U.S. GROUPS WORKING WITH FMLN TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR GUERRILLAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000800050045-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 3, 2013
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: November 21, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/05/03: CIA-RDP90M00005R000800050045-5
UNCLAS
MSGNO 20 (STXX) *11/21/86* *16:07.54.2.9*
ZCZC 21:06:34Z (ST)
EMI DTG : 86112115072582
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 006
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86 2921694 SUO NC 2921694
TOR: 212010Z NOV 86 SAN SA 14790
------------------ r -----------------------------------------------------
00 RUEAIIB
ZNR UUUUU ZOC STATE ZZH
UTS8402
00 RUEHC
DE RUEHSN #4790/01 3251742
ZNR UUUUU ZZH ,,
0 211733Z NOV 86
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6832
INFO RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC 0121
RUEOEHA/USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PN
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0132
BT
EZ1:
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 14790
EZ2:
DEPT PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT FOR T.J. CLEAR, INR/GI; AND LPD
USIA FOR AR/CENTAM
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ES, US
SUBJECT: U.S. GROUPS WORKING WITH FMLN TO INCREASE
SUPPORT FOR GUERRILLAS
REF: SAN SALVADOR 13374
1. SUMMARY
U.S.-BASED GROUPS ARE PLANNING A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES
TO TAKE PLACE IN EL SALVADOR IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
AIMED AT.INCREASING U.S. PUBLIC AND MATERIAL SUPPORT
FOR THE FMLN-FDR AND=PRESSURING CONGRESS TO CUT OFF-U.S.
AID TO EL SALVADOR. THE GROUPS HOPE THEIR ACTIVITIES
WILL OBTAIN PUBLICITY WHICH WILL REFOCUS THE ATTENTION
OF THE U.S. PUBLIC ON EL SALVADOR. THE TWO MAJOR U.S.-
GROUPS.INVOLVED_ARE TIE COMMITTEE IN SOLIDARITY. WITH
UNCLAS
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THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR (CISPES) AND MEDICAL AID TO
EL SALVADOR (MAES). CISPES HAS OPENLY PROCLAIMED ITS
SUPPORT FOR THE FMLN-FDR (THE SELF-AVOWED MARXIST-
LENINIST GUERRILLA ORGANIZATION WHOSE STATED PURPOSE
IS TO REPLACE BY FORCE THE DEMOCRATICALLY-ELECTED
GOVERNMENT OF EL SALVADOR WITH A ONE-PARTY COMMUNIST
GOVERNMENT). MAES HAS GIVEN FUNDS TO SET UP FMLN
MILITARY HOSPITALS IN THE PAST. ITS CURRENT ACTIVITIES
SUPPORT THE ARCHBISHOPRIC. THE MOST PROMINENT
SALVADORAN GROUP WORKING WITH CISPES IS THE NATIONAL
UNITY OF SALVADORAN WORKERS (UNTS), A LEFTIST LABOR
UMBRELLA GROUP COMPOSED ALMOST ENTIRELY OF FMLN-CONNECTED
UNIONS.
2. CISPES IS CO-SPONSORING WITH UNTS A CONFERENCE
WHICH WILL KICK OFF NOVEMBER 22 WITH A DEMONSTRATION IN
FRONT OF EMBASSY SAN SALVADOR AND END NOVEMBER 24 WITH
A PRESS CONFERENCE. MAES HOPES TO AIRLIFT ONE MILLION
DOLLARS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO EL SALVADOR ON NOVEMBER 30.
CELEBRITIES WILL ACCOMPANY THE AIRLIFT TO DELIVER THE
SUPPLIES AND ENSURE PUBLICITY. END SUMMARY.
3. UNTS - BACKGROUND
- -----------------
UNTS, WHICH IS CO-SPONSORING THE NOVEMBER 22-23 "U.S.-EL
SALVADOR CONFERENCE IN SEARCH OF PEACE" WITH CISPES, IS
A LABOR UMBRELLA GROUP COMPOSED ALMOST ENTIRELY OF
FMLN-CONNECTED UNIONS. THOUGH CISPES CLAIMS THAT UNTS
IS THE "LARGEST AND MOST REPRESENTATIVE ARRAY OF LABOR
AND PEASANT ORGANIZATIONS IN EL SALVADOR'S HISTORY"
AND THAT IT HAS 300,000 MEMBERS, UNTS IN REALITY HAS
ONLY ABOUT 55,000 MEMBERS. BY CONTRAST, THE DEMOCRATIC
LABOR UMBRELLA GROUP, THE NATIONAL WORKERS-CAMPESINOS
UNION (UNOC) REPRESENTS BETWEEN 215,000 AND 250,000
MEMBERS. AS "PROOF" THAT UNTS IS DEMOCRATIC, CISPES
EMPHASIZES THAT THE POPULAR DEMOCRATIC UNITY (UPD),
WHICH SUPPORTED THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDC)
IN THE ELECTIONS, BELONGS TO UNTS. IN FACT, THE UPD
FORMALLY WITHDREW FROM THE UNTS ON NOVEMBER 16 BECAUSE
UNTS "LIMITED THE PLURALISTIC WORK OF THE UPD." IN
JUNE 1986, THE CLAT-AFFILIATED SALVADORAN WORKERS
CENTRAL (CTS) QUIT UNTS BECAUSE OF "IDEOLOGICAL
DIFFERENCES."
4. FENASTRAS - BACKGROUND
- ----------------------
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF SALVADORAN WORKERS (FENASTRAS)
IS A LABOR FEDERATION WITH CLOSE LINKS TO THE FAPU/FARN
GUERRILLA COMPONENTS OF THE FMLN. FENASTRAS HAS OBSERVER
STATUS WITH THE MOSCOW-LINE WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE
UNIONS (WFTU) HEADQUARTERED IN PRAGUE. FENASTRAS U.S.
REPRESENTATIVE FRANCISCO ACOSTA IS ALSO U.S.
UNCLAS
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THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY IS ESTABLISHING A NEW SUPPORT
NETWORK IN EL SALVADOR AND THE U.S., PARTLY IN RESPONSE
TO A PERCEIVED WAVE OF REPRESSION ROCKING THE
UNIVERSITY. THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE "REPRESSION"
MAY ACTUALLY BE THE RESULT NOT OF GOES OR RIGHT-WING
ACTIVITY, BUT RATHER OF INTERNECINE WARFARE WITHIN THE
LEFT. BUT THE NETWORKING IS ALSO AN INTEGRAL PART OF A
LARGER MOVE ON VARIOUS FRONTS TO BUILD NEW PRO-FMLN
SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATIONS TO GIVE FINANCIAL AND MORAL
SUPPORT NOW THAT THE INSURGENCY IS MOVING TOWARD A
STRATEGY OF PROLONGED WAR. THE UNIVERSITY NETWORKING
PROVIDES AN INSTRUCTIVE CASE HISTORY IN THE GOALS AND
TECHNIQUES USED BY THE LEFT ON OTHER SOLIDARITY FRONTS
AS WELL.
END SUMMARY.
3. POLITICALLY ACTIVE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CONTACTS ARE
COMPLAINING THAT A CONCERTED CAMPAIGN OF GOES OR "DEATH
SQUAD" REPRESSION (THE SAME THING, IN THEIR MINDS) IS
SWEEPING THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. THEY CLAIM
THAT SEVERAL RECENT ARRESTS OF STUDENTS (INCLUDING
ANTONIO QUEZADA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT
ASSOCIATION AND A KNOWN MEMBER OF THE FPL GUERRILLA
ORGANIZATION), A NON-FATAL SHOOTING OF THE DEAN OF THE
HUMANITIES FACULTY, AND AN ALLEGED DEATH THREAT MADE
AGAINST HIS SUCCESSOR, ARE PARTS OF A CONCERTED PLAN OF
"REPRESSION." SINCE SEVERAL OF THE ARRESTED AND
RELEASED STUDENTS REPORTED THAT THEIR QUESTIONING HAD
FOCUSSED HEAVILY ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY "COMMITTEE FOR PEACE AND DIALOGUE,"
UNIVERSITY ACTIVISTS EXPECT THAT ARRESTS OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE COMMITTEE ARE IMMINENT. (THE "COMMITTEE"
ORGANIZED A CONFERENCE LAST FALL THAT SERVED AS A PODIUM
FOR A FREE-FOR-ALL ATTACK BY THE LEFT ON THE GOES. SEE
SAN SALVADOR 16561 FOR REPORTS ON THE CONFERENCE.)
4. IN RESPONSE TO THE PERCEIVED THREAT, UNIVERSITY
ACTIVISTS HAVE TAKEN A NUMBER OF STEPS TO PROTECT
THEMSELVES AND IN DOING SO, HAVE REVEALED A
WELL-ESTABLISHED "SOLIDARITY" SUPPORT NETWORK, BOTH AT
THE UNIVERSITY AND IN THE UNITED STATES. THE NETWORK IS
LINKED TO, BUT SEPARATE FROM, BETTER-KNOWN FMLN,
SUPPORTERS SUCH AS THE "COMMITTEE FOR SOLIDARITY WITH
THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR".(CISPES), AND IS AIMED
U.S. UNIVERSITIES. THE UNIVERSITY ACTIVISTS HAVE
RAPIDLY GEARED UP A PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN TO
DENOUNCE ARRESTS OF STUDENT LEADERS AND HAVE ESTABLISHED
A NETWORK OF TELEPHONE CONTACTS AMONG THEMSELVES AND
WITH U.S. "SUPPORTERS." THE U.S. SUPPORTERS, MANY OF
WHOM WERE MET DURING A SERIES OF RECENT U.S. SPEAKING
TOURS BY RADICAL SALVADORAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT LEADERS
C O N F I D E N T I A L
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CO-DIRECTOR OF THE CISPES-UNTS CONFERENCE. IN A LETTER
INVITING CERTAIN U.S. LABOR LEADERS TO ATTEND
FENASTRAS' NOVEMBER 13-15 CONGRESS IN SAN SALVADOR,
ACOSTA CALLED FENASTRAS "DEMOCRATIC" IN SPITE OF ITS
GUERRILLA-AND WFTU CONNECTIONS. ONLY TWO U.S. LABOR
OFFICIALS ATTENDED THE CONGRESS. ONE OF THEM, JERRY
OLIVEIRA OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MACHINISTS
(IAM), ENDORSED FENASTRAS BY ALLOWING HIS NAME TO BE
PLACED ON A FENASTRAS NEWSPAPER AD. BRITISH LABOR
M.P. JEREMY CORBYN AND FRENCH, AUSTRALIAN, AND SWISS
UNION MEMBERS ALSO LENT THEIR NAMES TO THE AD.
UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 04 SAN SALVADOR 14790
DEPT PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT FOR T.J. CLEAR, INR/GI; AND LPD
USIA FOR AR/CENTAM
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ES, US
SUBJECT: U.S. GROUPS WORKING WITH FMLN TO INCREASE
5. CISPES - BACKGROUND
- -------------------
CISPES IS A U.S. ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY THE LEADER OF
THE SALVADORAN COMMUNIST PARTY, SHAFIK HANDAL, IN
1980. AT ITS 1985 CONVENTION, CISPES PROCLAIMED THAT
ONE OF ITS GOALS WAS TO "PROVIDE POLITICAL SUPPORT FOR
THE FMLN-FDR.". IN A 1986 ISSUE OF CISPES' NEWSLETTER
"ALERT,".CISPES WROTE IT "SEEKS TO EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE
PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST U.S. INTERVENTION IN EL SALVADOR
AND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE FMLN-FDR, THE LEGITIMATE
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SALVADORAN PEOPLE." CISPES ALSO
STATES THAT IT STRIVES TO HAVE ALL U.S. AID TO EL
SALVADOR CUT OFF.
6. CISPES ORGANIZING EFFORTS.
- -------------------------
CISPES HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ORGANIZING LETTER AND TELEGRAM
CAMPAIGNS TO PRESIDENT DUARTE, THE EMBASSY, AND MEMBERS
OF CONGRESS PROTESTING AGAINST THE ARREST OF PEOPLE.
WITH CLEAR TIES TO THE FMLN (REFTEL). AS PART OF THIS
PROGRAM, CISPES URGES ITS, MEMBERS TO PERSUADE PEOPLE
TO SIGN A FORM AUTHORIZING CISPES TO SEND TELEGRAMS IN
THEIR NAME "WHEN A HUMAN RIGHTS EMERGENCY OCCURS." CISPES
BRAGS THAT IT TARGETTED.EIGHT HOUSE FOREIGN OPERATIONS
SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERS' CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS DURING
THE ELECTIONS AND, AS A RESULT, THESE REPRESENTATIVES
HAVE MOVED CLOSER TO OPPOSING AID TO EL SALVADOR. CISPES
MENTIONS THAT IT LAUNCHED A MAJOR MEDIA CAMPAIGN IN THE
DISTRICTS..OFFMATT.MCHUGH (D-NY) AND DAVID OBEY-.(D-WI).
CISPES ALSO NOTED THAT THE MAY 14 HEARINGS BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS OF THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON "THE AIR WAR AND
UNCLAS
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POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN EL SALVADOR" WAS A CISPES
PROJECT TO PRESSURE CONGRESS.
7. CISPES HOPES TO RAISE 250,000 DOLLARS FOR THE
NON-GOVERNMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION IN EL
SALVADOR (CDHES), WHICH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS AN
FMLN-FRONT GROUP BY FORMER CDHES LEADERS: CISPES
ASKS THAT U.S. TEACHER GROUPS SUPPORT THE SALVADORAN
TEACHERS UNION ANDES 21 DE JUNIO AND U.S. STUDENT GROUPS
DONATE FUNDS TO AGEUS, AN FMLN-FRONT GROUP AT THE
NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. MIGUEL CASTELLANOS, AN FPL
(ONE OF THE FIVE GROUPS IN THE FMLN) POLITICAL OFFICER
WHO DEFECTED TO THE GOVERNMENT, HAS SAID THAT THE FPL
CONTROLS ANDES AND THAT ANDES GIVES ABOUT 50 PERCENT
OF THE DONATIONS IT RECEIVES TO THE GUERRILLAS.
CISPES ALSO ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO CHANNEL FUNDS THROUGH
THE SALVADORAN MEDICAL RELIEF FUND (SMRF), NEW EL
SALVADOR TODAY (NEST), AND MEDICAL AID FOR EL SALVADOR
(MAES), ALL OF WHICH ARE U.S.-BASED GROUPS.
8. CISPES-UNTS CONFERENCE
- ----------------------
CISPES HAS BEEN WORKING ENERGETICALLY WITH UNTS TO
SPONSOR A NOVEMBER 22-23 CONFERENCE AT THE JESUIT-RUN
CENTRAL AMERICAN UNIVERSITY (UCA) IN SAN SALVADOR.
THE CONFERENCE WILL KICK-OFF WITH A DEMONSTRATION IN -
DOWNTOWN SAN SALVADOR AND END WITH A PRESS CONFERENCE.
CISPES CLAIMS A 250-MEMBER DELEGATION OF U.S. LABOR,
COMMUNITY, AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS,
AND MEDIA PERSONALITIES WILL ATTEND THE CONFERENCE
ENTITLED "IN SEARCH OF PEACE: A U.S.-EL SALVADOR
CONFERENCE." AMONG THOSE CISPES LISTS AS "CURRENT
ENDORSERS" OF THE CONFERENCE ARE REV. JESSE JACKSON,
DR. BENJAMIN SPOCK, AND AMALGAMATED CLOTHING AND
TEXTILE WORKERS UNION INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT
ED CLARK.
9. CISPES CLAIMS THE CONFERENCE WILL "BRING SALVADORAN
AND U.S. REPRESENTATIVES TOGETHER TO EXPLORE AND
PROPOSE CONCRETE STEPS TOWARD PEACE AND TO WORK FOR A
NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT TO THE WAR." CISPES STATES IN
OTHER PARTS OF ITS LITERATURE, HOWEVER, THAT "JUST
UNCLAS SECTION 03 OF 04 SAN SALVADOR 14790
DEPT PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT FOR T.J. CLEAR, INR/GI; AND LPD
USIA FOR AR/CENTAM
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ES, US
SUBJECT: U.S. GROUPS WORKING WITH FMLN TO INCREASE
KNOWING THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO
OPPOSE THE WAR OUR GOVERNMENT IS WAGING IS A TREMENDOUS
BOOST TO THE PEOPLE'S WILL TO GO ON." CISPES ALSO SAYS
THAT "FOCUSING ON SUPPORT TO THE POPULAR OPPOSITION IN
UNCLAS
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EL SALVADOR NOW IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES
TO AFFECT THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE THERE AND TO BUILD
BROAD UNDERSTANDING HERE ABOUT HOW BANKRUPT THE WHOLE
(U.S.) REGIONAL POLICY IS." (NOTE: CISPES REPEATEDLY
REFERS TO THE FMLN AS THE POPULAR OPPOSITION.)
10. IN ITS LETTER RECRUITING DELEGATES TO THE CONFERENCE
CISPES STIPULATES THAT EACH DELEGATE "MUST BE RECOMMENDED
BY AN ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL ENDORSING THE CONFERENCE
AS WELL AS SEND IN A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ORGANIZATION
CHURCH, UNION,_SCHOOL, ETC. THAT THEY WILL BE REPRE-
SENTING AT THE CONFERENCE." DELEGATES MUST HAVE A
VALID PASSPORT AND VISA, ATTEND OR RECEIVE AN ORIENTATION
AND "AGREE TO ABIDE BY CONFERENCE REGULATIONS." ONE
REGULATION REQUIRES DELEGATES TO ARRIVE IN EL SALVADOR
ON NOVEMBER 20 AND DEPART BY NOVEMBER 24. ACCORDING
TO CISPES, THIS IS "TO ENSURE THAT OUR DELEGATION IS
RESPECTFUL OF AND ACTS RESPONSIBLE TOWARD OUR HOSTS.
NO ONE CONNECTED WITH THE CONFERENCE CAN STAY IN EL
SALVADOR LONGER THAN THIS TIME PERIOD UNLESS PREVIOUS
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE." A CISPES-CONNECTED
ORGANIZATION, TACOMANS FOR PEACE IN CENTRAL AMERICA
(TAPICA), STATES THAT "FOR SAFETY REASONS" PARTICIPANTS
CAN ONLY REMAIN FROM NOVEMBER 18 TO NOVEMBER 25 UNLESS
THEY ARE PART OF ANOTHER ORGANIZED DELEGATION.
11. "A MILLION VOICES FOR PEACE"
-- ----------------------------
CISPES WANTS TO OBTAIN PLEDGES FROM ONE MILLION
AMERICANS FOR A RESOLUTION TO CUT ALL U.S. AND ECONOMIC
AID TO EL SALVADOR AND "SUPPORT A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO
THE CONFLICT AMONG THE SALVADORANS." CISPES ADVISES
ITS FOLLOWERS TO IDENTIFY AN "INTERNAL ADVOCATE" IN
INSTITUTIONS AND GROUPS IT IS TRYING TO CONVINCE TO
-ENDORSE THE PLEDGES, WHICH ARE TO.BE DELIVERED AT THE
CONFERENCE. CISPES INCLUDES "HOW-TO'S," A SAMPLE
LETTER, AND A "SAMPLE RAP" IN ITS PACKET OF ADVICE ON
OBTAINING ENDORSEMENTS. CISPES TELLS ITS MEMBERS TO
INFORM AUDIENCES THAT THE DUARTE GOVERNMENT "CONTINUES
TO IMPRISON, TORTURE, AND EVEN MURDER TRADE UNIONISTS,
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, AND OTHERS WHO SPEAK OUT FOR
PEACE AND JUSTICE." NOWHERE IN THE PACKET DOES CISPES
SAY THAT PROSPECTIVE ENDORSERS OF THE PLEDGE SHOULD BE
INFORMED THAT CISPES SUPPORTS THE FMLN-FDR.
12. MEDICAL AID FOR EL SALVADOR - BACKGROUND
-- ----------------------------------------
MEDICAL AID FOR EL SALVADOR (MAES) WAS FOUNDED IN
FEBRUARY 1982. ITS MOST FAMOUS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER
IS ACTOR EDWARD ASNER. DR. CHARLES CLEMENTS, WHOSE BOOK
"WITNESS TO WAR" DESCRIBES A YEAR HE SPENT WORKING WITH
FMLN GUERRILLAS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS IN THE GUAZAPA
UNCLAS
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VOLCANO AREA, IS ALSO A MAES MEMBER. ACCORDING TO
MAES, IT HAS DONATED OVER 750,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF
MEDICAL AID WHICH "HAS GONE TO'RURAL AREAS WHERE
GOVERNMENT BOMBARDMENT OF CIVILIAN TARGETS HAS MADE
THE NEED FOR HEALTH CARE MOST CRITICAL." MAES ALSO
REPORTS THAT IN JANUARY 1983, IT SPENT 80,000 DOLLARS
TO TRAIN AND EQUIP 110 MEDICAL "BRIGADISTAS." MAES
CLAIMS THAT IN AUGUST 1985, IT GAVE 195,000 DOLLARS
WORTH OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO A STUDENT-RUN CLINIC AND
PHARMACY AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY. (NOTE: THEY WERE
NEVER ESTABLISHED, AND THE SUPPLIES "DISAPPEARED."
PRESUMABLY THEY WERE GIVEN TO THE GUERRILLAS.)
MAES' BIGGEST COUP CAME IN 1985 WHEN IT SENT A SURGICAL
TEAM TO EL SALVADOR TO OPERATE ON THE HAND OF NIDIA
DIAZ, AN FMLN GUERRILLA COMMANDER WHO WAS WOUNDED AND
CAPTURED IN A BATTLE WITH THE SALVADORAN ARMED FORCES.
MAES REFERS TO DIAZ AS A POLITICAL PRISONER AND ITS
LITERATURE STATES THE OPERATION TOOK PLACE IN A PRISON
THOUGH IT OCCURRED IN A HOSPITAL. A CISPES ARTICLE WHICH
PRAISED THE OPERATION REFERRED TO DIAZ ONLY AS "A
PARTICIPANT IN THE LA PALMA PEACE TALKS." BOTH GROUPS
UNCLAS SECTION'04 OF 04 SAN SALVADOR 14790
DEPT PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT FOR T.J. CLEAR, INR/GI; AND LPD
USIA FOR AR/CENTAM
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ES, US
SUBJECT: U.S. GROUPS WORKING WITH FMLN TO INCREASE
FAIL TO MENTION THAT DIAZ WAS AMONG THOSE RELEASED IN
EXCHANGE FOR FREEDOM FOR PRESIDENT DUARTE'S KIDNAPPED
DAUGHTER.
13. MAES FUNDS HOSPITALS IN CONFLICTIVE ZONES. THE
DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE HOSPITALS BY MAES LEADS-US TO
SUSPECT THESE HOSPITALS TREAT FMLN WOUNDED AS WELL AS
CIVILIANS. MAES SAYS THAT THE HOSPITALS MUST BE ABLE
TO MOVE CONSTANTLY IN CASE OF MILITARY ATTACKS. ONE
HOSPITAL MAES FUNDED WAS ON GUAZAPA VOLCANO AND ANOTHER
IS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF LA UNION DEPARTMENT.
14. MEDICAL AIRLIFT TO EL SALVADOR
-- ------------------------------
ON NOVEMBER 30, MAES PLANS TO FLY ONE MILLION. DOLLARS
WORTH OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND.A 40-MEMBER "FACT FINDING"
TEAM OF LABOR, CONGRESS, RELIGIOUS, AND.MEDICAL
COMMUNITY LEADERS AND CELEBRITIES TO EL SALVADOR.
-- THOSE AMONG THE ONE MILLION WAR REFUGEES (NOTE:
THERE ARE ACTUALLY ABOUT 500,000 DISPLACED PERSONS IN
EL SALVADOR);
-- CIVILIAN AS WELL AS COMBATANT AMPUTEES; AND,
-- SALVADORAN CHILDREN. WHO ARE SICK OR WOUNDED BECAUSE
OF THE WAR. SOME OF THESE CHILDREN ARE TO-BE-BROUGHT
BACK TO THE U.S., AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING FAMILY MEMBERS
UNCLAS
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MAES LITERATURE STATES THAT THE AIRLIFT WILL BE USED AS
"AN ORGANIZATION TOOL FOR THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PEACE
MOVEMENT." MAES HOPES THE AIRLIFT WILL ATTRACT
PUBLICITY TO "REFOCUS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC'S ATTENTION
ON THE PROBLEMS IN EL SALVADOR."
15. IN A PACKET ASKING SUPPORT FOR THE AIRLIFT IN THE
FORM OF TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS, MAES ALSO INCLUDES A
TRANSLATION OF A LETTER FROM SAN SALVADOR ARCHBISHOP
RIVERA DAMAS. IN HIS LETTER THE ARCHBISHOP ACCEPTS AND
BLESSES THE AIRLIFT AND PROMISES THE CHURCH WILL ENSURE
THE HELP WILL REACH THE MOST NEEDY. MAES APPARENTLY
BROUGHT IN MUCH OF THE MEDICAL SUPPLIES INTENDED FOR THE
AIRLIFT DURING THI:, EARTHQUAKE RELIEF EFFORT. THOSE
SUPPLIES AS WELL AS A SINGLE PLANELOAD TO ARRIVE
NOVEMBER 30 ARE CONSIGNED TO THE ARCHBISHOPRIC. MAES
STATES IT IS LOOKING FOR AN OVERT VEHICLE TO CONTINUE
ITS MEDICAL PROGRAM IN CONFLICTIVE ZONES, I.E., FMLN
MILITARY HOSPITALS.
16. THE MAES DELEGATION PLANS TO DEPART SAN SALVADOR
ON DECEMBER 6 FOR MEXICO CITY ACCOMPANIED BY SALVADORAN
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. MAES CLAIMS IT HAS A
MEETING SCHEDULED IN MEXICO CITY ON DECEMBER 7 WITH
CONTADORA FOREIGN MINISTERS AND LEADERS OF THE
SALVADORAN OPPOSITION (I.E. FMLN-FDR).
DLOUHY
END OF MESSAGE UNCLASSIFIED
NNNN
EZ3
TEXT
177US 900.8
NNDD
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