nb Hirch ion
subject: hpsci Bequest (or inforaation on Background on
JtGU It "Ulinqb
Following a file review of n pertinent to the aurders of the Jaault priests and tbe two voian at tbe university of cantral America on lf> November we find no confirmed evidence that than Air poree coamander Juan Rafael Buetlllo Toledo waa directly Involved In tha planning and/or eitcutlon Of these auiders.
eaid, ineri naad reporting wttich indlcatea that ha aay have bean privy to tha fact that e
dec ii. ion had been aade to kill tha prlaata at soas tlae prior to the aurdara. The debate concerning General Bustlllo's prior knowledge of the Jeiuit nurdera cantera around e tlalng of eeting reported to have occurred aoaetlae during the afternoon of is uoveaber 9 at tbe salvadoran Military school, patella concerning ade about thle aeetlng have been previously published in the Tlaea, and include Information
peased to Staff Delegates ol rongreeeaan John Hoaklay (D) of Haaaachuaette during their vIn 11 to cl Salvador in August individuals reported to have been in attendance at this Beating include the Chief of the joint Staff Colonel acne ponce. General Buatlllo, the Directors of the National Police and National intelligence Directorate, and aeveral other high-ranking ryete. unfortunately, all records pertaining to the preaence of any ol these oflicers at the military School were destroyed by one of the eonepliat ors.
2. if, as soae repotting indicates, this meeting took place prior to the tine colonel Gulllermo Benavidva, the Military School Coaaander , leeued his orders to the lieutenants who carried out the murders, then General Bustlllo's level of involveaenl in the aurderfc might be greater then previously indicated. General hu&lillu lias hettn reliably linked to human lights abuaes in the past, and hit. history lendu soae credence to reports of his eat'iil in tlir Jesuit case.
Mppruved for Raieasa3
There is othoi il oim, however, suggesting that Genera) Bustillo'e role may have been mote passive) that la, he may have known of n and Old nothing to prev.ent It] or he was only Involved in the subt>eguent ooverup. One report etateo that colonel Benevidee went lo ceneial Buetillo for edvice after be received orders lo kill lhe jeaulte. General Buatlllo |s purported to have responded thai 'a good soldier follows ordere and does not question them,' Another report states that General Bustlllo offered a tewaid of some coveted irsining to one o| the lieutenants implicated in the klllingi..
We hope the above n has been of eome
nci-. While we cannot confirm thai General Buetillo had any role in the muidere or the biilmeguent coveiup. It la not outside the realm of possibility that he did cither approve the action, or at least et/suppoit the initial coveiup. fts with all of the Information surfacing about who in the salvadoran military was involved In the jeeult suiders, reporting about General Buetillo 1b tainted by the political agendas of the reporting souiret who have a tendency to want to aettle old ecores with their rlvels ln the military esth men t.
Original document.
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