Interim Report - Report No 275, November 1990

Case No 1494 (El Salvador) - Complaint date: 17-APR-89 - Closed

1. 204. The Committee on Freedom of Association examined these cases at its November 1988 and November 1989 meetings, presenting interim reports to the Governing Body. (See 259th and 268th Reports of the Committee, approved by the Governing Body at its 241st and 244th Sessions (November 1988 and November 1989).)
2. 205. After Case No. 1441 was last examined, communications were received from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) (2 and 23 November 1989, 24 January and 25 April 1990), and the United Trade Union Federation of El Salvador (FUSS) (1 November 1989 and 6 February and 20 April 1990). The Committee had previously decided to postpone examining the ICFTU communications dated 26 and 28 September and 2 October 1989, as well as an ASTTEL communication dated 21 September 1989, owing to the fact that the Government's replies to the allegations contained therein had been received very shortly before the Committee's meeting.
3. 206. Since the last examination of Case No. 1494, communications were received from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) (8 November 1989) and the World Confederation of Organisations of the Teaching Profession (WCOTP) (26 April 1990).
4. 207. The Government sent certain observations on some of the allegations in communications dated 19 April, 16 May and 10 and 23 July 1990. The Committee also received a communication from the Government dated 25 October 1989 which it had been unable to examine owing to the fact that it was received only a few days prior to the Committee's November 1989 meeting.
5. 208. El Salvador has ratified neither the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), nor the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).

A. Previous examination of the cases

1. 209. The allegations which are still pending in these two cases concern the murder of 35 trade union leaders and activists, the disappearance of three trade unionists and the arrest of 103 trade unionists from different branches of economic activity, but primarily from agriculture. These allegations are reproduced in Annex I of this report. In addition, the outstanding allegations also concern the occupation and destruction of trade union premises by law enforcement services, coupled with the theft of equipment and money, and the repression of trade union demonstrations.
2. 210. In particular, the complainants had described a first destruction of the FENASTRAS and UNTS headquarters by the explosion of a charge of dynamite on 15 February 1989 which allegedly caused serious damage to the building and destroyed all the furnishings. There were no fatalities, but a number of people suffered minor injuries. An anti-communist urban commando claimed responsibility for the attack. The complainants explained that on 22 February 1988 the FENASTRAS and UNTS had called a meeting of workers which met at the premises which had been attacked, and that military forces had intervened by encircling the neighbourhood and blocking off the street with tanks while some 200 workers were inside the building.
3. 211. The complainants had also reported that other premises had been attacked, namely, the headquarters of the National Agricultural Workers' Association (ANTA) in San Salvador on 14 September 1988, during the course of which the Rural Police and infantry brigades illegally entered the premises and arrested 18 persons (who were released three days later), and carried off office equipment and money; also, the premises of the same Association at Santa Lucia were assaulted on 28 December 1988, and the Association's treasurer was arrested by agents of the Second Infantry Brigade of Santa Ana. These agents are also alleged to have carried off all furnishings and equipment. Lastly, the complainants had referred to the violent breakup of a demonstration of the Confederation of Co-operative Associations of El Salvador (COACES) and the National Peasants' Union (UNC), on 18 December 1988 in the Colon Park. They alleged that members of the Second Infantry Brigade and the Rural Police of Santa Ana struck, wounded and arrested several persons, and seized speakers, radio equipment, photographic equipment and recorders.
4. 212. At its November 1989 Session, the Governing Body approved the Committee's following interim recommendations:
   • (a) The Committee deeply deplores the violent situation prevailing in the country. It expresses its grave concern at the extreme seriousness of the allegations which refer mainly to 35 murders since 1987, disappearances and more than 100 arrests of trade union officials, trade unionists and co-operative members, as well as to various acts of violence and intimidation (threats, breaking into and searching of trade union premises and a bomb attack against one of these premises).
   • (b) The Committee can only deeply deplore and reprove the violent deaths and disappearances. It urges the Government to open judicial inquiries into these murders and disappearances and to send it as soon as possible all available information, in particular relating to the situation of the detainees and the reasons for their detention, and on the stage of the inquiries as to the whereabouts of those who have disappeared.
   • (c) The Committee urges the Government to adopt strong measures to guarantee that trade union rights may be exercised under normal conditions, i.e., in a situation where fundamental human rights are respected and in a climate that is free from violence, pressure or threats of any kind. The Committee requests the Government to inform it on this matter.
   • (d) The Committee decides to examine at its next meeting the allegations contained in the most recent communications from the ICFTU and ASTTEL as the Government's reply was received only a few days before the Committee's current meeting.

B. The complainants' new allegations

1. 213. The ASTTEL and ICFTU communications received on 21, 26 and 28 September 1989, shortly before the Committee's November 1989 meeting, state that between 14 and 19 September 1989 the armed forces arrested 140 trade unionists and peasants. In particular, the ICFTU denounces the arrest of 45 trade unionists on 21 September 1989, reporting that they were brutally beaten and psychologically tortured, that eight women were raped and that one person was hospitalised for serious injuries in the Rosales Hospital. The ICFTU adds that 29 persons were released on 25 September, but that all those who held office in the FENASTRAS trade unions are still imprisoned. The names of the 25 members of AGEMHA, SELSA and FENASTRAS who were imprisoned are contained in Annex II(a).
2. 214. In a further communication of 2 November 1989 the ICFTU reports a second and much more serious destruction of the FENASTRAS headquarters. It alleges that nine persons belonging to the Committee of Mothers of Detained and Disappeared Persons (COMADRES) were killed and 36 were injured on 31 October 1989 while meeting peacefully at the FENASTRAS headquarters, when the premises were destroyed by the explosion of a powerful charge of dynamite. The United Trade Union Federation of El Salvador (FUSS) and the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) in communications of 1 and 8 November 1989 also denounce this serious bombing of the FENASTRAS headquarters which left nine persons dead and many injured. The names of those killed and wounded are contained in Annex II(b).
3. 215. In other communications of January and April 1990 the ICFTU expresses its deep concern over the assault of the premises of another organisation, namely, the Democratic Workers' Confederation (CTD), an ICFTU affiliate, by the National Guard and the Rural Police, on 23 January 1990, and the arrest of 17 trade unionists whose names are listed in Annex II(c). The ICFTU also reports the disappearance of Jorge Alberto Villegas, General Secretary for Disputes of the National Association of Salvadorian Teachers (ANDES 21 June), who was forcefully abducted from his home in Soyapango on 20 April 1990 by the National Guard. This allegation is confirmed by the WCOTP in a communication of 26 April 1990 (see Annex II(d)).
4. 216. In communications of 6 February and 20 April 1990, the FUSS denounces very serious violations of human rights which took place between November 1989 and April 1990, and which struck the trade union movement very hard. In particular, it denounces the murder of five trade union leaders during the period of November 1989 to March 1990, namely: Rodolfo Andrés Prieto, Miguel Angel Hernandez, Carlos Humberto Gomez, Raúl Gonzales and Luis Colocho; the injuries inflicted on five trade unionists on 19 November 1989; and the disappearance of six trade unionists between November 1989 and March 1990 following bombardments of the civilian population (see Annex II(e)). The FUSS states that the Government is engaged in a campaign to murder the major trade union leaders who oppose official policy, and that it offers a reward of 10,000 colons to persons revealing the whereabouts of these trade unionists.
5. 217. The FUSS next describes in detail the tragic events of November 1989. On 13 November, it states, the army arrested 13 workers of the University of El Salvador at their workplace. The university was subjected to intense bombings by the Salvadorian Air Force, and the ensuing fires destroyed the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry; on the 14th, ten trade unions of public employees called a work stoppage to protest these bombings and to enable workers to tend to their brothers who had been injured or killed; on the 15th, the armed forces published a list of names identifying leaders of the UNTS, accusing them of massacres which the army itself had committed, and issuing orders for their arrest; it also ordered its troops to take over and destroy the premises of popular, trade union and occupational organisations and to arrest trade unionists; at dawn on the 16th, direct actions of reprisal began against the leaders of trade union and popular organisations, accompanied by searches of the premises of various organisations. The armed forces searched homes of several UNTS trade union leaders and machine-gunned those of persons who were not found at home. These trade unionists are Guillermo Rojas, Humberto Centeno, Rosario Acosta, Julio Portillo, Marco Tulio Lima and Francisco Martínez; on the 19th, some 200,000 workers living in the town of Apopa and in districts and farms bordering the north of San Salvador were made to abandon their homes in an atmosphere of panic, when the Government's radio network urged them to leave the area, which they interpreted as a prelude to a bombardment. As a result of the indiscriminate bombardments of the civilian population by the Salvadorian Air Force, several trade unionists have been wounded. Their names appear in Annex II(e).
6. 218. Returning to the events of November 1989, the FUSS alleges that the national police arrested six members of the "1 May unit" of the Trade Union of Social Security Workers (STISSS), as well as the leader of the Committee of Dismissed and Unemployed Workers of El Salvador (CODYDES) and the leader of FENASTRAS (see Annex II(f)).
7. 219. It also cites other arrests which took place between November 1989 and April 1990 and which involved 16 trade unionists from several branches of the economy, but primarily from agriculture. According to the allegations, some of these trade unionists were savagely tortured, hung by their arms for three days and by their feet for a further three days, and made to suffer electric shocks all over their bodies (see Annex II(g)). The FUSS also alleges that coffee plantations have been transformed into genuine military bases, inasmuch as the army maintains sizeable contingents in these plantations.
8. 220. The FUSS also refers to searches and sackings of various trade union premises and of the headquarters of the FENASTRAS, STISSS, AGEPYM (public employees) and the ANC (peasants); it explains that on 28 November members of the First Infantry Brigade invaded the premises of several trade union and co-operative organisations, during the course of which the members of this military unit claim to have arrested 40 persons, most of them in Soyapango, who were considered members of an armed organisation; in addition, the premises of the Confederation of Co-operation Associations of El Salvador (COACES), a UNTS affiliate, were closed by members of the First Infantry Brigade who captured four employees of this organisation and sacked the premises; likewise, the premises of other trade union and corporative organisations such as the UNTS, the FEASIES and the Committee of Mothers and Families of Disappeared Persons and Political Prisoners (COMADRES) were also invaded, searched and sacked. These actions were carried out by members of the First Infantry Brigade who tore up the sanitary facilities and flooring of several premises. In the UNTS headquarters they stole all office equipment, the photocopier, the mimeograph, a television set, a video recorder and files; in the CCTEM headquarters they removed typewriters, tables and files; in the ASTTEL headquarters they removed files and 10,000 colons in cash; on 30 December, during the sacking of the COACES premises (which was the subject of a complaint of 28 November), the First Infantry Brigade carried off office equipment and funds valued at more than 275,000 colons, in other words, some US$43,000. This organisation's headquarters are still occupied by the military.
9. 221. Lastly, the FUSS denounces the censorship which has been directed against the trade union movement. On 26 January 1990 the COACES stated that the Chamber of Commerce had threatened a commercial radio station which carried a 15-minute daily broadcast of the COACES, with the termination of all relations if it continued to broadcast the workers' programme. According to the FUSS, this threat was carried out when the national police ordered the definitive suspension of this broadcast within the framework of the suspension of legal guarantees throughout the country, in violation of article 114 of the Constitution which protects and encourages the activities of co-operatives.
10. 222. The FUSS concludes its communication by stating that from November 1989 to April 1990, according to information furnished by Julio Portillo, a leader of the UNTS, the Salvadorian armed forces arrested and tortured 466 trade unionists, murdered 27 and were responsible for the disappearance of a further 24.

C. The Government's reply

1. 223. In a first communication of 25 October 1989, received shortly before the Committee's November 1989 meeting, the Government replies that on 18 September 1989 trade unionists belonging to FENASTRAS set fire to two city buses during a demonstration which was taking place in the centre of the capital city. The security forces intervened to prevent further troubles; during their escape, the demonstrators took over an evangelical church, taking the pastor and congregation as hostages. The authorities sought to dislodge them by using tear-gas and arrested 64 demonstrators. On the following day, 19 of them were delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross, while the other 45 were sent before the courts of justice. On 4 October the First Criminal Court remanded 18 of the demonstrators, who confessed to participating in the above-mentioned criminal actions, into provisional custody, and order the release of the remainder, against whom no charges were filed.
2. 224. In further communications of 19 April and 16 May 1990 the Government states that, as regards the case of Samuel Maldonado and other trade unionists belonging to the UCS, on 23 January 1990 members of the National Guard undertook a search at 23, Avenida San José, in San Salvador, following reports by civilians that illegal meetings were being held in that place, and arrested 20 trade unionists belonging to the UCS. During the course of subsequent investigations it was ascertained that the persons in question were authorised by the Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to hold trade union-type meetings, under the state of emergency which had been decreed throughout the nation to cope with a recent offensive by an armed group. Thus, there were no grounds for their detention, and the National Guard proceeded on the same day (23 January) to release these trade unionists and turn them over to a representative of the El Salvador Commission for Human Rights (a government agency), which verified that the persons concerned had not been mistreated physically or psychologically.
3. 225. The Government also makes reference to the case of José Humberto Carrillo, a member of ASTTEL, who was arrested by members of the National Guard on 19 January 1990 in San Salvador; he was remanded into the custody of the Eighth Criminal Court on 29 January on suspicion that he had participated in a recent terrorist offensive by an armed group.
4. 226. In a communication of 10 July 1990 the Government states that according to court statistics, allegations of trade union persecution are unsupported, although it is true that in isolated instances and for purely legal reasons, proceedings are brought against people who may belong to one trade union or another. Nevertheless, this in no way implies a concerted campaign against freedom of association, since proceedings are also brought against civilians or members of the military who commit a crime or misdemeanor, whether or not they belong to any kind of association.
5. 227. As regards the second bombing of the FENASTRAS premises, the Government states in a first communication that proceedings were instituted before the Second Justice of the Peace and subsequently transferred to the Second Criminal Court, where the case is currently pending. To date, it has not been possible to identify the party or parties responsible for this action, in spite of the investigations, inspections and hearing of witnesses. In a subsequent communication the Government recognises that the bombing in question killed Elizabeth Velasquez, Luis Vasquez and others, but merely states that the investigation continues.
6. 228. The Government encloses with its communication a document prepared by the El Salvador Commission for Human Rights which contains information on the following arrested trade unionists:
   • - Ricardo Alberto Lazo Acevedo. Arrested by members of the National Guard on 17 August 1989 in San Salvador on suspicion of being a terrorist; subsequently released on 19 August of the same year and turned over to a delegate of the Commission for Human Rights;
   • - Juan José Mendoza Avila. Arrested on 19 April 1989 in San Salvador by members of the Rural Police, having been found with abundant material for the manufacture of explosive devices. The arrest took place inside the premises of the FUSS. He was subsequently released on 21 April of the same year and turned over to a delegate of the aforementioned Commission;
   • - Salvador Fredy López Leiva. Arrested on 27 November 1989 in San Salvador by members of the First Infantry Brigade on suspicion of being a terrorist; released on 29 November 1989 and turned over to a delegate of the aforementioned Commission;
   • - Rafael Zepeda González. Arrested on 5 August 1989 by members of the Rural Police for his membership in the national resistance, and remanded to the custody of the Fourth Criminal Court of San Salvador;
   • - Filipo Enoc Villalta García. Arrested by members of the Rural Police on 8 August 1989 for active membership in the FPL, and remanded to the custody of the Sixth Criminal Court of San Salvador;
   • - Pedro García Sánchez. Arrested by members of the national police on 14 August 1989 on suspicion of being a terrorist, and remanded to the custody of the Fifth Criminal Court of San Salvador;
   • - Jorge Alberto Coreas. Arrested on 14 August 1989 by members of the national police of San Salvador on suspicion of being a terrorist, and remanded to the custody of the Fifth Criminal Court of San Salvador;
   • - Francisco Mejía Guevara. Arrested by members of the Tactical Infantry Battalion on suspicion of being a terrorist; subsequently released on 24 November 1989 and turned over to the International Committee of the Red Cross.
7. 229. The Government also states that Case No. 71/90 against José Humberto Castillo in the Eighth Criminal Court was dismissed on the judge's orders when Mr. Castillo was released on 16 February 1990. The investigations into the deaths of Professors Miguel Angel Lazo Quintanilla and Carlos Rodríguez are being examined by the Justice of the Peace in Soyapango.
8. 230. In a communication of 23 July 1990 the Government states that Professor Jorge Alberto Villegas, a former member of the Executive Committee of ANDES 21 June, who had been arrested at his home by the Civil Guard on 20 April 1990 and charged with participating in subversive activities, was released by the First Criminal Court on 26 April 1990.

D. The Committee's conclusions

1. 231. The Committee takes note of the information and observations furnished by the Government concerning these two cases. Nevertheless, it notes with regret that, in disregard of its earlier recommendation, the Government has not furnished information on judicial inquiries which the Committe had requested that the Government institute with respect to the murders of 35 trade unionists since 1987 and the disappearances alleged by the complainants.
2. 232. The Committee notes with deep regret that the complainants continue to report violent deaths, arrests and disappearances of trade unionists, as well as even more violent assaults of trade union premises which have taken place since the cases were last examined in November 1989. Moreover, it notes that new allegations report measures of censorship which have been taken by the authorities against the trade union movement since the national police, according to the complainants, ordered the definitive suspension of a radio broadcast of the Confederation of Co-operative Associations of El Salvador on behalf of workers. As regards these points, the Committee regrets to note that the Government has furnished very little information on the previous and new concrete and detailed allegations of the complainants.
3. 233. Faced with this situation, the Committee is conscious of the difficulties against which the Government is striving but must again appeal to the Government to adopt all practicable measures to guarantee the normal exercise of trade union rights having respect for human rights.
4. 234. The Committee notes that, according to the Government's replies, certain trade unionists who were arrested have been released after it was ascertained that their arrest was not warranted, and that a representative of the El Salvador Commission for Human Rights has ascertained that those arrested were not mistreated. It also notes that, according to the Government, certain trade unionists identified by name by the complainants, are suspected of being terrorists and have been remanded into the custody of criminal courts.
5. 235. Given that the arrest and detention of trade unionists may constitute a serious interference with the exercise of trade union rights, the Committee considers that the adoption of such measures, even for reasons of internal security, may imply serious interference in the exercise of trade union rights, and considers that they should be accompanied by appropriate judicial safeguards (see Digest of decisions and principles of the Freedom of Association Committee, 3rd edition, 1985, para. 94). The Committee recalls that the detention of trade unionists against whom no charges are brought can endanger the exercise of trade union rights. It accordingly requests the Government to ensure that the trade unionists mentioned by the complainants should either be charged or - in the absence of charges - be released. It also requests the Government to furnish information on the fate of trade union leaders and activists who have been arrested or who have disappeared, and who have been identified by name by the complainants, including information on any judgements that may have been handed down in their cases.
6. 236. As regards the many attacks against many trade union premises, accompanied by acts of violence (deaths, injuries and sackings), the Committee notes that the Government has merely indicated, as regards the second bombing of the FENASTRAS premises, that an investigation has begun, that two persons were killed, and that the investigation is proceeding. The Committee regrets to note that the Government has not furnished any information on the other allegations in this matter.
7. 237. The Committee considers that the occupation of trade union premises without a court warrant constitutes a serious interference by the authorities in trade union activities, and insists on the importance of the resolution concerning trade union rights and their relations with civil liberties, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 54th Session (1970), which states that the right to an adequate protection of trade union property constitutes an essential freedom in the normal exercise of trade union rights. The Committee therefore urgently requests the Government to institute judicial inquiries into the allegations concerning the assaults on trade union premises with a view to punishing those responsible for such actions and preventing their recurrence, and immediately to forward information it may have in this connection.
8. 238. As regards the censorship of a radio broadcast of the Confederation of Co-operative Associations of El Salvador on behalf of the workers, the Committee notes that the Government has not refuted this allegation and that it has failed to comment on it. The Committee recalls that the right to express opinions through the press, radio, or by other means, is an essential aspect of trade union rights, and it therefore requests the Government to furnish detailed comments or observations on this allegation.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 239. In the light of its foregoing interim conclusions, the Committee invites the Governing Body to approve the following recommendations:
   • (a) The Committee can only reiterate its earlier recommendations and again express its deep preoccupation with the gravity and persistence of the allegations presented concerning the disappearance, murder and arrest of trade unionists, as well as the assault of trade union premises and the censorship of radio broadcasts on behalf of workers.
   • (b) The Committee is conscious of the difficulties facing the Government at the present time but it must again appeal to the Government to take all practicable measures to guarantee the normal exercise of trade union rights having respect for human rights.
   • (c) The Committee requests the Government to institute judicial inquiries and to keep it informed of the outcome of these inquiries concerning the death and disappearance of the trade unionists mentioned by the complainants, as well as the assaults of trade union premises; the Committee asks the Government to ensure that the arrested trade unionists whose names are supplied by the complainants are either charged or - in the absence of charges - released. It also asks the Government to furnish information on the fate of trade union leaders and activists who have been arrested or who have disappeared, including any judgements which may have been handed down concerning these individuals.
   • (d) Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to furnish its comments and observations concerning the allegation of censorship regarding a radio broadcast of the Confederation of Co-operative Associations of El Salvador on behalf of workers.

Z. ANNEX I

• Names of trade union leaders and militants who, according to allegations
• received at the ILO prior to November 1989, were murdered between 1987 and
  1989. 1989:
        • - Adrian Chavarria Girón;
        • - Domingo López Morales, murdered on 8 June 1988;
        • - José Atilio Rivas, peasant militant;
        • - Zoila Rivas, peasant militant;
        • - Jesús Cepeda (father), peasant militant;
        • - Jesús Cepeda (son), peasant militant;
        • - Francisco Alfaro, peasant militant;
        • - José Alfaro, peasant militant;
        • - Nicolas Flores, peasant militant;
        • - José María Flores, peasant militant;
        • - Teresa Argueta, peasant militant; and
        • - Ulises Gibrian, peasant militant;
        • - América Benítez and Gloria Benítez (CCTO), murdered on 15 August 1987;
        • - Eulalio Antonio Martínez Velásquez (ANIS-Sonsonate), murdered on 16 August
  1989. 1989;
        • - Raúl Henríquex (ANTA), murdered on 19 August 1987;
        • - José Angel López Portillo (Co-operative San Antonio, El Barrillo, COACES, La
          • Paz), murdered on 16 September 1987;
        • - José Germán Mira (member of the ANEPES leadership), murdered on 24 September
  1987. 1987;
        • - Franklin Antonio Escobar (SETA), murdered on 29 September 1987;
        • - José Rolando Romero Villanueva (CO-AEAS), murdered on 3 October 1987;
        • - Porfirio González Hernández ("San Matías" Co-operative of El
  1988. Jícaro-Ahuachapán), murdered on 7 November 1987;
        • - Gilberto Pérez Ramos (Union of ARCTEX factory), murdered on 6 December 1987;
        • - Manuel Oscar Quintanilla Moscote (Director of CO-AEAS), murdered on 12
  1989. December 1987;
        • - Medardo Ceferino Ayala Pérez (ASTTEL), murdered on 18 December 1987;
        • - José Antonio Villalobos (ANDA), murdered on 28 December 1987;
        • - Eliodoro Pineda, Cecilio Aguilar Sorto and José Hernán Benítez Aguilar,
  1990. arrested without a warrant by members of the Military Detachment No. 4, with
• its headquarters in San Francisco Gotera, Morazán, and later found dead with
• signs of having been tortured;
  • - Rosa Imelda Medrano, member of the Association of Workers of the University
• of El Salvador (ADUES, Santa Ana Section), murdered on 16 December 1988;
  • - Roberto Gómez Aguirre, caretaker of the University of El Salvador, murdered
    22. on 22 December 1988;
  • - Alberto Monge and Carlos Palacios, textile workers, murdered in Soyapango
• (San Salvador) on 10 May 1989;
  • - Pablo Obdulio Vargas, Disputes Secretary of the Chalchuapa subsection of the
• Trade Union of the Coffee Industry (SICAFE) and official of the Occidente
• Workers' Committee (CTO) of the UNTS, murdered in the town of Chalchuapa,
• Department of Santa Ana, on 11 May 1989;
  • - Miguel Angel Lazo Quintanilla, member of the Executive Committee of the
• National Association of Salvadorian Teachers (ANDES 21 June) and Carlos
• Rodríguez Domínguez, member of the FUSS, whose bodies were found on 23
• February 1989 with signs of having been tortured. The first of the victims had
• been arrested the previous day by members of the Salvadorian Air Force in
• Ciudad Credisa.
• Names of trade unionists allegedly disappeared:
  • - Jorge Salvador Ubau, Secretary-General of the CCTU (1 September 1987);
  • - José Alex Cunza Quijano (AGEPYM) (September 1987);
  • - Leónidas Arévalo Fuentes (Co-operative Los Angeles, FEDECOOPADES, Zacamil)
    20. (20 December 1987).
  • Names of trade unionists allegedly arrested between 1987 and 1989:
  • - Rodolfo Miranda and José Antonio Serrano (ANTMAG), arrested on 11 August
    1987. 1987;
  • - Juan Trinidad Cruz, Irene Guevara Cruz and Miguel Beltrán (officials of
• FENACOA (Usulután), arrested on 15 August 1987;
  • - Romel Antonio Arias Argueta, Secretary of Youth Affairs (FESTIAVTSCES), and
• Francisco Hidalgo Hernández (Secretary of FENACOA), arrested on 17 August
  1987. 1987;
        • - Ignacion Zeledón (ANIS-Sonsonate), and Fermín Antonio Rauda, Second Trade
  1988. Union Disputes Secretary of the El Dorado oil refinery and member of the
• Relations Committee of the UNTS, arrested on 22 August 1987;
  • - María Antonia Pérez (SISS), arrested on 27 August 1987;
  • - José Antonio Jovel Martínez (official of FEDECOOPADES-La Paz), arrested on
    29. 29 August 1987;
  • - Rafael Elías Preza, Secretary of Propaganda of the Trade Union of
• Agricultural Workers, arrested on 31 August 1987;
  • - Guillermo Rojas, Juan Carlos Selva, Marta Elina García de Rodríguez, Ana
• Francisca Romero, Jorge Alberto Lara Alveño, Jorge Alberto Anaya, Oscar Miguel
• Marroquín, Eliseo Córdoba Aguilar, Adilio Dolores Fuentes, Pedro Caldámez
• Ardón, Alex Ric Muñoz and Roberto Granados, STISSS officials, arrested on 1
• September 1987;
  • - Jesús Gregorio Ortega, Julio Humberto Lemus, Santos Basilio, Rafael Molina
• Guzmán and Arcángel Barrientos (ANC), arrested on 2 September 1987;
  • - David Eduardo Carias Campo, Secretary of Propaganda of the ANC National
• Executive Council, arrested on 3 September 1987;
  • - Mercedes Nolasco (FENACOA), arrested on 4 September 1987;
  • - Nicolás Sánchez, member of the ANTA Co-operative, arrested on 6 September
    1987. 1987;
  • - Pedro Juan Sánchez, Juan Antonio Hernández, Marcelo Antonio Hernández and
• Rosalio Ruiz Ramírez (FENACOA, Usulutan), arrested on 7 September 1987;
  • - Carlos Elías Menjívar and Carlos Adalberto Menjívar (FEUS), arrested on 10
• September 1987;
  • - Pedro Antonio Ramírez Lozano (ANDES 21 June, Ahuachapán), arrested on 28
• September 1987;
  • - Carlos Alberto Rivera (ANDES 21 June), arrested on 30 September 1987;
  • - Rodolfo Andrés Prieto, Celia Mazín, Blanca Margarita Orellana, Manuel de
• Jesús Alfaro, Adalberto Martínez Martínez, Norma Luz Cepeda, Marlena González
• and Carlos Chávez (FENASTRAS and UNTS militants), arrested on 2 October 1987;
  • - José Alejandro Romero (AVICOLA), arrested on 9 October 1987;
  • - Manuel Antonio Nolasco (ANIS-Nahuizalco, Sonsonate), arrested on 12 October
    1987. 1987;
  • - Mirna Noemí Moreno Chicas, Nelson Cañas and José María Cañas Romero (UNTS),
• arrested on 17 October 1987;
  • - Celedonio Umania and Arturo Umania (ANTA, Santa Ana, Agua Fuerte canton),
• arrested on 19 October 1987;
  • - Rigoberto Orellana López (President of the Coponte Co-operative (San
• Miguel)), and Isabel Ordóñez (ANTA), arrested on 20 October 1987;
  • - Blanca Rosa Mendoza de Benítez, teacher in the French school in Mejicanos
• (ANDES 21 June), arrested on 27 October 1987;
  • - José Sánchez Maravilla Pérez (FSR), arrested on 31 October 1987;
  • - Juan Francisco García Catalán and Luis Alvarenga (ASSTEL), arrested on 11
• November 1987;
  • - Eugenio Alas (Co-operative San Pedro de los Apoyos, Santa Ana), Neftalí
• Pérez, Antonio Lazo Pineda, Simón Alvarado and Lizandro Majano (UNC, San
• Miguel), and Humberto Martínez, Lizandro Alvárez and Rafael Rivera (UNC,
• Morazán), arrested on 16 November 1987;
  • - Mariano Fernández, Ausencio Granados and Alcides Majano (UNC, Santa Ana farm
  • - San Miguel), arrested on 17 November 1987;
  • - Reynaldo García Castro (Secretary-General of the ANC), Carlos Rodríguez
• (Secretary-General of ANTA), Rosario Acosta, Pedro Campos (members of the ANTA
• Executive Committee) and Salvador Ruiz, arrested on 15 December 1987;
  • - Andrés Martínez and Adán Santos, arrested without a warrant on 28 October
    1988. 1988 in San Antonio, La Juanta canton, Metapán, Department of Santa Ana, by
  • members of the Second Infantry Brigade;
  • - María Cristina Mejía, Rufina Figueroa and Herculano Méndez, the latter an
• ANTA official, arrested on 29 October 1988;
  • - Jaime Alejandro Estévez Ortíz, member of the National Association of Workers
• in the Ministry of Agriculture (ANTMAG) and his friend Vilma Gladis Vásquez,
• of the State and Municipal Workers' Co-ordination Council (CCTEM), arrested by
• the National Guard at their home on 24 December 1988;
  • - Mateo Días Bernal, member of the Construction Workers' Trade Union, under
• arrest since 20 February 1989, and Rodolfo Mirando Aquino, a member of the
• same trade union, kidnapped on 24 February 1989 in front of the Cathedral of
• San Salvador;
  • - Santiago Menéndez, of the "2nd of May" Agrarian Reform Co-operative,
• arrested on 11 May 1989 by heavily armed men in civilian clothing at 5 a.m. in
• his home in the town of Nejapa, municipality of San Salvador;
  • - Francisco Pérez Martínez, member of the Executive Committee of the UNTS and
• Organisational Secretary of the FESTIAVTSCES, kidnapped on 25 May 1989 at 9
• a.m. by members of the Rural Police dressed in civilian clothing, who
• apprehended him at 5th Avenue North and 17 Poniente Street in this town,
• pulling him into a coffee-coloured, twin-cabined truck with polarised windows
• and bearing the number plate 25518, which was headed in an unknown direction.
• It is claimed that he is being held at premises belonging to the Rural Police;
  • - Jorge López, member of the Executive Committee of the UNTS and
• Secretary-General of the General Association of Employees of the Finance
• Ministry (AGEMHA), arrested on 26 May 1986 at 7 a.m. by members of both the
• Rural Police and the National Guard who had encircled the headquarters of the
• UNTS;
  • - José Basilio Chévez, Secretary of International Relations of the Salvadorian
• Association of Telecommunication Workers (ASTTEL);
  • - Danilo Umanzor, a worker who was accompanying the two previous persons;
  • - José Gil Magaña, Alfredo Pérez and Hugo Nelson Quintanilla, arrested on 26
    1. May 1989 by police who were searching the headquarters of FENASTRAS, FUSS and
  • the Association of Peasant Communities;
  • - José Antonio Alfaro, Relations Secretary of the ASTIRA, arrested at 7 a.m.
    17. on 17 July 1989 in the town of Santa Ana, by persons dressed in civilian
  • clothing who were travelling in a green jeep without number plates;
  • - Abraham Rivas, Misael Venegas and Rufino Ardón, FESTIAVTSCES officials,
• arrested on 27 July 1989 by members of the Rural Police dressed in civilian
• clothing and strongly armed. Three days later, the officials were released;
  • - Juan José Avila Mendoza, grass-roots member of the Poultry Workers' Trade
• Union (STIAHCES), was arrested by unknown persons at 8 a.m. on 28 July 1989
• near Ciudad Arce. No law enforcement body has assumed responsibility for his
• arrest;
  • - Sergio Antonio Rodrígues, FENASTRAS activist, arrested on 1 August 1989 by
• members of the National Guard dressed in civilian clothing in the town of
• Apopa, San Salvador. The National Guard denies his arrest;
  • - Salvador López Magaña, trade union militant of SOICES, arrested at 11 a.m.
    3. on 3 August 1989 on the La Coruña district, Soyapango, San Salvador by members
  • of the Air Force and, later, transferred to the prison of San Vicente;
  • - Rafael Zepeda González, grass-roots member of the SETA trade union and
• former Finance Secretary of the same union, arrested in Los Planes de
• Renderos, San Salvador, at 10.45 a.m. on 5 August 1989 by heavily armed
• civilians who were travelling in a coffee-coloured twin-cabined vehicle with
• polarised windows and the number plates 19-187. At present, Mr. González is in
• the prison of Mariona;
  • - Filipo Enoc Villalta, of ASTAC, in charge of cultural and artistic training,
• arrested at 8 a.m. on 8 August 1989 by members of the Rural Police on the San
• Antonio de Ayutuxtepeque estate, San Salvador; however, no law enforcement
• agency claims responsibility for his arrest;
  • - Alice Sigüenza, member of ASTAC, arrested at 8 a.m. on 10 August 1989 in her
• home in Mejicanos, San Salvador, by members of the Rural Police in uniform,
• who first searched her house;
  • - Pedro García and Jorge Corea, grass-root members of ATRAME, arrested between
    9. 9 and 10 a.m. on 15 August 1989 in San Marcos, San Salvador, by members of the
  • national police;
  • - Francisco Mejía, First Disputes Secretary of STITAKCES, a member of
• FESTIAVTSCES, arrested by members of the national police on 16 August 1989.
• ANNEX
• ANNEX II
  • (a) Names of trade unionists who, according to the allegations of the ICFTU
• received after the Committee's November 1989 meeting, were imprisioned in
• August and September 1989:
  • - Francisco Massi, militant of the Bread Workers' Trade Union (SELSA), and
• Cristina Chan Chan, arrested on 18 August 1989 by the Air Force;
  • - Inmar Rolando Reyes Flores, an official of the General Association of
• Employees of the Ministry of Agriculture (AGEMHA), arrested on 15 September
  1989. 1989 by members of the Sixth Infantry Brigade, after having received threats
• to his life from one of the so-called "death squads";
  • - David Alberto Garay Gómez, arrested on 21 September 1989 and hospitalised in
• serious condition at the Rosales hospital;
  • - Francisco Martínez, STITAS;
  • - Mario Alberto Palencia, Secretary of Finances, FENASTRAS, General Secretary,
• SIGEBAN;
  • - Rodolfo Arturo Molina, SOICSCES;
  • - Marco Hugo Martínez, UNADES;
  • - Miguel Angel Jiménez, UNADES;
  • - José Daniel López Meléndez, Secretary for Organisation, FENASTRAS, Secretary
• for Education and Culture, SOICSCES;
  • - Felipe Vásquez Miranda, SOICSCES;
  • - Leonardo Beltrán González, Secretary for Disputes, SIDPRA;
  • - Adalberto Martínez Martínez, Second Secretary for Disputes, SETA, and
• Secretary for Economics and Statistics, FENASTRAS;
  • - Carlos Manuel López Barahona, Secretary for Organisation, SOICSCES;
  • - José Vicente Cuchilla Melara, FEUS;
  • - Napoleón Arnoldo Rivas Aras, SOICSCES;
  • - Francisco Ramírez Herrera, Second Secretary for Disputes, SOICSCES;
  • - Pablo López Morales, Secretary for National and International Relations and
• interim General Secretary, SOICSCES;
  • - José Ricardo Guillén Martínez, UES;
  • - Juan Antonio Zetino, Secretary for Press and Propaganda, SOICSCES, Second
• Secretary for Disputes, FENASTRAS;
  • - Juan Antonio Moreno, Subsectional General Secretary for International
• Sports, STITGASC and Secretary of Education and Propaganda, FENASTRAS;
  • - María Isabel Ayala, Secretary for Press and Propaganda, SIDPA;
  • - Ana Aracely López Melgar, UNADES;
  • - Olga Marisol Díaz Tobar, Administrative Secretary, FENASTRAS;
  • - Susana Dolores Rodrígues, General Secretary of the Santa Mercedes
• Subsection, STITAS and Secretary for Minutes and Agreements, FENASTRAS;
  • - Mercedes García Gutiérrez, Secretary for Finances of the Santa Mercedes
• Subsection, STITAS;
  • - Ana Guadalupe Alvarez, STITAS;
  • - María Magdalena Mendoza, COMADRES.
    • (b) Names of those killed and injured by the explosion of a charge of dynamite
  • which destroyed the premises of FENASTRAS on 2 November 1989:
• Persons who were killed:
  • - Febe Elizabeth Velasquez, Secretary for International Relations, UNTS;
  • - José Daniel Meléndez, Disputes Secretary, UNTS;
  • - Luis Gerardo Vasquez;
  • - Rosa Ailola Sarvia de Elias;
  • - Vicente Salvador Melgar;
  • - Ricardo Humberto Cestoni;
  • - Julia Tatiana Mendoza Aguirre;
  • - Carmen Caterina Hernández Ramos;
  • - Anna Patricia Chácon.
• Persons who were injured:
  • - Carlos Enrique Diaz, President of FENASTRAS;
  • - Carolina Rosales;
  • - Silvia Rosales;
  • - Mario Palencia;
  • - Eduardo Molina;
  • - Susana Hernandez;
  • - Marcia Mancias.
    • (c) Officials and militants of the Democratic Workers' Confederation (CTD)
  • who, according to the allegations of the ICFTU, were arrested on 23 January
    1990. 1990 during the assault of the Confederation's premises:
  • - Samuel Maldonado, President;
  • - Altagracia de Urbano, Recording Secretary;
  • - Rivando Chávez, Secretary for International Relations;
  • - Armando Pérez, Second Secretary for Disputes;
  • - Raúl Nolasco, Secretary for Peasant Affairs;
  • - Humerto Cortéz, Secretary for Agricultural Affairs;
  • - Oscar Portillo, representative of STRASALUD;
  • - Juan de Dios Vega, General Secretary, Foodworkers' Trade Union;
  • - Fermín Quintanilla, Foodworkers' Trade Union;
  • - Luis González, Foodworkers' Trade Union;
  • - Tomás Cisneros Lemus, leader of INSICA;
  • - Luis Alonso Moreno, INSICA;
  • - Nelson E. González, INSICA;
  • - Adelio Martínez González, INSICA;
  • - Arcadio Maldonado, brother of the president of the CTD;
  • - José Humberto Carrillo, a leader of the ASTTEL, arrested on 19 January 1990
• and held in the headquarters of the National Guard, without a warrant for his
• arrest.
  • (d) Disappearances of trade unionists denounced by the ICFTU and WCOTP:
    • - Jorge Alberto Villegas, Disputes Secretary of the ANDES, forcibly abducted
  • from his home in Soyapanga by the National Guard on 20 April 1990.
  • (e) Militants and trade union leaders who, according to the allegations of the
• FUSS, were killed or wounded or who disappeared between November 1989 and
• March 1990:
• Persons who were killed:
  • - Rodolfo Andrés Prieto, General Secretary of the SETA trade union, was
• forcefully abducted from his home in the San José district of Soyapando by
• uniformed persons on 19 November 1989. His body was found in the Los Santos
• district on the folowing day;
  • - Miguel Angel Hernandez, member of the Workers' Association of the Rio Lampa
• Hydroelectric Power Plant (ATCEL), murdered in November 1989;
  • - Carlos Humberto Gomez (STISSS), murdered in November 1989;
  • - Raúl Gonzalez (STIMMES), murdered in November 1989;
  • - Luis Colocho, a grass-roots member of SOICSES, was murdered by two persons
• dressed in civilian clothes who claimed to be members of the Salvadorian Air
• Force, in Apopa on 20 March 1990.
• Persons who were wounded during the bombardment of the civilian population of
  19. 19 November 1989:
      • - Oscar Enrique Osorio (ATCEL);
      • - Eduardo Martínez (SETIVU);
      • - Francisco Iginio Iraheta (SETIVU);
      • - Francisco Ramírez (SETIVU);
      • - Juan Francisco Castañeda Pérez (SETIVU).
  20. Persons who, according to the FUSS, disappeared between November 1989 and
• March 1990:
  • - Carlos Miguel Amaya, abducted from the administrative offices of the Social
• Security Institute by men dressed in civilian clothes;
  • - Oscar Arnoldo Aguilar Hernández, Secretary for Propaganda of the STISSS, has
• not been seen since his arrest on 22 November 1989 by members of the
• Paratrooper's Battalion;
  • - Obdulio Morán Morán, a member of the Radio and Television Workers' Trade
• Union (STIRTCAES), and affiliate of the FUSS, disappeared on 20 December;
  • - José Humberto Carrillo, a member of the ASTTEL, was arrested at his home on
    19. 19 January 1990 and has not been seen since;
  • - Héctor Daniel García, a former General Secretary of FESTIAVTSCES, was
• kidnapped by unknown persons on 5 February 1990;
  • - trade unionist Germán Darío García, General Secretary of FESTIAVTSCES, was
• kidnapped by men wearing civilian clothes who were driving a white vehicle
• with polarised windows on 7 February 1990.
  • (f) Trade unionists who, according to the FUSS, were arrested during the
• events of November 1989:
  • - Marta Elena de Rodríguez; Víctor Marroquín; Dolores Chicas; Jorge Lara
• Albeño and Alicia Erazo, all members of the STISSS, arrested in November 1989;
  • - Jorge Calderón, official of the CODYDES;
  • - Mario Palencia, official of FENASTRAS.
    • (g) Other trade unionists who, according to the FUSS, were arrested between
  • November 1989 and April 1990:
  • - Francisco Orlando Mejía, a member of the STITAHKCES trade union, an
• affiliate of FESTIAVTSCES, was arrested along with his wife on 15 November
  1989. 1989 by members of the national police. Mr. Mejía was taken to the Mariona
• prison and released on 5 March 1990, but his wife is still imprisoned;
  • - Juan José Huezo and Susana Dolores Rodríguez, leaders of the FENASTRAS trade
• union federation, were arrested on 16 March and 17 September 1989,
• respectively, and are still imprisoned;
  • - Gerardo Antonio Zaldaña, Juan Zaldaña, Leonardo Pérez and José Eladio
• Zaldaña, all peasant co-operativists, were arrested on 29 December by soldiers
• from the Seventh Military Post;
  • - José Humberto Muñoz, a former member of the Governing Body of the "La Nueva
• del Achotal" Co-operative in San Pedro Mazahual, was arrested at his home by
• members of the Civil Defence on 23 September 1989. Mr. Muñoz is being detained
• at the Zacatecoluca police headquarters;
  • - Zulma Yanira Pérez and Luz Esmeralda Acosta, secretaries of the
  • Co-ordinating Council of State and Municipal Workers (CCTEM), were arrested on
    28. 28 September 1989; they were forced into unidentified vehicles by armed
  • civilians;
  • - Pedro Cruz, General Secretary of the STISSS, Wilma Velásquez, STISSS, and
• Carlos Miguel Mijango, STISSS, all three arrested on 30 September 1989 by
• security forces near the church of San Francisco, where a meeting was being
• held to protest the arrests of the above-mentioned CCTEM secretaries, Pérez
• and Acosta;
  • - Roberto Orellana, Secretary for Youth Matters of FESTIAVTSCES, was arrested
    15. on 15 January near San Joaquín and accused of subversion;
  • - Oscar Marroquín, a former leader of the STISSS, hospitalised in the Social
• Security Institute's hospital since 14 November 1989, was transferred to the
• city of Santa Tecla by members of the military forces;
  • - Ricardo Salvador Ramos and Mario Carranza, members of the UES, were arrested
    20. on 20 December 1989 and 10 January 1990;
  • - Héctor Manual Zapata, an official of the STICSCES and the FUSS, was arrested
    19. on 19 January 1990 by the First Infantry Brigade and accused of subversion. He
  • had already been arrested by the Rural Police on 19 April 1989;
  • - Jorge Alberto Sosa, Porfirio Vigil, Benigno Quinteros (members of SICAFE)
• and Adán Chacón (a leader of the same trade union) were arrested in early
• February 1990 by persons in civilian clothing belonging to the Revolutionary
• Extermination Association (ARDE), an organisation associated with the Death
• Squads that operate in the Department of Santa Ana. They were held in a house
• near the military quarters of that department before being transferred to the
• headquarters of the army's Second Infantry Brigade. They claim to have been
• savagely tortured. They were released later that month.