November 20, 1989 50°

Vol. 52, No.42

New danger of intervention looms as El Salvador right triggers war

== The reported massacre of the leaders of

the Catholic University was being investi- gated Thursday as fighting in El Salvador intensified last week. Government forces were bombing civilians as the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front continued its military action, dubbed “Down with the fascists — Febe Elizabeth Lives,” against the right-wing government of President Alfredo Cristiani.

FMLN fighters were engaging army troops in eight of the 14 departments — administrative districts akin to provinces — while government forces strafed neighbour- hoods and killed civilians in an effort to dislodge liberation fighters in the capital of San Salvador. The FMLN launched 25 simultaneous actions around 8 p.m., El Sal- vador time, on Nov. 11 in response to death squad bombings of a trade union office and the headquarters of a women’s organization last month which killed 10 and left dozens wounded.

In Vancouver last Tuesday members of the newly formed B.C.-El Salvador Support Committee demonstrated outside the offi- ces of the United States consul, demanding an end to U.S. aid to the ARENA — National Republican Alliance — govern- ment and a negotiated settlement to the conflict in the Central American nation.

Meanwhile, the El Salvador Information fr. 4, eo 3 > : Centre in Vancouver was attempting to : tf a fog! : ~ a ie confirm reports Thursday that death

3 ita os ae wan we =©squads tortured and murdered the entire Demonstrators demand an end to foreign intervention and a negotiated settlement to the nine-year-old war in El Salvador, ene ES ae of the age Uni- outside the U.S. consulate in Vancouver on Nov. 14. versity IN san salvador, and that troops

from the neighbouring countries of Gua- temala and Honduras, which have assisted the Salvadoran military in the past, were moving towards the border.

The FMLN suspended the peace dia- logue with the ARENA government and launched their military action as a response to the Oct. 31 bombings of the offices of FENASTRAS (the National Federation of Salvadoran Workers Union) and COM- ARDES (the Mothers Committee of Pri- soners and Disappeared). The FENAS- TRAS bombing took 10 lives, including that of garment worker Febe Elizabeth Velasquez, a member of the executive committee of the Salvadoran National Unity of Workers (UNTS).

The front launched military actions in several parts of the country, including nine neighbourhoods in the capital and on key facilities: the National Guard headquarters, the First Infantry Brigade, the Police Academy, the Air Force base and the presi- dential palace. Attacks were also launched against the Ist Military Detachment in Cha- latenango department, the 2nd Infantry Brigade in Santa Ana city, and the Compal- apa International Airport in La Paz

Soviet, U.S. and Canadian youth display international friendship at : the international border crossing at see DEATH = Peace Arch park on Nov. 14. Stu- pag

dents form Siberia have been tour- ing B.C. at the invitation of a Maple Ridge based group of educators, the Canadian-Soviet Friendship Exchange project. See People and Issues, page 4.

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