STATEMENT BY SALVADORAN AIR FORCE CHIEF THAT THE DEFENSE MINISTER MUST RESIGN SOON

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06629216
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: March 8, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2019
• Case Number: F-2017-01057
• Publication Date: February 5, 1983

Approved for Release: 2019/07/29 C06629216
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Document:CIAA -0000 462852 Subject:
STATEMENT BY SALVADORAN AIR FORCE CHIEF THAT THE
DEFENSE MINISTER MUST RESIGN SOONC 12927CIAA 462852 M5083-0447398
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TOT: 052224Z FEB 83
CIA 462852
052224ZCIA 462852
TO: IMMEDIATE DIRNSA, DEPT OF STATE, DIA, TREASURY DEPT,
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
STAFF, ZEN/CIA OFFICE OF CURRENT OPERATIONS,
USCINCSO QHTS PANAMA.
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WARNING: INFO TION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
REPORT CLASS S E T WNINTEL
COUNTRY: EL SALVADOR
SUBJ: STATEMENT BY SALVADORAN AIR FORCE CHIEF THAT THE
DEFENSE MINISTER MUST RESIGN SOON
TEXT: 1. CHIEF OF THE SALVADORAN AIR FORCE
(FAS), COLONEL JUAN RAFAEL ((BUSTILLO)), SAID THAT HE WAS NOT
INVOLVED IN COUP PLOTTING TO REMOVE MINISTER OF DEFENSE,
GENERAL JOSE GUILLERMO ((GARCIA)), FROM OFFICE. HOWEVER,
BUSTILLO SAID THAT HE AND A GREAT MANY OTHER MILITARY OFFICERS
OPPOSED GARCIA'S CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
2. BUSTILLO WAS ADAMANT THAT GARCIA MUST LEAVE OFFICE
QUICKLY. BUSTILLO SAID THAT THE PRESSURE FOR GARCIA'S REMOVAL
WILL CONTINUE TO MOUNT AND INFERRED THAT IT COULD REACH AN
INTOLERABLE LEVEL SHOULD GARCIA ATTEMPT TO REMAIN IN OFFICE.
3.
BUSTILLO DISCOUNTED ANY POLITICAL
SEGfE
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MOTIVATIONS ON THE PART OF OFFICERS WHO OPPOSES GARCIA. THIS
MAY BE BECAUSE BUSTILLO HIMSELF IS FOCUSING ONLY ON THE STATE
OF AFFAIRS IN THE MILITARY AND DOES NOT SEE THAT OTHERS MAY BE
POLITICALLY INFLUENCED.)
4. WHEN ASKED IF HE AND OTHER ARMED FORCES OFFICERS WHO
OPPOSE GARCIA WOULD LIMIT THEMSELVES TO LEGAL MEANS TO REMOVE HIM,
BUSTILLO DODGED THE QUESTION SAYING THAT THE WAR WAS GOING POORLY
AND THAT AN EXPERIENCED SOLDIER MUST TAKE OVER ITS MANAGEMENT
QUICKLY. BUSTILLO SAID THAT GENERAL CARLOS EUGENIO ((VIDES))
CASANOVA, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL GUARD, WAS THE
LOGICAL PERSON TO SUCCEED GARCIA, ALTHOUGH BUSTILLO WAS
CONCERNED BECAUSE VIDES HAS NO COMBAT EXPERIENCE.
5. BUSTILLO DENIED THAT AIR FORCE OFFICERS IN GENERAL
WERE SYMPATHETIC TO THE NATIONALIST REPUBLICAN ALLIANCE (ARENA)
AND RECEPTIVE TO STAGING A COUP AGAINST GARCIA FOR POLITICAL
REASONS. BUSTILLO SAID THAT FAS PILOTS ARE IN TOUCH WITH THE
WAR THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND THEREFORE THEY HAVE A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE WAR IS DEVELOPING. BUSTILLO SAID
THAT AS A RESULT THESE OFFICERS SEE FIRST HAND THE MISMANAGMENT
OF THE WAR AND UNNECESSARY LOSSES IN MEN AND MATERIEL. THIS
KNOWLEDGE HAS LED THEM TO COALESCE IN OPPOSITION TO GARCIA.
BUSTILLO SAID THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF OPPOSITION TO GARCIA'S
LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THE ARMED FORCES AND IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE
TO VIEW OPPOSITION AS CONCENTRATED ONLY IN THE AIR FORCE.
6. BUSTILLO SAID THAT HE AND OTHER AIR FORCE OFFICERS
OPPOSE GARCIA SOLELY FOR MISMANAGEMENT OF THE WAR. BUSTILLO
LISTED A SERIES OF PROBLEMS THAT GARCIA HAS CAUSED, INCLUDING
INATTENTION TO THE WAR WHILE PURSUING POLITICS AND FAVORITISM
TOWARD INEPT OFFICERS WHO ARE LOYAL TO HIM. BUSTILLO WAS
MOST EXERCISED OVER THE CASE OF LTC. SIGIFREDO ((OCHOA)) PEREZ.
BUSTILLO UNDERSCORED WHAT HE CALLED THE ILLOGICAL DECISION ON
GARCIA'S PART TO REMOVE OCHOA, AN EXPERIENCED SOLDIER, FROM HIS
COMBAT ROLE AND SEND HIM OFF TO URUGUAY AS MILITARY ATTACHE
DURING THIS CRUCIAL PERIOD.
7. BUSTILLO ACCUSED GARCIA OF SPREADING COUP RUMORS AS
AN EFFORT TO STAY IN OFFICE. HE SAID THAT TALK ABOUT AIR FORCE
OFFICERS BEING INFLUENCED BY ARENA HAD NOT CIRCULATED UNTIL
THESE OFFICERS BEGAN TO CRITICIZE GARCIA. BUSTILLO WAS UPSET
AT THE IDEA THAT HE MIGHT BE VIEWED AS A COUP PLOTTER
AND REITERATED HIS SOLE INTEREST IN HAVING GARCIA REPLACED AND
SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTING THE WAR. HE DENIED RUMORS ACCUSING
HIM OF WANTING TO BE MINISTER OF DEFENSE OR EVEN THE PRESIDENT.
REPORT CLASSSECRET--WARNING NOTICE-
-DISSEMINATION AND EXTRACTION
SECRET
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OF INFORMATION CONTROLLED BY ORIGINATOR.DECL:
ALL PORTIONS CARRY CLASSIFICATION AND CONTROLS OF OVERALL DOCUMENT.
>
RECORDED REPORTING OFFICER.
SECRET
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