SALVADORAN SITREP AS OF 2400 LOCAL TIME 6 JULY 1968

Created: 7/6/1968

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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subject: salvadoran sitrep as0 local

uly

acqi el salvador, san salvador (july

field no.

source! thisalvadoran situation report II ICI

rowd variously estimatedncluding many curious bystanders gathered in the par que libert ad following the demonstration AT. embassy. the gathering was orderly. students making speeches received enthusiastic applause from THE hardcore center of the crowd, but bystanders on the edges appeared indifferent or amused. demonstrators then went to theentral salvador where they burned another effigy, threw stones, and broke several car windows. (source! competent american observers)

2. after the MAIN demonstration in the downtown plaza broke up at0 hours, small groups of leader-less militants began wandering around town drinking and looxing FORe. one of these broke some windows in the national palace and WAS wounded by shotsoliceman. at this point several deputies in the national legislative assembly left the building and argued with the police over their tactics. police reinforcements arrivedevere altercation with the deputies ensued. (source! onduran leftist with access to pces militants and leaders and WHO witnessed the reportedfield comment! the deputies may be expected tolood of protest over the incident which may

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SECURITY FORCES IMMEDIATELYREINFORCEMENTS AROUND THE NATIONAL PALACE,CONTROL TROOPS WITH TEAR GAS BACKED UP BY NONE OF THESE WERE NEEDED, HOWEVER. WERE SENT OUT TO ARREST ALL" PROPAGANDADEMONSTRATORS STILL ON THE STREETS. ORCES ASSESSED THE SITUATION AS ALL CLEAR.

ELIABLE, SENSITIVE SOURCE.)

STUDENT GROUPS ARE HOPING TOUNIVERSITY JOURNALIST INTOULY ODECAORDER TO ATTEMPT TO POSE EMBARRASSING QUESTIONS. OP THE LIST OF PRESS ACCREDTATIONS SHOWEDVELANOWN COMMUNISTOMMUNIST WRITER FOR THEPUBLICATION "OPINION ESTUDIANTIL,"ACCREDITATION. THE SALVADORAN SECURITYTO TAKE AWAY THEIR PRESS CARDS. (SOURCE: AN OFFICIAL

SALVADORAN SERVICE.)

STUDENT LEADERS HAVE LEARNED THATROUTE WILL BE WELL-GUARDED, THEY HAVETO PAINT SLOGANS AND PUT UP BANNERS THERE.DECIDED NOT TO SEND DEMONSTRATORS TO THE AIRPORT

ULY, BUT TO CONCENTRATE THEIR FORCES0 HOURS AT THE CIRCLE ON PASEO INDEPENDENCE THE BUS TERMINAL. THEY ARELYER URGING SPECTATORS ALONG THE MOTORCADE ROUTE TO THROW EGGS AND STONES. ES STUDENT WITH FRIENDS AMONG LEFTIST MILITANTS, AND AN OFFICIAL SALVADORAN SERVICE.) (FIELD COMMENT: COPIES OF THIS LEAFLET WERE FOUND THE EVENINGULY BY AMERICAN OBSERVERS.) ASULY, LEFTIST STUDENT LEADERS WERE NOT PLANNING ANY PROTEST ACTIVITIES FOR

ULY.

COMMENT: THE CONSENSUS AMONG OBSERVERSEVENTS IS THAT, WHILE THEOISY AND NOTICEABLE, THEY WERE CARRIED OUT BYLIMITED NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO APPEARED TOMORE BY PRANKISH SPIRITS THAN BY REALSMALL NUMBER OF THE DEMONSTRATORS AREDANGEROUS, BUT THE SECURITY FORCES HAVETHE DETERMINATION AND THE CAPACITY TO CONTROLSITUATIONS. THE GREAT MAJORITY OFHAS NO INTEREST IN HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS, OF THE UNPRECEDENTED INTERNATIONALTO EL SALVADOR BY THE PRESIDENTIAL REUNION,

AND SHOULD ACCORD PRESIDENT JOHNSON AN EXTERMELY CORDIAL RECEPTION).

DISSEMi STATE, DEFENSE, USIS, FBI,CINCSO, CINCLANT.

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Original document.

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