EL SALVADOR: EVALUATION OF OPERATION WELL BEING FOR SAN VICENTE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91T01115R000100010002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: September 1, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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Directorate of Secret
El Salvador: Evaluation of
Operation "Well Being for
San Vicente" (s)
Aa Imagery Aaaly& Report
Secret
U 83-10114
September 1983
24
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Abbreviations
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WN
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El Salvador: Evaluation of
Operation "Well Being for
San Vicente" (s)
Summary
In June 1983 the government of El Salvador launched a military
and civic-action operation--"Well Being for San Vicente"--in San
Vicente Department to deny the insurgent forces use of their base
areas and to return the department to government control. Intel-
ligence acquired between June and August indicates that this
operation is meeting with some success. Troop deployments and
military operations have been taking place near insurgent base
areas in central and northern San Vicente, and as a result, all
of the insurgent camps in the central base area, and all but one
of the camps in the northern base area have been abandoned.
Civic action projects, such as rebuilding the Pan American High-
way and the Quebrada Seca Bridge have also been started; however,
much remains to be done before transportation, utilities, and
security are restored to prewar conditions.
The above information is Secret) 25X1
Information available as of 1 September 1983 was used in this
report. (U)
Secret
Secret
IA 83-10114
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A military and civic-action operation--"Well Being for San
Vicente"--was started in El Salvador's San Vicente Department on
10 June 1983. This operation is a test of a new strategy for the
El Salvadoran Armed Forces (ESAF)--an attempt to deny insurgents
the use of their once secure base areas, and to initiate civic
redevelopment projects. The 5,000 ESAF troops committed to the
operation are to remain in the department for several months as a
security force to allow time for the National Commission for Area
Restoration (CONARA) to begin civil projects. The projects are
to include the rebuilding of destroyed roads, bridges, and power-
lines, and the reopening of schools and health facilities that
were forced to close by the insurgents. [1] Also during this
time, a militia is to be raised and trained to take over local
defense duties when the ESAF withdraws. (S 25X1
To begin these tasks, the 5th Military Brigade, including two
U.S. trained immediate-reaction battalions, launched a series of
sweeps across the countryside which drove the insurgents from
their two major base areas in central and northern San Vicente
Department. [2] The central base area, about 50 square kilome-
ters, was north of Cerro El Chorizo, between the Rio Lempa and
the San Vicente-Tecoluca road. The base area contained three
insurgent camps. The northern San Vicente base area, about 110
square kilometers, extended from the Rio Titihuapa on the north
to within a few kilometers of Santa Clara on the south, and from
Las Vueltas insurgent camp on the west to Las Aradillas camp on
the east. Since 1981, 21 insurgent base camps have been identi-
fied in this base area (figure 1). (S F_~ 25X1
Analysis of imagery acquired during June and July 1983 indicates
that operation Well Being for San Vicente has had some success.
Government troops were identified in several areas of the depart-
ment, all 21 of the insurgent camps in the northern base area, as
well as two of the three camps in the central base area were
abandoned, and civil reconstruction work had begun. (S NF)
Government forces had taken up positions in several towns to
establish a government presence and to support field deployments.
The operation's headquarters was established at the San Vicente
5th Brigade Headquarters and Barracks in the city of San
Vicente. A high level of activity was seen there during June and
July. Twenty cargo trucks were parked throughout the facility
and along adjoining city streets. [3] One M-113 armored
personnel carrier was parked outside the garrison, possibly as a
Secret
IA 83-10114
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San Rafael Cedros
Insurgent-controlled base areas
prior to June 1983
Approximate area of insurgent
control, July 1983
Cerro 0 Chorizo
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semipermanent defensive position.) lat least 70
personnel were in formation in the headquarters central
courtyard, and three UH-1 helicopters were being refueled and
serviced in a soccer stadium 8 blocks south of the garrison.
On the northern outskirts of Santa Clara, 9 kilometers northeast
of San Vicente, two companies of the 5th Brigade established a
temporary field camp during June. This camp consisted of an
artillery battery of four M-105 howitzers, a helicopter landing
z
1 _q o" ght tents, and one AML-245 (H-90) armored car (figure 2)25X1
Six kilometers south of San Vicente, an artillery battery was
deployed during June at San Antonio Caminos to support the
Cazadores Battalion, 5th Brigade, which the ESAF reported was
conducting sweep operations against insurgents in the San Vicente
Volcano area. The battery was comprised of four howitzers and 20
tents set up in a field east of the San Vicente-Tecoluca high-
way. Elements of an ESAF infantry company were observed in
insurgent camps at Cerro El Ingles and Sitio Cerro de Piedras
and around the town of Amatitan Abajo 2.5X1
14] (S F__] 25X1
These troop deployments in conjunction with the sweep operations
resulted in the insurgents abandoning their central base area,
and most of the northern base area. However, the insurgent camp
at Cerro de San Pedro in the north n area still showed
signs of guerrilla activity This camp is lo- 25X1
cated in a village of about 20 buildings, and there is an exten-
sive trail system which appeared to be heavily used. Crops
planted within the village had been abandoned and were either
overgrown or dead--a photographic signature of areas held by the
insurgents. Camps at Las Vueltas and Las Esperanza, both in the
northern base area, appeared to be inactive. (S 25X1
Civic redevelopment could also be identified on photography.
Along the Pan American Highway, 17 kilometers of road was being
rebuilt and repaved between Apastepeque and San Rafael Cedros.
Storm drains were being installed along this roadbed to insure an
all weather capability. The Quebrada Seca Bridge, on the Pan
American Highway 14 kilometers east of San Vicente, had been
destroyed for the second time by insurgents 25X1
the Bailey Bridge that had replaced the original /_~.)^'
or bridge had been rebuilt (figure 3). Reconstruction of this
bridge and other roadwork has reestablished an important trans-
portation link to eastern El Salvador, setting back insurgent
plans to isolate the area. (S 25X1
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there were no indications of repair work being
done on a an Marcos Lempa Highway Bridge, a suspension bridge
21 kilometers south of San Vicente on the Littoral Highway. This
bridge was destroyed by insurgents and its loss hinders the move-
ment into the coastal areas of eastern El Salvador. However, a
nearby railroad bridge, which been decked, is being used to
handle vehicular traffic. (S
The insurgents have disrupted the electric power grid in San
Vicente Department. Six high-tension power pylons have been
toppled between San Vicente and Tecoluca. no
repairs were being made to the pylons, and the city o ecoluca
was still without power. These pylons have been down since early
May and their location in rough terrain makes access difficult
for repair crews. (S
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Document references are available on request. (U)
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