EL SALVADOR'S OTHER VICTIMS': THE WAR ON THE DISPLACED

Transcription

1 , s EL SALVADOR'S OTHER VICTIMS': THE WAR ON THE DISPLACED April 1984 The Lawyers Committee for International Human Rights Americas Watch

2 EL SALVADOR'S OTHER VICTIMS' THE WAR ON THE DISPLACED Table of Contents I. II. I I I. IV. v. Preface.. Introduction Summary of Findings and Recommendations A. Findings Recommendations 1. For the United States 2. For El Salvador. 3. For Relief Agencies 4. For the FMLN Background A. Numbers of Displaced Persons Where Displaced Persons Live C. Reasons for and History of Displacement 1. Death Squad and Other Violence 2. War-Related Violence Protection Problems in Conflicted and FMLN-Controlled Zones A. Bombing the Displaced in Suchitoto i

3 VI. Bombing the Displaced Gathered to Receive ICRC Assistance. C. ICRC Role in El Salvador 1. Laws Governing ICRC Participation 2. ICRC Internal Criteria for Participation. 3. ICRC Activities in El Salvador Protection Problems in Government-Controlled Zones A. Salvadoran Government Attitude toward the Nonregistered Displaced Violations of Human Rights of Relief Workers 1. The Lutheran Relief Workers 2. The Relief Workers Associated with the Catholic Church 3. Relief Workers in Rural Areas C. Attacks on the Camps by Military and Security Forces D. Surveillance of the Camps and Detention and Killing of Displaced Persons Outside of Camps E. The Pacification Program: Forced Relocation of Displaced Persons to Conflicted Areas. 1. Structure and Purpose of CONARA 2. Use of Food to Force Relocation F. Lost Identification Cards.. Page ,go VII. VIII. Page G. The Private Relief Organizations 92 The Registration Program: Weighing Assistance Against Personal Security 101 A. CONADES Background Budget and Duties Central Organization Local Organization Food Distribution 107 Registration Program 111 c. The Justifiable Fears and the Grisly Choice 113 Current Conditions of Displaced People 116 A. Introduction The Camp/Non-Camp Breakdown Age and Sex Breakdown Unemployment Education and Illiteracy 121 Non-Government Locations Visited Fe y Esperanza, Nejapa, Near san Salvador La Libertad Seminary of San Jose de 1a Montana, San Salvador 130 ii iii

4 4. Bethania, La Libertad Department 134 x. Health Conditions of Displaced Persons A. General Considerations San Roque, San Salvador C. Government-Assisted Camps Visited 1. San Marcos, San Salvador The Shortage of Medical personnel. 2. Increase in Rate of Endemic Disease IX. 2. Santa Tecla Municipal, Near San Salvador El Campo and El Tiangue in San Francisco Gotera, Morazan Department The Role of the United States A. United States Attitudes Toward the Displaced Under ICRC Care Attitudes to the Displaced in Government-Controlled Zones c. D. 1. Protection of Those Fleeing Government Repression. 2. The Registration Program 3. CONARA 4. Resultant Mistrust of the U.S. by Non-Governmental Relief Workers and the Displaced United States Support for CONADES and CONARA United States Assistance to the Displaced 1. Emergency Health and Jobs for Displaced Families Project XI. observations on the Health situation of Displaced Persons 1. Sanitation and Water 2. Nutrition 3. Disease. 4. Preventive Medicine C. Medical Care 1. Non-Government Camps 2. Government Camps D. U.S. Health Programs The for A. 1. Health for Displaced Families 2. Health Systems Vitalization Project.. Legal Framework of Protection the Displaced. International Law Protecting Victims of Non-International Armed Conflict (Geneva Conventions) 1. Protocol II P.L. 480 Food for Peace. 162 v iv

5 Protection of Article 13 Protocol II Against Bombing of Noncombatants Forcible Relocation of Displaced Persons.by CONARA to Contested Zones Vlolates Article 17 Protocol I I..... ~ ~iscrimination and Harassment ln ~he Provision of Care Violates Artlcles 7 and 10 of Protocol I I.. S. Common Article 3 and Customary International Law International Refugee Law The Rule of UNCHR UNBRO and Other Independent Agencies A. c. D. E. F. List of Appendices Homily of Monsignor Archbishop Arturo Rivera y Damas of San Salvador, August 14, 1983 on Repression of the Displaced and Relief Workers Municipalities with Greatest Density of Registered Displaced Persons (March 1983). Provisions of Protocols I and II of the Geneva Conventions Applicable to the Displaced. Archdiocesan Relief Workers Recently Detained and Tortured AgejSex Breakdown of Non-Registered Displaced Residing in Camps Visited, January AgejSex Breakdown of Non-Registered Displaced Residing in Archdiocesan Camps, G. Excerpts from CONADES Study entitled: 11 Problematica" (September 1983) H. Discussion of Domestic Salvadoran Law and International Human Rights Law Applicable to the Displaced I. UNHCR Assistance to Displaced Persons J. Chart Showing Fluctuation In the Numbers of the Registered Displaced Population K. Map of El Salvador Showing Departments vi vii