EL SALVADOR: REBEL ARMY COLONEL OCHOA IN FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE RESIGNING HIS COMMAND.

Record ID: 588433

  • Title: EL SALVADOR: REBEL ARMY COLONEL OCHOA IN FIRST INTERVIEW SINCE RESIGNING HIS COMMAND.
  • Date: 26th January 1983
  • Summary: 1. SCU Colonel Sigifredo Ochoa Perez speaking and replying to question from reporter (SPANISH SOT) 2.13 InitialsRdel/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 10th February 1983 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR
  • Country: El Salvador
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2H07FSWQPGJA1LEP9SB5CNXEY
  • Story Text: SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR

    The El Salvador army colonel who staged a five day rebellion in the second week of January, has spoken for the first time about mutiny. Lieutenant-Colonel Sigifredo Ochoa Perez was the garrison of Cabanas Province when he demanded the resignation of Defence Minister Jose Guillermo Garcia on January 7 and refused to recognise his authority. Leftists guerrillas took advantage of h army split to launch an offensive. Colonel Ochoa has since returned to his home in San Salvador, where he gave this exclusive interview to a Visnews reporter. Asked why he compiled with the order to relinquish his command, Colonel Ochoa said the directive had come from President Alvaro Magana, not Defence Minister Garcia. He said there was widespread discontent in the armed forces over the way war against left-wing forces was being waged and claimed 95 per cent of military garrisons wanted the defence minister to resign. He said Jose Garcia had from 60 to 90 days to step down, otherwise there would be a military rebellion. Asked how he now viewed his actions. Colonel Ochoa said that someone had to call attention to what he described as "the corrupt way the war is being waged". He said it was not just a matter of money, but the way officers were being rotated. He claimed he had been assured by High Command that he would remain in Cabanas, then two days later he was ordered to Uruguay. Colonel Ochoa said he was then accused of trying to stage a coup, but said he was an anti-Marxist, centrist soldier -- not a politician. It has since been revealed the mutiny was settled with a comprise, which provided for Colonel Ochoa to go to Washington to study at the Inter-American Defence Council, one of the six war colleges in the United States.

    <strong>Source: REUTERS - BORIS PINKAS</strong>
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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