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El Salvador has taken a significant step in addressing a notorious crime from its civil war era. A judge in San Salvador has ordered former president Alfredo Cristiani and nine others to stand trial for their alleged roles as intellectual authors of the 1989 murders of six Jesuits, their housekeeper, and her daughter. The decision was issued on November 18.
Cristiani, who served as president from 1989 to 1994, faces charges of murder, conspiracy, and terrorism since 2022. His current location is unknown according to media reports.
The Jesuit priests were killed by soldiers at the Central American University campus, which they accused of being infiltrated by guerrillas. The university has consistently denied these accusations and sought justice for the victims.
The attack is believed to have targeted Father Ignacio Ellacuría, the university rector leading peace talks at that time. Two former soldiers have been convicted in Spanish and Salvadoran courts for their involvement in the killings. Col. Inocente Orlando Montano was sentenced to 133 years in prison in 2020; prosecutors claimed Cristiani “was actively protecting soldiers and covering up evidence.”
Catholics in El Salvador have expressed mixed reactions to Cristiani's trial decision. Jesuit Father José María Tojeira stated on November 20 that "the ideal (outcome) is the judge orders the army to request forgiveness for what was an institutional crime."
A source described political motives behind bringing Cristiani to trial, noting President Nayib Bukele's ongoing campaign against predecessors like Cristiani: “He’s using the case of the Jesuits to go after his political opponents.”
This development coincides with the recent commemoration of the Jesuit martyrs' murders' 35th anniversary. During a memorial Mass on November 16, Father Tojeira addressed contemporary issues facing El Salvador: “We must be honest... And we must seek truth... It is also our responsibility to defend human rights.”
The memory of these slain priests continues inspiring Catholics both within El Salvador and internationally. As noted by Jesuit Father Jeremy Zipple during his visit from Belize for memorial events: “The memory of martyrs is very much alive,” with young people claiming this history amidst ongoing struggles.
David Agren contributed reporting from Mexico City.
