Romagoza et. al. v. Garica and Vides Casanova
July 23, 2002
PLAINTIFFS' STORIES
Juan Romagoza Arce -- Carlos Mauricio -- Neris Gonzalez
Juan Romagoza Arce was a doctor in El Salvador in 1980 when he was detained and tortured for 22 days at the National Guard Headquarters. He now serves as the Director of a public health clinic in Washington D.C.
Romagoza is the lead plaintiff in the case. He was born in Usulutan and is 50 years old. He entered medical school at the University of El Salvador in 1973. As part of his medical training, he set up medical clinics and provided health education to the underserved in the poor areas of San Salvador and neighboring communities. He worked closely with Catholic churches and Christian Base Communities (lay community groups organized under the principals of Catholic Liberation Theology) that helped organize medical services for the poor in rural areas. During his surgery rotation and early practice, Romagoza witnessed increasing incidents of violence and repression targeted against the poor, church workers- and the medical professionals who aided them. Yet, despite great risk to his own safety, Romagoza continued his volunteer work with the underprivileged, motivated by his deeply held Christian principles.
Romagoza took his work to remote areas of the countryside where the need for medical assistance was the greatest- and the population had been most affected by the war. In December, 1980, as Romagoza was providing medical care at a church clinic in Santa Anita, Chalatenango, two vehicles carrying soldiers from the army and National Guard arrived and opened fire upon the people at the clinic. Romagoza was shot in the foot and was subsequently blindfolded and taken by helicopter to a local army garrison. During the flight, soldiers threatened to throw him from the helicopter. Shortly thereafter, Romagoza was transferred to the National Guard headquarters in San Salvador.
For the next 22 days, Romagoza was interrogated, beaten and tortured almost every day- sometimes three or four times per day. His torture included electric shocks, cigarette burns, water torture, and being hung by his fingers. During one session, his torturers shot him in his left hand as they taunted him that he would never be able to perform surgery again. During his detention, Defendant Vides Casanova was physically present on two occasions, including the day of Romagoza's release in early January.
After his release, Romagoza fled El Salvador. He arrived in the U.S. in April of 1983 and was granted political asylum in 1987. He lost his ability to perform surgery due to the injuries inflicted during his detention.
Since arriving in the U.S., Romagoza has maintained his commitment to community health work. He became active in assisting the refugee community in San Francisco, and co-founded the Central American Refugee Center (CRECE). In 1987, he became the Executive Director of La Clinica del Pueblo in Washington D.C which provides free, comprehensive health care and education services to the poor and uninsured. Over the years, Dr. Romagoza has received many awards including the Community Health Leadership Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Marcelino Pan y Vino Humanitarian Award. He was also included in the book "Stone Soup for the World: Life-Changing Stories of Kindness & Courageous Acts of Service", a book that honors people who have made outstanding community contributions.
Carlos Mauricio was a professor at the University of El Salvador when he was detained in June 1983 and tortured for nearly two weeks at the National Police Headquarters. After coming to the United States, he obtained two Master's degrees, in Molecular Genetics and Adult Education, from San Francisco State University, and a teaching credential. He teaches biology at Balbao High School in San Francisco.
Mauricio was born in the town of Ahuachapan, El Salvador and is 49 years old. At the age of 13, he moved to San Salvador with his family, where he soon found a construction job at the University of El Salvador. This enabled him to work during the day and continue his studies at night. After high school, he began to study agricultural engineering at the University, supporting himself by teaching in local high schools and working as an assistant professor at the university. He won a scholarship to study in Mexico, where he received his Masters degree in animal nutrition (sciences?), at the University of Merida. Mauricio then returned to El Salvador to continue teaching.
In June 1983 he was lured from the classroom where he was teaching Agricultural Sciences, forced into an unmarked vehicle and beaten by individuals dressed in civilian clothing. He was then taken to the National Police headquarters, where he was detained for nearly two weeks. During that time, he was tortured and interrogated repeatedly. Methods of torture included being hung by his wrists with his hands tied behind his back, repeated beatings with a baton, denial of bathroom access, forced standing for hours and deprivation of food for extended periods. Upon being released, Mauricio fled El Salvador for the United States, where he now resides.
Mauricio has suffered permanent physical and emotional injuries as a result of the abuse he underwent while detained. The physical wounds remaining from his detention include broken ribs, an injured eye and persistent pain in his shoulders, joints and chest.
Mauricio states that his interest in bringing the Generals to trial in this case stems from his conviction that seeking justice for what was done will help heal the emotional wounds caused by the torture. In addition, he hopes that participating in this case will send a powerful message to military leaders around the world that if they, or those under their command, commit atrocities, they will not be able to visit or live in the U.S. with impunity. Therefore, this case may assist in deterring others from committing such atrocities in the future. Mauricio hopes that bringing the Generals to trial will raise awareness of the importance of combating impunity not only in the ongoing struggle for justice for the people of El Salvador, but also in the battle for accountability and justice worldwide.
Neris Gonzalez was a catechist in San Vicente in 1979 when she was detained and tortured for approximately two weeks in a National Guard Post. She now runs a community environmental project in Chicago.
Gonzalez was born in San Nicolas Lempa, El Salvador and is 46 years old. Beginning in 1976, Gonzalez began to volunteer as a catechist with the local Catholic church, teaching bible studies and assisting with masses and other religious ceremonies. As she became more deeply involved in this work, she received training in how to teach literacy and health courses, and began instructing the youth. During this time, military repression against the rural population and church workers increased and fellow catechists from nearby towns were killed and wounded. Despite the risks, Gonzalez increased her work on behalf of the church and in support of the rural poor.
On December 26, 1979, four National Guardsmen dressed in uniform and armed with assault rifles abducted Gonzalez from the market in San Vicente and took her to the local National Guard Post. Despite the fact that she was eight months pregnant, she was brutally and repeatedly tortured over a period of two weeks. She was subjected to electric shocks, cigarette burns, submersion in ice-cold water for hours and cuts with a razor blade on her fingertips, thighs and breasts and denial of food for extended periods. She was repeatedly raped. During one incident, a metal bed frame was balanced on her belly as two Guardsmen stood on either end. Gonzalez was also made to witness the torture of others, including the murder of a young boy. She was later dumped, unconscious in a place outside of San Vicente. She was taken to a church in San Salvador, where she received medical treatment at a clinic and spent the following months recuperating.
Due to the torture Gonzalez endured during her detention, her infant son was born with multiple injuries, broken bones and indentations on his face. He died two months after his birth.
Gonzalez fled El Salvador for the United States and was eventually granted
political asylum. As a result of her torture, Gonzalez continues to suffer
from severe physical and psychological injuries and has received treatment
for post-traumatic stress syndrome.
In the U.S., Gonzalez continues her service for the poor through the Church
as a Maryknoll Affiliate and a catechist in a poor Hispanic neighborhood
in Chicago. As in El Salvador, Gonzalez continues to be dedicated to improving
the capabilities and living conditions of her community. Together with
another Salvadoran refugee, Gonzalez founded a project to promote self-sufficiency
and environmental sustainability. The project, called Ecovida, involves
church, school, community and children in raising organic fish and farm
animals at home, recycling organic waste into compost, and using the compost
in organic gardens.
The Center for Justice & Accountability
870 Market Street, Suite 684
San Francisco, CA 94102
center4justice@cja.org
Tel) 415-544-0444
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