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Remembering the UCA Martyrs
Job Announcement: Be the New Executive Director / CRISPAZ

Remembering the UCA Martyrs

Hundreds of Salvadorans and other people in solidarity gathered at the Universidad Centroamérica Jose Simeón Cañas (UCA) this past Saturday in remembrance of the six Jesuit Priests and women workers who were assassinated by members of the Salvadoran Armed Forces on the 16 of November 1989.

The crowd processed commemoratively along a path inside the University singing religious hymns and chanting long live “the eternal UCA martyrs that live in hearts of people”. With candles aflame, they made their way to the where the open air mass was held.

Jesuit priests from several countries participated in the mass including one member from a CRISPAZ delegation, George Bur.   It was truly magical to watch more than 20 Jesuits honoring those who gave their lives for their belief in peace and justice.

“Our martyrs will always live in the hearts of people that cry for peace without violence and for impartial justice”, said UCA Chancellor, José María Tojeira, who criticized the impunity rewarded to those responsible for the tremendous act of violence against the six priests and their housekeeper and her daughter.

November 16, 1989

In the early morning of November 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran Armed Forces entered the UCA campus and assassinated Spanish priests Ignacio Ellacuria (UCA Chancellor), Ignacio Martin Baro (Vice Chancellor), Segundo Montes, Amando López, Juan Ramón Moreno, Salvadoran priest Joaquin López, and housekeeper Elba Ramos and her daughter, Celina.

This attack came five days after the largest military offensive that the ex guerrillas, Frente Farabundo Martí for National Liberation (FMLN) had launched in San Salvador on November 11, 1989 .

Demanding Justice

The UCA continues to demand that there be an investigation into the assassinations and that those responsible, on all levels, be held accountable for their actions. The case is closed in El Salvador and those responsible are untouchable, thanks to the General Amnesty law. The Interamerican Human Rights Commission (IAHRC) has asked the Salvadoran State to respond to accusations from the Jesuits. But as of today, the Salvadoran State has not followed the IAHRC’s recommendations.

Ten members of the Salvadoran Armed Forces originally confessed to participating in the assassination of the six Jesuits and the two women. In 1990, their confessions were read to a jury during their trial. Six of those who confessed to participating in the assassination were absolved of all charges. On September 27, 1991 the jury found four of the accused guilty of several charges including Director of the Military School in San Salvador , Col. Benavides, Lt. Col Hernandez, Lt. Espinoza, and Lt. Mendoza. They were later released with the passing of the General Amnesty Law in 1993 and never completed their prison terms.

This Amnesty law was created under President Alfredo Cristiani’s administration and has been defended by the three consecutive ARENA administrations since. They maintain that the General Amnesty law has brought forgiveness and national reconciliation.

San Salvador Auxiliary Bishop Gregorio Rosa Chavez said in reference to the case in 2004, “we are a country that signed peace but is not reconciled in truth or justice. Many are afraid of the past and want to build the future on pardons and forgetting. The Salvadoran church affirms that truth and justice are prerequisites for pardons.”

The Salvadoran community continues to strive for justice and to keep the memory of the Martyrs alive. Campesinos, youth, religious people, lay people, Salvadorans, and people of the international community remembered together thousands of Martyrs, those with and without names, and call on all of us to remember and honor their lives spent for peace and justice.

Executive Director / CRISPAZ

CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador) is seeking a bilingual executive to direct the programs and advance the mission of this faith-based nonprofit, especially in the area of administration, fundraising and volunteer recruitment. This position, based in Cincinnati, OH., collaborates closely with a program director in El Salvador, who is responsible for day-to-day operations in that country. Requires ability to travel, fluency in Spanish and commitment to peace, justice and solidarity with Central America. Send cover letter, resume and references to barb@crispaz.org

Deadline:  December 10, 2007