The Jesuits Massacre

These are arguments about responsibility for the 1989 murders of Jesuits in El Salvador, based on reporting in the immediate aftermath.

Claims

Salvadoran Army: The FMLN are responsible. [1]

FMLN: The Salvadoran Army are responsible. [2]

Lucia Barrera Cerra: The murderers were "between 30 and 40 unidentified men wearing military uniforms". [3]

José Tojeira and Arturo Rivera y Damas: The Salvadoran Army are responsible. [3]

Alfredo Cristiani: Both Armed forces and Guerilla groups move during curfew. Both Armed forces and Guerilla groups wear uniforms. [4]

Alfredo Cristiani: Disavowal of claim made by Salvadoran Army. [4]

José Manuel Pacas Castro: "Ultra-leftist groups" were responsible. This presumably means the FMLN. [2]

Established Facts

The murders took place during curfew.[3]

Observations

The Salvadoran Army and FMLN blame each other. These claims are mutually exclusive.

The military uniforms suggest that the perpetrators are the Salvadoran Army. Cristiani says this is inconclusive.

That it happened during curfew suggests that the perpetrators are the Salvadoran Army. Cristiani says this is inconclusive.

References

  1. DEV-MUC3-0757 (, Domestic Service)
  2. DEV-MUC3-0760 (, EFE)
  3. DEV-MUC3-0865 (, ACAN-EFE)
  4. DEV-MUC3-0766 (, ACAN-EFE)