Spent a poignant time over in the east of El Salvador in the ex-guerrilla stronghold of Perquin. The Museum of the Revolution filled us in on the gruesome history of the countrys civil war, although of course it was very one-sided from the rebels point of view. Very interesting to read and hear how much money the US Government pumped into prolonging the war...

But whatever side you stand on, you couldnt help but be moved by the memorials in the town of El Mozote. In December 1981, the military stormed this town of civilians just outside Perquin. Over the course of 2 days, they separated the men from the women and children, shot the men one by one, raped the women and young girls before shooting the rest one by one. In total, the town of 757 people was massacred with the bodies left to decompose inside a building for over 10 years before they were discovered. At first the government attempted to blame being caught in the cross fire as the cause of so many deaths before the truth was revealed. The town now serves as a poignant message to the rest of the world - nunca jamas or never again. It was really quite moving in the childrens memorial garden reading the lists of children who died along with their ages - 2 days, 3 months, 1 year etc. With the tradegy happening as recent as the early 1980s, these children would be our age now. Pretty moving stuff.