[misc.activism.progressive] Documented BACKGROUND on El Salvador: Army's Impunity

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

    "TENS OF THOUSANDS of people have been the victims of extrajudicial
    execution and "disappearance" by El Salvador's armed forces since
    1980...

    ...NONE of the armed forces officers responsible have been brought
    to justice, most remain in positions of command."

--Amnesty International's report, _El Salvador: ``Death Squads'' -- A
Government Strategy_, page 44 (conclusions), first published in
October, 1988.

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The same report notes that (page 37):

    "Murders of tens of thousands of Salvadorian citizens have gone
    without even a semblance of investigation."

And states that:

     "The military court system in El Salvador has routinely failed to
    prosecute military personnel accused of involvement in torture,
    "disappearance" and extrajudicial execution. The exclusive
    jurisdiction of the military courts over members of the armed
    forces provides a shield behind which armed forces personnel
    commit grave crimes with impunity."

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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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