UA 243/94 - El Salvador: apparent political killing / fear for safety: Luis Antonio Mendez, Monsignor Arturo Rivera y Damas, Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chavez
On 12 June 1994 Luis Antonio Mendez, coordinator of the FLMN in the municipality of Zacacoyo, department of La Libertad, was killed by unidentified masked gunmen. On 10 June, both Monsignor Arturo Rivera y Damas, Archbishop of San Salvador, and the Auxiliary Bishop Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chavez received telephone death threats from a caller who identified himself as a member of the Comando Domingo Monterrosa, a death squad. These incidents have heightened fears for the safety of other opposition party members and members of the Catholic Church who have been outspoken in their condemnation of human rights violations in El Salvador.
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 29/11/94
Distr: UA/SC
UA 243/94 Apparent Political killing / Fear for Safety 22 June 1994
EL SALVADOR Luis Antonio MÉNDEZ, member of the Frente Farabundo Martí para
la Liberación Nacional (FMLN), Farabundo Martí National
Liberation Front
Monsignor Arturo RIVERA Y DAMAS, Archbishop of San Salvador
Monsignor Gregorio ROSA CHÁVEZ, Auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador
The killing of yet another FMLN member and death threats against the Archbishop
and auxiliary Bishop of San Salvador have heightened Amnesty International's
fears for the safety of opposition party members and members of the Catholic
church who have been outspoken in their condemnation of human rights violations
in El Salvador.
On 12 June 1994 Luis Antonio Méndez, coordinator of the FMLN in the municipality
of Zacacoyo, department of La Libertad, was killed. He was in the area of
Joya Colonia Escalante when he was shot at short range in the head and back
by unidentified masked gunmen. Allegedly the gunmen were robbing a nearby
shop. However, Amnesty International fears that the killing may be a
continuation of an intimidation campaign by elements linked to the military
and civilian authorities, aimed at activists and supporters of the FMLN, now
a legal political party.
On 10 June, both Monsignor Arturo Rivera y Damas, Archbishop of San Salvador
and the Auxiliary Bishop Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chávez, received telephone
death threats by a caller who identified himself as a member of the Comando
Domingo Monterrosa (named after a military official killed in the 1980s).
According to reports, Monsignor Arturo Rivera y Damas made a reference to the
death threats in his homily of 12 June, indicating that "these acts are proof
that the structures of the death squads have not been touched and it would
seem that they enjoy greater impunity every day". Members of the Catholic church
have recently been subjected to death threats by the Comando Domingo Monterrosa
(See UA 220/94, AMR 29/08/94, 8 June 1994).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The former armed opposition group FMLN became a political party under the terms
of the 1992 Peace Accords which ended 12 years of bitter armed conflict. The
Accords included numerous human rights commitments and reforms; many of the
most important, including an enquiry into "death squads" and key judicial
reforms, have yet to be fully implemented.
The vast majority of recent political killings, attacks and death threats remain
uninvestigated. In March 1993 the Truth Commission, appointed as a result of
the 1992 peace accords, concluded that "death squads" linked to state structures
were an instrument of terror and called for urgent investigations into these
groups as they posed a threat to society. In early December 1993 the government
set up a commission known as the Grupo Conjunto (Joint Group) to investigate
"illegal armed groups". Its findings were to be published in May 1994 but
publication has been postponed until the end of July.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes and airmail letters
either in Spanish or in your own language:
- expressing concern at the killing of Luis Antonio Méndez and the death threats
to Monsignor Arturo Rivera y Damas, and Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chávez;
2
- pointing out that the killing of Luis Antonio Méndez has occurred in the
context of a series of killings, threats and attacks against members and
supporters of the Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN);
- requesting that the investigation be carried out thoroughly and independently
into these incidents and that those responsible be brought to justice;
- asking for immediate measures to be taken to guarantee the safety of Monsignor
Arturo Rivera y Damas, and Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chávez;
- asking what steps the government intends to take to comply with human rights
commitments made in the Peace Accords which are still outstanding.
APPEALS TO
1. President of the Republic
S.E. Armando Calderón Sol
Presidente de la República de El Salvador
Casa Presidencial
San Salvador, El Salvador
Telegrams: Presidente Calderón Sol, San Salvador. El Salvador
Faxes + 503 710950
Telexes: 20245 RS SAL
Salutation: Su Excelencia/ Your Excellency
2. Minister for Foreign Affairs
Dr. Oscar Alfredo Santamaria
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores
Boulevard Manuel Enrique Araujo Km.6
San Salvador, El Salvador
Telexes: 20179 RREE SAL
Telegrams: Ministro Relaciones Exteriores, San Salvador, El Salvador
Faxes: + 503 98-0334 / 98-0314
Salutation: Señor Ministro / Dear Minister
3. National Counsel for the Defence of Human Rights
Dr. Carlos Molina Fonseca
Procurador para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos
Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos
9ª Avda. Norte y 5ª Calle Pte.
Edificio AMSA, Nº 535
San Salvador, El Salvador
Telegrams: Procurador DDHH, San Salvador, El Salvador
Faxes: + 503 71 2886
Salutation: Señor Procurador / Dear Dr Molina
COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:
FMLN Human Rights Office
Secretaría de Derechos Humanos
FMLN
1a. Avenida Norte 1013
Barrio San Miguelito
San Salvador, El Salvador
Human Rights Office of the Archdiocese of San Salvador
Oficina de Tutela Legal del Arzobispado
Comisión Arquidiocesana de Justicia y Paz
3
Apartado Postal 2253
Urbanización Isidro Menéndez
Calle San José y Ave. Las Américas
San Salvador, El Salvador
and to diplomatic representatives of El Salvador accredited to your country
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 3 August 1994.