ATTEMPTS BY THE NATIONALIST REPUBLICAN ALLIANCE (ARENA) TO ENLIST SUPPORT OF MILITARY OFFICERS AGAINST SALVADORAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE; ATTITUDES OF DEPARTMENTAL COMMANDERS TOWARD MINISTER OF DEFENSE.

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06629896
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 6, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-00189
• Publication Date: September 4, 1982

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TOT: 041812Z SEP 82
CIA 321488
WNINTEL
041812ZCIA 321488
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.
SERIAL:
DIST:
4 SEPTEMBER 1982
USCINCSO FOR J-2.
PASS:
S E 5/E T NOFORN
NSA FOR ZKZK 00 DLS DE (FOR NSOC); STATE FOR INR;
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMATION. REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
REPORT CLASS S E
COUNTRY: EL SALVADOR
E T WNINTEL NOFORN
SUBJECT: ATTEMPTS BY THE NATIONALIST REPUBLICAN ALLIANCE
(ARENA) TO ENLIST SUPPORT OF MILITARY OFFICERS
AGAINST SALVADORAN MINISTER OF DEFENSE; ATTITUDES
OF DEPARTMENTAL COMMANDERS TOWARD MINISTER OF
DEFENSF
SOURCE :
1. SINCE EARLY AUGUST 1982, MEMBERS AND SYMPATHIZERS
OF THE NATIONALIST REPUBLICAN ALLIANCE (ARENA) PARTY HAVE
BEEN LOBBYING STRONGLY AMONG MILITARY OFFICERS IN THE
SALVADORAN DEPARTMENTS TO INCREASE OPPOSITION TO MINISTER OF
DEFENSE, GENERAL JOSE GUILLERMO ((GARCIA)). THE ARENA
LOBBYING EFFORT HAS TAKEN THE FORM OF PERSONAL VISITS AND
PHONE CALLS TO SALVADORAN OFFICERS BY ARENA DEPUTIES TO THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, AS WELL AS A DISTRIBUTION OF ANTI-GARCIA
LITERATURE AMONG OFFICERS. TWO OF THOSE MOST ACTIVE IN THE
EFFORT AGAINST GARCIA ARE ARENA DEPUTY TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
AND FORMER ARMY COLONEL, JORGE ALBERTO ((JARQUIN)), AND
THE CURRENT DIRECTOR OF THE SALVADORAN NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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ADMINISTRATION (ANTEL), COLONEL NICHOLAS ((CARRANZA)). THESE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE CRITICIZED GARCIA FOR HIS PUBLIC ENDORSEMENT
OF LAND REFORM, WHICH, ACCORDING TO JARQUIN AND CARRANZA,
ALIGNS THE ARMED FORCES. WITH PARTISAN POLITICAL PROGRAMS OF
THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDC).
2. ADDITIONALLY, THE ARENA LITERATURE WHICH HAS FOUND
ITS WAY INTO MILITARY GARRISONS IN THE DEPARTMENTS CASTIGATES
GARCIA FOR FAILURE TO VIGOROUSLY PROSECUTE THE WAR AGAINST
THE INSURGENCY AND FOR MAINTAINING PERSONAL POLITICAL
ASPIRATIONS. MOST OF THE LITERATURE CONSISTS OF PAMPHLETS
AND UNSIGNED OPEN LETTERS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED
BY MILITARY COMMANDERS WHO FORBID THE PRESENCE OF POLITICAL
LITERATURE IN THEIR GARRISONS.
3. AS A RESULT OF THE ARENA PROPAGANDA AND CONTACT WITH
ARENA ACTIVISTS, MANY JUNIOR OFFICERS HAVE EXPRESSED
CONFUSION TO THEIR SENIOR COMMANDERS AS TO THE PROPER ROLE
OF THE ARMED FORCES. THE MAJORITY OF THESE JUNIOR OFFICERS
REGARD THE ARENA LOBBYING EFFORT IN THE ARMED FORCES AS
SEDITIOUS, AND BELIEVE THAT THE ARMED FORCES HAS AN
INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBIITY TO DEFEND THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE.
4. THE MAJORITY OF SALVADORAN SENIOR OFFICERS PLAN TO
TAKE NO PART IN THE CURRENT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING MINISTER
OF DEFENSE GARCIA AND WILL NEITHER PUT PRESSURE ON HIM TO
RESIGN NOR VOCALLY INSIST UPON HIS CONTINUED SERVICE.
THESE SENIOR OFFICERS BELIEVE THAT GARCIA'S STRONGEST
CRITICS IN THE ARMED FORCES INCLUDE COLONEL SIGFRIEDO ((OCHOA))
PEREZ OF CABANAS DEPARTMENT; COLONEL JOSE DOMINGO ((MONTERROSA)),
COMMANDER OF THE ATLACATL BATTALION; COLONEL JAIME ((FLORES)),
COMMANDER OF SAN MIGUEL.DEPARTMENT, AND POSSIBLY
LTC RAMON ANTONIO MORALES ((RUIZ)), DEPARTMENTAL COMMANDER
OF LA UNION AND MORAZAN. COLONEL ADOLFO ((BLANDON)),
COMMANDER OF SANTA ANA DEPARTMENT, AND COLONEL CARLOS ((LOPEZ))
NUILA, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL POLICE, ARE BELIEVED TO FAVOR
GARCIA'S RETENTION AS MINISTER OF DEFENSE.
5. ALTHOUGH COLONELS OCHOA, MONTERROSA AND OTHERS
WOULD CLEARLY LIKE TO SEE THE RESIGNATION OF GARCIA, THEIR
FELLOW SENIOR OFFICERS DOUBT THAT THESE PRO-ARENA COMMANDERS
FAVOR AN ACTUAL MILITARY COUP AGAINST THE SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT,
AS SUCH A MOVE WOULD LIKELY FORCE THE UNITED STATES TO
TERMINATE AID TO THE SALVADORAN MILITARY. COMMENT:
A MILITARY COUP AT THIS TIME IS ALMOST AN IMPOSSIBILITY
AND HAS NO SUPPORT WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES.)
6. ACQ:
FIELD NO
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