AGREEMENT OF SOME FIELD-GRADE SALVADORAN ARMY OFFICERS THAT A MEETING OF FIELD COMMANDERS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY CONVENED TO DEAL WITH THE REBELLION OF CABANAS DEPARTMENTAL COMMANDER; FEAR THAT JUNIOR OFFICERS MAY SIDE WITH CABANAS COMMANDER

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06629800
• 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: January 8, 1983

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Document:CIAA -0000 434205 Subject: AGREEMENT OF SOME FIELD-GRADE SALVADORAN ARMY OFFICERSC
11788C1AA 434205 MS083-0238741
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TOT: 082308Z JAN 83
CIA 434205
082308ZCIA 434205
TO: IMMEDIATE DIRNSA, DEPT OF STATE, DIA, TREASURY DEPT,
SECRET SERVICE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION,
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 CLASSSE RETWNINTEL
COUNTRY: EL SALVADO
SUBJECT: AGREEMENT OF SOME FIELD-GRADE SALVADORAN ARMY OFFICERS
THAT A MEETING OF FIELD COMMANDERS SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY
CONVENED TO DEAL WITH THE REBELLION OF CABANAS
DEPARTMENTAL COMMANDER; FEAR THAT JUNIOR OFFICERS MAY
SIDE WITH CABANAS COMMANDER
TEXT: 1. IN CONVERSATIONS AT THE SALVADORAN GENERAL STAFF
DURING THE MORNING OF 8 JANUARY 1983, A GROUP OF FIELD-GRADE
SALVADORAN ARMY OFFICERS OUTLINED THEIR VIEWS OF THE REBELLION
OF LTC. SIGIFREDO ((OCHOA)) PEREZ, COMMANDER OF CABANAS
DEPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO THE OFFICER GROUP, WHICH INCLUDED
LTC. RAMON ANTONIO ((MORALES)) RUIZ, COMMANDER OF LA UNION
DEPARTMENT; COL. MAXIMILIANO ((LEIVA)), COMMANDER OF CHALATENANGO
DEPARTMENT; COL. RINALDO ((GOLCHER)), D-2 OF THE SALVADORAN
GENERAL STAFF, OCHOA HAD CLEARLY DISOBEYED A LAWFUL MILITARY
ORDER AND SHOULD BE REMOVED AND/OR PUNISHED FOR HIS ACTION.
2. THE GROUP OF FIELD-GRADE OFFICERS EXPRESSED CONCERN
OVER THE CONTINUING STALEMATE BETWEEN OCHOA AND MINSTER OF DEFENSE,
GENERAL JOSE GUILLERMO ((GARCIA)), AND AGREED THAT THE ONLY WAY
TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS WAS TO IMMEDIATELY CONVENE A FIELD COMMANDERS'
S E C\2. E T
CL BY:
CL REASON:
DECL ON:
DRV FROM:
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MEETING. HOWEVER, THE OFFICER GROUP REJECTED AS PREPOSTEROUS A
REQUEST BY OCHOA ON 8 JANUARY THAT A COMMANDERS MEETING BE HELD
IN CABANAS DEPARTMENT.
3. THE OFFICER GROUP AGREED THAT THE FIELD COMMANDERS'
MEETING SHOULD INCLUDE ONLY FIELD COMMANDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE HIGH COMMAND. ADDITIONALLY, THE FIELD COMMANDERS SHOULD
BE ALLOWED TO VOICE THEIR OPINIONS OPENLY, ENGAGE IN A FRANK
EXCHANGE AND NOT BE CALLED UPON TO SIDE EITHER WITH GARCIA OR
OCHOA IF THEY DO NOT WISH TO DO SO. BOTH THE HIGH COMMAND AND
COLONEL OCHOA SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THE MAJORITY DECISION OF
THE FIELD COMMANDERS IS FINAL AND SHOULD BE OBEYED BY ALL
PARTIES. ALSO, THE FIELD COMMANDERS' MEETING SHOULD BE SCHEDULED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PREFERABLY FOR 8 OR 9 JANUARY 1983.
4. ACCORDING TO THE GROUP OF GIELD-GRADE OFFICERS, A
FAILURE BY THE HIGH COMMAND TO SCHEDULE A COMMANDERS' MEETING
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WOULD INEVITABLY STRENGTHEN THE POSITION
OF OCHOA AS GARCIA WILL BE VIEWED BY JUNIOR OFFICERS AS
INDECISIVE. SIMILARLY, INDECISION BY THE HIGH COMMAND AND A
CONTINUATION OF OCHOA'S REBELLION MAY LEAD SOME JUNIOR OFFICERS
WHO ADMIRE OCHOA TO TAKE OVER FIELD UNITS AND REMOVE THEIR
SUPERIOR OFFICERS. THIS, OF COURSE, WOULD REPRESENT A MAJOR
ESCALATION OF THE CRISIS AND ONE FROM WHICH GARCIA WOULD BE HARD
PUT TO EXTRACT HIMSELF.
REPORT CLASSSECRET--WARNING NOTICE-
DISSEMINATION AND EXTRACTION
OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED BY ORIGINATOR- DECL:
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL
RECORDED REPORTING OFFICER.
SECRET
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