those who feel threatened" by these attacks, said there are groups who want to raise obstacles in the way of peace.  "these actions are useless.  violence and terrorism lead nowhere," he finally said.

government and army sectors

union

humanitarian organization

dynamite