TheElMozoteMassacreResourceGuide

TableofContents
ElMozoteRepresentsAbsoluteImpunity:CEJIL TheTruthofElMozote,MarkDanner InterAmericanCommissiononHumanRightscallsforJusticeforVictimsofElMozote SheddingLightonHumanity'sDarkSide,AlmaGuillermoprieto EchosofImpunity:FromMonseorRomerotoRadioVictoria AdditionalResources:ArticlesandVideos

ElMozoteRepresentsAbsoluteImpunity:CEJIL
InthefollowingAugust2011interviewwiththeCentralAmericaandMexicoJudicialDirectoroftheCenter forJusticeandInternationalLaw(CEJIL),GiseladeLen,andtheSalvadorandigitalpaperLaPagina,De LenexplainsthecaseagainsttheSalvadoranstateintheInterAmericanHumanRightsCourtfortheEl MozoteMassacrein1981.CEJILrepresentsthevictimsoftheElMozoteMassacre,andhasalsoarguedthe RomerocaseandothercasesofcrimesagainsthumanityintheOrganizationofAmericanStatessystem. HowdoesCEJILgetinvolvedinthiscaseagainstSalvadorangovernmentfortheElMozotemassacre? WecametothecaseseveralyearsagoanditwaspresentedtotheInterAmericanCommissionofHuman Rightsin1990byTutelaLegaloftheArchdioceseofSanSalvador. We(CEJIL)gotinvolvedaround2000attherequestofTutelaLegal,andsincethen,wehaveworked together. In2006theInterAmericanCommissionofHumanRights(IACHR)admittedthecaseandinNovember 2010maderecommendationsthattheStateshouldhavemet.Whentheydidn'tfulfillthese,theCommission hadthepowertosendthecasetotheCourtofHumanRights(highercourt)onMarch8,2011. WhatdirectionwillthelawsuitagainsttheSalvadoranStatetake,thisAugust14? IshouldclarifythattheCourthasnojurisdictiontoruleonthefactsofthemassacre,andcanspeakonly aboutthelackofjustice.ElSalvadoracceptedthejurisdictionoftheCourtonJune6,1995andonlyafter thatdatetheCourtmayruleinthecaseoftheslaughterofElMozote,theAmnestyLawisappliedin1993 andsincethattimetherehasnotbeenasinglediligenceaimedatestablishingthetruthofwhathappened. Thereweresomestepsforexhumationsandtodeliverthebodiestorelatives,buttherehasbeennostate activityintermsofinvestigatingthefacts.TutelaLegalin2006requestedareopeningofinvestigationsand yet,fiveyearslater,thatrequesthasnotbeenaddressed. Thecase(demand)hastodowiththelackofjustice,withabsoluteinactivityoftheSalvadorangovernment toestablishthetruthofwhathappenedinthemassacre,identifyandpunishthoseresponsibleandofcourse thisinvolves(andpassesthrough)AmnestyLawandotherviolationsthatoccurredovertime(1995,dateon whichtheCourthasjurisdictioninthecase)asthedisplacementof690peopleafterthemassacre). AllthesefactswillbemadetotheknowledgeoftheCourt. NowthatthepoliticalscenehaschangedwiththearrivaloftheFMLNgovernment,whatdoesCEJIL expectwiththisdemand? Thisisnotthefirstcasewewilllitigatewiththisgovernment.WelitigatedtheContrerascase(forced disappearance)andsawachangeofattitudeof(the)governmentinrelationtowhatwesawintheprevious governments,acceptingthefactsandmostoftherecommendations. ThemassacreofElMozoterepresentstheabsoluteimpunitythatallcasesfromtheconflictarein. Wehopethatthereisapositionofopeningtoreparationsforthevictimsandmoregeneralmeasures. Butin2010,theSalvadoranstate,withanewgovernment,didn'tcomplywiththeCommission's recommendations.Whatmakesyouhavenewexpectationsnow? TherecommendationsarefromNovember2010,andatthattimethestatehadthreemonthstofulfillthem... Thetruthis,theydidnothing. IntheContrerascase,moreorlessthesamethinghappened:thestatedidn'tfulfilltherecommendations duringthethreemonthperiod,andthestaterequestedanextensionanddidn'tfulfill(therecommendations) eveninthatextensionperiod;however,thestate'satitudefacingtheCourtwastoacceptthefactsandaccept therecommendations,thereparationsthatweareaskingfor. Whatwedon'tknowiswhethertheserecommendationswillbefulfilled.Whatwehaveseeninthis administrationisachangeofdiscourse.

Doesthismeanthatintheirdiscources,theyacceptthefacts,butintakingaction,they'rethesame(as previousgovernments)? Yes.Wehavne'tseenadvancesintheadoptionofconcretemeasures.Forexample,thegovernmentcreated theNationalCommissionfortheSearchofMissingChildrenduringtheArmedConflictwiththe characteristicsthattheCourthadsaidinthecaseoftheSerranoCruzsisters,buttheCommissionhasno budget. Intheend,itsthesamething. Wehopeforachangeofattitudeinthisregard,butwehavenocertaintythatitwillbeso. CEJILaffirmedthatitwouldforcetheSalvadoranstatetorepealtheamnestylaw,orotherwise,not applyitinthecaseofElMozote? Yes.WhattheCommissionrecommendedandwhatwe'vebeenpushingforinthecaseisnottoapplythe AmnestyLawtoserioushumanrightsviolationsbecauseitisincompatiblewiththeAmericanConvention onHumanRights. TheCourthasproceduresforaskingfromtimetotimethattheSalvadoranstateprovideinformationabout whatitisdoingtofulfilltherecommendations,andifitdoens'tfulfillthem,tobecalledbacktoahearing. Inaddition,theSalvadoranstatewouldgoagainsttheattitudeofotherstatesintheregion. TheAtlacatlBattalion,accordingtotheTruthCommissionreport,perpetratedthemassacre,butin thisscenario,whatroledoestheU.S.governmenthave,whofunded,trainedandsupervisedthe Salvadoranarmy? Ishouldclarifythatotherbattalionswereinvolved,includingtheAirForce.Whenwelitigate,weseek justiceinconnectionwiththeparticipationofeveryoneinvolved. WecouldnotdemandresponsibilityoftheU.S.governmentassuch,buthadspecificpersonsbeeninvolved, aninvestigationimpliesidentifyingandpunishingallthoseresponsible. WhatvaluedoyoumakeoftherecentstatementsbyAttorneyGeneraloftheRepublicontheAmnesty Law? Ithinktheprosecutorismisinformed,infact,thereisalreadyaresolutionoftheConstitutionalChamberof theSupremeCourtin2001,whichsaysthattheAmnestyLawdoesnotapplytogrossviolationsofhuman rights.Thatistosay,thatlawcannotbeanargumenttoavoidprosecution. ThechallengeinElMozoteistoestablishamechanismsothatwhattheSupremeCourtinElSalvadorhas establishedbeapplied.Thatiswhatweseek. Whathappenstothosesoldierswhoarguethattheywereonlyfollowingorders? Allpeoplethatwereinvolvedhavetobeprocessed."DueObedience,"alegalfigure,doesnotapplyinsuch cases,especiallywhenthevictimswerecivilians,andspecificallyinElMozote,whichwerechildren. Coldbloodedmurderhasnojustification.
TheinterviewhasbeentranslatedfromtheoriginalinSpanishat http://www.lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/54858/2011/08/14/%E2%80%9CElMozoterepresentalaimpunidadabsolutadel conflicto%E2%80%9DCEJIL.

MarkDanner,TheNewYorker

TheTruthofElMozote

ThefollowingisashortexcerptfromanindeptharticleaboutElMozote. Readtheentirestoryathttp://www.markdanner.com/articles/show/the_truth_of_el_mozote.

InaremotecornerofElSalvador,investigatorsuncoveredtheremainsofahorriblecrimeacrimethat Washingtonhadlongdenied.ThevillagersofElMozotehadthemisfortunetofindthemselvesinthepathof theSalvadoranArmysantiCommunistcrusade.ThestoryofthemassacreatElMozotehowitcame about,andwhyithadtobedeniedstandsasacentralparableoftheColdWar. Forelevenyears,RufinaAmayaMrquezhadservedtheworldas themosteloquentwitnessofwhathadhappenedatElMozote,but thoughshehadtoldherstoryagainandagain,muchoftheworld hadrefusedtobelieveher.Inthepolarizedandbrutalworldof wartimeElSalvador,thenewspapersandradiostationssimply ignoredwhatRufinahadtosay,astheyhabituallyignored unpalatableaccountsofhowthegovernmentwasprosecutingthe waragainsttheleftistrebels. IntheUnitedStates,however,RufinasaccountofwhathadhappenedatElMozoteappearedonthefront pagesoftheWashingtonPostandtheNewYorkTimes,attheverymomentwhenmembersofCongresswere bitterlydebatingwhethertheyshouldcutoffaidtoaSalvadoranregimesodesperatethatithadapparently resortedtothemostsavagemethodsofwar.ElMozoteseemedtoepitomizethosemethods,andin WashingtonthestoryheraldedwhatbecameperhapstheclassicdebateofthelateColdWar:betweenthose whoarguedthat,giventhegeopoliticalstakesinCentralAmerica,theUnitedStateshadnochoicebuttogo onsupportingafriendlyregime,howeverdisreputableitmightseem,becausethealternativethe possibilityofanotherCommunistvictoryintheregionwasclearlyworse,andthosewhoinsistedthatthe countrymustbewillingtowashitshandsofwhathadbecomeamorallycorruptingstruggle.Rufinasstory cametoWashingtonjustwhenthecountrysparamountColdWarnationalsecurityconcernswereclashing asloudlyandunambiguouslyastheyeverwouldduringfourdecadeswithitsprofessedhighminded respectforhumanrights. IntheUnitedStates,thefreepresswasnottobedenied:ElMozotewasreported;Rufinasstorywastold;the angrydebateinCongressintensified.ButthentheRepublicanAdministration,burdenedasitwaswiththe heavydutiesofnationalsecurity,deniedthatanycredibleevidenceexistedthatamassacrehadtakenplace; andtheDemocraticCongress,afterdenouncing,yetagain,themurderousabusesoftheSalvadoranregime, intheendacceptedtheAdministrationscertificationthatitsallywasnonethelessmakingasignificant efforttocomplywithinternationallyrecognizedhumanrights.Theflowofaidwenton,andsoonincreased. Byearly1992,whenapeaceagreementbetweenthegovernmentandtheguerrillaswasfinallysigned, Americanshadspentmorethanfourbilliondollarsfundingacivilwarthathadlastedtwelveyearsandleft seventyfivethousandSalvadoransdead.Bythen,ofcourse,thebitterfightoverElMozotehadlargelybeen forgotten;Washingtonhadturneditsgazetootherplacesandotherthings.FormostAmericans,ElSalvador hadlongsinceslippedbackintoobscurity.ButElMozotemaywellhavebeenthelargestmassacrein modernLatinAmericanhistory.ThatintheUnitedStatesitcametobeknown,thatitwasexposedtothe lightandthenallowedtofallbackintothedark,makesthestoryofElMozotehowitcametohappenand howitcametobedeniedacentralparableoftheColdWar.

ElMozotetobeHeardinInterAmericanHumanRightsCourt
SHAREBlog
InMarch2011,theInterAmericanCommissiononHumanRights(IAHCR),findingthattheSalvadoran Statehasnotfulfilledit'srecommendationsinthecaseoftheMassacresofElMozoteandNeighboring Locales,ElSalvador,introducedthecaseintheInterAmericanHumanRightsCourt.Thiswillbethefirst timethataninternationaltribunalwillruleontheGeneralAmnestyLaw. SantiagoCanton,GeneralSecretaryoftheIAHCR,saidofthecase:TheElMozotemassacrewasoneof thegreatesttragediesthatElSalvadorandourregionsuffered.Inhonorofthevictims,theirfamiliesandall Salvadorans,wehopethatthemurderersofalmostonethousandpeoplecanbebroughttojustice,andthat theAmnestyLawwillberepealed. CEJIL,theCenterforInternationalJusticeandLaw,willrepresentthevictimsandarguesthatthisisnot aboutreopeningoldwounds,thesewerewoundsthatneverhealed,therewasneveraprocessof reconciliation,thevictimsneverfeltthattheyreceivedreparations. TheIAHCRsummarizestheeventsatElMozoteandthesurroundingarea: "TheMassacresofElMozoteandNeighboringLocales,ElSalvador,hastodowithsuccessivemassacres committedbetweenDecember11and13,1981...carriedoutbytheAtlacatlBattalion...inthedepartmentof Morazn.Themassacres,committedindiscriminatelyandwith extremecruelty,leftaroundathousandpeopledead,including manychildren,andconstitutedoneofthemostaberrant manifestationsofcrimesagainsthumanitycommittedat thattimebytheSalvadoranmilitary.

Theseeventstookplaceduringthebloodiestperiodoftheso called"counterinsurgency"operationsthatweredeployedona massivescaleagainstciviliansbytheSalvadoranarmyduring thearmedconflict,inopendisregardofthemostbasic principlesofinternationalhumanrightslawandinternationalhumanitarianlaw .Thesetypesof actions,committedinasystematicandgeneralizedmanner,wereintendedtosowterroramongthe population.DuetotheapplicationoftheGeneralAmnestyLawforConsolidationofthePeace,aswellas repeatedomissionsonthepartoftheSalvadoranState,thesegraveactsremaininimpunity." FormoredetailsontheElMozotecaseandIAHCR'sfindings,readthecompletepressrelease (http://www.cidh.oas.org/Comunicados/English/2011/2511eng.htm)andtheindepthreport (http://www.cidh.org/annualrep/2006eng/elsalvador.10720eng.htm)presentedtotheOASGeneralAssembly.

SheddingLightonHumanity'sDarkSide
AlmaGuillermoprieto AlmaGuillermoprietowas,alongwithRayBonner,oneofthefirstjournaliststoexposetheElMozotestory. AfterRufinaAmayasdeathinMarch2007,shewrotethispieceforTheWashingtonPost.Thefollowingis anexcerptfromthispiece;readthefullarticleat:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp dyn/content/article/2007/03/13/AR2007031301826.html. Travelingonlybynightandonfootthroughgovernmentcontrolledterritory,Ireachedtheguerrillaheld regionofElMozote...Therewere,infact,bodieseverywherechildren,men,women,draftanimalsand theairreeked. IwastakentoseeRufinaAmaya,asmallbonedwomaninherthirties,dressedlikeanycampesinainaskirt andshortsleevedblouse,afrillyapronandplasticsandals,andwithafacethatseemedtohaveturnedto stone.Inprecisedetailshetoldmethesamestoryshewouldrepeatthroughouttheyears,andthatforensic evidencewouldconfirmadecadelater. Anarmyofficerwhowasafriendofherhusband's,shesaid,hadtoldthevillagersearlyinDecembernotto worryaboutacomingoffensiveagainsttheguerrillas,becauseElMozote,whichhadalargeevangelical population,wasnotknowntobesubversivo,orsubversive. Thetroopsarrivedthefollowingdayand,afteraninitialbrutalsearch,toldthevillagersthattheycould returntotheirhomes."Wewerehappythen,"SeoraAmayarecalled."'Therepressionisover,'wesaid." Butthetroopsreturned.Actingonorders,theyseparatedthevillagersintogroupsofmen,younggirls,and womenandchildren.RufinaAmayamanagedtoslipbehindsometreesashergroupwasbeingherdedtothe killingground,andfromthereshewitnessedthemurders,whichwentonuntillateatnight.Anarmyofficer, toldbyanunderlingthatasoldierwasrefusingtokillchildren,said,"Whereisthesonofabitchwhosaid that?Iamgoingtokillhim,"andbayonetedachildonthespot.Sheheardherownchildrencryingoutfor herastheymettheirdeaths.Thetroopsherdedpeopleintothechurchandhousesfacingapatchofgrassthat servedasthevillageplaza.Theyshotthevillagersordismemberedthemwithmachetes,thensetthe structuresonfire.Atlast,believingtheyhadkilledallthecitizensofElMozoteandthesurroundinghamlets, thetroopswithdrew. TheproblemwasthatthesubsistencefarmerswhodiedatElMozoteandinthesurroundingvillageswere simplyfodderinoneofthelastbattlesoftheColdWar.WhatwasatstakeinbelievingRufinaAmaya's testimony,alongwithSusanMeiselas'sphotographsandourfirsthandreports,wastheReagan administration'scontinuedsupportfortheSalvadorangovernment. Incongressionalhearingsandtothepress,highlevelofficialsroundlydeniedthatanyatrocityhadtaken place... ThemassacreatElMozoteremainedadisputedfactuntilapeacetreatywassignedbetweenthegovernment andtheguerrillasofElSalvadorin1992.Inthefaceofstronggovernmentopposition,membersofthe ArgentineForensicAnthropologyTeamwereappointedbyaU.N.truthcommissiontoexcavatethezone, andexhumationworkcontinueduntil2004.Asfarasisknown,thiswasthesinglelargestmassacretotake placeinthishemisphereinmoderntimes. HavingpumpedtensofmillionsofdollarsintotheSalvadoranmilitary,theU.S.governmentpaidafraction oftheamountforthereconstructioneffortoncethewarended.AndRufinaAmaya,asmall,darkskinned peasantwoman,whohadnootherweaponbutherfiercewilltoliveandtokeepalivethememoryofwhat shesawonevileday,isdeadofastrokeattheageof64.ShewillberememberedinElSalvadorbecauseshe isnowpartofitshistory.Sheispartofthehistoryofthiscountry,too.

EchosofImpunity:FromMonseorRomerotoRadioVictoria
ThefollowingisanexcerptfromatalkgivenbyMirnaPerla,SupremeCourtMagistrateandlongtime humanrightsactivistsaboutMonseorRomeroandImpunity,relatingimpunityofthepasttoongoing humanrightsviolations. MonseorRomerowasasimplemanwiththevocationofaprophetandamartyr.Ihadthegoodfortuneto knowhimfromaveryyoungage.Hewasourparishpriest.Mymomwasaveryreligiouswoman,always praying,andfollowedhiseveryword. Inthecontextofacountryfilledwithpoliticalfervor,MonseorRomeroneveroptedforonepoliticalparty oranother.HewasaservantofGod,andhecametorealizethataservantofGodputshimselfattheservice ofthepeople.Therichdeclaredhimatraitor.Theyattackedhim,defamedhim,andevenkilledhim.This crimeremainsunpunishedintheSalvadorancourtsofjustice,andbeforetheInteramericanHumanRights Commission,whoserecommendationsthegovernmenthasyettofulfill. Ifweanalyzewhatishappeninginthiscountry,weseethatthethreatsMonseorRomeroreceivedarenota thingofthepast,butcontinueinthepresent.JustaskourfriendsfromRadioVictoria.Theyarereceiving threatsthatsay,Yalevamosamatar,Wearegoingtokillyounowandthesethreatsarenotajokeorin vain.Theyareveryseriousthreats.Theyhavealreadykilledvariousenvironmentalactivists.MarceloRivera waspersecuted,threatened,andsufferedattemptsagainsthislifeleadinguptohiskilling.Andallthiswith theNationalCivilianPolicepresentintheregion.MarceloRiverawaskidnapped,disappeared,andhisbody tortured.Hewasatall,strongman,amemberoftheorganizedpueblo.Hisbodywasfoundatthebottomofa welltwentydaysafterhewaskidnapped.Clearlytheywantedhimtodisappear. OneofthecourtsspecializinginorganizedcrimetookMarceloRiverascase.However,likethecaseof MonseorRomerosassassination,itwasnevertrulyinvestigated.Groupsofpeoplethatcouldhavebeen linkedtothecase,peoplewhowereprobablyoutdrinking,celebratingthatnight,wereneverquestioned.Just likeMonseorRomero,MarceloRiverawasamancommittedtothepeople,aservantofthepeople,andjust likeMonseorRomero,MarceloRiverawaspersecuted. MonseorRomerowasnotonlykilledbyforcesinternaltoElSalvador,butbytheempire. MonseorRomerowrotealettertoPresidentJimmyCarter,denouncingtheaidsentbytheempire,saying thatthisaidwillbeusedtoassassinatemanypeople.Withthisletterhetoldtheempire,Youaretheviolator ofhumanrights.TheempirebackedthesystematicviolationofhumanrightshereinElSalvador,inwhich theykilledevenourPastor.ButtheSalvadoranpeoplehavebroughtMonseorRomerobacktolife. EveryonelistenedtoMonseorRomerosMasses.TheytriedmanytimestobombtheArchdiocesesradio station,tosilencehisvoice,buteachtimethepeoplehelpedexpandthereachofhisvoice,thevoiceofthe people.ThepeoplewereMonseorRomerosteacher.Aboveallhewasamanoffaithwholistenedtothe peopleandilluminatedtheinjusticetheyfacedwiththelightofthegospelandoftheLatinAmerican preferentialoptionforthepoor,anoptionheshowedwithhislife.Heworkedtorescuethedignityofthe livesofthepeople. Ihavetraveledtomanycountries,workingtodenouncehumanrightsviolationsalloverCentralAmericaand IhavefoundMonseorRomeroaliveintheworkofyoungpeopleallovertheworld.Andyetwestillhave notfoundpeaceinElSalvador.Therehavebeenmanychanges,thepositionthepresentgovernmenthas takenisveryexciting.Iamsorrytosaythoughthatapologyisnotenough.Weneedjustice,weneedtruth, weneedreconciliation. HereinElSalvadorwehaveanamnestylawthatmanyexpertsconsideranimpunitylaw.Thislaw contradictsinternationallawsandconventionsElSalvadorhassigned.Throughthislaw,victimsaredenied accesstojustice.WecurrentlyhaveaConstitutionalCourtofJusticecommittedtoresponsiblyfillingtheir

roleasthemaximumauthorityontheconstitutionalityofSalvadoranlaws.InourLegislativeAssembly gettingasimplemajoritytooverturntheamnestylawwouldbeincrediblycomplex.Meanwhile,theassassins livepeacefullyhereinElSalvadorandinternationally.Manyofthemownalotofmoney.Wedontknow, howeveriftheirconsciencesletthembeatpeace. Duringthewarthepoliceandothermembersofthedeathsquadsputontheircivilianclothesandwentoutto killthebestsonsanddaughtersofElSalvador,todecapitatethem,removetheirfingernails,anduseallkinds ofsophisticatedtorturetechniques.Theywerenotnewtechniquestheempireisnotcreativeinthat.Today thesamekindoftortureusedsystematicallyhereinElSalvadorcontinuesatGuantanamo.Therewasastudy doneattheprisoninMariona,identifyingthetorturetechniquesusedsystematicallyinElSalvador,inwhich politicalprisonersdrewpicturesofthewaystheyweretortured.Theyidentifiedfortytorturetechniques. TheywerethesamedepictedintheprisonsinIraqandthesameusedatGuantanamo.Torturetechniques describedinoldCIAmanuals. HereinElSalvadorthejudicialbranchhasmadesomereasonableadvances,buttheyhavenotbeenableto overcomeimpunity.Weneedtoorganizelawyers,communities,organizationstofightforhumanrights,to demandjustice.Thisisataskweneedtodohereinourowncountry.Variousinternationalentitieshave issueddeclarationsinthecaseofMonsignorRomerosassassination,buttheSalvadoranstatehasfailedits dutytoinvestigate.InElSalvadorjusticeisunfinished,unresolved,justiceiswaiting.Weneedtruejusticeto bringreconciliation.Thehighestreasonforagovernmenttoexististoprotectthelivesofhumanbeingsand topromotelifewithdignity. May25,2011

ResourcesonElSalvador,ElMozote,andJusticeandImpunity
Articles: ReportN24/06ElMozoteMassacre : In2006,theInterAmericanCommissiononHumanRightsfirst heardtheElMozotecase,astheresultofapetitionfromtheLegalAidOfficeoftheArchbishopof SanSalvador.Now,in2011,theCommissionhasdecidedthattheSalvadoranstatehasnotfulfilled itsrecommendationsregardingElMozoteandhasintroducedthecaseintheInterAmericanCourt onHumanRights. TheMassacreatElMozote:TheNeedtoRemember : Thisreportwaswrittenimmediatelyafterthe1992 peaceagreementbyadivisonofHumanRightsWatch,andincludesmanyrecommendationsforthe TruthCommissionthatfollowed.AmericanHumanRightsCourt. TheUnitedNationsTruthCommissionReportonElMozote : TheTruthCommission'sreportiswidely viewedasthemostdefinitiveaccountofthehumanrightsabusesthatoccurredduringElSalvador's civilwar.Inthisexcerpt,thecommissiondescribeshowhundredsofmen,womenandchildrenwere deliberatelyandsystematicallyexecutedbytheU.S.trainedAtlacatlBattalion. InternationalCriminalJustice:ElSalvadorsGeneralAmnestyLawandItsImpactontheJesuitCase WhilethisanalysisbyDwkcommentariesfocusesontheJesuitcase,ithighlightsoneofthemain politicalobstaclestobringingjusticetoElMozote:theamnestylaw. KillingUSSoftlyWithTheirStory:NewYorkTimesCoverageoftheMyLaiandElMozoteMilitary MassacresThisstudycomparesamassacrefromtheVietnamWar(MyLai)withElMozote, focusingontheUSandthemediasroleinexplainingevents. IndigenousWomeninElSalvadorLibertadLatinahasaseriesofshortarticlesthatfocusontheEl MozoteMassacresterribleconsequencesforwomenandgirls. Crossroads:Congress,ThePresident,andCentralAmerica,19761993 : ThisbookbyCynthiaJ.Arnson placesElMozotewithinitswidercontext:notonlythatoftheSalvadoranCivilWar,butalsothe USColdWarforeignpolicyinCentralAmerica.Theepilogue(p.290)touchesspecificallyupon theUSreactiontothereleaseoftheUNTruthCommissionreportonElSalvador. ElSalvador:War,Peace,andHumanRights,19801994 : Thiscollectionofkeydocumentsandanalysis byGeorgeWashingtonUniversityfocusesontheUSroleintheSalvadoranCivilWar. InElSalvador,LeadersWaryofCivilWarEraHumanRightsProbes : Thisarticleanalyzescurrent Salvadoranpoliticsandhowthegovernmenthasrespondedtorecentcallsforreopeningandre investigatingCivilWarevents. Videos/Radio: RufinaAmaya'sTestimony(videoofRufinatellingherstory,withEnglishsubtitles) NPR:RufinaAmaya,SurvivoroftheElMozoteMassacre HistoradelaGuerra(documentarybytheMUPI,MuseodelaPalabrayelImagen,inSpanish) TestimoniodeRufinaAmaya(inSpanish)