The University of El Salvador: A History of Struggle and Repression

On February 2, 1841, El Salvador was declared an independent state from the defunct Federal Republic of Central America, which included Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. The University of El Salvador was founded on February 16, 1841, following a decree issued by the Constituent Assembly and signed by the presidential deputy Juan José Guzmán and deputies Leocadio Romero and Manuel Perderén. The university's establishment aimed to prevent Salvadoran youth from emigrating to neighboring countries for higher education.

In 1874, President Santiago González established the Universities of Oriente and Occidente in Santa Ana and San Miguel, respectively, to provide more young people with access to higher education. However, President Rafael Saldívar closed these universities in 1885, leaving the University of El Salvador as the sole institution of higher learning in the country until 1965.

To offer an alternative to the University of El Salvador, the conservatives founded the first private university, UCA, to cater to the education of the elite. This move aimed to provide graduates of Catholic schools with education based on different ideals.

President Rafael Saldívar implemented liberal agrarian reforms, including the Land Extinction Law between 1881 and 1882. These policies led to the dispossession of indigenous populations in the western region of the country, sparking strong opposition from university students who criticized the government for violating citizens' rights.

By 1950, the University of El Salvador became a stronghold of leftist ideology and a center of opposition to authoritarian and military governments. This stance resulted in students and faculty members facing repression for demanding their rights and advocating for marginalized sectors of society.

In 1972, Colonel Arturo Armando Molina, aged 45, assumed the presidency through electoral fraud, representing the National Conciliation Party. Despite being an unpopular government figure, he took office on July 1, 1972, amidst public discontent with his leadership.

Molina, known for pioneering educational television in El Salvador with channels 8 and 10 on January 29, 1973, established the Banco de Fomento Agropecuario, the Fondo Social para la Vivienda, and the Instituto Nacional de Pensiones de los Empleados Públicos. He initiated projects like the construction of the El Salvador International Airport, the Hidroeléctrica Serrón Grande, the Central Geotérmica de Ahuachapán, and the government center on the former Campo Marte grounds. Molina also led a massive school construction project called 'Escuela por Día,' demonstrating his commitment to development.

Despite being admired for his works, Molina faced accusations of human rights violations, political violence, and even massacres. While he endeared himself to many Salvadorans, especially through direct interactions and media engagement, Molina's governance was marred by controversies and allegations of authoritarian practices.

In response to student movements associated with leftist armed groups like the Partido Comunista Salvadoreño, the government, under Molina's leadership, launched a campaign against the university community. This led to a military intervention at the Universidad del Salvador in 1972, resulting in the arrest and exile of numerous students and faculty members, accusing them of Marxist indoctrination.

By 1975, El Salvador faced a deep economic crisis with significant power held by the oligarchy, exacerbating poverty and limited opportunities for the working class. University students, supported by their families, protested against the government's policies, demanding an end to repression, disappearances, and mistreatment. Despite Molina's claims of an open government, dissent against his regime grew as social inequalities persisted.

University students requested the government to allocate a portion of the budget annually to enhance the university's endowment, as mandated by the constitution. However, their request was denied. Simultaneously, the Poma family sought to boost the country's economy by investing in tourism. They proposed to President Molina that El Salvador participate in the Miss Universe contest, with the slogan 'The Country of Smiles.' This move was seen as insensitive by students and some of the population due to the country's economic hardships in 1975.

In 1975, amidst economic challenges, university students united to challenge the dictatorship led by Colonel Molina. They protested against the high cost of living and injustices faced by the working class and peasants. Speaking out against Molina resulted in torture and arbitrary arrests of union members. The resistance culminated in a confrontation on July 25 in Santa Anna during the July festivities.

On July 26, 1975, students at the University of Occidente planned a satirical parade mocking public officials. Colonel Molina, aware of the plan, ordered military intervention, leading to the violent eviction and capture of several students. Subsequently, Molina announced the permanent closure of the Santa Anna campus, prompting students from the Faculty of San Salvador to support their peers and organize a peaceful march on July 30 with the aim of denouncing human rights violations and defending university autonomy.

Despite warnings from Colonel Molina, students proceeded with the peaceful march on July 30, 1975. The Minister of Defense, Carlos Humberto Romero, ordered a violent crackdown on the protest, deploying aircraft to intimidate students. Undeterred, around 3,000 students from various faculties and secondary education groups gathered, armed with banners, sticks, stones, and homemade Molotov cocktails for self-defense. The students were prepared with water-soaked handkerchiefs and bicarbonate to counter tear gas attacks.

As the students gathered at Liberty Park in the center of San Salvador, two students on motorcycles approached from the Social Security building to report the presence of military forces with tanks near the railway crossing. The students were soon met with tear gas, and as they tried to evade the situation, they encountered a second blockade near Rosales Hospital where the police and national guard opened fire on them.

The students initially mistook the gunfire for warning shots, but soon realized they were being shot at with real bullets, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities. Some students attempted to escape towards the maternity hospital, only to find themselves surrounded by riot police who continued to use tear gas, leaving many trapped and injured.

Facing the onslaught of tanks and gunfire, the university students had limited options for escape. Some chose to climb the metal fence of the Social Security building and jump to the other side, while others opted to jump from the bridge at the railway crossing. Those who fell suffered severe injuries, including broken legs, ankle injuries, and hand fractures, rendering them immobile until they were rescued by ambulances or military vehicles.

Amidst the chaos, some students managed to board a passing transport vehicle near the scene, with the driver closing the doors to protect them from the pursuing police armed with machetes. Witness accounts described horrific scenes of students being run over by tanks while attempting to climb the fence, leaving behind hair and skin on the wall.

Following the violent crackdown, the surviving students regrouped at the university's law faculty and made the decision to return to Liberty Park. Meanwhile, the injured students were transported to the university for medical assistance. Ambulances from the army were deployed to collect the wounded, many of whom remain missing to this day. The fire department was also called in to wash the streets with water and soap to remove the bloodstains.

While authorities claimed they were forced to respond with violence due to alleged student aggression, eyewitnesses contradicted this, stating that the students were unarmed. The march had initially been peaceful and orderly, with students expressing their dissent peacefully until the tragic escalation of events.

In El Salvador, student protests in the late 1970s were aimed at being heard without confrontation with the military. The leaders of the protests carried books and avoided direct conflict to prevent casualties. The lack of reporting on missing persons during that time makes it difficult to determine the exact number of casualties. Newspapers reported one fatality and 18 injuries, with 5 police officers and National Guard agents also being wounded.

On August 6th of an unspecified year, the Popular Revolutionary Blockade took over the Metropolitan Cathedral in protest against government repression. This event marked the first of several instances where the church was occupied until 1980. Despite initial disagreement, Monsignor Romero allowed young protesters to use the church for demonstrations as they lacked legal spaces to express their grievances.

Every year on July 30th, students in El Salvador demonstrate in honor of those who fought for university autonomy in 1975. These students were suppressed for demanding their rights. The protests serve as a reminder of the struggles faced by students in the past.

Arturo Armando Molina, born on August 6, 1927, passed away on July 19, 2021, at the age of 92 in California, USA. He relinquished power in June 1977 after a coup d'état.

Carlos Humberto Romero Mena served as the President of El Salvador from 1977 to 1979 following an electoral fraud. He died at the age of 93 in a luxurious area in northern San Salvador after a prolonged illness. Romero Mena is remembered as the last military president of El Salvador.

The perpetrators of the massacres in El Salvador have largely escaped justice, with many of them passing away. The lack of accountability for these atrocities highlights the challenges in seeking justice for historical human rights violations.