A severe social and political crisis in El Salvador during the 1970s resulted in widespread disruption to daily life. In October 1979, a coup d' tat brought a military junta to power: the new government launched a campaign of violent suppression of the opposition, deploying so-called 'death squads' to liquidate numerous prominent politicians, religious figures and activists. The repression backfired: although the military resources of the rebels were extremely limited, they enjoyed widespread support of labor unions, student- and peasant organizations, and were able to mobilize thousands. They not only shut down the government through strikes but organized the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMNL) and launched an armed insurrection against the government in early 1981. Within months, the FMLN established itself in control over two departments - which it was to retain for the rest of the war; it launched high-profile hit-and-run attacks on numerous military targets