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ALERT! Salvadoran Youth from Suchitoto 13 Murdered; Tell Congress No Funding to Plan Mexico & ILEA!
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
On May 3, Hector Antonio Ventura,
one of the 14 people originally captured during an anti-water privatization
protest in the town of Suchitoto last year, was stabbed to death in
his home. Given his role as one of the accused in the high profile
anti-terrorism case, Ventura’s death could likely be politically
motivated, and therefore Salvadoran social movement organizations have called
for a full investigation into his death.
Ventura was among
13 people charged last year under the controversial 2006 “Special Law Against
Acts of Terrorism”. In February all charges against the activists were dropped,
but the case demonstrated internationally the repressive nature of the current
right-wing ARENA government. Other possible political murders – such as the
slaying of Wilber Funes, a mayor from the leftist FMLN party – have yet to be
resolved, raising fear of increased political violence during the lead up to the
2009 Salvadoran elections. Meanwhile,
Congress is set to vote this week on a huge, new funding package that would
dramatically increase US
support for “security” forces in Mexico and Central
America. The so-called Merida Initiative
(also known as Plan Mexico)
includes over $60 million for anti-gang and anti-drug programs in Central America, including an additional $2 million for
the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA).
Youth Arrested Under Anti-Terrorism Law Assassinated in Suchitoto
Friday, 09 May 2008
Hector Antonio Ventura, one of the 14
people originally captured during an anti-water privatization protest in the
town of Suchitoto last year, was assassinated on May 3
in his home. The assailants apparently stabbed him to death, while another man
was attacked but survived. Organizations such as the legal group FESPAD have
called for a full investigation into the death of the 19-year old Ventura, while already
expressing concern that Salvadoran authorities would not sufficiently address
the likely political motivation for the murder.
Ventura was among
13 people charged under the controversial “Special Law Against Acts of
Terrorism”, which was passed by the right-wing bloc in the Legislative Assembly
in 2006. In February all charges against the activists were dropped, but the
case demonstrated internationally the repressive nature of the current
right-wing ARENA government. Meanwhile, other possible political murders – such
as the slaying of FMLN mayor Wilber Funes in January – have yet to be resolved,
raising the specter of increased political violence during the lead up to the
2009 Salvadoran elections.
Salvadoran social movement celebrates May
Day
Denouncing the high
cost of living, the ongoing food crisis, and the rising fuel prices that are
paralyzing the country, a diverse group of social organizations marched through
the main streets of San
Salvador on May 1st, International Workers’
Day.
Take Action to Denounce U.S. Intervention in El Salvador and Attacks against CISPES
Monday, 05 May 2008
From May 5-9
CISPES chapters around the country are taking action to denounce
U.S. government inquiries into the work of CISPES and to raise awareness about
the U.S. role in ongoing human rights abuses and problems leading up to the 2009
elections in El Salvador.
In January CISPES received a
letter from the Department of Justice saying that the U.S. government
suspects the organization of being an “agent of a foreign principal”, which
would require CISPES to register under the “Foreign Agent Registration Act.” The
justification was a claim that the leftist FMLN party in El Salvador had hired CISPES to do public
relations and fundraising support for its presidential campaign in the
U.S., but little credible evidence
was provided. You can read more about the CISPES
DoJ case here.
In the early dawn hours of April 14, El Salvador’s National Civilian Police (PNC)
arrested Isabel Cortés and Marvin Antonio Rodriguez and charged them with
January’s double murder of Wilber Funes, mayor of the town of Alegría, and municipal
employee Zulma Rivera. Cortés is a member of the Alegría city council who was
elected along with Funes on the FMLN party ticket in
2006.
In the midst of a Latin American
shift to the left, El
Salvador just might be next in line! The
Committee with the People of El Salvador continues to support REAL democracy and
human rights in El Salvador,
opposing U.S.U.S. policing tactics – and the CAFTA
free trade agreement. CISPES invites you join a summer fact-finding delegation
to witness first hand the social movement inspiration behind the 2009 electoral
process, while delving into the economic, political, and human right challenges
that El Salvador is confronting prior its key upcoming
elections! intervention
through institutions like the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) - an
instrument for exporting repressive
In January CISPES received a letter from their National Security Division saying that they suspected us of being an "agent of a foreign principal" and wanted us to register under the "Foreign Agents Registration Act."
Their justification? They claimed that the FMLN had hired CISPES to do public relations and fundraising support for their presidential campaign in the US.
Our response was clear: [see sidebar for more information]
* CISPES solidarity with the FMLN began in 1980 and continues today.
* It is based on a shared vision of a more just world; there is no financial or contractual agreement. We have a solidarity relationship-what we have in common is a commitment to building a cross border movement that will unite the poor and working people of the US and El Salvador in our struggle for social justice.
During an April 8 “Anti-Gang Summit” in San Salvador, United States Ambassador Charles
Glazer urged Salvadoran authorities to quickly approve certain laws and reforms
to the penal code, stating that, “it is necessary to make several critical
reforms to get criminals off of the streets.”
The three demands put forward by Ambassador Glazer are
the prompt approval of a new Criminal Processing Code, new powers of telephone
surveillance, and a new extradition law. Glazer justified these proposed reforms
by insisting that they would help El Salvador’s economy. In a clear
allusion to the massive stream of Salvadorans immigrating the United
States, Glazer stated that “extortion and the
threat of violence impede economic growth and force your citizens to leave in
search of safer streets and better economic conditions.”
On
April 6, a large and loud group of protesters gathered on Wilshire Boulevard
in Los Angeles to demonstrate against Antonio
"Tony" Saca, the right-wing president of El
Salvador. Saca’s trip to L.A. followed a brief
stay in San Francisco where dozens of protesters came out for two separate
actions on April 4, targeting both Saca and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom,
who agreed to meet with Saca, and was consequently lambasted by the local
community for praising a president whose government has been guilty of numerous
human rights abuses. CISPES helped organize both protests and also flooded
Mayor Newsom with emails and calls demanding that he not honor
Saca.
US Government Re-Targets The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) was charged with being a terrorist organization in the 1980s. The accusations were found to be baseless, but CISPES has one again been contacted by the US government. Citing a 1938 act, the Department of Justice is requesting information from CISPES about their relationship with the leftist party in El Salvador, and their organizing work in the country. Elena Botkin-Levy has more.
