San Salvador, El Salvador, Mar 26, 2010 / 12:10 pm
The president of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, recently apologized for the March 24, 1980 murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador. The president noted that the death squads who carried out the murder acted in collaboration with state agents.
“In these circumstances and in my capacity as president of the country, I ask forgiveness in the name of the Salvadoran State for this murder perpetrated 30 years ago,” Funes declared in an official declaration.
Funes has asked pardon from the family of Archbishop Romero, expressing his “sincerest condolences” and unconditional support “in the struggle to clarify the truth.” Gaspar Romero, the late archbishop’s brother, accepted Funes' gesture.
The president acknowledged that Archbishop Romero “was a victim of the illegal violence perpetrated by a death squad.”