Funes Acknowledges Government Involvement in the El Mozote Massacre and Seeks Forgiveness

    Yesterday marked the 20^th anniversary of the signing of the peace accords that ended the civil war in El Salvador. In order to celebrate this historic event President Funes, along with members of his cabinet, the Chairmen of the Legislature and the Supreme Court Justice gathered in El Mozote to acknowledge the massacre that occurred thirty years ago and to ask the people for forgiveness on behalf of the government. Funes stated: "I am convinced that the best way to celebrate the 20th. Anniversary of the signing of the Peace Accords is moving forward in recognizing the truth and uphold justice," (El Faro).

      The El Mozote Massacre was an organized attack by the Salvadoran army that occurred between December 10^th and 12^th of 1981(Diario CoLatino). And although it only lasted two days, over one thousand civilians were killed- half of which were children. President Funes announced that the Atlacatl Battalion, an elite division of the Armed Forces that was trained by the United States and led by Lieutenant Colonel Domingo Monterrosa, Major José Armando Azmitia Melara second in command, and the chief operating officer then-Mayor Natividad de Jesus Caceres Cabrera were responsible for this operation and the slaughtering that occurred (El Mundo).
     By acknowledging this massacre, Funes has become the first president and government official to admit that government’s repressive forces were responsible for committing this violation. In fact, even the national media had taken steps to hide the truth and the fact that it had even happened at all.

     Funes states that "This apology is not intended to erase the pain," but that “I'm here in El Mozote to recognize the truth and deepen the way of righteousness and peace… This is an act of recognition and dignity of the victims”(Diario CoLatino).

     Funes met with International Commission of Human Rights to officially seek forgiveness for the slaughter on behalf of the Salvadoran government and has agreed to accept responsibility for the crime and to seek moral reparations to the victims.

     Also, as Commander of the Armed Forces, Funes ordered a review of the historical interpretation of what happened in El Mozote, requiring that the texts and symbols accurately reflect what really occurred. In addition to this, Funes ordered that military leaders responsible for this slaughter and other serious human rights violations no longer be exalted or called heroes. 

     According to the President, the need to end impunity and the obligation to seek justice is imperative, because without doing so El Salvador can never be considered a full democracy.

  "If we understand that democracy is a political system that must ensure equity, justice, peaceful coexistence, equality of opportunity, a prevailing system in real freedom, the independence of the branches of government, the social responsibility of the State, the absolute guarantee of human rights, well then, we are still far from real democracy in our country " (El Faro).