Three former military officers are sentenced, marking a significant step towards accountability for violence against the press.
**El Salvador Convicts Military Officers for 1982 Murder of Dutch Journalists**
**El Salvador Convicts Military Officers for 1982 Murder of Dutch Journalists**
A historic trial yields justice for four journalists killed during the Salvadoran civil war.
In a landmark verdict, a jury in El Salvador on Tuesday found three former military officers guilty for the 1982 murders of four Dutch journalists who were covering the civil war. The decision comes after decades of advocacy for justice by organizations such as the Comunicándonos Foundation, which has tirelessly campaigned for accountability since the tragic events unfolded.
The convicted officers, Gen. José Guillermo García, 91, once a defense minister; Col. Francisco Morán, 93, a former police director; and Col. Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena, 85, each received 15-year prison sentences. The trial was notably swift, lasting around 10 hours. Moreover, the jury also condemned the Salvadoran government for its extensive delay in resolving this historical case.
The Gabriel Garcia and Francisco Morán remain detained in El Salvador following their arrests in 2022, while Reyes Mena is in Virginia pending extradition. The victims — journalists Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Joop Willemsen, and Hans ter Laag — were tragically ambushed on March 17, 1982, while traveling alongside guerrilla fighters in Chalatenango.
Initially, the Salvadoran army claimed the journalists were killed by gunfire from the guerrillas. However, a UN Truth Commission report released in 1993 revealed the army had planned the ambush. This dispelled the narrative as it emerged that the murders were orchestrated by Colonel Reyes Mena, who later fled to the U.S.
In coverage following the event, reports indicated that witnesses heard more than twenty minutes of gunfire and that the correspondents were shot at close range. The killings sparked significant outrage in the Netherlands, leading to enduring efforts from both Dutch authorities and Salvadoran groups seeking justice.
The Dutch ambassador to Costa Rica and El Salvador, Arjen van den Berg, highlighted the societal anger in the Netherlands over the incident. He reflected on how it was unfathomable for many Dutch citizens that a government could execute journalists simply for doing their job.
In the wake of the sentencing, Dutch officials expressed satisfaction and hope, marking it as a crucial moment in the fight against impunity. Caspar Veldkamp, outgoing Dutch Foreign Minister, commended the verdict and reiterated its importance for the legacy of the four journalists and their families, underscoring the greater pursuit of justice for similar cases in the region.
