Call U.S. State Department to demand a press conference in San Salvador stating US neutrality and respect for Salvadoran democracy!

2004 intervention repeated; Republicans threaten Salvadoran voters from floor of House of Representatives 4 days before election

For all the latest updates, please check out the CISPES blog!

UPDATE: MARCH 13 2009, 10.30am eastern time

The US Embassy in El Salvador put a copy of the statement of US neutrality on their website late last night:

"US Government Position Regarding El Salvadors Presidential Election

The Government of the United States reiterates its official position that it does not support either candidate in the upcoming presidential election in El Salvador on Sunday, March 15. The Embassy of the United States in El Salvador has stated this position publicly and repeatedly.

The separation of powers and freedoms in the United States allows the debate in which members of the U.S. Legislature have expressed their opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the official position of the United States.

The U.S. Embassy will field an observation team on Sunday to monitor the elections which we expect will be free and fair.

The U.S. Government will respect the will of the Salvadoran people and will seek to work constructively with whoever wins that election."

In essence, no matter what the Republicans may want to say about the FMLN, the US Government is neutral in the presidential elections in El Salvador. Now we need to make doubly sure that the Salvadoran people get this message loud and clear. We are asking you to keep pressure on the State Department until they give an official press conference in San Salvador to state US neutrality in El Salvador's presidential election. Read below for updated contact information.

Phone calls to the U.S. State Department, demanding an officialstatement of respect for the results of El Salvador's March 15presidential election, are needed today!Yesterday, two Republicans gave speeches on the floor of the House ofRepresentatives threatening that Salvadorans living in the U.S. willlose their immigration status and be outlawed from sending money hometo their families if voters in El Salvador exercise their right toelect the opposition FMLN party's candidate on Sunday.

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) said, Should the pro-terrorist FMLN partyreplace the current government in El Salvador, the United States, inthe interests of national security, would be required to reevaluate ourpolicy toward El Salvador, including cash remittance and immigrationpolicies to compensate for the fact there will no longer be a reliablecounterpart in the Salvadoran government.

Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) stated, Those monies that are comingfrom here to there I am confident will be cut, and I hope the people ofEl Salvador are aware of that because it will have a tremendous impacton individuals and their economy. Indeed, these threats carryconsiderable weight for Salvadoran voters, as 25% of the Salvadoranpopulation lives in the U.S., and 20% of the nation's economy consistsof remittances from those family members.

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TAKE ACTION!
Call the State Department todemand a press conference in San Salvador to publicly state USneutrality in the Salvadoran presidential elections!!
CALL:
To speak with Chris Webster at the state department: (202) 647-4087
To leave a message: (202) 647-6575
(SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT BELOW)
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We fully expect these open, blatant threats to be plastered across the front pages of newspapers across El Salvador in the coming days. In fact, the guarantee of such media coverage for these statements is the very reason that they were made in the first place. These threats endanger the sovereign right of the Salvadoran people to elect their own government, free from outside manipulation.

The Republicans' statement stand in stark contrast to last week's declaration by over thirty House Democrats and one Senator who publicly committed to U.S. neutrality, to respect the election results, and to maintain a positive relationship with whichever government is elected. In a March 5 press conference in Washington, D.C., Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) stated, the proper position of the U.S. Congress and government is one of neutrality and respect for El Salvadors independent democratic process.

With the election less than a week away, it is imperative that the State Department declare this same position of neutrality and respect for El Salvadors independent democratic process, and reject the Republicans' threats and lies about immigration status and remittances. The integrity and fairness of El Salvador's presidential election is in danger as long as such a statement is not made.

TAKE ACTION!

The U.S. must respect the will of the Salvadoran people!

1) Call the State Department to demand a press conference in San Salvador to publicly state US neutrality in the Salvadoran presidential elections!!

CALL:
To speak with Chris Webster at the state department: (202) 647-4087
To leave a message: (202) 647-6575

CALL SCRIPT:
I am calling to urge Secretary Clinton to immediately make a public statement declaring that the United States will respect the results of Sunday's presidential election in El Salvador and seek a positive relationship with whoever is elected.

On Wednesday, Members of Congress publicly threatened to revoke the immigration status of Salvadorans living here in the U.S. and outlaw the remittances they send back to their families. These threats have been extensively covered by the media in El Salvador. Without a statement by the State Department refuting these threats, the integrity and fairness of the Salvadoran election will be severely compromised.
2) Then call the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador and ask to speak to chargé daffaires Robert Blau.

From the U.S., CALL: 011-503-2501-2999

CALL SCRIPT:I am calling from the United States to ask that the Embassy publicly declare that the U.S. government will respect the results of Sunday's election, and that the threats made by Members of Congress this week about immigration status and remittances are false.