Guilty Verdict in the Massacre of Jesuits Marks a "Milestone of Justice" for El Salvador
OCTOBER 21, 2020
BY CARMEN RODRÍGUEZ
Inocente Montano, a former deputy defense minister of El Salvador, retired military man, and ex-member of one of the bloodiest commando units operating during that Central American country’s civil war of the 1980s, has become the first Salvadoran convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“The conviction marks a milestone of justice in the crimes against humanity and war crimes that have occurred in El Salvador,” said David Morales, director of Strategic Litigation for the Cristosal organization. “Justice had been denied in this country and now criminal justice has been done, at least for one of those responsible. It is the first time that these war crimes have been addressed in a criminal proceeding and reached a conviction,
The Spanish court sentenced Montano to a historic sentence of 133 years for the massacre of six Spanish Jesuit priests and two Salvadoran employees who worked at the Central American University (UCA) in San Salvador. The murders were carried out on the university campus by a military commando on the night of November 16, 1989.
“The sentence reflects the truth that has been reconstructed from extended testimony, and from studies by researchers, academics, and independent experts, as well as input from participants in the crime who had the courage to tell the truth,” said UCA Rector Andreu Oliva in a press conference in San Salvador after the conviction became known.
Since Judge Eloy Velazco ordered legal proceedings for terrorist, murder and human rights violations to proceed against seventeen ex-members of the Salvadoran military, Montano is the only one who has been tried and convicted by the Spanish court. After the Audiencia Nacional, a high-level court with jurisdiction over international crimes that affect Spain, solicited the capture and extradition of the suspects, the three Salvadoran government officials informed of the request either refused to cooperate with Spanish authorities or remained silent. Montano, however, was living in the United States at the time, so he was able to be extradited to Spain in 2017 to face charges for the crime.
More:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/10/21/guilty-verdict-in-the-massacre-of-jesuits-marks-a-milestone-of-justice-for-el-salvador/
= new reply since forum marked as read
I hadn't known too much about Moakley, but recognized his face immediately after seeing your post, and looking for Moakley quickly:
~ ~ ~
THE LEGACY OF JOE MOAKLEY
SEPTEMBER 24, 2013
https://www.jfklibrary.org/events-and-awards/forums/past-forums/transcripts/the-legacy-of-joe-moakley
It appears Reps. Moakley and McGovern had a much different position toward El Salvador than Mitt Romney! My god. Romney supports people in the party of Major Roberto D'Aubuisson, "Blowtorch Bob," the Arena Party's death squad commander, and maniacal torture and assassination leader, who also directed the assassination of Archbishop Romero.
Published on
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
byCommon Dreams
Romney's El Salvador Death Squad Ties
byCésar Chelala
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2012/08/28/romneys-el-salvador-death-squad-ties
Sad, sad situation, isn't it?
Thank you so much for bringing information up which helps us start seeing the picture in a truer light. Our corporate media, and our "educational system" haven't made it too easy for US Americans to understand what has really happened!
Big, big help.
