Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 18 Nov 1993

Vol. 435 No. 11

Written Answers. - Human Rights Violations in El Salvador.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

5 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the recent revelations with regard to US involvement with death squad activities in El Salvador, he intends to raise the matter with the United Nations with a view to getting further clarification of the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

The question of death squad activities in El Salvador during the 12 year civil war in that country has been the subject of UN sponsored investigations since the signing of the Salvadorean Peace Accords in 1992.

Under the terms of those accords two investigative commissions were established, the ad hoc Investigative Commission and the Truth Commission, to examine the issue of human rights violations in El Salvador, including the question of murder and death squad activities involving members of the armed forces, the administration and the judiciary.

Both commissions have published their reports naming those responsible for such violations and recommending their immediate dismissal and exclusion from the armed forces and all forms of public office. A number of these recommendations have been implemented but in certain cases the holders of high office remain in power. The UN Secretary General is actively engaged in efforts to bring about the full implementation of the Truth Commission's recommendations which has now become more urgent following recent assassinations in El Salvador of leading FMLN members and landowners.

On 3 November last the Secretary General mandated the Human Rights Director of ONUSAL, the United Nations Observer Mission in El Salvador to investigate the recent murders and the activities of private armed groups in El Salvador and to work with the Salvadorean authorities and others to try to bring about the full implementation of the Truth Commission's recommendations.