From: Christic Institute <christic@igc.apc.org>
Subject: CUANES Alert 9-8-92
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 22:18:18 GMT

/* Written  1:39 pm  Sep  8, 1992 by cuanes in cdp:carnet.alerts */
/* ---------- "CUANES Alert 9-8-92" ---------- */


 CUANES Alert 9-8-92  (Alert 363)

During the month of August the number reported human rights abuses
and violent attacks against members of trade unions, non-
governmental organizations, and the FMLN, increased alarmingly.  In
addition, SALPRESS news agency is again under attack.

This violence occurs against the backdrop of continued problems and
delays in implementation of the peace accords.  Marrack Goulding,
undersecretary general for peace operations for the United Nations
was in El Salvador from August 13 to August 17.  Following meetings
with government, FMLN, and U.N. officials, Goulding told reporters
that he had presented the government and the FMLN with a revised
timetable for implementation of "key points" in the peace accords,
including formation of the National Civil Police)PNC), the property
issue, and demobilization of FMLN and government troops.  An FMLN
spokesperson announced a new schedule for demobilization on August
21:  a second 20% of FMLN combatants will demobilize on September 21
(1,800 troops); further demobilization of 20% each will occurr on
September 30, October 15, and October 31.  As this process takes
place concern for the physical safety and economic future of the ex-
combatants remains.  FMLN leader Salvador Samayoa has asserted that
the demobilization will take place "only if the setbacks are
overcome." (El Rescate Report 8/17-24)

The full demobilization of the FMLN, and the ability of trade unions
and non-governmental organizations to work openly in the
reconstruction process is seriously imperiled by this alarming
increase in violence.  What follows are brief descriptions of only a
select number of violent incidents that have occurred recently.  It
is important that these events are denounced by the international
community. Demand that government officials in El Salvador and the
U.S. work to find and stop the people responsible for these acts,
and guarrantee the safety of of individuals and organizations being
attacked and threatened.


*****   The SALPRESS news agency is again receiving threats.  August
27, an anonymous caller threatened that SALPRESS would burn again.
August 28, SALPRESS director Ricardo Gomez' life was threatened by
an anonymous caller.  No arrests and very little progress has been
made in the investigation of the July 2 arson which destroyed the
SALPRESS office and archives in San Salvador.

***** On July 31 a high-ranking member of the staff of the newly
created Human Rights Attorney General's office was attacked.
Eduardo Pineda Valenzuela shot in his home and his car stolen.
Pineda remains in critical condition.  Dr. Carlos Fonseca Molina who
heads the new office and is the Ombudsman for Human Rights,
denounced this assassination attempt and an attack against Pineda's
wife at a press conference on August 19.  The wife of Eduardo Pineda
was detained at gunpoint, threatened and her car stolen by
unidentified men on August 17.  The government has called the attack
against Pineda a "common crime," but no arrests have been made.
Pineda was a prosecutor in the Jesuit case.

***** August 1 the offices of FEDECOPADES (Federation of
Agricultural Cooperatives of El Salvador) in Santa Ana were
searched.

***** August 3 ATMOP (Association of Workers of the Ministry of
Public Works) leader Jose Alejandro Jacobo Perez was assasinated in
his home in Santa Ana.  He was conflicts secretary for the
association, and had received threats in the week prior to his
death.

***** August 7 three men attempted to kill Reyes Tomas Martinez in
an evening attack in San Salvador.  Tomas Martinez heads the FMLN's
office for reconstruction affairs in eastern El Salvador.





***** August 11 the Secretary General and four members of CORDECOMS
were fired on by six men carrying M-16's near Quezaltepeque,
department of San Salvador.  All five were pulled from their car and
beaten.  The Secretary-General was warned that he was on list for
assassination.

***** August 21 the body of Jose Escalante Calderon, 40, was found
in Santa Ana with his hands and feet tied.  He had been shot in the
head and the skin had been ripped from his arms.  There were
indications that an attempt had been made to burn the body. (El
Rescate 8-17/24)

***** August 20 the body of Jose Luis Linares Nunez, 42, was also
found in Santa Ana, shot in the head, hands and feet tied. (El
Rescate)

***** August 22 two other ATMOP union leaders reported receiving
death threats.

***** A small independent human rights organization investigating
and documenting human rights abuses in the para central region for
presentation before the Truth Commission reported receiving
telephone threats and being followed by unidentified persons during
July and August.

***** During the first week in August, three armed men arrived at
the house of the vice-president of a small community near Suchitoto
in the department of Cuscatlan.  "Leonardo," the community leader,
fought off his assailants, but received bullet wounds to his hand
and deep machete cuts in his shoulder and knee.  Men from his
community carried Leonardo in a hammock for 2 1/2 hours in the rain
to reach a town where they could call an ambulance.  Leonardo
survived and is back in his community.  This incident has frightened
and galvanized small communities in the area which have organized
guard shifts for their own protection until the national civilian
police are in place.

REQUESTED ACTION:
1) Please send telexes and faxes to officials in El Salvador
expressing concern for the increase in human rights abuses during
August.  Denounce continued activity of death squads, and
politically motivated threats and violence.  Urge full and prompt
compliance with peace accords, and respect for work of the Ad Hoc
and Truth Commission.

Presidente Alfredo Cristiani
telex:  20793 or 20245;   fax:  011-503-71-09-50 or 22-8514

Dr. Rene Hernandez Valiente
Minister of Justice (Ministro de Justicia)
telex:  20179

2) Please call your Senators' offices in Washington DC and ask them
   to sign the DeConcini/Specter "Dear Colleague" letter to Senator
   Leahy (Chairman of the Foreign Operations Appropriations
   Subcommittee) urging the transfer of all FY93 military aid to the
   "Demobilization and Transition to Peace Fund".  The letter is
   open for signers until September 8. PLEASE CALL TODAY !!!!!

   Congressional Switchboard  202-224-3121

CUANES ALERT 363 - Prepared telex messages are available through

Worldlink  1-800-827-2831; fax: 800-827-2833; modem: 800-827-2835

FAXNET 1-800-831-2202; fax: 800-241-1170; modem 800-827-2835

You can send faxes via PeaceNet using e-mail
Xref: sparky misc.activism.progressive:6452 alt.activism:16155 alt.save.the.earth:1168 talk.environment:3658