PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Eighteen: Guest House and ASTAC

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

Friday, 18 October 1991 – The Guest House

We are up very early because Gary has told us that we are leaving for the lake at 10 to 7. At breakfast he informs us that he was wrong; we are not to pick up A. until 7:30 at Resurrection Church. We are there at 7:30, but no A. So we sit in the van catty-cornered across the street from the church and wait while Gary runs back and forth between the women's center and the church. By 8:15 there is still no A., and no Karl, either, so we come back to the guest house to wait while Gary tries to make some other contacts. Mary, Wanda, Betsy, and Kathy decide to walk down to the market for some spices, while Lucy and I stay at the house. Everyone is to be back by 9:30 AM.

About five after nine Kathy is at my door asking where's Gary. Our driver has come to the market to bring them back because Gary has returned. After a bit of confusion we gather in the living room for a conference. No one knows where A. is, Karl has not come into the office, and there is no one else at the Lutheran Church able to go with us out to the lake community. Besides, we have now missed the two Lutheran boats which run in the mornings, and would have to rent a boat to make the crossing.

We discuss our options for the day. Gary is uncomfortable taking us out to the lake community without someone from the church to accompany us. Mary would like to see a museum. Betsy wants to go swimming. Lucy is feeling intrusive visiting communities, and we reflect on this for a while, discussing how to show respect while walking around and taking pictures.

Celia has called while we are out, so I ask if there is a possibility of meeting with her. Gary makes a call and reports back that we can see her at 10:00 this morning. We also decide on the Exquartal Market and a high-class artist's shop in Escalon which carries hand crafts as well as the work of Fernando Llort, the artist whose establishment it is.

PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Seventeen: National DEBATE, and 22nd of April

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

Thursday, 17 October 1992 2:15 PM National Debate, and Mass at 22nd of April Parish

The afternoon schedule lists "National Debate" and I am anticipating a return visit to the spacious building where we met last year with this prime player in the move toward a negotiated end to the civil war. Much to my surprise, the van delivers us instead to a neighborhood church, where we walk quickly across the broken concrete of the courtyard and enter a low outbuilding, rather like a garage or large shed. The men inside are annoyed; they had expected us at 1:30 and were about to leave. The younger one is introduced as R., a Presbyterian representing the Presbyterian Church USA, who works for the Lutheran University. The other, of slight build and unassuming mein, turns out to be the Rev. Edgar Palacios himself, co-director of DEBATE. Now it is clear to me where we are – the offices of Shalom Baptist Church, a conclusion which I am able to confirm as we leave by a sign which had escaped my notice on the way in.

Betsy makes the introductions for our group, and I wonder if all of the first time people are aware of what a great honor it is for us to be meeting with Rev. Palacios. Then we listen intently as R. begins a description of the work of DEBATE.

"We here represent the church sector in the movement for peace. The National Debate is what we believe is a miracle of El Salvador. It brings together eighty-five organizations. The principal objective is to bring together during this time of negotiations ideas about what the different sectors of society want when the war is ended. DEBATE is a pluralistic organization, including churches, popular organizations, other religious organizations.

"The role of DEBATE has been to influence the FMLN as well as the government that here there is no more space for war. The Salvadorans want peace and democracy. We believe that the first step is to end U.S. military aid. The government will have fewer arms; then they will hear the cries of the people. With fewer arms they will have less power.

PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Sixteen: Diario Latino

 

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

Thursday, 17 October 1991 10:30 AM Diario Latino

We are inside a huge warehouse which serves as both offices and plant for Diario Latino, the only progressive newspaper in El Salvador. A gigantic press dominates the main floor. Partitions section off the office area, but there are no enclosed rooms. We are invited to climb a fire escape stairway to a second-level balcony, where there is additional office space, and are seated in a circle in the open space at the top of the stairway, surrounding Francisco Valencio, the director of the newspaper.

It is apparent that Wanda is in her element here, and we gladly defer to her to make the introductions and lead the discussion on behalf of our group. Señor Valencio thanks us for our visit and explains the newspaper's philosophy.

"We see our role as a newspaper to accompany our people in support of the interests that all our people share for peace and democracy. All these are things that the people have lacked because of the military governments, especially recently since the counter-insurgency.

PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Fifteen: The Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission

 

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

Thursday, 17 October 1991 9:00 AM - The Non-Governmental Human Rights Commission (CDHES)

Wanda introduces our group to the staff worker for the CDHES who is acting as our host this morning. He greets us graciously and begins his narrative of the work of the commission.

"Welcome to our offices. We are glad to have you here so that you can gain a truer picture of life in our country on the basis of what you will see and hear here, as well as through your meetings with other organizations.

"This human rights commission began its work on 1 April 1978, with the establishment of four objectives:

1. To advocate for respect for the physical and moral integrity of every Salvadoran;

2. To investigate and document human rights abuses;

3. To denounce violations of human rights, both nationally and internationally, through agencies such as the United Nations; and

4. To undertake activities directed toward public education about human rights. This last goal has not been fulfilled in its entirety.

"We've had to live through the sadness of having four of our members slain and three disappeared since we were established. In 1987 fourteen members were captured and tortured by the Treasury Police. Nine of these were released and five sent to Mariona Prison. Nonetheless, we have continued forward with our work. We have won recognition both national and international. Three times we have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Humanitarian organizations assist us both morally and economically to continue the work.

PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Fourteen: Comunidad Rutilio Grande

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

Wednesday, 16 October 1991 - 2:30 PM - Comunidad Rutilio Grande

The road into Comunidad Rutilio Grande is as bad, if not worse, than the one coming out of Comunidad Ellacuria last year. In fact, "linear mudhole" would not be an inaccurate description of it. We get stuck several times on the way in and even more frequently on the way back out. Twice people along the road stop to help push us out, and we do a lot of walking while our driver fishtails the van through the worst spots.

It is with a certain sense of triumph and relief that we assemble in the community office to speak with representatives from the directorate. These include V., who works with human rights, J., a health promoter, and R., the coordinator for production. After introducing themselves, they ask for introductions from each of us.

"This community is called Rutilio Grande (after a well-known priest who had served that area until he was assassinated by the military in 1977). We didn't know that you were coming to visit, so not all of the directorate is here. The president is in San Salvador, accompanied by the director of finances. And another is out in the region. [St. Oscar Romero, who was Archbishop of El Salvador, was good friends with Fr. Rutilio Grande. Romero’s decision to hold a public funeral for Fr. Grande – a controversial and provocative move at the time – is considered to have been a clear early signal to authorities that he sided with the poor.]

PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Thirteen: CONAMUS

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

Wednesday, 16 October 1991 - 9:00 AM - CONAMUS (National Coordinating Committee of Salvadoran Women)

We are seated in a small conference room with another U.S. delegation composed of CISPES regional leaders. Isabel Vasquez, who is in charge of communications for CONAMUS, introduces herself and apologizes for the tight quarters. They had not realized that they had two delegations scheduled simultaneously.

"I have been with CONAMUS since its founding. Our Secretary General is not here, so I am assuming the responsibility of attending to delegations in her absence.

"Let me begin with a short history of our organization. We were founded in November 1986 with the goal of promoting the integral development of women, so that we can be conscious of our reality and work for change. Our object is to mobilize people and to struggle for our vindication.

"We were formed out of different committees of women which had already been established, and we now have a broad organization to represent women throughout our country. Recently we have been evaluating our work and have found that it is not sufficient. So we have begun new work with women who were not previously organized.