El Salvador--20 Years Later

Image via BBC News.

November 16 marks the 20th anniversary of one of the most horrifying political actions of the 12-year Salvadoran Civil War--The Jesuit Massacre. If you click the link above you'll be taken to a picture portal of BBC's website that recounts, visually, the efforts of Salvadorans to remember those slain--6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter.

Some background information would be helpful. During the '80s, the left was beginning to gather support against the injustices of the Salvadoran Government that was heavily, if not solely, funded by the US Government. FMLN, Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional, was seen by the government as a danger that had to be quashed. The six priests were very intelligent men who were vocal about the injustices that the government had been perpetrating. Latin America has had a history of instability and El Salvador is no exception. Leaders cite national security and the economy as excuses to continue on their oppressive regimes. Afraid of the priests' influence in San Salvador, the Atlacatl Batallion was ordered to carry out the murders as a warning to the people: "Join FMLN and this will happen to you."

What's frightening, on a personal level at least, is that I was born in San Salvador and was there when this happened. My parents were in their early 20s, not much older than I am now, and they had to make very adult and real decisions seeing these things happen around them. The biggest profile political assassination in El Salvador's civil war was that of Monseñor Oscar Romero. The active Archbishop was gunned down during Mass for his outward dissatisfaction with the social inequality. My mom was Confirmed by Monseñor Romero and his death is a haunting reminder of the reality of growing up during a civil war.


The priests laid down on the ground face down as a warning to others.

20 years later and social equality has improved slightly. Economically speaking, El Salvador is doing alright. It has the 3rd largest economy in the Central American/Caribbean. Its Gini coefficient is lower than a few of its neighbors, at 52.4 it's not far off from that of the US--which is 45. [Source].

Why these numbers? Because the FMLN is now an official party and has won the presidency earlier this year. What does that mean? It means that the people are hopeful of some growth and the disappearance of the remnants of 20 years ago. A resurgence of the left warrants an entire dissertation, but it is important to think about especially today when the group that was hauntingly hunted is now in power. Let's hope for some change.