From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: EL RESCATE REPORT October 5-12, 1992
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Sat, 17 Oct 1992 00:13:07 GMT

/** reg.elsalvador: 137.0 **/
** Topic: report from el salvador, 10/5-12/9 **
** Written  4:05 pm  Oct 15, 1992 by elrescate in cdp:reg.elsalvador **
 EL RESCATE HUMAN RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

REPORT FROM EL SALVADOR 
October 5-12, 1992

With just three weeks remaining until the scheduled conclusion to 
the period of "armed peace," the situation remains suspenseful as the 
government and FMLN await the recommendations of the United 
Nations. President Cristiani, ARENA leaders and the Armed Forces 
still insist that October 31 must be maintained as the final date for 
the demobilization of the FMLN, but diplomatic sources indicate 
that the U.N. will suggest an extension.

The U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Latin America, Louis 
Duparte, was in the country for several days meeting with Armed 
Forces leaders, and a tense atmosphere is still reported inside the 
institution in response to the recommendations of the Ad-Hoc 
Commission and a possible extension of the cease-fire period. 
Marrack Goulding and Bernard Aronson are both expected to 
return this week to continue efforts to prevent a crisis but there are 
rumors that the military will only comply with the Ad-Hoc report 
following the total disarmament and demobilization of the FMLN 
(1) and there is even speculation in the press that the government 
will ask ONUSAL to leave after October 31. (2)

The cease-fire was nearly ruptured on October 7 when two hundred 
armed men, allegedly army troops carrying mortars and M-16's but 
dressed in National Police uniforms, were sent to evict campesinos 
from a coffee plantation occupied in San Miguel. Violence was 
avoided when Bishop Rosa Chavez and ONUSAL officials intervened 
and negotiated a peaceful solution. That afternoon rumors 
circulated in the capital that Mario Aguinada Carranza had been 
shot; although the reports were denied by the UDN deputy, they 
served to increase tensions. Also on the 7th, FENASTRAS leader Juan 
Jose Huezo was prohibited from leaving the country to attend 
meetings in Norway. Using a newly-installed computer system, 
airport immigration officials refused to allow Huezo through 
Customs because he had been arrested in March 1990. (3)

October 10 was a day of anniversaries: the 12th anniversary of the 
founding of the FMLN, the 11th of ARENA, and the sixth 
anniversary of the earthquake which destroyed a large part of the 
capital. The FMLN held celebrations in all fourteen departments and 
ARENA leaders attended a "gala" banquet where homage was paid to 
Roberto D'Aubuisson. There were reports in the press that President 
Cristiani would give his support to ARENA President Armando 
Calderon Sol as presidential candidate during the party assembly on 
October 11. A public announcement was not made, but Calderon 
Sol was the featured speaker at the assembly and called for a victory 
over the left in the 1994 election "at any cost." Citing the "great 
damage" which would be caused to the country if the "reds" come to 
power, he accused the PDC of "flirting with the communists ... who 
are now disguised as social democrats." (4)

"Five hundred years of resistance and struggle" were honored by 
popular organizations with a march and demonstration on October 
12. Indigenous groups occupied the Plaza Civica at 4:00 a.m. to 
protest the Spanish invasion and demanded that President Cristiani 
not attend a celebration in the Spanish Embassy. The Federation of 
Indigenous organizations is also demanding the Spanish king pay $1 
in indemnities to every Salvadoran: totalling $5 million. The Vicar-
General of the Archdiocese, Msgr. Ricardo Urioste, referred to the 
anniversary as "five hundred years of pain and anguish," and said the 
Church "must also ask for pardon, though pardon is insufficient. 
There are many damages to repair." (5) According to government 
statistics, 4% of the Salvadoran population is indigenous, 86% 
mestizo and 10% white. (6)

Following months of obstacles and delays, the San Francisco Gotera 
judge in the El Mozote case finally set a date for the exhumation. On 
October 13 forensics experts from Argentina, Chile and the United 
States, together with the Institute for Legal Medicine, will initiate 
the arduous process of exhuming the remains of the estimated 1000 
persons massacred by the Atlacatl Battalion, December 11-13, 1981. 
Coincidentally, the Battalion is scheduled to complete its 
dissolution on October 17.


"The government is not in agreement with rescheduling October 
31."
President Cristiani (7)

"The U.N., Washington and the four friendly countries believe it 
would be best to extend the date."
U.N. Diplomatic Source (8)

A confidential ONUSAL report dated September 17 concluded that 
there had been compliance "in general" with the peace accords but 
noted the "lack of a final definition" on the terms of land transfers as 
the "main obstacle ... Unless the government reconsiders and adopts 
urgent and drastic measures ... there is little probability" that total 
demobilization of the FMLN can occur by October 31. (9)

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Marrack 
Goulding, departed El Salvador last week carrying proposals from 
both the government and FMLN to resolve problems of compliance. 
Financial experts from the International Monetary Fund, World 
Bank and the International Development Bank also returned to New 
York to formulate an urgent strategy to resolve the funding needs, 
reportedly $30-$35 million, (10) for land transfers.

In New York, diplomatic sources reported on October 6 that the 
U.N. was attempting to convince President Cristiani to accept a 
rescheduling "within ten days, to avoid a crisis." (11) The President 
described the pending proposal as a "suggestion for reaching a 
reasonable and viable solution," but insisted that the government 
would not be "obliged" to accept. (12)

ONUSAL Press Secretary Mario Zamorano said the October 31 
deadline remains in force until a formal announcement by the 
Secretary-General. The U.N. proposal will first be presented to the 
two sides, but if no consensus is reached it will be taken to the 
Security Council for a recommendation. Zamorano said every effort 
should be made to comply, but a change in the date "would not be a 
catastrophe." (13) Marrack Goulding is expected to return 
momentarily and Bernard Aronson is scheduled to participate in a 
ceremony at the U.S. Embassy on October 14 honoring all North 
Americans killed during the war.


"We cannot permit a threat after the 31st." 
General Juan Orlando Zepeda (14)

Government and military leaders remain firmly opposed to changes 
in the calendar. Colonel Ochoa Perez, now serving as an ARENA 
deputy, called for "flexibility" from both sides (15) but warned that 
if the FMLN does not disarm the Armed Forces will not reduce its 
members or budget, "and this is very dangerous." (16) In a brief 
statement to the press, the Minister of Defense said only, "there is no 
reason to extend compliance with the dates," (17) but General 
Zepeda was more explicit, saying the military will not "permit" non-
compliance by the FMLN with the date, which he described as a 
"mockery" of the United Nations: "They [the FMLN] are attempting 
to make all the people who have come here look ridiculous." (18)

ARENA President Calderon Sol declared the "militarist adventure" 
of the FMLN must end October 31 (19) and said all members not 
disarmed and demobilized after that date should be considered 
"vulgar common criminals." (20) He insisted the government has 
honored all agreements and said the FMLN has "no pretext" for not 
demobilizing: "The problem is peace, not land." (21)




"What is really at stake here is the course of democratization, 
demilitarization and human rights." 
FMLN Commander Eduardo Sancho (22)

FMLN leaders insist that the crux of the situation is not the date but 
rather compliance by the government with sixty-four agreements 
either not fulfilled or only partially completed. Concern persists 
that agreements not completely honored before the end of the 
armed cease-fire period will not be fulfilled once the FMLN is 
demobilized: "We are absolutely certain of that," declared Schafik 
Handal. (23) Eduardo Sancho acknowledged positive advances in the 
demilitarization of the country but said there must be guarantees 
that, once the FMLN is disarmed, the contents of the remaining 
accords not be "altered." The problem, he said, "is who guarantees, 
who verifies, who supervises." (24)

The most complex issue involves the conditions of land transfers to 
ex-combatants and the civilian population in conflictive zones, but 
the FMLN is also concerned about reforms to the judicial system and 
implementation of the Ad-Hoc Commission's recommendations, 
and is demanding a thorough investigation by ONUSAL of the 
dissolution of the Civil Defense, Territorial Services and the National 
Intelligence Agency (DNI).

Handal refuted charges that the FMLN simply wants to prolong its 
dissolution as a military force: "We want to be free to dedicate 
ourselves to the political struggle," he said. "Now we are tied up in a 
huge number of commissions, day and night, related to 
compliance." (25) Eduardo Sancho also described the importance of 
dismantling the military structure as soon as possible, "which will 
permit us to concentrate all our strength to reinforce the work of 
the party." (26)

Members of the political opposition agree on the inevitability of an 
extension. "We must be realistic," said Fidel Chavez-Mena, "there are 
accords which will not be completed by the 31st." (27) Mario 
Aguinada Carranza declared the government will be "forced to 
accept" a rescheduling (28) but said it cannot be indefinite: "It will 
have to be for a prudent period." (29) CPDN leader Edgar Palacios 
criticized the government for "dramatizing" October 31: "It is not a 
fatal date and shouldn't be surrounded with such drama." (30)

David Escobar Galindo, member of the government negotiating 
team, stated that he was not optimistic about the 31st but 
acknowledged that an extension "wouldn't be the end of the world." 
He warned however of a "great risk" that the cease-fire period "could 
fall prey to a continuous extension" and said there must be 
guarantees "so the process does not lose credibility." (31)

The Democratic Convergence proposed a two-month extension and 
accused the Armed Forces of pressuring President Cristiani not to 
agree to the rescheduling. "We believe all the accords must be 
honored," declared Ruben Zamora. "If it is necessary to postpone the 
date, it should be postponed." (32) Msgr. Ricardo Urioste supported 
calls for rescheduling: "The difficulties are real," he said, "and it must 
be remembered that calendars are made for men, not men for 
calendars." (33) Nevertheless, President Cristiani was emphatic 
during his address to the ARENA convention. "The government is 
not going to negotiate any new calendar," he declared. (34)


"The Ad-Hoc Commission depends on the Secretary-General. He is 
the one who says to the President, 'comply'." 
Dr. Oscar Santamaria (35)

"We hope the President makes the appropriate decision." 
General Juan Orlando Zepeda (36)

The fact that there have been no leaks to the press on the contents of 
the Ad-Hoc Commission's report could be a reflection of the serious 
situation confronting the military institution, the President, and 
the country in the coming days and weeks. Possibly up to one 
hundred high-ranking officers are negotiating if, and under what 
circumstances, they will accept the Commission's 
recommendations. Unidentified "official sources" reported to the 
press that an agreement was reached last week between Bernard 
Aronson, General George Joulwan, President Cristiani and the 
Ministry of Defense to respect the findings of the Commission. (37)

Reportedly there have been constant, tense meetings of high-
ranking commanders in the Estado Mayor. Officers named by the 
Commission are negotiating as a block and apparently have refused 
to accept implementation of the Ad-Hoc recommendations until 
the FMLN has totally disarmed and demobilized, a promise made 
some time ago to the institution by President Cristiani, according to 
Ruben Zamora. "This is a highly dangerous moment," Zamora said, 
"but the army is going to have to accept, like it or not." (38)

On October 8 the Vice-Minister of Defense denounced "speculations" 
about the report. He said the Armed Forces had "no information" on 
the contents and refused to give any opinion. "The Commander-in-
Chief is the only one who can speak for the institution," Zepeda 
declared. "We hope the report is rational and fair, but the President 
has the final word. We are not a deliberative institution. We are 
hierarchical, disciplined and we hope he makes the appropriate 
decisions." The General charged "leftist groups" with carrying out a 
"great campaign" to discredit the institution. "The worst thing to do 
is to raise dust when there is no reason to raise dust." (39)

In COPAZ, Salvador Samayoa called for publication of the 
Commission report, "not to humiliate anyone" but to insure its 
implementation. "The objective is to purge the Armed Forces for the 
security of the society." (40) Colonel Ochoa Perez, however, insisted 
the document must remain confidential, claiming that if utilized 
politically, "it could endanger the institutionality of the Armed 
Forces." (41) According to Ochoa, "at the appropriate moment" 
President Cristiani will release the names of officers who "will move 
to another situation," but if the recommendations are known before 
decisions are made, "it could create problems in regard to the 
stability of the members of the Armed Forces ... a very dangerous 
situation ... not for civil society but inside the institution." (42)

"Aronson and Goulding have a huge task ahead," commented a 
columnist in DIARIO LATINO, "to resolve the conflict before the 
peace process ends in total chaos." (43)


"In a systematic fashion, the state succeeded in silencing the political 
opposition." 
Human Rights Commission (44)

"The truth is necessary for reconciliation. Without the truth, justice 
is transformed into vengeance and forgiveness into impunity."
Paula Serrano  Chilean Psychologist (45)

The Truth Commission has been receiving hundreds of testimonies 
in its offices in San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Miguel and 
Chalatenango and will continue to take denunciations until October 
31. On October 6 the Human Rights Commission presented a report 
on all acts of repression it suffered during the war including 
assassinations, captures, tortures, bombings and machine-gun 
attacks. "We are an example of systematic violations of human rights 
by the state and Armed Forces." (46)

The National University presented a preliminary report to the 
Commission documenting 25 murders, 40 disappearances and 150 
cases of illegal detention and torture. The University's attorney 
general, Dr. Eliseo Ruiz, declared that the results of the two 
commissions "could insure a 'nunca mas' ... or they could fall into a 
trap of trying to establish symmetry." (47)

On October 8 the Armed Forces presented a list of 327 cases against 
the FMLN to the Commission and charged the five members of the 
General Command and 25 other commanders with responsibility. 
The cases include kidnappings of wealthy businessmen in the 
1970's, kidnappings of some 100 mayors, the assassinations of five 
conservative intellectuals, economic sabotage and "massacres" of 
soldiers in combat situations. Colonel Baltazar Lopez, the head of 
COPREFA, promised additional documentation and said, "the 
important thing is the truth ... Our only interest is to comply with 
the accords." (48)

FMLN leaders acknowledged that violations occurred during the 
war but gave little credibility to the army's cases. Gerson Martinez 
noted that the "head of psychological warfare" presented the 
document to the Commission: "This gives you an idea of their 
desperation ... There were many violations in the context of the war 
but the overwhelming majority were caused by members of the 
Armed Forces." (49)

Salvador Samayoa said the document reflected a "defensive attitude" 
because the institution "feels hounded by society." He particularly 
criticized the "war of names" as "irresponsible" because the FMLN has 
not made any specific accusations. "We have acted responsibly in 
order to avoid heating up the situation." (50)

"It's hardly serious," declared Schafik Handal, "particularly when it 
includes combat situations like the Fourth Brigade. They want to 
balance the denunciations." Handal insisted the FMLN is 
cooperating fully with the Truth Commission: "The FMLN has taken 
responsibility for what it has done and has no reason to evade that 
responsibility." (51)

SOURCES: 1.Interview, 10/6/92; 2.TV 6, 10/9/92; 3. Juan Jose Huezo 
was arrested following a dispute with the Minister of Labor in 
March 1990; he was released from prison 18 months later.; 4. Radio 
YSU, 10/12/92; 5. Radio YSAX, 10/11/92; 6. Radio YSU, 10/12/92; 7. 
LA PRENSA GRAFICA, 10/5/92; 8. EL MUNDO/NOTIMEX, 10/6/92; 
9. ONUSAL Report Annex, dated 9/17/92; 10. Radio YSU, 10/6/92; 
11. IBID; 12. TV 12, 10/5/92; 13. TV 12, 10/7/92; 14. TV 6, 10/8/92; 
15. TV 12, 10/5/92; 16. TV 12, 10/8/92; 17. DIARIO DE HOY, 
10/7/92; 18. TV 6, 10/8/92; 19. DIARIO DE HOY, 10/7/92; 20. TV 6, 
10/9/92; 21. DIARIO DE HOY, 10/7/92; 22. TV 12, 10/7/92; 23. TV 6, 
6/10/92; 24. TV 12, 10/7/92; 25. TV 12, 10/6/92; 26. TV 12, 10/7/92; 
27. TV 12, 10/6/92; 28. TV 6, 10/7/92; 29. TV 12, 10/5/92; 30. TV 6, 
10/7/92; 31. Radio YSFF, 10/7/92; 32. TV 12, 10/9/92; 33. TV 12, 
10/11/92; 34. Radio YSU, 10/12/92; 35. TV 12, 10/5/92; 36. Radio 
YSU, 10/8/92; 37. Radio YSKL, 10/5/92; 38. DIARIO LATINO, 
10/9/92; 39. Radio YSU, 10/8/92; 40. DIARIO LATINO, 10/9/92; 41. 
TV 12, 10/5/92; 42. TV 12, 10/8/92; 43. DIARIO LATINO, 10/5/92; 
44. TCS, 10/6/92; 45. DIARIO LATINO, 10/6/92; 46. TCS, 10/6/92; 
47. TV 6, 10/9/92; 48. TV 6, 10/8/92; 49. Radio YSU, 10/10/92; 50. 
DIARIO LATINO, 10/9/92; 51. TV 6, 10/9/92.

Copyright  1992, El Rescate Human Rights Department. This report 
may be quoted and partially reprinted on condition that El Rescate 
be cited as the source.

 . 
** End of text from cdp:reg.elsalvador **