Civil War In El Salvador

Calvin Gousman
Per. 3 / Theology 3H
On November 16, 1989 in El Salvador, six Jesuit Priests and scholars along with their housekeeper and her daughter were murdered. This took place during the Salvadoran Civil War at the campus of the University of Central America. Armed men stormed their place of residency and took them down. This massacre was caused because of the opposition from El Salvadoran political forces to the duties and commitment of the Jesuits. The murder of these people marked a great turn in the El Salvadoran civil War.
In 1979, the Revolutionary Government ruled El Salvador. Soon after political violence started to erupt quickly and it became a civil war. Adding to the violence was the Salvador Armed Forces. They took part in

The Atlacatl were an elite unit of the Salvadoran Army. They were a response force started in 1980 who were involved in some of the most infamous events of the Salvadoran Civil War. The unit was named after Atlacatl, a person in Salvadoran history known for his defiance to the Spanish conquest in Central America.
“The Pastoral Center of Central American University in San Salvador was considered a ‘refuge of subversives’ by the Army. Colonel Juan Orlando Zepeda, accused the University of being the center of operations for ‘FMLN terrorists’”. Colonel Inocente Montano, who was the Vice-Minister for Public Security, stated publicly that the Jesuits were "fully identified with subversive movements".
When trying to negotiate a peaceful outcome to the problem, Father Ellacuria played a major role. Many of the armed forces thought that the Jesuit priests worked with the rebels, because of their worry for the Salvadorans who were poor and affected by the war. On the evening of November 15, Colonel Guillermo Moreno met with some officers that he commanded to let them know that the General thought the rebel was "critical". He believed it needed to be dealt with full force, including weapons and armored vehicles. He also said that all "known subversive elements" were to be eradicated. He was commanded to take out Father Ellacuria, leaving no

Lieutenant Espinoza commanded them to keep a look out while the rest entered the Jesuit's residence. The military officers tried to force their way into the building, until the priests opened the doors, allowing them to pass. Then they ordered the priests to lie down in the back garden face down while the soldiers searched their residence. After lieutenant Guerra gave the signal to execute the holy men, Fathers Martín-Baró, Ellacuria, and Montes were shot and killed by private Grimaldi, while Fathers Moreno and López were assassinated by Sergeant Antonio Vargas. Afterwards, the officers found Father Joaquín López in the residence and killed him as well. Sergeant Tomás Zarpate Castillo also shot the housekeeper, Julia Elva Ramos, and her young daughter, Celina Ramos. Private José Ascencio then shot them again to "finish them