El Salvador Sorry for Murder
of Archbishop Romero
SAN SALVADOR - El Salvadors President,
Mauricio Funes, today asked forgiveness on
behalf of the State, for the murder 30 years
ago of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero.
Salvadorians Recall Archbishop Romero
"In my capacity as President I apologize on
behalf of the Salvadoran State for that
assassination", Funes said during the
unveiling of a mural in honor of Monsignor
Romero at the international airport.
He stated that the death squads that killed
the prelate acted under the cover,
collaboration, acquiescence or participation
of State agents.
Romero was killed by a sniper on March 24,
1980 when he he was offering a mass in the
chapel of the cancer hospital "La divina
providencia" in this capital.
The Truth Commission, which investigated the
crimes committed during the internal armed
conflict, identified military Roberto
D'Aubuisson, already deceased, as the
mastermind, who was founder of the
Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA).
However, shortly before made public the
results of the investigation, the
Legislative Assembly, chaired by D'Aubuisson,
agreed a general amnesty for the crimes
committed during the war (1980-1992).
The Center for Justice and Responsibility in
2004 won the only sentence against one of
those implicated in the murder, Captain
Alvaro Saravia, sentenced to pay $ 10
million.
"D'Aubuisson was part of the conspiracy to
murder Archbishop Romero, but the shooter,
the gun and the safety equipment was put by
Mario Molina, son of former President Arturo
Molina (1972-1977)", said Saravia.
The Archbishop of San Salvador, considered
as "the voice of the voiceless" was killed
for defending the poor and denouncing social
injustice and military repression.
Posthumous homages to the archbishop take
place today in El Salvador and other
countries, while the Legislative Assembly
decided to declare March 24 as Monsignor
Romero National Day. |
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