TRATADOS DE LIBRE COMERCIO: HACIA UNA INTEGRACION JUSTA Y PARA TODOS
CELAM, Encuentro de Sao Paulo , Brasil, para Obispos de América
Latina "Sobre Tratados de Libre Comercio y sus efectos para los
pueblos"
Del 10 al 13 de agosto de 2004, nos hemos reunido en la ciudad de
Sao Paulo, Brasil, Obispos, sacerdotes, religiosos, religiosas,
laicos y laicas, comprometidos en la Pastoral social y Caritas de
casi todos los países de América Latina y el Caribe. En un clima de
comunión y solidaridad, hemos dialogado ampliamente acerca de los
Tratados de Libre Comercio (TLC) y sus efectos en las mayorías
empobrecidas de nuestro Continente, dentro del sistema global de
comercio que promueve por doquier dichos tratados. De esta manera
hacemos nuestras las preocupaciones de los pobres porque "los gozos
y las esperanzas, las tristezas y las angustias de los hombres de
nuestro tiempo, son a la vez gozos y esperanzas, tristezas y
angustias de los discípulos de Cristo" (GS, 1).
En un primer momento hemos escuchado atentamente tanto a
representantes de varios gobiernos del Continente como de la
sociedad civil. A continuación, habiendo compartido asimismo las
preocupaciones y puntos de vista de diversos sectores de la
población, hemos realizado, a la luz de la Palabra de Dios y del
magisterio social de la Iglesia, un discernimiento comunitario de
tan complejo proceso y de sus efectos sobre todo para los sectores
más vulnerables de nuestra América Latina.
Al concluir este encuentro, deseamos expresar públicamente nuestro
compromiso como Iglesia. Al mismo tiempo queremos compartir con
nuestras hermanas y hermanos en la fe, así como con toda persona de
buena voluntad, algunas reflexiones y sugerencias. Nos mueve la
convicción de que "nada hay verdaderamente humano que no encuentre
eco en el corazón de la Iglesia" (GS, 1), puesto que "el hombre es
el primer camino que la Iglesia debe recorrer en el cumplimiento de
su misión" (RH, 14). En el fondo de nuestra preocupación pastoral
está la palabra de Jesús: "Tengo compasión de las gentes" (Mc 8,2).
Buscamos el bien integral de los hombres y mujeres de América Latina
y el Caribe, particularmente de los pobres, marginados y excluidos.
Nuestra palabra se une a la de numerosos Obispos y Conferencias
Episcopales. Entre ellas señalamos la reciente declaración conjunta
de Obispos de los Estados Unidos y de América Central, en la que se
afirma: "el reto fundamental es poner en marcha un modelo de
desarrollo humano sostenible"[1]. Nos parece que otro desafío
impostergable es avanzar con decisión en el proceso de integración
entre nuestros países, a fin de construir cuanto antes la Comunidad
Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Naciones.
A. INTEGRACIÓN LATINOAMERICANA Y DESARROLLO HUMANO
En el centro del proceso de integración que propugnamos, está la
persona humana. También ocupa un lugar importante el comercio entre
los pueblos, entendido como una expresión de la relación humana, de
la necesidad que todos y cada uno tenemos de los demás. En este
sentido, la integración de los pueblos sería una expresión de
fraternidad y solidaridad. Según la enseñanza de la Iglesia, la
justicia debe estar presente en las relaciones comerciales: el
comercio justo favorece la relación pacífica entre los pueblos.
El proceso de integración en el que están empeñados nuestros países,
debe ser animado por un conjunto de principios éticos. El principio
fundamental es el reconocimiento de la dignidad de la persona humana
como valor central. Para que exista verdadero desarrollo humano es
necesario articular los valores de la eficiencia y la
competitividad –tan exaltados en la cultura actual- con los de
justicia social, equidad, solidaridad y subsidiariedad. Este
concepto de desarrollo interrelaciona lo económico con lo político,
lo cultural, lo social y lo medioambiental, particularmente a la
hora de definir los fines y los medios para alcanzarlo. Reconoce
asimismo la centralidad del trabajo humano no sólo como creador de
riqueza sino sobre todo como factor esencial de realización humana:
la persona humana se realiza mediante el trabajo (Cf. Laborem
Exercens, 6).
Es evidente que para su desarrollo adecuado y armonioso las personas
y los pueblos necesitan bienes materiales. Sin embargo, según la
sabiduría del Evangelio, no podemos reducir al ser humano al
estrecho horizonte de la posesión y disfrute de las cosas
materiales: la vida humana no se agota en el afán obsesivo de tener,
comprar y consumir. Las cosas de este mundo nunca podrán saciar la
sed de verdad, bondad y felicidad que experimenta el corazón humano.
Así está inscrito en el alma de nuestros pueblos. Es fácil percibir
la cultura de los pueblos latinoamericanos y caribeños como un
conjunto vivo de referencias, valores y símbolos, a través de los
cuales las personas se relacionan entre sí, con la naturaleza a
través del trabajo, y con Dios.
Una auténtica integración se basa en valores como los que hemos
mencionado y en una clara opción por la vida de las personas y
comunidades más vulnerables, respetando su identidad cultural, tan
fuertemente marcada por los valores espirituales. Por consiguiente,
va más allá de los aspectos puramente comerciales. Necesitamos una
integración que incorpore las dimensiones culturales, sociales y
políticas en las relaciones entre los pueblos y que tenga siempre
conciencia de sus vinculaciones históricas profundas.
En la elaboración de las propuestas de integración, estos principios
se traducen en la estimación previa de los impactos que las mismas
puedan tener sobre la calidad de vida de las personas, sobre su
posición en la estructura de relaciones sociales y sobre la
integridad del medio ambiente, es decir, de la "casa común". Esto
debe salvarse a toda costa, superando la perspectiva habitualmente
utilizada en economía, que busca el incremento en eficiencia y
competitividad como metas de las políticas económicas. Estas son
éticamente aceptables en la medida en que pueden contribuir a
mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas.
B. LOS TRATADOS DE LIBRE COMERCIO EN EL PROCESO DE INTEGRACIÓN
Los pueblos de América Latina y el Caribe han suscrito múltiples
acuerdos en la búsqueda de la integración entre sí y con otras
naciones. Entre dichos acuerdos proliferan hoy los Tratados de
Libre Comercio (TLC), que regulan la apertura de los mercados a
productos de los países que comercian entre sí. A primera vista
podría pensarse que los TLC se limitan a la esfera económica. Sin
embargo, nos parece que tal como se han negociado o se están
negociando, no son solamente instrumentos de política comercial sino
que afectan también, en mayor o menor grado, aspectos tan
importantes como la identidad cultural, el futuro de la agricultura,
la propiedad intelectual, la biodiversidad y otras áreas de la
vida, especialmente en las comunidades pobres. Por otra parte,
cuando dichos acuerdos se convierten en ley de la República,
comprometen, para bien o para mal, el futuro de las naciones que los
suscriben.
El modelo económico vigente en nuestro Continente, que tiende a
concentrar el poder económico, político y social en pocas manos, ha
frenado sensiblemente la consolidación del desarrollo humano
integral y sostenible que propone la Iglesia. Esto se manifiesta en
las situaciones de pobreza y exclusión, la brecha creciente entre
ricos y pobres, la desigual redistribución del ingreso, de la
riqueza y las oportunidades, sistemas inadecuados de educación y
salud pública, inseguridad y violencia, y migración forzada.
En esta realidad dramática, tan contraria a la dignidad humana,
existen "ganadores" y "perdedores". Entre los ganadores están
generalmente las corporaciones multinacionales y sectores
privilegiados de nuestros países. Los perdedores los encontramos en
las poblaciones más vulnerables: campesinos, micro y pequeños
empresarios, mujeres, jóvenes, personas de la tercera edad,
discapacitados, etc. Para superar esta situación inaceptable, es
urgente revisar a fondo el tipo de cooperación que se requiere, y
asignar los recursos necesarios a fin de conseguir un auténtico
desarrollo humano.
Se afirma, con razón, que, de ordinario, los Tratados de Libre
Comercio se negocian sin ofrecer a la población la información a la
que tiene derecho; por esa razón, no se propicia, de parte de los
Gobiernos, una participación responsable de los ciudadanos. Según la
acertada afirmación de hermanos nuestros en el episcopado del norte
y del centro de América, "negociar de espaldas al pueblo sería
contrario a los principios elementales de la democracia
participativa. En una palabra, la gente tiene derecho a saber qué
se está negociando y en qué va a favorecer sobre todo a las mayorías
empobrecidas"[2].
A lo anterior se añade la debilidad de las democracias, el
derrotismo político y las crisis de los partidos. Con frecuencia,
los votos no significan una auténtica representatividad en los
parlamentos, los ciudadanos nada o muy poco pueden hacer ante la
corrupción pública o privada, y crece la indiferencia ante los
problemas que afectan a todos.
15. Cuando falta una real participación de los ciudadanos y
ciudadanas en los procesos económicos, - y esto se aplica a los
Tratados de Libre Comercio- se debilita aún más el tejido social.
Se crea entonces inevitablemente un ambiente de confrontación
agravado por las relaciones asimétricas que existen a nivel
nacional y, sobre todo, a nivel internacional
16. Gracias a Dios, no faltan los hechos positivos que vemos como
signos de esperanza. Señalamos, entre ellos, la emergencia de la
sociedad civil y la dinámica de los movimientos sociales; los
procesos de democracia participativa y control ciudadano; y los
notables esfuerzos de trabajadores y trabajadoras del campo y la
ciudad por poner en marcha experiencias de comercio justo y
economía solidaria.
C. NUESTRA PALABRA A LOS GOBERNANTES Y NUESTRO COMPROMISO COMO
IGLESIA
17. Al final de nuestro mensaje, teniendo en cuenta principalmente
a las inmensas mayorías que están sumidas en la pobreza y la
marginación en América Latina y el Caribe, formulamos las siguientes
propuestas a los gobernantes de nuestros países. Al mismo tiempo,
hacemos público nuestro compromiso como Iglesia para realizar lo que
nos corresponde:
18. Que los Gobiernos de los países donde aún no se han ratificado
los Tratados de Libre Comercio, que difundan y propicien el debate
público, en todos los sectores interesados. Los contenidos de los
TLC bilaterales o multilaterales, como el ALCA, antes de ser
sometidos a los respectivos Congresos para su posible ratificación,
deben ser suficientemente discutidos.
Que en este proceso se examinen con particular atención, en el seno
de la sociedad civil, temas tan sensibles como los siguientes: los
subsidios a la agricultura por parte de los países industrializados;
el derecho de propiedad intelectual y su impacto en áreas como la
salud y la soberanìa alimentaria; el impacto de los TLC en el medio
ambiente y en los derechos de los trabajadores; sus efectos en
grupos vulnerables como las mujeres, los jóvenes, la tercera edad y
los discapacitados.
20. Que se dé mayor relevancia a la Organización Mundial del
Comercio (OMC) como foro adecuado para dirimir cuestiones como los
subsidios agrícolas por parte de los países industrializados y otros
asuntos que permitan ir superando las asimetrías.
21. Que los Tratados de Libre Comercio tengan como referente una
agenda más amplia de desarrollo humano integral, sobre todo de los
sectores más pobres y vulnerables. Esta Agenda debería incluir
recursos financieros suficientes que permitan a los países de
América Latina y El Caribe no sólo invertir en su capacidad
comercial sino también mejorar sustancialmente la calidad de vida de
sus habitantes.
Como Iglesia que peregrina en el Continente marcado por las mayores
desigualdades del mundo, nos sentimos interpelados por nuestro
Señor a involucrarnos en este proceso de integración desde nuestra
propia identidad y como parte de nuestro ministerio de
reconciliación y de construcción de la comunión. Por eso estamos
colaborando en la creación de espacios de diálogo entre todos los
sectores ciudadanos, promoviendo al mismo tiempo los métodos
adecuados para obtener los frutos esperados. No es fácil realizar
este ministerio en el ambiente de confrontación que genera el marco
de relaciones asimétricas existente dentro de nuestros países y,
sobre todo, en el plano internacional. Pero es fundamental promover
dicha participación a fin de generar condiciones de gobernabilidad
en una relación justa y solidaria entre Estado y sociedad civil.
23. En el cumplimiento de nuestra misión nos comprometemos a
promover un amplio proceso de participación ciudadana que permita a
personas y comunidades informarse, deliberar, realizar análisis de
costos y beneficios, elaborar y hacer llegar sus propuestas a quien
corresponda, teniendo plazos adecuados para ello, y ejercer una
vigilancia social de dichos procesos.
24. Ante el debilitamiento del tejido social es deber nuestro,
como Iglesia, colaborar no sólo en su fortalecimiento, sino también
en su proyección hacia la creación de una sociedad en donde todos
nos sintamos miembros plenos de la gran familia latinoamericana y
caribeña. Para ello asumimos el compromiso de promover la formación
política que convierta a los ciudadanos y ciudadanas, en
constructores de una nueva sociedad, justa, fraterna, solidaria y
abierta a Dios. (Cf. Christifideles Laici, 42; Ecclesia in America,
44).
25. Nos comprometemos a contribuir, desde nuestra identidad, en la
creación de condiciones económicas, sociales, culturales, políticas
y ecológicas que aseguren a cada persona el derecho de buscar su
destino dentro del destino común, como sujeto de su vida, con
decisiones para sí, para su núcleo familiar, para la sociedad, en el
respeto debido a los derechos de los demás, como persona responsable
que vive con otros y para otros en la Verdad y la Justicia.
26. Reafirmamos la opción evangélica por los pobres y nos
comprometemos a seguir acompañando la lucha por la vida de los
movimientos sociales, campesinos e indígenas, en el trabajo tesonero
por construir una sociedad justa y solidaria, con valores éticos, y
donde sea posible avanzar decididamente en dirección de una
auténtica integración de los pueblos.
Sao Paulo, 13 de agosto de 2004.
RETIRED CAPTAIN LIABLE FOR KILLING ARCHBISHOP ROMERO
http://www.the-tidings.com/2004/0910/romero.htm
By Ellie Hidalgo
the tidings
Friday, September 10, 2004
Nearly 25 years after Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador was
killed while celebrating Mass, the man responsible for plotting his
assassination was held accountable in a court of law. It is the
first judicial, public inquiry to find anyone responsible for the
assassination of the archbishop.
Late in the afternoon of Sept. 3, following five days of stirring
testimony, Judge Oliver W. Wanger of the Fresno federal court ruled
that Alvaro Rafael Saravia, a retired Salvadoran air force captain,
was responsible for the wrongful death of the archbishop. Saravia
had been living in California when the suit was filed.
The plaintiff, an undisclosed member of the Romero family, was
awarded $10 million dollars in the civil case --- $2.5 million in
compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages.
The judge ruled that Saravia had been proven to be an "aider,
abettor and co-conspirator" in the murder of the archbishop by
finding the driver and assassin and paying the assassin 1000 colones
(about $200 in U.S. dollars).
More significantly, the judge --- who was nominated to the federal
bench by President George Bush and confirmed by the Senate in 1991 --
- ruled that Archbishop's Romero's death was a "crime against
humanity." The ruling carries broader implications, because it finds
that the archbishop's death was one of a pattern of planned killings
by the Salvadoran government, the military and police forces against
targeted groups of civilians.
The judge found that the Salvadoran government at the time of the
archbishop's assassination was essentially controlled by the
military propagating "systematic and continuous violations of human
rights to perpetuate the concentration of land and wealth." Among
the violations were ongoing government sanctioned kidnappings,
murders, tortures and disappearances to create a national state
of "intimidation, coercion and repression."
In this climate of fear the role of Archbishop Romero, said the
silver-haired judge, was to be a "voice that stood for independence
and that wouldn't be intimidated or silenced."
Judge Wanger also ruled that the Salvadoran government had not acted
in "good faith" to pursue "honest investigations" following the
prelate's death. The government and the court system "abdicated
their judicial function" by fabricating and distorting evidence,
said the judge. He said the distortions went as high up as the
Salvadoran Supreme Court. Because of this and ongoing fears of
reprisal by the plaintiff, the statue of limitations on the case had
not expired, the judge ruled after rigorously questioning counsel
and witnesses.
The monetary award set by the judge most likely will be symbolic.
Saravia, whose last known address was in Modesto, went into hiding
soon after the suit was filed against him. His whereabouts remain
unknown. He was not present at the hearings nor did he have legal
representation, but the judge determined that Saravia had been
properly served with legal documents and the case could be heard in
absentia.
He was tried under the 1789 Alien Tort Claims Act and the 1991
Torture Victim Protection Act --- which allow civil suits for
summary killings and torture against defendants in the United
States, even when the crime was committed outside this country.
The key witness was Amado Garay, who served as Saravia's driver in
El Salvador. He testified, at times tearfully, that he drove the
assassin to the hospital chapel in a red Volkswagen. Following the
single shot that struck the archbishop in the chest, the sniper told
Garay to drive away slowly.
Later, when Garay drove Saravia to a meeting that included Major
Roberto D'Aubuisson, leader of right-wing death squads, Saravia said
to D'Aubuisson: "Mission accomplished." D'Abuisson founded a right
wing political party with a paramilitary arm before his death from
cancer in 1992. The party is now known as Arena, from which the
current president hails.
During the Fresno hearing witness Atilio Ramirez Amaya, a Salvadoran
judge, also detailed a murder attempt against his life for trying to
investigate the archbishop's assassination. He fled the country for
nearly ten years.
Written evidence, including Saravia's diary, was introduced to show
that the plot to kill the prelate was called Operacion Piña
(Operation Pineapple) and was financed by wealthy landowners.
The archbishop, whose weekly homilies were broadcast throughout the
country by radio, was an outspoken critic of escalating human rights
abuses in El Salvador and a voice in defense of the country's poor.
On the eve of his assassination he pleaded with soldiers to disobey
orders and stop the repression of their own people. He was gunned
down March 24, 1980.
His funeral, attended by more than 100,000 people, was interrupted
by explosions and shots fired into the crowd. About 40 people were
killed, some by trampling, and several hundred were wounded.
Reconciliation begins
As Judge Wanger gave his oral ruling, nearly 50 people sitting on
wooden courtroom benches in the small space reserved for the public,
nodded their heads in quiet agreement. They had come from Fresno,
Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago. As soon as the judge
adjourned, they jumped from their seats hugging one another and
crying.
Three times the group cheered "Monseñor Romero --- Presente!" a
traditional chant, referencing remarks by the archbishop that if he
was killed he would be resurrected in the people.
"The truth has finally come out," said Eduardo Gonzalez, immediately
following the ruling. "We're free of oppression, free from fear and
free from the pain of not having had justice for so many years. It's
a historic day for peace and justice in El Salvador and the world.
Now true reconciliation can begin," added Gonzalez, executive
director of Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero in Los Angeles.
Neris Gonzalez, once a catechist in El Salvador, showed the scars on
her right arm from cigarette burns by members of the national guard
when she was 22 years old. She retold the story of being raped and
violated repeatedly for two weeks in 1979 leading to the death of
the eighth month old baby in her womb.
She said her interrogators persecuted her for teaching poor
campesinos to count so that they wouldn't be cheated of their pay
when selling their crops. "We are not ignorant," said the Chicago
resident. "Peace comes with justice."
Nuvia Magaña, community center coordinator of Clínica Monseñor A.
Romero, said listening to the witnesses brought up piercing
memories.
"It is painful looking at the statistics and the graphics. For us
they have faces, names. They were our friends, brothers, sisters,
cousins, parents," said Magaña, whose brother survived being
tortured at the hands of the national police. The Fresno verdict,
she said, "is a very small step in our search for justice in El
Salvador. They did such great horrors and this hearing is very
small. But it is great. It is immense."
Added Eduardo Gonzalez: "With all these deaths there's been a great
feeling of emptiness, despair, and sadness. For nearly 25 years,
it's been a wound in our lives. Today we will begin healing that."
The case would provide North Americans with an opportunity to
reflect on U.S. policy in El Salvador which gave some $6 billion in
aid to the Salvadoran government, said Nancy Spear, member of the
Pico-Union Shalom Ministry of the United Methodist Church in Los
Angeles.
"It's difficult to feel that my country has been a part of something
that is now being labeled a crime against humanity," she said. "This
country needs to acknowledge that and take responsibility for that."
Spear added she was proud the case had been heard in the U.S.
Others lamented that Saravia could not be tried in El Salvador given
a sweeping amnesty law that exempts anyone who participated in
political crimes before 1993; some hope this ruling will put
pressure on the government to repeal the law.
"We're finding justice in U.S. courts, but we should be doing this
in El Salvador. Salvadoran judges can find strength in this ruling,"
said Carlos Mauricio, who survived capture by an army death squad in
1983 and now lives in San Francisco. He is founder of the Stop
Impunity Project.
Isabel Cárdenas, a parishioner at Christ the King Church in Los
Angeles and co-founder/advisor of the Salvadoran American National
Association, said she hoped the ruling would help move forward the
cause of sainthood for Archbishop Oscar Romero. He died for his
people and his death now represents all those who suffered, she
said.
Death's impact
Romero's death had far-reaching consequences for the country,
testified political science and Latin American studies professor
Terry Lynn Karl of Stanford University during the hearing.
Karl said Archbishop Romero had served as a bridge builder trying to
build consensus between the moderate right and the moderate left.
His death left a significant void, and soon thereafter, hard liners
within the military ousted more moderate military forces, and began
to kill civilians with suspected leftist ties in much greater
numbers.
In February 1980, about 237 civilians were murdered for political
reasons; by June 1980, it became at least 1,000 a month. Massacres
also began to take place in which groups of 600-800 campesinos were
murdered at a time.
What happened in El Salvador, said Karl, "is one of the most
egregious examples of state terror in the history of Latin America."
A leftist guerilla force emerged following government targeting of
civilians, and the country descended into 12 years of civil war. By
the war's end in 1992 more than 75,000 civilians had been killed and
a third of the population had been displaced from their homes,
including the exile of more than a million people.
During the Reagan administration the U.S. provided the Salvadoran
government with large-scale aid to halt the spread of communism in
Central America.
But witnesses testified that wealthy landowners were resisting
agrarian reform and other economic reforms that would give the
majority poor and illiterate Salvadoran population the opportunity
to receive better wages and engage in greater participatory
democracy.
Case implications
The suit against Saravia was filed by the San Francisco based Center
for Justice and Accountability and the San Francisco office of
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe.
Lead counsel Nicholas van Aelstyn said he hopes that if Saravia is
found that the U.S. government will seek his deportation, thereby
sending the message that Salvadoran perpetrators of human rights
abuses will not find safe haven in the United States.
The hearing in Fresno is the second against Salvadoran military
officers. In July 2002 a West Palm Beach, Florida, jury found
retired Salvadoran generals Jose Guillermo Garcia and Carlos Eugenio
Vides liable for torture and other human rights abuses and ordered
them to pay $54.6 million in damages. Carlos Mauricio and Neris
Gonzalez were two of the three plaintiffs.
The next suit has been filed against Nicolas Carranza, now living in
Memphis, for allegedly overseeing military squads that killed
thousands of civilians while he served as El Salvador's vice
minister of Defense and Public Security in 1979 and 1980 and as
director of the Treasury Police from 1983-84. Carranza has denied
any wrongdoing.
Human rights law professor Naomi Roht Arriazi of University of
California Hastings College of the Law testified before Judge Wanger
that historically the same patterns of repression tend to re-emerge
if countries don't deal with the issue of impunity and reform its
judiciary. However, cases that are tried in foreign courts enable
judges of integrity living in the country where the crime was
originally committed to assert their right to uphold the laws of
their land.
Queremos avisarle de este evento que se aproxima.
Memorial - Begoña García Arandigoyen
Fecha: viernes, septiembre 10, 2004
Hora: todo el día
Twenty four year-old Spanish doctor and martyr of the service to
the Salvadoran people, September 10, 1990.
Doctora española, de veinte y cuatro años de edad,
mártir del servicio al pueblo de El Salvador el 10 de
septiembre de 1990.
PRESIDENTE SACA SACA RECHAZA REAPERTURA DE JUICIO POR ASESINATO DE
MONSEÑOR ROMERO
http://www.laprensagrafica.com/nacion/nacion1b.asp
LA PRENSA GRÁFICA
Agencias
politica@...
Un juez estadounidense condenó a un ex militar salvadoreño por el
asesinato del prelado católico.
El presidente salvadoreño, Antonio Saca, aseguró que "no estÁ de
acuerdo" con una reapertura del jucio para ventilar el asesinato del
arzobispo Oscar Arnulfo Romero, cometido 1980. "A mí los
salvadoreños me eligieron para administrar el futuro, por lo tanto
reabrir heridas, es una situación en la que no estoy de acuerdo",
declaró el mandatario.
La oficina de Tutela Legal del arzobispado de San Salvador demandó
el martes la reapertura del juicio por el asesinato del arzobispo
Romero, luego que un juzgado estadounidense condenara la semana
pasada a un ex capitán de la Fuerza Aérea, Álvaro Saravia, como uno
de los responsables del crimen.
Romero fue asesinado el 24 de marzo de 1980 de un balazo en el
corazón por un francotirador mientras oficiaba una misa en el
hospital de cancerosos La Divina Providencia, en el sector noroeste
de San Salvador.
Monaguillo
Saca recordó que en 1972, cuando vivía en su natal Usulután, 110 km
al sureste de la capital, monseñor Romero era obispo de la diócesis
de Santiago de María y él asistía a sus misas.
"Fui monaguillo de monseñor Romero, un obispo brillante, un hombre
de Dios, y yo fui el primero en lamentar su muerte cuando de
Santiago de María pasa a San Salvador y se convierte en arzobispo",
comentó Saca.
Insistió que "yo soy el primero en lamentar las cosas que han pasado
en la guerra (1980-1992), pero también creo que los salvadoreños
llegamos a un acuerdo, en donde establecimos vía acuerdos de Paz una
amnistía que a mi juicio es una frontera entre un pasado triste que
condenamos, que no debe repetirse".
El martes, la oficina de Tutela Legal del arzobispado pidió a la
Asamblea Legislativa derogar la Ley de Amnistía, que en 1993 liberó
de responsabilidades a los que cometieron atrocidades durante la
guerra civil.
El presidente salvadoreño estimó que "yo creo que cada quien tiene
derecho a pedir justicia, pero la ley de amnistía generó un nuevo
ambiente, una nueva institucionalidad, yo creo que abrir las heridas
del pasado no será lo más conveniente para un país que está viendo
hacia el futuro, sin embargo respeto las decisiones de cada quien y
lo digo por que hay gente afectada por ese pasado".
En marzo de 1993 la Comisión de la Verdad, creada por Naciones
Unidas para investigar las atrocidades cometidas durante el
conflicto armado en El Salvador, culpó del asesinato de Romero a
D'Aubuisson, fundador de la ARENA.
VICEMINISTRA REALIZA VISITA AL CENTRO ROMERO EN LA CIUDAD DE CHICAGO
http://www.diariocolatino.com/nacionales/detalles.asp?NewsID=5390
Redacción Co Latino
- Wednesday, September 08, 2004 hora 15:00
En el marco de su Visita Oficial a la ciudad de Chicago, EE.UU., la
Viceministra de Relaciones Exteriores para los Salvadoreños en el
Exterior, Embajadora Margarita Escobar, realizó un encuentro con los
alumnos y autoridades del Centro Romero en la ciudad de Chicago.
El Centro Romero es una institución con 20 años de servicio, que
brinda muchas oportunidades para los residentes de la comunidad que
cuentan con pocas opciones, todo ello, a través de la educación,
resaltando el desarrollo de toda la unidad familiar, la creación del
liderazgo comunitario y la autosuficiencia.
La Viceministra Escobar se reunió con Daysi Fuentes, Directora del
Centro Romero; con Abel Núñez, Administrador; Evelyn Madrid,
Organizadora Comunitaria, y Walter Urroz, Maestro de ciudadanía y
clases de inglés.
Durante su encuentro con las autoridades del Centro, se abordaron
una serie de puntos, como la creación del Viceministerio que estará
exclusivamente para atender a nuestros co-nacionales en el exterior,
su funcionamiento, su misión, ejes de acción. Abordó también el
fortalecimiento y la ampliación de los Consulados, el tema
migratorio, la emisión del Documento Único de Identidad, la dignidad
y los derechos humanos en el exterior, entre muchos otros.
La Embajadora Escobar aprovechó la oportunidad para visitar el
departamento legal del Centro y las diferentes exposiciones de los
alumnos del mismo, en donde sobresalió la exposición del "Programa
de niños después de la escuela" donde trabajan niños entre los 8 y
13 años de edad y en el cual han elaborado con diversos granos
(arroz, frijoles y maíz), cuadros de mariposas como homenaje al
migrante.
EL Centro Romero en Chicago realiza un trabajo humanitario
grandioso, por lo que la Señora Viceministra para los Salvadoreños
en el exterior les manifestó su total apoyo para trabajar en
conjunto.
CONDENAN A UNO DE LOS ASESINOS DE MONSEÑOR ROMERO
(ADITAL).- El primer involucrado con la muerte del monseñor Oscar
Romero, ex arzobispo de San Salvador, ha sido enjuiciado este final
de semana en Fresno, California. El juez federal Oliver Wagner de la
Corte Superior de la ciudad estadounidense ha condenado al militar
Alvaro Saravia por participar de la conspiración para el asesinato
del monseñor Romero en marzo de 1980, cuando El Salvador vivía bajo
la guerra civil y la represión del Estado.
Saravia debe pagar 10 millones de dólares por integrar el grupo que
planeó la eliminación del líder religioso. Sin embargo, el autor del
disparo que ha victimado Romero y otros culpables por el crimen
siguen libres. Demandamos que el Fiscal General de la República
cumpla con su responsabilidad constitucional y abra la investigación
del caso de Monseñor Romero en El Salvador, reclama el Movimiento
Ciudadano por la Vida con Justicia Social.
La organización salvadoreña de derechos humanos pide al presidente
Elías Antonio Saca que aproveche el movimiento iniciado por la
justicia estadounidense para promover la separación de los crímenes
ocurridos durante los años de violencia. Todavía gozan de impunidad
los responsables de miles de asesinatos y desapariciones forzadas
cometidos por los Escuadrones de la Muerte, creados por Roberto
Daubuisson en los años ochenta. Daubuisson también es fundador de
ARENA, partido que actualmente gobierna el país.
Sin embargo, Saca actúa como principal dirigente del partido oficial
ARENA, en el poder hace quince años, comprometiendo la resolución de
casos como el de monseñor Romero. Las autoridades en este país no
toman ningún tipo de medida para garantizar que se conozca la verdad
sobre estos crímenes y se castigue a los responsables ya que el
esclarecimiento de estos hechos es vital para lograr un clima de
reconciliación nacional, denuncia el Movimiento Ciudadano por la
Vida con Justicia Social.
La entidad pide como paso inicial para la reconciliación, que 'la
Asamblea Legislativa derogue la nefasta Ley de Amnistía, que sólo
favorece la impunidad'.
TUTELA DE ARZOBISPADO PIDE DEROGAR LEY DE AMNISTÍA
http://www.diariocolatino.com/nacionales/detalles.asp?NewsID=5377
DIARIO CO LATINO
- Tuesday, September 07, 2004 hora 14:51
Roxana Córdova
Redacción Co Latino
La demostración del tribunal extranjero de ejercer correctamente la
justicia, tras enjuiciar a los responsables del asesinato de
Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, obliga a las instituciones de
justicia del país dar respuesta a otros casos, según la directora de
Tutela Legal del Arzobispado, María Julia Hernández.
Hernández dijo además, que solicitarán al presidente de la
república, Elías Antonio Saca, que instale una mesa de concertación
en la que se discuta la importancia de derogar la Ley de Amnistía.
Según Hernández, es hora de que se elimine la falsa hipótesis que
hacer justicia es abrir viejas heridas, debido a que éstas nunca han
sido cerradas, además, afirmó que es la "verdadera justicia lo que
construye la paz" en un país.
La directora de Tutela Legal envió nuevamente un mensaje a la
Fiscalía General de la República y a las instancias de justicia
competentes para que juzgue y sancione a los responsables del
asesinato.
Asimismo, instó a los legisladores para que deroguen según les
corresponde, la Ley de Amnistía, para que de esa manera "enmienden
el grave error político y la inexcusable violación constitucional"
señaló.
El viernes de la semana pasada el Juez federal de Fresno,
California, Estados Unidos, Oliver Wanger, condenó al militar
salvadoreño Alvaro Rafael Saravia, por planificar el asesinato de
Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero.
Wanger señaló que el asesinato constituye un crimen de lesa
humanidad, ya que fue parte de un ataque "sistemático y extendido,
para atemorizar a la población salvadoreña".
Monseñor Romero fue asesinado el 24 de marzo de 1980, por un
francotirador, cuando oficiaba una misa en la capilla del hospital
de la Divina Providencia, en la colonia Miramonte, en San Salvador.
En el informe de la Verdad se señala que la muerte del sacerdote fue
ejecutada por Escuadrones de la Muerte que eran dirigidos por el
fundador del partido ARENA, Roberto D´Abuisson.
Una organización estadounidense presentó una demanda civil contra el
ex capitán Alvaro Saravia, quien no estuvo presente en las
audiencias. Sin embargo éste fue sentenciado a pagar 10 millones de
dólares.
Herbert,
Lastimosamente, a estas alturas una entrevista de 1998 como que no cabe...
Ciertamente Joaquin vive tranquilamente en el extranjero desde hace tanto
tiempo, y aqui en El Salvador, tenemos tanta gente que participó en la guerra y
vive "tranquilamente" peleando contra fantasmas porque no se ha quitado aun la
venda...
[Se eliminaron del mensaje las partes que no eran texto]
Queremos avisarle de este evento que se aproxima.
Memorial - JUAN ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ
Fecha: miércoles, septiembre 8, 2004
Hora: todo el día
-Journalist-
News Organization: YSKT
Killed 1980
Location: El Salvador
War: EL SALVADOR CIVIL WAR (1979-1992)
Bio:
Shot and killed Sept. 8 in San Salvador by men believed to be
plainclothes security agents. He was an announcer for his radio
station.
http://www.freedomforum.org/about/
>From: Jose Chencho Alas <info@...>
>Subject: Romero Justice, Romero Trees, Romero Tour
>Date: Sat, 4 Sep 2004 10:00:20 -0500 (EST)
>
>
>Monsignor Romero has been on my mind, especially since his birthday two
>weeks ago. Not only is his name in the news, but we are just six months
>away from the 25th Anniversary of his Martyrdom. Although so many years
>have passed, he continues to inspire me, my people, and thousands of other
>good people who care about peace, justice, and human dignity. Some would
>even say that this humble son of a carpenter, who was brutally killed by
>the state after three years of passionate ministry on behalf of the poor
>and oppressed, is more influential today than he was when he was alive.
>
>JUSTICE FOR ROMERO'S KILLERS
>The Center for Justice and Accountability has helped to bring a case in US
>court against one of the architect's of Romero's assassination: Alvaro
>Saravia. Last night, the judge found Saravia guilty. As an article by
>Rigoberta Menchu in last week's New York Times (below) explains, this
>verdict will have a ripple effect: killers can no longer take refuge in
>this country.
>
>THE ROMERO MEMORIAL TREE PROJECT
>In honor of the 25th Anniversary of Romero's Assassination, we are joining
>forces with El Salvador's Romero Foundation to plant 1 million trees next
>year. El Salvador only has 2% of its original forests left, and two of its
>most sensitive natural areas remaining are in the Bajo Lempa where we work.
> This fall, if you're going to run in a race, celebrate an important
>occasion, or just want to help the environment and people of El Salvador,
>could you ask your friends and families to pledge a tree in honor of
>Romero?
>http://fssca.net/romero
>
>THE ROMERO TOUR
>Many people have already signed up for our special delegation to celebrate
>this important anniversary, March 28 - April 3. If you are interested, I
>strongly recommend that you sign up soon and get your plane ticket.
>Thousands of people from the United States and Europe will be traveling to
>El Salvador for the celebrations; tickets are still affordable now, but
>there might not be any left by December. For more information on the tour,
>click here:
>http://fssca.net/tours/romero25.html
>
>Saludos - Chencho
> chencho@...
>
>**************************
>
>"Justice Comes for the Archbishop"
>New York Times, August 31, 2004
> By RIGOBERTA MENCHÚ TUM
>
>Guatemala City - Nearly 25 years after Archbishop
>Óscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in San
>Salvador, a chance for justice has finally appeared. A
>judge is expected to rule on Friday in a landmark lawsuit
>brought against a man accused of being an accomplice in the
>murder. The venue, however, is not a Salvadoran tribunal
>but a federal court in Fresno, Calif., where a longtime
>United States resident, Álvaro Saravia, faces civil charges
>for helping carry out orders to have Archbishop Romero
>killed.
>
>Mr. Saravia, a former Salvadoran air force captain and
>close associate of Roberto d'Aubuisson, the founder of El
>Salvador's ruling right-wing party, is accused of obtaining
>the assassin's gun, arranging for his transportation to the
>chapel, and paying him afterwards. The suit, filed on
>behalf of a relative of the archbishop by the Center for
>Justice and Accountability, a human rights group, seeks
>damages for extrajudicial killing and crimes against
>humanity. Evidence was presented last week, and although
>Mr. Saravia has gone into hiding and is being tried in
>absentia, if the judge finds him liable he will face
>monetary damages.
>
>This case is being watched closely throughout Central
>America, where fragile new democracies suffer the lingering
>effects of unpunished wartime crimes. The failure to bring
>human rights violators to justice encourages more violence,
>as the killing of Archbishop Romero and the 1998
>assassination of Bishop Juan Gerardi in Guatemala sadly
>illustrated. The lack of arrests in the Romero murder was a
>signal that Salvadoran armed forces and paramilitary groups
>enjoyed impunity for their crimes, quickening the country's
>descent into a brutal 12-year civil war that left more than
>75,000 civilians dead.
>
>Countries emerging from civil conflict must reconcile the
>dual needs of consolidating stability and pursuing justice,
>a difficulty easily exploited by those intent on protecting
>their own interests. In El Salvador, a sweeping amnesty law
>rendered the 1993 findings of a United Nations truth
>commission legally irrelevant. That commission found Mr.
>d'Aubuisson (who died in 1992) and Mr. Saravia responsible
>for Archbishop Romero's murder, but neither man could be
>prosecuted in his homeland.
>
>Thus the best chance for justice stems from the coincidence
>of Mr. Saravia's residency - he has been in America since
>at least 1987. Through the Alien Tort Claims Act of 1789,
>the United States allows foreign citizens to sue people
>living within American borders. Fortunately, this summer in
>a case involving the kidnapping of a Mexican doctor, the
>Supreme Court decided against the Bush administration and
>affirmed the applicability of the act in human rights
>cases.
>
>The Saravia trial, while an inspiring exercise in American
>law, does raise disturbing questions about United States
>policy. How did Mr. Saravia come to live in California in
>the first place? Declassified State Department and Central
>Intelligence Agency documents reveal that the government
>was aware of Mr. Saravia's alleged involvement in the
>Romero assassination as early as May 1980. The trial also
>represents an opportunity to examine, albeit obliquely, the
>responsibility of the Salvadoran government and its closest
>ally, the United States, in the events that led to the
>deaths of tens of thousands of Salvadoran civilians.
>
>It is a sort of redemption, then, that the first trial in
>this murder is taking place in an American court. Let us
>hope that justice will be served at last in the case of
>Óscar Romero, and that it will inspire the governments of
>the United States, El Salvador and other nations to
>prosecute the many human rights abusers who live openly
>among us.
>
>Rigoberta Menchú Tum was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in
>1992.
>
>http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/opinion/31menchu.html?ex=1094965941&ei=1&en=9\
a1047b535a7db5d
>
>
>PRIVACY
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>
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>address, signed a mailing list at a special event, or a friend thought you
>would be interested in our work.
>
>If you want to subscribe to or be removed from this list, send an e-mail to
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_________________________________________________________________
Check out Election 2004 for up-to-date election news, plus voter tools and
more! http://special.msn.com/msn/election2004.armx
"RESPETAMOS EL FALLO Y LAS DISPOSICIONES QUE SE HAN TOMADO":
ENTREVISTA CON ELÍAS ANTONIO SACA, PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA, SOBRE
EL FALLO EN EL CASO DEL ASESINATO DE MONSEÑOR ROMERO. EL ACTUAL
PRESIDENTE SALVADOREÑO, ELÍAS ANTONIO SACA, EXPRESÓ A EL FARO SUS
IMPRESIONES SOBRE EL FALLO DE UN JUEZ DE CALIFORNIA QUE VINCULA AL
EX CAPITÁN DE LA FUERZA AÉREA SALVADOREÑA, EX MANO DERECHA DEL
FUNDADOR DE SU PARTIDO, ARENA, EN EL ASESINATO DEL EX ARZOBISPO
SALVADOREÑO OSCAR ARNULFO ROMERO
http://www.elfaro.net/secciones/noticias/20040906/noticias5_20040906.
asp
DIARIO EL FARO
Ruth Grégori
cartas@...
¿Cuál es su opinión sobre el fallo que declara responsable al ex
Capitán Saravia de haber participado en la planificación del
asesinato de Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero?
Mire, respetar un fallo de un tribunal internacional. Yo creo que
las posiciones de las autoridades es respetar los fallos. Aquí
tenemos nuestro propio sistema de justicia. Aquí pasó la guerra con
lamentables sucesos que todos preferiríamos que no hubieran pasado.
Pero nada más respetar el fallo. No tengo ninguna opinión formada
sobre el tema
¿Se estableció en el juicio que el estado Salvadoreño no ha
investigado hasta el momento el caso y se respaldó las
investigaciones de la Comisión de la Verdad. Incluso se comentó las
reiteradas recomendaciones de la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos
Humanos recomendando al Estado Salvadoreño reabrir el caso y derogar
la ley de amnistía ¿Va a hacer algo su Gobierno al respecto de esas
observaciones?
No, mire, nosotros respetamos el fallo y las disposiciones que se
han tomado, pero mi posición con la ley de amnistía es que debe
mantenerse. Aquí pasamos una guerra, la ley de amnistía de alguna
manera estableció como una frontera entre el pasado y el futuro, y
realmente a mí los salvadoreños me han elegido para administrar el
futuro y no para administrar el pasado.
En el juicio también se estableció, de acuerdo al equipo de abogados
que llevó el caso a la Corte, un claro vínculo entre el capitán
Saravia y el Mayor Roberto D'Abuisson en la participación de este
crimen ¿Qué puede Ud. decirnos sobre ese punto?
Creo que sobre esto se ha averiguado lo suficiente, y me parece que
es prácticamente traer el pasado a nuestro presente, que es un
presente diferente al de esos años tristes, y querer involucrar al
fundador de nuestro partido, me parece que es parte de lo que
siempre ha existido, una campaña de los sectores de izquierda contra
nuestro partido ARENA y nuestro fundador
Pero en este caso lo estaría diciendo un tribunal, una corte de
Estados Unidos
Si, no. Independientemente que lo diga una Corte en Estados Unidos
no quiere decir que tenga razón sobre esa vinculación. Por lo tanto
le quiero decir que respeto el fallo, no lo comparto, en el caso de
la vinculación con el fundador del partido porque eso ha sido un
histórico deseo de los sectores de izquierda de involucrar al
fundador del partido ARENA, cosa que rechazo profundamente
===
UN PRIMER JUICIO Y UN PRIMER RESPONSABLE POR EL ASESINATO DE
MONSEÑOR OSCAR ARNULFO ROMERO: ALVARO SARAVIA, EX CAPITÁN DE LA
FUERZA AÉREA SALVADOREÑA, Y MANO DERECHA DEL EX MAYOR ROBERTO
D'ABUISSON, FUE DECLARADO RESPONSABLE DE PARTICIPAR EN LA
PLANIFICACIÓN DEL ASESINATO DE MONSEÑOR ROMERO POR UN JUEZ DE
CALIFORNIA EL PASADO 3 DE SEPTIEMBRE
http://www.elfaro.net/secciones/noticias/20040906/noticias4_20040906.
asp
Ruth Grégori y Javier Espinoza / Fotos Cortesía de "Equipo Maíz"
y "Audiovisuales UCA"
cartas@...
Veinticuatro años tuvieron que pasar para que el asesinato de
Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero, ex Arzobispo salvadoreño asesinado el
21 de Marzo de 1980, llegara a una corte y para que en un proceso
judicial se responsabilizara a alguien por este crimen.
Monseñor Romero fue asesinado a tempranas horas de la tarde en el
momento justo en que levantaba la hostia durante la celebración de
la misa. Un día antes había exigido a los militares a través de la
televisión que "… en nombre de Dios les ruego, les suplico, les
ordeno: ¡Cese la represión!".
Este juicio constituye la primera vez que una Corte en algún lugar
del mundo conoce el caso, en el que por consiguiente, por primera
vez se señaló a un responsable de su muerte, según consta en un
comunicado de prensa emitido desde la misma corte estadounidense
donde se llevó a cabo el juicio civil en las dos semanas anteriores.
El juicio se instaló en el condado de Fresno, California, Estados
Unidos, por ser el último paradero conocido del demandado: Alvaro
Saravia, un ex Capitán de la Fuerza Aerea Salvadoreña a quien se
reconoce como la mano derecha del Ex Mayor Roberto D'Abuisson,
fundador de ARENA.
En un hecho sin precedentes, el juez Oliver Wagner bautizó el
asesinato del 24 de marzo de 1980 como "un crimen contra la
humanidad" por ser parte de un ataque premeditado y sistemático para
aterrorizar a la población civil.
"Aquí la evidencia demuestra que hubo un régimen que estuvo en
control en El Salvador y que funcionaba esencialmente como un
gobierno controlado por lo militar, que perpetuó violaciones
sistemáticas de los derechos humanos con el propósito de perpetuar
la oligarquía y el gobierno militar", afirmó el juez estadounidense
al concluir el juicio contra Saravia.
Wagner también aseguró que la situación de El Salvador en los
ochenta fue exactamente "la antítesis del debido proceso" y citó el
caso de Romero como el mejor ejemplo de ajusticiamiento
extrajudicial. Sobre los otros responsables de la muerte del
arzobispo el juez dijo que "para ser responsable de la muerte de un
ser humano, no es necesario apretar el gatillo".
Saravia, quien hasta la fecha se presume reside en Estados Unidos,
no respondió al juicio ni envió a ningún representante legal. Se
desconoce su paradero.
La abogada Almudena Bernabeu, del equipo legal del Centro para la
Justicia y la Responsabilidad que presentó el caso contra Saravia en
Estados Unidos, explicó que según las leyes norteamericanas no es
obligatorio contar con un defensor en un juicio civil: "un abogado
de oficio, un abogado público es preceptivo, no es obligatorio en
causas penales. Pero esto era una demanda civil, y las demandas
civiles es un derecho del demandante y del demandado el
representarse a través de abogados, pero no es una obligación".
La sentencia obliga a Saravia a pagar $10 millones a la familia de
la víctima en compensaciones para la acusación y por daños
punitivos. Al anunciar la pena monetaria, el juez afirmó que "los
daños son de una magnitud que son difícil de describir, la única
cosa que podemos hacer desde una corte civil es requerir al acusado
a que pague dinero". Tras sus palabras la sala estalló en aplausos y
muchos empezaron a llorar.
Las bases legales de esta demanda son dos: la Ley Federal de
Demandas Civiles para Extranjeros,(ATCA por sus siglas en ingles) y
la Ley para la Protección de Victimas de Tortura (TVPA) aprobada en
1991.
La Ley Federal de Demandas Civiles para Extranjeros (ATCA por sus
siglas en ingles) adoptada en 1789, otorga a los supervivientes de
abusos cometidos en cualquier lugar del mundo --"en violación de la
ley de naciones"-- el derecho a interponer demandas ante cortes
federales estadounidenses contra aquellas personas que cometieron
abusos y tienen suficiente contacto o residen en Estados Unidos.
La Ley para la Protección de Victimas de Tortura (TVPA) aprobada en
1991 y ratificada el presidente George H.W Bush en 1992, reconoce
derechos similares a ciudadanos norteamericanos y a no-ciudadanos
igualmente para interponer demandas por únicamente tortura y
asesinato extrajudicial cometido en terceros países en ejercicio
de "autoridad reconocida o aparente de cualquier nación extranjera".
¿Evidencias sin antecedentes?
El vínculo de Saravia en el asesinato, y el de otras personas, entre
ellas el del Mayor D'Abuisson, ya había sido mencionado por el
Informe de la Comisión de la Verdad, creada por mandato de los
acuerdos de paz que pusieron fina a la guerra civil salvadoreña, y
por otra investigación independiente de la Comisión Interamericana
de Derechos Humanos.
De cuerdo a Benjamín Cuellar, Director del Instituto de Derechos
Humanos de la Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), la Comisión
Interamericana de Derechos Humanos recomendó al Gobierno Salvadoreño
reabrir el caso de Monseñor Romero, y reiteradamente ha hecho
llamados para revisar la ley de amnistía, que se decretó pocos días
antes de que se conociera el Informe de la Comisión de la
Verdad: "La Comisión lo ha hecho reiteradamente desde que se aprobó
la ley de amnistía, en 1993, desde que hizo un informe especial
sobre El Salvador, en 1994, desde que emitió tres informes
definitivos en el caso Romero, Jesuitas y Lucio Parada, en el 1999 y
en el 2000".
María Julia Hernández, Directora de Tutela legal del Arzobispado,
organización que solicitó al Centro para la Justicia y la
Responsabilidad llevar el caso, y también cercana de Monseñor
Romero, precisó que si el presidente Antonio Saca "quiere ser
coherente con el estado de derecho, él tiene la obligación de decir
que el caso de monseñor Romero se tiene que investigar aquí en El
Salvador".
Actualmente el nombre de Oscar Arnulfo Romero se inscribe en un
monumento frente al del patrono capitalino, el Salvador del Mundo,
en la colonia Escalón; tiene una avenida con su nombre en el centro
de San Salvador; centros de estudios básicos y superiores llevan su
nombre, el cual está incluido, entre veinticinco mil nombres más, en
el monumento a las víctimas de violaciones de derechos humanos que
se inauguró este año en el Parque Cuscatlán. El Vaticano analiza el
proceso de canonización de Monseñor Romero, a quien muchos recuerdan
como "la voz de los sin voz", o le llaman "San Romero de América".
===
VOCES LOCALES
"Se ha hecho justicia con uno de los que estuvieron involucrados en
el asesinato, por un lado es alegría que se ha hecho justicia pero
por otro lado resalta la impunidad que hay en El Salvador". (María
Julia Hernández, Directora de Tutela Legal del Arzobispado. Testigo
en el juicio).
"Lo más importante es que la verdad está empezando a salir y que
están apareciendo que han tratado de eliminar, y que han matado, a
las personas que han intentado decir la verdad en este país.
Entonces esto significa que estos hechos han existido, que no son
inventos de unos pocos, que hay pruebas para que se pueda hacer
justicia". (Jon Cortina, Sacedote Jesuita, amigo personal de Romero
y testigo en el juicio)
"En primer lugar creo que es (El fallo) beneficioso para la
justicia, para el país, para el mundo entero incluso que ha estado
esperando justicia en el caos de Monseñor Romero. Es lastimoso que
sea un tribunal del exterior y no la justicia salvadoreña la que
emita un veredicto como ese. Aquí ni siquiera se ha investigado en
serio la muerte de Monseñor Romero, a los responsables, mucho menos
se han castigado". (Benjamín Cuellar, Director del IDHUCA)
"Demuestra que no hay ningún límite de tiempo para los crímenes
contra la humanidad. Demuestra que cuando estos crímenes horrendos
son cometidos, la persona que los comete debe de saber que puede
enfrentar a la justicia en cualquier momento. Nos enseña que
aquellos que comenten crímenes, eventualmente tienen que pagar".
(Sandra Coliver, directora ejecutiva del Centro de Justicia y
Responsabilidad en California)
"Me parece un signo positivo y ejemplar. Aquí en nuestro país
seguimos en la impunidad. Bueno, no sólo es ese caso sino muchísimos
más, más de 8,000 personas desaparecidas, siguen pendientes de
justicia las familias." (Schafik Hándal, jefe de fracción del FMLN)
"Este fallo civil demuestra que cuando existe interés de encontrar a
los responsables es posible hacerlo. Confirma cosas que son del
dominio público como el que la Comisión de la Verdad no andaba tan
perdida en afirmar quiénes eran los responsables del crimen de
Monseñor Romero" (Héctor Dada, diputado del CDU)
Voces de los asistentes al juicio
"El legado del arzobispo Romero es enorme y al mismo tiempo
paradójico. Él es exaltado alrededor del mundo como una de las más
importantes figuras de la no violencia (…) al mismo tiempo su caso
es el paradigma de la impunidad".
Nicholas van Aelstyn, consul principal de la firma jurídica Heller
Ehrman White & McAuliffe.
"Estados Unidos dejará de ser refugio seguro para los responsables
de este horrendo crimen. Este veredicto procura al servicio de
inmigración suficientes argumentos para su deportación".
Matthew Eisenbrandt, abogado del Centro de Justicia y la
Responsabilidad.
"Lo peor que podía pasar no es el asesinato de Romero o su entierro,
sino que se enterrara constantemente la verdad con el. Hoy tenemos
la satisfacción de saber más de esa verdad que fue contada y
reconocida por una corte estadounidense".
Ferry Karl, de la Universidad de Stanford.
"Creo que el éxito de este caso dará apoyo a los esfuerzos de abolir
la ley de aministía de 1993 en El Salvador".
Juan Carlos Cristales, director ejecutivo de "El Rescate".
"Para nosotros, Óscar Romero era como Martin Luther King para los
Estados Unidos o Gandhi para la India".
Francisco Acosta, fundador de la universidad Arzobispo Romero en El
Salvador.
===
¿QUÉ DIJERON LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACIÓN?
Fresno Bee: el periódico local que dio cobertura a todo el proceso
judicial describió el ambiente que se vivió en la corte tras
conocerse la decisión del juez. "Los presentes en la corte se
abrazaron y otros derramaron lágrimas".
Destaca además que la investigación de la corte judicial
estadounidense descubrió que Saravia "era la mano derecha del líder
de los escuadrones de la muerte Roberto D'Aubuisson, quien se cree
ordenó la muerte de Romero.
Agencias internacionales: la agencia internacional de noticias
Associated Press (AP), con base en Estados Unidos, difundió la
noticia de la condena a los pocos minutos que luego retomó medios
como Univisión, Los Angeles Times, El Nuevo Herald, El Sentinel,
Houston Chronicle, La Estrella, entre otros. La nota retrata las
paradojas de la historia. Afirma que después que el fundador del
partido de extrema derecha Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA)
fue el que ordenó el asesinato, ahora el actual presidente
salvadoreño del mismo partido político dice que fue monaguillo de
Romero.
Por otro lado, la agencia de noticias EFE, con sede en España.
También difundió la noticia por varios sitios de internet. A medida
pasaban las horas en el fin de semana la noticia se iba propagando.
Medios de comunicación salvadoreños: Donde se produjo el asesinato y
de donde provienen todos los involucrados, la noticia apenas tuvo
eco y se sacó a la luz con timidez, en oposición a la trascendencia
que tuvo a nivel internacional.
===
MINIENTREVISTA CON SANDRA COLIVER
"Esperamos que existan esfuerzos para reabrir la investigación"
Entrevista a Sandra Coliver, directora ejecutiva del Centro de
Justicia y Responsabilidad en California. www.cja.org
Sandra Colivier en una entrevista en exclusiva vía telefónica para
El FARO habló de las repercusiones de la decisión del juez en el
avance de las investigaciones de la muerte de Romero en El Salvador.
¿Cuáles son las consecuencias de la decisión del juez en la justicia
salvadoreña?
Esperamos que esta decisión va a estimular los esfuerzos en El
Salvador para reabrir la investigación. Los Estados Unidos están
abiertos y disponibles para reexaminar este tipo de violaciones,
donde sea que sean cometidas. El juez hizo enormes descubrimientos
acerca del nivel de represión en El Salvador durante el conflicto
armado y el papel de Roberto D´abuisson y Álvaro Saravia.
¿Qué descubrimientos importantes hizo?
Descubrió que de los dos hombres, D´abuisson era el padrino de los
escuadrones de la muerte y que Saravia recibió órdenes directas de
el para organizar el asesinato.
¿Va a ejercer presión el Centro de Justicia y Responsabilidad para
que se reabra el caso en El Salvador?
No voy a comentar al respecto. Yo he estado trabajando con mucha
gente en El Salvador, con tutela legal del arzobispado, pero en
esencia es decisión de los salvadoreños lo que quieran hacer con el
caso.
¿Qué lección ofrece para la justicia mundial la decisión del juez?
Demuestra que no hay ningún límite de tiempo para los crímenes
contra la humanidad. Demuestra que cuando estos crímenes horrendos
son cometidos, la persona que los comete debe de saber que puede
enfrentar a la justicia en cualquier momento. Nos enseña que
aquellos que comenten crímenes, eventualmente tienen que pagar.
===
LINKS DE NOTICIAS RECIENTES DEL CASO MONSEÑOR ROMERO:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_
3594000/3594320.stmhttp://news.bbc.co.ukhi/spanish/latin_
america/newsid_3594000/3594320.stm
http://www.miami.com/mld/elnuevo/news/world/americas/9554642.htmhttp://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/9092862p-9992387c.htmlhttp://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-
salvadoran4sep04,1,2098484.story
NPR - Scott Simon interview with Aryeh Neier, Pres. of Open Society
Institute, 9/04:
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3889722
SF Chronicle, front page, Bay Section, 9/04:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
file=/chronicle/archive/2004/09/04/BAG6H8JUL11.DTL
NYTimes, 9/04,
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/04/national/04bishop.html
NYTimes, 8/28: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Salvador-
Slain-Bishop.html
The Independent UK, Aug. 24:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=554530http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-
romero24aug24,1,7421685.story?coll=la-headlines-california
New Zealand Herald, Aug. 28:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?
storyID=3587552&thesection=news&thesubsection=world
El Nuevo Diario,
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/especiales/especiales-20040830-
19.html
La Opinion, Sept. 2, http://www.laopinion.com/estado/?
rkey=00040901172413401302
VOA, Sept. 2, http://www.voanews.com/Spanish/article.cfm
===
"SEGUIMOS CON LA INVESTIGACIÓN DE OTRAS PERSONAS IMPLICADAS EN EL
ASESINATO": ENTREVISTA CON ALMUDENA BERNABEU, FISCAL INTERNACIONAL,
MIEMBRO DEL EQUIPO LEGAL QUE DEMANDÓ AL EX CAPITÁN SARAVIA POR EL
ASESINATO DE MONSEÑOR ROMERO
http://www.elfaro.net/secciones/noticias/20040906/noticias6_20040906.
asp
Ruth Grégori
cartas@...
EL FARO contactó vía telefónica a una de las abogadas del Centro
para la Justicia y la Responsabilidad que presentó a la Corte de
Fresno el caso en contra del ex Capitán de la Fuerza Aérea, Alvaro
Saravia, por el asesinato de Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero
¿Cuáles considera fueron los elementos cruciales que influyeron en
la decisión del juez para considerar al ex Capitán Saravia
responsable de participar en el asesinato de Monseñor Romero?
Desde mi punto de vista fueron dos: el testimonio del chofer de
Saravia, quien transportó al francotirador que asesinó a Romero,
según quedó establecido en el juicio, y el testimonio de Atilio
Ramírez Ayala, ex juez al que le fue asignada la investigación del
asesinato de Monseñor Romero, quien declaró distintas
irregularidades procedimentales por parte de la Policía Nacional el
día del asesinato, que la Corte Suprema de Justicia no apoyó la
extradición de Saravia y las amenazas de muerte que le obligaron a
abandonar el caso y salir del país . Con esto quedó comprobada la
imposibilidad de realizar investigaciones en El Salvador en esos años
¿Qué contribuyeron a establecer estos elementos?
La decisión tiene dos lados. Por una parte establecer la
responsabilidad del demandado y por otra el esclarecimiento de los
daños, en cuanto a la persona de Monseñor y su importancia en el
contexto político y social, como líder religioso y líder de masas.
Eso fue muy bien establecido sobre todo por la comunidad religiosa
(testigos). Creo que la declaración del juez de lo penal como
juzgado No 4 y adscrito a la investigación originalmente mostró tres
lados claves que envuelven el caso, no sólo de Monseñor Romero, por
ser paradigmático, sino de toda la situación en El Salvador. Uno, la
existencia del asesinato, desde el punto de vista que él estaba
encargado de la investigación y es el que se encuentra con los
primeros elementos de prueba que dan cuenta del asesinato. Dos, la
intervención del Gobierno, es decir, el hecho de que la falta de
asistencia policial a Don Atilio y la falta esa misma noche de
vigilancia, de asistencia, de control, mostraba claramente que las
instituciones y las fuerzas de seguridad estaban implicadas. Y tres,
la obstrucción a la justicia y el desánimo a la hora de llevar
acciones y entablar este juicio y buscar responsabilidades
localmente, dan cuenta de que… el propio juez sufre un atentado
contra su vida y se ve obligado a exiliarse durante diez años. Y la
ley de amnistía fue clave pues para entender no sólo lo que estaba
pasando entonces, sino lo que ha venido aconteciendo desde entonces
El acusado no estuvo presente ni nombró defensores ¿No había un juez
de oficio para defenderle a él?
Un abogado de oficio, un abogado público es preceptivo, no es
obligatorio en causas penales, pero esto era una demanda civil, y en
las demandas civiles es un derecho del demandante y del demandado,
el representarse a través de abogados, no es una obligación. Por lo
tanto el Estado, los poderes, las instituciones no te establecen un
abogado de oficio de tipo mandatario sino que esa es una previsión
en otras jurisdicciones, tanto como en la jurisdicción
norteamericana en los casos penales, donde lógicamente la
importancia, no sólo de los bienes jurídicos protegidos, sino la
importancia de las consecuencias del proceso son mucho más graves.
Está aceptado que las consecuencias de un proceso, cuando es un
proceso penal, puede ser establecer pena de multa o pena de cárcel
¿Al establecer el vínculo de Saravia con el asesinato de Monseñor,
se estableció además la implicación de otras personas?
Quedó establecido un clarísimo vínculo entre Saravia y el Mayor
D'Abuisson, fundador del partido en el gobierno
¿Este vínculo implica que también se reconoció que el Mayor Roberto
D'Abuisson tuvo participación en la planificación del asesinato de
Monseñor Romero?
Hubo dos testimonios clave para establecer esa relación, el más
importante sin duda fue el del chofer de Saravia, Antonio Garay. El
chofer reconoció que durante un período de tres a cuatro meses
aproximadamente, haciendo trabajos puntuales como motorista de
Saravia, bueno, conoció a Roberto D'Abuisson, no cumplió órdenes
directamente pero supo de órdenes dadas a través de Saravia
directamente por D'Abuisson, y él reconoció que el ex Capitán Alvaro
Saravia era la mano derecha, hombre de confianza, del Mayor Roberto
D'Abuisson, y era quien llevaba a cabo, la parte ejecutiva digamos,
de las órdenes dadas por Roberto. De eso no quedó ninguna duda,
después de escuchar a Garay, sobre esa conexión.
Garay estuvo detenido en la redada de la finca "San Luis", con
D'Abuisson, con Saravia, en el momento en que requisaron una serie
de papeles entre los que se encontraba un diario que perteneció al
ex Capitán Saravia, con anotaciones de Roberto D'Abuisson relativas
a participaciones en el crimen
¿Se establecieron estos hechos además por otra fuente?
Una experta, Terry Karl, profesora de Stanford y experta en
Latinoamérica, y quien además condujo en los años ochenta
investigaciones y trabajos de campo en El Salvador, entre ellos
entrevistas múltiples al entonces Coronel Majano, al propio Roberto
D'Abuisson. Ella habló de su conocimiento de los hechos, de su
conocimiento de la documentación, y el juez dijo que había sido
establecido con el criterio de "preponderance of evidence"
(preponderancia de la prueba), es criterio, un estándar de la
prueba, que se exigía en este caso, y que establece que la prueba a
favor de lo que uno está argumentando es superior a la que existe en
contra. Y con ese estándar quedó establecida la relación de Roberto
D'Abuisson con el asesinato
¿Se hizo alguna alusión a la ley de amnistía y su papel en que este
caso no se haya investigado?
El juez manifestó mucho interés por conocer las circunstancias por
las que una acción con estas características no puede ser llevada
dentro del contexto ante tribunales salvadoreños. En ese marco
quería entender que la ley de amnistía, conocida como de
reconciliación para la paz, fue aprobada apenas días después de la
conclusión de los acuerdos de paz y del Informe de los Acuerdos de
Paz, en 1993, y que tenían una connotación no sólo algo provocativa
desde el punto de vista político sino que de hecho a Saravia cuando
se hizo un proceso en el año 87, no solamente se encontró que no
había prueba sino que además se le aplicó la ley de amnistía. Para
eso hubo una profesora Naomi Arriaza, una experta en derecho
internacional, le explicó un poquito la dinámica de la ley de
amnistía, las consecuencias, y el hecho de que eliminar toda
responsabilidad criminal y civil, incluso se habló de la sentencia
de la Corte Suprema de Justicia del año 2000, que dice que la ley de
amnistía no es inconstitucional pero que se podría eliminar en caso
de violaciones a derechos humanos. Se dieron cuenta de que el
asesinato de Monseñor nunca se ha considerado formalmente una
violación a los derechos humanos
¿Este fallo abre la posibilidad a un juicio penal?
En el contexto norteamericano no estoy segura por una razón. El
asesinato extrajudicial y el crimen contra la humanidad entran en el
concepto del delito siempre público, y el Fiscal General de Estados
Unidos o el equivalente es el que se tiene que apersonar. Entonces
las probabilidades en el contexto norteamericano son pocas. Y en El
Salvador pues es poca la voluntad de los jueces y de los fiscales.
La ley de amnistía impera. En estos momentos tal y como está la
legislación salvadoreña, si no se cuestiona la ley de amnistía, es
imposible
¿Cuál diría Usted que es el impacto para la población, tanto
estadounidense como salvadoreña, y a nivel internacional, de fallos
como los que se han dado en el caso de Monseñor Romero, y el de los
Ex Ministros de Defensa, en el que también Ustedes intervinieron?
En el caso de los jefes militares fue algo distinto, porque las
víctimas fueron ellos mismos no solamente quienes pusieron la
demanda sino que estuvieron presentes, testificando, ellos eran
sobrevivientes de tortura. En el caso de Monseñor la importancia
jurídica a nivel internacional está clara. Es la primera vez que hay
una sentencia que dice que estas personas fueron las responsables de
su asesinato, que esto fue parte de un plan o de una conspiración
con la intención de desestabilizar, con las consecuencias tan
terribles que eso tuvo, que fueron ni más ni menos que casi el
comienzo de una guerra civil. A nivel internacional la lección es
que entre todos podemos hacerlo, y que ni una sola Corte
Internacional podría hacerlo todo, siempre los tribunales o las
jurisdicciones internas están dispuestos a hacerlo, entonces, la
lección es que si realmente el mundo está tan globalizado y estamos
todos en todas partes, creo que cada país tiene su responsabilidad
de ver y aportar algo, y creo que esas leyes en Norteamérica están
dando la oportunidad de hacer algo desde aquí
¿Y cuáles van a ser los siguientes pasos? ¿Ubicar al ex Capitán
Saravia?
Nosotros físicamente no tenemos medios ni interés en encontrar a
Saravia. La sentencia está ahí, habla por sí misma. Nosotros
seguimos investigando. El caso no ha terminado, nosotros seguimos
adelante con la investigación de otras personas implicadas en el
asesinato.
SÁENZ COMPLACIDO CON FALLO EN CASO ROMERO
http://www.laprensagrafica.com/nacion/nacion6.asp
LA PRENSA GRAFICA
Carlemy Salinas
social@...
El arzobispo consideró que lo más importante para el proceso es
demostrar los motivos del martirio.
Después de celebrar la homilía dominical de ayer en la catedral
metropolitana, el arzobispo de San Salvador, Fernando Sáenz Lacalle,
se adelantó a la pregunta que los periodistas estaban listos para
formular en la rueda de prensa y tocó el tema del fallo judicial que
cerró el proceso en Fresno, California, contra uno de los
involucrados en el homicidio de monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, hace
24 años.
"Es una noticia eclesial", comenzó. "Hemos tenido ya la sentencia
del juez y se tiene la confirmación de los datos que ya estaban en
la Congregación de las Causas de los Santos (del proceso de
beatificación), aunque son cosas poquito laterales en realidad",
agregó.
El fallo condenatorio para Álvaro Saravia, ex capitán de la Fuerza
Aérea salvadoreña, lo obliga a pagar 10 millones de dólares por los
daños punitivos ocasionados a la familia del arzobispo.
Sin embargo, se desconoce el paradero de Saravia, condenado el
viernes pasado por Oliver Wanger, juez federal de Fresno,
California.
Sáenz aseguró: "Aunque no se tengan pruebas exactas sobre las
personas concretas o la gente más directamente implicada, de todas
maneras lo importante también son las causas, los motivos por los
cuales fue asesinado sacrílegamente mi ilustre predecesor".
El prelado aprovechó para aclarar que la Iglesia ha perdonado ya a
los asesinos de Romero, pero recordó que "hace falta que el que sea
responsable pida perdón y esté arrepentido de verdad".
Al ser interrogado sobre la posibilidad de que se intente reabrir el
caso en El Salvador, Sáenz recordó la ley de amnistía promulgada en
1993 que impide procesar a quienes cometieron crímenes durante la
guerra.
Además, el jerarca católico calificó el tema como muy delicado. "No
precisamente por el caso concreto de Monseñor Romero, sino por todos
los personajes que están implicados en las mismas circunstancias",
aseguró.
===
"El centro del proceso de beatifi- cación es la causa del martirio,
por lo tanto sí es bueno saber quién lo mató."
Fernando Sáenz Lacalle, arzobispo S.S.
===
FOTO: Satisfecho. Monseñor Sáenz Lacalle aseguró que la condena de
Álvaro Saravia, involucrado en la muerte de monseñor Óscar Arnulfo
Romero, ayudará al proceso de beatificación del sacerdote.
FALLO CASO MONEÑOR ROMERO BENEFICIA PROCESO DE BEATIFICACIÓN
http://www.laprensagrafica.com/nacion/nacion1a.asp
El proceso de beatificación de Romero se inició en 1994, cuando fue
presentada la solicitud en el Vaticano por el entonces arzobispo de
San Salvador, Arturo Rivera y Damas, ya fallecido.
LA PRENSA GRAFICA
5 de septiembre de 2004
ACAN - EFE
nacion@...
El arzobispo de San Salvador, Fernando Sáenz Lacalle, declaró hoy
que el fallo condenatorio contra un ex capitán de la Fuerza Aérea
Salvadoreña en un tribunal de E.U.A. confirma los datos que se
estudian en el Vaticano en el proceso de beatificación de Oscar
Arnulfo Romero.
"Hemos tenido ya la sentencia del juez que en Fresno estaba llevando
el caso de monseñor Romero, se tiene la confirmación de los datos
que ya estaban en la Congregación de las Causas de los Santos,
aunque son cosas un poquito laterales en realidad", expresó el
prelado, en una rueda de prensa en la Catedral Metropolitana.
Señaló que "el centro del proceso de beatificación pues ya sabemos
que es la causa del martirio, por lo tanto sí es bueno saber quién
lo mató".
El viernes pasado el juez federal de Fresno (California, E.U.A.),
Oliver Wanger, condenó a Alvaro Rafael Saravia por el asesinato de
Romero, arzobispo de San Salvador, ocurrido el 24 de marzo de 1980
cuando oficiaba misa en una capilla en San Salvador.
Saravia, quien fue juzgado en ausencia, deberá pagar 2,5 millones de
dólares a la parte acusadora, un familiar de Romero que no ha sido
identificado, así como otros 7,5 millones de dólares por daños
punitivos.
Sáenz Lacalle dijo que aunque "no se tengan tantas pruebas exactas
sobre las personas concretas o la gente más directamente implicada
(en el asesinato) de todas maneras lo importante también son las
causas, los motivos, por los cuales fue asesinado sacrílegamente mi
ilustre predecesor".
Romero fue asesinado por miembros de un ultraderechista "escuadrón
de la muerte" por denunciar en sus homilías dominicales en la
Catedral Metropolitana graves violaciones de los derechos humanos en
los albores de la guerra civil, que duró doce años.
"Pidamos a Dios nuestro señor que el proceso (de canonización) pueda
seguir bien; esto (el juicio en E.U.A.) solamente es algo muy
lateral, pero tengamos en cuenta que no se trata de que monseñor
Romero sea una figura prototipo de una corriente política 25 años
después", apuntó.
Agregó que "hace falta que se sigan las normas concretas que la
Congregación tiene sobre la determinación del martirio y sabemos muy
bien de la santidad del arzobispo de San Salvador y estos son los
datos que más deben emerger".
Consultado sobre si la Iglesia ya perdonó a los asesinos de Romero,
el arzobispo manifestó que "la Iglesia perdona a todo el mundo, pero
el problema no es por parte de la Iglesia, que siempre perdona, sino
hace falta que el que sea responsable pida perdón y esté arrepentido
de verdad".
Respecto si la Iglesia pedirá que el caso sea juzgado en El
Salvador, Sáenz Lacalle dijo que lo gestionó ante la Corte Suprema
de Justicia, pero se le respondió que no era posible porque en el
país existe desde marzo de 1993 una ley de amnistía.
Esa ley fue aprobada por la Asamblea Legislativa después de la firma
de los Acuerdos de Paz entre el Gobierno y el entonces guerrillero
Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN), el 16 de
enero de 1992, para terminar con la guerra civil que, según
organismos humanitarios, dejó más de 75.000 muertos.
Sáenz Lacalle manifestó que en la ley de amnistía "están implicados
un montón de personajes de la actualidad política" y se trata
de "tema muy delicado, está muy complicado el tema, no precisamente
por el caso concreto de monseñor Romero, sino por todos los
personajes que están implicados en las mismas circunstancias".
REFLEXIÓN POR EL CUMPLEAÑOS DE MONSEÑOR ROMERO
CELEBRADO EN LA CATEDRAL DE CANTERBURY
Agosto del 2004
[NOTA DEL ESCRITOR: varias fotos que iluminan este escrito se han
agregado en la página de fotos, una carpa titulada "Bretaña –
Peregrinación".]
Desde que regresé de mi recorrido por Inglateterra, Escocia, e
Irlanda este mes de agosto, he querido compartir mis impresiones de
una tierra tan fecunda de la historia.
LA ABADÍA DE WESTMINSTER
Al nomás llegar a Londres, lo primero que quise hacer era visitar la
Abadía de Westminster, la catedral real de la Bretaña, que hace un
vivo testimonio ante el mundo entero. La fachada occidental de ese
templo presenta las estatuas de los diez más grandes mártires del
cristianismo en el siglo XX, y un lugar principal entre ellas ocupa
la imágen de Monseñor Romero. Yo quería verlo con mis propios
ojos. Y así resulta que en el trayectorio de una vida todavía
jóven, he tenido la dicha de ver la figura de Monseñor Romero, en la
primera instancia en carne y hueso cuando era niño, y ahora en plena
edad adulta, en mármol duradero que presenciará la marcha de la
historia, y seguirá haciendose presente en los anhelos de los
pueblos marginalizados y oprimidos por el mundo entero. En ese
momento en que llegué a ver la estatua de Monseñor Romero, fue como
que si el largo metraje de mi vida desfiló ante mis ojos con gran
prisa, y la figura humana de Monseñor Romero se transfiguró, como el
mismo Salvador del Mundo, por una figura sobrenatural y eterna.
EL MUSÉO BRITÁNICO
Esta idea, este pensamiento fueron como la síntesis de una obra Maya
precolombina que ví en el Muséo Británico en Londres, una figura en
que un rey maya está celebrando un acto sacrificial en cual él
derrama su sangre sobre un papel ceremonial, y al quemarse el papel,
sube una columna de humo hasta el cielo. La columna de humo se
presenta con adornos estilizados y muchas decoraciones simbólicas,
tal que la misma columna de incenso también representa la serpiente
galáctica que aparece en el firmamento en la noche, que para los
mayas era un dios. O sea que al mismo tiempo que el sacrificio sube
hacia el cielo, se trasforma de algo pasadero y transitorio
(incenso) en algo duradero y eterno (la galaxia).
STONEHENGE
La segunda estación de mi recorrido espiritual por Inglaterra me
llevó a Stonehenge, el famoso megalito paleolítico, prehistórico, de
los llanos de Salisbury, construido algunos cinco mil años atrás.
El monumento consiste de un enorme círculo de piedras enormes, que
sirven como columnas para apoyar un anillo de peñas en posición
horizontal que parecen guindar desde el cielo. Este anillo tiene
propiedades cósmicas, al coincidir con las posiciones del sol, la
luna, y los astros durante importantes fechas del año. Acompañando
este espectáculo de la construcción, está el silencio resonante de
los llanos vaciós que lo rodean hasta los horizontes, en todos los
rumbos del compás. Solo algunos rebaños de ovejas susurran sus
secretos, y el sonido de las camaras de los turistas que acuden a su
lado para quedarse pasmados con admiración de su majestad.
Toda la maravilla y el misterio de este lugar nos hace meditar una
sola pregunta, que és: ¿PARA QUÉ LO HICIERON? Ahora los
historiantes y los investigadores académicos que estudian estos
asuntos nos presentan varias posibilidades para contester el por qué
de ese lugar, inclusive, funciones económicas y militares y
simbólicas, para dar un mensaje monumental a otras tribus, etc.
Pero, algo primitivo y instintivamente intuitivo adentro de nosotros
nos dice claramente que el propósito principal, y casi único de este
lugar era spiritual. Todos los que hemos entrado en la Basílica de
San Pedro, y en la Capilla Sistina, y hemos captado las imágenes de
las piramides que sobresalen desde las junglas centroamericanas
comprendemos que el misterio de estos lugares se interpreta solo
desde el interior del alma, y lo exterior de la trascendencia que ve
más allá de la misma historia experiencial. Igual al la Abadía de
Westminster, las peñas guindantes de Stonehenge son una catedral.
Igual que en las estatuas de la Abadía, desde las rocas de
Stonehenge se perciben "insinuaciones de la inmotalidad"
("Intimations of immortality") como decía el poeta británico
Guillermo Wordsworth (1770–1850): "Yo aún reconozco por doquiera que
voy/Que ya ha pasado alguna gloria desde este mundo."
IRLANDA
La soledad y la aislación de Stonehenge, su separación del ruido y
la actividad de Londres, me hicieron pensar en el tema del "martirio
blanco" que meditaban los monjes asceticos de hace un milenio. Me
encontré con las tradiciones de estos monjes cristianos en Irlanda,
donde los monasterios establecidos por San Patricio y sus seguidores
se reconocen como la única razón que hoy tenemos las escrituras de
Platón y Sócrates, y otros documentos de la antigüedad, que fueron
copiados a mano por los monjes, mientras que el resto de Europa se
decaía hacia las "edades oscuras." En Dublin vimos el famoso Libro
de Kells, un manuscrito ilustrado que una vez se calificaba como el
documento más precioso de este mundo. Al mismo tiempo que algunos
monjes vivían en sociedad y convivio y labor, un grupo de monjes
extremos rechazaban por completo al mundo material, y buzcaban a
Dios en el desierto, en cuevas anónimas elevadas en las Alturas de
los montes como San Juan el Bautista. En Irlanda, se retiraban a
las islas precarias y rocosas, abatidas por oceanos desconocidos.
Esto es lo que llamaban el "martirio blanco," porque se entregaban a
la espuma y a la neblina igual que los mártires tradicionales se
entregaban a la sangre y la trituración de la carne (el "martirio
rojo").
Pero ese retiro hacia el desierto no tiene sentido sin un regreso a
la ciudad, a "la polis" como decía Monseñor Romero en su discurso en
la Bélgica, porque Jesucristo trabajó en la ciudad, entre el pueblo,
para lograr la salvación y la liberación, despues de haber pasado un
plazo en el desierto. Igualmente, San Juan Bautista fue una voz que
clamaba en el desierto, pero se acercó a las multitudes para
bautizarlos y predicarles su profesía mesiánica. Moisés también
pasa por el desierto, sube al monte, para regresar con un mensaje
desde el más allá para todo el que lo quiera escuchar. Del mismo
modo, la soledad y el silencio de Stonehenge y la Catedral nos
mandan de regreso a la sociedad a platicar sobre la revelación que
uno ha experimentado en la meditación.
No es suficiente, en otras palabras, vivir ese momento de
trascendencia y revelación, sino que es necesario convertirlo por
algo concreto y duradero, como el incenso que se vuelve dragón en la
figura maya, y el obispo que se vuelve un símbolo de la
solidaridad. Pero, ¿cual es el significado concreto de este
episodio místico en Stonehenge, en la Catedral? Es muy sencillo en
realidad: es el reconocimiento que existen lugares que nos sacan de
nuestra piel y nos ponen en sintonía con el universo y la
eternidad. Las maravillas de la naturaleza nos
remontan "insinuaciones de la inmotalidad."
En la pagina de FSSCA, tienen una cita muy bonita, palabras de
Monseñor Romero en que nos dice:
"Esa alianza del arco-iris, esa alianza de Dios entregándole al
hombre una naturaleza purificada ... es una alianza que le exige al
hombre un respeto a la naturaleza ... Ustedes saben que está
contaminado el aire, las aguas; todo cuanto tocamos y vivimos; y a
pesar de esa naturaleza que la vamos corrompiendo cada vez más, y la
necesitamos, no nos damos cuenta que hay un compromiso con Dios: de
que esa naturaleza sea cuidada por el hombre. Talar un árbol, botar
el agua cuando hay tanta escasez de agua; no tener cuidado con las
chimeneas de los buses, envenenando nuestro ambiente con esos humos
mefíticos; no tener cuidado donde se queman las basuras; todo eso es
parte de la alianza con Dios."
Es por eso que al regresar a la sociedad, despues de un recorrido
por la historia y la espiritualidad, me siento llamado a colaborar
con uno de los proyectos concretos del 25 anivesario del martirio de
Monseñor, que es de plantar un millón de arbolitos por todo El
Salvador, para crear templos naturales en que el pueblo pueda
presenciar las insinuaciones de la inmotalidad y de la eternidad que
la vida interna del alma exige, y que el mundo de la pobreza y del
sub-desarrollo social, muchas veces les niega a nuestra gente. Me
alegro de poder apoyar este proyecto, que pretende hacer algo
duradero de algo pasadero. Un aniversario es una fecha que va y
viene, es algo transitorio y breve, como una gota en el mar. Pero
un bosque, una arborada, es algo positivo, un renacimiento que deja
un razgo sobre la tierra, y eleva el espiritu de la humanidad, se
une con la naturaleza como el incenso del rey maya con el universo.
[NOTA DEL ESCRITOR: Sean Hale les indicará como apoyar este
proyecto.]
TORRE DE LONDRES
Otro lugar en que el "martirio rojo" dejó su profunda impresión fue
en la famosa Torre de Londres, al lado del rio Thames, el celebre
castillo antiguo que ha servido como cárcel, palacio, mazmorra, y
ultimamente atracción turística. Pero fue su plazo como sitio de
torturas y prisión politica, pelotón de ejecuciones, el que se marca
con más patetismo. Para mí, fue muy importante visitar este lugar
del martirio de Sto. Tomás Moro, el santo patrono de los abogados, o
sea, el guía espiritual para personas de mi profesión. Sto. Tomás
fue encarcelado y decapitado en los campos de este castillo en un
julio 1535, por desobedecer a su monarca en fidelidad con las
enseñanzas de la iglesia. Al recorrer los campos de este castillo,
uno se da cuenta que el teatro descarado de la política de la
persecución no ha cambiado atravez de los tiempos. La represión
siempre es represión.
LA CATEDRAL DE CANTERBURY
Por último, pasé el mismo día del cumpleaños de Monseñor en la
Catedral de Canterbury, la misma iglesia en que Sto. Tomás Becket
fuese asesinado en 1170, algunos quinientos años antes que Sto.
Tomás Moro, despues de haber estorbado otro monarca celoso por el
poder, quien le dice a sus soldados, "¿Quien me deshacerá de este
cura intruso?" Esa noche, varios de sus caballeros aceptan la
misión, violando la puerta del templo, ese campo santo, ese lugar de
insinuaciones de la inmotalidad, y inmolando al jerarca de la
iglesia en su catedral. Sería el último arzobispo ultimado en el
altar hasta ochocientos años despues, y los acontecimientos de un
marzo de 1980. El asesinato del arzobispo de Canterbury fue un
crímen que escandalizó y sacudió a Europa. Tanto que en menos de
tres años, el arzobispo es canonizado, y su santuario se convierte
en un mayor centro de peregrinación para el mundo cristiano. Las
aventuras de sus peregrinos, ficcionalizadas por el escritor inglés
Chaucer se convierten en una importante obra de la literature
occidental, Los cuentos de Canterbury ("The Canterbury Tales").
En Canterbury reiteré mi compromiso de apuntar una nueva edición de
los Cuentos de Canterbury adaptados para la memoria de los mártires
de El Salvador. La idea surgió despues de mi peregrinaje a mi
tierra en marzo del 2000 para el 20 aniversario de Monseñor.
Visitando mi país con una "delegación" estadounidénse, me hizo
pensar en la historia que cuenta Chaucer, en que varios peregrinos
hacen el largo viaje en carreta de caballos desde Londres hasta
Canterbury, y pasan el tiempo contandose historias para entrenerse
entre si mismos. Mi idea era de una delegación que va a El Salvador
y visita los varios sitios de peregrinación que nos dejó la guerra:
la tumba de Monseñor, por supuesto, pero tambien la UCA, y El
Mozote, y El Paisnal, y El Despertar, y el Rio Sumpul, y catorce
lugares más, que constituyen las nuevas Estaciones de la Cruz, los
catorce departamentos de la Tierra Santa, o Tierra Santificada,
rosiada por la sangre de los mártires, los heroes, y los inocentes.
Llegué a Canterbury lleno de esperanza, y esta esperanza como que
era verificada al llegar detrás del altar principal, donde una única
vela marca el lugar del antiguo sepulcro de Sto. Tomás. Pero, a la
par de esta vela, que ocupa un gran espacio en el piso de la
catedral, rodeado por altares y capillas góticas, una de esas
capillas estaba dedicada a "los mártires de nuestros tiempos." La
capilla consistía de una cámara acorazada, enmarcada por un enorme
arco gótico, al fondo del cual, una placa daba solemne homenaje a
los mártires modernos. En frente del arco estaba una mesita con un
libro sobre la mesa. Al acercarme, me doy cuenta que el libro
estaba abierto a una página que mostraba la imágen de un señor muy
conocido para mí. Al acercarme aún más, me di cuenta que era el
retrato de Monseñor Romero, cuyo cumpleaños estaba marcando yo en
ese santuario lejano en los campos de Kent, Inglaterra. Metí una
ficha en el ofertorio, y saqué una vela nueva del estante que se
encontraba ahí, y con un palito encendí una candela a la par del
santuario de Sto. Tomás Becket, para honrar la memoria del próximo
obispo en morir ante el altar de Jesucristo.
Creo que es importante, de vez en cuando, pasar por una experiencia
que nos ayuda a renovar nuestra fe, a sondear los límites de
nuestros valores, y recargar la baterías de nuestro compromiso por
las causas que nos importan más. Yo me siento dichoso que he
llegado a un nivel profesional y material que me permite la
mobilidad y facilidad de buscar la verdad interna explorando sitios
exteriores y extranjeros para encontrar lo universal. El
conocimiento es parte de la verdad, y Cristo dice que la verdad nos
ha de liberar. Por eso, creo que es muy importante ir a conocer la
historia muy intimamente, y aveces es esencial pisar el suelo en que
los mártires y los protagonistas de la historia han caminado siglos
atrás. Considero que este privilegio de ir allá me impone una gran
obligación, que es de traer las impresiones que he recibido a otros
que no tienen la misma posibilidad. Aún más importante, tengo que
soltarme en la acción, y no dejar que la meditación y la revelación
se queden como una espiritualidad estática, sino una que se encarna
en la realidad, y se convierte en algo duradero, y concreto, marcado
por las insinuaciones de la inmotalidad.
Fraternalmente,
Carlos Colorado
PIDEN CONOCER LA VERDAD SOBRE ASESINATO DE ARZOBISPO ROMERO
http://espanol.news.yahoo.com/040905/1/u9kk.html
Yahoo! Noticias - Actualidad
5 de septiembre de 2004, 11:28 AM
SAN SALVADOR (AP) - El arzobispo capitalino dijo el domingo que es
necesario conocer la verdad sobre el asesinato de monseñor Oscar
Arnulfo Romero perpetrado en 1980, y reafirmó que los involucrados
en el crimen deben "pedir perdón".
"Sí, es bueno saber quién lo mató", dijo el arzobispo, monseñor
Fernando Sáenz Lacalle, en rueda de prensa en la catedral del centro
de la capital, donde yacen los restos de Romero.
Sáenz Lacalle reaccionó así ante preguntas sobre la condena el
viernes en Fresno, California de un ex capitán de la fuerza armada
salvadoreña como responsable en el asesinato de Romero, en marzo de
1980.
Un tribunal federal responsabilizó al ex capitán Alvaro Saravia en
el asesinato de Romero y le ordenó que pague 2,5 millones de dólares
de reparación a los demandantes y 7,5 millones como reparación.
Saravia, radicado en Estados Unidos, no ha respondido al juicio.
El pleito civil fue iniciado en nombre de un hermano de Romero que
no fue identificado porque el juez coincidió en que aún existía el
peligro de represalias.
Se aplicó una ley que data del siglo XVIII poco conocida que permite
que extranjeros con conexiones en Estados Unidos sean acusados de
crímenes como torturas y asesinatos.
Sáenz Lacalle consideró necesario que se conozca la verdad sobre el
caso para contribuir al proceso de beatificación que el Vaticano
estudia en favor de Romero desde la década pasada.
Aclaró que la "iglesia perdona a todo el mundo, pero el problema no
es por parte de la iglesia que siempre perdona, sino hace falta que
el que sea responsable pida perdón y esté arrepentido de verdad".
"En ese caso encontrará el perdón de Dios y el perdón de la iglesia
también, eso es siempre, es automático", agregó el arzobispo.
El caso no puede abrirse en El Salvador por una ley de amnistía
decretada tras la firma de los acuerdos de paz de 1992, que pusieron
fin a 12 años de guerra civil.
Sin embargo, la directora del área jurídica del arzobispado
capitalino, María Julia Hernández, dijo a The Associated Press que
si el presidente Tony Saca, "quiere ser coherente con el estado de
derecho, él tiene la obligación de decir que el caso de monseñor
Romero se tiene que investigar aquí en El Salvador".
Sostuvo que con esta condena, también se confirma que el ex mayor
del ejército salvadoreño Roberto D'Abuisson "ordenó la ejecución de
monseñor Romero y que detrás de D'Abuisson hay más gente involucrada
en el asesinato".
D'Aubuisson fue el fundador del partido Alianza Republicana
Nacionalista (ARENA), actualmente en el gobierno. Murió de cáncer en
1992.
===
CELEBRAN CONDENA POR ASESINATO DE ROMERO: LA IGLESIA, GRUPOS DE
DERECHOS HUMANOS Y EL FMLN ELOGIAN EL FALLO CONTRA UN EX MILITAR
SALVADOREÑO
http://www.laopinion.com/primerapagina/?rkey=00040904174506161145
Servicios de la Opinión
05 de septiembre de 2004
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador.– La Iglesia Católica, un organismo de
derechos humanos y la antigua guerrilla de El Salvador celebraron
como "un triunfo de la verdad" el fallo de un juez en California que
declaró culpable a un ex militar salvadoreño por el asesinato en
1980 del arzobispo Oscar Arnulfo Romero.
"La decisión del juez es aplaudida enormemente, porque se está
haciendo justicia, es un triunfo de la verdad", dijo el presidente
de la no oficial Comisión de Derechos Humanos salvadoreña, Miguel
Montenegro.
"Además, deja un precedente de que los militares fueron responsables
de muchas muertes, éstas personas han sido responsables del
asesinato de nuestro pastor monseñor Romero", agregó.
El viernes el juez federal de Fresno (San Francisco), Oliver Wanger,
condenó en ausencia en un juicio civil al ex capitán de la Fuerza
Aérea Salvadoreña (FAS) Alvaro Saravia, de 57 años, como el
responsable de la organización del asesinato del arzobispo Romero.
Las audiencias por el caso de Romero se iniciaron el pasado 24 de
agosto en la Corte Federal de Fresno sin la presencia de Saravia,
acusado de conspirar para que un francotirador asesinara a Romero el
24 de marzo de 1980, cuando el prelado oficiaba una misa en el
hospital de cancerosos La Divina Providencia, en el sector noroeste
de San Salvador.
A petición de un familiar de Romero no identificado, la denominada
Comisión para la Justicia y la Responsabilidad, con sede en San
Francisco, acusó en septiembre de 2003 a Saravia de haber ejercido
un papel clave en la organización del asesinato.
Saravia, que trabajaba en estos últimos años como vendedor de autos
en Modesto, California, no contrató abogados ni respondió a la
demanda que presentó en su contra la Comisión para la Justicia y la
Responsablidad, y desde entonces se encuentra en fuga.
Como resultado del juicio, el juez Wanger ordenó al ex capitán, en
ausencia, al pago de 2,5 millones de dólares en compensaciones para
la familia del prelado, que ha declinado revelar su identidad por
temor a represalias.
El fallo "es un paso para que no sólo en El Salvador, sino en toda
América Latina, las víctimas de torturas, los familiares de
asesinados y desaparecidos en el marco de guerras o regímenes puedan
tener fe y confianza de que la verdad y la justicia se pueden
lograr", comentó Montenegro.
Más reacciones
Por su parte, el diputado del ex guerrillero Frente Farabundo Martí
para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN, izquierda), Manuel Melgar, dijo
que el resultado del juicio contra Saravia "demuestra que acá en El
Salvador en la época de la guerra civil (1980-82) eran violados
sistemáticamente los derechos humanos de todos".
"Hay que celebrar esa resolución judicial, porque los militares
durante la guerra violaron los derechos humanos de los salvadoreños,
y con esto ahora se está dando una reparación a una parte de todas
aquellas voces que aún claman por justicia, justicia que en El
Salvador nunca han encontrado", agregó.
Saravia, un ex oficial de la Fuerza Aérea, es considerado un
consejero clave del fallecido mayor Roberto D'Aubuisson, acusado de
ser el líder de los escuadrones de la muerte salvadoreños y autor
intelectual de la muerte de Romero.
En marzo de 1993 la Comisión de la Verdad, creada por las Naciones
Unidas para investigar las atrocidades cometidas durante el
conflicto armado en El Salvador, culpó del asesinato de Romero a
D'Aubuisson, fundador de la Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA,
derecha), en el poder desde 1989.
Por su parte, la directora del área jurídica del arzobispado
capitalino, María Julia Hernández, dijo que la condena es un llamado
para que se reabra el caso en El Salvador, dijo "Nosotros estamos
satisfechos con la decisión del juez en cuanto al menos una de las
personas involucradas en el crimen ha sido condenada en Estados
Unidos", dijo Hernández.
"El caso de monseñor Romero es un caso paradigmático de impunidad,
es un crimen contra la humanidad", señaló.
===
CELEBRAN EN EL SALVADOR LA CONDENA DE UN EX MILITAR POR EL ASESINATO
DEL ARZOBISPO ROMERO
http://espanol.news.yahoo.com/040904/52/u8ve.html
Yahoo! Noticias - Actualidad
4 de septiembre de 2004, 01:21 PM
SAN SALVADOR (AFP) - Un organismo de derechos humanos y la antigua
guerrilla de El Salvador celebraron este sábado como "un triunfo de
la verdad" el fallo de un juez en Estados Unidos que declaró
culpable a un ex militar salvadoreño por el asesinato en 1980 del
arzobispo Oscar Arnulfo Romero.
"La decisión del juez es aplaudida enormemente, porque se está
haciendo justicia, es un triunfo de la verdad", dijo a la AFP el
presidente de la no oficial Comisión de Derechos Humanos
salvadoreña, Miguel Montenegro.
"Además, deja un precedente de que los militares fueron responsables
de muchas muertes, éstas personas han sido responsables del
asesinato de nuestro pastor monseñor Romero", agregó.
El viernes el juez federal de Fresno (San Francisco), Oliver Wanger,
condenó en ausencia en un juicio civil al ex capitán de la Fuerza
Aérea Salvadoreña (FAS) Alvaro Saravia, de 57 años, como el
responsable de la organización del asesinato del arzobispo Romero.
Las audiencias por el caso de Romero se iniciaron el pasado 24 de
agosto en la Corte Federal de Fresno sin la presencia de Saravia,
acusado de conspirar para que un francotirador asesinara a Romero el
24 de marzo de 1980, cuando el prelado oficiaba una misa en el
hospital de cancerosos La Divina Providencia, en el sector noroeste
de San Salvador.
A petición de un familiar de Romero no identificado, la denominada
Comisión para la Justicia y la Responsabilidad, con sede en San
Francisco, acusó en setiembre de 2003 a Saravia de haber ejercido un
papel clave en la organización del asesinato.
Saravia, que trabajaba en estos últimos años como vendedor de autos
en Modesto, California, no contrató abogados ni respondió a la
demanda que presento en su contra la Comisión para la Justicia y la
Responsablidad, y desde entonces se encuentra en fuga.
Como resultado del juicio, el juez Wanger ordenó al ex capitán, en
ausencia, al pago de 2,5 millones de dólares en compensaciones para
al familiar del prelado, que ha declinado revelar su identidad por
temor a represalias.
El fallo "es un paso para que no solo en El Salvador, sino en toda
América Latina, las víctimas de torturas, los familiares de
asesinados y desaparecidos en el marco de guerras o regímenes puedan
tener fe y confianza de que la verdad y la justicia se pueden
lograr", comentó Montenegro.
Por su parte, el diputado del ex guerrillero Frente Farabundo Martí
para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN, izquierda), Manuel Melgar, dijo
que el resultado del juicio contra Saravia "demuestra que acá en El
Salvador en la época de la guerra civil (1980-82) eran violados
sistemáticamente los derechos humanos de todos".
"Hay que celebrar esa resolución judicial, porque los militares
durante la guerra violaron los derechos humanos de los salvadoreños,
y con ésto ahora se está dando una reparación a una parte de todas
aquellas voces que aún claman por justicia, justicia que en El
Salvador nunca han encontrado", agregó.
Saravia, un ex oficial de la Fuerza Aérea, es considerado un
consejero clave del fallecido mayor Roberto D'Aubuisson, acusado de
ser el líder de los escuadrones de la muerte salvadoreños y autor
intelectual de la muerte de Romero.
En marzo de 1993 la Comisión de la Verdad, creada por las Naciones
Unidas para investigar las atrocidades cometidas durante el
conflicto armado en El Salvador, culpó del asesinato de Romero a
D'Aubuisson, fundador de la Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA,
derecha), en el poder desde 1989.
FOTO:
http://espanol.news.yahoo.com/040904/52/u8vf.html
4 de septiembre de 2004, 01:21 PM (ARCHIVO) Campesinos salvadoreños
instalan una foto gigante con el rostro del asesinado arzobispo
salvadoreño Oscar Romero, uno de cuyos asesinos acaba de ser
condenado en Estados Unidos. Foto:/AFP
===
CELEBRAN CON CAUTELA CONDENA A ASESINO DE ARZOBISPO SALVADOREÑO
http://www.prensalatina.com.mx/article.asp?ID={2FC666FC-05A2-49E5-
8671-8527CC25962C}&language=ES
San Salvador, 4 sep (PL) Defensores de los derechos humanos en El
Salvador se pronunciaron hoy por un fallo judicial contra uno de los
asesinos del arzobispo Oscar Arnulfo Romero, pero mostraron cautela.
Tales fueron las primeras reacciones por el proceso civil realizado
en ausencia en Fresno, California, contra el ex capitán Alvaro
Saravia, residente en ese estado norteamericano.
En el juicio, el juez federal Oliver Wanger condenó a Saravia a
pagar 10 millones de dólares, de ellos 2,5 en compensaciones para la
parte acusadora y 7,5 adicionales por daños punitivos a familiares.
Wanger calificó aquel asesinato como un crimen de lesa humanidad
porque formó parte de un ataque sistemático y extendido para
aterrorizar a la población civil salvadoreña.
También el proceso confirmó como verdad jurídica que el ex mayor
Roberto D´Aubuisson, creador de la oficialista Alianza Republicana
Nacionalista (ARENA), fue quien ordenó la muerte del obispo.
Romero fue abatido en esta capital de un disparo en el corazón el 24
de marzo de 1980 por un francotirador cuando oficiaba una misa en el
hospital para cancerosos Divina Providencia.
El asesinato del religioso que defendió los derechos humanos de su
pueblo fue el detonante de la guerra interna salvadoreña que duró 12
años y dejó 75 mil muertos y unos ocho mil desaparecidos.
Para Maria Julia Hernández, cercana colaboradora de Romero en el
Arzobispado, la sentencia contra Saravia abre la esperanza de que la
justicia llegará a El Salvador.
Ese fallo es una reivindicación para todos los que trabajamos por el
establecimiento de la verdad y la justicia, opinó Pedro Cruz, del
Instituto de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad Centroamericana.
El también catedrático de la Universidad Centroamericana Javier
Ibizate dijo que es por lo menos el comienzo de otros pasos que se
tienen que dar para que prevalezca la justicia.
Como en Chile y Argentina, aquí también tiene que haber justicia
para los torturados, asesinados y desaparecidos, aseveró Guadalupe
Mejía, del Comité de Familiares de Víctimas de la Guerra.
Celebramos que se haga justicia, pero en realidad los autores de ese
magnicidio deberían venir a purgar su condena al país que ofendieron
y sangraron, opinó el ex guerrillero Gerson Martínez.
El fallo es correcto y confirma lo dispuesto por la Comisión de la
Verdad sobre la autoría del crimen, consideró el diputado Manuel
Melgar, del Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional.
El caso de Romero fue investigado por la Comisión de la Verdad
creada por los Acuerdos de Paz, pero una amnistía aprobada el 15 de
marzo de 1993 dejó en la impunidad los asesinatos.
El conservador diario La Prensa Gráfica recordó que al juicio de
Fresno fueron llevados testigos de cargo importantes que confirmaron
los sucesos.
Entre ellos citó a Amado Antonio Garay, quien llevó a Saravia a la
capilla donde asesinó a Romero y al juez Atilio Ramírez, quien hizo
las primeras investigaciones del caso.
Explicó que la audiencia fue culminación de una demanda civil
interpuesta por un familiar del arzobispo y al cierre del proceso
asistieron unas 100 personas.
Evocó que hace dos años en otro juicio similar celebrado en Florida
resultaron condenados los generales Eugenio Vides y José García por
torturar a tres salvadoreños en los años 1980.
El rotativo recordó que aquellos generales se presentaron a la corte
para responder a la acusación, pero en este caso Saravia no acudió
al juicio, ni tuvo un abogado que lo representase.
===
GOBIERNO SALVADOREÑO DEBE INVESTIGAR ASESINATO DE MONSEÑOR ROMERO
http://espanol.elpasotimes.com/latin-america/articles/latin-
america_112747.html
- SAN SALVADOR (AP) _ La condena en Estados Unidos de un ex capitán
de la fuerza armada salvadoreña como responsable en el asesinato de
monseñor Oscar Romero es un llamado para que se reabra el caso en El
Salvador, dijo la directora del área jurídica del arzobispado
capitalino, María Julia Hernández.
"Nosotros estamos satisfechos con la decisión del juez (Oliver
Wagner) en cuanto al menos una de las personas involucradas en el
crimen ha sido condenada en Estados Unidos", dijo Hernández el
sábado en una entrevista a la AP.
"El caso de monseñor Romero es un caso paradigmático de impunidad,
es un crimen contra la humanidad", señaló.
Wagner, juez federal de Fresno, California, declaró el viernes al ex
capitán Alvaro Saravia responsable en el asesinato de Romero y le
ordenó que pague 2,5 millones de dólares de reparación a los
demandantes y 7,5 millones como reparación punitaria.
Saravia, radicado en Estados Unidos, no ha respondido al juicio.
Para Hernández, si el presidente salvadoreño Tony Saca, "quiere ser
coherente con el estado de derecho, él tiene la obligación de decir
que el caso de monseñor Romero se tiene que investigar aquí en El
Salvador", afirmó.
Sostuvo que con esta condena, también se confirma que el ex mayor
del ejército salvadoreño Roberto D'Abuisson "ordenó la ejecución de
monseñor Romero y que detrás de D'Abuisson hay más gente involucrada
en el asesinato".
"Saravia no es más que uno de los elementos de la complejidad de
personas involucradas en el asesinato de monseñor Romero", afirmó.
El ex capitán era en la época responsable de la seguridad de
D'Abuisson y ambos pertenecían a un movimiento clandestino de
militares, vinculado a los denominados escuadrones de la muerte, que
se oponía a una junta de gobierno integrada por militares
progresistas y democristianos.
Posteriormente, D'Aubuisson fundo el partido Alianza Republicana
Nacionalista (ARENA), actualmente en el gobierno, y fue presidente
del legislativo en los primeros años de la década de los 80. Murió
de cáncer en 1992.
Un familiar de Romero, que no ha sido identificado, presentó la
demanda ante la justicia de los Estados Unidos porque las leyes
salvadoreñas no permiten la reapertura del caso debido a una
amnistía en 1993, un año después de la firma de los acuerdos de paz
que pusieron fin a doce años de guerra civil.
La amnistía fue otorgada por el entonces presidente Alfredo
Cristiani de ARENA pocas horas antes de que fuera divulgado un
informe de la Comisión de la Verdad de Naciones Unidas, que señaló a
D'Abuisson como el autor intelectual del asesinato.
Pero Hernández insiste que el caso de puede reabrir ya que "la
amnistía no se puede aplicar a casos de lesa humanidad, a casos de
graves violaciones a los derechos humanos".
"Esa amnistía es inaplicable en El Salvador... es una ley aplicada a
la fuerza", manifestó.
"Ni siquiera ahora el sistema judicial se atreve abrir el caso de
monseñor Romero... hay un temor total", agregó.
Monseñor Romero fue asesinado por un francotirador cuando el prelado
oficiaba misa en una capilla de un hospital para cancerosos de la
capital en marzo de 1980. Un día antes había invocado a los
militares: "En nombre de Dios y de este sufrido pueblo les ruego,
les suplico, les ordeno que cese la represión".
Por su trabajo pastoral y a favor de los pobres que él llamaba "los
sin voz", el Vaticano comenzó el proceso de estudio sobre la
beatificación y canonización de monseñor Romero en marzo de 1990, y
la primera de las tres fases concluyó en noviembre de 1995.
MILITAR TENDRÁ QUE PAGAR POR CRIMEN DE MONSEÑOR ROMERO - SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 04, 2004 HORA 13:28
http://www.diariocolatino.com/nacionales/detalles.asp?NewsID=5358
Redacción Co Latino
Agencia DPA
El Juez Federal de Fresno, California, Estados Unidos, Oliver
Wanger, dictaminó ayer que el militar salvadoreño Alvaro Rafael
Saravia, procesado por el asesinato de Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero
es culpable de planificar el crimen.
Wanger señaló que el asesinato constituye un crimen de lesa
humanidad, ya que fue parte de un ataque "sistemático y extendido,
para atemorizar a la población salvadoreña.
Monseñor Romero fue asesinado el 24 de marzo de 1980, por un
francotirador, cuando oficiaba una misa en la capilla del hospital
de la Divina Providencia, en la colonia Miramonte.
En el informe de la Verdad se señala que la muerte del sacerdote fue
ejecutada por Escuadrones de la Muerte que eran dirigidos por el
fundador del partido ARENA, Roberto D'Abuisson.
El Juez Wanger ordenó a Saravia el pago de 2.5 millones de dólares
en compensaciones para la parte acusadora.
Una organización estadounidense presentó una demanda civil contra el
ex capitán Alvaro Saravia, un ex militar salvadoreño que vive en
California, acusándolo del asesinato, en 1980, del arzobispo Oscar
Arnulfo Romero, por parte de un familiar de Monseñor Romero, quien
no ha querido revelar su identidad por temor a represalias en su
contra, se supo en esta capital.
De acuerdo con la acusación del Centro para la Justicia y la
Responsabilidad de San Francisco, Saravia renunció a la comisión
militar que integraba y ayudó a asesinar a Romero, el Arzobispo de
San Salvador que se había erigido en una voz crítica de las
violaciones de derechos humanos cometidas por las fuerzas armadas de
El Salvador.
Cientos de personas se congregaron en las cercanías donde era
procesado Saravia, en su mayoría salvadoreños, quienes al escuchar
el veredicto aplaudieron y otros lloraron.
La organización que llevó a que Saravia fuera procesado, logró
también llevar a la justicia a los generales Eugenio Vides Casanova
y José Guillermo García a pagar 54.6 millones en compensación a tres
salvadoreños torturados en los años ochenta por los cuerpos de
seguridad, cuando El Salvador atravesaba un conflicto armado que
duró una década.
Saravia no se presentó al juicio, así como tampoco su abogado y se
desconoce su paradero.
Reacciones sobre la sentencia
"Esta sentencia abre la esperanza de que la humanidad está siendo
derribada y que la justicia llegará a El Salvador", dijo a DPA María
Julia Hernández, una de las más importantes colaboradoras de Romero
y actual directora de Tutela Legal del Arzobispado.
Pedro Cruz, del Instituto de Derechos Humanos de la Universidad
Centroamericana (UCA), señaló: "La decisión en Fresno es una
reivindicación para todos los que trabajamos por el establecimiento
de la verdad y la justicia. En este juicio se comprueba y se
establece como verdad jurídica que el ex mayor Roberto D'Aubuisson
fue quien ordenó la muerte de monseñor Romero, lo cual es un
precedente histórico".
Por su parte, Guadalupe Mejía, de la Comisión de Familiares de
Desaparecidos y Víctimas de la Guerra, también mostró su
satisfacción por la condena de Saravia.
"Primero Dios, tenemos fe en que algún día en El Salvador también se
hará justicia. Esto de monseñor Romero nos abre las puertas de la
esperanza y demuestra que la justicia se acerca.
Como en Chile y en Argentina, aquí también tiene que haber justicia
para los torturados, asesinados y desaparecidos", finalizó Mejía.
Mientras, el Presidente de la Fundación Romero, Monseñor Ricardo
Urioste, señaló como positiva la sentencia " Es positivo, no tanto
porque, lo hayan condenado a pagar, eso no es importante, sino que
se esta esclareciendo el crimen, aunque sea, sólo en el exterior",
acotó Urioste.
El religioso agregó que la deuda de justicia con Monseñor Romero,
persiste "Aún no hay esperanza de justicia real, en nuestro país
pero, esperaremos", puntualizó.
FRESNO: EX-SALVADORAN OFFICER RULED LIABLE IN KILLING OF ARCHBISHOP
IN 1980 - FIRST TRIAL EVER IN CASE, BUT EX-AIRMAN HAS DISAPPEARED
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
f=/c/a/2004/09/04/BAG6H8JUL11.DTL
Tyche Hendricks, Chronicle Staff Writer
Fresno -- A federal judge in Fresno ruled Friday that a former
Salvadoran air force captain is liable for $10 million in
compensatory and punitive damages for his involvement in the
assassination almost a quarter century ago of El Salvador's Roman
Catholic archbishop, Oscar Arnulfo Romero.
The hearing marked the first time that anyone has been brought to
trial for the March 24, 1980, murder of Romero, an internationally
renowned advocate for peace and human rights, who was gunned down in
broad daylight while saying Mass at a San Salvador hospital chapel.
The civil court decision, by Judge Oliver W. Wanger, who was
appointed to the bench by President Ronald Reagan, was met with
jubilation and tears by about two dozen Salvadorans who sat through
much of the five days of dramatic testimony.
"It's an incredible feeling of relief," said Juan Ramon Cardona,
executive director of the Central American Resource Center in San
Francisco and a native of El Salvador. "In all our families we have
lost relatives, and no one has ever been prosecuted, so this judge's
decision is a victory for us. It is justice being written."
The assassination of the archbishop helped plunge El Salvador into a
12- year civil war that claimed more than 75,000 civilian lives and
displaced almost one-third of the country's population. In 1993, the
Salvadoran legislature passed a sweeping amnesty law that has
prevented prosecution in that country of this or any other crime
committed during the war.
Human rights advocates hailed the judgment against Capt. Alvaro
Rafael Saravia, who has been living in Modesto, as a historic step
in holding human rights violators around the world responsible for
crimes against humanity.
"This decision now ranks with other decisions by national and
international courts in sending the message ... that reconciliation
and the rule of law cannot flourish until there is an accounting for
the heinous crimes of the past," said Sandra Coliver, executive
director of the Center for Justice and Accountability in San
Francisco, which brought the case on behalf of a sibling of Romero,
whose identity is being kept under seal for fear of retaliation.
Saravia, who came to the United States in the mid-1980s, did not
appear in court and was not represented by an attorney. He could not
be reached at his last known address in Modesto and is believed to
have gone into hiding.
U.S. authorities would not comment on Saravia's immigration status
or whether they would seek to deport him, as Coliver hopes. But
Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, said, "We are observing the proceedings closely and
continue to have an interest in this case."
Officials at the Salvadoran Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not
return calls seeking comment Friday.
In testimony Friday, Stanford Professor Terry Karl, an expert on
Latin America, presented the court with declassified U.S. government
documents and other evidence linking former Salvadoran Maj. Roberto
D'Aubuisson and Saravia to Romero's murder, including handwritten
notes by both men listing weapons, personnel and sources of funds
for the assassination effort.
Her testimony was backed up by a 1993 U.N. truth commission report
found that D'Aubuisson ordered the killing of the archbishop and
that Saravia helped plan and carry it out, including paying the hit
man and hiring the driver to take him to the chapel. D'Aubuisson,
who later organized El Salvador's ruling ARENA party, died of cancer
in 1992.
Wanger took pains to ensure that he had jurisdiction in the case and
that the statute of limitations had not expired. Then, he issued a
strongly worded statement, finding that Saravia was responsible for
the murder under the terms of two U.S. laws -- the 1789 Alien Tort
Claims Act and the 1991 Torture Victim Protection Act -- which allow
civil suits against defendants in the United States, even when the
crime was committed outside this country.
"The damage is of a magnitude that is hardly describable," said
Wanger from the bench at the conclusion of the trial. "The only
thing we can in a civil court is require the defendant to pay
money."
Wanger set compensatory damages at $2.5 million and added an
additional $7.5 million in punitive damages. Saying Romero's life
was "beyond measure," plaintiff's attorney Nicholas van Aelstyn, of
the firm Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, had pointedly declined to
ask for a specific monetary amount.
After the case concluded, San Francisco State University Professor
Felix Kury, who is Salvadoran, made reference to the estimated $6
billion in U.S. support for the Salvadoran government during the
war.
"The elephant in the room -- that we could not talk about because we
wanted to find this man responsible -- is the role of the United
States," he said. "The war would not have happened without it."
Then, in a traditional Latin American remembrance of the dead, Kury
called out three times, "Monsignor Romero," and three times the
crowd in the courtroom responded, "Presente!"
"He has been resurrected," said Kury, with tears streaming down his
cheeks. "This is the beginning. It will give courage to people to
continue fighting against death."
E-mail Tyche Hendricks at thendricks@....
===
ARCHBISHOP'S ASSASSINATION TIED TO EX-MODESTAN
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/9092941p-9992448c.html
By VANESSA COLÓN
THE FRESNO BEE
Last Updated: September 4, 2004, 05:27:41 AM PDT
FRESNO — Audience members hugged and others shed tears after a
federal judge in Fresno ruled Friday that a man thought to have
lived in Modesto was responsible for the 1980 assassination of
Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador.
Judge Oliver W. Wanger found Alvaro Rafael Saravia liable in a civil
lawsuit for crimes against humanity and for an extrajudicial killing
or killings not authorized by law in a civilized society.
Wanger set damages at $10 million, $7.5 million of which were
punitive.
"The cold-blooded assassination of Romero could not be a better
example of extrajudicial killing," Wanger said in court.
Saravia did not appear in court and was not represented by an
attorney. His whereabouts are unknown.
Wanger said Saravia was part of a regime that "essentially …
functioned as a military … (and) engaged in the systematic violation
of human rights."
Shouts in Spanish of "Romero is present" shot out from within the
packed courtroom. Loud applause was heard outside the courtroom when
the attorneys slipped into the hall.
Saravia was found by the court to be the right-hand man of death
squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson, who is believed to have ordered
Romero's murder. Saravia apparently lived in Modesto, which is
within the federal court district based in Fresno.
A victory for rights victims
Romero was fatally shot March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in a
church in San Salvador, El Salvador's capital. He was revered in El
Salvador for speaking against human-rights abuses.
His death ignited international protests, making him an icon on par
with Martin Luther King and Gandhi. Romero's death was unsolved and
no one had been held responsible or prosecuted. He is in the process
of being canonized as a saint.
Salvadorans called the historic ruling a victory for victims of
human rights abuses.
"I had my doubts, but I had more trust in the judicial system of the
United States," said Luis Melendez, president of the Fresno
Salvadoran Community.
"It's a huge step to eliminate inhumane acts so that those who are
in power can't continue to do this," Melendez said in Spanish.
"It brings hope. It's like I'm able to breathe again."
Nicholas W. van Aelstyn, one of the plaintiff's attorneys, walked
out of court to applause and smiles.
"The court ruling was powerful. … I'm really overwhelmed. It's very
humbling to be part of a moment of history. I felt he (Romero) was
out here throughout (the trial)," van Aelstyn said later.
"The purpose is not retribution but to seek the truth and return the
moral balance. The voice of the people cannot be silenced forever,"
van Aelstyn said in court.
In his closing remarks, van Aelstyn read a declaration of Nobel
Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu, who spoke highly of Romero.
El Salvador's war claimed as many as 75,000 civilian lives,
according to the United Nations Commission on the Truth for El
Salvador. The military ruled the country and death squads included
members of the U.S.-backed military.
Civil war lasted 1980-1992
Death squad leader D'Aubuisson founded the ARENA party, which
governs El Salvador today. D'Aubuisson died of cancer in 1992.
El Salvador's civil war, which began in 1980, ended in 1992 with a
peace accord that the United States helped negotiate.
Saravia, a former captain in the military, ordered his driver, Amado
Garay, to drive a bearded sniper wherever he told him to go that
day, Garay said in court. Garay said he dropped the assassin at
Saravia's home after Romero was shot. Excerpts of Saravia's diary,
used in court, list a plan calling for a driver, guns and a sum of
thousands of dollars.
D'Aubuisson and others belonging to either death squads or the
military wanted to make sure the country's wealth remained in the
hands of the rich landowners, witnesses testified.
Romero was a threat to D'Aubuisson and his supporters because he
acted as bridge unifying the moderate left and the center, according
to court testimony.
The Center for Justice and Accountability in San Francisco filed the
civil lawsuit against Saravia on behalf of an unidentified relative
of Romero's. The plaintiff now seeks the eventual arrest and
deportation of Saravia.
The center hopes to use the ruling to ask the Bureau of Immigration
and Customs Enforcement under the Department of Homeland Security to
begin deportation proceedings of Saravia.
Russ Knocke, a spokesman for the Bureau of Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, declined Tuesday to state Saravia's immigration status
and whether he committed any fraud in his application.
If Saravia committed any fraud in his application or crimes, he is
deportable, according to Joe Vail, an immigration judge for the
Department of Justice from 1995 to 1999. Vail is an associate
professor at the University of Houston's Law School.
Some Salvadorans applaud the ruling but say they would have
preferred having Saravia put in prison in the United States.
"To deport him, they can't prosecute him there. … The political
party right now, it's the same political party that supported the
war. They (party members) see him as a hero. They would receive him
with open arms," said Carlos Mauricio, a victim of torture who was a
plaintiff in a successful case against two Salvadoran generals.
"Total justice would be if he could be prosecuted in El Salvador,"
Mauricio said.
===
JUDGE RULES AGAINST ACCUSED PLOTTER IN ROMERO KILLING
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3889722&sourceCode=RSS
Weekend Edition - Saturday audio
Sept. 4, 2004
A federal judge in California rules that a former Salvadoran Air
Force now living in the United States must pay $10 million to the
family of the late Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero. Rafael
Saravia is widely believed to have organized Romero's 1980
assassination in San Salvador. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and Aryeh
Neier of the Open Society Institute.
===
MAN LIABLE FOR SALVADOR ARCHBISHOP'S DEATH
http://news.yahoo.com/news?
tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040904/ap_on_re_us/salvador_slain_bishop_3
Sat Sep 4, 9:16 AM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!
By JULIANA BARBASSA, Associated Press Writer
FRESNO, Calif. - A federal judge found a retired Salvadoran air
force captain liable Friday in the 1980 slaying of a Salvadoran
archbishop and ordered him to pay $10 million in damages.
Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot to death by a sniper as he
performed Mass, and no one was ever held responsible for the
slaying, which helped push El Salvador (news - web sites) into a 12-
year civil war.
The Catholic Church has taken the first step toward the canonization
of Romero, who was an outspoken critic of state-sponsored violence,
and who nearly 25 years after his death is still revered for his
support of the poor, and of those working for social change.
The unusual lawsuit was brought on behalf of one of Romero's
relatives under a little-known law that allows foreign nationals
with U.S. connections to be sued for crimes like torture or
genocide.
It asked the court to determine whether the evidence presented was
enough to show that Alvaro Rafael Saravia, a retired Salvadoran air
force captain last known to be living in Modesto, could be held
liable for Romero's death.
Saravia was not present and had no representation in court.
"To be liable for the killing of a human being, you don't have to
pull the trigger," Judge Oliver Wanger told about 100 spectators in
the courtroom, many of them Salvadoran. The courtroom erupted in
applause, and many in attendance began weeping.
The judge ordered Saravia to pay the plaintiffs $2.5 million in
compensatory damages and an additional $7.5 million in punitive
damages.
The lawsuit argued that Saravia conspired to commit the killing by
providing the sniper with a gun, payment and transportation.
The suit was brought by one of Romero's siblings, who has not been
identified because the judge agreed that there was still significant
danger of retaliation.
A United Nations (news - web sites) truth commission linked Saravia
and others to Romero's death. Immediately after the commission's
findings were made public, an amnesty law was passed in 1993.
Saravia did not respond to the lawsuit filed by the San Francisco-
based Center for Justice and Accountability, although the judge
ruled that an adequate effort had been made to reach him, and that
the suit should continue without him.
All attempts to bring the case to Salvadoran courts were silenced by
threats or political opposition, witnesses said.
MAN IS FOUND LIABLE IN KILLING OF SALVADORAN ARCHBISHOP
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: September 4, 2004
RESNO, Calif., Sept. 3 (AP) - A federal judge found a retired
Salvadoran air force captain liable on Friday in the 1980 killing of
Archbishop Óscar Romero and ordered him to pay $2.5 million in
compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages.
"To be liable for the killing of a human being, you don't have to
pull the trigger," Judge Oliver W. Wanger of Federal District Court
said to 100 spectators in the courtroom here, many of them
Salvadoran. The courtroom erupted in applause, and many in
attendance began weeping.
The former officer, Álvaro Rafael Saravía, was not present and had
no representation.
Vivid memories of the assassination and the archbishop's role in
human rights were recalled in the courtroom in a weeklong hearing on
Mr. Saravía's liability. A sniper shot the archbishop to death on
March 24, 1980, as he celebrated Mass at a hospital chapel in San
Salvador. No one was held responsible for the killing.
The unusual suit was brought on behalf of a relative of Archbishop
Romero under a little-known 18th-century law. The suit asks the
court to determine whether the evidence presented was enough to show
that Mr. Saravía, last known to have been living in Modesto, could
be held liable.
A United Nations truth commission linked Mr. Saravía and others to
the death. Immediately after the findings were made public, an
amnesty law was passed, in 1993.
The suit was brought by a sibling of the archbishop who has not been
identified, because the judge agreed that there was still
significant danger of retaliation.
Mr. Saravía has not responded to the suit, filed by the San
Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability, although the
judge ruled that an adequate effort had been made to contact him.
Human rights groups have found that Mr. Saravía, as security chief
for the late Maj. Roberto D'Aubuisson, a cashiered National Guard
officer who was crucial in steering El Salvador to the right in the
late 70's and early 80's, conspired to kill the archbishop. Major
D'Aubuisson appeared on Salvadoran television days before the
killing, condemning the archbishop's criticism of violence, which he
attributed in large part to the government.
see also:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1094266214760_51/
?hub=World
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/9577415.htmhttp://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/state/9577415.htm?1chttp://news.yahoo.com/news?
tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040904/ap_on_re_us/salvador_slain_bishop_1
http://wcco.com/national/Salvador-SlainBishop-aa/resources_news_htmlhttp://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/9577415.htmhttp://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/9579463.htm?1chttp://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4473131,00.html
===
MAN LIABLE FOR ROMERO KILLING: DEFENDENT DISAPPEARED FROM MODESTO
AFTER LEARNING OF SUIT.
PRESS TELEGRAM (Long Beach, Calif.)
By Juliana Barbassa
Associated Press
FRESNO — A federal judge on Friday found a retired Salvadoran Air
Force captain liable in the 1980 slaying of Salvadoran Archbishop
Oscar Romero a killing that helped push a country to civil war, but
for which no one was ever held responsible in a court of law until
today.
"The sole remedy the law can provide in money," Judge Oliver Wanger
said before ordering Alvaro Rafael Saravia to pay $10 million in
compensatory and punitive damages for the killings.
Saravia, whose last known residence was in Modesto, disappeared
after learning the suit had been filed by the San Francisco-based
Center for Justice and Accountability on behalf of a relative of
Romero's. He was not present in court and had no representation
during the hearings.
To the dozens of Salvadorans who were present and to many who lost
family and friends in the escalating violence that tore the country
apart after the Archbishop's death the judge's words provided solace
they'd sought for decades.
Many wept openly when the judge told the courtroom that the
defendant's conduct was "the cause in law for the death of the
Archbishop."
The conclusion of the unusual civil case, filed under a little known
18th century law and a supporting 1991 statute, reflected the six
days of emotional testimony in which witnesses relived the day of
Romero's assassination, his opposition to state-sponsored violence,
and the chaos and pain of the civil war that followed.
Romero was shot in the heart by a sniper as he performed Mass, in
front of dozens of witnesses. At his funeral in San Salvador's main
square, which was attended by some 100,000 people, at least 40
mourners died and 200 were injured after shots were fired into the
crowd.
It was the beginning of a 12-year civil war that would claim 75,000
lives, displace 600,000 Salvadorans, and send more than one million
into exile.
Investigations by human rights organizations and the United Nations
have shown Saravia, as the chief of security to Maj. Roberto
D'Aubuisson a key figure in steering El Salvador's government toward
the extreme right in the late 1970s and early 1980s conspired to
kill the archbishop.
The party founded by D'Aubuisson, now known as ARENA, has been in
power since 1989. The current president, Tony Saca, said he served
as an altar boy for Romero.
In 1993, the Salvadoran government adopted a broad amnesty that
exempted participants in political crimes from prosecution.
In this case, plaintiffs' attorneys argued that Saravia conspired to
commit the killing when he provided the sniper with a gun, his
payment, and transportation in the form of Saravia's personal
chauffeur, Amado Garay.
Garay's deposition was essential to determining Saravia's liability.
He described driving the sniper to the door of the church. Sitting
in the car, he said he heard the Archbishop's last words. Then he
heard a single shot coming from his back seat, and was told to drive.
"Slowly," the judge remarked, "with no sense of urgency, no fear of
apprehension," to a house where Saravia was waiting.
"Saravia said to the shooter, 'I think you killed him. The news said
he died instantly," Garay testified.
EE.UU. CONDENA A MILITAR POR MUERTE DE ARZOBISPO: REPARACIÓN. EL
CAPITÁN ÁLVARO SARAVIA DEBERÁ PAGAR DIEZ MILLONES DE DÓLARES POR
DAÑOS Y PERJUICIOS. NO COMPARECIÓ NI ESTUVO REPRESENTADO.
EL DIARIO DE HOY
4 de septiembre 2004
AP/El Diario de Hoy
nacional@...
Un juez federal de Fresno, California, declaró al ex capitán de la
Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña, Álvaro Rafael Saravia, responsable en el
asesinato del arzobispo Óscar Arnulfo Romero y le ordenó que pague
2.5 millones de dólares de reparación a los demandantes, además de
7.5 millones como reparación punitoria.
"Para ser responsable de la muerte de un ser humano, no es necesario
apretar el gatillo", dijo el juez Oliver Wanger en un tribunal
atestado por un centenar de personas, entre ellas muchos
salvadoreños.
Se produjo una salva de aplausos y muchos rompieron en llanto.
Saravia no estuvo presente ni representado.
Vívidos recuerdos del asesinato de Romero y de su papel en la
defensa de los derechos humanos en Latinoamérica fueron evocados en
la corte durante una semana de audiencias para determinar la
responsabilidad de Saravia.
Romero fue asesinado por un francotirador cuando celebraba misa, y
nadie ha sido juzgado por su muerte, que sucedió en medio de la
guerra salvadoreña, que duró 12 años.
El pleito civil fue iniciado en nombre de un hermano de Romero que
no fue identificado porque el juez coincidió en que aún existía el
peligro de represalias.
Se aplicó una ley que data del siglo XVIII poco conocida que permite
que extranjeros con conexiones en Estados Unidos sean acusados de
crímenes como torturas y asesinatos.
Los demandantes pidieron que la Corte determinara si las pruebas
presentadas bastan para establecer si se puede considerar a Saravia,
un capitán retirado de la Fuerza Aérea Salvadoreña cuyo último
domicilio conocido era en Modesto, California, responsable de la
muerte del prelado.
Una comisión de la verdad de las Naciones Unidas vinculó a Saravia y
otros con la muerte de Romero. Inmediatamente después de divulgado
el informe, en 1993, se aprobó una ley de amnistía en El Salvador.
Saravia no respondió al pleito iniciado por el Centro para la
Justicia y la Responsabilidad, con sede en San Francisco.
El juez determinó que se habían realizado intentos de comunicarse
con él y que el juicio podía continuar sin su presencia.
FOTO: Crimen. El prelado fue asesinado el 24 de marzo de 1980
mientras oficiaba misa. Foto EDH
===
MILITAR CONDENADO POR CRIMEN MONS. ROMERO
http://www.laprensagrafica.com/nacion/nacion8.asp
LA PRENSA GRÁFICA
Redacción Mundo/Agencias
judicial@...
El proceso contra el capitán retirado Álvaro Saravia duró dos
semanas y se realizó en una corte de Fresno, California.
El ex capitán de la Fuerza Aérea de El Salvador Álvaro Rafael
Saravia, procesado en un tribunal de Estados Unidos por el asesinato
del arzobispo Óscar Arnulfo Romero, fue declarado ayer culpable por
el juez federal de Fresno, California, Oliver Wanger, de ser
responsable de la organización del crimen
Un asesinato que, según dijo el juez, constituye un crimen contra la
humanidad, ya que fue parte de un ataque "sistemático y extendido
para aterrorizar a la población civil" de El Salvador.
Wanger ordenó a Saravia el pago de 2.5 millones de dólares en
compensaciones para la parte acusadora, además de 7.5 millones de
dólares por daños punitivos.
La audiencia es la culminación de una demanda civil interpuesta por
un familiar del arzobispo, que no ha querido revelar su identidad
por miedo a represalias.
Unas cien personas llegaron al cierre del proceso que se extendió
por dos semanas, durante las cuales desfilaron una serie de testigos
que establecieron el contexto en el que se ejecutó el asesinato.
Muchos de los asistentes en la corte de Fresno, la mayoría
salvadoreños, aplaudieron y otros lloraron al momento de la
resolución.
No hubo defensa
La parte acusadora fue llevada por el Centro de Justicia y
Responsabilidad, la misma organización que logró que hace dos años
se condenara a los generales Eugenio Vides Casanova y José Guillermo
García a pagar $54.6 millones en compensación a tres salvadoreños
torturados, detenidos en los años ochenta por los cuerpos de
seguridad.
Los generales se hicieron presentes a la corte de Florida para
responder a la acusación; en este caso, Saravia, un vendedor de
carros y de quien se desconoce su paradero, no acudió al juicio, ni
tuvo un abogado que lo representase.
Los testigos
El desfile de testigos de cargo contra el capitán retirado Álvaro
Saravia comenzó el pasado el 24 de agosto.
Uno de los testimonios fue el de Amado Antonio Garay, quien habría
llevado a Saravia a la capilla donde fue asesinado monseñor Romero.
También declaró en el proceso el juez Atilio Ramírez, quien llevó
las primeras investigaciones del caso.
A la corte se llamó además al ex embajador de E.U.A. Robert White.
La acusación indicó que el testimonio de Garay involucraba de forma
más directa al militar retirado con el crimen.
From: "Barbara Acosta" <barbara.acosta3@...>
Add to Address Book
To: barbara.acosta3@...
Subject: JUSTICE FOR MONS. ROMERO!!!
Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 21:44:28 -0400
Just a few minutes ago, the judge emitted his order in
the case against
the
killer of Monsenor Romero. After 24 years, justice has
finally been
served.
This is indeed a momentous occasion for Salvadorans
and for victims of
human
rights violations throughout the world!
Be sure to read the judge's words below. This is
mindboggling!
Barbara
-----Original Message-----
From: Moira Feeney [mailto:mfeeney@...]
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 8:03 PM
To: 'center4justice'
Subject: Judge finds Saravia liable for the
assassination of Romero and
orders him to pay $10 million in damages
PRESS RELEASE
Judge finds Modesto man liable for 1980 Assassination
of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador,
Orders him to pay $10 million in damages
Contacts: Center for Justice & Accountability
Matthew Eisenbrandt, co-counsel & Litigation Director:
cell: (415)
225-0028
Almudena Bernabeu, International Attorney, cell: (415)
305-2097
Patty Blum, Senior Legal Advisor, cell: (646) 644-3887
Sandra Coliver, Executive Director: cell: (202)
422-4837
Heller Ehrman White &
McAuliffe LLP
**Nicholas van Aelstyn, Lead Trial Counsel: cell:
(415) 519-1661
Russell Cohen, co-counsel, cell: (415) 203-8021
Wayne Kessler, Public Information Officer: (212)
847-8680
Fresno, September 3, 2004. Today at 5.45 pm, Judge
Wanger issued a
historic
decision holding Modesto resident Alvaro Saravia
responsible for his
role in
the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El
Salvador as he was
saying
mass on March 24, 1980. Judge Wanger ordered Saravia
to pay $10 million
to
the plaintiff, a relative of the Archbishop, who has
still not been
identified for security reasons.
Until today, no single individual has been held
responsible for the
assassination, one of the most heinous and shocking
murders of the last
part
of the 20th century.
In announcing the monetary award, Judge Wanger stated
that "the damages
are
of a magnitude that is hardly describable."
Judge Wanger ruled that the evidence clearly
established Saravia’s
responsibility for organizing the murder. He also
determined that the
murder
constitutes a crime against a humanity, because it was
part of a
widespread
and systematic attack intended to terrorize a civilian
population. As
Judge
Wanger stated:
"Here the evidence shows that there was a consistent
and unabating
regime
that was in control of El Salvador, and that this
regime essentially
functioned as a militarily-controlled government." The
government
perpetrated "systematic violations of human rights for
the purpose of
perpetuating the oligarchy and the military
government."
He also concluded that what happened in El Salvador
was the "antithesis
of
due process" and that there could not be a better
example of
extrajudicial
killing than the killing of Archbishop Romero.
Judge Wanger’s ruling is one of the few in the United
States finding an
invidual liable for crimes against humanity. Such
crimes were first
defined
and condemned in 1945 in the Nuremberg Charter,
established to try Nazi
war
criminals. The novelty of crimes against humanity is
that they can be
committed by a government against its own citizens. In
contrast,
genocide is
widespread persecution directed against a distinct
people, defined by
race,
ethnicity, or religion.
The case was brought by the Center for Justice &
Accountability (CJA),
based
in San Francisco, together with the law firm of Heller
Ehrman White &
McAuliffe.
Professor Patty Blum, CJA’s Senior Legal Advisor,
commented: “With this
victory, U.S. courts join with national and
international courts
throughout
the world in recognizing that egregious acts -- so
atrocious that we
label
them crimes against all humanity -- must not go
unpunished. Judge
Wanger
has provided Salvadorans, both in El Salvador and here
in the U.S.,
with a
measure of justice denied to them in their own
country, for the loss of
their most beloved leader, who was truly the voice of
the voiceless
during
one of El Salvador’s darkest times.
“This decision ensures that the United States will no
longer be a safe
haven
for those responsible for this heinous crime,” said
Matthew
Eisenbrandt,
CJA’s Litigation Director. "This verdict provides
sufficient grounds
for the
immigration service to place Saravia in deportation
proceedings."
Lead counsel Nicholas van Aelstyn, a partner with
Heller Ehrman White &
McAuliffe, added: "Archbishop Romero's legacy is great
and yet also
paradoxical. He is revered around the world as one of
the foremost
figures
of non-violence whose powerful advocacy of human
rights was rooted in a
deep
respect for the dignity of all human beings. Yet at
the same time, his
is
the paradigmatic case of impunity. Despite all the
evidence, no one
has
been held accountable in the 24 years since he was
killed."
Co-counsel Russell Cohen of Heller Ehrman stated:
"This case builds on
the
efforts of people around the world to counter impunity
with
accountability
and ultimately to bring justice for and in El
Salvador. The case is
part of
a world-wide movement that includes the Chilean
Supreme Court's
decision
that Pinochet must stand trial for his crimes. What
these cases are
saying
is that justice is needed if reconciliation and the
rule of law are to
take
root."
Other comments:
Prof. Terry Karl of Stanford University, who testified
at the trial as
an
expert witness, stated:
“El Salvador’s civil war was framed by the murder of
priests. The
murder of
Archbishop Romero was one of the major catalysts that
pushed the
country
into war and the murder of six Jesuit priests on
November 16, 1989 was
one
of the major catalysts that brought about the peace
agreement. One of
the
Jesuits who was killed, Fr Ignacio Martin Baro, used
to tell me that
the
worst thing that could happen was not the murder of
Archbishop Romero
or his
burial, but that he would die over and over again if
the truth were
buried
with him. Today we have the satisfaction of knowing
that more of the
truth
was told and acknowledged by a court of the United
States.”
Juan Carlos Cristales, Executive Director of El
Rescate in Los Angeles,
one
of the leading organizations in the U.S. that defends
the rights of
Central
Americans, commented: “The assassination of Archbishop
Oscar Romero was
one
of the most shocking atrocities in our recent history.
As long as that
crime
was allowed to go unpunished, any crime was
conceivable. This case has
said
“No!” to impunity. There are consequences for such
acts – maybe not yet
in
El Salvador, but in the U.S. and elsewhere. I believe
that the success
of
this case will give support to efforts in El Salvador
to repeal the
1993
Amnesty law.”
Dr. Francisco Acosta, a witness at the trial whose
life was saved by
Archbishop Romero and who founded the Archbishop
Romero University in
El
Salvador, stated: “For us, Oscar Romero was like
Martin Luther King
for the
United States, or Gandhi for India. I knew that the
opportunity to
tell the
truth in a legal court of the most powerful country in
the world will
help
to provide a sense of closure for all of Salvadoran
society. At last,
steps
have been taken to reverse impunity for human rights
violators. At the
personal level, I feel a strong sense of healing and
closure. For
almost 25
years, I have carried a bag of heavy rocks with me
everywhere I go.
Today, I
have left this bag of rocks with the U.S. system of
justice.”
For additional comments:
Francisco Acosta, trial witness and founder of the
Oscar Romero
University
in El Salvador,
Tel: evenings (301) 593 7381, office (202) 216-8457
or cell (301)
906-8378
Rev. William Wipfler, trial witness, Episcopal priest
who said mass
with
Romero the day before he was killed:
tel: (716) 677-2303
Fr. Stephen Privett, a Jesuit priest and President of
the University of
San
Francisco:
Tel: (415) 422-6762
Sample press coverage of the case in English:
NYTimes, Aug. 28:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Salvador-Slain-Bishop.html
The Independent UK, Aug. 24:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=554530http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-romero24aug24,1,7421685.story?coll=l
a-headlines-california
New Zealand Herald, Aug. 28:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3587552&thesection=news&t
hesubsection=world
Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario,
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/especiales/especiales-20040830-19.html
La Opinion, Sept. 2,
http://www.laopinion.com/estado/?rkey=00040901172413401302
La Prensa Grafica, Aug. 27,
http://www.laprensagrafica.com/mundo/mundo3.asp
*****
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Editorials/ Op-Ed
August 31, 2004
Justice Comes for the Archbishop
By RIGOBERTA MENCHÚ TUM
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/opinion/31menchu.html
Guatemala City — Nearly 25 years after Archbishop
Óscar Romero was
assassinated while celebrating Mass in San Salvador, a
chance for
justice
has finally appeared. A judge is expected to rule on
Friday in a
landmark
lawsuit brought against a man accused of being an
accomplice in the
murder.
The venue, however, is not a Salvadoran tribunal but a
federal court in
Fresno, Calif., where a longtime United States
resident, Álvaro
Saravia,
faces civil charges for helping carry out orders to
have Archbishop
Romero
killed.
Mr. Saravia, a former Salvadoran air force captain and
close associate
of
Roberto d'Aubuisson, the founder of El Salvador's
ruling right-wing
party,
is accused of obtaining the assassin's gun, arranging
for his
transportation
to the chapel, and paying him afterwards. The suit,
filed on behalf of
a
relative of the archbishop by the Center for Justice
and
Accountability, a
human rights group, seeks damages for extrajudicial
killing and crimes
against humanity. Evidence was presented last week,
and although Mr.
Saravia
has gone into hiding and is being tried in absentia,
if the judge finds
him
liable he will face monetary damages.
This case is being watched closely throughout Central
America, where
fragile
new democracies suffer the lingering effects of
unpunished wartime
crimes.
The failure to bring human rights violators to justice
encourages more
violence, as the killing of Archbishop Romero and the
1998
assassination of
Bishop Juan Gerardi in Guatemala sadly illustrated.
The lack of arrests
in
the Romero murder was a signal that Salvadoran armed
forces and
paramilitary
groups enjoyed impunity for their crimes, quickening
the country's
descent
into a brutal 12-year civil war that left more than
75,000 civilians
dead.
Countries emerging from civil conflict must reconcile
the dual needs of
consolidating stability and pursuing justice, a
difficulty easily
exploited
by those intent on protecting their own interests. In
El Salvador, a
sweeping amnesty law rendered the 1993 findings of a
United Nations
truth
commission legally irrelevant. That commission found
Mr. d'Aubuisson
(who
died in 1992) and Mr. Saravia responsible for
Archbishop Romero's
murder,
but neither man could be prosecuted in his homeland.
Thus the best chance for justice stems from the
coincidence of Mr.
Saravia's
residency - he has been in America since at least
1987. Through the
Alien
Tort Claims Act of 1789, the United States allows
foreign citizens to
sue
people living within American borders. Fortunately,
this summer in a
case
involving the kidnapping of a Mexican doctor, the
Supreme Court decided
against the Bush administration and affirmed the
applicability of the
act in
human rights cases.
The Saravia trial, while an inspiring exercise in
American law, does
raise
disturbing questions about United States policy. How
did Mr. Saravia
come to
live in California in the first place? Declassified
State Department
and
Central Intelligence Agency documents reveal that the
government was
aware
of Mr. Saravia's alleged involvement in the Romero
assassination as
early as
May 1980. The trial also represents an opportunity to
examine, albeit
obliquely, the responsibility of the Salvadoran
government and its
closest
ally, the United States, in the events that led to the
deaths of tens
of
thousands of Salvadoran civilians.
It is a sort of redemption, then, that the first trial
in this murder
is
taking place in an American court. Let us hope that
justice will be
served
at last in the case of Óscar Romero, and that it will
inspire the
governments of the United States, El Salvador and
other nations to
prosecute
the many human rights abusers who live openly among
us.
Rigoberta Menchú Tum was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
in 1992.
Moira Feeney
Law Clerk / Media Coordinator
Center for Justice and Accountability
870 Market Street, Suite 688
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415.544.0444 x302
Fax: 415.544.0456
www.cja.org
=====
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Just a few minutes ago, the judge emitted his order in the case against the
killer of Monsenor Romero. After 24 years, justice has finally been served.
This is indeed a momentous occasion for Salvadorans and for victims of human
rights violations throughout the world!
Be sure to read the judge's words below. This is mindboggling!
Barbara
-----Original Message-----
From: Moira Feeney [mailto:mfeeney@...]
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2004 8:03 PM
To: 'center4justice'
Subject: Judge finds Saravia liable for the assassination of Romero and
orders him to pay $10 million in damages
PRESS RELEASE
Judge finds Modesto man liable for 1980 Assassination
of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador,
Orders him to pay $10 million in damages
Contacts: Center for Justice & Accountability
Matthew Eisenbrandt, co-counsel & Litigation Director: cell: (415) 225-0028
Almudena Bernabeu, International Attorney, cell: (415) 305-2097
Patty Blum, Senior Legal Advisor, cell: (646) 644-3887
Sandra Coliver, Executive Director: cell: (202) 422-4837
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
**Nicholas van Aelstyn, Lead Trial Counsel: cell: (415) 519-1661
Russell Cohen, co-counsel, cell: (415) 203-8021
Wayne Kessler, Public Information Officer: (212) 847-8680
Fresno, September 3, 2004. Today at 5.45 pm, Judge Wanger issued a historic
decision holding Modesto resident Alvaro Saravia responsible for his role in
the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador as he was saying
mass on March 24, 1980. Judge Wanger ordered Saravia to pay $10 million to
the plaintiff, a relative of the Archbishop, who has still not been
identified for security reasons.
Until today, no single individual has been held responsible for the
assassination, one of the most heinous and shocking murders of the last part
of the 20th century.
In announcing the monetary award, Judge Wanger stated that "the damages are
of a magnitude that is hardly describable."
Judge Wanger ruled that the evidence clearly established Saravia’s
responsibility for organizing the murder. He also determined that the murder
constitutes a crime against a humanity, because it was part of a widespread
and systematic attack intended to terrorize a civilian population. As Judge
Wanger stated:
"Here the evidence shows that there was a consistent and unabating regime
that was in control of El Salvador, and that this regime essentially
functioned as a militarily-controlled government." The government
perpetrated "systematic violations of human rights for the purpose of
perpetuating the oligarchy and the military government."
He also concluded that what happened in El Salvador was the "antithesis of
due process" and that there could not be a better example of extrajudicial
killing than the killing of Archbishop Romero.
Judge Wanger’s ruling is one of the few in the United States finding an
invidual liable for crimes against humanity. Such crimes were first defined
and condemned in 1945 in the Nuremberg Charter, established to try Nazi war
criminals. The novelty of crimes against humanity is that they can be
committed by a government against its own citizens. In contrast, genocide is
widespread persecution directed against a distinct people, defined by race,
ethnicity, or religion.
The case was brought by the Center for Justice & Accountability (CJA), based
in San Francisco, together with the law firm of Heller Ehrman White &
McAuliffe.
Professor Patty Blum, CJA’s Senior Legal Advisor, commented: “With this
victory, U.S. courts join with national and international courts throughout
the world in recognizing that egregious acts -- so atrocious that we label
them crimes against all humanity -- must not go unpunished. Judge Wanger
has provided Salvadorans, both in El Salvador and here in the U.S., with a
measure of justice denied to them in their own country, for the loss of
their most beloved leader, who was truly the voice of the voiceless during
one of El Salvador’s darkest times.
“This decision ensures that the United States will no longer be a safe haven
for those responsible for this heinous crime,” said Matthew Eisenbrandt,
CJA’s Litigation Director. "This verdict provides sufficient grounds for the
immigration service to place Saravia in deportation proceedings."
Lead counsel Nicholas van Aelstyn, a partner with Heller Ehrman White &
McAuliffe, added: "Archbishop Romero's legacy is great and yet also
paradoxical. He is revered around the world as one of the foremost figures
of non-violence whose powerful advocacy of human rights was rooted in a deep
respect for the dignity of all human beings. Yet at the same time, his is
the paradigmatic case of impunity. Despite all the evidence, no one has
been held accountable in the 24 years since he was killed."
Co-counsel Russell Cohen of Heller Ehrman stated: "This case builds on the
efforts of people around the world to counter impunity with accountability
and ultimately to bring justice for and in El Salvador. The case is part of
a world-wide movement that includes the Chilean Supreme Court's decision
that Pinochet must stand trial for his crimes. What these cases are saying
is that justice is needed if reconciliation and the rule of law are to take
root."
Other comments:
Prof. Terry Karl of Stanford University, who testified at the trial as an
expert witness, stated:
“El Salvador’s civil war was framed by the murder of priests. The murder of
Archbishop Romero was one of the major catalysts that pushed the country
into war and the murder of six Jesuit priests on November 16, 1989 was one
of the major catalysts that brought about the peace agreement. One of the
Jesuits who was killed, Fr Ignacio Martin Baro, used to tell me that the
worst thing that could happen was not the murder of Archbishop Romero or his
burial, but that he would die over and over again if the truth were buried
with him. Today we have the satisfaction of knowing that more of the truth
was told and acknowledged by a court of the United States.”
Juan Carlos Cristales, Executive Director of El Rescate in Los Angeles, one
of the leading organizations in the U.S. that defends the rights of Central
Americans, commented: “The assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero was one
of the most shocking atrocities in our recent history. As long as that crime
was allowed to go unpunished, any crime was conceivable. This case has said
“No!” to impunity. There are consequences for such acts – maybe not yet in
El Salvador, but in the U.S. and elsewhere. I believe that the success of
this case will give support to efforts in El Salvador to repeal the 1993
Amnesty law.”
Dr. Francisco Acosta, a witness at the trial whose life was saved by
Archbishop Romero and who founded the Archbishop Romero University in El
Salvador, stated: “For us, Oscar Romero was like Martin Luther King for the
United States, or Gandhi for India. I knew that the opportunity to tell the
truth in a legal court of the most powerful country in the world will help
to provide a sense of closure for all of Salvadoran society. At last, steps
have been taken to reverse impunity for human rights violators. At the
personal level, I feel a strong sense of healing and closure. For almost 25
years, I have carried a bag of heavy rocks with me everywhere I go. Today, I
have left this bag of rocks with the U.S. system of justice.”
For additional comments:
Francisco Acosta, trial witness and founder of the Oscar Romero University
in El Salvador,
Tel: evenings (301) 593 7381, office (202) 216-8457 or cell (301) 906-8378
Rev. William Wipfler, trial witness, Episcopal priest who said mass with
Romero the day before he was killed:
tel: (716) 677-2303
Fr. Stephen Privett, a Jesuit priest and President of the University of San
Francisco:
Tel: (415) 422-6762
Sample press coverage of the case in English:
NYTimes, Aug. 28:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Salvador-Slain-Bishop.html
The Independent UK, Aug. 24:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=554530http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-romero24aug24,1,7421685.story?coll=l
a-headlines-california
New Zealand Herald, Aug. 28:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3587552&thesection=news&t
hesubsection=world
Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario,
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/especiales/especiales-20040830-19.html
La Opinion, Sept. 2,
http://www.laopinion.com/estado/?rkey=00040901172413401302
La Prensa Grafica, Aug. 27, http://www.laprensagrafica.com/mundo/mundo3.asp
*****
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Editorials/ Op-Ed
August 31, 2004
Justice Comes for the Archbishop
By RIGOBERTA MENCHÚ TUM
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/opinion/31menchu.html
Guatemala City — Nearly 25 years after Archbishop Óscar Romero was
assassinated while celebrating Mass in San Salvador, a chance for justice
has finally appeared. A judge is expected to rule on Friday in a landmark
lawsuit brought against a man accused of being an accomplice in the murder.
The venue, however, is not a Salvadoran tribunal but a federal court in
Fresno, Calif., where a longtime United States resident, Álvaro Saravia,
faces civil charges for helping carry out orders to have Archbishop Romero
killed.
Mr. Saravia, a former Salvadoran air force captain and close associate of
Roberto d'Aubuisson, the founder of El Salvador's ruling right-wing party,
is accused of obtaining the assassin's gun, arranging for his transportation
to the chapel, and paying him afterwards. The suit, filed on behalf of a
relative of the archbishop by the Center for Justice and Accountability, a
human rights group, seeks damages for extrajudicial killing and crimes
against humanity. Evidence was presented last week, and although Mr. Saravia
has gone into hiding and is being tried in absentia, if the judge finds him
liable he will face monetary damages.
This case is being watched closely throughout Central America, where fragile
new democracies suffer the lingering effects of unpunished wartime crimes.
The failure to bring human rights violators to justice encourages more
violence, as the killing of Archbishop Romero and the 1998 assassination of
Bishop Juan Gerardi in Guatemala sadly illustrated. The lack of arrests in
the Romero murder was a signal that Salvadoran armed forces and paramilitary
groups enjoyed impunity for their crimes, quickening the country's descent
into a brutal 12-year civil war that left more than 75,000 civilians dead.
Countries emerging from civil conflict must reconcile the dual needs of
consolidating stability and pursuing justice, a difficulty easily exploited
by those intent on protecting their own interests. In El Salvador, a
sweeping amnesty law rendered the 1993 findings of a United Nations truth
commission legally irrelevant. That commission found Mr. d'Aubuisson (who
died in 1992) and Mr. Saravia responsible for Archbishop Romero's murder,
but neither man could be prosecuted in his homeland.
Thus the best chance for justice stems from the coincidence of Mr. Saravia's
residency - he has been in America since at least 1987. Through the Alien
Tort Claims Act of 1789, the United States allows foreign citizens to sue
people living within American borders. Fortunately, this summer in a case
involving the kidnapping of a Mexican doctor, the Supreme Court decided
against the Bush administration and affirmed the applicability of the act in
human rights cases.
The Saravia trial, while an inspiring exercise in American law, does raise
disturbing questions about United States policy. How did Mr. Saravia come to
live in California in the first place? Declassified State Department and
Central Intelligence Agency documents reveal that the government was aware
of Mr. Saravia's alleged involvement in the Romero assassination as early as
May 1980. The trial also represents an opportunity to examine, albeit
obliquely, the responsibility of the Salvadoran government and its closest
ally, the United States, in the events that led to the deaths of tens of
thousands of Salvadoran civilians.
It is a sort of redemption, then, that the first trial in this murder is
taking place in an American court. Let us hope that justice will be served
at last in the case of Óscar Romero, and that it will inspire the
governments of the United States, El Salvador and other nations to prosecute
the many human rights abusers who live openly among us.
Rigoberta Menchú Tum was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992.
Moira Feeney
Law Clerk / Media Coordinator
Center for Justice and Accountability
870 Market Street, Suite 688
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415.544.0444 x302
Fax: 415.544.0456
www.cja.org
PRESS RELEASE
Judge finds Modesto man liable for 1980 Assassination
of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador,
Orders him to pay $10 million in damages
Contacts: Center for Justice & Accountability
Matthew Eisenbrandt, co-counsel & Litigation Director: cell: (415) 225-0028
Almudena Bernabeu, International Attorney, cell: (415) 305-2097
Patty Blum, Senior Legal Advisor, cell: (646) 644-3887
Sandra Coliver, Executive Director: cell: (202) 422-4837
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
**Nicholas van Aelstyn, Lead Trial Counsel: cell: (415) 519-1661
Russell Cohen, co-counsel, cell: (415) 203-8021
Wayne Kessler, Public Information Officer: (212) 847-8680
Fresno, September 3, 2004. Today at 5.45 pm, Judge Wanger issued a historic
decision holding Modesto resident Alvaro Saravia responsible for his role in
the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador as he was saying
mass on March 24, 1980. Judge Wanger ordered Saravia to pay $10 million to
the plaintiff, a relative of the Archbishop, who has still not been
identified for security reasons.
Until today, no single individual has been held responsible for the
assassination, one of the most heinous and shocking murders of the last part
of the 20th century.
In announcing the monetary award, Judge Wanger stated that "the damages are
of a magnitude that is hardly describable."
Judge Wanger ruled that the evidence clearly established Saravia’s
responsibility for organizing the murder. He also determined that the murder
constitutes a crime against a humanity, because it was part of a widespread
and systematic attack intended to terrorize a civilian population. As Judge
Wanger stated:
"Here the evidence shows that there was a consistent and unabating regime
that was in control of El Salvador, and that this regime essentially
functioned as a militarily-controlled government." The government
perpetrated "systematic violations of human rights for the purpose of
perpetuating the oligarchy and the military government."
He also concluded that what happened in El Salvador was the "antithesis of
due process" and that there could not be a better example of extrajudicial
killing than the killing of Archbishop Romero.
Judge Wanger’s ruling is one of the few in the United States finding an
invidual liable for crimes against humanity. Such crimes were first defined
and condemned in 1945 in the Nuremberg Charter, established to try Nazi war
criminals. The novelty of crimes against humanity is that they can be
committed by a government against its own citizens. In contrast, genocide is
widespread persecution directed against a distinct people, defined by race,
ethnicity, or religion.
The case was brought by the Center for Justice & Accountability (CJA), based
in San Francisco, together with the law firm of Heller Ehrman White &
McAuliffe.
Professor Patty Blum, CJA’s Senior Legal Advisor, commented: “With this
victory, U.S. courts join with national and international courts throughout
the world in recognizing that egregious acts -- so atrocious that we label
them crimes against all humanity -- must not go unpunished. Judge Wanger
has provided Salvadorans, both in El Salvador and here in the U.S., with a
measure of justice denied to them in their own country, for the loss of
their most beloved leader, who was truly the voice of the voiceless during
one of El Salvador’s darkest times.
“This decision ensures that the United States will no longer be a safe haven
for those responsible for this heinous crime,” said Matthew Eisenbrandt,
CJA’s Litigation Director. "This verdict provides sufficient grounds for the
immigration service to place Saravia in deportation proceedings."
Lead counsel Nicholas van Aelstyn, a partner with Heller Ehrman White &
McAuliffe, added: "Archbishop Romero's legacy is great and yet also
paradoxical. He is revered around the world as one of the foremost figures
of non-violence whose powerful advocacy of human rights was rooted in a deep
respect for the dignity of all human beings. Yet at the same time, his is
the paradigmatic case of impunity. Despite all the evidence, no one has
been held accountable in the 24 years since he was killed."
Co-counsel Russell Cohen of Heller Ehrman stated: "This case builds on the
efforts of people around the world to counter impunity with accountability
and ultimately to bring justice for and in El Salvador. The case is part of
a world-wide movement that includes the Chilean Supreme Court's decision
that Pinochet must stand trial for his crimes. What these cases are saying
is that justice is needed if reconciliation and the rule of law are to take
root."
Other comments:
Prof. Terry Karl of Stanford University, who testified at the trial as an
expert witness, stated:
“El Salvador’s civil war was framed by the murder of priests. The murder of
Archbishop Romero was one of the major catalysts that pushed the country
into war and the murder of six Jesuit priests on November 16, 1989 was one
of the major catalysts that brought about the peace agreement. One of the
Jesuits who was killed, Fr Ignacio Martin Baro, used to tell me that the
worst thing that could happen was not the murder of Archbishop Romero or his
burial, but that he would die over and over again if the truth were buried
with him. Today we have the satisfaction of knowing that more of the truth
was told and acknowledged by a court of the United States.”
Juan Carlos Cristales, Executive Director of El Rescate in Los Angeles, one
of the leading organizations in the U.S. that defends the rights of Central
Americans, commented: “The assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero was one
of the most shocking atrocities in our recent history. As long as that crime
was allowed to go unpunished, any crime was conceivable. This case has said
“No!” to impunity. There are consequences for such acts – maybe not yet in
El Salvador, but in the U.S. and elsewhere. I believe that the success of
this case will give support to efforts in El Salvador to repeal the 1993
Amnesty law.”
Dr. Francisco Acosta, a witness at the trial whose life was saved by
Archbishop Romero and who founded the Archbishop Romero University in El
Salvador, stated: “For us, Oscar Romero was like Martin Luther King for the
United States, or Gandhi for India. I knew that the opportunity to tell the
truth in a legal court of the most powerful country in the world will help
to provide a sense of closure for all of Salvadoran society. At last, steps
have been taken to reverse impunity for human rights violators. At the
personal level, I feel a strong sense of healing and closure. For almost 25
years, I have carried a bag of heavy rocks with me everywhere I go. Today, I
have left this bag of rocks with the U.S. system of justice.”
For additional comments:
Francisco Acosta, trial witness and founder of the Oscar Romero University
in El Salvador,
Tel: (301) 593 7381 or cell (301) 906-8378
Rev. William Wipfler, trial witness, Episcopal priest who said mass with
Romero the day before he was killed:
tel: (716) 677-2303
Fr. Stephen Privett, a Jesuit priest and President of the University of San
Francisco:
Tel: (415) 422-6762
Sample press coverage of the case in English:
NYTimes, Aug. 28:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Salvador-Slain-Bishop.html
The Independent UK, Aug. 24:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=554530http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-romero24aug24,1,7421685.story?coll=l
a-headlines-california
New Zealand Herald, Aug. 28:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3587552&thesection=news&t
hesubsection=world
Spanish:
El Nuevo Diario,
http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/especiales/especiales-20040830-19.html
La Opinion, Sept. 2,
http://www.laopinion.com/estado/?rkey=00040901172413401302
La Prensa Grafica, Aug. 27, http://www.laprensagrafica.com/mundo/mundo3.asp
*****
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Editorials/ Op-Ed
August 31, 2004
Justice Comes for the Archbishop
By RIGOBERTA MENCHÚ TUM
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/opinion/31menchu.html
Guatemala City — Nearly 25 years after Archbishop Óscar Romero was
assassinated while celebrating Mass in San Salvador, a chance for justice
has finally appeared. A judge is expected to rule on Friday in a landmark
lawsuit brought against a man accused of being an accomplice in the murder.
The venue, however, is not a Salvadoran tribunal but a federal court in
Fresno, Calif., where a longtime United States resident, Álvaro Saravia,
faces civil charges for helping carry out orders to have Archbishop Romero
killed.
Mr. Saravia, a former Salvadoran air force captain and close associate of
Roberto d'Aubuisson, the founder of El Salvador's ruling right-wing party,
is accused of obtaining the assassin's gun, arranging for his transportation
to the chapel, and paying him afterwards. The suit, filed on behalf of a
relative of the archbishop by the Center for Justice and Accountability, a
human rights group, seeks damages for extrajudicial killing and crimes
against humanity. Evidence was presented last week, and although Mr. Saravia
has gone into hiding and is being tried in absentia, if the judge finds him
liable he will face monetary damages.
This case is being watched closely throughout Central America, where fragile
new democracies suffer the lingering effects of unpunished wartime crimes.
The failure to bring human rights violators to justice encourages more
violence, as the killing of Archbishop Romero and the 1998 assassination of
Bishop Juan Gerardi in Guatemala sadly illustrated. The lack of arrests in
the Romero murder was a signal that Salvadoran armed forces and paramilitary
groups enjoyed impunity for their crimes, quickening the country's descent
into a brutal 12-year civil war that left more than 75,000 civilians dead.
Countries emerging from civil conflict must reconcile the dual needs of
consolidating stability and pursuing justice, a difficulty easily exploited
by those intent on protecting their own interests. In El Salvador, a
sweeping amnesty law rendered the 1993 findings of a United Nations truth
commission legally irrelevant. That commission found Mr. d'Aubuisson (who
died in 1992) and Mr. Saravia responsible for Archbishop Romero's murder,
but neither man could be prosecuted in his homeland.
Thus the best chance for justice stems from the coincidence of Mr. Saravia's
residency - he has been in America since at least 1987. Through the Alien
Tort Claims Act of 1789, the United States allows foreign citizens to sue
people living within American borders. Fortunately, this summer in a case
involving the kidnapping of a Mexican doctor, the Supreme Court decided
against the Bush administration and affirmed the applicability of the act in
human rights cases.
The Saravia trial, while an inspiring exercise in American law, does raise
disturbing questions about United States policy. How did Mr. Saravia come to
live in California in the first place? Declassified State Department and
Central Intelligence Agency documents reveal that the government was aware
of Mr. Saravia's alleged involvement in the Romero assassination as early as
May 1980. The trial also represents an opportunity to examine, albeit
obliquely, the responsibility of the Salvadoran government and its closest
ally, the United States, in the events that led to the deaths of tens of
thousands of Salvadoran civilians.
It is a sort of redemption, then, that the first trial in this murder is
taking place in an American court. Let us hope that justice will be served
at last in the case of Óscar Romero, and that it will inspire the
governments of the United States, El Salvador and other nations to prosecute
the many human rights abusers who live openly among us.
Rigoberta Menchú Tum was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992.
Moira Feeney
Law Clerk / Media Coordinator
Center for Justice and Accountability
870 Market Street, Suite 688
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel: 415.544.0444 x302
Fax: 415.544.0456
www.cja.org
Doe v. Saravia: Case against Key Organizer of the Assassination of
Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador
We are awaiting Judge Wanger's ruling, which we expect by the end of today,
Friday. In the meantime, let me introduce you to the legal team and also
send you summaries of the testimony of two witnesses - Esther Chavez and Fr.
Walter Guerra - who testified last Friday.
The Legal Team
Center for Justice & Accountability
Matthew Eisenbrandt, co-counsel & Litigation Director
Almudena Bernabeu, International Attorney
Prof. Patty Blum, Senior Legal Advisor
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
Nicholas van Aelstyn, Lead Trial Counsel, and partner, Heller Ehrman
Russell Cohen, co-counsel, and associate, Heller Ehrman
Friday, August 27
Esther Chavez and Fr. Walter Guerra testified about their work in El
Salvador on behalf of the needy, the persecution faced by their families and
colleagues, the impact of Archbishop Romero on their lives and communities,
and the impact of his assassination.
Testimony of Esther Chavez
Esther Chavez was born in San Salvador, the eldest of eight brothers and
sisters. She went to school at the Colegio Asuncion, and in 1978, she worked
there as a librarian. She was also studying at the National University, but,
due to the closing of the university, she could not complete her education.
Chavez commented on changes in the Catholic Church. When she was a young
person, mass was in Latin. After Vatican II , Spanish became the language
of the mass. Lay people could participate and become more involved. The
meeting in Medellin in 1968, when the Conference of Bishops adopted a
declaration regarding liberation theology, was also significant.
Chavez stated that she participated in one of the Christian base communities
in her neighborhood. These communities sprang up in the countryside and in
poor neighborhoods in the cities. The base communities implemented these
changes in church doctrine and affirmed the philosophy of Medellin.
Since there was an insufficient number of priests for all the parishes, lay
people were directly involved in conducting and practicing some of the
Catholic rituals. In addition, the Christian base communities were dedicated
to assisting the people in the communities with their social needs. As
Chavez was one of the few people in her community who had an education, she
would help community members read documents or draft letters for them. One
of her mentors in this pastoral work was Sister Ines, a Spanish nun..
When the Catholic radio station was bombed and Archbishop Romero's homilies
could not be broadcast, Chavez was asked to transcribe one of them for
distribution. As she transcribed the audiotape, she felt like she was
listening directly to him, "just me and him." She felt the power of his
words very strongly, and she felt inspired to contribute in any way that she
could.
Sister Ines was sent back to Spain; Chavez suspected this was because she
supported the ideas of liberation theology. Chavez complained to the head of
her school, and she was fired from her job. She felt a sense of loss and
sought counsel from Monsenor Romero. He was very open and humble. She asked
him what she should do. She told him about her work with the base
communities. He suggested that she go back to Morazon and survey the
community to see what they needed. She did so with her brother, and they
discovered that many women needed day care. There were many single mothers,
and other women would help them by taking care of their children. So in
January 1979, she, her brother and a friend started a day care center.
Monsenor Romero came to the day care center to express his support for her
work.
A law was passed prohibiting meetings. Thereafter, the base community could
no longer meet at the school but instead had to meet in people's homes. They
discussed the problems of their daily life - the killings, the persecution -
and what they as Christians should be doing.
In August 1980, the Popular Movement called for a national strike. Parents
and staff decided it would not be safe for the day care center to be open
during the national strike, so the building was empty. Two men took refuge
in the day care building when it was empty. They carried weapons and shot at
a helicopter from the building. They were killed. Four other men also were
killed on the land of Chavez's family.
Shortly thereafter, the Treasury Police came to the day care center asking
for the owner. Chavez's father said that he was the owner, in order to
protect Chavez. The Treasury Police arrested him and took him to their
headquarters. They wanted to know where Chavez was. They said that Chavez
was teaching children to be guerrillas because she was working with Monsenor
Romero. Her father eventually was released because the family was able to
pay for a lawyer, and they knew Bishop Rivera y Damas who also helped.
The day her father was released, Chavez had to leave her children and go
into hiding. In October 1980, she fled to Guatemala and then to the U.S. She
didn't want to leave; she felt that she was betraying her community because
she could afford to leave and others could not. She finally got her children
out. She hoped she could return in two years but she could not return. She
applied for asylum but was denied. She finally obtained permanent residency.
In the U.S., Chavez has worked to end U.S. military aid to El Salvador. She
has worked to establish sister city relationships between U.S. cities and
Salvadoran towns. She currently works for the American Friends Service
Committee, a Quaker organization, as a community organizer in the immigrant
community.
Regarding the impact of Monsenor Romero on her own life, Chavez stated that
it was an "honor and responsibility to know Monsenor Romero because he
taught that we should work with those who have no voice and those who fight
injustice. Every year I have a service to commemorate his death. This is a
responsibility that I try to keep and I try to help those in need and keep
his legacy alive."
Concerning Saravia, she is angry that he is in the United States. She
considers it a major injustice that Salvadoran families are divided because
some cannot achieve legal status in the U.S. and yet someone like him, who
committed such a terrible crime, is allowed to live here.
Testimony of Walter Guerra
Walter Guerra, a Catholic priest for 35 years and a close colleague of
Archbishop Romero, testified about the violent oppression suffered by the
people of El Salvador, his own persecution, and the vital role Romero played
in negotiating and solving conflicts between workers and the large
land-owners.
Father Guerra became a priest in 1969. Besides his devotion to his parish,
Guerra is involved in several non-profit organizations, including one that
is dedicated to eradicating malnutrition among children and providing
nutritional education, and one that provides academic scholarships. Through
these organizations, Guerra has helped feed and educate thousands of
children.
Guerra first met Romero in 1962 when he was in seminary school in Armenia, a
town located in the western province of Sonsanate, El Salvador. He was
appointed Armenia's parish priest in February 1977, the same month that
Romero was anointed Archbishop. . Guerra recalled:
Repression in Sonsanate was terrible. Armenia was one of the towns most
beaten by the oppression. The goal of the repression was to eliminate all
opposition of the government. It was not possible to have any organization
or gathering. Only religious functions, like holy mass, were allowed. Any
other activity was dangerous and suspicious according to the military. As
such, all the youth, teachers and farmers were targets. In three years,
over 500 people were killed. I saw many of my parishioners brutally killed.
Guerra recounted the killing of his best friend:
My best friend was killed in front of my parish house. At 2 a.m they blew
Jorge apart with bullets, and also shot his mother who tried to help him.
They left her there bleeding to die. There was nothing we could do.
Nevertheless, at 4 a.m., I ventured outside, took Jorge's body and cleaned
off the blood. Then I took his mother to the hospital. Many others also
were killed, and I also presided at their funerals.
Guerra continued his memories of life under these conditions:
During the last few months of the life of Monsenor Romero, we all slept with
our clothes on, in case we needed to flee at a moment's notice. . . It was
common to see bodies on the street. I myself had to pick up six young men.
The National Guard and death squads had arranged their bodies in order of
their size and left them along the highway leading to San Salvador, so that
all who passed could see.
Guerra then testified about the time when he was detained for one day. He
was accompanying the mayor to his office. The mayor was supposed to sign a
document permitting a celebration. While Guerra was walking next to him, a
female guerrilla fired into the mayor's back, and he died on the way to the
hospital.
The National Guard picked Fr. Guerra up in front of the mayor's office.
They accused him of conspiring with the guerrilla in the mayor's murder.
They tied his fingers behind his back with plastic binding for 12 hours.
"My fingers got so swollen, that I couldn't undo my belt." Eight other
prisoners were also in his cell. One said, "Father, don't worry, we will
defend you." Another prisoner gave him his bed- a piece of cardboard. They
warned, "If there is a noise, don't move, we will investigate it."
The townspeople surrounded the place where Guerra was being detained, to
prevent his removal and clandestine execution. They "started sending
cookies and other refreshments." There was "great solidarity." He invited
the other prisoners to join him and they "gathered together at 6 p.m., we
all ate together and prayed."
Fr. Guerra's family and Archbishop Romero sent attorneys. The lower court
received his statement, and the attorneys explained that there was no basis
to for his detention. The court agreed and ordered his release. Romero was
in Rome at the time, but had phoned Socorro Juridico, the human rights
office of the Archdiocese, and told them to send a lawyer to aid Guerra.
They sent Roberto Cuellar, the director of the office.
Fr. Guerra discussed other dealings he had with Romero and the important
role Romero played beyond his position in the Church.
Although Fr. Guerra's parish was not a part of Romero's diocese, Romero
trusted Guerra because "I was a teacher at the seminary and at the UCA
[University of Central America in San Salvador]." They would have monthly
meetings with all the priests so that they could consider the country's
situation and come up with ways to address the situation. Monsenor Romero
attended the meetings and actively participated.
Romero also invited Fr. Guerra to accompany him on strike negotiations.
Guerra recalled a few of these labor disputes. In June 1968 there was a
dispute between the Mesa family-owned brewing company and its workers. The
Mesas had agreed to have Romero as the negotiator because he was trusted.
He would first speak to the workers, then the administration and then bring
the two sides together. "He would come up with proposals that were very
doable. He was very friendly with the administration, so they could see,
feel the condition of the workers, and so he could get concessions."
In another situation, Romero negotiated a dispute between bus operators and
their owners. The operators were demanding higher wages. The owners said
they could not afford to pay better wages. The buses, which were very old,
required constant repair, and so no money was available for wages. Romero's
solution was to help the bus owners get a loan. With the loan, they were
able to acquire better buses, and could then pay the operators better wages.
Guerra also worked with Romero on writing pastoral letters. Once of the
most meaningful explained that faith and politics were not inimical to each
other, but rather that Christians have the right to get involved in politics
and organize. This subject of the paper was decisive for Christians in El
Salvador at the time.
During Romero's last two years of life, Guerra also attended the weekly
meetings to help prepare the weekly homilies. "We would meet in San
Salvador and work from 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m." Romero would listen to the
different reports from the various consultants on political, financial,
social, pastoral and human rights issues. From these reports, he would
write the homilies. "He wrote them himself -- he typed quite well,"
explained Fr. Guerra.
His homilies were a lighted torch for all the people. He would apply the
Biblical message to life. He would take a realistic look at what was taking
place during the week, and then make conclusions. He would denounce all
violations of human rights: give names, last names, names of places, etc.
Guerra continued:
He was the only person who could say these things in El Salvador. At that
time, saying these things was like inviting a death sentence. He was the
voice of those who had no voice. Seven times he received death warnings.
He said 'I am not afraid of death. Death be welcome. Because the day I am
killed, I will be resurrected in the Salvadoran people.'
Guerra and other priests cautioned Romero on the Saturday morning before his
last Sunday mass on March 23, 1980 that: "We should not invite disobedience
from the soldiers. We don't want to give them an opportunity to kill you."
But, Romero "wanted to denounce the massacres of the army. He listened to
our advice, but kept silent. He took the decision to invite all soldiers
not to take part in death . and you know how that concluded."
Guerra then related the impact and events following Romero's assassination.
"I was very sad and full of anger. I felt like a light had gone out. . On
Tuesday, I went to San Salvador. Everyday I went to visit the body and
joined the masses."
Romero's body was in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, eight blocks from the
National Cathedral because the Cathedral was under construction. "I was at
the burial. I was one of those along with six other priests who got to
carry the body of Monsenor Romero from the altar to the main door.
There were over 300 priests from all over the Americas and Europe. Cardinal
Corripio from Mexico celebrated the mass when the first bomb was heard.
Streams of people were coming towards the Archbishop's body. They could not
get in because of the gates. Bombs started going off and there was a rush
of people in all directions.
It was totally crazy. Everybody was running in great fear. Many people were
on the ground and were trampled by the multitudes. . We took Romero's body
into the cathedral. The people knocked down the steel gates, and 5,000
people entered. We immediately took Romero's body and put it in the burial
vault. We were worried that they would try to take Monsenor Romero's body.
We encouraged people to sing. . By noon, things had calmed down, and the
young priests went out and recovered 17 bodies [of those who had been
trampled].
At this point, plaintiff's counsel displayed several photographs showing
some of the trampled bodies.
Fr. Guerra testified that "the Cardinal gave his final blessings, and at
approximately 4 or 4.30 in the afternoon, all of the priests and nuns were
escorted out by the military and into ambulances of the Red Cross. The
military forced them to hold their hands up as they left. Guerrillas had
entered the Cathedral. Thanks to them, the police and army did not enter-
the army was scared of them. The Church and civil authorities negotiated
that the army would leave.
Guerra then talked about Romero's legacy:
Twenty-four years have passed. And ever year the activities for Monsenor
Romero are increasing. I believe he is the priest most spoken about in the
world. As a matter of fact, the Anglicans have placed a statute of him in
Westminster Abby. He is a martyr for the Anglican Church and, of course,
for us as well."
He recounted what the Pope said when he came: "Happy is the Salvadoran
people who have a shepherd, a bishop and a martyr as a guide."
A series of photographs were then presented depicting activities celebrating
and remembering Romero throughout the Americas.
Guerra continued "Always at his tomb there are flowers and people praying.
Pope John Paul II himself changed his route and unexpectedly arrived and
knelt and prayed there."
Guerra was then asked if he was ever targeted after the assassination. He
said he left El Salvador in July 1980 and went to Mexico. "The faithful
people of Armenia kept telling me to leave." He stayed there for two years,
returning in August 1982. "I stayed through the entire civil war."
Upon his return, the military threatened him. The colonel in Sonsanate,
where Guerra and his parish were located, said: "You are a guerrilla, so I
will kill you as you will kill me, so leave." But, said Fr. Guerra, "I had
made up my mind that I would not leave, because the people needed me. The
Church was the hope of the people. For that reason, I could not leave."
[Se eliminaron del mensaje las partes que no eran texto]
Judge Wanger's ruling in Doe v. Saravia, the case against against a
key organizer of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El
Salvador is now expected around 4 pm.
RULING EXPECTED TODAY IN ROMERO KILLING
http://www.fresnobee.com/local/story/9086936p-9986603c.html
By Vanessa Colón
The Fresno Bee
(Updated Friday, September 3, 2004, 6:02 AM)
A federal judge in Fresno is expected to rule today in the case of a
man accused of plotting the 1980 assassination of El Salvador's
archbishop.
If Judge Oliver W. Wanger agrees with the plaintiff in the civil
case that Alvaro Rafael Saravia is directly responsible for the
murder, his ruling could lead to Saravia's deportation.
Saravia's whereabouts are unknown, and the ruling won't have much
bearing until he's found. But its precedent could ignite a movement
to expel more war criminals and human-rights abusers living in the
United States and discourage them from seeking a haven here.
Saravia, the right-hand man of the death-squad leader who ordered
Oscar Romero's murder, apparently lived in Modesto, which is part of
the federal court district based in Fresno.
The trial was held four days last week and continues today with
additional testimony before the expected ruling. Saravia has not
attended and has had no defense team present. Romero was fatally
shot March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in a church in San
Salvador, El Salvador's capital. He was renowned in El Salvador for
speaking against human-rights abuses. His murder sparked
international attention, and he soon became an icon on the scale of
Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas K. Gandhi. Romero's death
remains unsolved.
"Just like the Nazi war criminals, they [human-rights abusers]
should not be given safe haven," said Joe Vail, a former immigration
judge for the U.S. Department of Justice from 1995 to 1999.
Vail, an associate professor at the University of Houston's Law
School, visited El Salvador and handled dozens of cases involving
Salvadorans seeking asylum in the United States. Even if Saravia has
U.S. citizenship, he's deportable because it can be revoked if he
lied during the application process.
Applicants are asked whether they have committed any crimes, such as
murder, he said.
Russ Knocke, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement
under the Department of Homeland Security, declined to state
Saravia's immigration status and whether he committed fraud in his
application.
A staff member from the department's San Francisco office was in the
courtroom throughout the trial taking notes.
"We are observing. We continue to have interest in this case,"
Knocke said.
If the judge finds Saravia responsible, attorneys for the plaintiff
will use the ruling to ask the Immigration and Customs Enforcement
to seek his deportation.
El Salvador's civil war, which began in 1980, claimed as many as
75,000 civilian lives, according to the United Nations Commission on
the Truth for El Salvador. The military ruled the country, and death
squads included members of the U.S.-backed military. The war ended
in 1992 with a peace accord that the United States helped negotiate.
Death-squad leader Roberto D'Aubuisson -- who allegedly ordered
Romero killed -- died of cancer in 1992. The ARENA political party
that he founded rules El Salvador today, according to court
testimony.
The Center for Justice and Accountability in San Francisco filed the
civil lawsuit against Saravia on behalf of an unidentified relative
of Romero's. The plaintiff seeks monetary damages as well as the
eventual arrest and deportation of Saravia.
"We do hope the evidence and the judge's ruling will make a strong
case for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement so they can arrest
him for immigration violations," said Sandra Coliver, the center's
executive director.
The center won a similar civil suit in 2002, when a jury in a
Florida court found two Salvadoran generals responsible for the
torture of one plaintiff and one of the generals responsible for the
torture of another plaintiff. The court ordered Jose Guillermo
Garcia and Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova to pay the victims $54.6
million in damages. The two generals have appealed the case.
But the cases are different. The generals were found guilty because
they had "command responsibility" of the torture, though they did
not participate.
"In Saravia's case, we are alleging he directly ordered [Romero's
death]. ... There's direct evidence he ordered and assisted,"
Coliver said.
Saravia ordered Amado Garay -- Saravia's driver -- to be the bearded
sniper's driver that day, Garay said in court. Excerpts of Saravia's
diary, read in court, list a plan calling for a driver, a gun with a
telescopic lens and thousands of dollars. D'Aubuisson ordered and
planned the murder, according to court testimony.
Terry Lynn Karl, a Stanford professor who did extensive research on
El Salvador's civil war, testified that Saravia was a captain in the
military under D'Aubuisson.
Legal experts say that if Saravia is found responsible, it will send
a message for human-rights abusers across the globe.
"People who committed atrocities abroad can't find a safe haven
[here]. It's a warning signal to them," said Marshall Fitz,
associate director of advocacy for the American Immigration Lawyers
Association in Washington, D.C.
Angela Kelley, deputy director of the National Immigration Forum
advocate group in Washington, D.C., said the case is high-profile
and could impact other cases.
"This lawsuit and its outcome will open recently closed wounds. ...
In their [Salvadorans'] hearts, it would do them a world of good,"
Kelley said.
The reporter can be reached at vcolón@... or (559) 441-
6313.
See also:
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/9086979p-9986651c.html
===
JUDGE TO RULE TODAY ON ASSASSINATION OF SALVADORAN ARCHBISHOP
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/9574979.htm
Monterey County Herald - Posted on Fri, Sep. 03, 2004
(Associated Press) FRESNO, Calif. - Vivid memories of the 1980
assassination of a Salvadoran archbishop and his role in promoting
human rights in Latin America were recalled in a Fresno courtroom in
a weeklong hearing expected to culminate in a Friday ruling, in
which a federal judge will determine the defendant's liability.
The civil suit was brought on behalf of one of Archbishop Oscar
Romero's relatives under a little-known 18th century law. It asks
the court to determine if the evidence presented was enough to show
that retired Salvadoran air force captain Alvaro Rafael Saravia,
last known to be living in Modesto, Calif., could be held liable for
Romero's death.
Judge Oliver Wanger is expected to rule late Friday, determining
whether Saravia should be held liable in the case, and if so,
ordering him to pay damages to reflect the loss suffered by Romero's
family, by the country, and by the international community.
A United Nations truth commission linked Saravia and others to
Romero's death. Immediately after the commission's findings were
made public, an amnesty law was passed in 1993. No one has been held
responsible for the death, or for the crimes committed against
thousands of others during El Salvador's 12-year civil war.
See also:
http://www.kesq.com/Global/story.asp?S=2256933http://www.mercedsun-star.com/state_wire/story/9087498p-9987239c.html
Doe v. Saravia: Case against Key Organizer of the Assassination of
Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador
We are awaiting Judge Wanger's ruling, which we expect around 1:30 or 2 .
In the meantime, let me introduce you to the legal team and also send you
summaries of the testimony of two witnesses - Esther Chavez and Fr. Walter
Guerra - who testified last Friday.
The Legal Team
Center for Justice & Accountability
Matthew Eisenbrandt, co-counsel & Litigation Director
Almudena Bernabeu, International Attorney
Prof. Patty Blum, Senior Legal Advisor
Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP
Nicholas van Aelstyn, Lead Trial Counsel, and partner, Heller Ehrman
Russell Cohen, co-counsel, and associate, Heller Ehrman
Friday, August 27
Esther Chavez and Fr. Walter Guerra testified about their work in El
Salvador on behalf of the needy, the persecution faced by their families and
colleagues, the impact of Archbishop Romero on their lives and communities,
and the impact of his assassination.
Testimony of Esther Chavez
Esther Chavez was born in San Salvador, the eldest of eight brothers and
sisters. She went to school at the Colegio Asuncion and in 1978, she worked
as a librarian. The University was closed very often so that could not
finish her education.
Chavez commented on changes in the Catholic Church. When she was a young
person, mass was in Latin. After Vatican II came about, the mass could be
said in Spanish. Lay people could participate and become more involved. The
meeting in Medellin in 1968, when the Conference of Bishops adopted a
declaration regarding liberation theology, was also significant.
Chavez stated that she participated in one of the Christian base communities
in her neighborhood. These communities sprang up in the countryside and in
poor neighborhoods in the cities. The base communities practiced these
changes in church doctrine. They were interested not only in what priests
and others were saying but also in the philosophy affirmed at Medellin.
There were not many priests, and thus lay people were able to conduct and
practice some of the services. They engaged in "celebration of the word."
Chavez was one of the people who had an education, and so she would help
poor people read their documents. She taught at a Catholic school with
Sister Ines, who was her mentor.
Her first contact with Romero was through one of his homilies. The Catholic
radio station was bombed and Chavez was asked to transcribe one of the
homilies. Because she was listening directly to him, "just me and him," she
felt the power of his words very strongly, and wanted to help in any way
that she could.
Sister Ines was sent back to Spain because of her support for Monsignor
Romero. Chavez complained to the head of her school, and she was fired from
her job. She then went to speak with Monsignor Romero. He was very open and
humble. She asked him what she should do. She told him about her work with
the base communities. He suggested that she go back to Morazon and survey
the community to see what they needed. She did so with her brother and they
discovered that many women needed day care. There were many single mothers,
and other women would help them by taking care of their children. So in
January 1979, she, her brother and a friend started a day care center.
A law was passed prohibiting meetings. Thereafter, they could not meet at
the school but instead had to meet in people's homes. They discussed the
problems of their daily life - the killings, the persecution - and what they
as Christians should be doing.
In August 1980, the Popular Movement called for a national strike. Parents
and staff decided it would not be safe to be open during the national
strike, so the building was empty. Two men took refuge in the day care
building when it was empty. They carried weapons and they shot at a
helicopter from the building. They were killed. Four more men were killed on
the land of Chavez's family in the hills.
Shortly thereafter, the Treasury Police came to the day care center asking
for the owner. Chavez's father said that he was the owner, in order to
protect Chavez. The Treasury Police took him to their headquarters and
tortured him for three days. They wanted to know where Chavez was. They said
that Chavez was teaching children to be guerrillas because she was working
with M. Romero. Her father eventually was released because the family was
able to pay for a lawyer and they knew Monsignor Rivera y Damas and he also
helped.
The day her father was released Chavez had to leave her children and go into
hiding. In October 1980, she fled to Guatemala and then to the U.S. She
didn't want to leave, she felt that she was betraying her community because
she could afford to leave and others could not. She finally got her children
out. She hoped she could return in two years but she could not return. She
applied for asylum but was denied. She then applied for a labor
certification. She went to El Salvador for two weeks in 1987, and then
returned to the States.
In the U.S., she worked to end U.S. military aid to El Salvador. She
established a sister-city relationship between her city in New Jersey and
Chalatenago.
She worked for the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker
organization, as a community organizer in the immigrant community. At first
she worked mostly with the Salvadoran community. From 1988 to 1994, she
served as director of the refugee center, which provides legal services to
other Central Americans as well as Salvadorans.
Regarding the impact of Monsignor Romero, Chavez stated that it was an
"honor and responsibility to know Monsignor Romero because he taught that we
should work with those who have no voice and those who fight injustice.
Every year I have a service to commemorate his death. This is a
responsibility that I try to keep and I try to help those in need and keep
his legacy alive."
Concerning Saravia, she is angry that he is here. She considers it a major
injustice that families are divided and that someone like him who committed
such a crime should be able to live in the United States.
Friday, August 27: Walter Guerra
Walter Guerra, a Catholic priest for 35 years and a close colleague of
Archbishop Romero, testified about the violent oppression suffered by the
people of El Salvador, his own persecution, and the vital role Romero played
in negotiating and solving conflicts between workers and the large
land-owners.
Father Guerra became a priest in 1969. Besides his devotion to his parish,
Guerra is involved in several non-profit organizations, including one that
is dedicated to eradicating malnutrition among children and providing
nutritional education, and one that provides academic scholarships. Through
these organizations, Guerra has helped feed and educate thousands of
children.
Guerra first met Romero in 1962 when he was in seminary school in Armenia, a
town located in the western province of Sonsanate, El Salvador. He was
appointed Armenia's parish priest in February 1977, the same month that
Romero was anointed Archbishop. . Guerra recalled:
Repression in Sonsanate was terrible. Armenia was one of the towns most
beaten by the oppression. The goal of the repression was to eliminate all
opposition of the government. It was not possible to have any organization
or gathering. Only religious functions, like holy mass, were allowed. Any
other activity was dangerous and suspicious according to the military. As
such, all the youth, teachers and farmers were targets. In three years,
over 500 people were killed. I saw many of my parishioners brutally killed.
Guerra recounted the killing of his best friend:
My best friend was killed in front of my parish house. At 2 a.m they blew
Jorge apart with bullets, and also shot his mother who tried to help him.
They left her there bleeding to die. There was nothing we could do.
Nevertheless, at 4 a.m., I ventured outside, took Jorge's body and cleaned
off the blood. Then I took his mother to the hospital. Many others also
were killed, and I also presided at their funerals.
Guerra continued his memories of life under these conditions:
During the last few months of the life of Monsenor Romero, we all slept with
our clothes on, in case we needed to flee at a moment's notice. . . It was
common to see bodies on the street. I myself had to pick up six young men.
The National Guard and death squads had arranged their bodies in order of
their size and left them along the highway leading to San Salvador, so that
all who passed could see.
Guerra then testified about the time when he was detained for one day. He
was accompanying the mayor to his office. The mayor was supposed to sign a
document permitting a celebration. While Guerra was walking next to him, a
female guerrilla fired into the mayor's back, and he died on the way to the
hospital.
The National Guard picked Fr. Guerra up in front of the mayor's office.
They accused him of conspiring with the guerrilla in the mayor's murder.
They tied his fingers behind his back with plastic binding for 12 hours.
"My fingers got so swollen, that I couldn't undo my belt." Eight other
prisoners were also in his cell. One said, "Father, don't worry, we will
defend you." Another prisoner gave him his bed- a piece of cardboard. They
warned, "If there is a noise, don't move, we will investigate it."
The townspeople surrounded the place where Guerra was being detained, to
prevent his removal and clandestine execution. They "started sending
cookies and other refreshments." There was "great solidarity." He invited
the other prisoners to join him and they "gathered together at 6 p.m., we
all ate together and prayed."
Fr. Guerra's family and Archbishop Romero sent attorneys. The lower court
received his statement, and the attorneys explained that there was no basis
to for his detention. The court agreed and ordered his release. Romero was
in Rome at the time, but had phoned Socorro Juridico, the human rights
office of the Archdiocese, and told them to send a lawyer to aid Guerra.
They sent Roberto Cuellar, the director of the office.
Fr. Guerra discussed other dealings he had with Romero and the important
role Romero played beyond his position in the Church.
Although Fr. Guerra's parish was not a part of Romero's diocese, Romero
trusted Guerra because "I was a teacher at the seminary and at the UCA
[University of Central America in San Salvador]." They would have monthly
meetings with all the priests so that they could consider the country's
situation and come up with ways to address the situation. Monsenor Romero
attended the meetings and actively participated.
Romero also invited Fr. Guerra to accompany him on strike negotiations.
Guerra recalled a few of these labor disputes. In June 1968 there was a
dispute between the Mesa family-owned brewing company and its workers. The
Mesas had agreed to have Romero as the negotiator because he was trusted.
He would first speak to the workers, then the administration and then bring
the two sides together. "He would come up with proposals that were very
doable. He was very friendly with the administration, so they could see,
feel the condition of the workers, and so he could get concessions."
In another situation, Romero negotiated a dispute between bus operators and
their owners. The operators were demanding higher wages. The owners said
they could not afford to pay better wages. The buses, which were very old,
required constant repair, and so no money was available for wages. Romero's
solution was to help the bus owners get a loan. With the loan, they were
able to acquire better buses, and could then pay the operators better wages.
Guerra also worked with Romero on writing pastoral letters. Once of the
most meaningful explained that faith and politics were not inimical to each
other, but rather that Christians have the right to get involved in politics
and organize. This subject of the paper was decisive for Christians in El
Salvador at the time.
During Romero's last two years of life, Guerra also attended the weekly
meetings to help prepare the weekly homilies. "We would meet in San
Salvador and work from 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m." Romero would listen to the
different reports from the various consultants on political, financial,
social, pastoral and human rights issues. From these reports, he would
write the homilies. "He wrote them himself -- he typed quite well,"
explained Fr. Guerra.
His homilies were a lighted torch for all the people. He would apply the
Biblical message to life. He would take a realistic look at what was taking
place during the week, and then make conclusions. He would denounce all
violations of human rights: give names, last names, names of places, etc.
Guerra continued:
He was the only person who could say these things in El Salvador. At that
time, saying these things was like inviting a death sentence. He was the
voice of those who had no voice. Seven times he received death warnings.
He said 'I am not afraid of death. Death be welcome. Because the day I am
killed, I will be resurrected in the Salvadoran people.'
Guerra and other priests cautioned Romero on the Saturday morning before his
last Sunday mass on March 23, 1980 that: "We should not invite disobedience
from the soldiers. We don't want to give them an opportunity to kill you."
But, Romero "wanted to denounce the massacres of the army. He listened to
our advice, but kept silent. He took the decision to invite all soldiers
not to take part in death . and you know how that concluded."
Guerra then related the impact and events following Romero's assassination.
"I was very sad and full of anger. I felt like a light had gone out. . On
Tuesday, I went to San Salvador. Everyday I went to visit the body and
joined the masses."
Romero's body was in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, eight blocks from the
National Cathedral because the Cathedral was under construction. "I was at
the burial. I was one of those along with six other priests who got to
carry the body of Monsenor Romero from the altar to the main door.
There were over 300 priests from all over the Americas and Europe. Cardinal
Corripio from Mexico celebrated the mass when the first bomb was heard.
Streams of people were coming towards the Archbishop's body. They could not
get in because of the gates. Bombs started going off and there was a rush
of people in all directions.
It was totally crazy. Everybody was running in great fear. Many people were
on the ground and were trampled by the multitudes. . We took Romero's body
into the cathedral. The people knocked down the steel gates, and 5,000
people entered. We immediately took Romero's body and put it in the burial
vault. We were worried that they would try to take Monsenor Romero's body.
We encouraged people to sing. . By noon, things had calmed down, and the
young priests went out and recovered 17 bodies [of those who had been
trampled].
At this point, plaintiff's counsel displayed several photographs showing
some of the trampled bodies.
Fr. Guerra testified that "the Cardinal gave his final blessings, and at
approximately 4 or 4.30 in the afternoon, all of the priests and nuns were
escorted out by the military and into ambulances of the Red Cross. The
military forced them to hold their hands up as they left. Guerrillas had
entered the Cathedral. Thanks to them, the police and army did not enter-
the army was scared of them. The Church and civil authorities negotiated
that the army would leave.
Guerra then talked about Romero's legacy:
Twenty-four years have passed. And ever year the activities for Monsenor
Romero are increasing. I believe he is the priest most spoken about in the
world. As a matter of fact, the Anglicans have placed a statute of him in
Westminster Abby. He is a martyr for the Anglican Church and, of course,
for us as well."
He recounted what the Pope said when he came: "Happy is the Salvadoran
people who have a shepherd, a bishop and a martyr as a guide."
A series of photographs were then presented depicting activities celebrating
and remembering Romero throughout the Americas.
Guerra continued "Always at his tomb there are flowers and people praying.
Pope John Paul II himself changed his route and unexpectedly arrived and
knelt and prayed there."
Guerra was then asked if he was ever targeted after the assassination. He
said he left El Salvador in July 1980 and went to Mexico. "The faithful
people of Armenia kept telling me to leave." He stayed there for two years,
returning in August 1982. "I stayed through the entire civil war."
Upon his return, the military threatened him. The colonel in Sonsanate,
where Guerra and his parish were located, said: "You are a guerrilla, so I
will kill you as you will kill me, so leave." But, said Fr. Guerra, "I had
made up my mind that I would not leave, because the people needed me. The
Church was the hope of the people. For that reason, I could not leave."
- end -
In solidarity,
Center for Justice & Accountability
870 Market St., Suite 684
San Francisco, CA 94102
tel: (415) 544-0444, x305
fax: (415) 544-0456
e-mail: scoliver@...
website: www.cja.org
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Queremos avisarle de este evento que se aproxima.
Memorial: Luis Alonzo López
Fecha: sábado, septiembre 4, 2004
Hora: todo el día
Lay chatechist, 'disappeared' in El Salvador, after being
captured by men in civilian clothes - September 4, 1982.
Laico, catequista de la Parroquia San José, Plan del Pino,
Arquidiócesis de San Salvador. Nació en el Cantón Plan
del Pino el 20 de junio de 1950. Era catequista en el Cantón
Plan del Pino. Su ideal era servir a Dios y a los demás, lo
que le traía problemas con su esposa, a quien él decía
que no entendía lo que significaba el compromiso de la fe.
Fue acusado de subversivo y capturado por hombres vestido de
civil el 4 de septiembre de 1982. Se buscó en todos los
cuerpos de seguridad y nunca fue encontrado.
http://romeroes.com/martires.html
Dear Friends:
Below is a note from Francisco Acosto, who testified last Friday in the
civil suit against Alvaro Rafael Saravia, one of the key organizers of the
killing of Archbishop Oscar Romero over 24 years ago in El Salvador.
A copy of Francisco’s written testimony is posted on the PEACE,
International website at <http://www.peaceint.org/> www.peaceint.org. A
summary of his oral testimony follows his note.
Tomorrow, September 3rd, Judge Wanger is expected to issue his ruling in the
case.
In Solidarity,
The Center for Justice & Accountability
From Francisco Acosto:
Knowing the enormous dimension of this case, I would like to say that I was
a little afraid about taking part in it. I had never testified in court
before, and I also was concerned about safety. It was a relief when, on my
arrival at the Fresno airport last Thursday night, U.S. Marshalls were there
to accompany me. They remained with me as well as with the other witnesses
throughout our stay there. You can read in many books about the civil war in
El Salvador, about Archbishop Romero, the peace agreements, and the Truth
Commission, but this was my opportunity to tell my truth, on behalf of those
who gave their lives while hoping to live in a society different from the
one they had suffered so much in.
The civil trial took place over four days, from Aug. 24 – 27, in Fresno, CA.
Fittingly, Fresno is the home of the United Farmworkers Union started by
Cesar Chavez, another hero of the poor, whom I was fortunate enough to meet
many years ago. About 12 witnesses testified last week, including, among
others, Maria Julia Hernandez of Tutela Legal; Jon Cortina of the Central
American University; Father Walter Guerra; Atilio Ramirez Amaya, the judge
who was in charge of the Romero case in El Salvador; Robert White, former
U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador (by video); Rev. William Wipfler of the
Episcopalian Church; and Saravia's driver, who transported the killer to and
from the site of the assassination. The team of eight lawyers from the
Center for Justice and Accountability were extremely committed and capable.
During the four days, about 30 to 50 people, including media and observers,
were present in the courtroom. No cameras, cellular phones, or recording
equipment were allowed.
I testified on the fourth day of the trial. As I walked into the courtroom,
I saw large photos of Archbishop Romero posted around the room, and the
lawyers had prepared powerpoints of evidence, photos, and documents that
they projected onto a screen during the testimonies. The judge entered, and
everyone stood up. The judge then called the courtroom to order. One of the
lawyers introduced the first witness of the day, a woman from El Salvador.
Her testimony brought back a lot of memories.
When I was called to the stand, I was sworn in. Then the judge asked me to
identify on a map of El Salvador where I was born. I used a laser pointer to
explain where the Guazapa Volcano was located. The lawyer proceeded to
interview me about how I met Archbishop Romero, and to describe the various
times when my life had been threatened, when my relatives were killed, and
when Archbishop Romero saved my brother Jorge’s life. As I described some of
the things I had witnessed, I could see in the face of the judge that he was
moved, and many people in the audience, including the lawyers, had tears in
their eyes.
After it was over, five reporters were waiting for me outside. I granted
interviews to each of them. Two were on Spanish and English-speaking radio
stations, and the rest were from the print media. Univision, the
Spanish-language TV channel with international coverage across the U.S. and
Latin America, spent the entire week there. A religious congregation brought
lunch for everyone and set up tables on the lawn across the street, which
was a meaningful gesture of support for us.
I was impressed with the judge, who was very professional in carefully
documenting all of the evidence. At the end of the fourth day, he requested
several additional pieces of evidence that he will need before he makes his
judgment on Friday, September 3.
During my lifetime, I have been in situations in which my life was in danger
at least seven times. I've always wondered why it didn't happen. There must
be a reason I am still alive, a mission I have not yet accomplished. I feel
that this was the opportunity to fulfill part of that mission. As I sat in
the witness chair last Friday, I felt an enormous responsibility. I did my
best to represent the thousands of people who never had the chance to speak
against the injustice and impunity they lived under.
When I decided to do this, I knew this case and its resolution would have a
worldwide impact. For us, Oscar Romero was like Martin Luther King for the
United States, or Gandhi for India. I also knew that the opportunity to
tell the truth in a legal court of the most powerful county in the world
would help provide a sense of closure, not only for the killing of Oscar
Romero, but also for Salvadoran society. At last, steps have been taken to
reverse impunity for human rights violators. At the personal level, I also
felt a sense of healing and closure. At the end of my testimony, I explained
to the judge what this case means for me and for my family. For almost 25
years, I have carried a bag of heavy rocks with me everywhere I go. Today, I
said, I am leaving this bag of rocks in your hands.
Francisco Acosta
For recent news articles about the case, see:
<http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20040828-0023-ca-salvador-slainbis
hop.html>
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20040828-0023-ca-salvador-slainbish
op.html
<http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3587552&thesection=news&
thesubsection=world>
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3587552&thesection=news&t
hesubsection=world
You can also view more information on CJA's website: <http://www.cja.org/>
www.cja.org
Following is a summary of Dr. Francisco Acosta's testimony:
Friday morning, August 27, Dr. Francisco Acosta Arevalo testified about the
persecution of his family, the steps Monsignor Romero took to save his life
and the life of his brother Jorge, and the Archbishop Romero University that
Dr. Acosta helped establish to honor the Monsignor’s legacy.
Dr. Acosta testified that he was born on the slopes of the Guazapa Volcano,
in the municipality of Suchitoto in northern El Salvador. Guazapa was a
community of poor campesinos and farmers, and his family, made up 14
brothers and sisters, was Catholic. Twenty-eight haciendas, big farms, on
the other side of the slope were owned by a few rich families, most of whom
were connected with the military. Life was difficult, and he had to work
hard to buy his first pair of shoes at the age of fourteen. Dr. Acosta was
sent to attend the Catholic seminary in San Vicente. After that, he moved to
the capital of San Salvador until he was forced to flee his country. He has
been living in Maryland for the past six years.
Dr. Acosta joined the seminary with the goal of becoming a priest.
Initially, he had a “[s]trong feeling to become a priest because . . . I saw
how welcome in the community the priests were. My sister is a nun and she
encouraged me to go to the seminary.”
During his time in the seminary in San Vicente, he had as a professor Father
Rafael Palacios who become his mentor. Palacios went to Chile and Argentina
and he explained to Dr. Acosta that a different kind of society was
possible. Death quads killed Father Palacios some years later.
In 1969, the Asociación Nacional de Maestros Salvadoreños (ANDES)/National
Association of Salvadoran Teachers led a big strike. Among the strikers were
some teachers from the seminary Dr. Acosta attended who were protesting the
abuses they had suffered at the hands of the paramilitary forces, called
Organizacion Democratica Nacionalista (ORDEN)/National Democratic
Organization. Many of his own teachers were involved in the strike, and he
knew their grievances were legitimate. Dr. Acosta participated in the
strike, and it caused some tensions between the seminary’s authorities and
himself. His bishop and the Church did not come out in support of the
teachers; instead they spoke against the strike. This, in addition to other
contradictions between the Church’s teachings and its practices, led him to
leave the seminary.
Dr. Acosta then enrolled at the Central American University (UCA), so that
he could work with the Jesuits there. He was provided a scholarship that
allowed him to study sociology. Dr. Acosta testified: “One day I met with
Father Ignacio Martin Baro, a prominent professor at the UCA, and I thanked
him for the scholarship I had been given. Father Martin Baro told me, ‘you
do not have to thank me. Your parents, your grandparents, all your ancestors
already paid for your scholarship.’ I thought that was so true – you see my
mother is an Indian.”
Dr. Acosta helped to establish the Fundación Salvadoreña de Vivienda
Mínima/Salvadoran Foundation for Minimum Housing, which worked to provide
homes for the poor. The Foundation was formed after a terrible hurricane
had destroyed many homes, and he and others from the UCA volunteered to help
build new houses for those who had been left homeless. He worked there for
eleven years, during which time the Foundation organized people to build
approximately 15,000 homes. Monsignor Romero visited one project of 600
homes in Soyapango. Romero held mass for the people who were participating
in the project, and afterwards joined Dr. Acosta at the same table for
lunch. Dr. Acosta said, “He struck me as a very humble person . . . somebody
with authority sharing food with us. . . that was life-changing for me.”
Dr. Acosta then recounted Romero’s transformation after the murder of Father
Rutilio Grande. For some time, Dr. Acosta went to work in Aguilares with
Father Enrique Sanchez and later with Father Rutilio Grande. Among his
assignments was to bring communion to some 200 peasants in El Paisnal, Fr.
Grande’s hometown.
“[T]he killing of Rutilio Grande, who was a friend of Romero, a man of
faith, a man of integrity, started to change Bishop Romero quickly.”
Dr. Acosta recalled how, after Fr. Grande’s death, Romero called on the
Carter Administration, in one of his homilies broadcast on radio, to stop
sending weapons to El Salvador. Dr. Acosta listened with his community of
450 families as they worked on the houses. When Romero called on the Carter
Administration to stop sending weapons because they were being used to kill
the brothers and sisters of El Salvador, everyone stopped working and
started to applaud. “Oh my goodness. I really remember that. How I had
the feeling that there was no other voice than Bishop Romero.”
Acosta then narrated the persecution of his family and Romero’s personal
assistance to him.
His 13-year-old niece, Yanira Caceres Arevalo, had gone to the store in
Suchitoto to buy school supplies, and also picked up several copies of
Orientacion, the official Catholic newspaper. This newspaper, as well as the
Catholic radio station YSAX, were the only sources of reliable information
because the government had almost total control of the media . The National
Police stopped Yanira. They took her to police headquarters in Suchitoto
and detained her. His grandmother, Feliciana Alvarez de Arevalo, went to
get her, and she also was detained.
The next day, both his niece and grandmother were released. They were told:
“Go home, you have a lot of work to do there.” When they reached home, they
found that his two aunts, Angelina Antonia Arevalo and Teresa de Jesus
Arevalo, had been killed. They had been shot and chopped to pieces with a
machete.
Later, men in civilian clothes picked up one of his cousins, Elias Acosta
Rivera, who was a labor organizer for the Federacion Cristiana de Campesinos
Salvadorenos/Christian Federation of Salvadoran Peasants. Two days later
his body was found by dogs. His tongue had been cut out. Dr. Acosta also
recalled how a cousin, Geremias Melgar, and his nephew Otsmaro Acosta
Rivera, were gunned down two kilometers away from his parent’s house. His
father, Pedro Acosta Melgar, found them, and buried them in the local chapel
because it was extremely dangerous to bring them to the cemetery in
Suchitoto. “I can tell you more and more stories like these,” said Dr.
Acosta.
He then recounted the attempted murder of his brother and the murder of
another one of his nephews. In February of 1980, he heard Major Roberto
D’Aubuisson say on television that Acosta’s brother, Jorge Alberto Acosta,
was one of the most influential subversives in northern El Salvador.
“[O]nce Roberto D’Aubuisson said something, something would happen for
sure.” Three days later, around 4 o’clock in the morning, more than 20
gunmen surrounded his brother’s house on the Guazapa Volcano and opened
fire. Seven M-16 shells were picked up by the family. Luckily, neither his
brother nor his brother’s family were killed or injured.
Dr. Acosta said he then sought help to get his brother to a safe place. But
everyone was too afraid to help, afraid that the security forces would come
after them. That week Mario Zamora Rivas, the Attorney General of El
Salvador, was killed and every body was afraid. So Dr. Acosta went to
Bishop Romero. Msr. Romero said: “Look, I understand. Leave him here at
the seminary. . . We will take care of him and your cousin Otsmaro Caceres
will help.” His brother was sheltered in the seminary for three weeks, and
was then able to make his way to the Mexican Embassy where he could request
political asylum. His request was granted and he made it safely to Mexico.
Otsmaro Caceres Arevalo, who was a seminarian, was celebrating his first
mass when the death squads came for him. They shot 12 people along with
Otsmaro. Dr. Acosta testified: “It was [recently] decided that the name of
the school in his community should be changed to his name. I am really proud
of that kind of thing happening. The terrible irony is that I spoke with my
brother Jorge two days ago, who continues to organize people in El Salvador,
while Monsignor Romero and my cousin Otsmaro are not alive.”
Dr. Acosta then spoke about the days before Romero’s assassination:
I saw Bishop Romero three days before he was killed. . . at 10 o’clock at
night driving by himself. I thought to myself, how can this man, who has a
death threat, be driving by himself at 10 o’clock in the evening? Sure
enough, he was killed three days later.
Dr. Acosta was in classes at the University of Central America when he found
out that Romero had been killed. “We were in class when my classmate and
member of the Human Rights Commission, Patricia Cuellar, said “Monsignor
Romero has just been killed”. Everybody in the class was in shock and in
twenty minutes, the whole University was empty. “And my feeling at the time
[was] ‘oh my goodness, my goodness. If someone like him can be killed, the
rest of us, we are like chickens.’”
Dr. Acosta then described the chaos of Romero’s funeral. He saw people
trampled underneath the masses, including many elderly people. He recalled
his feeling of total helplessness -- that there was nothing he could do to
help those who had been trapped under one another. His brother Amadeo’s
daughter, Evelyn, who was only thirteen, got lost in this bedlam. They
found her two days later.
Dr. Acosta then recounted his decision to leave El Salvador, what he did
while he was abroad, and upon his return.
Dr. Acosta’s neighbor had warned him not to sleep at his house, that it
would be too dangerous for him. So he began sleeping in different places,
even under the bushes on a coffee plantation. After days of this, he
returned to his house and found that it had been broken into. When the
intruders did not find him, they had gone next door. Six of his neighbors
were killed.
At that point, he said he had to decide whether to continue working with the
poor, to join the guerrillas and take up arms, or to flee his country. He
knew he could no longer continue doing what he had been doing because it was
not safe. But he was morally opposed to killing another human being. His
father had always taught him to resolve conflicts peacefully, and he felt
that “two wrongs do not make a right.” So he decided he would have to leave
his country. He made his way to Mexico and eventually to Canada and then to
the United States. When he returned to El Salvador 10 years later, he found
that five of his former professors, Jesuit priests, had been killed. Father
Segundo Montes, who had agreed to safe-keep his books and records while he
was gone, had also been killed.
After he left El Salvador, he did extensive public speaking in Mexico,
Canada and the United States to educate the public about human rights
violations in El Salvador. While he was in the United States, he was asked
by several members of Congress and the State Department to serve as a
liaison between the Salvadoran Embassy, the military attaché, and the FMLN
in order to facilitate negotiations to end the civil war. Acosta was able
to bring the parties together to begin a dialogue. This process ultimately
led to the UN-brokered Peace Accords two years later.
In 1990, he decided to return to El Salvador with his U.S.-born wife,
Barbara Dole Acosta, and his children. He wanted to do something to honor
Romero’s memory. They decided to create a new university in his name. They
raised some money and, in 1992, taking advantage of the mood created by the
Peace Accords, the Archbishop Romero University was formally recognized as a
legal entity. The University, located in La Aldeita in Chalatenango
Province, initiated classes in 1994 and now has almost 800 students and 52
professors. The university has graduated over 160 new professionals. Dr.
Acosta testified that this University is part of the realization of Romero’s
vision, when the Archbishop said, “If they kill me, I will rise again in
the Salvadoran people.”
Dr. Acosta was then asked what meaning this trial had for him. He answered:
“I am really pleased to be able to be in this chair . . . in front of a
judge. Because this is a strong effort against impunity.”
Recalling that he lost 72 family members during the 12 years of the civil
war, Dr. Acosta went on to say that names that had never been mentioned in
the Truth Commission process were mentioned in this trial; names that had
been buried have now been recovered and recorded for history. “I think that
that after justice is done, I will be able to forgive but not forget, and
it is time to move on. I think that giving this testimony before a federal
judge and before all of you here in Fresno, California, provides a sense of
closure for me to my family and for the Salvadoran Society. Thank you so
much.”
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