99 STAT. 238
PUBLIC LAW 99-83—AUG. 8, 1985
(I) President Duarte's leadership and popular support has notably weakened the popular support given the guerrillas, as evidenced by the high levels of voter participation in the free elections held in El Salvador since 1982, the reduction in territory in which the guerrillas can freely operate, their inability to mount frontal military attacks, and their resort to economic sabotage, ambushes, political assassination, and urban terrorism with blatant disregard for basic human rights; and (J) President Duarte has succeeded in reversing the decline in his country's economy which, though still weak, has better prospects than in recent years. (2) Therefore, it is the sense of the Congress that— (A) President Duarte is to be congratulated for his outstanding leadership under difficult circumstances and for his efforts to foster democratic government and institutions in his country, and he is encouraged to continue his efforts to promote political pluralism, democratic institutions, and respect for human rights in his country; and (B) the armed services of El Salvador are to be congratulated for their improved performance and professionalism in defending Salvadoran citizens and their democratically elected government from attack by armed insurgents, and especially for their role in helping to protect and uphold the electoral process. (3) The Congress reaffirms the importance of continued support for democratic principles and institutions and respect for human rights by the various sectors of Salvadoran society, which is a major factor in United States support for El Salvador. (b) OBJECTIVES.—The Congress expects that— (1) the Government of El Salvador will be willing to pursue a dialogue with the armed opposition forces and their political representatives for the purposes of achieving an equitable political settlement of the conflict, including free and fair elections; (2) the elected civilian government will be in control of the Salvadoran military and security forces, and those forces will comply with applicable rules of international law and with Presidential directives pertaining to the protection of civilians during combat operations, including Presidential directive C111-03-984 (relating to aerial fire support); (3) the Government of El Salvador will make demonstrated progress, during the period covered by each report pursuant to subsection (c), in ending the activities of the death squads; (4) the Government of El Salvador will make demonstrated progress, during the period covered by each report pursuant to subsection (c), in establishing an effective judicial system; and (5) the Government of El Salvador will make demonstrated progress, during the period covered by each report pursuant to subsection (c), in implementing the land reform program. (c) REPORTS.—On October 1, 1985, April 1, 1986, October 1, 1986, President of U.S. and April 1, 1987, the President shall report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the extent to which the objectives described in subsection (b) are being met. With respect to the objective described in paragraph (4) of that subsection, each report shall discuss whether the commission proposed by the President of El Salvador to investigate human rights cases has been established, funded, and given sufficient investigative powers; whether the evidence that commission collects may be used in the Salvadoran
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