BRIEFING PAPER ON RIGHT-WING TERRORISM IN EL SALVADOR

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00282572
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: November 6, 2017
• Case Number: F-2016-01938
• Publication Date: October 27, 1983

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TOT: 27106Z OCT 83
SUBJECT: BRIEFING PAPER ON RIGHT-WING TERRORISM IN EL SALVADOR
1. "111111111 flt 5-r
SALVADORAN DESK OFFICERIMMI16
COMPOSED A BRIEFING PAPER ON RIGHT-WING TERRORISM IN EL SALVADOR AT
THE REQUEST OF DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
INTER-A".ERICAN AFFAIRS. CRAIG JOHNSTONE. THE PAPER IS BASED UPON
4III!!!!!!!!!!!TIREPORTING BEGINNING IN JANUARY, 1983. AND IS
PIDURING A PENDING RESTRICTED INTER-AGENCY GROUP
MEETING ON CENTRAL AMERICA'AND WAS SLATED FOR BRIEFING SECRETARY
SCHULTZ PRIOR TO HIS TRAVEL TO EL SALVADOR, NOW POSTPONED.
AMBASSADOR PICKERING WAS INFORMED OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE PAPER
DURING A SECURE VOICE TELEPHONE CONVERSATION N 20
OCT. AND HE REQUESTED THAT A COPY BE pR VT
TEAR LINE
EL SALVADOR: RIGHT+WING DEATH SQUADS
A SELECTIVE STUDY ON STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
INTRODUCTION:
VIOLENCE BY THE SALVADORAN RIGHT WING HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN
DIFFICULT TO INVESTIGATE. IT HAS ONLY BEEN WITHIN THE CURRENT
CALENDAR YEAR THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED GOOD INFORMATION ON THE
STRUCTURE AND INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF SOME OF THE GROUPS INVOLVED.
THIS PAPER SERVES TO CONSOLIDATE THE INFORMATION RECENTLY DEVELOPED
ON RIGHT-WING PARAMILITARY GROUPS IN EL SALVADOR, AND IS INTENDED TO
VIOVIDE SOME PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THESE GROUPS FUNCTION WITHIN
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SALVADORAN SOCIETY.
DEFINITION OF TERMS:
- FOR THE PURPOSE OF-THIS REPORT A -DEATH socAD" IS CONSIDERED TO
BE AN EXTRA-OFFICIAL PARAMILITARY GROUP. ITS MEMBERSHIP IS NOT
NECESSARILY COMPOSED OF SALVADORAN SECURITY FORCE OR MILITARY
PERSONNEL. HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED IN THE COURSE OF MILITARY
OPERATIONS, NO MATTER HOW ABHORRENT, ARE NOT "DEATH SQUAD
ACTIVITIES". HENCE UNDER THIS DEFINITION THE EXECUTION OF 18
CIVILIANS IN FEBRUARY 1983 AT THE LAS HOJAS FARM COOPERATIVE IS NOT
A DEATH SQUAD ACTIVITY BECAUSE IT WAS PERPETRATED BY AN ARMY UNIT
UNDER THE COMMAND OF ITS CAPTAIN.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS:
THE RIGHTIST PARAMILITARY GROUPS. OR "DEATH SQUADS". ARE
DIVERSE IN COMPOSITION AND PURPOSE BUT DO SHARE MANY
CHARACTERISTICS. THE GROUPS ARE NOT LARGE; THEY RARELY EXCEED 20
CONCURRENT MEMBERS AND COMMONLY OPERATE IN GROUPS OF 10 OR LESS.
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP IN SUCH GROUPS IN EL SALVADOR PROBABLY OSCILATES
BETWEEN 100 AND 200. THE SQUADS ARE ESSENTIALLY IMPERMANENT. MOST
MEMBERS HAVE OTHER FULL TIME PROFESSIONS AND COALESCE TO PLAN AND
EXECUTE TERRORIST ACTS. RANK AND FILE MEMBERSHIP IS FLUID AND
SOMETIMES INTERCHANGEABLE, WHILE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS ARE MORE
PERMANENT. LEADERS OF ONE GROUP ARE LIKELY TO KNOW THE LEADERS OF
OTHERS OPERATING IN THE SAME AREA OR AGAINST COMMON TARGETS AND
AND DISTINCT GROUPS OCCASIONALLY CONDUCT JOINT OPERATIONS. INFORMA-
TION ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP AND ACTIVITIES OF THE GROUPS IS TIGHTLY
HELD AND ANYONE BETRAYING THEIR TRUST IS SUBJECT TO EXECUTION.
THERE APPEAR TO BE TWO CATEGORIES OF DEATH SQUADS,
DIFFERENTIATED BY THE PUBLIC OR CLANDESTINE NATURE OF THEIR
OPERATIONS. THE FIRST CATEGORY IS PUBLICITY SEEKING. THEY EMPLOY
SELF-STYLED TITLES SUCH AS THE "WHITE WARRIORS UNION", THE "GENERAL
MAXIMILIAN� HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ ANTI-COMMUNIST BRIGADE", OR THE
"SECRET ANTI-COMMUNIST ARMY" AND MAKE A PUBLIC EXAMPLE OF THEIR
VICTIMS, WHO ARE OFTEN TORTURED TO DEATH OR EXECUTED, AND DUMPED IN
PUBLIC PLACES. THE KILLERS PROCLAIM THEIR WORK WITH COMMUNIQUES OR
PLACARDS LEFT WITH THE BODY IDENTIFYING THE RESPONSIBLE SQUAD AND
CONTAINING A WARNING TO OTHERS, OR BY CARVING THE NON-SPECIFIC
LETTERS "E.M." (THE SPANISH ABBREVIATION OF "DEATH SQUAD") ON THE
BODY. THE SECOND TYPE OF DEATH SQUAD USES NO TITLE AND, APART FROM
THE EVIDENCE OF TORTURE, LEAVES NO INDICATION OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY.
MOST OF THOSE KILLED BY RIGHT-WING DEATH SQUADS APPEAR TO BE VICTIMS
OF THIS LATTER TYPE.
OFFICIAL PROTECTION FROM PROSECUTION OR GOVERNMENTAL
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P;TERFERENCE IS PRImARILY THE RESULT OF PERSONAL ALLIANCES BETWEEN
KEY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND GFP LEADERS. FEAR OF RETALIATION.
ALSO m:TIv:sTES SOME PUBLIC OFF:CIALS TO REFRAIN FROM INVESTIGATI. 7
PROSECUT:NG GROUP MEMBERS. SOME GOVERNMENT. MILITARY. POLICE.
AND SECURITY OFFICIALS PARTICIFATE IN RIGHTIST PARAm:LITARY
ACTIVITIES, BUT DO SO CLANDESTINELY AND NOT AS PART OF THEIR
OFFICIAL FUNCTION OR AS AN EXTENSION OF OFFICIAL POLICY.
TARGETS FOR KIDNAPPING. HOSTILE INTERROGATION. OR TORTURE AND
ASSASSINATION ARE MOST COMMONLY REVOLUTIONARY LEFTISTS AND THEIR
SYMPATHIZERS AND ASSOCIATES; HOWEVER, VICTIMS ALSO INCLUDE MEMBERS
OF RIVAL POLITICAL PARTIES AND DEATH SQUADS, MODERATE MASS
ORGANIZATIONS, "UNDESIRABLE" SOCIAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS DRUG ADDICTS,
AND THE PERSONAL ENEMIES OF THE GROUP LEADERS.
THE ACTIVITY OF PUBLICITY SEEKING TERRORIST SQUADS HAS
INCREASED IN THE LAST YEAR IN RESPONSE TO A VARIETY OF INFLUENCES.
THE NATIONALIST REPUBLIC ALLIANCE (ARENA) AND ITS LEADER ROBERTO
D'AUBUISSON, WHOSE INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORISM WILL BE DETAILED BELOw.
HAVE CONSOLIDATED THEIR POWER AND NOW FEEL ABLE TO ACT WITH RELATIVE
IMPUNITY AGAINST THOSE PERCEIVED TO BE ENEMIES. AT THE SAME TIME,
DEMOCRATIC COMPETITORS FOR POWER HAVE IMPROVED THEIR ORGANIZATION,
EXPANDED THEIR POLITICAL POWER BASES. AND THREATEN ARENA'S HOLD ON
POWER IN THE COMING ELECTIONS. RIGHTISTS ALSO FEEL THREATENED BY
"LIBERAL" POLITICAL TRENDS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S AMNESTY
PROGRAM, SALVADORAN AND U.S. GOVERNMENTAL DIALOGUE WITH GUERRILLA
LEADERS AND SOCIAL/ECONOMIC PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE AGRARIAN REFORM. AND
IN RESPONSE THEY HAVE INSTITUTED CAMPAIGNS DESIGNED TO DERAIL THOSE
PROGRAMS, PUNISH THOSE IMPLEMENTING CHANGES AND INTIMIDATE OTHERS
CONSIDERING LENDING SUPPORT TO THE PROGRAMS. IT SHOULD ALSO BE
NOTED THAT LEFTIST TERRORIST ACTIVITY, OFTEN TARGETED ON THE RIGHT.
HAS INCREASED IN THE LAST YEAR. AND THE LEFTIST TERROR CAMPAIGN AS
WELL AS GUERRILLA SUCCESSES IN THE FIELD HAVE SERVED AS A CATALYST
FOR RIGHTIST TERROR.
RIGHTIST DEATH SQUADS:
AN EXAMPLE OF THE PUBLICITY-SEEKING DEATH SQUAD IS THE PARAMI-
LITARY ORGANIZATION OF THE NATIONAL FIRST REPUBLICAN ALLIANCE PARTY
(ARENA). THE GROUP WAS ORGANIZED AND IS DIRECTED BY DR. PEDRO
REGALADO CUELLAR. REGALADO. A FORMER DENTIST, IS THE CHIEF OF
SECURITY AT THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. THE GROUP'S ACTIVITIES ARE
UNDERTAKEN WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND APPROVAL OF ARENA LEADER AND
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT ROBERTO D'AUBUISSON. THIS SQUAD HAS
MOST RECENTLY USED THE NAME "SECRET ANTI-COMMUNIST PARTY" (ESA) IN
ORDER TO HAVE A PUBLIC FRONT FOR ISSUING COMMUNIQUES AND THREATENING
PEOPLE WHILE COVERING THE TRUE SOURCE OF THE VIOLENCE. THE ESA HAS
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EVEN ATIACKED D'AUBUISS:N IN ONE OF ITS COMN:N1OCES.
D. READ. WHO HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED w:7H D'AUBUISSON SINCE
THE1070S. DIRECTS THE GROUP'S AETIvITIES IN CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH
D'AUBZ:/SSON. MEMBERSHIP IN ARENA'S DEATH SOUAD VARIES BETWEEN 10
AND 20 INDIVIDUALS. COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, THE
NATIONAL POLICE. THE TREASURY POLICE. AND SELECTED CIVILIANS. THE
GROUP ENGAGES IN ASSASSINATION, KIDNAPPING, TORTURE, AND POLITICAL
INTIMIDATION. THEIR PRIMARY TARGETS ARE THE REVOLUTIONARY LEFT AND
MEMBERS OF THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDC). THEIR PRINCIPAL
COMPETITORS FOR POLITICAL POWER. THE OPERATIVES SEE THEMSELVES AS
VIGILANTES WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT EL SALVADOR IN WAYS THAT THE
ARMY CANNOT SINCE THEIR ORDERS "TIE THEIR RANDS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
THE GUERRILLAS". ON A POLITICAL LEVEL THE ARENISTAS SEE CIVIL
UNREST AS ADVANTAGEOUS FOR THEIR PARTY. THEY PERCEIVE THE CHRISTIAN
DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS AN ENEMY OF THEIR PARTY ALMOST EQUAL TO THE
GUERRILLAS.
A LESS THAN COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE ARENA
DEATH SQUAD (OR A PREDECESSOR ORGANIZATION SINCE THIS SQUAD MAY NOT
HAVE EXISTED PRIOR TO THE FORMATION OF ARENA IN OCTOBER 1981 OR THE
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY IN MARCH 1982) INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
ASSASSINATION OF PDC MAYORS AND PARTY WORKERS PRIOR TO THE
MARCH 1982 CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELECTION.
PROTECTING THE SERGEANT WHO KILLED EVANGELINA GARCIA, A
PDC MAYOR, ALONG WITH HER DAUGHTER ON MAY 29, 1982.
KILLED A SUSPECTED GUERRILLA AND DUMPED HIS BODY IN A SAN
SALVADOR HOTEL PARKING LOT ON MAY 6. 1983. ALONG WITH A
NOTE THREATENING A PDC ASSEMBLY DELEGATE.
MACHINE-GUNNED PDC HEADQUARTERS IN SAN SALVADOR ON JUNE 7,
1983.
TORTURED AND KILLED TWO SUPPOSED GUERRILLAS WHOSE BODIES
WERE FOUND JULY 1, 1983. IN SAN SALVADOR.
SET OFF FOUR BOMBS IN SAN SALVADOR ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1983.
THE BOMBS WHICH CAUSED NO INJURIES WERE SET OFF IN THE CAR
OF LABOR LEADER JORGE RUIZ CAMACHO, THE HOMES OF SUPPOSED
GUERRILLA SYMPATHIZERS ITALO LOPEZ VALLECILLO AND SOME
JESUIT PRIESTS, AND THE CLINIC OF DR. HERNANDEZ VIZCARRA.
BLEW UP A PRINTING SHOP ON OCTOBER 11. 1983.
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ARF\A PARAMILITARY GROUP IS CURRENTLY ENGAGED IS A CA"IPAIGN
:F nNAPPING. INTERROGATING AND KILLING � LEFT'S.: ACTIVISTS. THEIR
CONFESSIONS PROVIDE LEADS TO ADD:TIONAL TERRORIST TARGETS.
Sr(-1-%71. THE ARENA SOUAD HAS TARGETED PDC LEADEF ANTONIO MORALES
USSTITUEST ASSEMBLY DELEGATE MAUE:CIO MAZIER AND:SO.
ARENA LEADER D'AUBUISSON IS REPORTED TC HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IS
APPROVING THE MARCH 24. 1980. ASSASSINATION OF ARCHBISHIP OSCAR
ARNULE0
TYPICALLY SUSPECTED GUERRILLAS ARE EXECUTED AFTER
INTERROGATION. INFORMATION GAINED IN THE INTERROGATIONS IS SHARED
WITH THE SECURITY FORCES. WHICH SOMETIMES BASE THEIR ACTIONS AGAINST
INDIVIDUALS OF FACILITIES, SUCH AS SAFEHOUSES, SOLELY UPON
CONFESSIONS MADE UNDER DURESS.
THERE IS LITTLE INFORMATION CONCERNING FUNDING OF THE ARENA
DEATH SQUAD. D'AUBUISSON IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN
NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING IN 1982 TO FINANCE THE PARTY AND POSSIBLY THE
PARAMILITARY GROUP. OTHER MONEY COMES FROM SELLING WEAPONS,
DONATIONS FROM THE OLIGARCHY IN-COUNTRY OR ABROAD, AND POSSIBLY FROM
MURDER FOR HIRE.
THE ARENA DEATH SQUAD OCCASIONALLY OPERATES IN COOPERATION WITH
A SQUAD COMPOSED PRIMARILY BY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL POLICE.
CONTACT WITH THIS GROUP IS NORMALLY CONDUCTED THROUGH NATIONAL
POLICE DETECTIVE SIGIFREDO PEREZ LINARES AND ARENA CONSTITUENT
ASSEMBLY DEPUTY OSCAR MENDEZ. THESE INTERMEDIARIES PASS INFORMATION
TO DR. REGALA.D0 WHO IN TURN DEALS WITH D*AUBUISSON.
NATIONAL POLICE:
A DEATH SQUAD WHICH TENDS TO Avorp HIGH PROFILE OPERATIONS HAS
EXISTED WITHIN THE NATIONAL POLICE SINCE AT LEAST LATE 1979. IT IS
THIS SQUAD WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ASSASSINATION OF ARCHBISHOP ROMERO. THE LEADER OF THE SQUAD AT THAT
TIME WAS CAPT. AMILCAR MOLINA PANAMENO. OTHERS REPORTEDLY INVOLVED
IN THAT ASSASSINATION ARE DETECTIVE SIGIFREDO PEREZ LINARES,
INSPECTOR MISAEL RIVAS ROMERO, JOSE LUIS ALAS ROMERO, LUIS
RODRIGUEZ, AND ONE FNU SANTIN. MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL
POLICE PARAMILITARY GROUP ARE DRAWN FROM THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
SECTION, THE SPECIAL POLITICAL INVESTIGATION SECTION, AND THE
NARCOTICS CONTROL SECTION. THE CURRENT HEAD OF THE SQUAD IS LTC.
ARISTEDES MARQUEZ, CHIEF OF DETECTIVES AND HEAD OF THE INTELLIGENCE
'DEPARTMENT.
LTC. MARQUEZ'S INFORMAL LIAISON WITH D'AUBUISSON AND DR.
REGALADO IS MAINTAINED THROUGH DETECTIVE PEREZ AND ARENA DEPUTY
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MrNDE:. THIS MECHANISM USED TO PROVIDE THE ARENA LEADERS
;;,..FNIN:i OF PENDINC INVESTIGATIONS OF THEIR PARAMILITARY
AND TO THE EXTENT P:SSIBLE, MARQUE. PREVENTS SUCH
:NVESTIOAT::%-: FROM PROCEEDING. ALSO SUPPORTIVE CF ARENA DEATH
ACTIv:::ES. AND HIMSELF A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL POLICE
�ARAM:L.:TAR': SQUAD, IS LTC. RENE EMILIO PONCE. DIRECTOR OF�THE
NATIONAL p..1-..:cE TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT. PONCE HAS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE
Ts? REGALAD: AND HIS TEAM IN THE ACQUISITION AND DOCUMENTATION OF
VEHICLES USED IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. THE NATIONAL POLICE HAVE
ALSO PROVIDED WEAPONS TO SUPPORT ARENA PARAMILITARY OPERATIONS.
IN ADDITION TO OCCASIONALLY JOINING IN ON ACTIONS, THE NATIONAL
POLICE DEATH SQUAD COOPERATES WITH REGALADO'S GROUP IN THE JOINT
OPERATION OF THE CLANDESTINE PRISON IN THE ESCALON SECTION OF SAN
SALVADOR, WHICH IS SUPERVISED BY NATIONAL POLICE OFFICER RAFAEL
LOPEZ DAVILA.
CURRENT OR RECENT MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL POLICE DEATH SQUAD
INCLUDE INSPECTOR MISAEL RIVAS ROMERO, THE SQUAD TACTICAL LEADER, AS
WELL AS ISMAEL PARADA CACERES, JOSE ROBERTO RECINDS MARROQUIN.
EFRAIN LARI2S MONROY, CARLOS ALVARADO GOMEZ, AND MARIO SAUL MERINO
ESCOBAR.
NATIONAL GUARD:
A NATIONAL GUARD DEATH SQUAD HAS OPERATED SINCE AT LEAST 1981.
CAPT. EDUARDO ALFONSO AVILA AND RODOLFO ISIDRO LOPEZ SIBRIAN,
MEMBERS OF THE SQUAD, WERE CONSPIRATORS IN THE MURDER OF SALVADORAN
RODOLFO VIER. AND U.S. LABOR ADVISORS MARK PEARLMAN AND MICHAEL
HAMMER AT THE SHERATON HOTEL IS SAN SALVADOR IN JANUARY 1981. THE
LEADER OF THE NATIONAL GUARD PARAMILITARY GROUP AT THE TIME OF THOSE
ASSASSINATICNS WAS THEN MAJOR MARIO DENIS MORAN, FORMER HEAD OF THE
NATIONAL GUARD INTELLIGENCE UNIT. SOME OF THE FINANCING FOR THIS
GROUP WAS PROVIDED THROUGH RICARDO SOL MESA, A SALVADORAN
BUSINESSMAN AND OLIGARCH FAMILY MEMBER.
CAPTAIN EDUARDO AVILA HAS BEEN LIVING IN EXILE, AND THOUGH
LEGALLY SUBJECT TO ARREST ON A CHARGE OF DESERTION, HE IS A FRIEND
OF AND UNDER THE PROTECTION OF ROBERTO D'AUBUISSON. OTHER
RIGHT�WING MILITARY OFFICERS WITH LINKS TO TERRORIST ACTIVITIES ARE
LOYAL TO AVILA. AVILA RECENTLY RETURNED TO EL SALVADOR
CLANDESTINELY WITH THE AID OF SYMPATHIZERS IN THE IMMIGRATION
SERVICE AND LIVED UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD. AMONG
THE VISITORS AVILA RECEIVED ON THIS TRIP WERE ROBERTO D'AUBUISSON,
LTC ROBERTO STABEN, PROBABLY MEMBER OF RIGHTIST DEATH SQUAD "WHITE
WARRIORS UNION", MAJ ENZO GUILLERMO RUBIO, NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF IN
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L7C.AF:S7IDES ..AROUE.Z. HEAD OF THE NATIONAL POLICE DEATH
CF"I RAFAEL PEZ DAv:LA. S:PERvISOR OF THE NATIONAL P.:1:CE
SECRE7 PFIS0%. CP7 FRANCISCO MOFA:. RECINOS. TREASURY POLICE CFFICEF.
J.:�A:12IN :;CAP. EXEC::TIvE CFFICER OF mILITARY DETACHMEN7 t� (THE
:';v2LVED IN THE LAS li:JAS MASSACRE'. LTC RENE EMILIO PON:E,
N,I.TiONAL POLICE DEATH SQUAD MEMBER. LT R0D0LF0 ISIDOR LOPEZ S:SRIAN.
wH: ALONG WITH AvILA ORDERED THE KILLINGS IN THE SHERATON MURDERS.
LTC MARIO DENIS MORAN. LEADER OF RECENTLY ORGANIZED DEATH SQUAD IN
THE ARMED FORCES ENGINEERING CENTER (WHICH MAY USE THE NAME GENERAL
KAXIMILLIANO HERNANDEZ MARTINEZ ANTI-COMMUNIST BRIGADE). THE
VISITORS PROBABLY ALL REPRESENT MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THE RIGHT-WING
TERRORIST SUBCULTURE OF EL SALVADOR.
ADDITIONAL DEATH SQUADS:
THE GROUPS DISCUSSED ABOVE ARE BUT SOME OF THE DEATH SQUADS
OPERATING IN EL SALVADOR. THERE IS FRAGMENTARY REPORTING WHICH
STRONGLY INDICATES THE EXISTENCE OF A DEATH SQUAD OPERATING WITHIN
THE RANKS OF THE TREASURY POLICE AND OTHERS UNDENIABLY EXIST IS THE
CIVILIAN SECTOR. THERE APPEARS TO BE RIVALRY AMONG SOME OF THESE
GROUPS: THE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE ARENA SQUAD AND THE TREASURY
POLICE HAS INCLUDED KIDNAPPINGS AND EXECUTIONS.
RIGHT-WING TERROR IN CULTURAL CONTEXT:
DEATH SQUAD ACTIVITY IS DEEPLY INGRAINED IN SALVADORAN SOCIETY,
AND TO VARYING DEGREES IN ALL CENTRAL AMERICAN SOCIETIES AND MEXICO,
WITH COSTA RICA AS A POSSIBLE EXCEPTION. THE ACTIVITY IS REFLECTIVE
OF SOCIAL TURMOIL AND OF WEAK AND CORRUPT NATIONAL AND LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS. THE LACK OF
INSTITUTIONALIZED AUTHORITY AND RELIABLE LEGAL SYSTEMS HAS
ENCOURAGED THE PERSISTENCE OF "CAUDILLISMO-. LOCAL RULE BY
STRONG-MEN WHO FUNCTION AUTONOMOUSLY AND, WHEN NECESSARY, MAINTAIN
THEIR DOMINANCE BY FORCE THROUGH THE USE OF ARMED SECURITY SQUADS.
IN EL SALVADOR SOME OF THE CADRE OF PRESENT DAY RIGHT-WING
TERRORIST GROUPS WERE PROBABLY DRAWN FROM THE RANKS. OF ORDEN. A
CAMPESINO BASED LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION
SYSTEM THAT FLOURISHED UNDER GEN. MADRANO IN THE 1960S. ORDEN
EFFECTIVELY INSTITUTIONALIZED VIGILANTEISM AND GREW UP NATURALLY IN
THE CONTEXT OF RURAL SALVADORAN VIOLENCE, WHICH IS CLASSICALLY
EXEMPLIFIED BY THE RUTHLESS REPRESSION OF A PEASANT REBELLION IN THE
19305 THAT INVOLVED THE LOSS OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LIVES.
SALVADORAN SOCIETY IS UNDERGOING FORCED CHANGE, AND AMONG THOSE
WHO ARE THE MOST RESISTENT TO THAT CHANGE ARE MANY MEMBERS OF THE
N ECONOMIC OLIGARCHY WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY ACCUSTOMED TO MANIPULATING
t% f ri
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MILITAP:. LEG.-.. AND JUDICIAL SYSTEMS T(..� PROTECT THE IF PRIVILEGE.
TEA, OLiGARCH. IN RESIDENCE OR IN EXILE. Cr-e:TINUES T. MANIPULATE
ILITAPY OFFICERS. MANY OF THEM MEMBERS OF THE DEATH S:LADS. TO
RFTAFD Oil REVERSE THE SOCIAL REFORM PROGRA.ME IN TRA;N IN EL
SALVADOR. THE:R S...-?PORT OE RIGHT-WING TERROFISt IS IMPORTANT. BUT
NOT CRUCIAL. THE IMPORTANCE OF THEIR SUPPORT lc BEST UNDERSTOOD IN
TERMS OF INFLUENCE UPON KEY MILITARY OFFICERS. RATHER THAN IN TERMS
OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR DEATH SQUAD ACTIVITIES. THE ACTUAL
FUNCTIONING CF THE SQUADS APPEARS TO REQUIRE QUITE LIMITED FUNDS.
THE SALVADORA!N MILITARY HAS AN ESPECIALLY WELL-DEVELOPED SENSE
OF OFFICER CORPS SOLIDARITY WHICH INCORPORATES AN ETHOS OF SILENCE
WITH REGARDS TO WRONGS COMMITTED BY FELLOW OFFICERS, PARTICULARLY P.
MILITARY SCHOOL CLASSMATES. MILITARY OFFICERS ROTATE THROUGH THE
HIGH ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS OF ALL THE SALVADORAN SECURITY SERVICES.
WHEN RIGHTIST TERRORIST ACTIVITIES BECOME THE SUBJECT OF
INVESTIGATION. THE RESULT IN MOST CASES IS MILITARY OFFICERS CHARGE:
WITH INVESTIGATING OTHER MILITARY OFFICERS. EVEN IF THERE IS NO
PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SUSPECT AND THE INVESTIGATOR, THE
MILITARY CODE OF LOYALTY MAKES IT DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE
INVESTIGATOR TO PROCEED AGAINST A FELLOW OFFICER.
IN THOSE UNUSUAL CASES WHERE A COMBINATION OF INFLUENCES BRINGS
AN INVESTIGATION TO THE POINT OF THE OFFICER+S DISMISSAL FROM THE
MILITARY AND THE INDICTMENT OF RIGHTIST TERRORIST IN THE CIVILIAN
COURTS, THERE REMAINS THE OBSTACLE OF A WEAN AND INTIMIDATED CIVIL
JUDICIARY. JUDGES, WITNESSES, AND JURIES ARE THE OBJECTS OF
CREDIBLE DEATH THREATS. VERY FEW SALVADORANS HAVE BEEN WILLING TO
EXPOSE THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO GRAVE RISK WHILE ASSISTING
IN THE PROSECUTION OF A RIGHTIST FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ACT OF VIOLENCE
COMMITTED IN A SOCIETY PERMEATED BY MASS VIOLENCE.
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