El Salvador: Death squads, particularly whether any members of the National Assembly are known to be part of the death squads and are recruiting for them (1995 to August 2000)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLV35012.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, El Salvador: Death squads, particularly whether any members of the National Assembly are known to be part of the death squads and are recruiting for them (1995 to August 2000), 1 September 2000, SLV35012.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4beaa4.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The most recent information on death squads in El Salvador can be found in SLV33463.E of 11 January 2000, SLV30800.E of 11 January 1999, SLV27932.E of 29 October 1997 and SLV27937.E of 3 October 1997.
The only recent report linking the governing Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) to death squads was in mid-1999 when Salvadoran President Francisco Flores appointed Mauricio Sandoval, a person linked to death squad activity in the past, as director of the National Civilian Police (PNC) (CISPES June-July 1999). No reports on whether members of the National Assembly recruited for death squads could be found.
Several sources report ARENA party and its founder, Roberto D'Aubuisson, were linked to death squads during the country's 12-year civil war (AI Dec. 1996; CARECEN n.d.; DPA 7 Mar. 1999; Religious Task Force on Central America & Mexico June-July 2000). DPA adds that while the ARENA party was associated with death squads in the past, it has become more of a moderate party (ibid.). Furthermore, The Washington Times stated that the party in March 1999 was "viewed as a legitimate political party seeking free-market reforms" (11 Mar. 1999). Amnesty International (AI) reported in June 1996 that a new death squad called the Fuerza Nacionalista Mayor Roberto D'Aubuisson (FURODA) had appeared on the scene in El Salvador and while Amnesty International mentioned that D'Aubuisson and the ARENA party had links with the death squads in the past, it does not mention whether the party had links with FURODA in 1996 (Dec. 1996). No references to FURODA between 1997 to August 2000 could be found among the sources consulted.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International. December 1996. El Salvador: The Spectre of Death Squads.
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES). June-July 1999. "Resurrecting Death Squads and Ghosts of the War."
The Central American Refugee Center (CARECEN). n.d. "Roberto D'Aubuisson - El Salvador."
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 7 March 1999. "Voting Underway in El Salvador's Presidential Election." (NEXIS)
Religious Task Force on Central America 7 & Mexico. June/July 2000. Vol. 20, No. 3. "El Salvador: ARENA's Dwindling Support Strengthens Role of FMLN."
The Washington Times. 11 March 1999. Andrew Cain. "Clinton Lauds Cenral America for Progress Toward Democracy." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Central America NewsPak [Austin]. 1998-1999.
Central America Report [Guatemala]. 1998-2000.
IRB Databases
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1998-2000
Latin American Regional Reports: Caribbean and Central America Report [London]. 1998-2000
LEXIS/NEXIS
NACLA Report on the Americas [New York]. 1998-2000
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
La Nación [San José]. Search Engine. 1995-2000
La Prensa [Tegucigalpa]. Search Engine. 1996-2000
Proceso [San Salvador]
