Wor: NOLBNIGRVAN orn OLAgO OXILNTLA INERNUGAOD ‘812 & suoRDIeH wBIpIog wo sexzmUKION om 30 OM OTH 05 PoUUTL Teor ‘6 TuaY GNY ST HOUVIK NoIssas xsuTa SSHUONOO HINGAGS-ALONIN WLVNGS SHLVIS CHINA SNOLLVTAY NOTTHOI NO ALLLONLOO SONIUVGH YOCVATVS Ta NI NOILVALIS SHL 186)190 Ambassador Wire. Well, of course, that is true. The purpose of the dissent channel is basically for one oficer, or a group of off cers, to file, with their names attached, a paper which advocates eithor a different policy or which attacks a current policy. It is used with some frequency. . "This clearly is not that, This is a paper which was anonymous. ‘Whoever the authors are did not sign their names. \ T think there is much that is valuable in that so-called dissent paper. There are a great many insights that are important to take into tion. i think it is important to note that the socalled Zimbabwe solu- tions which they Wdontly in there, excludes the present Govern: ment of El Salvador from the negotiations. This, of course, would be unacceptable to the Government of EI Salvador and i think should be unacceptable to us. "Senator Zonveny. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Senator Pei, Thank you very much, Senator. . ‘Ambassador White, thank you so much for being with us this morning. I think you know how eagerly we have been awaiting your testimony. We very much wanted you to come. We are very i Fr arrany ay zs. ere th pln in accordance with the chairman's wishes, the committee will recess for 5 minutes. [A ing will come to order. Our next witnesses will be Sister Melinda Roper, with whom I leasure of talking the other day on ne— Gia you ave hore, Sister’ and Michsel Donovan, the brother of Sean Donovan. ‘very glad indeed that you both are here. We apologize for the ine you Ive had to wale bub, ae you know, Goi sea very important hearing. . je are happy to hear your testimony. MENT OF SISTER MELINDA HOFER, a, PENDENT SONGHEGATION OF THE MARYKNOLL SISTERS OF ST DOM: ae Sister Rorer. Thank much. Pe SREPAERs Wao oo conarerntn of he Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic and I testify today in the name of tio ‘ a ot ante tha ‘you both for this opportunity to present informa i “Maryknc jisters are, why we are in - ioe ay ea gal lu Ge ti he hn aes doing in El Salvador. spate in the mit Se re al Cg me rar ih Mepis rain ct Shoe artsas fee cen OE iad 1 think it is important to emphasize thet I'am here to spealc to yknoll Sister as such, my a Boavictos ad vouaba lary are those of a Person, of faith T belong Labia merit anien ati See Pee na ai, teats 191 nor my mission to any ideology, economic or political system, but to the life and message of Jesus Christ and the living tradition and ‘teaching of the Catholic Church. Therefore we, as Maryknoll Sisters, are willing to collaborate with all peoples of goodwill in order to bring about a more just and peaceful life, especially for the poor, repressed, and alienated in our world today. We Maryknoll Sisters have chosen to understand and interpret eur world in the spirit of the Gospel and from the point of view of the poor. In that I think perhaps my testimony wotld be different from that of other witnesses There are several ways that we do this: Through prayer, reflec- tion and study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church; second—and I would like to emphasize this—by living with and getting to know and love the poor as persons; and, third, by study- ing and analyzing the realities of our world. ‘As a congregation, we strive to live by the Gospel values of foregiveness, reconciliation and community. In a most recent statement by John Paul Il in the Philippines, hhe describes situations of oppression in our world today, both within nations and internationally. In light of these, he says: Being aware of such situations the Church will not hesitate to take up the cause of the poor, and to become the voice of those who are not listened to'when they speak up, no o demand charity, but to an for justice ‘These words of John Paul II describe to a greater or lesser degree the conditions in many of the countries where we are in ‘mission. Specifically, they represent conditions in El Salvador. El Salvador is one of our most recent missions in Latin America. Our presence in any country is always at the invitation of the bishop. We work closely with the local church and with other igions of any country where we go. Our personnel in El Salvador has always been limited to never more than six at any one time. As the violence and persecution of the Church increased, the call went out from Archbishop Romero for help. The Maryknoll Sisters living in that area met to evaluate and adjust their plans according to the greatest needs. Realizing that they did not have necessary personnel, they sent out an SOS to all Maryknoll Sisters in Latin America. Those who Yolunteered and were assigned to El Salvador were eventually four: Carol Piette, Ita Ford, Teresa Alexander and Maura Clarke. Carol Piotte arrived in E] Salvador the day Archbishop Romero ‘was assassinated, and Ita Ford on the day he was buried. The new work was not immediately clear, and it took time to gain acceptance and trust from the people who were being terror. ized by the political situation. But, in June 1980, Tta and Carol, at the invitation of the Vicariate of Chalatenango, began their work with an Emergency Refugee Committee. At that time, Ita wrote: 1 don't know i ti in site of because ofthe horror, teror, evil, confusion, lawlesanem, but Ido know that is right to be here: to believe that we are gifted and for Bl Salvador nom, that the ancwers to the questions will come when they are ‘asded, to walk in faith one day at time with the Salvadorans along road Tiled with obtacles, detours, and sometimes warhouts192 ‘These words were prophetic and Carol Pistte was killed in a flash flood when they were taking a recently released prisoner home, shortly after they had arrived in Chalatenango. Sister Maura had arrived in El Salvador a few weeks before and was working with other Maryknoll Sisters in Santa Ana. She im- mediately volunteered to accompany Sister Ita in Chalatenango. Tho following ig an excerpt from a letter received by Peg Dillon from Maura on November 22, 1980: ‘Being here with Ita and working forthe refugees, getting them to refuges centers, blaining and transporting food fer the hungry campesines, placed, Wing OF {heteaatiand ero, ha reine, conasation, apecial Grae, ani certainly 1 git Things grow Conse and searier fnoeent people familie, children Sse machete nd bene aepen of the Lord thrown ad et for the bursards Yo {eed on them seems Unbelievable, but + happens every day. ‘Pray that I can be fathfl to what the Lord askn ‘The courage and suffering of Sia GE powerful example, Dieming to be with hert Thanks for your loving Eos Sete end Yea ee nn fou ‘am learning and hoping and have peace It was in this spirit that she returned with Ita to El Salvador late in the afternoon of December 2, 1980. As you know, they were murdered that same night. Since the time of the death of our Sisters on December 2, 1980, we have had less than satisfactory dealings with the State Depart: ment, and included in my written testimony are several examples of these experiences. In conclusion, then, in our relations with the State Department, we have received no progress reports, no autopsy other than the report of the President's Special Mission issued on Decem- ber 23, 1980. In short, in dealing with those responsible for the investigation of the deaths of Jean, Dorothy, Ita, and Maura, we hhave noted Jack of communication, defensiveness, evasion, even contradictions. Furthermore, there have been innuendos as to the circumstances of the women’s deaths. Why have two high officials in the present administration found it necessary, directly or by implication, to plant seeds of distrust. and suspicion regarding the personal integrity of the women and their mission? _ Is this all a result of fear? If, in fact, fear is operative, I could understand it regarding those Salvadorans responsible Zor the in- vestigation, since the climate of that country is one of uncontrolled violence. What is more difficult to understand is the fear that seems to underline the procedures of the U.S. administration re- the investigation. Thelieve that the deaths of the four women cannot be separated from the general pattern of persecution of the church in El Salva~ dor end from the death of thousands of innocent Salvadorans. Nor do T believe the deaths can be separated from U.S. policy toward ‘that government. The ordinary people of El Salvador do not want war, but peace. ‘They realize, however, that true peace is based on justice. Mili aid to El Saivador from anywhere will not bring about peace wellbeing for the people, ‘Through whom can the voice and rights of the people of El Salvador be heard and made known? I suggest, that neither the Junta, the opposition, nor the right legitimately can claim the allegiance of the people of El Salvador. 198 ‘Therefore, it is essential that dialog and negotiations among all these groups begin as soon as possible. The minimum conditions for the negotiation would be: Cessation of all military aid; cease-fire, a cease-fire that is monitored by the U.N. or the O.A.S.; and that the negotiations lead to free elections which would be monitored by the UN. or the 0.4.8, With regard to my first point, that all military aid cease, I believe that the Government of the United States has a primai responsibility. Tt is quite clear that the voice of the people of El Salvador is not being heard. Of equal concern to me is the ques- tion, Is the voice of the people of the United States being heard’ ‘The normal channel for this to happen in the United Stetes is through Congress. As Members of the U.S. Senate, I ask each of you although there are only two of you here if your constituencies by and large have indicated approval or disapproval of our sending military aid to the present Junta in El Salvador? believe that the ordinary people of our world desire peace. I also believe that the promises of false peace, that is, peace without justice for the poor, will be less and less possible in the future. 1 say this because I have lived and worked with the poor, and to think that we can just hand out some sort of false peace no longer is possible. That, the powerful nations of our planet may destroy each other is a distinct possibility; but that the poor of our planet will demand justice is inevitable. So, situations like El Salvador will occur over and over again if creative solutions to systematic oppression are not based on justice and nonviolence. Thank you. [Sister Roper's prepared statement follows:] Parraneo StarEMENT oF Sisren MeuxnA Ropes, MM. Mr, Chairman and Members of the Committee: I am Sister Melinda Roper, resident of the ton of the Maryknall Sisters of St. Dominic and te {odny in the name of tas, ton. fish, frst of al, Me. Chairman, to you and the Members af the Committee for tha opportunity to present information 4330 who we Maryknoll Sisters are, why we are it El Salvador And what, precisely, Sioa Batra Clr anda Yor yore ding iB Svc. fhe Pike ve ‘may, perhaps come to some understanding of why Maura and Ta and Dorothy Radltnd deen Donovan were murdered, ‘athe Congregation of the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic is a Pontified Inst. tute under the juradiction of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Fogler wor ree by Pope Hoodie XV, Rome) purpore “Maryknoll Sioters jon. to" participate in sisson presence and sciviy of the Universal Goureh, so that God's Kingdom Justice, peace and Jove may be proclaimed and witnessed to throughout the orld” ‘Gfaryiatoll Sisters’ Constitutions, p. 10) “Thzoughout cur history, we have lived and worked with peoples throughout the ‘word in light of the above stated purpose 7 think ft important to emphasize that, 1 am here to speak to you today as a Macykioll Sater nod ae such, my perspective, convictions end vorabtlary ar those ot person of faith. 'bolong to an organiaation whose purpose ls univer ond ‘rhant mission Ss to and. with she ‘of the world T do not owe my faith, Convictions, nor mission, to any ideology, economic or olitieal system, but tothe lis ane meauage of Jesus Christ and the living tradition and teaching of the Catholic Gharch. We, as Maryknall Sisters, are wiling to collaborate wth all people a good wil in order to help bring abgut a more just nd peaceful life, esgeially for the bom, oppressed, represed and alienated tn our world today: admit tat itis Retiher easy nor simple to be Christian. We Maryknoll Sisiers have chosen to Understand and interpret our world today in the spat ofthe Caspel snd fem he point of view of the poor. There are soveral ways in which we do this) through194 reflection and study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church; 2 b Beige wll petting to know fave the poor as peraca and) by studing nd analyzing the realities of our wor Gur eorts for a core jus social order are rooted in loye and guided by the eae teu of engennay rein ad Camas rotting fe a th ats * 7H Site teaser, og Jp Pau sai juice een when te ene ae ra a Scere aie ha Me cbandans le ae iin Bey i a auf toe est dnd omer whe are toa Fe oe a ee a nr te fis even Fe ane eee i a tres oni ifn vege ‘heh ong hou of backers "ater paar pool dein te Maal Soe ae Er aed ake to have ony a work of ar Fn ee esses tie Cares il pa exit take aon et ae aes foe re, at ened Shepard Saybia teat Sai eh, Bai BE “Eee arson Paul Tl dare to great o ee degree the con nny eri ae a Serta ey ey open ae eens wu are ce mn ate Anu, a8 ton Set is Blas Set he Sahl Paer i Ce i tarot any couse always tbe Fase Bitty We work eldey mth the een Charch and with other SEE FRE Sate Me Se La iy he non Bl ye Raley carey Hayastan evened tofn 8 tea arn ory Sry charge of rai parshinan nlaed ren SRE goth a scne te deerme of lly aes Es mad ch a mat shoo prover Fang ere foreman nate uc Be encurageeet a onary among te ae re re ion an prajer with the people were intogral to the life and ree Pine ere ‘ ot SBE eador has always bee linited-never more than sx a 16 ena ake vplence and persertton of the Church ingrensed, the cll Se ee eae de he the Manan Sete vag Here eae Arn ee a a Cae nr plan cr repr pari ae hola hereon vet nermy loge renee en ete ae Rae la seep ot a8 S08. a ny ial oe Coeny far Case Pin Fo se haen etka hasta eyo ge fort fo ee Garo 24,080) and Ta, the *rhernew wot wos 20k immediately clear andi tank me to gain acceptance and tran Fam The pe who were being trvorted by the pliealstuaton, But in ‘ons, 190, he Red Cav a the invitation ofthe Vicariate of Chlatenango, been Jaae ork with an Euorgency Refugee Coontz. At that tne, ea write “l dont sae Pik rin apie ofr beesuot ofthe horror, terror, ev confusion, lavlew oem Sot te keow tate right tobe here "to believe that we re gifted in [5qopr hi Salvador nvr that the anor othe qeatons wil come when Ey ae ‘de, to wal in alone day a ana with Svadorane along ara fled wih ‘Begs detours and sometime washout "ont word pcoe aimont propo i ie Uh of gucedig evn, It wg onlt'a few short weeks afer zy begun their workin Chalatonango that they et Sas Ahemey roigiorm to take srecntly released prisoner home, They were Sale tivough coe ver Et Zapote near Chilatenango when a aah food crashed {hrough the ravine, Carel Petits last known act wae to push ber friend, te Ford {trou aide window of the Joep. The two seminarians tecmpanyig ‘ocaped. Sister Ita was dragged along the river bottom but managed to a ee cre otal bork, pled bora out ‘The next worming Carols body wae found 18 Kilometers downstream, ‘ter Maura ed ‘only arrived im El Salvador a, few weoks before and wat working wih other Marykooll Sisters in Santa Ana. She immediately volunteored eae Si ce rhanueivog Never den shee ly in Nicaragua on the day before ing, Novem se el not Facer at BY Selvador but convinced that Chalstenango wes the pact 195 there she could and would verve Chriat’s poor. With Ia, she would search out the Thissing, pray with the families of prisoner, bury the’dead, and work with the Beple in their stragae 19 break ut of the bands of oppresion, poverty, and ‘olence.'Theirdaye would be filled with difficulty and fearhal danger St mes but Maura assured the Sisters of her coriain confidence in God's loving care of her, of ‘eg and ofall the people. The following is an excorpt from a letter received by Peg Din from Matra on Noverber 22 190: Bing ere wiht and working fo getting them to ‘enters, obtaining and transporting food for ‘Rangey campesinos, daplaced, hiding or Ia the ongafized groupe, has is sweetness, ‘onstltion, petal Grave and i certainly agit hinge gaow tense and ecaron The \way innocent people, families children are machetied and blesoed temples of the {Tard thrown and Tett for the buzzards to feed on thet, seems unbelievable, but it Bator a THES Th eat he rd a Te raga erg ce RT be al Se a eg tobe with bt Tania fr furlong roast ele eng ith be hale roe ig rue oat Fetus Fae ato E Saar lat tn he cnt eet an Pett ly in minon met hom a he aor take thm wel tafe Se one those he er. le te beak Chasen fo He ab, pen an Se wae ene el he ad ay ett Bago ad ata Sto ae ee Dae Fee ee a Le caer 2.60, we are had ew aur Sig el Oe Sa bapa Tl OS sees he feces, 1 pag «phone cl tthe Sate Dearmert oa we amt ate ela flo al ke Sie Dene fe Geretit cet Tis we tet Te ete Peary Say carer Tape my Me Be a Cues owe Se Eek etree aed teal Fone ee en Tt New York one Cre edema econ, a Ne, eh SS See Ge Mira ree aes ere ea ae Er has SPiN Me eee Se ec ra yak ere bene at ce cin te sep ih See do eg re a ec A ar SE Aah mea re ee aed betcha ae estan cet ne PY lan oe, Bante Se ae fe eae ae NN or Poy sie natu ME oe opie ear et ot at eps Garonne i formed i te Ma sce! cor eee Me tala era Fatty hate ESAs Det Mion gemini rite oe nw ey ea ete ee ar omnes amg te Gee sree cm the Hg oe See Mito Mr uae ot SU: Rete a ot pl ri, ene ie Fie Sarat ned eens tenet rape eee sory oa lone Eee eee ote el Com See iia oh tte conn rope te Meroe Seedy oni ha nah Seo Bee Fy, env cl gm Dale Scheel Dee cae pen it uel a aD Seba, Meg! a eons Ar, Og pn is, Sa ewe, My Sal ace ag a nie Me ano ster St Se ee FSi ia ania aah we en Rad oes Scrat Slats Mens Wl Bove Wl ei and rennin pliant Haugen onrenns We asked hen rape oe vc i rer a nL | ae is peered ation ofthe botin of Ta and Matra, in the cour ofthe cinveraation, ead ‘That daly reporta on the Investigation were being test to Mr. Biacken in Devartment: Mr. Hallman exorested that he was not satisfied with the invest196 fand said he had spoken with the Colonel on the Investigating Team who assured 2 wo 20 ‘whole thing would move more ra Hip ie would puah to thatthe whole shing would ae 1 Seen the Seay in El Sal py aad i: Dopurtnes ‘the deat of the four American citizens. [ME Bowler stated that he would pond itt us, We have received nothing. a perhy ha laure, hye noted lnck of commtiction, defnsienee {faon und olen contadicons Furthermore, there have bees tanuendoes as fo te Eeumslances of the women's deaths. Why have two high officials in the present ‘t ly or by implication —to plant. seeds of ‘Bersooal integrity of the women and thelr operative, [could understand of that eourtry Sean aot atert the omar tte {hese egret, baer he dati of he fr wpe cnet Song psu par of prin the Chr Baa {and rom the deaths of thousands of innocent Salvadorans. Nor ‘Genta can be separated from US. policy toward that Government, "The ordinary peopl of El Selvaor do not want war, but. however that ra peace, is based om fain, Miltary Ad to [Enywhere will not bring about peace and well being for the people, Thr ithe ye andra of the peop of Ht Sal or be heard aod made staggest chat neither the Junta, tion, nor the Right ean let tntllegace of toe poonle of Bi Salvage es therefore een hat snd negotiations ars ese groupe begin fandltions for negotiation would be (1) Ceesstion of all Milfary Gy that the cease fire be monitored by the U.N, or OLAS; and () tga ed fo fee elestons which would be moniored bythe UN o O-AS. “With regard to my firer pointibet all Military Aid cease, Goverment ofthe United Sate ba a rinary reoponssty. 1 8 ch *°6F equal concern io me ix the questions the voice of the people of the United states being heard? The normal chase for this to happen in the United States. through Congress. As Members of the United Staize Senate, I ask each of your constitueney by and large has indicated approval or disapproval of ou Znlitary aid to the present Jumta in El Salvador? 1 believe that the ordinary peop Gf our world desire peace. 1 al believe that the promises of false peace, that it ‘peace without justice for the poor will be less and Teas possible in the future. That the powerful nations of our planet zpay destroy each other is a distinct ‘Thal the poor of our planet will demand justice is inevitable. Situations Uke Salvador wl ecour ove and over again if saltions to systematic oppression are not based on justice and non-volence. "Thank you, Senator Pt. Thank you, Sister Roper, for a very moving state- ment. : ‘Mr, Donovan, I would ask you to proceed. Then we will ask questions of both of you. STATEMENT OF MICHAEL DONOVAN, BROTHER OF LAY ‘CHURCH WORKER JEAN DONOVAN ‘Mr. Donovan. Thank you, Senator. ‘As you know, my name is Michael Donovan, and I am the brother of Jean Donovan, an American missionary who was slain in El Salvador last December. I want to thank you very much for 191 Jean was a person who had a great need to help other people. Like me, Jean was a professional accountant. She held a high Paying Job with Arthur Anderson & Co. in Cleveland, Ohio, But need to help people was not being satisfied by her professional work. So, she gave up a very promising career to join the Cleveland Mission ‘Team, which is sponsored by the Diocese of Cleveland. They, in turn, sent her to work in El Salvador. Her work in Salvador was just what she was looking for. Much of her time was spent taking care of orphans whose parents had been killed in the violence. Jean and Dorothy, Kazel loved these chil- dren. On her last trip home, Jean took back with her her Louisville Slugger, an old taped-up bascbal, a glove, a bat, and a ¢-nch stack of bubbiegum cards. When it became obvious that the situation in El Salvador was becoming too dangerous, all of her ‘and friends begged her to return home. She responded on one such plea on the day that the US. Government withdrew the Peace Corps. She wrote: ‘And 90, the Peace Corps people left today, and my heart sank low. Of cours, the fs right in ordering them out There iy no question that the danger is fextrome. But-an thsee poopie, beset with tragedy Increase, the help available de- ira Te fe and I ove living, While I feel compassion and eae forthe people here, am not up for sulld, and oY mst ameos my own situation frankly; Roweral nen {ave dete tone Ei Savador Isat colds exept forthe ehicron, the poor brutned vit ofthis adult lunacy. Who oul care for them "Whowe fart cod be so maunch aa to favor tho reaonable thing in aso of thar ters and loneliness. Not mine, Dear Fiend, ot mine ‘This woman loved a group of homeless children who were caught in a war that they did not understand. She loved them enough to tisk, and finally give up, her life for their sake. Her reward for this supreme has been such comments as, from U.N. Ambassador Jeanne Kirkpatrick: ing wate elt ecivuts so behalf o the Penta, sal sols ang ‘olonce fo oppowe the Frente killed thow nasa T dot have any Gout shot that Assistant Secretary for Human Rights designate, Ernest Lefever, also has commented unfavorably on the activities of the Church in El Salvador, noting, “There is a difference between religious lead- ers being involved in theological thought and nuns and clergy engaging. in activities against the Government. Some religious groups have overstepped their bounds.” Lefever almost an inflammatory reference later in that same interview to “nuns hiding machine guns for the insurgents.” Finally, from Secretary Haig, we hear: ‘The vehicle in which the nuns were riding may have tried to ran a yond block or may accidentally oem perctved fo doo, ahd there hed been an exchange of fire I have protested every one of these statements to the State Department and to the individuals involved, as well as to the press and to my Representatives in the Congress. The only reactions I so far have elicited have been various attempts by the State Depart- ment to shut me up. These have ranged from quiet persuasion to outright harassment, and they have included specific warnings to me not to appear before hearings such as this one today. ‘The investigation has been virtually halted and completely un- dermined by the attitude reflected in these comments. ‘The Salva-