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March 24, 2010

Salvadoran President to Issue Formal State Apology on 30th Anniversary of Romero Murder
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And today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the assassination of the
Salvadoran Catholic Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero. Known as the “voice
of the voiceless,” Romero was a prominent advocate for the poor and a
leading critic of the US-backed Salvadoran military government. He was
killed while delivering mass at a hospital chapel, reportedly on the
orders of the US-backed death squad leader Roberto D’Aubuisson. Earlier
this month, Romero was one of the historical figures deleted from
Texas’s social studies curriculum as part of the sweeping changes
approved by the state’s Republican-dominated board of education. The
board voted to omit Romero from history lessons after deeming him to be
“insignificant.” This year marks the first time the El Salvador
government is commemorating Romero’s murder. President Mauricio Funes is
expected to issue a formal apology today on behalf of the Salvadoran
government.



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