[misc.activism.progressive] BACKGROUND on El Salvador: Who Runs the "DEATH SQUADS"?

harelb@cabot.dartmouth.edu (Harel Barzilai) (06/08/91)

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Amnesty International reports on (see bottom):

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		    Who Runs the ``Death Squads''?
                    ==============================

    "The testimony of armed forces personnel, the details of thousands
    of case studies and other information examined by Amnesty
    International lead to the conclusion that actions attributed by
    authorities to "death squads" are routinely carried out by regular
    units of the armed forces which include the military and the
    security services, and by special intelligence units that
    incorporate civilian gunmen under their supervision and control."
    [Conclusions, p. 44]

    "Amnesty International has concluded that the Salvadoran `death
    squads' are simply used to shield the government from
    accountability for the torture, `disappearance' and extrajudicial
    executions committed in their name. The squads are made up of
    *regular army and police agents*, acting in uniform or plain
    clothes, *under the orders of superior officers*."  [emphasis
    added] [Who Runs the ``Death Squads''", pp. 8-9]

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[This 50 page report, with pictures (which are clearer in the Spanish
edition), is only $5 from Amnesty International, Publications, 322
Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10001. Ask for "El Salvador: ``Death
Squads'' -- A Government Strategy", first published in October, 1988;
or call Amnesty at: (212)807-8400 (ask for "publications")]
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