The Salvadoran people never had a say

Nine former Salvadoran soldiers turned themselves into authorities one week ago. The men are wanted by a Spanish court for the killing of six Jesuits and their housekeeper and her daughter at the University of Central American in November 1989. Five of the six Jesuits were born in Spain. Not everyone is happy about the turn of events obviously. From the Tico Times

Meanwhile, local business leaders, in the National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP), called the judge’s request a “step backward” for the Salvadoran democratic process Tuesday.

“The business sector considers this a setback for our democracy and the reconciliation reached after the signing of peace accords, which says that attempts to prosecute acts that have already been judged are violating our own constitution by failing to respect an amnesty accord,” ANEP said in a statement.

Members of ANEP believe that reopening the wounds of the past by prosecuting human rights violators will destabilize democracy in the country. To ANEP I would say that the estimated 55,000 civilians killed during the war and their families were not involved in passing the amnesty. Their wounds have not closed and will not begin to close until there is justice.

Compare ANEP’s response to what President Funes had to say prior to his election.

"I cannot promote war crimes trials until the country stabilizes. After 17 years of peace, the country has not been reconciled. If other countries of Latin America make judgments about the past, that does not mean that El Salvador is ready. We have not reached democratic institutionalization and reconciliation." 

I hope that the first two years in office have changed his mind. If not, I would tell President Funes that democracy and reconciliation will not arrive in El Salvador until there is some justice for crimes committed before and during the country’s civil war.

2012 marks the twenty-year anniversary of the Peace Accords that ended El Salvador’s war. What better time to announce that they will not honor Spain’s extradition request because the government intends to open cases against those suspected of having war crimes and crimes against humanity.

If Guatemala can prosecute those involved in the Dos Erres and Plan de Sánchez massacres, El Salvador can prosecute those involved in the Rio Sumpul, el Mozote, and El Calabozo massacres.