WHERE ARE
YOUR LAMPSTANDS?
INTRODUCTION
The title of my homily for this 33 Monday in Ordinary Time is, “Where Are Your Lampstands?”
Today’s first reading from the Book of Revelation ends
with a warning from the Lord from John,
“Realize how far you have
fallen.
Repent, and do the works you did at first.
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place,
Otherwise, I will come to you
and remove your lampstand from its place,
unless you repent.”
LAMPSTANDS
As you know our sacred scriptures are from way back - way before electric lights – and all light back then was from the sun, the moon, torches,
candles and lamps.
Jesus often talks about lamps and lampstands. He told us that he was the Light of the World – and sin was what brings darkness into one’s world.
Don’t snuff out the lamps; don’t blow out the candles.
Don’t snuff out the lamps; don’t blow out the candles.
When it comes to lights – just roam around your mind –
and picture the lights and lamps in your home.
Which ones do you use regularly? Have you ever muttered a semi-curse
when the bulb is out in your favorite lamp? How about when the whole house is
out – because of a power failure – and you can’t find your flashlight?
WHERE ARE YOUR SPIRITUAL
LAMPSTANDS?
The title of my homily is, “Where Are Your Lampstands?”
Where do you get your spiritual insights and lights?
Make a list: coming to Mass, reading a good book, reading the scriptures, taking a walk, making a retreat or day of recollection or attending a parish mission or talk now, or grabbing some time to pray, meditate or what have you?
What and where are your lampstands.
TODAY’S GOSPEL
Today’s gospel - Luke 18: 35-43 - tells the story of a blind man of Jericho who cries out to
Jesus over and over again, “Son of David, have pity on me?”
People in the crowd are telling him to shush.
So he cries out even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me?”
Jesus hears him and asks a great simple question, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man replies, “Lord, please let me see.”
The blind man replies, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus tells him, “Have sight;
your faith has saved you.”
The gospel of Luke says: “He
immediately received his sight.”
PRAYER IS A GREAT LAMPSTAND
St. Alphonsus – is famous –
for his basic teaching: “Pray and you’ll be saved; don’t pray and you’ll be
lost.”
Pray for light - otherwise we'll stumble and fall.
THE JESUITS KILLED IN EL SALVADOR
Pray for light - otherwise we'll stumble and fall.
THE JESUITS KILLED IN EL SALVADOR
Yesterday I was thinking about November
16, 1989. It was the anniversary of the 6 Jesuits and their cook, Elba
Ramos, and her daughter Celina who were shot to death in El Salvador.
Question: How could anyone do that?
An answer: Evidently the moral light went out in the minds and hearts of the Salvadoran Government and their army troops who were behind this.
I'm sure you know that religious and human rights activists have been protesting the United States facility in Georgia that train soldiers from around the world in such tactics.
An answer: Evidently the moral light went out in the minds and hearts of the Salvadoran Government and their army troops who were behind this.
I'm sure you know that religious and human rights activists have been protesting the United States facility in Georgia that train soldiers from around the world in such tactics.
The man in the today's gospel couldn’t
see. He was blind.
It is my opinion that folks in our government and in many governments are blind and can't see or don't want to see the implications of what they are doing.
It is my opinion that folks in our government and in many governments are blind and can't see or don't want to see the implications of what they are doing.
CONCLUSION
The title of my homily is, "Where Are Your Lampstands."
The theme and hope of my message is to look into our lives and see if any of our lamps are out - and darkness has taken off.
The theme and hope of my message is to look into our lives and see if any of our lamps are out - and darkness has taken off.
O O O O O O
Check out these articles:
http://ncronline.org/news/global/murder-salvadoran-priests-galvanized-jesuits-us
http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/jesuit-threatened-human-rights-work-speak-soa-watch-vigil
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 History
The School of the Americas (SOA) is a
combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning,
Georgia. In 2001 renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation (WHINSEC).
It was initially established in Panama in 1946 however it was expelled from Panama in 1984 under the terms of the Panama Canal Treaty (article iv) and reinforced under the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal (article v).
Former Panamanian President, Jorge
Illueca, stated that the School of the Americas was the “biggest base for
destabilization in Latin America.” The SOA have left a trail of blood and
suffering in every country where its graduates have returned. For this reason
the School of the Americas has been historically dubbed the “School of
Assassins”.
Since 1946, the SOA has trained over 64,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by SOA graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the School of Assassins. 
On January 17, 2001 the School of the
Americas was replaced by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation. This was the result of a Department of Defense proposal included
in the Defense Authorization Bill for Fiscal 2001. The measure passed when
the House of Representatives defeated a bi-partisan amendment to close the
school and conduct a congressional investigation by a narrow ten vote margin.
The amendment was sponsored by Representatives Moakley (D-MA), Scarborough
(R-FL), Campbell (R-CA) and McGovern (D-MA) . The following is a summary
comparison of the "new" school with the School of the Americas.
In a media interview last year, Georgia
Senator and SOA supporter, the late Paul Coverdell, characterized the DOD
proposal as "cosmetic" changes that would ensure that the SOA could
continue its mission and operation. Critics of the SOA concur. The new
military training school is the continuation of the SOA under a new name. It
is a new name, but the same shame.
The approach taken by the DOD is not
grounded in any critical assessment of the training, procedures, performance,
or results (consequences) of the training program it copies. Further, it
ignores congressional concern and public outcry over the SOA’s past and
present link to human rights atrocities.
COMPARISON OF THE SOA AND THE NEW SCHOOL
AUTHORITY:
School of the Americas:
"The Secretary of the Army may
operate the military education and training facility known as the United
States Army School of the Americas." U.S Code: Title 10, Section
4415
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation:
Secretary of Defense authorized to
"operate an education and training facility..."
Secretary of a department of the military
designated as the executive agent to run school
U.S. Code: Title 10, Section 2166.
Concerns and Comparison of Authority: Currently
the Secretary of the Army, who is under the direction of the Secretary of
Defense, operates the SOA. With the new proposal, the Secretary of the Army,
or another department of the military, will still operate the school as an
agent of the Secretary of Defense. The proposal offers no substantive
change to the SOA.
PURPOSE and MISSION:
School of the Americas:
provide "military education and
training to military personnel of Central and South American countries and
Caribbean countries." US Code: Title 10, Section 4415
provide "military education and
training to the nations of Latin America",
"promote democratic values and
respect for human rights; and foster cooperation among multinational military
forces."SOA Course Catalogue, 1998/99
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation:
provide "professional education and
training to eligible personnel of nations of the Western Hemisphere,"
defined as military, law enforcement, and civilian personnel "while
fostering mutual knowledge,[ ...] and promoting democratic values, respect
for human rights". U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166. Pentagon
officials state this will include counter-drug operations, peace support, and
disaster relief.
Concerns and Comparison of the Purpose and
Mission: The purpose for the proposed new school as described varies in
scope and detail from the original language that authorized the SOA. However,
the current "working" mission of the SOA as reflected in the
1998/99 SOA course catalogue together with the actual day to day practice at
the SOA is consistent with what is being proposed. In short there is no
change in purpose between the new school and the SOA as its mission
has evolved.
As with the "working" mission of
the SOA, the purpose stated for the new school downplays the militaristic
aspects of the training offered and focuses instead on "leadership
development, counter-drug operations, peace support, and disaster
relief."These courses existed at the SOA but have never been well
attended. The 2000 SOA Certification Report to Congress shows that in
1999 a scant 14% of SOA soldiers took the peace operations, civil/military
relations and the like. Over 85% took the standard SOA fare: commando
tactics, military intelligence, psychological operations, and combat training.
A recent newspaper headline sums it up: "Bombs and Bullets Most Popular
Classes at the US Army School of the Americas." Nothing in the
Defense Authorization Bill changes that at the new replacement school
The new school allows for the training of police
and civilian personnel. That practice already was in place at the SOA.
Further,the new authorization allows any and all military training that
has been core to the SOA, including advanced combat arms, psychological
operations, military intelligence, and commando tactics.
The consequence of this kind of training
has been at the heart of the public and congressional controversy surrounding
the SOA. It hones the skills of Latin American soldiers who then can use what
they learned against their own people. For example, some of the Salvadoran
soldiers cited in the UN Truth Commission report for the massacre of six
Jesuit priests and their women co-workers had just returned from taking the
SOA commando operations course. The Jesuit massacre by all accounts was a
commando-type operation.
CURRICULA
School of the Americas:
No specific detail in original
congressional authorization
Practice: 8 hours human rights instruction
tacked on
Western Hemishpere Institute for Security
Cooperation:
Includes "mandatory instruction for
each student, for at least 8 hours on human rights the rule of law, due
process, civilian control of the military, role of the military in a
democratic society" U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166
No restrictions on type or amount of
military training
Concerns and Comparison of the Curricula: The
new school includes human rights instruction, but that is not new. As
the public outcry grew and congressional censure mounted, the SOA instituted
first a four-hour human rights component and then upped it to eight hours in
an effort to quell critics.
While the eight hours of human rights
training is not harmful, it is minimal and inadequate for a school that touts
its mission mandate as "promoting democratic values, respect for human
rights." There is no requirement that the new school seek input from
noted outside human rights specialists and no provision to modify the content
to address specific human rights issues in particular countries (for example,
paramilitaries in Colombia). In addition, there is no attempt to evaluate or
to measure the effectiveness of the training through long-term monitoring of
graduates or by any other means.
Although the bill is careful to minimize
any mention of military training, the fact remains that, like the SOA
it replaces, this is a military institution and Latin American troops will be
sent there to learn military skills. The clearest proof of this is to ask how
many soldiers would come to the school if it removed ALL combat-related
training? We must also ask, if the primary purpose of the
institution is to teach democracy and human rights, as claimed, isn't this
more appropriately done in a civilian setting?
BOARD OF VISITORS:
School of the Americas:
No mention of a Board of Visitors (BOV) in
the original congressional authorization.
6-member BOV
Not independent oversight board
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation:
BOV membership: 2 military officers; 1
person selected by Secretary fo State; 6 people selected by Secretary of
Defense including "to the extent practicable" members of the
academic, religious and human rights communities; chairs and ranking minority
members of House and Senate Armed Services Committees included on BOV
meets at least annually to "inquire
into the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs,
academic methods, and other matters"
Reports its actions and recommendations to
Secretary of Defense
U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166
Concerns and Comparisons of the Board of
Visitors: In response to congressional and public criticism, the SOA
instituted a six-member Board of Visitors (BOV) that was reconstituted in
1999. The BOV has been a handpicked group of SOA proponents that, according
to the 1998 SOA Certification Report to Congress, focused significant energy
on PR campaigns in the media and Congress to polish the SOA’s image. Despite
the illusion, the SOA’s BOV does not provide independent, outside critical
review or oversight of the SOA.
The authorization calls for a BOV, but
gives the Secretary of Defense the broad authority to determine the
composition and actual members of Board. Though provision is made for the
possible inclusion of members of the human rights, religious and academic
communities, these communities are not defined, nor is any selection criteria
established. Furthermore, nothing mandates the inclusion of independent human
rights experts, religious leaders, and other potential critics. It is up to
the discretion of the Secretary of Defense to determine whether or not it is
"practicable" to include them. The Congressional make up of the
Board of Visitors, limited as it is to members of the Armed Services
Committees would exclude many of the school's congressional critics. The
Board of Visitors proposed would – like the SOA BOV -- be primarily a
handpicked group of SOA proponents.
The problem persists: The new BOV does not
provide for independent, outside oversight or critical review of the school.
ANNUAL REPORT
School of the Americas:
No provision in the original congressional
authorization
In recent years, Appropriations Committees
have required report on school and "general assessment" of
graduates
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation:
Within 60 days of meeting the BOV must
submit to the Secretary of Defense a "written report of its action and
of its views and recommendations pertaining" the new school.
By March 15 the Secretary of Defense must
submit a report on the "activities of the Institute during the preceding
year" to Congress U.S. Code Title 10, Section 2166
Concerns and Comparisons of Annual Report: While
the SOA authorization did not mandate an annual report, in practice, the SOA
has been required recently to make a report to the Foreign Operations
Committee. The new provision simply codifies the current practice,
but weakens even the minimal reporting requirements that have stood for the
last few years.
The Annual Report – unlike the SOA
Certification Report – does not require even the minimal tracking or monitoring
of recent graduates that was called for in the SOA Certification Report. The
proposed Annual Report is not an analysis, critique, assessment,
evaluation, appraisal or examination with recommendations from an outside,
independent source. It is simply "a report" of the
"activities" of the school.
TRANSITION FROM US ARMY SCHOOL OF THE
AMERICAS:
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation:
Secretary of Defense ensures that the
Secretary of the Army provides for transition from SOA into new school
The proposal calls for the repeal of
original congressional authorization of the School of the Americas.
Questions and Recommendation: By
repealing the original congressional authorization for the SOA, the bill
closes the School of the Americas on paper. Inexplicably, however, it does so
with no word of analysis. Why close a school that is without fault? Why open
another that is, for all intents and purposes, identical except for name?
The DOD proposal to close the SOA and
replace it with an SOA clone skipped over one vital step: Evaluation of the
SOA model upon which it is based. The opening of the new school is not
grounded in any critical assessment of the training, procedures, performance,
or results (consequences) of the training program it copies. Further, it
ignores congressional concern and public outcry over the SOA’s past and
present link to human rights atrocities.
At the very least, a thorough independent investigation
and report on the SOA are warranted before Congress can adequately consider
the merits of any new proposal for an SOA-like training facility. A
rigorous outside investigation of charges against the SOA is a reasonable
approach to resolve the controversy over the School of the Americas or its
replacement. The new school is substantially the same as the SOA it purports
to replace. The issues raised by critics of the SOA are not addressed by the
recently enacted changes. As the United States is pouring money, military
hardware and military training into Colombia and SOA human rights abusers
continue to operate with impunity in Colombia, Guatemala and elsewhere, these
issues remain as crucial and immediate as ever.
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| Notorious Graduates From El Salvador |  |  |  |
For a summary of the most notorious graduates from El Salvador click here
EL SALVADOR
Name: Colonel Francisco del Cid Diaz
Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 2003, Cadet Troop Leader Training; 1991, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course; 1988, Infantry Officer Basic Course . Info: In 1983, Colonel Diaz (then a 2nd Lieutenant) commanded a unit that forcibly removed 16 residents from the Los Hojas cooperative, bound and beat them, shot all 16 at point-blank range and threw their bodies in the Cuyuapa River. This very well known, very high profile and notorious massacre was cited in the annual State Department Human Rights Country Reports throughout the 1980s, and investigated by, and included in the final report of, the El Salvador Truth Commission. The OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights stated that there was substantial evidence that Col. del Cid Diaz gave orders to execute, and recommended that the Salvadoran government bring them to justice. Instead of facing justice, Col. del Cid Diaz was at the SOA/ WHINSEC in 2003.
Name: Captain Roberto D'Aubuisson
Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1972, Communications Officer Course (Chief Off Communication 0 – 20) Info: Romero assassination, 1980: Planned and ordered the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, beloved champion of the poor in El Salvador. Death Squad Organizer, 1978-1992: Organized El Salvador's death squad network. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Name: General Jose Guillermo Garcia Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1962 - CIO, Counterinsurgency Course Info: El Mozote massacre, 1981: Then-defense minister Garcia, and the Armed Forces High Command, refused to investigate reports that hundreds of unarmed civilians were brutally murdered by the U.S.-trained Atlacatl battalion** in the Morazon province in December of 1981. The reports turned out to be true. Murder of U.S. Churchwomen, 1980: Garcia also failed to launch a serious investigation of the murder of 4 U.S. church women by members of the Salvadoran National Guard in December 1980. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Later granted residency in the U.S. **These events occurred in the course of an anti-guerrilla action known as "Operación Rescate" in which, in addition to the Atlacatl Battalion, units from the Third Infantry Brigade and the San Francisco Gotera Commando Training Centre took part. In the course of "Operación Rescate", massacres of civilians also occurred in the following places: 11 December, more than 20 people in La Joya canton; 12 December, some 30 people in the village of La Ranchería; the same day, by units of the Atlacatl Battalion, the inhabitants of the village of Los Toriles; and 13 December, the inhabitants of the village of Jocote Amarillo and Cerro Pando canton. More than 500 identified victims perished at El Mozote and in the other villages. Many other victims have not been identified. (“From Madness to Hope: the 12-year war in El Salvador” Truth Commission Report for El Salvador, 1993) Name: Lieutenant Colonel Domingo Monterrosa Barrios (deceased) Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1966, Parachute Rigger Course Info: El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of the brutal Atlacatl battalion, which massacred hundreds of unarmed men, women and children in and around El Mozote in December 1991. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Other officers in command of the Atlacatl Battalionl include SOA graduates: Commanding Officer: Major (now Colonel) Natividad de Jesús Cáceres Cabrera (1970, General Supply Officer Course); Chief of Operations: (deceased) Major José Armando Azmitia Melara (1967, Cadet Orientation Course); Company Commanders: (now Colonel) Juan Ernesto Méndez Rodríguez (1970, Cadet Course); (deceased) Roberto Alfonso Mendoza Portillo (1980, Supply/Human Rights Course); (now Lieutenant Colonel) José Antonio Rodríguez Molina (1972, Combat Arms/Support Services), (now Lieutenant Colonel) Captain Walter Oswaldo Salazar (1974 Basis in Engineering for Officers) and (currently a fugitive from justice) José Alfredo Jiménez (1971, Cadet Course). (“From Madness to Hope: the 12-year war in El Salvador” Truth Commission Report for El Salvador, 1993) Name: General Rafael Humberto Larios Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: Command and General Staff course at the SOA in 1977. Info: Jesuits massacre (1989): Held the rank of General and was Minister of Defense at the time. Was present at meetings where the orders were given and discussed. Name: General Juan Rafael Bustillo Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: CIO Orientation course at the SOA in August of 1965 Info: Jesuits massacre (1989): Held the rank of general and was commander of the Salvadoran Air Force at the time of the massacre. Participated in the meetings where orders were given for the massacre. Name: General Juan Orlando Zeped Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1975, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops.; 1969, Unnamed Course Info: Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned the assassination of 6 Jesuit priests and covered-up the massacre, which also took the lives of the priests' housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Other war crimes, 1980's: The Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador also cites Zepeda for involvement in 210 summary executions, 64 tortures, and 110 illegal detentions. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) Member of the “La Tandona” and held the rank of colonel and served as the Vice Minister of Defense at the time of the massacre. Prior to the massacre he publicly accused the UCA of being the center of operations for the FMLN and was present for the meetings where orders were given for the massacre. He was later promoted to the rank of general. Name: Colonel Inocente Orlando Montano Country: El Salvador Dates/courses: 1970, Engineer Officer Course Info: Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was in on the planning of the massacre, and cooperated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Held the rank of colonel and was a Vice Minister in the Salvadoran government at the time of the massacre. Prior to the massacre he publicly accused the Jesuits of being aligned with subversive movements and was present for the meetings where orders were given for the massacre. Other SOA graduates who were compicit to the 1989 Jesuit massacre are: • Colonel Francisco Elena Fuentes – held the rank of colonel and was the commander of the First Infantry Brigade in San Salvador at the time of the massacre. He was present for the meetings where orders were given for the massacre, and one day after the killings, troops from his First Infantry Brigade attempted to intimidate members of San Salvador’s Archdiocese by transmitting messages over loudspeakers saying, “We are still killing communists, Ellacuría and Martín-Baró have fallen, surrender, this is the First Brigade.” Fuentes took the Irregular warfare course at the SOA in 1969, a second course in 1973, and was invited to the SOA to be an instructor in 1985. • Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Camilo Hernández Barahona – held the rank of major and was the interim Assistant Dean at the Military College in El Salvador at the time of the massacre and later promoted to lieutenant colonel. On the night of November 15, 1989, he was present when Benavides informed the officers at the Military College of the order he had been given to murder Ellacuría and remained silent when asked by Benavides if anyone objected to the order. Later, Benavides ordered Hernández Barahona to organize and plan the operation. Hernández Barahona organized and attended the meeting where the orders were given for the massacre. He also handed over an AK-47 rifle that had been captured from the FMLN and told them to use it in the massacre. The use of the FMLN AK-47 would serve to point blame away from the Armed Forces and toward the FMLN. Additionally, Hernández Barahona ordered them to leave behind at the murder site propaganda mentioning the FMLN. Hernández Barahona was also involved in the cover up, by taking part in the burning of a small suitcase containing photographs, documents and money which the soldiers had stolen from the Jesuits. In conjunction with Benavides he ordered that all Military College arrival and departure logs for that year and the previous year be burned. This was done to prevent investigators from learning who had attended the meetings held at the Military College at the time the murders of the Jesuits were being planned and ordered. He attended the SOA twice in both 1972 and 1975. • Second Lieutenant Gonzalo Guevara Cerritos – held the rank of Second Lieutenant and was assigned to the Atlacatl Battalion at the time of the massacre. He was not the commander of the unit, but was an officer with command authority over the troops that carried out the massacre. He was sentenced to three years for instigation and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism for his role in the Jesuits massacre and was later released and continued active service in the armed forces. Cerritos came to the U.S. in 2005 and was employed in Los Angeles. He was deported back to El Salvador in April 2007. He attended the SOA in 1988. • Sergeant Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas – was a sergeant in the Salvadoran Army and was assigned to the Atlacatl Battalion at the time of the massacre. In the 1991-1992 trial he admitted to killing Fathers López and Moreno. He was not convicted. He attended the SOA in 1988. Biographies courtesy of the Center for Justice and Accountability's website. You can access the full biographies here.
COL Napolean Alvarado, 1974, Military Police Officer Course Las Hojas massacre, 1983: Covered-up the Army massacre at Las Hojas, in which 16 civilians were murdered and their corpses burnt. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993)
1LT Mario Arevalo Melendez, 1989, Commando Operations Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Had prior knowledge of the massacre of 6 Jesuit priests and covered-up the massacre, which also included the priests' housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Eduardo Ernesto Alfonso Avila, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course Sheraton Hotel murders, 1981: Planned and ordered the assassination of Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute. Romero assassination, 1980: Planned and ordered the assassination of beloved Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero on March 24, 1980. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) SGT Antonio Ramiro Avalos Vargas, 1988, Small Unit Training and Management Jesuit massacre, 1989: Non-commissioned officer in charge of the small unit that massacred 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter, (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Eduardo Avila, 1967, Cadet Orienation Murder of US Advisors, 1981: Ordered the murders of Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute. (Americas Watch Report: Settling into Routine: Human Rights Abuses in Durate’s Second Year, 1986) COL Carlos Armando Aviles Buitrago, 1968, Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Aided in the planning and the cover-up of the massacre of 6 priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) MAJ Armando Azmitia Melara, 1967, Cadet Orientation Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Was operations chief of the battalion (Atlacatl) which massacred hundreds of unarmed men, women and children at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Lake Suchitlan massacre, 1983: Commanded the Atlacatl battalion in the massacre of 117 people. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo, April 25, 1990) Los Llanitos massacre, 1984: Commanded the Atlacatl battalion in the massacre of 68 people, most of whom were under age 14. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo, April 25, 1990) MAJ Mauricio de Jes?s Beltran Granados, 1987, Small Unit Administration Instruction San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Ordered the needless murder of 10 prisoners and participated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) GEN Adolfo O. Blandon, 1964, Infantry Officer Course; 1960, Officer Cadet Course San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Initially claimed that the 10 civilians the Army killed were actually victims of "their own guerilla companions." He called U.S. congressional staff members who made inquiries about the case "political mercenaries," and suggested they leave El Salvador alone and investigate crimes in the U.S. (Americas Watch Report, The Army Massacre at San Francisco, 1989) GEN Juan Rafael Bustillo,1965, Counterinsurgency Orientation Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre of 6 priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Torture, rape, murder of French nurse, 1989: Bustillo (with 3 other SOA graduates) is wanted in France in connection with the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (Associated Press, 4/29/95) Labor union murders: Members of a school teachers' union claim that the Air Force, under Bustillo's control, targeted union members for torture and murder, including Maria Cristina Gomez and Miguel Angel Lazo Quintanilla (Amnesty International Report, Latin America: Human Rights Violations Against Trade Unionists, March 1991) MAJ Natividad de Jes?s Caceres Cabrera, 1970, General Supply Officer Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: 2nd in command of the Atlacatl battalion, which carried out most of the killing at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) SOT Mario Canizales Espinoza, 1982, Patrol Course Dutch journalist murders, 1982: Led the squad that carried out the ambush against 3 unarmed Dutch journalists. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Juan Carlos Carrillo Schlenker, 1968, Cadet Course Tortured, denied medical aid to prisoner under his command: His US-trained Atlacatl soldiers tortured a wounded prisoner for three days with, among other things, electric shocks. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo, 4/25/90) CPT Victor Efrain Cartagena, 1982 Adm/Instru de Uni Pequen 0-2A; 1973, Combat Arms/Support Basic Crs Torture: Personally tortured political prisoners and unionist, including slapping and electric shock. (El Salvador Update: Counterterrorism in Action, El Rescate Human Rights Department) GEN Oscar Edgardo Casanova Vejar, 1963, Engineer Officer Course Murder of U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Was in charge of the National Guard at the airport at the time when the murders occurred. Knew that members of the National Guard had committed the murders and facilitated the cover-up of the facts which obstructed the corresponding judicial investigation. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Jos? Emilio Chavez Caceres, 1975, Military Intelligence Officer Course; 1974, Urban Counterinsurgency Course San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Officer in charge of the soldiers who carried out the needless murder of 10 civilian prisoners. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Alejandro Cisneros, 1974, Command and General Staff College El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commanded a company that participated in the massacre. El Junquillo massacre, 1981: Failed to investigate the massacre of women and children in El Junquillo. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Luis Antonio Colindres Aleman, 1980, Asp/Derechos Humanos/Def/Desar OE-9 Murder of U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Ordered four guardsmen to kill the churchwomen. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Currently serving a prison sentence related to this crime. Roberto D'Aubuisson, 1972, Communications Officer Course Romero assassination, 1980: Planned and ordered the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero, beloved champion of the poor in El Salvador. Death Squad Organizer, 1978-1992: Organized El Salvador's death squad network. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Francisco Del Cid D?az, 2003, Cadet Troop Leader Training; 1991, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course; 1988, Infantry Officer Basic Course Las Hojas massacre, 1983: Transmitted the orders for the massacre of 16 civilians. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Instead of facing justice, we find that Col. del Cid Diaz was at the WHINSEC in 2003, and was also enrolled in SOA in 1988 and 1991. COL Francisco Elena Fuentes, 1985-1986, Guest Instructor; 1973, Officer Supply Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Supervised death squad training, 1990: U.S. Ambassador William Walker termed Elena Fuentes and the First Brigade "among the worst in terms of human rights." Besides commanding the brigade, Elena Fuentes supervised the training of a death squad called "The Patriotic Ones." (The New York Times, 12/13/93) 1LT Jos? R. Espinoza Guerra, 1982, Spanish Officer Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Part of the patrol that massacred 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Salvador Figueroa Morales, 1986, Curso para Oficiales de Combate Las Hojas Massacre, 1983: Linked to the massacre at Las Hojas in which 74 peasants were killed. (Americas Watch Report: Draining the Sea, 1985) CPT Jos? Fuentes Rodas, 1986, Combat Arms Officer Course; 1980, Cadet Orientation Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Francisco M. Gallardo Mata, 1992, Combat Operations Course; 1990, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Manuel de Jes?s Galvez Galvez, 1986, Psychological Operations Course San Sebastian massacre, 1998: Covered-up the murder of 10 civilian prisoners. United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) GEN Jos? Guillermo Garc?a, 1962, Counterinsurgency Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Then-defense minister Garc?a refused to investigate reports that hundreds of unarmed civilians were brutally murdered by the U.S.-trained Atlacatl battalion in the Morazon province in December of 1981. The reports turned out to be true. Murder of U.S. Churchwomen, 1980: Garc?a also failed to launch a serious investigation of the murder of 4 U.S. church women by members of the Salvadoran National Guard in December 1980. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Later granted residency in the U.S. COL Jos? Mario Godinez Castillo, 1968, Cadet Course 1,051 summary executions, 318 torture cases, and 610 illegal detentions are attributable to Godinez Castillo and soldiers under his command, according to the Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) LTC Julio Cesar Grijalva, 1973, Combat Arms Course; 1968, Cadet Course Massacred medical workers, patients at a field hospital, 1989: US-trained Atlacatl soldiers under his command raped and killed medical personnel and patients at a Chalatenango field hospital on Feb. 13, 1989. Also under his command, US trained Atlacatl soldiers repeatedly beat and sexually abused a 23-year-old factory worker, saying that no one could do anything to punish them because they were military personnel. (U.S. Arms Control and Foreign Policy Caucus (House of Representatives) memo 4/25/90) 1LT Gonzalo Guevara Cerritos, 1988, El Salvador Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was a member of the patrol that killed the 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Jos? V. Hern?ndez Ayala, 1991, Combat Arms Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Knew in advance of the massacre and aided in the cover-up of the murder of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Carlos Camillio Hern?ndez Barahona, 1975, Communications Officer Course; 1972, Combat Arms/Support Services Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her sixteen-year- old daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Jos? Alfredo Jim?nez, 1971, Cadet Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commanded a company of the Atlacatl battalion, which carried out the majority of the killings at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) MAJ Baltazar Lopez Cortez, 1947, Motor Mech; 1959, Infantry Weapons; 1959, Infantry Tactics Death Squad Participation: Charged with death squad participation in 1987. (El Salvador Update: Counter-terrorism in Action, El Rescate Human Rights Department) 1LT Ram?n E. Lopez Larios, 1992, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course; 1988, Infantry Officer Basic Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Rene Roberto Lopez Morales, 1990, Combined Officer Advanced Course; 1988, Commando Operations Course; 1987, Combat Arms Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned and covered-up the massacre. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Reynaldo Lopez Nuila, 1963, CIO Head of National Police: Headed the National Police during a period when it was responsible for major abuses of human rights (Americas Watch Report: Draining the Sea, 1985) 1LT Rodolfo Isidro Lopez Sibrian, 1974, Combat Arms/Support Services Sheraton Hotel murders, 1983: Planned and covered- up the murder of Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Kidnapping for profit, 1982-1986: Involved in a kidnapping ring that purported to be the FMLN and demanded ransoms from the wealthiest citizens of El Salvador. He made approximately $4 million prior to his arrest in 1986. (Department of State Report on the Situation in El Salvador, 4/1/88) COL Nelson Lopez y Lopez,1968, Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Assigned to investigate the massacre, he instead participated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Dionisio Ismael Machuca, 1984, Joint Operations Course 318 torture cases and 618 detentions, 1980-1993: The Non- Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador has attributed hundreds of cases of human right: abuse to Machuca. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) 1LT Edgar Santiago Mart?nez Marroquin, 1991, Combat Arms Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Had prior knowledge of the massacre of Jesuit priests and aided in the cover-up of the crime, which also cost the lives of the priests' housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Carlos Napolian Medina Garay, 1970, Cadet Course El Junquillo massacre, 1981: Commander of the unit which burned crops, raped women and children (many under the age of 12), and murdered them. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Jose Adolfo Medrano, 1974, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops. Death Squad Participation: Charged with death squad participation in 1987. (El Salvador Update: Counter-terrorism in Action, El Rescate Human Rights Department) CPT Juan Ernesto Mendez Rodr?guez, 1970, Cadet Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of an Atlacatl company that participated in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed men, women and children at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Roberto Alfonso Mendoza Portillo, 1980, Supply/Human Rights Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of an Atlacatl company that participated in the massacre of hundreds of unarmed men, women and children at El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Yusshy Rene Mendoza Vallecillos, 1988, Commando Operation Course; 1982, Spanish Officer Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Convicted for heading the patrol that slaughtered 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Inocente Orlando Montano,1970, Engineer Officer Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was in on the planning of the massacre, and cooperated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Domingo Monterrosa, 1966, Parachute Rigger Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commander of the brutal Atlacatl battalion, which massacred hundreds of unarmed men, women and children in and around El Mozote in December 1991. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Mario Denis Moran Echeverria,1967, Tactical Officer, Cadet Course Sheraton Hotel murders, 1981: On January 3, 1981, members of the National Guard murdered Mike Hammer and Mark Pearlman (representatives of the AFL-CIO?s notorious American Institute for Free Labor Development) and Rodolfo Viera, an agent of the Salvadoran Land Reform Institute at the Sheraton Hotel in San Salvador. Moran Echeverria was part of the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Death Squads: Linked with death squads on a list given to Vice President Bush. (Americas Watch Report: Settling into Routine: Human Rights Abuses in Durate’s Second Year, 1986) CPT Oscar Armando Pe?a Duran, 1986, Combat Arms Officer Course Major Human Rights Violations, 1993-94: As Deputy Director of El Salvador's National Civilian Police, Pe?a Duran severed the close relationship that organization formerly held with the United Nations Observer Mission to El Salvador (ONUSAL). Under his leadership, cases of torture, arbitrary detentions and lack of due process abounded. Pe?a Duran gave privileged positions to former anti-narcotics officers who had not received specialized training; in early 1994, his thugs supervised "round-ups" of criminals which netted few arrests but violated the human rights of many innocent bystanders. Pe?a Duran resigned in May 1994 under intense pressure from many quarters, including that of the United States. (Human Rights Watch World Report 1986) San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Knew of the intent to murder 10 civilian prisoners, and cooperated with the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Gustavo Perdomo Hern?ndez, 1991, Command and General Staff College; 1974, Basic Combat Arms and Support Torture, rape, murder of French nurse, 1989: In April 1995, a French court issued international arrest warrants for Perdomo and three other SOA graduates for involvement in the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (Associated Press, 4/29/95) CPL Angel Perez Vasquez, 1987, Small Unit Training and Management Jesuit massacre, 1989: Was a member of the small unit that slaughtered 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Roberto Pineda Guerra, 1967, Cadet Course Plotted violent coup, 1992: In 1992, U.S. intelligence reports implicated Pineda in a plot to violently overthrow El Salvador's then-President Alfredo Cristiani. (The New York Times, 11/9/93) COL Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena, 1960, Officer Cadet Course Dutch journalist murders, 1982: Planned and ordered the ambush and massacre of 3 Dutch journalists in the province of Chalatenango, whose murder served as a warning to other journalists who reported the cruelty of the US-trained Salvadoran military. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LT Jorge Alberto Rivas Aguirre, 1987, Combat Officer Course Santa Ana Murders, 1987: On August 9, 1987 (less than six months after he attended the SOA) Rivas and 2 enlisted men from the Second Brigade abducted 4 men leaving a fair in San Salvador. One escaped, the bodies of the others were discovered by the highway 3 days later. (Department of State Report on the Situation in El Salvador, 4/1/88) COL Manuel Antonio Rivas Mejia, 1975, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops.;1970, Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Assigned to investigate the massacre, Rivas Mejia instead participated in the cover-up. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) LTC Rene Rodr?guez Hurtado, 1985, Combat Officer Review Torture, rape. murder of French nurse, 1989: In April 1995, a French court issued international arrest warrants for Rodr?guez and three other SOA graduates for involvement in the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (Associated Press, 4/29/95) LTC Jos? Antonio Rodr?guez Molina, 1972, Combat Arms/Support Services San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Could have prevented the killing of 10 civilian prisoners, but did nothing. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) GEN Gilberto Rubio, 1976, Logistics Management Course,1971, Tactical Officer Cadet Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Participated in the cover-up of the massacre of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter, who were all murdered at the priests' residence at the University of Central America in San Salvador. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) CPT Walter Oswaldo Salazar, 1974, Engineer Officer Basic Course;1971, Cadet Course El Mozote massacre, 1981: Commanded an Atlacatl company that participated in the massacre of hundreds of citizens in and around El Mozote. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) 1LT Carlos Sasso Landaverry, 1990, Combat Arms Officer Adv. Course Las Hojas massacre, 1983: Was one of two officers in charge of the unit that killed 16 civilians and burnt their corpses. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Roberto Staben, 1982, Joint Operations Course; 1971, "O-20" Kidnapping for profit, 1982-1985: Strongly implicated in the same kidnapping ring as Lopez Sibrian (above), but released on lack of evidence. (Department of State Report on the Situation in El Salvador, 4/1/88) COL Luis Mariano Turcios, 1966, Parachute Rigger Course San Sebastian massacre, 1988: Could have prevented the murder of 10 civilians, but did not. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) COL Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova,1985, Guest Speaker Murder of 4 U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Knew that members of the National Guard had committed the murders and, facilitated the cover-up of the facts which obstructed the corresponding judicial investigation. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Later granted residence in the U.S. GEN Rafael Villamariona,1983, Joint Operations Course Torture, rape, murder of French nurse, 1989: In April 1995, a French court issued international arrest warrants for Villamariona and three other SOA graduates for involvement in the torture, rape, and murder of 27-year-old Madeleine Lagadec in El Salvador in 1989. Her raped, bullet-riddled body was found with its left hand severed. (AP, 4/29/95) GEN Juan Orlando Zepeda, 1975, Urban Counterinsurgency Ops.; 1969, Unnamed Course Jesuit massacre, 1989: Planned the assassination of 6 Jesuit priests and covered-up the massacre, which also took the lives of the priests' housekeeper and her teen-age daughter. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) Other war crimes, 1980's: The Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission in El Salvador also cites Zepeda for involvement in 210 summary executions, 64 tortures, and 110 illegal detentions. (Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador) MAJ Lizandro Zepeda Velasco, 1966, General Supply Officer Course Murder of U.S. churchwomen, 1980: Planned the murder of 3 U.S. nuns and a Catholic lay-worker. (United Nations Truth Commission Report on El Salvador, 1993) |
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