Funes apologizes for El Mozote massacre

As I mentioned in December, several weeks ago marked the 30th anniversary of the massacre at El Mozote. Yesterday, President Mauricio Funes, in the name of the Salvadoran state, apologized and asked forgiveness for the massacre.

This video is only a clip of a longer speech, but in includes the parts translated for the article above. It is long past time that the Salvadoran government acknowledge and apologize for its role in this killing. But I hate that it has been Funes, the first president with no ties to the death squads and military, who has done all of the apologizing thus far. Thursday marks 20 years since the Peace Accords were signed ending ("ending?") the civil war. And yet it wasn't until 2009 that Salvadorans had a president who was not connected to the state violence of the war. Seventeen years worth of presidents never saw fit to do this (for good and self-preserving reasons, from their POV). It shows a great deal of character that he is doing this - for Mozote, Romero, the Jesuits - he has apologized and asked forgiveness for all of them. He is not a perfect president. But he has done more atoning in his first thirty months than previous presidents did in almost seven times that long.

We as a society have gotten really good at the nonapology - the "I'm sorry IF anyone was offended by that, it was not my intent..." (We seem especially good at this when it comes to race and gender privilege.) Funes is becoming an expert in the opposite - apologizing for horrors that he was not involved in, but for which he now bears the responsibility of atonement because of his position. This is probably one of those times when the only adequate response is 'puchica.'

My soul cries out

Today in church we read the Magnificat, Mary's song of joy and hope that the world might be turned upside-down by the wild thing that God was to do through her.

Luke 1:46b-55
1:46b "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

1:48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

1:49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

1:50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

1:51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

1:52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

1:53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

1:54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

1:55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

My favorite rendition of this song begins, "My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great!"


But my soul is crying out today in sorrow, too. This blog has marked too many massacre anniversaries. Today is one of those. Thirty years ago today, the US-supported Atlacatl Battalion (the same one that carried out the massacre at Copapayo two years later) entered the area of El Mozote and proceeded to kill more than 750 people. (The Catholic church's human rights presence in El Salvador calculated that number at more than 900.) Tim Muth, of Tim's El Salvador Blog, has been doing a wonderful series this week in the lead-up to the anniversary. I encourage you to go check out all of the entries - each one looks at a different aspect of the massacre. Today, his entry is simply the names and ages of those killed. I want to copy them here as well, because each one - down to the 3-day-old - was a person created in God's image. They deserve to be remembered and respected in this way. So with thanks to Tim, here are the names of our bothers and sisters who were killed thirty years ago:

EL MOZOTE

1. DOMINGO CLAROS, 29, wood cutter
2. CRISTINO AMAYA CLAROS, 9, son of Domingo Claros
3. MARIA DOLORES AMAYA CLAROS, 5, daughter of Domingo Claros
4. MARTA LILIAN CLAROS, 3, daughter of Domingo Claros
5. MARIA ISABEL AMAYA CLAROS, 8 months, daughter of Domingo Claros
6. ISIDRA CLAROS, 60, aunt of Domingo Claros
7. BONIFACIA RODRIGUEZ OR ANASTACIA ARGUETA, 65
8. LEONISIA RODRIGUEZ OR DIONISIA RODRIGUEZ, 27, seamstress daughter of Bonifacia Rodriguez
9. VILMA RODRIGUEZ, 2, daughter of Dionisia Rodriguez and Manuel Alvarenda
10. MARTINA RODRIGUEZ, 35, daughter of Bonifacia Rodriguez and sister of Dionisia and Vilma Rodriguez
11. RUPERTO CHICAS, 40, farmer, hushand of Martina Rodriguez
12. MIRNA CHICAS, 10, daughter of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
13. Child, 6, son of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
14. CHILD, 4, daughter of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
15. CHILD, 3, son of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
16. CHILD, 1, son of Martina Rodriguez and Ruperto Chicas
17. CONCEPCION MARQUEZ, 75
18. JULIA CLAROS, 30, daughter of Concepcion Marquez
19. ALBERTA CLAROS, 18, daughter of Julia Claros
20. CHILD, 1, daughter of Alberta Claros
21. FRANCISCA CLAROS, 11, daughter of Julia Claros
22. CHILD, 7, daughter of Julia Claros
23. ANTOLINA CLAROS, 28
24. FRANCISCA CLAROS, 16, daughter of Antolina Claros
25. Claudio Del Cid, 20, carpenter, companion of Francisca Claros
26. CHILD, 6 months old, daughter of Francisca Claros and Claudio Del Cid
27. MARIA DEL CID, 60, mother of Claudio Del Cid
28. GIRL, 15, daughter of Antolina Claros
29. CHILD, 11, daughter of Antolina Claros
30. OSCAR CLAROS, 7, son of Antolina Claros
31. JESUS CLAROS, 5, daughter of Antolina Claros
32. LEONISIA CLAROS, 25, daughter of Concepcion Marquez and sister of Antolina Claros
33. FABIAN LUNA, 20, day laborer, companion of Leonisia Claros
34. CHILD, 5, daughter of Leonisia Claros and Fabian Luna
35. LUCIO CLAROS, 2 1/2, son of Leonisia Claros and Fabian Luna
36. CHILD, 7 months old, daughter of Leonisia Claros and Fabian Luna
37. Emilia CLAROS, 35, daughter of Concepcion Marquez and sister of Antolina and Francisca Claros
38. MELESIO ARGUETA ALVARENGA, 40, day laborer, husband of Emilia Claros
39. PRISCILIO CLAROS, 7, son of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
40. GIRL, 18, daughter of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
41. CHILD, 10 months old, daughter of victim #40 and granddaughter of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
42. ISABEL ARGUETA, 6, daughter of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
43. CHILD, 4, son of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
44. CHILD, 2, son of Emilia Claros and Melesio Argueta
45. COSME ARGUETA, 45, sister of Melesio Argueta
46. ISRAEL MARQUEZ, 80, merchant
47. PAUIA MARQUEZ, 60, wife of Israel Marquez
48. ELVIRA MARQUEZ Chicas, 34, pregnant at time of death, niece of Israel Marquez
49. SONIA MAKQuEz OR SONIA CHICAS, 5, daughter of Elvira Marquez and Leonardo Marquez Del Cid (victim #51)
50. GIRL, 19, daughter of Israel Marquez
51. LEONARDO MARQUEZ DEL CID, 40, farmer, father of Sonia Marquez (victim #49)
52. BALBINO MARQUEZ DEL CID, 60, farmer, father of Leonardo Marquez
53. FRANCISCA DEL CID, 55, wife of Balbino Marquez
54. ORBELINA MARQUEZ, 45, seamstress, companion of Leonardo Marquez Del Cid
55. BRUNO CLAROS, 50, farmer
56. HORTENSA ROMERO MARQUEZ, 39, wife of Bruno Claros
57. MATILDE PEREIRA, 70, farmer, father of Brullo Claros
58. RODOLFO CLAROS, 15, brother of Bruno Claros
59. CHILD, 5, ward of Bruno Claros
60. BOY, 18, son of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
61. GIRL, 16, daughter of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
62. EVA ROMERO, 11, daughter of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
63. IRMA ROMERO, 9, daughter of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
64. BRUNO CLAROS, 7, son of Bruno Claros and Hortensia Romero
65. HIPOLITA CLAROS, 13, daughter of Domingo Claros (victim #I)
66. MARIA CONCEPCION ROMERO, 44, mother of Hipolita Claros
67. MELESIO Diaz, 65, butcher
68. NORBERTA MARQUEZ, 40, companion of Melesio Diaz
69. MARTIR DIAZ, 14, daughter of Melesio Diaz
70. MOISES CLAROS, 75, day laborer
71. MAN, 90, father of Moises Claros
72. EUGENIA CLAROS, 27, maguey spinner, daughter of Moises Claros
73. DAVID CLAROS, 10, son of Eugenia Claros and grandson of Moises Claros
74. CHILD, 6, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
75. CHILD, 8, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
76. CHILD, 3, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
77. CHILD, 2, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
78. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Eugenia Claros and granddaughter of Moises Claros
79. BENJAMIN ANTONIO CLAROS, 45, son of Moises Claros
80. ANASTACIA MARQUEZ, 40, pregnant at time of death, companion of Benjamin Antonio Claros
81. MATIAS MARQUEZ, 75, carpenter, father of Anastacia Marquez
82. MARIA ARGUETA, 30, companion of Matias Marquez
83. DOLORES MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Matias Marquez
84. LUCIO MARQUEZ, 45, day laborer, companion of Dolores Marquez
85. CHILD, 7, son of Dolores Marquez and Lucio Marquez
86. CHILD, 5, son of Dolores Marquez and Lucio Marquez
87. DOMINGA MARQUEZ, 70, mother of Lucio Marquez
88. CHILD, 5, daughter of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
89. CHILD, 6, son of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
90. CHILD, 9, son of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
91. CHILD, 11, son of Benjamin Claros (victim #79) and Anastacia Marquez (victim #80)
92. FRANCISCO Claros, 80, day laborer, cousin of Moises Claros (victim #70)
93. ROGELIA DIAZ, 76, wife of Francisco Claros
94. BOY, 16, paralyzed, grandson of Francisco Claros
95. PAULINA MARQUEZ CLAROS or PAULINA CLAROS or PAULINA DIAZ, 60
96. TELESFORO MARQUEZ, 35, deaf and mute, son of Paulina Marquez
97. LORENZO CLAROS OR LORENZO DIAZ, 25, son of Paulina Marquez and brother of Telesforo Marquez
98. EUGENIO VIGIL, 60, farmer
99. AGUSTINA VIGIL, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Eugenio Vigil
100. CHILD, 7, daugllter of Agustina Vigil
101. MARCELINA VIGIL, 22, daughter of Eugenio Vigil
102. DIONISIO MARQUEZ, 20, day laborer, husband of Marcelina Vigil
103. MIGUEL MARQUEZ, 70, day laborer, father of Dionisio Marquez
104. CHILD, 5, son of Dionisio Marquez
105. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Dionisio Marquez
106. MARFA ANSELMA MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Miguel Marquez
107. ARIURO GIDIO Chicas, 39, day laborer, companion of Anselma Marquez
108. LUCIA MARQUEZ, 14, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
109. DORA MARQUEZ, 11, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
110. CHILD, 7, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
111. CHILD, 5, daughter of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
112. CHILD, 1, son of Maria Anselma Marquez and Arturo Gidio Chicas
113. GIRL, 18, daughter of Miguel Marquez (victim #103)
114. CHILD, 2 days old, grandson of Miguel Marquez
115. MARTO VIGIL, 75, farmer, brother of Eugenio Vigil (victim #98)
116. PAULA DIAZ, 75, wife of Marto Vigil
117. DOMINGA DIAZ, 30, ward of Marto Vigil
118. CHILD, 5, daughter of Dominga Diaz
1l9. MAGDALENA DIAZ, 60, sister of Paula Diaz
120. GIRL, 19, daughter of Magdalena Diaz
121. GIRL, 16, daughter of Magdalena Diaz
122. CESARIO MArQuEz, 70, farmer
123. CLEMENTINA PEREIRA or CLEMENTINA ARGUETA, 60, wife of Cesario
Marquez
124. GIRL, 15, daughter of Cesario Marquez
125. GIRL, 14, daughter of Cesario Marquez
126. CHILD, 1 l, son of Cesario Marquez
127. HILDA MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Cesario Marquez
128. CHILD, 6, daughter of Hiilda Marquez and Felipe Argueta
129. CHILD, 4, son of llilda Mar4uez and Felipe Argueta
130. Child, 3, son of Hilda Marquez and Felipe Argueta
131. CHILD, 1, daughter of Hilda Marquez and Felipe Argueta
132. FILOMENA CLAROS, 50, daughter of Concepcion Marquez (victim #17)
133. CHILD, 11, son of Filomena Claros
134. BOY, 18, day laborer, son of Filomena Claros
135. GIRL, 14, daughter of Filomena Claros
136. CHILD, 7, son of Filomena Claros
137. CHILD, 5, son of Filomena Claros
138. ASCENCI6N MARQUEZ, 39, day laborer, brother of Concepcion Marquez (victim #17)
139. SUSANA CLAROS, 48
140. EUGENIA CLAROS, 30, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Susana Claros and companion of Ascencion Marquez
141. JESUS CLAROS, 10, son of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
142. ROSITa CLAROS, 5, daughter of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia
Claros
143. CHILD, 7, son of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
144. CHILD, 3, son of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
145. CHILD, 2, daughter of Ascencion Marquez and Eugenia Claros
146. ANDREA DEL CID, 60
147. VICENTA DEL CID, 80, sister of Andrea Del Cid
148. ROSA DEL CID, 20, pregnant at time of death, daughter of Andrea Del Cid
149. EMELY DEL CID, 4, son of Rosa Del Cid
150. MAURICIO DEL CID, 9 months, son of Rosa Del Cid
151. ANGELA DEL CID, 5, daughter of Rosa Del Cid
152. LEONCIO DIAZ, 105, a butcher in his youth
153. LEONCIA MArQuEz, 100, companion of Leoncio Diaz
154. GILBERTO SORTO, 25, farmer
155. FELICITA VIGIL, 20, wife of Gilberto Sorto
156. ANACLETA SORT0, 65, mother of Gilberto Sorto
157. CHILD, 5, son of Gilberto Sorto and Felicita Vigil
158. CHILD, 3, son of Gilberto Sorto and Felicita Vigil
159. MARTINA ARGUETA, 35
160. CHILD, 12, daughter of Martina Argueta
161. CHILD, 9, son of Martina Argueta
162. CHILD, 7, son of Martina Argueta
163. CHILD, 2, daughter of Martina Argueta
164. ONOFRE ARGUETA, 19
165. CHILD, 11, daughter of Onofre Argueta
166. CHILD, 9, son of Onofre Argueta
167. CHILD, 7, son of Onofre Argueta
168. CHILD, 5, daughter of Onofre Argueta
169. CHILD, 3, son of Onofre Argueta
170. GERTRUDIS GUEVARA, 80, day laborer
171. MARCELINA MARQUEZ, 25, companion of Gertrudis Guevara
172. TOMAS MARQUEZ, 5, son of Gertrudis Guevara and Marcelina Marquez
173. CHILD, 3 months old, daughter of Gertrudis Guevara and Marcelina Marquez
174. SEGUNDO CHICAS, 25, day laborer
175. SATURNINA ROMERO, 25, companion of Segundo Chicas
176. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
177. CHILD, 10, son of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
178. CHILD, 7, son of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
179. CHILD, 5, son of Segundo Chicas and Saturnina Romero
180. FACUNDO CIIICAS, 25, brother of Segundo Chicas
181. MELDA MARQUEZ CHICAS, 25, wife of Facundo Chicas
182. CHILD, 12, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
183. CHILD, 10, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
184. CHILD, 9, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
185. CHILD, 7, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
186. CHILD, 2, son of Facundo Chicas and Melda Marquez
187. ANSELMA DE MARQUEZ, 80
188. CHON MARQUEZ, 22, mentally retarded son of Anselma de Marquez
189. DOROTEO N., 60, day laborer
190. FERNANDO GUEVARA, 60, farmer
191. FLORINDA DEL CID DE GUEVARA, 58, an amputee (one leg), wife of Fernando Guevara and sister of Francisca Del Cid (victim #53)
192. MARIA ROMERO, 45, merchant, a widow
193. LUCAS GUEVARA, 35, day laborer
194. ANDRES GUEVARA, 50, day laborer, father of Lucas Guevara
195. RUFINA ROMERO, 35, companion of Lucas Guevara
196. TELMA ROMERO, 12, daughter of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
197. ROSITA ROMERO, lo, daughter of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
198. CANDELARIA ROMERO, 6, daugllter of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
199. JOAQUIN ROMERO, 7, son of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
200. JOSE ROMERO, 6 months, son of Lucas Guevara and Rufina Romero
201. BENITO ROMERO, 3o, day laborer, son of Maria Romero (victim #192)
202. FLORENTINA DEL CID, 25, companion of Benito Romero
203. LUCIA DEL CID, 10, daughter of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
204. CAMILO DEL CID, 7, son of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
20f. ROSITA DEL CID, 4, daughter of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
206. CHILD, 1, daughter of Benito Romero and Florentina Del Cid
207. EDUARDO DIAZ OR EDUARDO CLAROS, 30, day laborer
208. CARMEN CLAROS, 18, companion of Eduardo Claros
209. JUBENCIO DIAZ, 10, son of Eduardo Diaz
210. CLICERIO DIAZ, 3, son of Eduardo Diaz
211. JOSE DIAZ, 5, son of Eduardo Diaz
212. DECIDERIO Diaz OR DECIDERIO CLAROS, 50, farmer, father of Eduardo Diaz
213. MARIA MARQUEZ OR MARIA GUEVARA, 40, companion of Deciderio Diaz
214. SANTOS MARQUEZ OR SANTOS GUEVARA, 20, daughter of Maria Marquez
215. ELADIO ClAROS, 25, day laborer, son of Deciderio Diaz and companion of Santos Marquez
216. DORIS CLAROS, 16, daughter of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
217. Child,13, son of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
218. Child, 11, daughter of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
219. CHILD, 8, son of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
220. Child, 5, daughter of Eladio Claros and Santos Guevara
221. VIRGINIA CLAROS, 16, sister of Eduardo Claros (victim #207)
222. OLAYO ClAROS, 15, day laborer, brother of Eduardo Claros (victim #207)
223. MARTINA CLAROS, 15, pregnant at time of death, companion of Olayo Claros
224. FRANCISCA CLAROS, 18, sister of Eduardo Claros (victim #207)
225. IGNACIO GUEVARA, 60, farmer
226. PETO DIAZ, 50, farmer
227. ANDREA MARQUEZ, 45, companion of Peto Diaz
228. VICTORIANA DIAZ MARQUEZ, 30, daughter of Peto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
229. LOCADIO DIAZ MARQUEZ, 18, son of Peto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
230. UGENIA DIAZ MARQUEZ, 14, daughter Of Peto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
231. CHILD, 4, son of Victoriana Diaz Marquez
232. CHILD, 1, son of Victoriana Diaz Marquez
233. SALOME MARQUEZ, 25, day laborer
234. MARTA MARQUEZ VIGil, 50
235. MARGARITA MARQUEZ CLAROS, 25, daughter of Marta Marquez
236. LIRIA MARQUEZ, 7, daughter of Margarita Marquez
237. DINORA MARQUEZ, 6, daughter of Margarita Marquez
238. AMPARO MARQUEZ, 4, daughter of Margarita Marquez
239. ROSITA MARQUEZ, 2, daughter of Margarita Marquez
240. MIRIAM MARQUEZ, 1, daughter of Margarita Marquez
241. CLEOTILDE MARQUEZ, 60, sister of Marta Marquez
242. COSME DIAZ, 80, day laborer
243. JOSE MARCOS DIAZ, 34, merchant
244. ROSA PEREIRA, 22, wife of Jose Marcos Diaz
245. IRMA YANET DIAZ, 4, daughter of Jose Marcos Diaz and Rosa Pereira
246. LORENA PEREIRA, 3, daughter of Jose Marcos Diaz and Rosa Pereira
247. AMiLCAR PEREIRA, 2 months, son of Jose Marcos Diaz and Rosa Pereira
248. MAURA PEREIRA, 10, student, goddaughter of Jose Marcos Diaz
249. ALEXANDRO DIAZ, 60, merchant, father of Jose Marcos Diaz
250. MARIA MARQUEZ, 50, companion of Alejandro Diaz
251. RAMoN MARQUEZ DIAZ, 18, merchant, son of Alejandro Diaz
252. SANTOS MARQUEZ, 40, farmer
253. AGUSTINA GARCIA, 35, companion of Santos Marquez
254. RENE MARQUEZ, 11, student, son of Santos Marquez and Agustina Garcia
255. EDI MARQUEZ, 5, daughter of Santos Marquez and Agustina Garcia
256. CHILD, 2, daughter of Santos Marquez and Agustina Garcia
257. FELIX DEL CID, 19, day laborer
258. ESTANISLAO CHICAS, 75, blind man
259. ANGELICA MARQUEZ, 45, seamstress, wife of Estanislao Chicas
260. CARLOS CHICAS, 25, blind, son of Estanislao Chicas and Angelica Marquez
261. NARCISA MARQUEZ, 20, companion of Carlos Chicas
262. CHILD, 5, daughter of Carlos Chicas and Narcisa Marquez
263. CHILD, 3, daughter of Carlos Chicas and Narcisa Marquez
264. CHILD, 2, daughter of Carlos Chicas and Narcisa Marquez
265. ANTONIO CHICAS, 15, student, brother of Carlos Chicas and son of Estanislao Chicas
266. HUMBERTO CHICAS, 13, son of Estanislao Chicas and Angelica Marquez
267. ESTANISLAO GUEVARA, 30, day laborer
268. FELIPA DIAZ, 25, companion of Estanislao Guevara
269. CHILD, 8, son of Estanislao Guevara and Felipa Diaz
270. CHILD, 7, son of Estanislao Guevara and Felipa Diaz
271. CHILD, 6, son of Estanislao Guevara and Felipa Diaz
272. NATIVIDAD ARGUETA, 80
273. MARTINA DIAZ, 65, maguey spinner, wife of Natividad Argueta
274. DANIEL ROMERO, 48, farmer
275. FLORENTINA PEREIRA, 42, wife of Daniel Romero
276. ANA MARIA ROMERO, 16, daughter of Daniel Romero and Florentina Pereira
277. JESUS SALvADoR ROMERO, 13, son of Daniel Romero and Florentina Pereira
278. ELMER NicoLAs MARQUEZ, 2, ward of Daniel Romero
279. LEONCIO DIAZ, 60, merchant
280. EDILFONZA DIAZ, 68, wife of Leoncio Diaz
281. JOSE MARIA MARQUEZ, 60, day laborer
282. DONATILA PEREIRA, 45, seamstress, companion of Jose Maria
Marquez
283. SofiA MARQuez, 25, daughter of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
284. OSCAR MARQUEZ, 19 son of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
285. CHILD, 7, son of Sofia Marquez
286. CHILD, 3, son of Sofia Marquez
287. CHILD, 2, son of Sofia Marquez
288. EVENOR MARQUEZ, 17, day laborer, son of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
289. MARIA FREDY MARQUEZ, 14, student, daughter of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
290. CHILD, 3, daughter of Jose Maria Marquez and Donatila Pereira
291. CAYETANo ARGUETA, 60, day laborer
292. MARIA ANGELA GUEVARA, 50, companion of Cayetano Argueta
293. CHILD, 12, student, son of Cayetano Argueta and Maria Angela Guevara
294. CHILD, 10, student, son of Cayetano Argueta and Maria Angela Guevara
295. FLORENCIO ARGUETA DEL CID, 62, day laborer
296. MARIA Valentina ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 30, daughter of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
297. AGUSTINA ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 22, daughter of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
298. MARIA MARTIR ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 23, daughter of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
299. JUAN FRANCISCO ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 10, son of Florencio Argueta Del Cid
300. LUCIO MARQUEZ, 24, day laborer, husband of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez (victim #296)
301. EEVARISTO MARQUEZARGUETA, 8, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
302. ANTONIO MARQUEZARGUETA, 5, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
303. CRISTINO MARQUEZARGUETA, 2, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
304. CELESTINO MARQUEZARGUETA, 1, son of Maria Valentina Argueta Marquez and Lucio Marquez
305. TIMOTEO ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 30, day laborer, husband of Agustina Argueta Marquez (victim #297)

306. SANTOS ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 9, student, son of Agustina Argueta Marquez and Timoteo Argueta Marquez
307. JESUS ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 6, son of Agustina Argueta Marquez and Timoteo Argueta Marquez
308. ISABEL ARGUETA MARQUEZ, 4, daughter of Agustina Argueta Marquez and Timoteo Argueta Marquez
309. SANTOS CLAROS, 30, day laborer, companion of Maria Martir Argueta Marquez (victim #298)
310. ARMANDO ARGUETA CLAROS, 8 months, son of Maria Martir Argueta Marquez and Santos Claros
311. ANTONIO MARQUEZ, 35, day laborer
312. EDUVINA MARQUEZ, 25, sister of Antonio Marquez
313. MONICA DIAZ, 80, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
314. LORENZO CLAROS, 7, grandson of Monica Diaz
315. ROFELIA ORELLANA, 70, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
316. EDUARDO HERNANDEZ, 70, day laborer, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
317. SARA N., 75, companion of Eduardo Hernandez, murdered in the area of Tierra Colorada, jurisdiction of Arambala
318. LUCITA CHICAS, 35, niece of Israel Marquez (victim #46)
319. EFRIAN RAMOS OR EFRIAN MARQUEZ, 40, merchant, husband of Lucita Chicas
320. CHILD, 2, son of Efrain Ramos
321. Child, 4, son of Efrain Ramos
322. CHILD, 12, son of Efrain Ramos
323. ANTONIA GUEVARA, 35
324. CHILD, 5, son of Antonia Guevara
325. CHILD, lo, student, niece of Antonia Guevara
326. CHILD, 8, student, nephew of Antonia Guevara
327. CHILD, 6, student, nephew of Antonia Guevara
328. CHILD, 3, student, nephew of Antonia Guevara
329. FLORINDA Diaz, 60
330. Neftali MARQUEZ, 40, day laborer, companion of Florinda Diaz
331. CHILD, 7, ward of Florinda Diaz and Neftali Marquez
332. PERFECTO DIAZ, 64, bricklayer
333. ANDREA MARQUEZ, 40, wife of Perfecto Diaz
334. EUGENIA Diaz MARQUEZ, 20, daughter of Perfecto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
335. CHILD, 3, daughter of Eugenia Diaz Marquez
336. MACARIO DIAZ MARQUEZ, 15, day laborer, son of Perfecto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
337. VICTORINA Diaz MARQUEZ, 16, daughter of Perfecto Diaz and Andrea Marquez
338. CHILD, 3, daughter of Victorina Diaz Marquez and Francisco Argueta
339. CHILD, 2, daughter of Victorina Diaz Marquez and Francisco Argueta
34o. JOSE RAUL DIAZ, 14, day laborer, nephew of Perfecto Diaz
341. JOSE CAYERANO ARGUETA, 40, musician
342. MARIA GUEVARA, 30, companion of Jose Cayetano Argueta
343. SALOME ARGUETA, 18, day laborer, son of Jose Cayetano Argueta and Maria Guevara
344. JOSE ARGUETA, 14, day laborer, son of Jose Cayetano Argueta and Maria Guevara
345. Child, 12, day laborer, son of Jose Cayetano Argueta and Maria Guevara
346. LORENZO ARGUETA, 40, day laborer
347. WOMAN, 18, wife of Jose Argueta
348. SALVADOR MARQUEZ, 65, day laborer
349. MEDARDA DIAZ, 60, wife of Salvador Marquez
350. CRISTINA MARQUEZ, 25, daughter of Salvador Marquez and Medarda Diaz
351. BARTOLOME MARQUEZOR Salome Marquez, 40 son of Salvador Marquez and Medarda Diaz
352. RUFINO MARQUEZ, day laborer, son of Bartolome Marquez
353. CLEMENTINA MARQUEZOR PASITA Diaz, 26, wife of Rufino Marquez
354. WALTER MARQUEZ, 3, son of Rufillo Marquez and Clementina Marquez
355. EDITH MARQUEZ, 12, daughter of Rufino Marquez and Clementina Marquez
356. GLORIA MARQUEZ, 10, daughter of Rufino Marquez and Clementina Marquez
357. NORBERTA DIAZ, 60, wife of Eugenio Vigil
358. JOSE MARIA MARQUEZ, l0, son of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
359. MARIO MARQUEZ, 6, son of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
360. MAXIMINO MARQUEZ, 4, son of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
361. VILMA YANET MARQUEZ, 1, daughter of Leonardo Marquez (victim #51 and Orbelina Marquez (victim #54)
362. MARIA SANTOS PEREIRA ARGUETA, 25
363. MIRIAM RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 9, daughter of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
364. DOLORES RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 7, daughter of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
365. LILiAN ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 6, daughter of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
366. NILSON RODRIGUEZ OR HERNAN RODRIGUEZ , 4, son of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
367. EVELIO RODRIGUEZ PEREIRA, 3, son Of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
368. CHILD, 10 months old, son of Maria Santos Pereira Argueta
369. ISABEL ARGUETA, 65, widow
370. MARGARITA REYNA MARQUEZ, 55
LA JOYA

371. MARIA ROMERO MARTINEZ, 25
372. MARIBEL ROMERO, 5, daughter of Maria Romero Martinez
373. LUPITA ROMERO, 3, daughter of Maria Romero Martinez
374. ARNOLDO ROMERO, 6 months old, son of Maria Romero Martinez
375. MARIA HERIBERTA MARTfNEZ, 30, 9 months pregnant at time of death
376. ANASTACIO CHICAS ROMERO, age unknown, day laborer, companion of Maria Heriberta Martinez
377. DORE CHICAS MARTINEZ, 7, son of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
378. NUNCIACIoN CHICAS MARTINEZ, 3, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
379. Justiniano CHICAS MARTINEZ, 8, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
380. PEDRO CHICAS MARTINEZ, 12, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
381. MARINO CHICAS MARTINEZ, 14, daughter of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
382. DAVID CHICAS MARTINEZ, 1, son of Maria Heriberta Martinez and Anastacio Chicas Romero
383. FELIPA MARTINEZ, 60, mother of Maria Heriberta Martinez
384. VICENTA TORRES, 30
385. DORA TORRES MARTINEZ, 3, daughter of Vicenta Torres
386. CHILD, several months old, daughter of Vicenta Torres
387. CHILD, several months old, daughter of Vicenta Torres
388. VICTORINA CHICAS, 35, maguey spinner
389. LUCRECIA CHICAS, 5, daughter of Victorina Chicas
390. PETRONA CHICAS OR PETRONILA CHICAS, 40
391. CATALINA CHICAS, 8, daughter of Petrona Chicas
392. JUSTINA GUEVARA or JUSTINIANA GUEVARA, 50, maguey spinner
393. JACINTA GUEVARA or JACINTA Diaz, 25, maguey spinner, daughter of Justina Guevara
394. MARIA GUEVARA OR MARIA Diaz, 5, daughter of Jacinta Diaz and granddaughter of Justina Guevara
395. ROQUE GUEVARA OR ROQUE Diaz, 4, son of Jacinta Diaz and grandson of Justina Guevara
396. AMBROSIO GUEVARA, 1, son of Jacinta Diaz and grandson of Justina Guevara
397. JOSEFINA GUEVARA or JOSEFINA HERNANDEZ, 50
398. HILARIA HERNANDEZ, 45, sister of Josefina Hernandez
399. LORENZO VIGIL, 40, day laborer
400. AMINTA VIGIL ARGUETA, 19, daughter of Lorenzo Vigil
401. PEDRITO VIGIL ARGUETA, 10, son of Lorenzo Vigil
402. JOSE WILFREDO VIGIL, 2, son of Aminta Vigil Argueta and grandson of Lorenzo Vigil
403. CHILD, 3, son of Aminta Vigil Argueta and grandson of Lorenzo Vigil
404. MATEA VIGIL, 60, aunt of Lorenzo Vigil
405. CONCEPCION VIGIL, 40, day laborer and maguey spinner, son of Matea Vigil
406. EUGENIA MARTINEZ, 25, companion of Concepcion Vigil
407. LEONARDA MARTINEZ, 60, mother of Eugenia Martinez
408. MARIA MARTINEZ, 6, daughter of Concepcion Vigil and Eugenia Martinez
409. FEDERICO MARTINEZ, 4, son of Concepcion Vigil and Eugenia Martinez
410. CHILD, 6 months old, daughter of Concepcion Vigil and Eugenia Martinez
411. MARIA ARGUETA, 30, sister of Eugenia Martinez
412. CHILD, age unknown, son of Maria Argueta
413. CHILD, age unknown, son of Maria Argueta
414. CHILD, age unknown, daughter of Maria Argueta
415. AQUILINO DIAZ OR AQUILINO SAENZ, 35, day laborer
416. FRANCISCA CHAVARRiA, 40, companion of Aquilino Diaz
417. SANTOS CHAVARRiA, 9, son of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
418. JOSE CHAVARRiA, 8, son of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
419. CHILD, age unknown, daughter of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
420. CHILD, age unknown, daughter of Aquilino Diaz and Francisca Chavarria
421. ESTANISLAO DIAZ, 65, farmer, father of Aquilino Diaz
422. TOMASA MARTINEZ, 70, wife of Estanislao Diaz and mother of Aquilino Diaz
423. DOMINGA CHAVARRiA, 20
424. CHILD, age unknown, son of Dominga Chavarria
425. CHILD, age unknown, son of Dominga Chavarria
426. CHILD, age unknown, son of Dominga Chavarria
427. SEBASTIANA RAMOS, 35
428. PETRONA CHAVARRiA, 50, aunt of Francisca Chavarria (victim #416)
429. TOMASA CHAVARRiA, age unknown, mother of Francisca Chavarria (victim #416)
430. SANTOS CHAVARRiA, 55, brother of Tomasa Chavarria, maguey spinner
431. FAUSTINA CHAVARRiA LUNA, 15, daughter of Santos Chavarria
432. EUSTAQUIA ChavarriaLUNA, 1l, daughter of Santos Chavarria
433. SANTOS ChavarriaLUNA, 5, daughter of Santos Chavarria
434. CHILD, 1, daughter of Santos Chavarria
435. REGINO Chavarria, 65, brother of Santos Chavarria
436. Otilia Hernandez, 30, daugllter of Regino Chavarria
437. JOSE ROSARIO PeREZ, 20, day laborer and maguey spinner, companion of Otilia Hernandez
438. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia Hernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
439. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia llernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
440. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia l-lernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
441. CHILD, age unknown, son of Otilia Hernandez and Jose Rosario Perez
442. MARCIAL PEREZ, 15, maguey spinner, hrother of Jose Rosario Perez
443. AGAPITO LUNA, 23, farmer
444. INES MARTINEZ, 45, day laborer
445. MARGARITA MARTINEZ OR MARGARITA ROMERO, 40, wife of Ines Martinez
446. CRISIINA MARTINEZ, 23, daughter of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
447. CRISTINITA MARTINEZ, 9 months old, daughter of Cristina Martinez
448. CHILD, 6, son of Cristina Martinez
449. FACUNDA ROMERO, 25, daughter of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
450. MARTA ROMERO, 10, daughter of Facunda Romero
451. CHILD, 8, son of Facunda Romero
452. CHILD, 6, son of Facunda Romero
453. MAN, 22, day laborer, son of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
454. BOY, 19, day laborer, son of Margarita Romero and Ines Martinez
455. JACINTO SANCHEZ, 80, day laborer
456. AMELIA SANCHEZ, 95, sister of Jacinto Sanchez
457. DOMINGA SANCHEZ, 30, daughter of Jacinto Sanchez
458. MELA SANCHEZ OR ANGELICA SANCHEZ, 14, daughter of Dominga Sanchez
459. JUANCITO SANCHEZ, 10, student, son of Dominga Sanchez
460. SANTOS SANCHEZ OR SANTOS ARGUETA DE SANCHEZ, 35, wife of Jose Sanchez
461. FIGENIA SANCHEZ, 13, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
462. IRMA SANCHEZ, 6, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
463. MARIANA SANCHEZ, 4, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
464. ESPENTACION SANCHEZ OR PETIO SANCHEZ, 2, son of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
465. JACINTO SANCHEZ, 3, son of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
466. CONCEPCION SANCHEZ, 3 days old, daughter of Jose Sanchez and Santos Sanchez
467. REYNELDA LOPEZ OR REYNELDA ELIZABETH LoPEZ, 32
468. ARNOLDO LOPEZ, 10, daughter of Reynelda Lopez
469. EDGAR MARIN LOPEZ, 8, daughter of Reynelda Lopez
470. JOAQUIN LOPEZ, 6, daughter of Keynelda Lopez
471. HERIBERTO LOPEZ, 4, daughter of lteyllelda Lopez
472. JOSE DORE LOPEZ, 2, daughter of Keynelda Lopez
473. JOSE CLEOFAS LOPEZ, 8 months old, daughter of Reynelda Lopez
474. FRANCISCA GoMEZ OR FRANCISCA SANCHEZ, 75, wife of Ismael Lopez
475. PRISCILA Lopez, 22, daughter of Ismael Lopez
476. CHILD, 7 months old, daughter of Priscila Lopez
477. MARIA INES MARTINEZ, 34
478. JESUS MARTINEZ, 8, son of Maria Ines Martinez
479. TEODORO MARTINEZ, 5, son of Maria Ines Martinez
480. MAXIMA MARTINEZ, 50, daughter of Maria Ines Martinez
481. CHILD, 4, son of Maria Ines Martinez
482. GREGORIA MARTINEZ, 24, cousin of Maria Ines Martinez
483. BERNARDA MARTINEZ OR CECILIA MARTINEZ, 12, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
484. ESTHER MARTINEZ, 9, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
485. CHILD, 5, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
486. CHILD, 3, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
487. CHILD, 9 months old, daughter of Gregoria Martinez
488. TEODORA RAMIREZ, 45
489. TRANSITO RAMIREZ, 22
490. RODOLFO RAMIREZ, 8, son of Transito Ramirez
491. FLORITA RAMIREZ, 3, daughter of Transito Ramirez
492. CECILIA RAMIREZ, 85, aunt of Transito Ramirez
493. ALEJANDRA ROMERO, 75
494. CRISTINA GUEVARA, 25
495. CHILD, 3 months old, son of Cristina Guevara
496. SILVERIA MEJIA ROMERO, 25, maguey spinner
497. JESUS MEJIA CHICAS, 10, son of Silveria Mejia Romero
498. MARIA MARTA MEJIA CHICAS, 8, daughter of Silveria Mejia Romero
499. JUANITA MEJIA CHICAS, 6, daughter of Silveria Mejia Romero
500. JOSe LUCAS MEJIA CHICAS, 3 son of Silveria Mejia Romero
501. CHILD, 2, son of Silveria Mejia Romero
502. CHILD, 3 months old, son of Silveria Mejia Romero
503. MARIA MARCOS REYES, 20
504. JOSE FRANCISCO REYES LUNA, 5, son of Maria Marcos Reyes
505. MARIA NELY REYES LUNA, 3, daughter of Maria Marcos Reyes
506. EVARISTO REYES LUNA, 6 months old, son of Maria Marcos Reyes
507. PRESENTACION MARQUEZ, 41, day laborer
508. MARIA MARTIR MARQUEZ, 38, wife of Presentacion Marquez
509. GIRL, 14, daughter of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
510. CHILD, 11, daughter of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
511. CHILD, 9, son of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
512. CHILD, 7, son of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
513. CHILD, 4, son of Presentacion Marquez and Maria Martir Marquez
514. VICENTA MARQUEZ, 80, widow
515. ENEMESIO RODRiGUEZ OR ENEMESIO GUEVARA, 38, day laborer
516. DONATILA CHICAS or DOMITILA ORELLANA, 30, pregnant at time of death, companion of Enemesio Rodriguez
517. CHILD, 7, daughter of Enemesio Rodriguez and Donatila Chicas
518. CHILD, 5, daughter of Enemesio Rodriguez and Donatila Chicas
519. CHILD, 1, daughter of Enemesio Rodriguez and Donatila Chicas
520. CATARINO RODRIGUEZ or CATARINO GUEVARA, 70, day laborer, father of Enemesio Rodriguez
521. NARCISA MARQUEZ, 68, wife of Catarino Rodriguez
522. MAXIMO RODRIGUEZ, 40, day laborer, son of Catarino Rodriguez and Narcisa Marquez
523. LEONARDA MARQUEZ, 40, wife of Maximo Rodriguez
524. ELENA RODRiGUEZ, 16, daughter of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
525. HERMINIO RODRIGUEZ, 14, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
526. CAMARO RODRiGUEZ, 12, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
527. CHILD, 6, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
528. CHILD, 4, son of Maximo Rodriguez and Leonarda Marquez
529. FELIX RODRiGUEZ, 30, daughter of Catarino Rodriguez and Narcisa Marquez
530. CHILD, 10, daughter of Felix Rodriguez
531. CHILD, 8, son of Felix Rodriguez
532. CHILD, 6, daughter of Felix Rodriguez
533. CHILD, 4, son of Felix Rodriguez
534. PEDRO ARGUETA, 40, day laborer
535. PEDRO ARGUETA, 35, day laborer, brother of Pedro Argueta
536. JULIA DEl CId, 18, pregnant at time of death
537. HUMBERTO Chicas, 19, day laborer, companion of Julia Del Cid
538. CHILD, 2, son of Julia Del Cid and Humberto Chicas
539. VICENTE MARQUEZ, 60, day laborer
540. SERVANDA MAsQuEz, 28, daughter of Vicente Marquez
541. SERGIO MARQUEZ or SERSIDO MARQUEZ, 25, day laborer, son of Vicente Marquez
542. CHILD, 7, son of Servanda Marquez
543. CHILD, 3, son of Servanda Marquez
544. MONCIIO MARQUEZ, 15, day laborer, husband of Mercedes Pereira, who was killed in Los Toriles
545. TERESA ARGUETA or TERESA RodriGUEZ, 22
546. PEDRO CHICAS, 27, farmer, husband of Teresa Argueta
547. CHILD, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
548. Child, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
549. CHILD, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
550. CHILD, age unknown, son of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
551. CHILD, 4, daughter of Pedro Chicas and Teresa Argueta
552. CARLOS CLAROS, 25, day laborer
553. LUCAS CHICAS, 20, companion of Carlos Claros
554. RUMALDO MARQUEZ, 30, day laborer
555. MELIDA CHICAS, 24, wife of Rumaldo Marquez
556. CHILD, 8 days old, son of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
557. CHILD, 2, son of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
558. CHILD, 1 l, daughter of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
559. CHILD, 8, daughter of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas
560. CHILD, 6, daughter of Rumaldo Marquez and Melida Chicas


LOS TORILES

561. NARCISO ARGUETA, 80, farmer, father of Felipe Argueta (killed in El Mozote)
562. ABILIO VIGIl, 43, farmer
563. SATURNINA ARGUETA, 45, companion of Abilio Vigil
564. ESTANISLAO ALVARENGA OR ESTANISI.AO ARGUETA, 60, father of Abilio Vigil
565. JUSTINIANA N., 50, companion of Estanislao Alvarenga
566. SEFERINA VIGII. OR SEFERINA ARGUETA, 15, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
567. FRANCISCO ARGUETA, 13, son of Abilio Vigil and Saturnilla Argueta
568. MARIA ANTONIA ARGUETA, 11, daugilter of Abilio Vigil and Saturilina Argueta
569. MERCEDES ARGuEtA, 9, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
570. MARIA SANTOS ARGUETA, 7, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
571. CHILD, 5, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
572. CHILD, 3, daughter of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
573. CHILD, 1, daughtcr of Abilio Vigil and Saturnina Argueta
574. MANUEL ALVARENGA OR MANUEI. SAN10S PEREIRA ARGUETA, 30, day laborer, companion of Adonisia Rodriguez (killed in ElMozote)
575. FLORENTINA PEREIRA, 70, mother of Manuel Santos Argueta
576. PETRONA MARQUEZ, 39
577. HERMINIO MARQUEZ, 41, day laborer, companion of Petrona Marquez
578. MARIA ZOILA MARQUEZ, 17, day laborer, son of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
579. MARIA CARMEN MARQUEZ, 15, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
580. JOSE SANTOS MARQUEZ, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
581. MARIA JUANA MARQUEZ, 8, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
582. JUAN MARQUEZ, 5, son of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
583. NICOLASA MARQUEZ, 17 months old, daughter of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
584. CHILD, 8 days old, son of Petrona Marquez and Herminio Marquez
585. CRESCENCIO ARGUETA, 80, day laborer, stepfather of Orbelina Marquez (victim #54, killed in El Mozote)
586. GIRL, 14, daughter of Crescencio Argueta
587. CHILD, 12, daughter of Gescencio Argueta
588. CHILD, 8, son of Crescencio Argueta
589. NATALIA GUEVARA, 45
590. ROSA CANDIDA PEREIRA, 14, daughter of Natalia Guevara
591. JOSE MARIO PEREIRA, 10, son of Natalia Guevaril
592. SIMEONA VIGIL, 90, mother-in-law of Natalia Guevara
593. BERTOLDINO PERIERA, 70, farmer, son of Simeona Vigil
594. MARIA MARQUEZ, 65, wife of Bertoldino Pereira
595. INES PEREIRA MARQUEZ, 18, day laborer, son or Bertoldino Pereira and Maria Mstirquez
596. CARMEN MARQUEZ, 17, compallioll of Illes Pereira M'lrquez
597. Jose IGNACIO PEREIRA, 25, farmer, son of Bertoldino Pereira and Maria Marquez
598. MERCEDES PEREIRA, 16, daughter of Bertoldillo Pereira and Maria Marquez
599. JESUS PEREIRA, 13, son of Bertoldino Pereira and Maria Marquez
600. JUAN ANGEL PEREIRA, 55, day laborer, son of Simeona Vigil
601. Marto ROMERO, 10, granddaughter of Simeon Vigil
602. MARTO Vigil, 25, day laborer
603. GUILLERMA MARQUEZ, 25, pregnant at time of death, wife of Marto Vigil
604. JOSE VIGIL, 8, son of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
605. MARIA VIGIL, 7, daughter of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
606. ANGEL VIGIL MARQUEZ, 6, son of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
607. CHILD, 4, son of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
608. CHILD, 2, daughter of Marto Vigil and Guillerma Marquez
609. LUIS VIGIL, 50, day laborer, uncle of Marto Vigil
610. JOSE VIGIL, 30, farmer, cousin of Marto Vigil
611. BERNARDA MARQUEZ, 25, wife of Jose Vigil
612. CHILD, 7, son of Jose Vigil and Bernarda Marquez
613. CHILD, 5, son of Jose Vigil and Bemarda Marquez
614. CHILD, 1, son of Jose Vigil and Bemarda Marquez
615. AGUSTINA MARQUEZ, 46, mother of Bernarda Marquez
616. JOSE DANILO MARQUEZ, 35, farmer
617. MARTA CHICAS, 30, wife of Danilo Marquez
618. JOSE MARQUEZ, 10, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
619. CHILD, 8, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
620. CHILD, 12, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
621. CHILD, 5, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
622. CHILD, 1, son of Danilo Marquez and Marta Chicas
JOCOTE ARMIRILLO

623. CELESTINA VIGIL, 50, killed in El Mozote with her children, mother of Florentina Del Cid
624. FLORENTINA DEL CID VIGIL, 30, pregnant at time of death
625. CAMILO DEL CID, 12, son of Florentina Del Cid Vigil
626. JAZMiN DEL CID, 8, son of Florentina Del Cid Vigil
627. CHILD, 3, daughter of Florentina Del Cid Vigil
628. GENOVEVA DIAZ, 60
629. MODESTA N., 40
630. CHILD, 2 months old, son of Modesta N.
631. CHILD, 9, daughter of Modesta N.
632. CIIILD, 6, daughter of Modesta N.
633. LORENZA MARQUEZ, 40
634. BENEDICTO MARQUEZ, 9, son of Lorenza Marquez
635. MODESTO MARQUEZ, 6, son of Lorenza Marquez
636. MARIA BERNAI.DA MARQUEZ, 4, daughter of Lorenza Marquez
637. MARIA ARGUETA, 35
638. SANTOS HERNANDEZ, 12, student, son of Maria Argueta
639. CHILD, 10 months old, son of Maria Argueta


CERRO PANDO

640. SATURNINA DIAZ, 22
641. EUSEBIA DIAZ, 10, daughter of Saturnina Diaz
642. ESTELA DIAZ, 2, niece of Saturnina Diaz
643. CHILD, 20 days old, daughter of Saturnina Diaz
644. ANTOLIN DIAZ, 22, maguey spinner
645. TOMASA ARGUETA, 20, companion of Antolin Diaz
646. CHILD, 3, son of Antolin Diaz and Tomasa Argueta
647. CHILD, 2, son of Antolin Diaz and Tomasa Argueta
648. CHILD, 15 days old, daughter of Antolin Diaz and Tomasa Argueta
649. JUAN CHICAS, 29, maguey spinner
650. CIRIACA ARGUETA, 30, companion of Juan Chicas
651. LUCIANO CHICOS ARGUETA, 15, maguey spinner, son of Juan Chicas
652. GERVASIO CHICAS ARGUETA, 12, maguey spinner, son of Juan Chicas
653. TRANSITO CHICAS ARGUEtA, 9, son of Juan Chicas
654. NICOLASA CHICAS ARGUETA, 6, daughter of Juan Chicas
655. DIONISIO ARGUETA OR LEONISIO ArgUETA, 32, maguey spinner
656. FELIX PORTILLO or FELIX DIAZ, 29, companion of Dionisio
Argueta
657. CHILD, 10, daughter of Dionisio Argueta and Felix Portillo
658. CHILD, 7, daughter of Dionisio Argueta and Felix Portillo
659. REGINO ARGUETA, 40, maguey spinner, hrother of Dionisio
Argueta
660. MARTIR PORTILLO, 35, wife of Regino Argueta
661. MATILDE ARGUETA PORTILLO, 16, day laborer, son of Regino Argueta and Martir Portillo
662. FILIBERTA CHICAS, 16, companion of Matilde Argueta
663. GERARDO ARGUETA, 29, maguey spinner
664. JUANA ARGUETA, 24, companion of Gerardo Argueta
665. CHILD, 9, daughter of Gerardo Argueta and Juana Argueta
666. MIGUEL ARGUETA, 25, maguey spinner
667. DOMINGA ARGUETA, 22, companion of Miguel Argueta
668. CHILD, 5, daughter of Miguel Argueta and Dominga Argueta
669. CHILD, 3, daughter of Miguel Argueta and Dominga Argueta
670. CHILD, 2, daughter of Miguel Argueta and Dominga Argueta
671. CATARINO ARGUETA, 65, maguey spinner, fatiler of Ciriaca Argueta (victim #650)
672. FRANCISCA ARGUETA, 70, wife of Catarino Argueta
673. TIMOTEO ARGUeTA, 28, artisan, son of Catarino Argueta and Francisca Argueta
674. ROMANA PEREIRA, 28, companion of Timoteo Argueta
675. GIRL, 1s, daughter of Timoteo Argueta and Romana Pereira
676. CHILD, 8, son of Timoteo Argueta and Komana Pereira
677. CHILD, 5, son of Timoteo Argueta and Romana Pereira
678. JORGEN ARGUETA, 80, mother of Dionisio Argueta (victim #655)
679. GENARO ARGUETA, 82, farmer, companion of Jorgen Argueta
680. EDILFONZO ARGUETA, 51, farmer, son of Jorgen Argueta and
Genaro Argueta
681. LOLA MARTINEZ, 20
682. CHILD, 8, daughter of Lola Martinez
683. LUCIO ARGUETA, 24, day laborer, son of Catarino Argueta (victim #671) and Francisca Argueta (victim #672)
684. WOMAN, 22, companion of Lucio Argueta
685. CHILD, 3, son of Lucio Argueta
686. CHILD, 2, son of Lucio Argueta
687. JUSTO MARTINEZ, 45, locksmith
688. ANGELA ARGUETA, 33, wife of Justo Martinez
689. TOMAS MARTINEZ ARGUETA, 20, son of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
690. DIONISIA MARTINEZ, 18, companion of Tomas Martinez Argueta
691. Child, 2 months old, son of Tomas Martinez Argueta and Dionisia
Martinez
692. ESTEBAN MARTINEZ ARGUETA, 16, son of Justo Martillez and Angela Argueta
693. BOY, 14, son of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
694. CHILD, 12, daughter of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
695. CHILD, 9, daughter of Justo Martinez and Angela Argueta
696. MAXIMO ARGUETA, 30, maguey spinner, son of Catarino Argueta (victim #671)
697. HERIBERTA RAMOS, 28, companion of Maximo Argueta
698. BoY, 15, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
699. Boy, 13, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
700. CHILD, 10, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
701. CHILD, 8, son of Maximo Argueta and Heriberta Ramos
702. MATEO LoPEZ, 55, maguey spinner
703. AGUSTINA MARTINEZ, 30, wife of Mateo Lopez
704. GIRl, 15, daughter of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
705. CHILD, 12, daughter of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
706. CHILD, 9, daughter of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
707. CHILD, 6, son of Mateo Lopez and Agustina Martinez
708. VITOR MARTINEZ, 60, mother of Agustina Martinez
709. JESUS LUNA, 78, day laborer, companion of Vitor Martinez
710. CATARINO MARTINEZ, 26, maguey spinner, son of Vitor Martinez
711. FERMINA CHICAS, 24, companion of Catarino Martinez
712. CHILD, 10, son of Catarino Martinez and Fermina Chicas
713. CHILD, 7, son of Catarino Martinez and Fermina Chicas
714. CHILD, 5, son of Catarino Martinez and Fermina Chicas
715. MARTiN MARTINEZ, 32, maguey spinner, brother of Catarino Martinez
716. FERMINA ARGUETA, 29, companion of Martin Martinez
717. CHILD, 10, daughter of Martin Martinez and Fermina Argueta
718. CHILD, 7, daughter of Martin Martinez and Fermina Argueta
719. CHILD, 5, son of Martin Martinez and Fermina Argueta
720. PABLO CHICAS, 28, maguey spinner
721. DIONISIA ARGUETA OR LEONISIA MEjiA, 24, companion of Pablo Chicas
722. GIRL, 13, daughter of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
723. ANDRES CHICAS ARGUETA, 11, son of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
724. CHILD, 9, daughter of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
725. CHILD, 6, son of Pablo Chicas and Dionisia Argueta
726. NASARIA ARGUETA, 70, mother of Diollisia Argueta
727. RAFAEL ARGUETA MEJiA, 27, maguey spiniler, son of Nasaria Argueta
728. LEONCIA ARGUETA, 24, companion of Rafael Argueta Mejia
729. CHILD, 5, son of Rafael Argueta Mejia and Leoncia Argueta
73o CHILD, 2, daughter of Rafael Argueta Mejia and Leoncia Argueta
731. TIBURCIO MEJIA, 35, day laborer, son of Nasaria Argueta
732. ELOISA PORTILLO or ARCADIA PORTILLO, 30, companion of Tiburcio Mejia
733. MARIA MEJIA, 29, daughter of Nasaria Argueta
734. ANDRES FLORES, 48, day laborer, companion of Maria Mejia
735. COLASTICO MEJIA, 40, maguey spinner, cousin of Maria Mejia
736. BRUNA ARGUETA, 42, companion of Colastico Mejia and daughter of Jorgen Argueta (victim #678) and Genaro Argueta (victim #679)
737. GIRL, 15, daughter of Colastico Mejia and Bruna Argueta
738. CHILD, 12, daughter of Colastico Mejia and Bruna Argueta
739. CHILD, 9, daughter of Colastico Mejia and Bruna Argueta
740. SINFOROSO PEREIRA, 30, day laborer
741. EUGENIA DIAZ, 28, companion of Sinforoso Pereira
742. CHILD, 8, son of Sinforoso Pereira and Eugenia Diaz
743. MARIA RAMOS, 75, widow
744. PATRICIA ARGUETA, 75, artisan
745. MIGUEL ARGUETA, 58, farmer
746. EDILFONZA ARGUETA, 48, companion of Edilfonzo Argueta (victim #680)
747. AURELIA RAMIREZ, 70
748. SUSANA RAMIREZ, 32, daughter of Aurelia Ramirez
749. ENEMESIA LUNA, 75, widow

751. CONCEPCION PORTILLO, 35, bricklayer
752. DOMINGA PORTILLO, 28, seamstress, wife of Concepcion Portillo


JOATECA


753. MAXIMO PEREZ, 28, catechist
754. BENEDICTO PEREZ, 10, son of Maximo Perez
755. ESTANISLASA PEREZ, 8, daughter of Maximo Perez
756. ROMULO PEREZ, 4, son of Maximo Perez
757 AGUSTINA PEREZ, 23
758. CHILD, 3 days old, daughter of Agustina Perez
759. CRESCENCIA PEREZ, 18, sister of Maximo Perez
760. CARLOS ORTIZ, 48, day laborer
761. TERESO DE JESUS LUNA, 14, day laborer, deaf and mute
762. NATIVIDAD LUNA, 18, cousin of Tereso de Jesus Luna
763. OCTAVIANA LUNA, 8 months old, daughter of Natividad Luna
764. JULIA N., 12
765. WOMAN, 50
766. GIRL, 15, daughter of victim #765
767. GIRL, 13, daughter of victim #765


[Señor, ten piedad. Cristo, ten piedad. Señor, ten piedad.]

Words

For some reason, adult illiteracy hits me so much harder when I'm in the US than when I was in El Salvador. I don't like what that says about my assumptions. But something like 40% of adult Detroiters read at less than a 9th-grade level. Ariana has run into this often when she's out helping folks apply for Bridge Cards. Our systems are so set up for people who read - not only read, but understand fairly complex legal and financial terminology that sometimes gives her (and me, when I look at it) trouble.

My last day in El Sitio, I sat with María as she was practicing her writing assignment - writing the numbers 0-20,000 by fives (!) and my thought was, "Rock on! You delivered two babies in a refugee camp while raising the four you already had, while your husband fought with the guerrilla, and now you're in your late 50s and learning to read and write. Amazing." And now I'm doing data entry on some ELCA member surveys and several of them so far have been written by folks who seem to have struggled pretty greatly with reading and filling out the survey. And it has me psychologically clothes-lined.

Que te vaya bien

I am emotionally at sea. I found out yesterday morning that one of my former students left for the US. I had seen her in school on Monday afternoon, but didn't know she was leaving - didn't get to say goodbye.

She is a pillar in her community, a young woman of such strength and commitment that she inspires me every day. And her children - three of them - are some of the most wonderful, loving kids I know. Now they live with an aunt they hardly know in a different community, where I won't see them. I want so badly to visit them, to let them know that, in the midst of so much upheaval in their lives this week, there are constants, and one of those is that I love them.

There are so many worries swimming around in my head and heart that I don't even know where to begin. For one thing, dear heaven the journey is dangerous - often deadly. We are heading into the hottest part of the year, where dehydration claims probably (and this is just my guess) dozens of migrants' lives each day. On top of this, Central Americans face an especially long and arduous path, as Mexico is not known for being terribly welcoming of the people passing through. (And I say this, of course, not as any word against Mexico - it's simply the truth that things are especially dangerous for Central Americans migrating north.) There are more borders to cross, more unfamiliar territory, more opportunities to be attacked.

Traveling as a woman makes this exponentially more dangerous. She is traveling with a male relative, which I think played into the timing of her going, but still women are targeted infinitely more than men for sexually based attacks.

Then there is the question of her children. She has three kids between three and ten years old. They are all three wonderful, but her oldest is particularly special to me. We've gone on walks a couple of times and he taught me about all of the types of birds that are native in the area - with particular attention to how good a mama the torrogoz is. Púchica. The community they live in is not far away - it's actually between Suchi and El Barío on the bus line. But I'm not sure if my visiting them is appropriate. I have to figure that out, because this is killing me.

Just as the story of my teacher's sister and nephew was, this is one story of thousands. About 750 Salvadorans (Salvadorans alone) leave the country each DAY for the US. They are women and men with families and roots, just like the ones I described having myself a couple posts back. They have kids, lives, passions, and dreams. We have to ask ourselves WHY, what could possibly compel someone to leave those they love and undertake a journey and then a life of such danger? And you know what? All I can say is that I hate, I hate, I HATE the policies and trade agreements and big-bank-greed-based economic crises and gang violence that make leaving not only an option but a necessity.

At this moment, that hate is not quite all, but almost all that I have. I am wearing that hate, trying not to act out of it, but mostly I am filled with it. I think my love for her and her kids is what is keeping this from enveloping me more fully. And the love of my compañeros here. And the fact that I still have 50 other students that I love and need to teach well. So - surprise of surprises - I find that love is the only thing that can face off against and overcome hate.

Because she is one of the countless humans who will leave their homes this week to risk their lives in this way and for this end, please, please take a moment today, and tomorrow, and the next day to hold up their safety and well being - and that of their loved ones whom they leave at home or the loved ones who await their arrival. And in this situation in which no news is decidedly good news, pray for no news.

Memorial Days

The reality about Salvadoran history is that it is impossible to recognize every massacre. There are just too many. If you then add assassinations of one, two, or three people, it is astounding. Oftentimes, these murders-not-massacres were of faith leaders, lay or clergy, who were responsible for bringing the Good News of liberation, a God who is LOVE, and Jesus as brother and worker to their brothers and sisters.

One such leader was Padre Rutilio Grande. Padre Tilo was a Jesuit priest who studied just about everywhere in the world (or at least throughout the Americas and Europe). In the early 1970s he came to Aguilares, a town just west of Suchitoto, to serve as the priest. His solidarity with poor people and his rejection of government oppression made him a persona non grata for the Salvadoran government. On March 12, 1977, he was assassinated along with Manuel Solorzano (72 years old) and Nelson Rutilio Lemus (16 years old).

His life and his death were both hugely influential in the conversion of the newly-appointed Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero, from a safe, conservative choice for the institutional church to a clear, consistent voice for nonviolence and human dignity. Grande and Romero were friends and colleagues in life and Grande's murder became a turning point for Romero.

Guillermo Cuellar, a musician who worked alongside Romero as a youth leader, used words from one of Grande's homilies for the entrance hymn of the Misa Salvadoreña:

Vamos todos al banquete, a la mesa de la creación
Cada cual con su taburete tiene un puesto y una misión

Wonderfully translated by Bill Dexheimer Pharris and Bret Hesla (don't we have gems in the Twin Cities!) the refrain says:

Let us go now to the banquet, to the feast of the universe
The table's set and the place is waiting,
Come everyone with your gifts to share

Matthew and nunca, nunca mas

I don't believe that God opened my bible to any certain page this morning when I decided to sit down and read a bit. I'd finished what has become my morning ritual of breakfast and coffee on the roof, listening to the sounds of Suchitoto coming to life and watching the color change against the trees, buildings, and distant rolling hills. I didn't have to be at work until 7:45-ish and I'd showered last night (that's the real reason I had extra time), so I figured I'd sit down with either the bible or my crossword puzzle book. This time, the bible won. (Full disclosure: usually it goes the other way.)

For whatever reason, after flipping through a couple of non-starters (the Exodus and Hosea included), I landed in the Passion section of Matthew. I am leaving Suchitoto this afternoon to spend the evening and night at the Universidad Centroamericana for the vigil commemorating the massacre of six Jesuits and two of their colleagues. There is much to be said just about this particular event in history. I will leave this to your own research, only to say that they were massacred by the Salvadoran military – by US-trained officers – on the night of November 15/16, 1989, on the grounds of the University where they lived. Brutal doesn't even begin to describe the manner of their assassination. Because they were in many ways the intellectual core of the church-based liberation and peace movements, the soldiers removed their brains and strew them across the garden outside their dormitories. It is this level of violence that we commemorate tonight – and to which we say “never again,” though we know that that is an unachievable reality. In any case, we recommit ourselves to the struggle that this might one day be true.

I don't know that I've ever read any of the Passion narratives outside of Holy Week before, so doing so in the fall, a good six months away from last Easter and this, seemed appropriate. It wasn't until I actually got into the thing that I started to realize just how appropriate it was for this day – this time in which we are celebrating the lives of massacred people all over the country, with Día de los Difuntos, the Copapayo massacre, and now the Jesuits. There are plenty of possible parallels to draw between the two stories, but more than anything, several new things just jumped to my eye.

Matthew 26:40 – Since our last spirituality night, we've been talking recently about all of the different ways that a seemingly small comment or gesture can be a profound word of “I love you.” Even while we were at Peggy's discussing this last Sunday, Alex's campo brother called him to check on how he was doing and to make sure he was going to be able to catch the bus home. When Alex sat back down from the call, Peggy very gently interjected, “That was Chomingo saying I love you.”

I read Jesus' words in this verse as an I love you. So much is lost when you only have text, so I'd always read and heard these words as a rebuke before. But think about it. “Can you not keep watch with me for one hour?” Jesus might have a better idea than the others how precarious things will be after his death, and the fact that they wipe out quickly – certainly understandable given what seems to have been an intense period in their ministry together! - is not promising. It is out of concern, not anger, that I hear Jesus underlining that (more or less) “you have to be able to do this.” “I love you.” I love you and I'm about to be not here in the same way that you are used to me being here and it scares me to think that you aren't ready. And I love you. [I feel I should follow this by saying that it does really freak me out to put words into the mouths of biblical characters. But here I am, doing it anyway.]

26:50 – Only ten verses later. Judas kisses Jesus and Jesus says to him, “Do what you came for, friend.” FRIEND. He just coined the phrase “the kiss of death” and Jesus calls him friend. There is, as I see it, a profound understanding there of Judas's helplessness in all of it. I think about the kids here who end up in gangs because...they have no other options. Because they are threatened (or more likely their families are) and so they have to join. Or because a person has to eat and unemployment hovers around 70% here. Or because they simply live in an area that already belongs to a particular gang and in order to be protected in their own neighborhood, they must belong.

I think about the sixteen kids (all but one between 18 and 22 – aka, between Ella's and my ages) burned to death in the fire that raged through the juvenile prison this week, and the 22 more in hospitals, many with burns so bad that they will definitely die as well. They were all put there under the new anti-gang law passed this summer. The gangs here do terrible things, usually to people who have done nothing to call their attention. Not that one can ever earn the violence that is rained down by the gangs. But the kids in that prison – so many of the people in El Salvador's crowded-three-times-past-capacity prisons – were not the folks calling the shots. All too often, those are the same people who own the private security firms, whose pockets thicken when ordinary people feel so much fear that they hire guards.

I think about those guys and the fact that they were in prison, like so many of their (my) brothers and sisters around the world, because of actions that they had only a small part in actually taking on. And I hear Jesus call them “friend.” Clothed in tattoos in a country where that only means one thing, to the extent that my “pollito” (little chicken – it's actually a hummingbird) tattoo catches attention and interest from all sides, I hear an understanding in Jesus's voice that rejects completely what they have done, but sees the utter lack of choice (or at least seeming lack, which is just as crushing) that these guys faced, embraces them, returns a kiss of death with a kiss of life and peace, and says “I love you.”

So this week we celebrate the Jesuits. We will say the presente after the names of Ignacio Ellacuría, Segundo Montes, Celina Ramos, Elba Ramos, Ignacio Martín Baró, Amando López, Joaquín López y López, and Juan Ramon Moreno. We will also say, maybe silently, presente in the names of Antonio Cartagena, Juan Carlos Romero, Gerardo Enrique Alvarado, and the rest of the young men who died in the fire. We will celebrate the lives and grieve the deaths of children of God put to death by violence and poverty. And we will offer our small but resolute nunca mas.

Solo Dios con nostotros

First things first. I'm realizing that I've kind of thrown most of you into the deep end without giving you floaties or anything like them, with regard to where I am and the general situation here. Without meaning to be mean (since I'm a Minnesotan), I have to say plainly and clearly: I have never been to South America and it is not where I am now. In fact, there are a full three countries plus a little corner of Honduras between me and the very tippy top of South America. :) El Salvador is in Central America, which is the land that connects the continents of North and South America, also at times known as the Americas and also (especially outside of the US, where we consider ourselves THE ONLY) known simply as America. (That's right, in a lot of places, there is not a recognized north/south divide.)

I found a couple of maps to orient you to more or less where I am. (Now let's see if I can actually put them up on the blog.)




First, Central America, the general region. El Salvador is the little blue rectangular one nestled in between Guatemala and Honduras.






Alright, second, El Salvador itself. Click on this photo and it should get bigger. You'll see a finger-shaped lake an inch or so directly above the capital, San Salvador. That is Lake Suchitlan, on which Suchitoto (the town where I live) is situated. Suchi is also listed on the map, on the south side of the lake. Two days a week I take a boat sort of around the lake, staying on the south shore and not actually crossing it, to the school I teach in.



Ok, hopefully this helps a bit. Also, I'm not especially close to the equator. I'm probably about as close to the equator (and this is a big guess) as Minneapolis is to the North Pole. Sorry for having made assumptions before and not given y'all the tools that may have been useful. Now you can have a better picture in your head of where I am. (And I think, if today is indeed daylight savings, that we are even in the same hour as Minnesota. We're basically straight south.)

************

That was a nice geography lesson. Now on to something that is really current in the country. It effectively hasn't rained here at all this month. This is unusual for October. Usually October is the strong end to the rainy season and an important time in the bean crop cycle. The two times it has rained, it has been fast and furious - not what you want hitting DRY topsoil. This being the case, the bean crop is completely lost. Beans are already up above a dollar a pound (and have been for a couple weeks). This means that most people simply aren't eating them, whether they buy beans or grown their own. Since this is often the primary source of protein...well, you probably get it. And since most kids are getting out of school, they are facing two months without the government-provided nutrition program food that they receive in school. (Which isn't perfect, but it almost always has protein. And for the kids that really need them, it simply has calories to get through the day.)

One of the vigilantes at the Art Center and I were talking a few days ago. He works here over night and during the day works his land. His beans are gone. He said that there are some that might re-plant, hoping for some unexpected rain later in the season, but we are rapidly hurtling toward the dry, dry time of the year. Toward the end of the conversation, Eduardo said something that hit me hard: "It's only God with us now."

In any other setting in which I've ever found myself, that would seem like perhaps the bleakest statement possible. But somehow, for a Salvadoran to say that, even given what relatively little I know from my time here, it was galvanizing. There was no despair in Eduardo's voice when he said it, and when he looked at me and turned to walk away, there was sadness AND fire in his eyes. So many people in El Salvador are already all too used to having only God with them. But given that reality, they know better than I ever will that these situations offer no invitations to lose hope.

I don't know enough about agriculture - here or anywhere - to know what realistic expectations might look like in this scenario. But I do know that what is realistic or pragmatic has never before been able to capture or enclose Salvadorans in despair. (Of course I speak in hyperbole, but not by much.)

Prayers are more than welcome. Turning off the lights and taking other small actions - as well as big ones - in the interest of slowing climate change is all the more welcome. Buying beans from close by instead of beans - or whatever food - from far away wouldn't hurt either.

Happy Halloween. The day when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest. While something rings appropriate that this precariousness would come at such a precarious time of the year, let's remember and reaffirm that none ought to live in such uncertainty. For those of us who worship a God who invited herself to a meal in the home of a tax collector - someone who was not a very good neighbor - now seems like a good time to recommit ourselves to living as good neighbors, on the incomprehensible scale that that word takes on, and refusing to let God be the only one who cares so actively.

Last week (on Wednesday the 15th - though actually beginning Tuesday night) Suchitoto blossomed into celebration of the 189th anniversary of Central American independence from Spain. Granted, that independence lasted a very short time, because Mexico (itself celebrating its own 11th anniversary Sept 15, 1821) annexed the region for a few years. But I digress. What we now know as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica went from being colonies of Spain to politically independent states (though not in anything like the current map makeup).

Like most other independences of the colonial era (I use the phrase as though that era had ended!), it was much more a transfer of power from far-away wealth to in-house wealth. I have heard arguments that things actually got worse in some cases for the poor and for indigenous communities after independence. Again with the digressing.

After a GRAND pair of parades (a night parade and a morning one, which bookended a long, bumping dance in front of the mayor's office), I sat down with Margaret Jane and Christy for a few minutes at one of the restaurant patios on the plaza. Margaret Jane was telling us about her first several years in El Salvador, in the mid-80s, working in a displaced community camp in the mountains above the capital.

One of the reasons they set up camps in the hills was that in the capital, people were living in buildings and not able to go out. Hundreds in the basements of single churches - sharing single toilets and sinks, having babies, dying. There were also several hundred living on the grounds of the seminary. They just needed to be in a different place - a place with at least a bit more privacy and air.

This got me thinking, though. If refugee/internally displaced camps were located on the grounds of seminaries, what might that do for the Church's willingness to make bold and prophetic witness against all forms of violence that rob people of their homes and communities?

Legality

I spent this morning in the capital getting my visa renewed. My 90 days of legal tourist status - which I got when I first arrived in Guatemala - come up on Friday the 3rd. I left Suchitoto at 8am and was back by 1pm. (And at least 3.5 of those 5 hours were spent in transit.)

I needed a few copies of documents, a letter from the Center, a passport-size photo, and $25.

I've sat here for about five minutes now trying to figure out a creative and/or deep/reasoned way of putting this, but I have nothing at the moment. What I really want to know is why it was the ridiculously easy for me to renew my visa and navigate the migration system here, but people die EVERY DAY trying to go to the US. And what sort of desperation could possibly move someone - much less thousands of someones - to take on the risk, the physical and psychological pain, and the expense of coming undocumented to the States? People take on these weights all the time. Why aren't we paying attention to the human side of that reality??

There are economic and political arguments that can be made (and even those I argue with), but I came across a quote this afternoon that resonated with me in this particular moment: "Rats and roaches live by competition under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy." Wendell Berry

Last week there was a massacre of 72 migrants in Mexico on their way to the US, including 13 Salvadorans and 5 Guatemalans. (Obviously, the nationalities are far from important, but those two figures hit close right now.) I've heard varying things about how much US coverage there has been of this, but here it has its own few pages in the paper each day.

There aren't really words to describe how I feel about the massacre, largely because I think I'm not allowing myself to feel anything, for fear that I'll collapse under the scale of it. I'm letting the numbers get close to my skin because they are so much safer than the real stories. But on the bus on the way home today, I just sat there thinking, "That was so easy. Too easy? No - it should be that easy. Everywhere. For everyone, not just do-gooder from the US who can work a copy machine (sometimes) and a cash machine." Because an equally-equipped Salvadoran in the US would not receive the same treatment - from a migration official who remembered me from my first visit and chatted with me for half an hour.

Diana's (another volunteer here) folks were here during my second week in Suchitoto. At that point I was trying to figure out if I had an option like what I did this morning, rather than having to travel all the way to Mexico and come back in. Her dad half-jokingly invited me to simply "have an illegal experience, like so many in the US right now." I appreciated that reminder. The fear that this wouldn't work out to my most convenient advantage was already weighing on me, but was nothing compared to what would face me if I were living undocumented in the US. I'm not here for either economic or safety reasons; if I were to get sent back and never allowed to come back into Central America, I would be incredibly sad, but my life would continue without fear of violence or hunger.

This is (as my entries are tending to be these days) really just a jumble of thoughts. But there is something at work in there; I just can't tie it all together. I hope at least my general idea came across. It is just so frustrating. The paper today had a photo of the most recently-identified Salvadoran. She was 15. The same age as my teacher's nephew when he left last year, except his nephew survived (barely). She was younger than Ella by almost three years.

Those were really just more things I had swimming around to add to the pile. Still not concise, but there it is in spite of that.

One week in

I started teaching this week at the school in El Sitio Cenisero, a town about a 15-minute boat ride from the landing in Suchitoto.

I'll be teaching twice a week to the 7th, 8th, and 9th grade classes. The older kids have school in the afternoon (younger kids in the morning), but I go to El Sitio in the morning with the other teachers. So I have a bit of time to just be there and do lesson planning. I'm still getting my bearings and already realizing that it is going to be a challenge (though the good kind). There is quite the disparity in the lengths of the different classes - about 1 1/2 with the 9th graders, but only about 30/45 minutes with the 7th/8th graders (respectively). They're all starting out at about the same level - effectively no history of English classes - but the difference in time means that will change quickly. I can barely get into the day's material with the 7th grade class before the day is over. (Once I start having homework to cover at the beginning, I have no idea how we'll get any new material accomplished!)

But oh my goodness are they a delightful bunch of kids. (Ok, actually, not all are kids - a few of them are in their late-20s, but still in school, which I have to give them huge credit for.) They are eager to learn and are admirably game to do dorky things (as long as I do them, too), given most of them are adolescents. Yesterday I told each class that I really, really want them to make mistakes in class, because that would show me that they were taking interest and risks. I also promised them that I would take risks with my Spanish, given that we're all in the same boat, as far as learning and using new languages goes. They seemed willing to go along with that general idea, even if they were a bit surprised when I first said I wanted them to mess up.

The other teachers in the school really amaze me. We arrive at school at about 7:30am and leave at 5pm and they teach almost constantly that entire time - save for a few short recesses (maybe three of 10 minutes each) and an hour between morning and afternoon classes. They each teach two grades in the morning - younger kids, so they teach all subjects - and one in the afternoon, where they specialize in a subject. On top of that, they're all in school themselves on the weekends AND a couple are studying English in the Center. And one also functions as principal, requiring that she do the administrative work associated with being a public school. I am in awe of their energy levels, for sure.


Last night, there were five of us in the Center. We cooked up a tasty dinner, then I skyped with the family (including Justin and Amy, with whom I studied last time I was down here). All in all, a lovely evening. (Fact: Bat sonar comes through amplified on skype.) Then this morning I went to the market to grab some veggies to make a salad for lunch. Just chopping up cabbage, onions, and carrots was so nice after going almost a week without doing much food prep. I also tried to buy tennis shoes (my faithful pair finally began to disintegrate in Xela, so I left them there), only to discover (as I had sort of suspected) that my feet are bigger than what El Salvador understands as human feet. Ah well, such is life.

Loads of Lutherans

This morning I got up early and took that 5:15am bus to the capital for a march against violence. It was planned in conjunction with the 24th anniversary of the Lutheran bishopric here in El Salvador. It was a pretty cool experience, all told. I arrived in the city at about 6:30 and took a cab to a hotel where a delegation is staying. (I'd met a couple from this delegation over my first few days in Suchitoto and they invited me.)

I marched along with three ELCA bishops (from the New York, Sierra-Pacific, and Southwest California synods), Bishop Gomez, the Catholic bishop, an elderly bishop (whose specific identity we haven't figured out), and the bishop of Bavaria. I also got a chance to meet Lutheran World Relief's representative in Central America (a former Holy Trinity member - Lutherans basically all know each other).

As we marched, we sang and chanted "No a la violencia; si a la vida!" (No to violence; yes to life.) It seems like a theme that all could get behind, but we know that isn't true. When I got in on Monday, there was no bus service, because the bus owners had ordered a strike. The gangs in the area had submitted a threatening letter demanding a higher renta - the money that the gangs exact from the bus drivers/owners/ayudantes as a form of "protection" (ie, you pay what we demand, we don't kill you). I don't have the statistics from El Salvador, but already by my second or third week in Guatemala, almost 40 drivers, dozens of ayudantes, and a couple of owners had been killed by the gangs there.

There is NO obvious, good option for the drivers. The bus service was back on the next day, indicating that they decided to go with the demand. But how do you feed a family when every day the vast majority of your earnings go toward the renta? And when your bus could get shot up any day as an act of retribution, intimidation, or as a lesson to other drivers? I can't claim to get how this all works. But it does strike me as capitalism at its purest - that system that we spent the 80s killing people down here to plant seeds of.

(Excuse the cynicism, but I am hot, sticky, and at an utter loss of any context through which to understand this dynamic. BUT the march this morning was wonderful. I am back to not having a camera cord, but once I find one I can use, there will be photos of the thing!)

Arrival in Suchitoto

Here I am in Suchitoto, writing from the office of the Centro Arte para la Paz. A bit about my viaje yesterday:

I woke up at 3am in my hostel in Antigua, Guatemala, to pack a few last things and get ready for the trip. My shuttle to the bus station came at 4am, to arrive at 5/5:15 at the station. Except....that the company I booked with seems not to have told the drivers that I needed to go to the TicaBus station, rather than the airport, where everyone else was going. So I had to take a taxi from the airport to the terminal, given that I only had about 20 minutes to make my bus. (Didn't have time to argue, negotiate, etc. - I just had to get there, since I couldn't make my reservation over the phone beforehand.)

Once I got to the terminal, I was fine. I bought my ticket, waited a bit, then left at 6am. We got to the border at about 9am, went through customs, and continued on our journey at about 9:30. I got to San Salvador shortly before 11am and Peggy picked me up. We got back to Suchitoto at about noon, after an absolutely beautiful drive though the campo.

I met a few of the wonderful folks who are currently working here at the Center as volunteers for various spaces of time. They're all from California (though traveling in groups of 1-2), so it has been fun watching them find the different ways in which their lives cross paths. We went out for dinner last night in the town center at a restaurant that makes AMAZING roasted vegetables as well as really spectacular pupusas. (Note: I am going to die of a heart attack here, for all the pupusas I plan to eat. Oh my goodness. It starts now.)

The only problem was that I was so extraordinarily exhausted after several late nights in Xela and then the early morning and travel - as well as the heat, difference in elevation, etc. - that the entire day felt like an out of body experience. I went back to Peggy's (truly spectacular) house right after dinner and fell asleep.

After sleeping from 8:30 til 6am, I felt like an entirely new woman. (More importantly, I simply felt human.) This morning, Peggy and I chatted while getting ready and eating breakfast, came over to the Center (across the street), then picked up a woman who works with Capacitar, an org that trains people in the communities here in using accupressure, massage, etc. in treating the physical effects of psychological trauma. From what people have said, it is an amazing way in which people who are so often ignored and told that their trauma is all in their heads can take control of both the physical and psychological injuries and empower themselves to really fix them. I am probably going to take part in a once-per-quarter set of four trainings offered throughout my time here. On the way to Aguilares (where we were dropping off Joan), we also picked up the principal of one of the schools. We chatted a bit, my Spanish actually doing me proud(ish).

On the way back, Peggy and I talked a bit about what I will be doing here. Between now and November, I will be teaching English two days a week in El Sitio, one of the communities that we visited last time I was here. The teachers live in Suchitoto, but take a boat every morning to the class across the lake. I'm pretty excited. I may be living at the Center or I live with the teachers. That remains to be seen, but for the time being I'm with Peggy (at least a few days while a group of Argentine priests are here).

This morning we might take a hike over to Los Tercios, a cascade nearby. That also promises to be quite excellent. Otherwise, I'm headed to the market to buy some fruit.

Endings (of beginnings?)

I am sadder than I expected about the prospect of finishing up at PLQ. I shouldn't be surprised - I was only going to be here four weeks and have already extended by two whole weeks. PLQ is just such a special place to be. Wonderful people, phenomenal community fostered by the school, SUCH quality education (both Spanish and about the history, culture, current realities of Guatemala). I'm also loving living in la Casa de las Amigas with four other great women from all over the US. I've really enjoyed living in this type of community for the last couple of weeks. (Living with a host family is great, but I have loved the Casa.)

It is bizarre being so close to wrapping up the first stage of my journey. Admittedly, it is the shorter part, but it seemed like such a wide buffer between me and El Salvador - and now it's almost finished! I've more or less known I was going to go back to Salvador since I returned from my semester in December of 2008. I didn't always know how this was going to happen, but one way or another, I knew I wanted to return. The fact that I'm so close now to going is whacky (and so exciting!).

Last night the movie-and-hot-chocolate-night selection was Voces Inocentes, a movie I had seen before and can HIGHLY recommend. I follows a little boy and his family during the civil war in El Salvador and shows the effects the war has on their daily life. It is an intense, powerful film that does include some violence against kids, so that's something to know going in. But still incredible.

Days of preparation

It's hard to believe that in two months, ready or not, I will be hopping on a plane, making use of my one-way ticket to Guatemala (and then going on to El Salvador after a month of Spanish class). There is so, SO much to do between now and then, not least of which being 1) graduate (finish my thesis, etc.) and 2) move out of my house.

On the thesis end of things, it has been a challenge working on a topic so dear to my heart and so related to my upcoming work without getting distracted with thoughts of what I'll soon be doing. (I probably should have chosen a more boring topic, though that would come with its own sad challenges!)

One thing that I'm excited about is this notion that I will be doing the work of liberation theology, but it won't look like I'm 'doing' theology at all. That is one of the (many) beauties of the LT framework - it reaches deep into the ordinary and makes sacred the work of fostering life. So leading workshops on cooperative games (ie, games where there are not winners and losers, but just kids having fun and learning from each other) in a context of fairly prevalent violence becomes, hopefully, a means of supporting a different way of interacting. (In other words: playing parachute games = God's work. *This is my kind of math.*)

To be sure, this is not going to be some sort of "Dangerous Minds" (or "The Blind Side"?) remix, where the chela comes in an saves the kids from their oppressively violent home situations. [Side note: Jaime Escalante died this week - I am really sad about this.] I'm just as in need of dismantling my dependence on violence as anyone else. I hope that I can be a teacher to the kids I work with, but I would imagine they'll teach me a whole lot more.

Plus, the violence taking place there is so very US-exported. It's left over from the Civil War; it's a result of the migration crisis; it comes back as gang violence with a fair number of the young people deported daily from the US. Our hand in creating the violence is much bigger than our hand in 'solving' it. (Always the question: How do we put people up onto crosses? It seems especially appropriate to ask this today.)

But in the midst of this, I am so thrilled to be going. I look forward to working with Sister Peggy and the programs at El Centro Arte para la Paz. I am excited about getting to know the community in Suchitoto and the surrounding towns. I desperately hope that my Spanish improves (it'd better, given where it's at right now). I'm looking forward to doing some teaching and some farming, some discerning of where I might be headed.

I realized when I was leaving Holden Village at the end of spring break that the water in Rail Road Creek can't see beyond the bend in the creek bed. But it still keeps moving. That's the corny metaphor for my life right now.


[Since I'm just firing this up again, a quick note to those who get this via email: I haven't changed the list, so if you'd prefer not to be on it, tell me. I won't be offended in the least. Just let me know!]

CAFTA

I am in the midst of writing an exam on trade, particularly trade liberalization in Central America. Obviously, one of our main foci is CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement. It is an agreement between the US and Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica which largely openned borders between the countries. It has had (and will continue to have) troubling impacts particularly in the agricultural sectors of the Central American countries.

When we drive around town, there is a lot of graffiti. One of the most common phrases is CAFTA NOS MATARA (CAFTA will kill us).

So I would like to recommend an article to folks about the process by which CAFTA was negotiated. It is by a man we met with earlier this week and was published in Revista Envío, a journal published by the Nicaraguan campus of the Central American University.

¨CAFTA will be like a brand-name Hurricane Mitch¨

Related to CAFTA (and a throwback to our last country), one indication of the desired relationship between El Salvador´s political establishment and the US: the Salvadoran negotiating team signed CAFTA sight unseen. A document of more than 3000 pages and they didn´t even bother to look at it first. (The relationship is often described as one where Salvador is the step-child trying to gain the love of the US.)

None of this is possible without our organization

Everyone in the community of Nueva Esperanza knew exactly what type of plant gave me the second degree burn on my leg. Apparently, it's called "pan caliente" (hot bread).

Nueva Esperanza is a community of 100+ families (in around 500 people total) in the Bajo Lempa region of El Salvador. The vast majority of the residents (and all of the founders) are survivors of the Rio Sumpul massacre in Chalatenango in 1980. After the massacre, they found a place to take refuge -- the basement of a church in San Salvador (about a two-hour drive on good highways),
an approximately 30' x 30' space with one sink and one toilet -- for 400 people. They gradually added a stove on the roof of the church building and lived there, with the church constantly surrounded by death squads to prevent their leaving, for three years. With the help of two English students, they eventually received permission to leave the country and go to Nicaragua, where they established cooperatives in common with Nicaraguans and lived for another 9 years.
In 1991, they received the right (after a year-long process) to return to Salvador. While their intention to live and own land cooperatively was opposed by the government, they managed to do it. They built houses, ten at a time; they held classes under trees until a school could be built. In the years since, they have built a community infrastructure that includes a clinic, a health emergency fund, a food cooperative (400 hectares of land held in common) and processing plant. Leadership of women and youth is especially encouraged; the president of the community is a woman. (And one hell of a strong one at that.)

[It deserves to be noted that the one-year process to return included a brief time occupying the Salvadoran embassy in Managua -- holding mass, putting on plays, and receiving food from Nicaraguan supporters. Finally the people from neighboring embassies called and put pressure on the Salvadoran government to "let those sons of bitches out -- they make too much noise and we can concentrate."]

Based on the words of the people we met with, as well as the clear message sent by the everyday lives we witnessed, education is clearly the most important element of community life. Probably the biggest point of pride is that they provide transportation so that children from throughout the entire zone (the lower Lempa area) can come to school in their infancy-through-high school education system. (I'll say again, this is a community of more or less 500 people, plus those from surrounding communities.)

That actually leads to the second major emphasis: solidarity/organization. The level of commitment between the small communities in the area is astounding. There are organizations that deal with environmental degradation and the flooding inherent in living in a river valley, youth groups that receive two of the eleven spaces on the community directiva. I can't count how many times I heard this weekend some version of "none of this would be possible without our organization as a community." It was quite inspiring. It also shows through their commitment to using their resources with integrity. They receive a great deal of support from communities in Belgium, Spain, Germany, and Canada and they are intent on using that money well and without any corruption.

The major, unifying theme of the community is the reality of its being a Base Christian Community. The people meet in smaller groups, share the eucharist, and allow their faith to truly guide their decisions and community life. At mass last night, the theme was the banquet of creation. Hearing those stories in the context of a community that truly strives to share the abundance it does have and works hard for it gives them an entirely different meaning. I probably got about 80% of the Spanish, but every once in a while, my mind would wander, touched off by whatever the priest (a Spanish man who has been with the community since about 1995 in Nicaragua) had just said. For some reason, I had never approached the story from the avenue of what keeps people not from being invited but from accepting the invitation. The other priorities that make us think they are more important than attending the banquet.

During communion, Peggy's (our professor) lesson from class last week about the meaning of 'eucharist' as a giving of thanks came to mind combined with others of her words (from a different context): A gift given out of someone's subsistence, rather than their excess, is an entirely different type of gift.

And finally, from class this morning, a pretty amazing poem that gave me chills:

Did the woman say,
When she held him for the first time in the dark of a stable,
After the pain and the bleeding and the crying,
"This is my body, this is my blood"?

Did the woman say,
When she held him for the last time in the dark rain on a hilltop
After the pain and the bleeding and the dying,
"This is my body, this is my blood"?

Well that she said it to him then,
For dry old men,
brocaded robes belying barrenness,
Ordain that she not say it for him now.

--Frances Croake Frank

(This reminds me why I'm so proud of my mom.)