El Salvador Country Handbook 1. This handbook provides basic reference information on El Salvador, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and transportation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military personnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to El Salvador. 2. This product is published under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense Intelligence Production Program (DoDIPP). This handbook has been published as a joint effort within the Department of Defense (DoD). This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Production Community position on El Salvador. 3. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and government personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and designated for support of coalition operations. 4. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this document, to include excerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS . 1 U.S. MISSION . 2 U.S. Embassy . 2 U.S. Consulate . 2 Entry Requirements . 2 Passport/Visa Requirements . 2 Customs Restrictions . 3 Aviation Safety Oversight . 4 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE . 4 Geography . 4 Topography . 6 Environment . 7 Climate . 7 TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION . 10 Transportation . 10 Roads . 10 Rail . 11 Air . 12 Maritime . 13 Communication . 15 Radio and Television . 15 Telephone and Telegraph . 16 Newspapers and Magazines . 16 Postal Service . 16 Internet . 16 iii Contents (Continued) CULTURE . 17 Population Patterns . 17 Education and Literacy Rates . 17 Religion . 17 Customs and Courtesies . 18 Greetings . 18 Gestures . 18 Food . 18 Business Hours . 18 Recreation . 18 MEDICAL ASSESSMENT . 19 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel . 19 Food- or Waterborne Diseases . 19 Insect-, Tick-, and Miteborne Diseases . 19 Animal-associated Diseases . 19 Respiratory Diseases . 19 Sexually Transmitted and/or Blood-borne Diseases . 20 Medical Capabilities . 20 Key Medical Facilities . 21 HISTORY . 22 Chronology of Key Events . 26 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS . 28 Government . 28 Key Government Officials . 28 Executive Branch . 28 Legislative Branch . 29 Judicial Branch . 29 Local Government . 29 Politics . 29 Political Parties . 30 iv Contents (Continued) Suffrage . 31 Foreign Relations . 31 Alliances and Organizations . 32 ECONOMY . 33 Statistics . 34 Resources . 34 Industry . 34 Manufacturing . 34 Fishing . 34 Agriculture . 35 Foreign Aid . 35 THREAT. 35 External . 35 Crime . 35 Terrorism . 36 Insurgency Groups. 36 Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front . 37 Salvadoran Revolutionary Front . 37 Vigilante Organizations . 37 Drug Trafficking . 38 Mines . 38 ARMED FORCES . 39 Organization . 39 Personnel . 39 Key Military Personnel . 39 Weapons of Mass Destruction . 40 Army . 40 Mission . 40 Organization . 40 Personnel . 41 v Contents (Continued) Uniforms . 42 Training . 43 Equipment . 43 Air Force . 44 Mission . 44 Organization . ..