El Salvador: 1) What are the relations between the guerrillas, the Death Squads, and the Salvadorean Army? 2) Have relations changed recently? 3) What are the regions controlled by the guerrillas? 4) What are the regions controlled by the government?

1)       Relations between the Death Squads and the Army are not generally officially acknowledged. However, the Amnesty International publication Death Squads: A Government Strategy, (October 1988), has testimonies from former army officers indicating their involvement in Death Squad activity. [Amnesty International, Death Squads: A Government Strategy, (London: Amnesty International Publications, October 1988), pp. 15-17.] In 1981, Roberto D'Aubisson stated that "security force members utilize the guise of the death squads when a potentially embarrassing or odious task needs to be performed". [Death Squads, p. 18.] Other testimony also links Death Squads to the Treasury Police ("Hacienda Police"). [Death Squads, p. 19.]

Relations between the guerrilla forces of the Farabundo Martí Liberation National and the Death Squads or the Army have not generally been good. See, for example, the attached article from the Christian Science Monitor, "The shifting battle front" (7-13 November 1988).

2)             Since the election of the ARENA party under Alfredo Cristiani on 19 March 1989, Death Squad activity has reportedly increased, as have guerrilla offensives. ["Guerrilla forces in El Salvador stepping up activities near cities", Globe and Mail, 11 April 1989.] Although President Cristiani would like to negotiate with the FMLN, his proposal is reportedly little different from that proposed by President Duarte prior to the elections. ["FMLN's strength acknowledged by army", Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico and Central America, 8 June 1989.] Similarly, the FMLN is proposing negotiations, but it is pushing for new elections, a condition which is not acceptable to Cristiani. The FMLN offensive is moving closer to San Salvador, and 42 battles were fought against government forces during one week in July (1989). ["El Salvador: Heavy Casualties", Latin American Weekly Report, 27 July 1989.]

3 & 4)     No recent map outlining areas of control by the FMLN and the Army is presently available to the IRBDC. Based on recent newsreports of the FMLN offensives, however, it appears that the FMLN is gaining more territory, especially near San Salvador. See the article "Guerrilla forces in El Salvador stepping up activities near cities", Globe and Mail, 11 April 1989 (attached). The Christian Science Monitor produced a good map of the areas under guerrilla or army control in November 1988 (attached).

Please see the attached articles:

-               Amnesty International, Death Squads: A Government Strategy, London: Amnesty International Publications, October 1988.

-               "Guerrilla forces in El Salvador stepping up activities near cities", Globe and Mail, 11 April 1989.

-               Brook Larner, "The shifting battlefront", The Christian Science Monitor, 7-13 November 1988.

-               "Cristiani finds no-one to talk to", Latin American Weekly Report, 20 July 1989.

-               "Rough ride ahead for Cristiani", Latin American Weekly Report, 17 August 1989.

-               "FMLN's strength acknowledged by army", Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico and Central America, 8 June 1989.

-               "FMLN blamed for minister's murder", Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico and Central America, 13 July 1989.

-               "Legal reforms to curb terrorism", Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico and Central America, 17 August 1989.

-               "Bleak prospects for peace in El Salvador", Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico and Central America, 13 July 1989.

-               "Fears of bloodbath after Arena's win", Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico and Central America, 4 May 1989.