CISPES-UNTS CONFERENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000800050047-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 2, 2013
• Sequence Number: 47
• Publication Date: December 2, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified and Approved ForRelease2013/04/02 : CIA-RDP90M00005R000800050047-3
C ONf UGni A.
C1CISPES
MSGNO 11 (STXX) ISG *12/02/86* *23:11:35.7.8*
ZCZC 04:10:191 (ST)
EMI DTG : 86120222474234
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PAGE 0010
86 3034732 SCR
TOR: 0303461 DEC 86
NC 3034732
SAN SA 15158
RR RUEAIIB
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
STU0491
RR RUEHC
DE RUEHSN #5158/01 3370050
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 030046Z DEC 86
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7021
INFO RUEHIA/USIA WASHDC 0162
RUEOEHA/USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PN
BT
Eli:
7-5-frr-1-1)-E-N-T---1-41.1,. SAN SALVADOR 15158
EZ2:
DEPT PLS PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT FOR T.J. CLEAR, INR/GI
USIA FOR CENTAM
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ES, US
SUBJECT: CISPES-UNTS CONFERENCE
REF: SAN SALVADOR 14790
1. (C) SUMMARY
< >
< >
< >
THE COMMITTEE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF EL SALVADOR>
(CISPES) -- A U.S. BASED FMLN SUPPORT GROUP -- AND THE
NATIONAL UNITY OF SALVADORAN WORKERS (UNTS) -- AN FMLN
LABOR FRONT --HELD A CONFERENCE "IN SEARCH OF PEACE" IN
SAN SALVADOR NOVEMBER 22-23. CISPES AND TINTS APPARENTLY
FAILED IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO GAIN WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY IN
THE U.S. AIMED AT INCREASING SUPPORT FOR THE FMLN-FDR
AND AT CUTTING OFF U.S. AID TO EL SALVADOR. ABOUT 170
AMERICANS PARTICIPATED IN THE CONFERENCE, AND A FEW
JOINED IN A NOVEMBER 22 TINTS DEMONSTRATION WHICH ATTRACT-
ED NOT MORE THAN 4,000 MARCHERS. THE SALVADORAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH REFUSED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DOJfITH THE CONFERENCE,
CONF I A L
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AND ITS ABSENCE WAS CRITICIZED. THE CONFERENCE WAS ONE
OF THREE EVENTS IN WHICH U.S. FMLN-SUPPORT GROUPS ARE
PARTICIPATING. THE FIRST WAS THE NOVEMBER 13-15 LABOR
FEDERATION FENASTRAS CONGRESS WHICH ONLY TWO AMERICANS
ATTENDED. THE NEXT WILL BE A MEDICAL AIRLIFT BY THE
GROUP MEDICAL AID TO EL SALVADOR (MAES). A THIRTY
MEMBER MAES DELEGATION -- ABSENT OF ANY CELEBRITIES --
WILL ARRIVE IN EL SALVADOR NOVEMBER 29.
END SUMMARY.
2. (U) 4,000 MARCH IN UNTS DEMONSRATION
THE NOVEMBER 22-23 CISPES-UNTS "CONFERENCE IN SEARCH
OF PEACE" BEGAN WITH A MARCH OF NOT MORE THAN 4,000
ADULTS AND CHILDREN -- ALMOST ALL OF WHOM WERE
CAMPESINOS BUSED IN FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE -- FROM DOWN-
TOWN SAN SALVADOR HROUGH SOME OF THE AREAS MOST
AFFECTED BY THE EARTHQUAKE, TO THE CASA PRESIDENCIAL.
THE MARCH'S THEMES WERE:
-- "PRESIDENT DUARTE HAS STOLEN FOREIGN ASSISTANCE;
-- INTERNATIONAL AID SHOULD BE USED TO PROVIDE EVERY
FAMILY WITH A HOME; AND,
-- THE PRICE OF AGRICULTURE INPUTS IS TOO HIGH."
THE NEWSPAPER DIARIO DE HOY CRITICIZED THE FEW AMERICANS
WHO MARCHED FOR INTERFERING IN EL SALVADOR'S INTERNAL
AFFAIRS. MOST OF THE CISPES DELEGATION WENT BY BUS TO
THE HOGAR DEL NINO ORPHANAGE, WHERE THEY MET THE UNTS
DEMONSTRATORS AND LEFT A DONATION.
3. (U) THE CONFERENCE
ABOUT 170 AMERICANS AND A FEW EUROPEANS ATTENDED THE
CONFERENCE HELD IN THE JESUIT-RUN CENTRAL AMERICAN
UNIVERSITY'S (UCA) AUDITORIUM. UNTS TURNED OUT 350-400
PEOPLE FOR THE CONFERENCE. UNTS LEADERS WHO SAT AT
THE HEAD TABLE ON THE AUDITORIUM'S STAGE WERE MARCO
TULIO LIMA (PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION OF COOPERATIVES
COACES AND A MEMBER OF THE FPL FACTION OF THE FMLN),
JULIO CESAR PORTILLO (SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE TEACHERS
UNION ANDES 21 DE JUNIO), FEBE ELIZABETH VELASQUEZ
(SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE LABOR FEDERATION FENASTRAS
AND A MEMBER OF TRE FARN FACTION OF THE FMLN), AND
ADRIAN ESQUINO LISCO (FORMER LEADER OF THE INDIAN
ASSOCIATION ANIS). AMONG AMERICANS SEATED ON THE
STAGE WERE SUSAN CEPEDA (NEWSPAPERS QUOTED HER AS
STATING REV. JESSE JACKSON HAD SENT HER), DAVID
CORTRIGHT (SANE REPRESENTATIVE), MR. WATKINS (MISSISSIPPI
CONGRESSMAN-ELECT MIKE ESPEY STAFF MEMBER), TONY ROBERT
BENNET (CHICAGO CONGRESSMAN CHARLES HAYES STAFF MEMBER),
AND MICHAEL URQUHART (DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AFGE LOCAL
PRESIDENT). CEPEDA SAID THAT CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN
DON EDWARDS' STAFF MEMBER YISIDRO GOMEZ WAS ALSO AT
THE CONFERENCE.
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-d1CISPES PAGE 0012

4. (U) CATHOLIC CHURCH'S ABSENCE CRITICIZED
C ONFIDENTIALSECTION 02 OF 03 SAN SALVADOR 15158
DEPT PLS PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT FOR T.J. CLEAR, INR/GI
USIA FOR CENTAM
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ES, US
SUBJECT: CISPES-UNTS CONFERENCE
IN THEIR ADDRESSES TO THE CONFERENCE, SALVADORAN
LUTHERAN BISHOP MEDARDO GOMEZ AND REV. LUIS SERRANO
OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH CRITICIZED THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH FOR REFUSING TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. GOMEZ
ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT "IT IS THE PEOPLE, NOT THE
CHURCH LEADERS WHO REPRESENT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH."
UCA RECTOR IGNACIO ELLACURIA, A JESUIT, ADDRESSED
THE CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 23, AND, ACCORDING TO AN
UNTS LEADER, "SAID THE SAME OLD THING." LABATT
SPOTTED MARIA JULIA HERNANDEZ FROM THE ARCHBISHOPRIC'S
TUTELA LEGAL OFFICE IN THE AUDIENCE NOVEMBER 22.
5. (U) "VOICE OF THE U.S. CATHOLIC CHURCH"
TWO AMCIT CATHOLIC PRIESTS, REV. WILLIAM LEIMINGER
FROM SAN JOSE, CA. AND REV. WILLIAM O'DONNELL, WERE
INTRODUCED AS THE "VOICE OF THE U.S. CATHOLIC CHURCH."
IN HIS SPEECH TO THE CONFERENCE, LEIMINGER SAID THAT
"IF THE CHURCH IS NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION IT IS
PART OF THE PROBLEM." O'DONNELL TOLD THE AUDIENCE
THAT "REVELATION WITHOUT REVOLUTION IS RHETORIC AND
REVOLUTION WITHOUT REVELATION IS TYRANNY."
6. (U) AFGE
MICHAEL URQUHART OF AFGE SAID HE SPOKE IN THE NAME
OF AFGE PRESIDENT KENNETH BLAYLOCK AND AFGE'S 750,000
MEMBERS. HE TOLD THE CROWD THAT AIFLD DID NOT
REPRESENT THE ENTIRE U.S. LABOR MOVEMENT. HE SAID
THAT TRIPS TO THE U.S. BY SALVADORAN LABOR MEMBERS HAD
SHOWN AMERICANS "FIRST HAND THAT THERE WAS TORTURE,
MURDER, AND ARRESTS OF SALVADORAN TRADE UNION MEMBERS."
7. (U) PSD
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PSD) PRESIDENT MARIO ROLDAN
TOLD THE AUDIENCE THAT "ELECTIONS DO NOT MAKE
DEMOCRACY, DEMOCRACY MAKES ELECTIONS." ROLDAN STATED
THAT THE FMLN WAS JUSTIFIED IN STARTING THE WAR, BUT
NOT IN CONTINUING IT. HE ASKED THE FMLN, WHICH HE
CALLED A UNITED FORCE FOR THE PEOPLE, TO ENTER INTO
DIRECT DIALOGUE WITH THE PEOPLE TO END THE WAR.
8. (U) PCN
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NATIONAL CONCILIATION PARTY (PCN) SECRETARY GENERAL
HUGO CARRILLO SAID THAT THE "HEGEMONIC POWERS MUST
KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF OF EL SALVADOR BEFORE THERE CAN
BE PEACE." HE SAID THAT THE GOES ECONOMIC PACKAGE
OF JANUARY HAD BEEN IMPOSED BY THE USG. CARRILLO
CALLED GOES HUMAN RIGHTS ADVANCES INSUFFICIENT.
HE CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF A "THIRD POLITICAL
FORCE" IN EL SALVADOR TO SOLVE THE COUNTRY'S PROBLEMS.
9. (U) UNTS COMPLAINS OF "REPRESSION"
UNTS SAID THAT IT WAS SUFFERING UNDER REPRESSION.
AS "EXAMPLES" IT CITED THE U.S. EMBASSY "DENIAL" OF
A VISA TO JULIO CESAR PORTILLO (NOTE, PORTILLO
REFUSED TO REQUEST A WAIVER), AIFLD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WILLIAM DOHERTY'S "ACCUSATION THAT FOUR UPD LEADERS
WERE FMLN GUERRILLAS," AND ARRESTS AND "TORTURE" OF
UNION MEMBERS.
10. (U) NEWSPAPER ADS
TWENTY-FOUR UNION MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE
PLACED NEWSPAPER ADS STATING THEY WERE GOING TO TELL
AMERICAN UNION MEMBERS OF AIFLD'S "DISTRUSTFUL
ACTIVITIES." CISPES PLACED ANOTHER AD IT CALLED "A
MILLION VOICES FOR PEACE." THE NAMES OF ABOUT 100
GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WERE ATTACHED TO THE AD WHICH
CALLED FOR AN END TO ALL U.S. MILITARY AND WAR-RELATED
C ONFIDENTIALSECTION 03 OF 03 SAN SALVADOR 15158
DEPT PLS PASS DOL/ILAB
DEPT FOR T.J. CLEAR, INR/GI
USIA FOR CENTAM
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: ELAB, PHUM, ES, US
SUBJECT: CISPES-UNTS CONFERENCE
ECONOMIC AID TO EL SALVADOR. THE GOES PLACED
A SERIES OF ADS WHICH QUOTED CISPES' STATED OBJECTIVES
OF SUPPORTING THE FMLN, SANDINISTA REVOLUTION, AND
GUATEMALAN REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT URNG. THE GOES
POINTED OUT THAT THE CISPES DELEGATION HAD COME TO
EL SALVADOR TO SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THE FMLN-FDR,
NOT EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS. AFL-CIO REGIONAL LEADERS
WHO HAVE VISITED EL SALVADOR PLACED ADS REITERATING
THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC LABOR GROUP UNOC.
11. (C) BRIEFING AT EMBASSY AND UCS
CHARGE PROVIDED EIGHT AMCIT CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS
(INCLUDING ALL THREE CONGRESSIONAL STAFFERS) A
BRIEFING NOVEMBER 24. IN RESPONSE TO EMBASSY EVIDENCE
OF FMLN INDISCRIMINATE MININGS, REV. WILLIAM
LEIMINGER, WHO CLAIMED TO REPRESENT CATHOLICS,
SAID THAT THE SITUATION IN EL SALVADOR MIGHT HAVE
CONFIDENTIAL
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C1CISPES

DRIVEN HIM ALSO TO PLANT MINES. AFGE REP URQUHART
CRITICIZED AIFLD ACTIVITIES IN EL SALVADOR
(URQUHART, WHO TESTIFIED AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION
IN THE MAY 14, 1986 HEARINGS ON THE "AIR WAR"
IN EL SALVADOR IS CO-CHAIRMAN OF THE WASHINGTON
AREA LABOR COMMITTEE ON CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE
CARIBBEAN). DEMOCRATIC CAMPESINO UNION (UCS)
SECRETARY GENERAL SAMUEL MALDONADO ALSO GAVE AMCIT
CONFERENCE MEMBERS A BRIEFING NOVEMBER 24. MALDONADO
SAID THE AMCITS WERE INTERESTED IN UCS' POSITION ON
DIALOGUE AND IN HOW MANY MEMBERS UNOC HAD.
12. (U) CISPES EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY FOR WORKERS --
STIFFS HOTEL EMPLOYEES
THE MAJORITY OF THE CISPES DELEGATION STAYED AT THE
CAMINO REAL HOTEL. IN CONVERSATIONS WITH LABATT,
CAMINO REAL WAITRESSES AND A BARTENDER TOLD LABATT
THAT MOST OF THE DELEGATION DID NOT TIP.
13. (C) COMMENT
THIS IS THE SECOND OF THREE EVENTS CISPES HAS WORKED
ON TO INCREASE PUBLICITY FOR FORCES OPPOSED TO U.S.
POLICY IN EL SALVADOR AND TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR THE
FMLN-FDR. THE FIRST EVENT WAS THE NOVEMBER 13-15
CONGRESS BY THE FARN-CONNECTED LABOR FEDERATION
FENASTRAS. ONLY TWO AMC ITS ATTENDED THAT CONFERENCE.
CISPES' GOAL OF ACHIEVING WIDESPREAD PUBLICITY IN THE
U.S. DURING THE CISPES-UNTS CONFERENCE APPEARS AT
THIS END TO HAVE BEEN A FAILURE. U.S. JOURNALISTS
COVERED THE NOVEMBER 22 MARCH, BUT THERE WERE NO
INCIDENTS AND THE TURN-OUT OF ONLY 4,000 MARCHERS
MADE THE MARCH UNNEWSWORTHY. ONE U.S. JOURNALIST
STATIONED IN EL SALVADOR SHOWED UP FOR THE CONFERENCE,
BUT LEFT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. ANOTHER U.S. JOURNALIST,
PROBABLY EXPRESSING THE VIEWS OF MOST JOURNALISTS, DID
NOT ATTEND THE CONFERENCE BECAUSE "IT LOOKED LIKE IT
WAS GOING TO BE BORING." WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE
CISPES DELEGATION BROUGHT A COUPLE OF CAMERA CREWS
FROM LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND
OTHER CALIFORNIA CITIES. THOUGH THE PUBLICITY ANGLE
APPEARS TO HAVE FLOPPED, WE FEAR THAT CISPES MAY HAVE
GIVEN UNTS FINANCIAL SUPPORT. DLOUHY
END OF MESSAGE CONFIDENTIAL
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