UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali strenuously impressed upon the Government of El Salvador to finally phase out the National Police and institute the constitutional reforms recommended by the Commission on the Truth. Despite multiple appeals, President Cristiani and the Government remained reluctant to move on these issues. The matter was scandalized when a television crew filmed a deadly armed robbery on 22 June 1994 and the Chief of the Investigative Department of the National Police was later arrested for his involvement.
A Select Review Committee was created to investigate the issue of personnel with military backgrounds being transferred to the National Civil Police. The Government continued to delay the demobilization and reintegration of National Police personnel. However, some significant achievements were made in terms of deploying the new National Civil Police force. By the end of October 1994, the National Civil Police was fully deployed in all but 2 of the 14 departments in El Salvador. The National Police was redeployed on 31 December 1994.
The 22 December 1992 agreement stipulated that the Government of El Salvador should inform the public of the new FAES doctrine, but it was slow to do so.
ONUSAL verified that the National Intelligence Department was formally dismantled in November 1993, and the new State Intelligence Agency was created. It was not clear whether the FAES were still engaged in intelligence activities outside those permitted by the Peace Agreements
In February 1993, 600 PNC agents graduated from ANSP. Subsequent classes graduated approximately 300 agents on a monthly basis. Within two years, the academy was expected to train 5,700 basic police agents and 240 officers. According to a report, the new National Civilian Police (PNC) began replacing the old National Police (PN) on a department-by-department schedule in March 1993. And by the end of 1993, the PNC was deployed in 7 of El Salvador’s 14 departments.
The Attorney-General of the Republic gained new powers to investigate crimes.
The Academic Council of the Military College was established more than two months late, with members finally appointed on 31 July 1992.
The National Intelligence Department was disbanded ahead of schedule, but the new State Intelligence Agency was founded six weeks late and the director was appointed three months late. The FMLN complained that the FAES were still conducting intelligence operations inside El Salvador, but ONUSAL was not able to verify these claims.
The FAES ceased making arrests after the commencement of the cessation of armed conflict on 1 February 1992.
In conjunction with the negotiations that brought a formal end to the armed conflict on 15 December 1992, the President of the Republic agreed to implement the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Commission on purification. President Cristiani promptly responded to the decision of the Commission, but failed to heed all of the Commission’s recommendations. The recommendation called for the dissolution of the police force and to establish a new Civilian Police Force. According to the accord, FMLN would recommend 20% personnel to the new police force.
ONUSAL had a Police Division to monitor activities of National Police during the transitional phase as well as maintain public by helping Auxiliary Transitory Police (PAT) maintain civilian order until the new National Civil Police was established. This helped the ONUSAL Police division to train the PNC in field. The accord established two interrelated institutions. The new National Civil Police and the new civilian police academy (Academia Nacional de Seguridad Publica – ANSP). After the 16 January 1992 Chapultepec (Mexico) Agreement between FMLN and the government, the technical mission was established in March 1992 to work on drafting of the National Academy of Public Security (ANSP). In April 1992, its director was appointed and the institution started its work in May 1992.
The ANSP started to enroll PNC agents in August 1992.
No further developments observed.
No further developments observed.
No further developments observed.
No further developments observed.
No further developments observed.
The FAES stayed out of matters of public security and maintained appropriate numbers for conditions of peace. The military was sensitized with human rights education and remained under control of civilian government. As of 2002, the strength of the El Salvadorian military was estimated around 17,000 personnel. The military was drastically downsized from 60,000 in 1991 to 17,000 in 2002.
ONUSAL reported multiple instances of the FAES conducting public security tasks, despite the transfer of policing responsibilities to the National Civil Police. The Constitution grants the President of the Republic the power to deploy the FAES for public safety in dire cases, and the President indeed authorized the FAES to aid the National Civil Police with law enforcement due to high crime rates.
The estimated strength of El Salvadorian armed force reduced to 22,000 personnel in 1994.
