CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND YOUR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001602930216-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 3, 2010
• Sequence Number: 216
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2010/06/03: CIA-RDP85M00364R001602930216-5
CONFIDENTIAL
THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WASHINGTON
State Dept. review completed
De4r Mr. Chairman:
Consultations between the Department of State and your
subcommittee In recent weeks have demonstrated that there
exists broad agreement. on the seriousness of the situation in
Central America and on the need for us to maintain a
coihprehensive security, political and economic strategy to
ad43ress this situation. These consultations have focussed on
four specific areas of concern to both of us. I would like to
sef out our views on these concerns and the nature of the
programs and policies we have implemented, or will-be
implementing, in each of those areas.
You have raised the issue of prison conditions and your
viow that all prisons and detention centers in El Salvador
should be-subject to inspection by'an independent international
or.anization such as the International Committee of the Red
Crpss?(ICRC). We share your concerns and have been working
with the Government of El Salvador and-the ICRC to achieve
precisely this objective. Over the past year the number of
7CJtC visits to prisons has steadily increased and I am informed
that President Magana has now-ordered that the ICRC be given
unrestricted access to all prisons and detention centers. This
is,-a positive. development which should go a long way toward
meeting our shared concerns on this issue.
You have also expressed an interest in the status of
-?- political prisoners' in El 'Salvador. '!There "arZ approximately
800 prisoners in El Salvador who- are. being detained "under
Deicree 507, the state of siege authority. While in prison
these detainees have been generally well-treated, xiut they have
not been formally charged with a crime. The prisoners
incarcerated under this decree range from those accused vaguely
of. "support for the guerrillas" to those actually implicated in
terrorist acts. President Magana has recognized the uneven
effects of Decree 507 and has begun a review process with the.
intent of releasing those accused of less severe offenses.
About 30 political-prisoners have been released to date, with a
larger number expected to be released in the.near,future.
The Honorable
? Clarence Long,
House of Representatives.
Approved For Release 2010/06/03: CIA-RDP85M00364R001602930216-5