Day 4

Today we visited CoMadres, the Committee of Mothers of the Disappeared, to learn about the history of the organization, their struggle for human rights and justice, before, during, and after the civil war. We listened to 2 women talk about their personal experiences of being brutally tortured by the military during the war and about their family members and friends who were murdered/disappeared during the war as well. While it was extremely difficult to listen to the graphic stories that these women told, we were able to see the hope, strength and courage that these women still portrayed, despite the losses and terrifying circumstances that they experienced during the war, and that they still experience today.

By forming an organization like CoMadres, these women were able to provide others with support and hope when a family member or friend has "disappeared," both during the war and after. The organization was started in 1977, when repression increased in the country. By 1980, the number of disappeared and assassinated citizens increased dramatically (ALMOST A THOUSAND PERSONS DISAPPEARED PER MONTH) and CoMadres worked  hard to share stories, facts, and pictures with those who had missing family members.

By 1981, the government began to realize the work and support that CoMadres was doing for the country and saw this work as a threat. Multiple times, the government sacked the offices, used bombs on the headquarters, kidnapped, raped, and tortured CoMadres members and heir families. This type of violence continued towards the CoMadres and towards THOUSANDS of other innocent individuals throughout the country.

When the war ended in 1992, the organization continued to work to find the victims and families of the disappeared and assassinated. They also work with the U.N and other human rights organizations to help bring peace and rest to their country.

One of the most disturbing parts of this story is that many members of the El Salvadorian military, including the DEATH SQUADS, were trained right here in the UNITED STATES, at the School of the America's in Georgia. The United States, during the civil war, actually supported the work of the El Salvadorian military! The School of the America's trained these military leaders to massacre the over 75,000 innocent civilians (including nuns and priests) that were killed between 1980-1992.