"Hermano Dame tu Mano" (Brother Give Me Your Hand)
Los Guaraguao means a lot to many Salvadorans because its music became a symbol of resistance during the violent years of US backed right-wing dictatorships. Anyone caught listening to “Las Casas de Carton” (The Cardboard Homes) or “No Basta Rezar” (Praying is Not Enough), could get arrested and face violence from the Salvadoran State police and paramilitary including torture and even death.
Students caught listening to “Que vivan los estudiantes” (Long Live the Students) were accused of terrorism, and it was once used as an excuse for the Salvadoran military to invade the National University in El Salvador.
"For anyone who witnessed the horror show of El Salvador's 12-year civil war, the ballot-box victory of former leftist guerrillas there on Sunday was a stunning development. Though it took another 17 years after the war ended, the country now joins Northern Ireland in demonstrating that it is possible for a rebel group to effect political change and assume power through peaceful means. That's a gratifying development. We are especially pleased that the outgoing National Republican Alliance, or Arena party, chose to respect the results."
--from the Los Angeles Times editorial, 3/17/09. For the rest of the editorial, click here.
We will continue to follow this story as news develops.
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