DATE=6/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234560
TITLE=U-S / SALVADOR KILLINGS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NEWLY DE-CLASSIFIED U-S DOCUMENTS SHOW U-S OFFICIALS WERE
AWARE OF REPORTS THAT A TOP SALVADORAN MILITARY OFFICER MAY HAVE
ORDERED THE KILLINGS OF FOUR AMERICAN CHURCHWOMEN IN 1980.
V-O-A'S BILL RODGERS REPORTS THE DOCUMENTS WERE MADE PUBLIC THIS
WEEK, AS SOME OF THE SALVADORANS CONVICTED OF THE MURDERS ARE
ABOUT TO BE FREED.
TEXT: THE DECLASSIFIED STATE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENTS REVEAL U-S
EMBASSY OFFICIALS WERE AWARE THAT A MEMBER OF THE SALVADORAN HIGH
COMMAND -- A COLONEL EDGARDO CASANOVA -- MAY HAVE ORDERED THE
KILLINGS OF THE FOUR CHURCHWOMEN. THE DOCUMENTS SHOW THIS
INFORMATION WAS RELAYED TO THE U-S OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE U-S
AMBASSADOR AT THE TIME, BY TOP SALVADORAN MILITARY OFFICERS.
HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH THESE REPORTS WERE PASSED ON TO WASHINGTON,
NO ACTION WAS TAKEN TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCUSATIONS AGAINST
COLONEL CASANOVA.
INSTEAD, BOTH THE U-S AND SALVADORAN GOVERNMENTS MAINTAINED FOR
YEARS THAT THE SLAYINGS WERE COMMITTED BY A FEW MEMBERS OF THE
SALVADORAN NATIONAL GUARD ACTING ON THEIR OWN. THE FOUR VICTIMS,
THREE ROMAN CATHOLIC NUNS AND A LAY WORKER, WERE RAPED AND
MURDERED IN DECEMBER, 1980, AS THE UNITED STATES WAS BEGINNING A
MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR EFFORT TO HELP THE SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT
DEFEAT A LEFTIST INSURGENCY. FIVE NATIONAL GUARDSMEN WERE
CONVICTED FOR THE CRIME IN 1984 AND SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN
PRISON.
HOWEVER, THIS PAST MARCH, FOUR OF THE FORMER GUARDSMEN CONFESSED
TO A NEW YORK-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP -- THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS -- THAT THEY WERE ACTING UNDER ORDERS FROM A
HIGHER AUTHORITY. FOLLOWING THESE REVELATIONS AND AT THE URGING
OF THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE, THE STATE DEPARTMENT DECLASSIFIED ITS
RECORDS ON THE CASE. THE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC AND
ALSO GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE
VICTIMS' FAMILY MEMBERS.
COMMITTEE MEMBER ROBERT WEINER SAYS THE DECLASSIFIED CABLES AND
MEMORANDA RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER U-S OFFICIALS AT THE TIME
TRIED TO COVER-UP INFORMATION TO PROTECT U-S POLICY INTERESTS IN
EL SALVADOR.
///WEINER ACT///
THERE CERTAINLY WERE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO DO ALL THEY
COULD, BUT CLEARLY FROM THIS EVIDENCE THERE WERE
ATTEMPTS TO COVER UP THINGS THAT REALLY SHOULD BE SAID
AND I DON'T THINK THE RECORD REVEALS A POLICY OR
POLICY-MAKERS THAT ARE UNBLEMISHED -- AND IT IS TO THEIR
CREDIT THAT THEY REVEALED IT NOW, BUT IT'S ALSO 18 YEARS
AFTER THE FACT.
///END ACT///
// OPT // MR. WEINER SAYS THE FAMILIES AND THE LAWYERS COMMITTEE
CONTINUE TO PURSUE THIS CASE, IN THE HOPE THAT JUSTICE WILL BE
DONE. HE SAID EVEN THOUGH THE 10-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS
RUN OUT IN EL SALVADOR, THE KILLINGS CAN BE CONSIDERED A WAR
CRIME AND SUBJECT TO INTERNATIONAL PROSECUTION.
/// OPT /// WEINER ACT ///
THIS IS A CRIME. THIS IS THE RAPE AND MURDER OF
NON-COMBATANTS IN A SITUATION OF ARMED CONFLICT COVERED
BY THE GENEVA CONVENTION. THAT'S A WAR CRIME. SO, IT
SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR TO US THAT EL SALVADOR AS A NATION IS
A) SUBJECT TO THE GENEVA CONVENTION; AND B) SUBJECT TO
INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMARY LAW, AND SO THERE IS ABSOLUTELY
NO OBSTACLE TO PROSECUTING THIS CASE. THIS IS NOT A
SIMPLE HOMICIDE.
/// END ACT /// END OPT ///
THE RELEASE OF THE DOCUMENTS THIS WEEK COMES AS SALVADORAN
AUTHORITIES MAY BE PREPARING TO FREE THREE OF THE JAILED FORMER
GUARDSMEN. A SALVADORAN JUDGE RULED WEDNESDAY THAT THE THREE ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR.
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT THURSDAY, SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN CALLED ON
EL SALVADOR NOT TO FREE THE THREE -- AND PLEDGED TO CONTINUE
RELEASING INFORMATION SO THAT THE FULL TRUTH WILL BE LEARNED.
(SIGNED)
NEB/WFR/MMK
25-Jun-98 4:43 PM EDT (2043 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.