February 23, 2007

Quadruple Homicide of Salvadoran Deputies and Driver

News

On February 20, three Salvadoran deputies to the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN) were killed along with their driver in Guatemala, setting off a wave of accusations and speculation. The ARENA representatives had been in a police-escorted caravan of PARLACEN deputies, but the car carrying the three of them and their driver left the convoy. Hours later all four were found shot dead 25 miles outside Guatemala City, their bodies and the car charred from fire. One of the deputies killed was the son of death squad and ARENA founder Roberto DAubuisson.

Leaders of Salvadoran social and religious organizations, the Salvadoran Human Rights Ombudswoman, and representatives from the major political parties all condemned the killing of the PARLACEN deputies. The head of the FMLN legislative fraction, Leonel Gonzalez, called for a serious investigation and for those responsible to be brought to justice. The ARENA leadership first reacted by calling on the Guatemalan authorities for a complete investigation. However, little time had passed before they began turning the event into a motivation for rallying behind ARENA and for attacking the Left. The Director of the National Civil Police, Rodrigo Avila, stated that he would not discard the possibility that the murder was done by either "gangs or leftist extremist groups." President Tony Saca, meanwhile, claimed that these murders were meant to intimidate ARENA and said that "we will not allow irresponsible communists, people that dont believe in the system, to take the power in this country."

However, in the days following the murders more has emerged about the case which points to the motives being related to drug trafficking or organized crime. One of the deputies had specifically requested the police escort two days before the trip. The Guatemalan Public Ministry reports that the deputies had been seen in recent years at the same ranch where they were found dead. Meanwhile, the murders fell on the eve of the 15^th anniversary of Roberto DAubuissons death, leading some media sources to speculate that DAubuissons son was the real target. But then on Thursday Guatemalan authorities announced they had arrested four police officers who may prove to be connected to drug trafficking or organized crime and accused them of the murders.

First Attempt to Apply Anti-Terrorism Law

The organizing of informal vendors in El Salvador has been under attack from the government and right-wing groups over the course of the past year, with physical assaults, repression of protests, and attempts to divide and undermine the vendors struggle. In many cases, informal vendors have been organized to use violent forms of protest to attack the municipalities governed by the FMLN.

On February 10, one such protest took place in the municipality of Apopa, which is governed by the FMLN. Informal vendors arrived and attacked the municipal government, destroying local government property. Less than a week later, three of the protesters were arrested and the Attorney Generals office announced that it would charge them with "acts of terrorism", punishable by 40-60 years in jail. This is the governments first attempt to use the recently approved anti-terrorism law. As the party governing Apopa, the FMLN criticized the attacks on the town hall and charged that the protesters belonged to groups organized by the Right. However, the FMLN has been clear in stating that destruction of property should be considered vandalism and not terrorism, and party leaders have said they will not support any application of the anti-terrorism law.

Students Protest Missing Activist

On February 16 members of the National University workers union (SETEUS), the Popular Youth Bloc (BPJ) and other student organizations shut down the streets in front of the National University in a protest calling attention to the disappearance of 21 year-old Francisco Contreras and demanding an investigation into his case. The youth organizations believe that it is the government