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CIS
Colonia Libertad
Avenida Bolivar 103
San Salvador, El Salvador
Centroamérica

Tel/FAX: +503 2226-5362

cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com

Report from Rutilio Grande delegation 2007

A Visit to La Loma   

 On Friday, March 15, 2007, I was among eight participants of the Rutilio Grande delegation who joined Leslie Schuld, Director of the Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS), on a trip to La Loma, the most remote community in the municipality of Comasagua, in the Department of La Libertad. La Loma lies about 10 kilometers south of Comasagua, on a road that runs along the ridge that features El Peñon, the rock outcrop that rises over the spectacular mountain landscape. It took us over an hour to traverse the portion of the road passable by 4 wheel drive pickup, then another half hour to get to La Loma on foot and horseback. When the rainy season begins, the road is impassable by vehicle. For La Loma residents, it is stiff walk of 3 and a half hours to either Comasagua to the north, or La Libertad, on the Pacific coast to the south. We were joined on the trek by Comasagua City Council members and CIS Promoters Daisy ____ and Mercedes Arias, and FMLN coordinator Rafael “Lito” Vazquez. About 60 community members, including dozens of children, met us on the end of the ridge, under the charter tree of the community, which provided us with a cool, shady refuge. They are eager to talk to the CIS delegation, because they are trying to get some support in order to build a small primary school to replace the school destroyed over 20 years ago in the war.  

       The President of the La Loma Council, Adrian Martinez, introduced the Vice-President, Luis Alvaro, and Ruben Rutia, Tomas Rutia, Maria Concepciòn, Yolanda Martinez, Antonio Angel and Victor Rutia, members of the Community Council. He welcomed us and expressed his and the community’s gratitude for our visit, the first international delegation to visit their community. He said he remembered planting the tree under which we were sitting, and he hoped we would all remember also being under this tree during this special time. He explained to us that work at La Loma is difficult, because of the distance involved in gettng anywhere. He went on, “I was born here, 44 years ago. In the war, it was hard, we fled to the hills where ever we could to avoid the fighting. There had been a school here. We were always watching for the military, and many of us died when we were caught. In the war, 40 families lived here, about 480 people. We once had a school and chapel. The 1970’s were hard. We were young and ran to various places. On June 13, 1980, there was a strong military battle here, many died as they fled into the mountains, many were caught and thrown, dead, into the mountains. We buried nine at the chapel after that day. La Loma was bombed from the air and attacked by soldiers, everything was destroyed, and we had to rebuild our houses when we could.” 

Adrian Martinez and Leslie Schuld

      “We were born here, and were persecuted by the military because of that. Especially those with a church affiliation were targetted. We did not want to leave, although some of our parents had to leave – some were disappeared, there are children of people disappeared present here today. It is difficult to talk of such disappearances, but necessary, as it is a part of our history.” “We grow rice, beans, corn. We do not have water, school, electricity or houses with dignity. Right now, 22 families live here, about 138 people.” 

       At this point, Lito spoke, “The farmers and workers here were brutally exploited. They would ask for a little, enough for shoes, or a bit more to eat, and would be violently repressed. I came up here with some youth from the municipality and found many people buried without ceremony, who had been assassinated.” “We do have a school for adults, just a shelter on the hillside. The FMLN won the election, but has to pay off the debt left behind last year by the ARENA administration. The administration will help with a school, and is working on architectural plans, but we would like some support because we have many projects at this time.” 

       Next, Armando Castillo, the President of Cuyanigua, spoke. Cuyanigua is the community closest to La Loma, an hour’s walk down the mountain. .My umbilical cord is buried here in La Loma. Right now, La Loma children need to make this walk to attend the primary school in Cuyamigua. He began, “We were part of the Revolutionary Popular Block durinig the war. Many died. Cuyamigua became a settlement of people displaced by the war, and is related to La Loma, and we hope, together, to overcome our current difficulties. There are 80 students in our school, which is through the ninth grade. To go on to high school requires money for transportation and tuition. It is difficult. We have about 490 people in our community. ” “We carry people off the mountain on hammocks to the hospital in Santa Tecla or the clinic in La Libertad. It is especially difficult for women giving birth, as there is neither doctor nor midwives in La Loma. “ (We learned from a visiting health promoter that a two day old baby had just died. He was investigating the reasons that day, as well as assessing the health of others, and giving some vaccinations.) 

       We were next addressed by Maria Cristina Castillo. She is a woman of 35, who told us, “I lost my parents when I was seven, they disappeared while in La Libertad. I was raised by grandparents. We want a school, need water, electricity. I had only one year of school because of the war. Our school and chapel were destroyed by the military during the war.” (We were able to see the old foundation of the school about 20 feet from our meeting place under the tree.) 

Maria Cristina Castillo

       After a period of exchange and introduction between our group and the dozens of children, and many of the adults, Leslie Schuld, director of the CIS, expained that the CIS would be able to help find sources to help La Loma build their school, and would provide active support through the CIS promoters. She expressed our gratitude for their perseverance and enterprise, and that there is another CIS delegation in May that will visit. As a group, we were moved greatly by the generous and positive spirit of the community. We also then got to appreciate their cooking; excellent shrimp soup, rice, beans, avocado, and refresco. 

       After we once again made the trek back to the pickups, and the ridge ride through the mountains to Comasagua, our delegation met with Danilo Ramirez, the newly elected (2006) FMLN mayor of Comasagua. He is a youthful., relaxed and dynamic person, an agronomist turned politician, and after a welcome to our group, said, “People emigrate for work – we hope with an agro-eco-tourist project we can dynamize the local economy. We would generate income here – we do not want a bedroom community. This is a medium and long term goal.” “In our first year, we have reached the heart of the people, and have shown them they do not have to be afraid of an FMLN government. We have overcome the idea that the Right has promulgated that our governing style would be destabilizing. We are working on infrastructure, and a soccer field.”

       “The youth are our future. The City Council is financing 27 students, which is money that is going to the people. We are building a new community center. The 2001 earthquakes destroyed Comasagua. We are spending $30,000 to expand the cemetery and build the soccer field. We got the water system in Horizonte running. The ARENA government had spent $140,000 building it, and it only worked for one month. It cost $2000 to fix it. The former administration left us with much debt, which we have to pay off before we can really attack the local problems and rebuild our economy. We are a poor community, and cannot raise local taxes, because our people cannot afford them. We are looking for support from international and development groups that we can use to facilitate our development. I hope to be able to accompany the CIS delegation to La Loma in May, and thank you for your support.”

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