El Salvador: Information on forced recruitment and abduction of young men by the FMLN, particularly in the province of Usulut n; reports on a skirmish on or around 27 May 1985 in or around Santa Bárbara

Specific references to forced recruitment and abduction of youths in Usulut n by the FMLN or information on a skirmish on the abovementioned date and place could not be found among the sources currently available to the IRBDC. However, the following information on recruitment and abductions by the FMLN may be of interest.

An Americas Watch publication (The Civilian Toll, 1987, pages 135-145) reports different cases of intimidation and forced collaboration or recruitment by guerrillas in El Salvador. Please find attached a copy of page 140 ("Short term coerced recruitment") which provides some comments on the alleged kidnapping of youths by the FMLN for such purposes. The second paragraph of the attached section states:

"We believe the `kidnappings' of groups by young men described frequently in the Salvadoran press are often such short-term recruitments. We believe some of these men are actually part-time FMLN volunteers. The fact that others are taken involuntarily at the same time and released at the same time provides cover for those whose cooperation is voluntary. Young men taken for these `missions' are urged to join the rebel force as combatants, but in most of the cases we have learned of, they have refused to do so."

Also attached, please find a copy of pages 144-145 ("Captures by the FMLN") and 153-154 ("Involvement of Children in the War") of The Civilian Toll.

Another report indicates rebel forces have demanded civilians to "incorporate into the struggle" under threat of reprisals (1). Those who refuse have been reportedly driven out of their land, while those suspected of collaborating with the army have been killed (2). Both parties to the conflict have reportedly stepped up efforts to force civilians to take sides (3). This has allegedly resulted in an increase in the number of kidnappings and forced recruitment by the guerrillas (4). On November 17, 1988, the FMLN guerrilla organization reportedly announced through their clandestine Radio Venceremos that "civilians living in conflict-ridden zones must heed the instructions issued by the FMLN's local leaders during the Armed Forces' operations" (5).

A UN Special Representative reported receiving allegations on May 11, 1987, of the FMLN abduction and subsequent murder of four civilians (ages not given) in the town of San Agustín, for

refusing to collaborate with the guerrilla forces (6).

The Institute of Human Rights of the Central American University of El Salvador (IDHUCA, Instituto de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas") reports in its partial chronology of 1988 (7) ten cases of youths being kidnapped by guerrillas that year:

-12 January: four youths kidnapped by guerrillas in Tenacingo, Cuscatl n, released the next day;

-17 March: a 25 year-old and a 22 year-old are abducted from their homes by guerrillas in Aguas Calientes, Chalatenango;

-23 March: a 23 year-old and a 30 year-old are abducted by guerrillas while going to their workplace in San Fernando, Chalatenango;

-25 May: two 12 year-old boys are kidnapped by guerrillas in San Juan Nonualco, La Paz;

-4 June: a 25 year-old is abducted from his home's shop in Ojos de Agua, Chalatenango;

-7 June: a 19 year-old off-duty soldier is kidnapped by guerrillas in Sociedad, Moraz n. The army later reports his release;

-12 August: three women, aged 17, 28 and 60, are abducted by guerrillas;

-20 August: a 28 year-old construction worker is abducted by guerrillas from his home in Lolotiquillo, Moraz n, and taken towards Cacaopera, Moraz n;

-13 october: An employee of the Salvadorean Institute of Agrarian Transformation (ISTA) in Usulut n is abducted by guerrillas in Santa Cruz, Jiquilisco;

-26 October: four young men aged 17, 18, 20 and 25 are abducted, apparently by guerrillas wearing olive-green uniforms at night in San Juan Opico, La Libertad.

In an entry titled "Kidnappings attributed to the FMLN" ("Secuestros imputados al FMLN") of Los Derechos Humanos, page 55, IDHUCA reports that 101 abductions attributed to the FMLN were counted in 1988, but indicates that the accuracy of the figure is questionable since many of the newspapers reporting the cases gather their information from the press agency of the Salvadorean Armed Forces. IDHUCA indicates that the Church's "Tutela Legal" organization reported 50 cases which involved mayors, public employees, politicians, members of different branches of the security forces and others. No other details are provided in the referred section.

Sources:

1. "Salvadoran Rebels Step Up War", in The Washington Post, 26 November 1988.

2. Ibid.

3. "A dirty war grows dirtier in El Salvador", in The New York Times, 5 March 1989.

4. "Salvador rebels step up terrorism", in The New York Times, 16 December 1988; "Army dismantles guerrilla camp, defuses mines", 17 November 1988, and "Coprefa on 9-13 Jan actions", 17 January 1989, both in Latin American Daily Report of the given dates.

5. "FMLN announces end to truce, warns civilians", in Latin American Daily Report, 18 November 1988, p. 19.

6. Final report to the Commission on Human Rights on the

Antonio Pastor Ridruejo, in pursuance of the mandate conferred by commission resolution 1987/51, (United Nations Economic and

Social Council: January 29, 1988), p. 6.

7. "Cronología de algunos acontecimientos relacionados con los Derechos Humanos: 1988", in Los Derechos Humanos en El Salvador en 1988, (San Salvador: IDHUCA, 1989), pp. 172-294.