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Chronology
(Some dates, with emphasis on 1980)
1525
Pedro de Alvarado leaves Cortes in México and explores "Valley
of Hammocks." Pipil natives rebel. By 1600 nearly 80% of the Pipil
are decimated by war and disease.
1821
End of rule by Spain.
1839
El Salvador becomes an independent republic.
1880
As coffee supplants the traditional export crops of balsam and indigo,
President Rafael Zaldiavr orders expropriation of communally owned lands,
for purpose of coffee plantations. Establishment of armed rural police
force.
1931
Election of socialist president, Arturo Araujo, who is promptly overthrown
by Minister of War General Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez.
1932
January: Peasant uprising , "la Mantanza" ["The Massacre"]:
Between 10,000 and 30,000 indians murdered. Beginning of outright governmental
and military repression that continues for the next 60 years.
1970
United Nations data shows top 10% of the landowners owned 80% of agriculturally
productive land. 38% of children die by age 5.
1972
Elections: To thwart a reformist victory by Duarte and Ungo, the Salvadoran
army steals the elction. Col. Arturo Molina, candidate of teh army, seizes
power, occupies National University, arrests 800 students. Col. Agustin
Marinez Varela, director of Salvadoran Military Academy finds Duarte guilty
and order his exile. This is teh last straw: beginnings of serious opposition
to the government.
1976
United Nations data shows Salvador's unemployment rate as highest in Western
Hemisphere. Nearly 50% of adults unemployed or underemployed.
1977
As popular unrest builds in the countryside and cities, death squads kill
hundreds, including Father Rutilio Grande, S.J. Defense Minister Gen.
Carlos Romero succeeds Pres. Molina, as security forces kill over 100
protestors.against fraudulent election.
The Spark
1979
July: Nicaraugua: Sandinista revolution ousts Somoza.
October:
Salvador: Reformist army offices stage coup, oust General Romero, set
up civilian-military junta.
ANSESAL [presidential
& police intelligence force] is dissolved. D'Aubuisson, of ANSESAL,
takes all the files to his home. Right-wing officers soon take over the
junta.
Building
Towards Revolution
1980
January: Reformers leave the now right-wing junta. Widespread massacres
of peasants by the army and National Guard, intense death-squad activities
in the cities.
February:
Roberto D'Aubuisson goes on TV to denounce "communists." Death
squads kill those "communists."
March 24:
Death squads murder Archbishop Oscar Romero for denouncing army and death-squad
killings.
Summer: As
repression intensifies, left wing begins unifying for a revolution.
November:
Ronald Reagan is elected president. Salvadoran right wing sees this as
a signal.
Directors
of FDR are captured by the army as they meet at the Jesuit highschool.
They are tortured, murdered, and dumped outside the capital city.
Four American
religious women are captured outside the airport, raped and murdered by
army personnel acting as a death squad.
Dec. 4: Two
American land-reform advisors are gunned down in the San Salvador Sharaton
Hotel
President
Carter cuts off aid to El Salvador. It will be resumed in January 1980
1981
January: FMLN begins revolutionary war.
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