A very nice weekend. And a very busy Sunday. This is how Gert Kuiper, brother of IKON journalist Jan Kuiper from Assen, who was murdered in 1982, describes this weekend.
A weekend in which it became known that two suspects had been arrested for the murder of four Dutch journalists in El Salvador in 1982. Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Joop Willemsen and Hans ter Laag were in that country in Central America in 1982 for a report on the violent civil war. The four were met by government soldiers and shot dead as they tried to enter guerrilla territory.
And what is the result of that arrest this weekend: “The telephone rings all day,” says Gert Kuiper. “Many interviews and requests for interviews, but also many people who show support. That’s very nice.”
Five years ago, Gert Kuiper and a sister of one of the other murdered journalists made a report in El Salvador. “The country had an amnesty law for war crimes for a long time. But that law was abolished in 2016. People from El Salvador told us that if we wanted to do something, then we should do it. Otherwise it could take years again.”
He had taken into account that it would take a long time before something would happen. “A case can also take years in the Netherlands.” But this year he started to lose hope a little. “I thought it took a long time this year. Too long.”
And then he suddenly gets a message on Friday evening. There is sufficient evidence against three suspects for arrest. There were five suspects in the picture, but two of them have already died.
Gert Kuiper calls it a remarkable message, Friday evening. “There was already enough evidence for a long time. There are several agencies that have already investigated everything. For example, the United Nations already researched and found evidence 30 years ago. But for some reason it was not allowed to hand it over.”
And he also finds it remarkable because it all happened so long ago – forty years ago the murder took place. “In the meantime, suspects have died. And the political situation in El Salvador has also changed. You just have to hope that there are now people who also understand the importance of this case.”
It is a surprise that it has now become known that the first two suspects have been arrested. “That applies to all family members of the four journalists.” The two arrested are former defense minister General Guillermo García and Colonel Francisco Antonio Morán, then director of a special police force. El Salvador also asks the United States to extradite Colonel Mario Reyes Mena. He is seen as the main person responsible for the murder.
A very nice weekend for Gert Kuiper. “Yes, you can say that. But I also remain a real Drent.” So he is also sober. “I don’t set my expectations too high for what will happen next.”