Juan Romagoza Arze
Born
Usulután, El Salvador
EducationUniversity of El Salvador
OccupationSurgeon
Years active1980–present

Juan Romagoza Arze (born 1960) is a Salvadoran surgeon, and current director of La Clínica del Pueblo.[1][2]

Early years

Romagoza was born in Usulután, El Salvador. In 1973 enrolled to medicine school at the University of El Salvador. During his surgeon rotation practice worked in poor and rural areas and was witness of violence and repression by government forces during Salvadoran Civil War against poor, church workers and medical personal that aid them.

Kidnapping and torture

In December 1980, while Romagoza was providing medical care at a church clinic in Santa Anita, Chalatenango, two army vehicles arrived to the clinic and opened fire to the people, Romagoza was shot in one foot and kidnapped and jailed at National Guard headquarters in San Salvador for 22 days where he was tortured and interrogated three or four times per day by electric shocks, cigarette burns, sexually assault, water torture, and being hung by his fingers. In one torturer session he was in his left hand in presence of Carlos Eugenio Vides Casanova. Romagoza was released in January 1981 due to the detention he lost 80 pounds and lost his ability to perform surgery due to the injuries inflicted and had to be physically carried out by his uncle.[3]

United States

Romagoza fled El Salvador and moved to Guatemala, Mexico, and lately to the United States in April 1983 was to become an American citizen in 1986 and was granted political asylum in 1987.

Central American Refugee Center

Ramagoza became active in assisting the refugee communities and co-founded the Central American Refugee Center (CRECE).

La Clínica del Pueblo

Romagoza worked at La Clínica del Pueblo, where he became executive director in 1987 and this was a second opportunity for Romagoza to serve free medical care to poor or low income people.

Ramagoza v. García

Ramagoza v. Garcia was a lawsuit filed by the Center for Justice and Accountability on behalf of survivors of torture during the Salvadoran Civil War. General José Guillermo García lost, and a judgment of over US$54 million was entered against him and his co-defendant, and upheld on appeal.[4][5]

Clinic El Espino

In 2008, Ramagoza returned to El Salvador and founded the Clinic El Espino, Usulután, El Salvador, were provide free medical treatment to the communities where he began his career.

References

  1. ↑ "Clients - CJA".
  2. ↑ "Romagoza".
  3. ↑ "Former Salvadoran defense minister, tied to killings of Oscar Romero and churchwomen, deported back to El Salvador". 13 January 2016.
  4. ↑ Gonzales, David. "Torture Victims in El Salvador Are Awarded $54 Million New York Times" (24 July 2002). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ↑ "El Salvador Generals Guilty of Torture". BBC News. 2002-07-23. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
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