From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: EL SALVADOR: TRUTH COMMISSION BEGINS INVESTIGATIONS
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1992 09:23:06 GMT

/** reg.elsalvador: 157.0 **/
** Topic: EL SALVADOR: TRUTH COMMISSION BEGIN **
** Written 11:18 am  Jul 17, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.elsalvador **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: EL SALVADOR: TRUTH COMMISSION BEGIN

/* Written 12:30 am  Jul 17, 1992 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: EL SALVADOR: TRUTH COMMISSION BEGINS INVESTIGATIONS

san salvador, jul 14 (ips) -- the three members of the truth
commission, in charge of investigating the most serious incidents
of violence during the 12-year civil war that ended in january,
have arrived in san salvador to begin their task.

the commission, which includes former colombian president
belisario betancourt, former venezuelan foreign minister reinaldo
figueredo and a prominent us jurist, thomas burgenthal, was
formally established in new york on monday by the united nations
secretary general, dr boutros boutros-ghali.

the arrival of the three-man inquiry team coincided with
tuesday's announcement by el salvador's defence minister, emilio
ponce, that the commission would not only investigate acts of
violence attributed to the armed forces, but also acts of
violence carried out by the guerrillas.

joaquin villalobos, leader of the farabundo marti national
liberation front (fmln), expressed concern at the scope of the
commission's work, and warned that its members might be subjected
to ''strong pressures'' from the country's right-wing elements.

the former colombian president, belisario betancourt, told
reporters that the a six-month time limit had been established
for the commission's task.

however, figueredo, venezuela's former foreign minister,
stressed that ''we have not imposed limiting criteria on our
work, and will be guided by the wishes of the salvadorean
people.''

hundreds of human rights activists and victims' relatives
gathered at san salvador's airport to welcome the three
commission members. they carried placards proclaiming ''the
present requires truth and justice for the past'' and other
slogans.

among the cases to be investigated by the commission is the
1980 murder of san salvador's archbishop, arnulfo romero, and the
1989 slaying of six jesuit priests, as well as several massacres
of civilians suspected of collaborating with the guerrillas.

el salvador's bitter 12-year conflict is estimated to have
claimed the lives of nearly 75,000 people, the majority of them
civilians.

according to the peace accords, signed by the government of
president alfredo cristiani and the fmln on january 16, the truth
commission will have six months to prepare a final report on its
findings, which will be presented to un secretary general boutros
boutros-ghali.

the un chief is later expected to present the report to the
salvadorean government and the fmln. (more/ips)
----

el salvador: truth (2)

meanwhile, the commission in charge of evaluating and purging
the armed forces, composed of three salvadorean civilians, is due
present its report in august.

by the end of october, if the objectives of the timetable
established by the peace accords are achieved, the guerrillas
should have completed their disarmament and demobilisation
process and a new national civilian police force should be
in place. (ends/ips/trd/pi/sfi/cg/92)
-----


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