AGREEMENT BY THE SALVADORAN PRESIDENT AND VICE MINISTER OF DEFENSE THAT THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE SHOULD LEAVE OFFICE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06629283
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2019
• Case Number: F-2017-01057
• Publication Date: February 17, 1983

Approved for Release: 2019/08/07 C06629283
Document:CIAA -0000 474811 Subject: AGREEMENT BY THE SALVADORAN PRESIDENT AND VICE MINISTER
OF DEFENSE THAT THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE SHOULD LEAVE
OFFICEC 39117CIAA 474811 MS083-0546943 MIDB
D COMET 830218 CIA-474811CO28 1 UPID
/ / * EXCLUSIVE SE ET FRP: 2 4 8
MILITARY
83 0546943 MS0
PAGE 001
TOT: 181847Z FEB 83
CIA 474811
181847ZCIA 474811
TO: IMMEDIATE DIRNSA, DEPT OF STATE, DIA, WHITE HOUSE
SITUATION ROOM, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF,
ZEN/CIA OFFICE OF CURRENT OPERATIONS,
USCINCSO QHTS PANAMA.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
REPORT CLASS S E E T WNINTEL
COUNTRY: EL SALVADOR
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT BY THE SALVADORAN PRESIDENT AND VICE MINISTER
OF DEFENSE THAT THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE SHOULD LEAVE
OFFICE
TEXT: 1. SHORTLY BEFORE THE CEREMONY ON 16 FEBRUARY 1983
IN WHICH COL. FLORES LIME WAS SWORN IN BY PRESIDENT MAGANA
AS VICE MINISTER OF DEFENSE, THE PRESIDENT ASKED FOR FLORES LIME'S
PERSONAL OPINION OF GENERAL GARCIA. WHILE FLOARES LIME CREDITED
S EXE T
SECRET
CL BY:
CL REASON:
DECL ON:
DRV FROM:
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GARCIA WITH SAFEGUARDING AND PROMOTING THE ECONOMIC REFORM
PROGRAM AND FOR HIS PERFORMANCE IN OTHER AREAS, FLORES LIMA'S
OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF GARCIA WAS DEROGATORY.
2. FLORES LIMA STRESSSED THAT GARCIA DOES NOT PROPERLY
DELEGATE AUTHORITY. FLORES LIMA NOTED THAT, IN HIS PREVIOUS
POSITION AS CHIEF OF THE ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF, HE HAD
NO COMMAND AUTHORITY OVER THE SECURITY SERVICES (THE NATIONAL
POLICE, NATIONAL GUARD AND TREASURY POLICE), EACH OF WHICH
CONTINUES TO ANSWER DIRECTLY TO GARCIA. FLORES LIMA COMPLAINED
THAT WITHIN THE ARMY, GARCIA HAD CURTAILED HIS AUTHORITY AND
THEREBY SERIOUSLY LIMITED FLORES LIMA'S EFFECTIVENESS IN MANY
AREAS. AS ONE EXAMPLE, FLORES LIMA SAID THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS
HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE INEFFECTIVE COMMANDERS BUT WAS PREVENTED
FROM DOING SO BY GARCIA WHO WANTED TO HELP HIS LOYAL SUPPORTERS
IN KEY POSITIONS. THESE AND OTHER DEFECTS IN GARCIA'S LEADERSHIP
HAVE RESULTED IN INCREASED OPPOSITION TO GARCIA, WHICH FLORES
LIMA SAID WAS MANIFESTED IN THE EARLY JANUARY REBELLION AGAINST
GARCIA BY LTC. SIGIFREDO ((OCHOA)) PEREZ AND HIS UNIT IN CABANAS
DEPARTMENT.
3. PRESIDENT MAGANA AGREED WITH FLORES LIMA THAT
GENERAL GARCIA DOES NOT INTEND TO RESIGN AND IS CURRENTLY
ATTEMPTING TO FORTIFY HIS POSITION IN THE ARMED FORCES.
FURTHER, FLORES LIMA SAID HE CONSIDERED THAT GARCIA HARBORED
PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRATIONS. IN RESPONSE TO A DIRECT QUESTION FROM,
MAGANA, FLORES LIMA SAID HE BELIEVED GARCIA WAS A DIVISIVE FORCE
IN THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT AND SHOULD RETIRE. PRESIDENT MAGANA
SAID HE AGREED BUT WAS UNCERTAIN HOW TO APPROACH THE PROBLEM OF
GARCIA'S REMOVAL.
4. AT FLORES LIMA'S SUGGESTION, MAGANA AGREED THAT HE WOULD
WAIT UNTIL THE SECOND WEEK OF MARCH FOR THE RESULTS OF AN
INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN PROBLEM AREAS IN THE ARMED FORCES,
CURRENTLY BEING CONDUCTED BY A COMMISSION OF SIX SENIOR MILITARY
OFFICERS. MAGANA WOULD THEN ENDORSE THE COMMISSIONS'S REPORT, WHICH
FLORES LIMA CONSIDERS WILL VERY LIKELY INCLUDE A RECOMMENDATION
THAT THE DEFENSE MINISTER STEPS DOWN.
5.
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REPORT CLASSSECRET--WARNING NOTICE -
-DISSEMINATION AND EXTRACTION
OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED BY ORIGINATOR.DECL: /RECORDED REPORTING OFFICER.
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL DOCUEMENT.
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