Salvadorean murderers of Spanish priests arrested

This 1995 Associated Press video says about itself:

Salvadorans are commemorating the sixth anniversary of a massacre of Jesuit priests by members of the military.

The priests- who taught at the Central American University in the capital San Salvador-were accused by rightists of being communists and even members of the guerrillas.

At the anniversary ceremonies Salvadorans called for peace and an end to violence in their country.

A rose garden at the Central American University in San Salvador stands as a remembrance of those who were martyred in the fight for justice for the poor people of El Salvador.

Salvadorans marked Thursday the sixth anniversary of a massacre in which six Jesuit priests were killed by members of the military.

Their bodies were buried at the Monsignor Romero Temple in the university campus.

Romero was also a victim of El Salvador‘s 12-year bloody civil war, murdered in his own cathedral by right-wing killers.

Six years later Jesuit priests are calling for an end to violence and injustice.

SOUNDBITE: (In Spanish)

“The legacy they’ve left is that we shouldn’t rest as long as there’s injustice, as long as there are lies and as long as there’s poverty. We should do our best to try to combat these evils that are still affecting terribly El Salvador.”
SUPER CAPTION: Rodolfo Cardenal, Jesuit priest and Vice-rector of the Central American University- UCA

On November 16 1989, left-wing guerrillas launched a nationwide offensive against the government.

The Jesuit priests were killed in the middle of a counter-attack by members of the military.

Six Jesuit priests living on the university campus were killed along with a cook and her daughter.

The military blamed the attack on the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front– known as the F-M-L-N- which launched the offensive against the government.

But investigators later discovered the massacre was perpetrated by the army.

The “Hall of Martyrs” at the Central American University has been opened as a remembrance of the victims of the massacre.

It was erected on the area where the bodies were found after the attack.

The hall holds pictures of the massacre and clothes worn by the six priests on that tragic day.

Throughout the civil war, Jesuit priests became a target for their “theology of liberation” philosophy which advocated social justice and fair distribution of wealth among the poor.

The priests were accused of being communists and even allies of the guerrillas.

Hundreds of Salvadorans took to the main campus of the university- known as the U-C-A- for a religious ceremony to commemorate the death of the priests.

They marched with candles and held signs calling for justice and an end of violence in their country.

Many believe that in spite of recent progress the country still needs to find the road for peace.

SOUNDBITE: (In Spanish)

“The fight continues, we have to pick up the banner of those good and noble men and we have to continue opening the path for peace and reconciliation, but always based on justice.”
SUPER CAPTION: Rogelio Poncel, Catholic priest

SOUNDBITE: (In Spanish)

“There have been certain improvements, not exactly what we expected, but I think certain political spaces have been opened, but there are still many tasks to do.”
SUPER CAPTION: Jon Cortina, Spanish Jesuit priest

And six years after the massacre Salvadorans hope the legacy of the tragedy will be a catalyst for much needed peace in this Central American nation.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Four ex-soldiers detained over 1989 priest killings

Monday 8th February 2015

FOUR former soldiers wanted in Spain for the 1989 murder of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter have been arrested in El Salvador, police said yesterday.

Five of the priests were Spanish and their killings during El Salvador’s civil war sparked international outrage.

Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren urged military officers still fugitive in the case to turn themselves in to authorities.

“There are people who have hidden. We don’t know if they have left the country, but my recommendation is that they turn themselves in to justice,” he said.

“We need to know the truth about what happened in the past, but we also need justice as well as pardon.”

It is now up to the Salvadoran Supreme Court to rule on extradition to Spain.

The arrests in El Salvador followed a judgement in North Carolina, US, that cleared the way for a former Salvadoran colonel to be extradited to face charges in Spain in the case.