(C/NF) SALVADORAN PRESIDENT FUNES'S RELATIONSHIP

S E C R E T STATE 093069 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV ES SUBJECT: (C/NF) SALVADORAN PRESIDENT FUNES'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FMLN (S//NF) (C-AL9-01786) Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS APPRECIATE EMBASSY,S COVERAGE OF THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF PRESIDENT FUNES'S TERM. WE CONTINUE TO BE INTERESTED IN HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH FMLN HARDLINERS WHO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO HEAD SECURITY INSTITUTIONS. AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW, WE WOULD APPRECIATE EMBASSY,S INSIGHT INTO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. MANY THANKS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (C/NF) DOES MINISTER OF DEFENSE PAYES HAVE CLOSE RELATIONS WITH FMLN HARDLINERS? IF SO, WITH WHOM? WHAT IS VICE PRESIDENT SALVADOR SANCHEZ CEREN'S CURRENT RELATIONSHIP WITH FMLN HARDLINERS? HOW DOES HE GET ALONG WITH FUNES? ¶B. (C/NF) IS FUNES CONSIDERING CONFRONTING FMLN HARDLINERS WHOM HE BELIEVES ARE UNDERMINING HIM? HOW IS FUNES COPING UNDER STRESS? ¶C. (C/NF) WHO ARE CURRENTLY THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FMLN LEADERS? HOW DO THEY VIEW FUNES? HOW DOES FUNES VIEW THEM? WHAT PLANS DO THEY HAVE, IF ANY, TO STRENGTHEN THE FMLN'S INFLUENCE? ¶D. (C/NF) HAVE KEY SECURITY ORGANIZATION BUDGETS CHANGED? IF SO, TO WHAT EXTENT? ¶E. (C/NF) HOW DO AVERAGE SALVADORANS SEE FUNES'S ACTIONS TO REDUCE CRIME, SPECIFICALLY THE MURDER RATE, IN THE COUNTRY? DO FMLN HARDLINERS IN GOVERNMENT VIEW THE ISSUE AS A KEY PRIORITY? WHAT IS THE MOST RECENT OFFICIAL HOMICIDE RATE? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-01786 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON