Many. headless bodies found

Press, 25 August 1981, Page 8

Many. headless bodies found

NZPA San Salvador The death toll of the continuing political violence in the war-ravaged Central American country of El Salvador climbed last week as dozens of people were found decapitated across the country. Security force spokesmen and judicial officials said 34 of the headless bodies were discovered between Thursday and Saturday in a 38 sq km area outside Santa Ana, 75km north-east of the capital.

They said scores of other victims were found decapitated last week in other parts of the country. Some said that nearly 100 people were dragged out of their homes during the nationwide

11 p.m. to 10 a.m. curfew last week and decapitated. All declined to comment when asked who was to blame for the murders but independent observers said they appeared to be the work of Right-wing death squads.. Referring to the .alleged massacres in his homily yes terday, acting San Salvadorian „ Archbishop, Arturo Rivera y Damas said: “The Church cannot remain heartless before such crimes." He said 18 residents of Ciudad Delgado on the outskirts of the capital were pulled out of their homes late on Saturday and expressed his fear that they too would. be found decapitated somewhere not far from where they lived.