It is noteworthy that the key posts In the security apparatus of El Salvador. the Ministry. of Defense. the National Guard. and the Treasury police. are occupied by old hardline personnel with a history of official and brutal repression. To possibly place our country in a position of increasing the murder power of forces under such leadership is something that we should not do lightly. I am particularly aware of this problem since within my district. people from El Salvador are estimated to comprise of the largest immigrant group and they have made me aware of the injustice from which they have fled. While what is being proposed is the introduction of $5.7 million of military equipment and infrastructure and not specifically guns or bullets such assistance would as stated above improve the efficiency of those who have demonstrated no hesitation to use weapons and bullets to violently suppress all form of dissent. If we are serious about honoring this fallen warrior of peace and reconciliation. we ought to carefully consider his wellknown sermon of last October. in which he said: "We are fed up with weapons and bullets" and in which he urged us to "channel" the aid to feed thousands of our people." Such a careful consideration of the introduction of additional military equipment into the already violent environment of El Salvador would.
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immigrant