Oscar Romero and History

It was March 24. Just a couple of hours before the procession to remember the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Oscar Romero. Before we joined the march, our group was invited to visit the headquarters of the National Civil Police. It was chilling to walk through this palatial building, knowing that underneath the lovely courtyards lay the clandestine cells where death squads brought citizens of this country to suffer at the hands of the police.

We met with a director of Investigations. This man is responsible for investigating crime today and the disappeared from the years of the war. He is Augusto Castaneda and he is also a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church. He told us one of the best fruits of last year's election was the reform of the police force. A number of commanders were replaced so that now finally the police are no longer given the freedom to do whatever they want. Discipline and accountability have been enforced.

I saw a photograph on his shelf of Augusto and Desmond Tutu who as you know was one of the leaders that contributed to the end of Apartheid in South Africa. Augusto told us that it came from a time when he was in Haiti at election time providing security for Desmond Tutu.

Augusto asked Tutu if he could have a photo with him. After the picture Tutu asked,

Where do you come from?

I come from El Salvador, the home of Oscar Romero.

And what do you think of him?

I think he is one of the greatest men in the history of El Salvador.

Tutu shook his head. He said, "No. Oscar Romero is one of the greatest men in the history of the world."

These were the words ringing in my ears as we walked that afternoon through he streets of San salvador to the Cathedral and the tomb of Romero. Fitting on the verge of Holy Week.

Peter