PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Ten: CRIPDES

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.

Tuesday, 15 October 1991 – 9:00 AM – CRIPDES

Once again we are on familiar territory as we enter the CRIPDES offices and clinic. Last year we left the bus a block away and walked quickly and quietly to the location. This year the van pulls right up into the courtyard; our driver is proud to bring us to his home base. We view with delight the architect's model of a substantially enlarged clinic which is on display in the reception room. This represents their hope and their goal for the future.

After we are seated in the meeting room, Sally introduces our group, saying how glad we are to return and to see the improvements and expansion that they have made since last year. She also expresses our deep concern for Mirtala's safety, and describes the actions we had taken to help to secure her visa to enter the United States. We are speaking with Elizabeth, who works in the secretariat of relations.

"Thank you for all that you have done for our organization and for our companion. In the end there were five different threats against Mirtala and against CRIPDES. What they are always trying to do is to terrorize us, hoping that we will disappear. But they have never been able to do this. So thank you for all that you have done. We know that we are not alone; there are many international supporters who will respond.

PVC 1990 Delegation – Part Six: CRIPDES

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.

3 October 1990, 9:00 AM – CRIPDES

[CRIPDES began in 1984 as the Christian Committee of the Displaced. After the Peace Accords were signed in 1992, it became the Association for the Development of El Salvador. Its partnership with SHARE is on-going, strengthening community organizations in their work on justice issues. The SHARE Foundation is a U.S. based non-profit organization committed to supporting and accompanying the people of El Salvador ​​and Honduras in their struggle for social justice and sustainable development. During its early years PVC received security training and assistance in engaging guide/translators from SHARE.]

Our interview begins with brief background remarks. The CRIPDES headquarters was invaded and destroyed in April 1989, and sixty to seventy workers were captured. SHARE gave them the funds to purchase the current location. They are the group which organized the returns from the Honduran refugee camps, Mesa Grande, Colomoncagua, etc. Now they are trying to organize the return to their places of origin or choice of those who are displaced within the country.

We begin by going around the circle and introducing ourselves. The refugee coordinator gives us words of welcome. She says that our presence encourages them in their work with refugees.

Question: How and why was CRIPDES formed?

"There has been social injustice in El Salvador for the past sixty years or more. Thousands of Salvadorans have historically been marginalized, denied the basic rights of housing, land, education. Organizations have formed to respond to this situation. We had a situation where thousands of persons joined together to march in San Salvador and demand their rights. But we have never received a favorable response to our petitions. Always the case has been that when people demand their rights, the government responds with indiscriminate oppression. In 1932 40,000 were slaughtered when they took to the streets. Since then the oppression has intensified. Not only did we have to bear the lack of land, education, medical care, etc., but we also had to put up with the military.