El Salvador murder pits retired colonel against ghosts of the civil-war era

El Salvador murder pits retired colonel against ghosts of the civil-war era

Rivas believes his son was killed because of him: for his history as a witness, and for the likelihood he'd become one again in war-crimes trials. If he's right, the murder would represent a throwback to civil-war-era tactics in a country that’s enjoyed more than two decades of peace.

By Seth Robbins, Correspondent December 9, 2014



SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — During his 30-year career in El Salvador, Col. Carlos Rivas turned over a leader of a right-wing death squad, gave key information to the United States on the military's role in the murder of six priests, and survived two assassination attempts. He retired from the Army in 1991, the year before the civil war here ended. He led an unassuming life until this past April, when his youngest son, Guillermo Rivas, was murdered in a shootout that also left his assailant dead.

Police immediately attributed the murder to a conflict at the family business, a security guard agency. But there was no conflict, according to Rivas, and Rivas says he saw signs of a planned assassination and cover-up, particularly when military officials got involved.

Rivas believes his son was killed because of him: for his history as a witness, and for the likelihood he'd become one again in war-crimes trials or cases involving more recent military misdeeds. With civil-war era amnesty laws currently under legal scrutiny, military leaders may particularly be feeling the heat. If he is right, the murder would represent a throwback to civil-war-era tactics in a country that’s enjoyed more than two decades of peace, but where fear and violence still push thousands to flee every year.

“El Salvador is a place that has been struggling for its democratic survival. We come from a really bloody war. We made a breakthrough with the peace accords,” says Hector Silva, a journalist and researcher at American University in Washington, D.C. But one thing the accords did not change “is the impunity culture,” Mr. Silva says. “People that hold power can get away with anything.”

More:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2014/1209/El-Salvador-murder-pits-retired-colonel-against-ghosts-of-the-civil-war-era