NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06460900
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: January 20, 2016
• Case Number: F-2015-01950
• Publication Date: March 25, 1980

Director of
Central
Inteffigence
Approved for Release: 2015/12/21 006460900
National Intelligence Daily
Tuesday
25 March 1980
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CON!!) RI1-071 II
25 March 1980
Copy - 390
Approved for Release: 2015/12/21 006460900
Approved for Release: 2015/12/21 006460900
BRIEFS AND COMMENTS
L SALVADOR: Assassination of Archbishop Romero
The assassination yesterday of Archbishop Romero--the most
nfluential public figure in E1 Salvador�could provoke widespread
violence and further dims the government's chances of survival.
The killing, unquestionably the work of rightwing
terrorists, is likely to provoke violent reprisals by
the extreme left and could touch off a popular. insurrec-
tion. Reaction to the assassination also may split the
coalition government, already weakened by dissension
over the military's failure to curb rightist violence.
Regardless of guilt, the military will at least stand
accused of having inspired the shooting, and the US--
because of a perceived association with the military--
may also share the blame. The ultraconservative opposi-
tion views the possible collapse of the ruling junta as
a way to drive the civilians from the government and
engineer a restoration of repressive military rule.
Known as the champion of the poor, the Archbishop
had been the nation's most articulate critic of repres-
sion and social injustice, and had recently stepped up
his denunciations of violence by the security forces and
the right. He also came close to endorsing the alliance
of extreme-left organizations as a political alternative.
Much will depend on the government's handling of
the funeral procession, the first opportunity for a
massive demonstration of popular sentiment after the
\killing. Any overreaction by the security forces in
such a tense situation could trigger an uprising in the
streets of the capital, followed by other revolts in
/rural areas.
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Approved for Release: 2015/12/21 006460900