In addition to the information provided in Response to Information Request SLV11687 of 14 September 1992 and the information available through the Indexed Media Review (IMR) at your Regional Documentation Centre, please find attached some reports that refer to threats, murders and assassination attempts which have been attributed to paramilitary groups known commonly as death squads and possibly to others with political motivations. The most comprehensive summary of developments during the requested period currently available to the DIRB is a section from the Human Rights Watch World Report 1993 (attached to this Response). This report states the following:
Since the beginning of the cease-fire on February 1, 1992, the number of human rights violations in El Salvador greatly diminished. [...] Nonetheless, politically motivated killings, death threats, mistreatment of prisoners by government forces and attacks aimed at opposition trade unions, popular organizations, and media continued, albeit at much-reduced levels. Late in 1992, as compliance with the peace accord began to cut deeply into the power of the armed forces, clandestine groups stepped up threats against members of the FMLN. The near-complete and ongoing paralysis of the judicial system continued to ensure that the Salvadoran state, if not guilty of direct involvement in abuses, was complicit by failing to investigate or to take preventive action (Human Rights Watch Dec. 1992, 107).

Amnesty International reported the following in September 1992:

[...] several trade union activists in El Salvador have been targets of killings and death threats. While neither the identity nor the motive of the perpetrators is clear, the pattern of killings of trade unionists involved in labour disputes and the failure of the authorities to investigate them thoroughly, suggests the involvement of government forces, or agents acting with their complicity (Amnesty International Urgent Action 3 Sept. 1992).

The 1992 year-end summary of the Latin American Weekly Report states that "right wing death squads continue active" in El Salvador, without providing details (Latin American Newsletters 24 Dec. 1992, 8), while the attached Americas Watch report discusses the obstacles and difficulties faced in determining the authors and motives of threats and assassinations (Americas Watch 2 Sept. 1992, 22-23).

Please consult the attached documents for more information on the subject.

References

Americas Watch. 2 September 1992. News From Americas Watch. Vol. 4, No. 8. "El Salvador: Peace and Human Rights: Successes and Shortcomings of the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)." New York: Human Rights Watch.

Amnesty International. 3 September 1992. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AMR 29/09/92). London: Amnesty International.

Human Rights Watch. December 1992. Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Latin American Newsletters. 24 December 1992. Latin American Weekly Report. "Mexico & Central America" (Year-end summary). London: Latin American Newsletters.

Attachments

Americas Watch. 2 September 1992. News From Americas Watch. Vol. 4, No. 8. "El Salvador: Peace and Human Rights: Successes and Shortcomings of the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador (ONUSAL)." New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 22-23.

Amnesty International. 3 September 1992. Urgent Action. (AI Index: AMR 29/09/92). London: Amnesty International.

Central America Report [Guatemala]. 18 September 1992. "El Salvador: Acts of Violence Reported During July and August, 1992." (Statistical table)

_____. 28 August 1992. "Wobbly Peace Process Back on Track."

The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 2 September 1992. David Clark Scott. "UN Urged to Sharpen Its Focus on Salvador Human Rights Abuses." (NEXIS)

Human Rights Watch. December 1992. Human Rights Watch World Report 1993. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 105-112.

Reuters. 24 August 1992. AM Cycle. "U.N. Says Serious Human Rights Abuses Continue in El Salvador." (NEXIS)

United Press International (UPI). 12 August 1992. BC Cycle. Daniel Alder. "Salvadoran Rebels Denounce Death-Squad Killings." (NEXIS)