El Salvador: Information on the car bombing of Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) representative, Nidia Díaz (aka Marta Valladares) in early 1995, on whether an investigation was carried out, and on any arrests or convictions made
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLV27931.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, El Salvador: Information on the car bombing of Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) representative, Nidia Díaz (aka Marta Valladares) in early 1995, on whether an investigation was carried out, and on any arrests or convictions made, 1 October 1997, SLV27931.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab5b84.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. |
Information on a car bombing of FMLN deputy, Nidia Díaz, in early 1995 could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, several sources reported the 24 February 1994 and 19 May 1994 attack on Díaz's bodyguard and vehicle (AI 28 Feb. 1994; ibid., 26 May 1994; El Salvador Watch June 1994; IPS 23 May 1994; Proceso 25 May 1994; ibid., 2 March 1994; UPI 24 Feb. 1994; ibid., 21 May 1994). Díaz's bodyguard, Elmer Cruz Pineda, was wounded in both incidents while Díaz was left unharmed (ibid.).
The El Salvador Watch report adds that Nidia Díaz also received a death threat at her Legislative Assembly office on 26 May 1994 (June 1994).
The 28 February 1994 Amnesty International Urgent Action appeal states that the February attack against Díaz may have been part of an anti-FMLN campaign by military and civilian authorities during the run-up to the March 1994 elections. In reference to the 19 May incident, the June 1994 El Salvador Watch report states that the attack coincided with Díaz's appointment as president of the Legislative Assembly's Justice and Human Rights Commission. In the 23 May 1994 InterPress Service (IPS) report, an official of the ARENA government is cited as stating that the violent attacks were targeted at Díaz's bodyguard and not her.
Following the first attack on Díaz, then Salvadorean president Cristiani made a commitment to find the perpetrators of the attack by ordering an inquiry through the Interinstitutional Commission, a commission that investigates violent crimes against politicians (Proceso 2 Mar. 1994). However, according to the El Salvador Watch report, the investigations into the attacks against Díaz produced no concrete results and that the new ARENA government took no further action on the issue (June 1994). In the case of Díaz's bodyguard, Amnesty International Report 1995 states that the National Civilian Police (PNC) "appeared to have deliberately avoided pursuing significant leads in the case" (1995, 123-124).
Please see the attached documents for additional information on the two early 1994 attacks against Nidia Díaz.
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. 1995. Amnesty International Report 1995. New York: Amnesty International USA.
_____. 26 May 1994. Urgent Action: El Salvador: Nidia Díaz, Opposition Politician; Elmer Cruz Pineda, Her Bodyguard. (AI Index: AMR 29/06/94). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 28 February 1994. Urgent Action: El Salvador: Nidia Díaz, Prominent FMLN Member, Election Candidate; Elmer Cruz Zepeda, Her Bodyguard. (AI Index: AMR 29/03/94). London: Amnesty International.
Center for Information, Documentation and Research Support (CIDAI). 25 May 1994. Proceso 612. [Internet]
______. 2 March 1994. Proceso 601. [Internet]
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador. June 1994. El Salvador Watch. No. 25. "Repression on the Rise: Death Squads Target Nidia Díaz." [Internet]
InterPress Service (IPS) [in Spanish]. 23 May 1994. "Impunity Persists, Says Ex-Guerrilla." Central America NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. Vol. 9, Vol. 8. 16 May-24 May 1994.
United Press International (UPI). 21 May 1994. BC Cycle. "Shootings Trouble El Salvador." (NEXIS)
_____. 24 February 1994. BC Cycle. Daniel Alder. "Former Salvadoran Rebel Commander Escapes Attack." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Amnesty International. 26 May 1994. Urgent Action: El Salvador: Nidia Díaz, Opposition Politician; Elmer Cruz Pineda, Her Bodyguard. (AI Index: AMR 29/06/94). London: Amnesty International.
_____. 28 February 1994. Urgent Action: El Salvador: Nidia Díaz, Prominent FMLN Member, Election Candidate; Elmer Cruz Zepeda, Her Bodyguard. (AI Index: AMR 29/03/94). London: Amnesty International.
Center for Information, Documentation and Research Support (CIDAI). 25 May 1994. Proceso 612. [Internet]
______. 2 March 1994. Proceso 601. [Internet]
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador. June 1994. El Salvador Watch. No. 25. "Repression on the Rise: Death Squads Target Nidia Díaz." [Internet]
InterPress Service (IPS) [in Spanish]. 23 May 1994. "Impunity Persists, Says Ex-Guerrilla." Central America NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. Vol. 9, Vol. 8. 16 May-24 May 1994.
United Press International (UPI). 21 May 1994. BC Cycle. "Shootings Trouble El Salvador." (NEXIS)
_____. 24 February 1994. BC Cycle. Daniel Alder. "Former Salvadoran Rebel Commander Escapes Attack." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International. December 1996. El Salvador: The Spectre of Death Squads.
Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 1994-1995.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. 1994-1995.
Human Rights Watch World Report. 1994-1997.
Journal of Interamerican Studies & World Affairs [Miami]. 1995-1997.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1994-1995.
Latin American Weekly Reports [London]. 1994-1995.
News from Americas Watch [New York]. 1994.
Research Directorate. Indexed Media Review: El Salvador. 1994.
Resource Centre country file: El Salvador. 1994-1995.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).
