Saturday, March 26, 2005
Col. Jacobo Esdras Salan Sanchez
Clandestine Powers: A 1974 graduate of the School of the Americas and a 1979 graduate of the military academy (Escuela Politécnica), Jacobo Esdras Salán Sánchez is said to be a member of La Cofradía. He worked at the Army Intelligence Directorate (D-2) in the late 80s and 90s. In 1996, he was dismissed from the army because of his involvement in the contraband ring run by Alfredo Moreno.
Salán has been accused by numerous human rights organizations of participation in the 1989 kidnapping and assassination of several students from the University of San Carlos, and in the 1990 murder of U.S. citizen Michael Devine. Salán headed Alfonso Portillo’s security detail during the electoral campaign. When Portillo became president, Salán became the de facto head of the Presidential General Staff (EMP).
Portillo’s closeness with Salán drew criticism from the U.S. Embassy and human rights organizations. Sources indicate that Salán fell out of favor with the United States for stealing goods that had been confiscated from drug traffickers when he was involved in counter-narcotics operations. In 2000, the U.S. Embassy “extra-officially” asked for his removal due to his ties with drug trafficking.
On May 11, 2000, a previously unknown group, the Association of Military Officers Against Impunity (Asociación de Militares Contra la Impunidad, AMCI) accused Salán of involvement in multiple cases of violations of human rights, illegal enrichment, and of participation in criminal networks. The group alleged that Salán and his criminal network were currently undertaking persecutions and tapping cellular phones.
Mario Polanco from the Mutual Support Group (Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo, GAM) of family members of the disappeared and detained went a step further, voicing the opinion that the armed forces
A few days later, it was alleged that Salán was heading an illegal espionage network, orchestrated by Ortega Menaldo, which provided information to the president.
After a series of allegations, in mid-2000 Salán stepped down and Portillo tried to distance himself from Salán. In an interview with Prensa Libre, Salán explained that he left “out of friendship, because I believe that the criticisms about me are affecting the President.” Despite U.S. pressure, the distance taking was rhetorical. Salán continued to serve as Portillo’s advisor. A presidential order made him responsible for the logistics of Plan Puebla Panamá, a region-wide infrastructure development plan.
On October 23, 2002, Attorney General Carlos de León Argueta announced that Salán was one of the five retired military officers that the Public Ministry (Ministerio Público) would investigate for alleged involvement in organized crime. The investigation is still underway, with little visible progress. (SOURCE: Washington Office on Latin America)
Salán has been accused by numerous human rights organizations of participation in the 1989 kidnapping and assassination of several students from the University of San Carlos, and in the 1990 murder of U.S. citizen Michael Devine. Salán headed Alfonso Portillo’s security detail during the electoral campaign. When Portillo became president, Salán became the de facto head of the Presidential General Staff (EMP).
Portillo’s closeness with Salán drew criticism from the U.S. Embassy and human rights organizations. Sources indicate that Salán fell out of favor with the United States for stealing goods that had been confiscated from drug traffickers when he was involved in counter-narcotics operations. In 2000, the U.S. Embassy “extra-officially” asked for his removal due to his ties with drug trafficking.
On May 11, 2000, a previously unknown group, the Association of Military Officers Against Impunity (Asociación de Militares Contra la Impunidad, AMCI) accused Salán of involvement in multiple cases of violations of human rights, illegal enrichment, and of participation in criminal networks. The group alleged that Salán and his criminal network were currently undertaking persecutions and tapping cellular phones.
Mario Polanco from the Mutual Support Group (Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo, GAM) of family members of the disappeared and detained went a step further, voicing the opinion that the armed forces
“should be subordinate to the President and to the Minister, not to parallel groups that wield influence in all decisions.”Although Portillo has made assurances that Ortega Menaldo had nothing to do with his government, active duty officers who requested anonymity have commented that the opinion of this former military leader is determinate in decision-making.
A few days later, it was alleged that Salán was heading an illegal espionage network, orchestrated by Ortega Menaldo, which provided information to the president.
After a series of allegations, in mid-2000 Salán stepped down and Portillo tried to distance himself from Salán. In an interview with Prensa Libre, Salán explained that he left “out of friendship, because I believe that the criticisms about me are affecting the President.” Despite U.S. pressure, the distance taking was rhetorical. Salán continued to serve as Portillo’s advisor. A presidential order made him responsible for the logistics of Plan Puebla Panamá, a region-wide infrastructure development plan.
On October 23, 2002, Attorney General Carlos de León Argueta announced that Salán was one of the five retired military officers that the Public Ministry (Ministerio Público) would investigate for alleged involvement in organized crime. The investigation is still underway, with little visible progress. (SOURCE: Washington Office on Latin America)
# posted by Pad @ 10:18 AM 
