Information on the above-mentioned topic could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

Please see the attached documents for recent passing references to possible threats faced by members of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. One document cites a high-ranking member of the Catholic Church in El Salvador as saying that "as for the church ... when people begin to put faith into practice, they begin to be observed as suspect and are questioned" (National Catholic Reporter 22 Nov. 1996). The other attachment states that "in El Salvador ... occasionally the mere threat of persecution is used as a way to air grievances, as in a recent case involving labourers who occupied several Catholic churches to push their case for higher wages" (The Times Union 3 Feb. 1996).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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 sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

National Catholic Reporter. 22 November 1996. Dorothy Vidulich. "Salvadoran Peace Shaky, Says Diocesan Official, Ricardo Urioste." (NEXIS)

The Times Union [Albany, NY]. 3 February 1996. Steven Heilbronner. "Pope Will Talk of Peace in Central America." (NEXIS)

Attachments

National Catholic Reporter. 22 November 1996. Dorothy Vidulich. "Salvadoran Peace Shaky, Says Diocesan Official, Ricardo Urioste." (NEXIS)

The Times Union [Albany, NY]. 3 February 1996. Steven Heilbronner. "Pope Will Talk of Peace in Central America." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Central America NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. Bi-weekly.

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. Weekly.

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). Daily Report.

Latin America Regional Reports: Central America & the Caribbean [London]. Monthly.

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. Weekly.

Material from the Indexed Media Review (IMR) or country files containing articles and reports from diverse sources (primarily dailies and periodicals) from the Weekly Media Review.

Internet, Global NewsBank, Nexis, IRB, USINS and UNHCR databases.

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Subject- and country-specific books available in the Resource Centre are not included.