The Blind Spot

Following the civil war, the United States discourse focused on how the former adversaries were fostering free elections to prove that democracy in El Salvador was successful. Less than one year after the war the New York Times reported on how former “guerillas” other FMLN were integrating into economic and political positions. The United States is credited for their work in calling attention to the human rights’ issues in El Salvador but failed to mention how these issues were being handled. 

After the UN Truth Commission report was released on March 15, 1993. Five days later the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly granted amnesty to all of those mentioned in the report to have commited violent human rights' abuses.

 The murders of six Jesuit priests and two women received the attention of U.S. Congressman Joseph Moakley. Moakley lead a special invesitagtive task force in 1989 which revealed that the Salvadoran military had planned and executed these killings.