Current situation of the National Guard (which the government officially announced had been abolished in March 1992), particularly on whether its headquarters were still in existence from 1992 to 1994 [SLV16596.E]

On 2 March 1992, the Salvadoran government officially disbanded the old National Guard (UPI 2 Mar. 1992). Later in the spring of 1992 the Salvadoran government was accused of trying to keep the National Guard alive by creating the Military Police, which amounted to little more than a simple change of name (Central America Report 10 Apr. 1992, 8 May 1992; Central America Newspak 19 Apr. 1992; UPI 27 Apr. 1992). Although it was supposed to be disbanded on 1 March 1992, the National Guard was still in place in mid-April and early May (Central America Newspak 19 Apr. 1992; Le Monde 23 Apr. 1992; The Washington Post 2 May 1992).

Of the 7,000 police officers working for the National Guard and the Treasury Police when they were disbanded in March 1992, 4,000 were expected to be integrated into the army, and 3,000 to resign (Le Devoir 3 Mar. 1992). Because of delays in forming the new National Civilian Police (PNC), the Salvadoran government transferred 1,200 former members of the National Guard and the Treasury Police to the "National Police" to fight crime before new recruits could be formed (The Boston Globe 24 July 1992). In September 1992, shortly after the actual training of PNC recruits started, it was estimated that 20 per cent of the new police force would be former rebels, 20 per cent of former national police agents, and 60 per cent civilians (Central America Newspak 20 Sept. 1992). However, according to the head of the United Nations Observers' Mission in El Salvador, the government was attempting to recruit former soldiers by permitting them to conceal their past experience and apply as "civilians" (Central America Update 13 Nov. 1992). The nomination of army officers to head the PNC was another area of disagreement that the FMLN deemed to be contrary to the peace accords (AFP 3 May 1993). It is not clear from the reports whether any of these soldiers and officers belonged to the National Guard, formerly a part of the army.

An October 1993 article states that the "National Police" remains active (Reuters 22 Oct. 1993), and that death squad killings have resumed in El Salvador (ibid.; AFP 5 Nov. 1993). This may be due in part to the fact that "units from the old [police] force have been transferred into the new one without screening those accused of past rights abuse" (The Christian Science Monitor 21 Dec. 1993). The problem is likely to continue, however, since the director of the new police academy has accepted members of the officially dissolved National Guard and Treasury Police as cadets in the training program for the PNC officer corps (Human Rights Watch 1993, 110).

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.

References


Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 November 1993. "U.N. Demands Salvadoran Authorities Bring Assassins to Justice." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 May 1993. Frederic Castel. "La guerrilla salvadorienne accuse le gouvernement de ne pas respecter les accords de paix." (NEXIS)

The Boston Globe. 24 July 1992. City Edition. Steve Fainaru. "An Uneasy Peace for El Salvador; A Crime Problem Pushes Former Enemies Together to Form a Security Force." (NEXIS)

Central America Newspak [Austin, Tx]. 20 September 1992. "Funds Channeled to New Police Force." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 April 1992. "FMLN Decides to Postpone Demobilization and Turning Over Weapons." (NEXIS)

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 8 May 1992. "El Salvador." (NEXIS)

_____. 10 April 1992. "Patching up the Peace Process." (NEXIS)

Central America Update [Toronto]. 13 November 1992. "Summary of Developments: Implementation of Salvadoran Peace Accords and Related Events." (NEXIS)

The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 21 December 1993. Lucia Mouat. "Wave of Violence Threatens Salvadoran Vote." (NEXIS)

Le Devoir [Montréal]. 3 March 1992. "Deux corps de police dissous au Salvador."

Human Rights Watch 1993. Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Le Monde [Paris]. 23 April 1992. "Salvador: La guérilla du FMLN craint l'échec du plan de paix." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 22 October 1993. Alberto Barrera. "U.N. Concerned at Death Squad Killings in El Salvador." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 27 April 1992. BC Cycle. Daniel Alder. "Salvadoran Peace Process Runs into Trouble." (NEXIS)

_____. 2 March 1992. BC Cycle. Daniel Alder. "Salvadoran Labor Activist Found Dead." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 2 May 1992. Final Edition. Tom Gibb. "Mutual Accusations Stall Salvadoran Peace Accord." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 5 November 1993. "U.N. Demands Salvadoran Authorities Bring Assassins to Justice." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 May 1993. Frederic Castel. "La guerrilla salvadorienne accuse le gouvernement de ne pas respecter les accords de paix." (NEXIS)

The Boston Globe. 24 July 1992. City Edition. Steve Fainaru. "An Uneasy Peace for El Salvador; A Crime Problem Pushes Former Enemies Together to Form a Security Force." (NEXIS)

Central America Newspak [Austin, Tx]. 20 September 1992. "Funds Channeled to New Police Force." (NEXIS)

_____. 19 April 1992. "FMLN Decides to Postpone Demobilization and Turning Over Weapons." (NEXIS)

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 8 May 1992. "El Salvador." (NEXIS)

_____. 10 April 1992. "Patching up the Peace Process." (NEXIS)

Central America Update [Toronto]. 13 November 1992. "Summary of Developments: Implementation of Salvadoran Peace Accords and Related Events." (NEXIS)

The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 21 December 1993. Lucia Mouat. "Wave of Violence Threatens Salvadoran Vote." (NEXIS)

Le Devoir [Montréal]. 3 March 1992. "Deux corps de police dissous au Salvador."

Human Rights Watch 1993. Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Le Monde [Paris]. 23 April 1992. "Salvador: La guérilla du FMLN craint l'échec du plan de paix." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 22 October 1993. Alberto Barrera. "U.N. Concerned at Death Squad Killings in El Salvador." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 27 April 1992. BC Cycle. Daniel Alder. "Salvadoran Peace Process Runs into Trouble." (NEXIS)

_____. 2 March 1992. BC Cycle. Daniel Alder. "Salvadoran Labor Activist Found Dead." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 2 May 1992. Final Edition. Tom Gibb. "Mutual Accusations Stall Salvadoran Peace Accord." (NEXIS)