PLANS BY SALVADORAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS TO DEMAND THAT MINISTER OF DEFENSE RESIGN ON 11 APRIL

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06629937
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2019
• Case Number: F-2017-01057
• Publication Date: April 6, 1983

Approved for Release: 2019/08/07 C06629937
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Document:CIAA -0000 523550 Subject:
D COMET
PLANS BY SALVADORAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS TO DEMAND THAT
MINISTER OF DEFENSE RESIGN ON 11 APRILC 10318CIAA 523550 MS083-0905555
MIDB
830406
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CIA-52355000483 1
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TOT: 062205Z APR 83
FRP: 2 4
MILITARY
CIA 523550
UPID
062204ZCIA 523550
TO: IMMEDIATE DIRNSA, DEPT OF STATE, DIA, WHITE HOUSE
SITUATION ROOM, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STAFF,
ZEN/CIA OFFICE OF CURRENT OPERATIONS,
USCINCSO QHTS PANAMA.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFORMA ON REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
REPORT CLASSSEC ET--WNINTEL-
DIST: 6 APRIL 1983
COUNTRY: EL SALVADOR
SUBJ: PLANS BY SALVADORAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS TO DEMAND THAT
MINISTER OF DEFENSE RESIGN ON 11 APRIL
TEXT: 1. OVER NINETY PERCENT OF SALVADORAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS
HAVE AGREED THAT A CONTINGENT OF THEIR COLLEAGUES SHOULD MEET
WITH PRESIDENT ALVARO ((MAGANA)) ON 11 APRIL 1983 AND DEMAND
THAT THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE, GENERAL JOSE GUILLERMO ((GARCIA))
RESIGN ON THAT DATE AS HE PROMISED TO DO IN AN 11 JANUARY
COMMANDERS' MEETING. THE OFFICERS PLAN TO UNDERSCORE THEIR
S \ CRET
CL BY:
CL REASON:
DECL ON:
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DEMAND BY CEASING ALL ACTIVITIES AT THE ILOPANGO AIR FORCE BASE
UNTIL THE MINISTER RESIGNS.
2. THE EXTENT TO WHICH AIR FORCE COMMANDER, COLONEL JUAN
RAFAEL ((BUSTILLO)), FAVORS THIS ACTION IS NOT KNOWN BUT HE IS BEING
PRESSURED BY HIS OFFICERS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFRONTATION
WITH MAGANA AND COULD LEAD THE CONTINGENT WHICH PLANS TO MEET WITH
THE PRESIDENT. SOME OF THE MORE ADAMANTLY ANTI-GARCIA AIR FORCE
OFFICERS HAVE THREATENED OTHER OFFICERS NOT COMMITTED TO THIS
ACTION IN AN ATTEMPT TO COERCE THEM INTO AGREEING TO
THE MAJORITY'S PLANS.
3 IT IS UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME WHETHER OFFICERS OF THE
FIRST INFANTRY BRIGADE WILL JOIN THE AIR FORCE IN CONFRONTING
MAGANA. COLONEL ADOLFO 0. ((BLANDON)), THE FIRST BRIGADE
COMMANDER, HAS OPPOSED GARCIA SINCE THE CRISIS BEGAN BUT RECENTLY
HAS ATTEMPTED TO MEND FENCES WITH THE MINISTER AS HE HAS PERCEIVED
GARCIA TO BE WINNING HIS BATTLE TO REMAIN IN OFFICE.
BLANDON'S RECENT BEHAVIOR SUGGESTS THAT HE WILL BASE HIS
DECISION ON WHAT HE VIEWS AS HIS PERSONAL ADVANTAGE.) 1
4. THE SITUATION SHOULD NOT BECOME DANGEROUS
UNLESS MILITARY UNITS SUCH AS THE FIRST BRIGADE DECIDE TO JOIN
THE AIR FORCE IN DEMANDING GARCIA'S IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OR THE
AIR FORCE OFFICERS ATTEMPT TO CARRY OUT SOME ACTION WHICH WOULD
DRAMATICALLY DEMONSTRATE THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH GARCIA
REMAINING IN OFFICE IF THEY DO NOT RECEIVE A FAVORABLE REPLY TO
THEIR DEMAND ON 11 APRIL.)
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EXTRACTION OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED BY ORIGINATOR.DECL:
OFFICER.
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL DOCUMENT.
ORIG/REL:
RECORDED REPORTING
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