ON 24 March, Archbishop Oscar Romero gunned down by rightists after counselling Salvadoran troops to 'heed the law of God' and halt the killing.
Several weeks before his death, Romero wrote to President Carter pleading with him not to give more military aid to junta. His letter prompted by news that US Congress was considering a $5.7m emergency military aid package for Salvadoran generals.
"The contribution of your government, instead of favouring greater justice and peace in will undoubtealy sharpen the repression', charged Romero The package was duly approved by Congress on 1 April.
As noted by was Friends Service Committee, the eauipment 1,500 CS tear-gas grenades, 250 'Manpack' radios, thousands of batteries, and an unspecified number of tear-gas grenades launchers. Another item was fifty portable night-vision devices observation and was weapons targeting. the perfected for use in Vietnam.
For fiscal year 1981, the Carter administration has asked Congress to approve even more openly combat-oriented aid. This includes helicopters, jeeps, patrol boats, engines, and parachutes.
All this is totally separate from the 'private' arms sales to El Salvador, which require approval by the US government. According to a congressional Ine American combat tral America, Guatemala.
for since 1962, night-time These were 1190 per person per year. cultivable land.
Salvadoran workers.
aco, US Steel and more.
people for their freedom.