CRITICISM OF THE SALVADORAN ARMED FORCES HIGH COMMAND BY JUNIOR AND MID-LEVEL OFFICERS DUE TO INCONCLUSIVE WAR AGAINST INSURGENTS AND HIGH COMMAND INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICAL MATTERS.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06629892
• 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: August 26, 1982

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Document:CIAA -0000 312521 Subject: CRITICISM OF THE SALVADORAN ARMED FORCES HIGHC 39595CIAA
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TOT: 260208Z AUG 82
CIA 312521
260208ZCIA 312521
TO: DIRNSA, DEPT OF STATE, DIA, TREASURY DEPT,
ZEN/WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM, ZEN/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
STAFF, ZEN/CIA OFFICE OF CURRENT OPERATIONS,
USCINCSO QUARRY HTS PA.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
REOORT CLASS S R E T WNINTEL
COUNTRY: EL SALVAit
SUBJECT: CRITICISM OF THE SALVADORAN ARMED FORCES HIGH
COMMAND BY JUNIOR AND MID-LEVEL OFFICERS DUE
TO INCONCLUSIVE WAR AGAINST INSURGENTS AND
HIGH COMMAND INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICAL MATTERS.
1. JUNIOR AND MID-LEVEL OFFICERS OF THE SALVADORAN
ARMED FORCES HAVE STRONGLY CRITICIZED THE MILITARY HIGH
COMMAND IN RECENT WEEKS REGARDING THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR
AGAINST SALVADORAN INSURGENTS AND FOR THE HIGH COMMAND'S
PREOCCUPATION WITH NATIONAL POLITICS. THE STRONGEST
COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN DIRECTED AGAINST MINISTER OF DEFENSE,
GENERAL JOSE GUILLERMO ((GARCIA)), AND CHIEF OF STAFF,
COLONEL RAFAEL ((FLORES)) LIMA. TWO OF THE STRONGEST
CRITICS OF THE HIGH COMMAND ARE LTC. SIGFRIEDO ((OCHOA))
PEREZ, COMMANDER OF CABANAS DEPARTMENT, AND JOSE DOMINGO
((MONTERROSA)), COMMANDER OF THE ATLCATL BATTALION.
2. FIELD OFFICERS SUCH AS OCHOA AND MONTERROSA BELIEVE
THAT THE HIGH COMMAND IS PAYING TOO LITTLE ATTENTION TO
THE WAR EFFORT AND ARE OVERLY INVOLVED IN POLITICAL MATTERS,
SE RET
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INCLUDING THE POLITICAL AMBITIONS OF THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE.
THE OFFICERS COMPLAIN THAT A SUCCESSFUL END TO THE WAR
IS STILL NOT IN SIGHT, DESPITE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES.
THEY ALSO WANT THE ARMED FORCES TO BE LED BY AN OFFICER
WITH GREATER FIELD EXPERIENCE AND CLOSER TIES TO BATTLEFIELD
OFFICERS.
3. GARCIA AND FLORES HAVE ALSO BEEN ACCUSED OF
ISOLATING FELLOW MILITARY OFFICERS FROM THE DECISION MAKING
PROCESS BY MAKING DECISIONS THAT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE
ARMED FORCES WITHOUT CONSULTING THE SALVADORAN OFFICER
CORPS. THE JUNIOR AND MID-LEVEL OFFICERS REGARD THIS AS
A HIGH-HANDED ABROGATION OF CHAIN-OF-COMMAND.
4. ADDITIONALLY, FIELD-GRADE OFFICERS,. PRIMARILY
THOSE AT THE LIEUTENANT COLONEL LEVEL, ARE ALSO CONCERNED
OVER THE HIGH COMMAND'S INVOLVEMENT IN SALVADORAN POLITICS,
PARTICULARLY THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GARCIA AND
PRESIDENT ALVARO ((MAGANA)). THESE OFFICERS REGARD MAGANA
AS A LAME DUCK PRESIDENT. WHO HAS LITTLE REAL POWER AND WHO
IS UNABLE TO EFFECTIVELY LEAD THE COUNTRY. THE OFFICERS
ARE CONCERNED THAT, AS MAGANA WAS SELECTED AND SUPPORTED
BY THE HIGH COMMAND, HIS FAILURE AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL
REFLECT DIRECTLY ON THE ARMED FORCES. THERE IS ALSO
DISCONTENT AMONG FIELD-GRADE OFFICERS OVER THE HIGH COMMAND'S
STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM.
5. ANOTHER GRIEVANCE WITHIN THE OFFICER CORPS,
PARTICULARLY AMONG MORE MODERATE FIELD-GRADE OFFICERS, IS
A CONTINUING CAMPAIGN ON THE PART OF THE NATIONALIST
REPUBLICAN ALLIANCE (ARENAL) TO DISCREDIT THE HIGH COMMAND,
ESPECIALLY GENERAL GARCIA. AS PART OF THE CAMPAIGN,
ARENA OPERATIVES ARE ATTEMPTING TO LURE OFFICERS WITH
RIGHTIST TENDENCIES TO JOIN THE PARTY'S EFFORTS TO OUST
GARCIA. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL LIEUTENANT COLONELS, AREAN
HAS OFFERED RIGHT-WING OFFICERS CIVILIAN POSITIONS (IN
ADDITION TO THEIR MILITARY POSITIONS) AS GOVERNMENT
REPRESENTATIVES TO LARGE PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED
SALVADORAN CORPORATIONS. OFFICERS SERVING ON SUCH BOARDS
RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 COLONES PER MONTH, PLUS PRIVATE
AUTOMOBILES, PAID TRIPS ABROAD AND OTHER BENEFITS.
COLONEL OCHOA CURRENTLY SERVES ON ONE SUCH BOARD.
6. DESPITE OFFICER DISCONTENT WITH THE HIGH COMMAND,
THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE DANGER OF A COUP, NOR IS THERE ANY
CURRENT PLAN TO FORCE GENERAL GARCIA TO RESIGN.
IF GARCIA PERSISTS IN EXCLUDING FIELD-GRADE
OFFICERS FROM THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AND IF HE FAILS TO ASSIGN
AN EXPERIENCED BATTLEFIELD OFFICER TO THE HIGH COMMAND, THE
SITUATION COULD WORSEN RAPIDLY WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.)
REPORT CLASSSECRET- WARNING NOTICE - INTELLIGENCE
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DISSEMINATION AND EXTRACTION OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED
BY ORIGINATOR.DECL: RECORDED REPORTING OFFICER.
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL
DOCUMENT.
SECRET
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