Press

News Articles

 

Court inaction stalls extradition of former colonel
by Linda Cooper & James Hodge, National Catholic Reporter

May 18th, 2017

 

May 11th, 2017

 

April 5th, 2017

 

Extradition order in Jesuit priest killings could lead to more arrests
by Linda Cooper & James Hodge, National Catholic Reporter
February 8th, 2016

 

Will arrests bring ‘real progress’ in fight against impunity in El Salvador?
by Chris Kraul & Alex Renderos, LA Times
February 8th, 2016

 

US judge approves extradition of Salvadoran war crimes suspect to Spain
by The Associated Press in Raleigh NC, The Guardian
February 5th, 2016

 

U.S. magistrate OKs extradition of Salvadoran official in 1989 Jesuit murders
by Mark Seibel, McClatchy DC Bureau
February 5th, 2016

 

After Hiding in US, Salvadoran Officer to Be Extradited for Alleged Massacre
by Michelle McPhee, ABC News
February 5th, 2016

 

Salvadoran military man linked to 1989 Jesuit massacre faces extradition to Spain
by Linda Cooper & James Hodge, National Catholic Reporter
April 21st, 2015
A historic trial on the 1989 Jesuit massacre in El Salvador is a step closer to reality now that the U.S. Justice Department is seeking to extradite a former Salvadoran army colonel to Spain to face murder and terrorism charges in connection with the Jesuit case.

 

Prisión sin fianza para salvadoreño reclamado por España por crimen de jesuitas
by Efe, Efe

El excoronel y exviceministro de Defensa salvadoreño Inocente Montano, reclamado por España por el asesinato de cinco jesuitas españoles en El Salvador en 1989, quedó hoy en prisión provisional en EEUU a la espera de la vista de extradición, informó a Efe un portavoz del Departamento de Justicia.

 

EEUU entrega la pieza clave del ‘caso Ellacuría’
by Antonio Rubio & Nuria Lopez, El Mundo

“Estados Unidos procura la extradición de un ex oficial del ejército salvadoreño a España para enfrentarse a los cargos por participación en la masacre de los jesuitas de 1989”. Así hizo público el pasado martes 7 de abril el Gobierno de EEUU, a través de un documento al que ha tenido acceso EL MUNDO, el anuncio de la extradición del ex coronel salvadoreño Inocente Orlando Montano por participar en los asesinatos de cinco sacerdotes jesuitas españoles, entre los que se encontraba el ideólogo de la Teoría de la Liberación Ignacio Ellacuría, en la madrugada del 16 de noviembre de 1989, en la Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (UCA).

 

US Requests Extradition of Salvadoran Colonel for Jesuit Deaths
by telesur, telesur
April 8th, 2015

The crime occurred 25 years ago during the Salvadoran civil war. The U.S. government asked a North Carolina court Wednesday to approve the extradition of a Salvadoran former colonel and minister to Spain for the murders of six Jesuit priests, five of whom were Spaniards, in 1989.

 

U.S. wants Salvadoran ex-colonel to face murder charges in ’89 deaths
by Michael Doyle, McClatchy DC
April 8th, 2015

WASHINGTON — Inocente Orlando Montano Morales went from elite military training in Georgia and a high-ranking position in El Salvador to a lowly prison cell in North Carolina. Now the Justice Department wants to pack off the 72-year-old Salvadoran former army colonel to face murder charges in Spain for his alleged role in a 1989 massacre in El Salvador. The new charges reopen a notorious chapter in Central American history, and they come just days before Montano Morales is set to be freed from the privately run Winton, N.C., prison that’s currently his home.

 

EE UU pide extraditar a España a un exmilitar salvadoreño acusado de matar a cinco jesuitas
by Beatriz Pascual Macias, La Razon
April 8th, 2015

El Gobierno de Estados Unidos pidió hoy a un tribunal de Carolina del Norte que apruebe la extradición a España del excoronel y exviceministro de Seguridad salvadoreño Inocente Montano, acusado por el asesinato de cinco sacerdotes jesuitas españoles en El Salvador en 1989.

Montano, la primera (y quizá última) gran victoria de la justicia universal española
by David Brunat, El Confidencial
April 4th, 2015

Inocente Orlando Montano. Recuerde ese nombre. El asesino de cinco jesuitas españoles es el primer criminal de guerra que será juzgado y cumplirá condena en España en base a la ley de justicia universal

 

Cristiani supo al momento de la masacre de jesuitas de El Salvador
by Juan Jose Dalton, El País
November 17th, 2014

La prestigiosa abogada Almudena Bernabeu afirma que hay pruebas que vinculan al expresidente que firmó la paz en el país centroamericano con el asesinato de sacerdotes de 1989

 

Remembering the Jesuits: Seeking justice in El Salvador after a quarter-century
by Norman Stockwell, The Tico Times
November 17th, 2014

A look back at the tragic Jesuits Massacre in 1989 with insight from CJA International Attorney Almudena Bernabeu.

 

25th Anniversary of El Salvador Jesuit Murders
by Kate Doyle, The National Security Archive
November 16th, 2014

Although the perpetrators have yet to be brought to trial for their role in planning and ordering the crime, human rights lawyers at CJA believe they are closer than ever to achieving some measure of justice.

 

“El gobierno de El Salvador ha decidido no obstaculizar la extradición de Montano a España”
by Gabriel Labrador y Fátima Peña, El Faro
November 14th, 2014

El caso Jesuitas sigue abierto en España. La mujer que impulsa desde 2008 la querella criminal en contra de los autores intelectuales del crimen reflexiona sobre los pactos de impunidad y los intereses políticos que siguen frenando el proceso.

 

25 Years After El Salvador Priest Killings, Groups Press For Justice
by Juan Castillo, NBC News
November 13th, 2014

CJA sends a delegation to El Salvador to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Jesuits Massacre and discuss its case before the Spanish National Court.
 

 

Spain court upholds jurisdiction in 1989 El Salvador massacre case
by Alison Sacriponte, Jurist
October 7th, 2014

The Criminal Chambers of the Spanish National Court decided unanimously Monday that Spain has jurisdiction to investigate the November 16, 1989, massacre of the Jesuits at the Central American University and their two employees as a crime against humanity after a reversal of legislation that had prevented Spanish jurisdiction over international crimes.

 

España seguirá con investigación del asesinato de los jesuitas
Diario CoLatino
October 4th, 2014

La Audiencia Nacional española resolvió que los tribunales de España son competentes para investigar por terrorismo y por lesa humanidad el asesinato de cinco jesuitas españoles en 1989.

 

Audiencia Nacional española ordena que el caso jesuitas se investigue como crimen contra la humanidad
by Gabriel Labrador, elfaro
October 3rd, 2014

Hace siete meses una reforma en España obligó al juez que ventila la causa contra los asesinos de los jesuitas a que solo los investigara por terrorismo y no por crimen de lesa humanidad, como originalmente el mismo juez lo había calificado. Asimismo, no podía juzgarlos por el asesinato de las víctimas salvadoreñas: uno de los sacerdotes, una empleada y la hija de esta. El máximo tribunal español ordenó hoy que el caso vuelva a tratarse como al inicio.

 

Audiencia Nacional española ordena que el caso jesuitas se investigue como crimen contra la humanidad
by Gabriel Labrador, El Faro
October 3rd, 2014

Hace siete meses una reforma en España obligó al juez que ventila la causa contra los asesinos de los jesuitas a que solo los investigara por terrorismo y no por crimen de lesa humanidad, como originalmente el mismo juez lo había calificado.

 

Montano, miembro ‘clave’ en el asesinato del padre Ellacuría
by Nuria Lopez Lopez, El Mundo
June 28th, 2014

“Inocente Orlando Montano fue un miembro clave y necesario en el asesinato terrorista de los jesuitas de la UCA [Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas] y sus empleadas el 16 de noviembre de 1989”, así de contundente es el resumen del informe pericial que la profesora de la Universidad de Stanford Terry Karlpresentó al juez Eloy Velasco, el pasado 18 de junio en la Audiencia Nacional. Este documento aporta información nueva y relevante de la matanza de los cinco religiosos españoles en El Salvador, entre los que se encontraba Ignacio Ellacuría, ideólogo de la Teoría de la Liberación.
 

 

Ex-Salvadoran Commander Suspected in Priests’ Killings Jailed in U.S.
by Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times
August 28th, 2013

The long quest to bring the Salvadoran military killers of six Jesuit priests to justice has received a significant boost, human rights activists say, with the sentencing of a former commander — on unrelated charges in a faraway Boston court.

 

Ex-Salvadoran Colonel Gets U.S. Prison Sentence
by Bridget Murphy, ABC News
August 28th, 2013

Human rights advocates called it a step toward justice Tuesday when a federal judge in Boston sentenced a Salvadoran ex-colonel to prison on separate charges as Spain attempts to prosecute him for war crimes during his country’s civil conflict.

 

Violaciones a Derechos Humanos Envían a Prisión a Coronel Montano
by Gabriel Labrador, El Faro
August 27th, 2013

Aunque fue juzgado por fraude migratorio y perjurio en Estados Unidos, el exviceministro de Seguridad se convirtió en el primer militar salvadoreño cuya vinculación a violaciones a los derechos humanos pesó para que lo enviaran a prisión. Montano deberá cumplir 21 meses de cárcel, a la que entrará el 11 de octubre para esperar el curso del pedido de extradición a España, donde es procesado por el asesinato de los sacerdotes jesuitas.

 

Ex-Salvadoran Military Leader Sentencing Continues
by Bridget Murphy (Associated Press), ABC News
August 26th, 2013

A federal judge presiding over the immigration case of a former Salvadoran military colonel wants to know more about the status of Spain’s request for the United States government to hand over the defendant for a war crimes trial.

 

Lectura de Sentencia Contra Coronel Montano se Pospone Para este Martes
by Gabriel Labrador, El Faro
August 26th, 2013

Los testigos en el juicio por fraude migratorio contra el exviceministro de Seguridad Pública salvadoreño terminaron de rendir sus declaraciones este lunes, en Boston, Estados Unidos. La lectura de la sentencia se pospuso para este martes y los querellantes esperan que abra el camino para tramitar la extradición pedida por España por el asesinato de los sacerdotes jesuitas en 1989.

 

EUA Acusa a Testigo de Coronel Montano de Ser También un Violador de los Derechos Humanos
by Gabriel Labrador, El Faro
August 22nd, 2013

Este jueves inició la audiencia para sentenciar el exviceministro de Seguridad salvadoreño, acusado en Estados Unidos por fraude migratorio, y requerido en España por el asesinato de los sacerdotes jesuitas. La defensa presenta como testigo de descargo al general Mauricio Vargas, a quien el gobierno estadounidense descalifica acusándolo de ser él, también, un violador de derechos humanos.

 

Ex-Salvadoran military colonel’s sentencing begins
by Bridget Murphy, Boston Herald
August 22nd, 2013

A federal judge weighing punishment for a former El Salvador military leader on immigration charges heard testimony Thursday about allegations the defendant committed war crimes before coming to the United States.

 

Inicia Audiencia Contra Inocente Montano por Fraude Migratorio
by Héctor Silva Ávalos, La Prensa Grafica
August 22nd, 2013

Al inicio de la audiencia, la defensa del coronel interrogó a la profesora Terry Karl de Stanford, testigo del Gobierno de Estados Unidos. Esta mañana se instaló en Boston la audiencia en contra de Inocente Orlando Montano, por fraude migratorio y perjurio.

 

El Salvador Colonel Faces Jail Time in U.S.
by Nina Lakhani, AlJazeera
August 22nd, 2013

Colonel Montano may have continued living unnoticed in a Boston suburb, working in a sweets factory, if it weren’t for the Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA), which filed a criminal complaint in Spain against him for the massacre of the Jesuits, five of whom were Spanish citizens. Montano was brought to the attention of the US government after the CJA filed a criminal complaint in Spain against him for the Jesuits massacre (five of the priests were Spanish).

 

Will Col. Inocente Orlando Montano face criminal trial?
by Nina Lakhani, BBC News
August 20th, 2013

The commander of one of El Salvador’s notorious death squads, active during the 1979-92 civil war, could soon become the first top-ranking Salvadoran officer to face trial for murder. But if so, he will be tried in Spain, not his own country, where an amnesty protects even those guilty of atrocities against civilians.

 

Salvadoran Indicted in Priest Slayings to Face Separate U.S. Immigration Sentencing
by Bridget Murphy (Associated Press) , Washington Post
August 17th, 2013

Inocente Orlando Montano is expected to stand for federal sentencing on immigration charges next week in Boston, yet it could be the former El Salvadoran military colonel’s alleged war crimes and not his lies on U.S. immigration forms that take center stage.

 

Ex-Salvadoran Military Officer Accused in Jesuit Killings Gets Immigration Sentencing Delay
by Bridget Murphy , Daily Journal (Associated Press)
January 15th, 2013

Human rights advocates claimed a victory after a federal judge in Boston said he would consider a former El Salvadoran military colonel’s alleged war crimes before sentencing him on separate immigration charges.

 

Holding Salvadoran War Criminals Accountable: The Massacre at University of Central America, San Salvador, 1989
by Kate Hayden and Frederick B. Mills, Council on Hemispheric Affairs
November 15th, 2012

This essay will examine some new developments in the case of one of the most notorious war crimes committed by the Salvadoran security forces during the twelve year long civil war: the massacre on the campus of the José Simeón Cañas University of Central America (UCA) in San Salvador on November 16, 1989. This is an immensely important issue because it could begin to balance the dialectic between impunity and accountability to the side of accountability. For the first time, a high-ranking army officer may soon be tried for this crime.

 

Salvadoran convicted of immigration fraud
by Milton J. Valencia, The Boston Globe
September 11th, 2012

Inocente Orlando Montano pleaded guilty in federal court to lying to immigration authorities so that he could stay in the United States, a development that could aid Spanish authorities who are seeking to have him extradited to that country, to face charges that amount to war crimes.

 

Former Salvadoran Official Wanted In Priest Killings Found In Mass.
by Lynn Jolicoeur, 90.9 Wbur
August 18th, 2011

A human rights group has discovered that a suspect in the 1989 slaying of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador has been living here in Everett.

 

War Crime Suspect Found in Everett: former Salvadoran official accused of role in Jesuit priests’ killings
by Mark Arsenault, Boston Globe
August 17th, 2011

EVERETT – A former Salvadoran government minister accused of colluding in the infamous killing of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador two decades ago has been living a quiet life in a modest apartment building in Everett.

 

Ex President Cristiani knew that there was going to be an assassination attempt on Father Ellacuría.
El Mundo
July 5th, 2010

More than 20 years have passed since the assassination of father Ignacio Ellacuría, ideologist of liberation theology, and four other Jesuits at the hands of the El Salvador Army and the fence around the intellectual authors of that killing begins to close.

 

Massacre of Jesuits in El Salvador “Premeditated”
November 25th, 2009

Declassified CIA documents show that the 1989 massacre of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador followed three days of planning by senior Salvadoran military officers, an expert witness said Tuesday before Spain’s National Court, which is hearing a case brought on behalf of the slain clerics.

 

Justicia con ‘efecto dominó’ para El Salvador
El Pais
November 24th, 2009

Durante 20 años, la masacre de un grupo de jesuitas en la Universidad Centroamericana (UCA) de San Salvador ha permanecido en la impunidad.

 

20 años después de la barbarie
El Pais
November 17th, 2009

A los 35 años de edad, la abogada española Almudena Bernabéu se ha convertido en el látigo de los militares salvadoreños que durante la guerra civil cometieron crímenes de lesa humanidad.

 

Case of ’89 Jesuit Killings in Salvador Revived in Spain
The New York Times
November 14th, 2008

 

In El Salvador, a New Push for Justice in Priests’ Slayings
Los Angeles Times
November 13th, 2008

 

Press Releases

Spanish Judge Re-Issues Request for the Arrest of Military Officials

Spanish National Court Judge Eloy Velasco has re-issued a request for international arrest warrants for more than a dozen former Salvadoran military officials for their involvement in the murder of six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador in 1989.

 

Ex-Salvadoran Colonel Accused in Jesuit Massacre Faces Extradition to Spain to Stand Trial for Human Rights Violations
April 8th, 2015

The U.S. government filed a request seeking the extradition to Spain of Colonel Inocente Orlando Montano, the former Vice Minister of Public Safety in El Salvador, for his role in the 1989 Jesuit massacre, in which six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter were murdered in San Salvador.

 

Conclusion of Sentencing of Former Salvadoran Military Commander Responsible for Jesuits Massacre To Occur Next Week in Boston
August 14th, 2013

Former Salvadoran Vice Minister of Defense for Public Security Inocente Orlando Montano will be sentenced for violating federal criminal immigration fraud and perjury laws in the United States. The sentencing phase, which began in January, should conclude on August 22.

 

Jesuits Massacre: Spain Requests Extradition of Salvadoran Ex-Military Officials from El Salvador and the U.S.
January 12th, 2012

CJA has confirmed that the formal extradition requests from the Spanish Government have arrived in El Salvador, with simultaneous transmittal to the United States likely, for fifteen former members of the Salvadoran military, including members of the high command. The defendants have all been charged with conspiracy to assassinate and the assassination of 5 Spanish Jesuits and 3 Salvadoran citizens. Of these requests, 13 are for defendants in El Salvador, and 2 are for defendants in the United States

 

FORMER SALVADORAN GOVERNMENT MINISTER AND CURRENT MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENT RESPONSIBLE FOR JESUIT MASSACRE IN 1989 TAKEN INTO FEDERAL CUSTODY FOR IMMIGRATION FRAUD
August 23rd, 2011

 

Salvadoran High Commanders Responsible for Jesuit Massacre in 1989 Under Custody in El Salvador
August 10th, 2011

First Intertnational Witnesses To Testify In Madrid In The El Salvador Jesuits Massacre Case
November 23rd, 2009

 

Spanish National Court to Pursue Criminal Investigation into 1989 Massacre of Jesuit Priests in El Salvador
January 13th, 2009

 

Quotes on the Significance of the Jesuits Massacre Case
November 13th, 2008

 

Criminal Charges Filed Before the Spanish National Court for 1989 Massacre of Jesuit Priests in El Salvador
November 13th, 2008