Moreover, they were reluctant to resume the proposed law made by human rights organizations. It proposes a law of reconciliation, which includes truth, justice, compensation of the damages and security of non-repetition.
A group of organizations representing the victims of the civil war again presented a proposal for a law, which the commission of the National Assembly had rejected in May 2019. This commission is in charge of making a proposal for a “reconciliation” law, which would be presented to the legislative branch. In December 2019, “The Bureau against Impunity in El Salvador, the Management Group for a Comprehensive Reparations Law and the Pro-Historical Memory Work Commission” made a statement. It alerted that the commission of the legislative branch sought to make a “quick” process in the elaboration of the law. And, what is worse, they did it without hearing the testimony of the victims. It means that they intentionally rejected to include the voice of the victims and their truth in the legislation process. What worries us is that this commission seeks to enact a law of “impunity,” not of “reconciliation” from the victims. We were concerned that, in January 2020, the Legislative Assembly would be sought to approve such an “impunity” law.
The Franciscan JPIC team has been accompanying human rights organizations. These days, we are careful that a law that favors the perpetrators is not abruptly approved before February 28, 2020, with an excuse that the term given by the Constitutional Chamber to the Legislative Assembly is for finalization. The voice of the victims was intentionally not listened to throughout this process. Moreover, they were reluctant to resume the proposed law made by human rights organizations. It offers an act of reconciliation, which includes truth, justice, compensation of the damages, and security of non-repetition.
In this fight for truth and justice, the JPIC commission is united to the roaring demand from the victims for righteous legislation, which leads to paths of peace, where revenge is not sought. Still, that truth, reconciliation, and justice embodied in the law allow us to rebuild this society from the care and defense of the most fragile and affected by the same political, economic and military system of the country. Besides, the law could contribute to the truth to be recognized by future generations by keeping alive the historical memory of the victims.
