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style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">February 8, 2008<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><U><FONT size=3>Contact<SPAN
class=171302713-08022008>:</SPAN></FONT></U></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Burke Stansbury, CISPES: 718
832-9399<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><STRONG><FONT
size=5>Members of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> Congress
Express Concern About Terrorism Charges Against Suchitoto
Prisoners</FONT></STRONG></P>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><FONT size=4><EM>Letters sent to
Salvadoran President Antonio Saca before possible trail set to begin for
‘Suchitoto 13’</EM></FONT></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><EM> </EM></FONT></o:p></SPAN></P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Members of the United States Congress this week sent letters to the
President of El Salvador expressing concern for the state of human rights and
civil liberties in that country. The letters are in response to charges of
terrorism that are being applied to 13 individuals arrested at a protest against
water privatization in the town of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Suchitoto</st1:place></st1:City> on July 2, 2007. These charges were
made under a 2006 “Special Law Against Acts of Terrorism” that was strongly
supported by the U.S. Embassy in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Salvador</st1:place></st1:City>. The Salvadoran government is set to present its
evidence in the case to a special terrorism tribunal, also established by the
2006 law, on Friday, February 8.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The
letters were sent by Congressional Representatives, among them Michael Capuano
of <st1:State w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:State>, Chaka Fattah of <st1:State
w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:State>, Jim McGovern of <st1:State
w:st="on">Massachusetts</st1:State>, and Michael Michaud of <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Maine</st1:place></st1:State>. Several of the
letters sent this week refer to a similar letter signed by 40 members of
Congress in response to the Suchitoto case in August 2007.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">In
his February 5 letter to President Antonio Saca, Congressman Michael Michaud
states his “concern regarding the human rights situation in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> with
respect to the case of those arrested in Suchitoto and charged with acts of
terrorism.” With the legal case against the ‘Suchitoto 13’ set go move forward
this week, Congressman Michaud expresses his “hope that the actions of the
Salvadoran government reflect the values of free political expression, civil
liberties and the rule of law.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Numerous
human rights organizations, both in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> and on the international
level, denounced the Salvadoran government’s treatment of the Suchitoto
prisoners and the terrorism charges themselves. In a July 13, 2007, statement,
Amnesty International said it “fears that those concerned were arrested to
punish them for their involvement in legitimate acts of protest and to prevent
similar such acts in the future.” The report goes on to state that “any charges
that impair the lawful exercise of fundamental rights should be dropped and
anyone facing such charges should be released.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">U.S.-based
solidarity organizations have also called for the terrorism charges to be
dropped. A national “week of action” to draw attention to the issue was carried
out around the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region> in January. Sponsors of the week of
action included the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
(CISPES), <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">U.S.-El</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Salvador Sister</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Cities</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, and the SHARE Foundation.
According to Burke Stansbury, Executive Director of CISPES, “as organizations
that work in solidarity with the Salvadoran social movement, we have a
responsibility to work against repression in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region>, especially when that repression is supported and
encouraged by the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
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align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">*** ***</FONT></SPAN></P>
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align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"></SPAN> </P><SPAN
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">**Para distribución
inmediata**<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Viernes, 8 de Febrero de
2008<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoBodyText style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" align=center><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><STRONG><FONT size=5><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Miembros del Congreso EEUU expresan preocupación sobre
cargos de terrorismo aplicados a capturados en
Suchitoto<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center"
align=center><EM><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-FAMILY: Helvetica; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Varias cartas enviadas al Presidente Saca antes
posible juicio contra 13 de Suchitoto<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></EM></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Contactar a Burke
Stansbury, CISPES: 011-718-832-9399 <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Washington DC: Miembros del Congreso de los EEUU
entregaron esta semana cartas dirigidas al Presidente de El Salvador expresando
su preocupación por el estado de los derechos humanos y derechos civiles en el
país.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Las cartas son una respuesta
a los cargos de terrorismo que están siendo aplicados a 13 personas arrestadas
durante una protesta contra la privatización del agua en el municipio de
Suchitoto el 2 de julio 2007. Estos cargos fueron creados en el 2006 bajo la
“Ley Especial contra Actos de Terrorismo”, la cual fue apoyada fuertemente por
la embajada estadounidense en San Salvador.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Este viernes 8 de febrero, el gobierno
salvadoreño esta supuesto a presentar evidencia sobre el caso a un tribunal
especializado en terrorismo, establecido por la misma ley del 2006.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Las cartas fueron enviadas por representantes Michael
Capuano de Massachusetts, Chaka Fattah de Pensilvania, Jim McGovern de
Massachusetts, y Michael Michaud de Maine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Varias de las cartas enviadas esta semana hacen referencia a una carta
similar firmada por 40 miembros del Congreso en respuesta al caso de Suchitoto
en Agosto del 2007.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">En una carta enviada el 5 de febrero al Presidente
Antonio Saca, el congresista Michael Michaud declara su “preocupación sobre la
situación de derechos humanos en El Salvador con respecto al caso de las
personas detenidas en Suchitoto y acusados de actos de terrorismo”.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Refiriéndose al caso legal contra los
’13 de Suchitoto’ programado a realizarse esta semana, el congresista Michaud
expreso su “esperanza que las acciones del gobierno de El Salvador reflejen los
valores de libertad de expresión política, libertades civiles y el estado de
derecho”. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Varias organizaciones de derechos humanos, ambos en El
Salvador como a nivel internacional, denunciaron el accionar del gobierno
salvadoreño contra los prisioneros políticos y los cargos de terrorismo.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>El 13 de julio 2007, Amnistía
Internacional <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>declaro que “teme que
los involucrados fueron detenidos para castigarlos por su participación en actos
legítimos de protesta y para prevenir que sucedan actos similares en el futuro”.
El informe a la vez declara que “cualquier cargo que limita el ejercicio legal
de derechos fundamentales debe ser retirado y cualquier persona bajo juicio por
esos cargos debería ser liberada”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><o:p><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=ES-SV
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: ES-SV"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Organizaciones solidarias estadounidenses también han
exigido los cargos de terrorismo sean retirados.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Una semana de acción fue realizada a
través de los EEUU en enero para atraer atención al caso en enero.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>La semana de acción fue auspiciada por
el Comité en Solidaridad con el Pueblo de El Salvador (CISPES), EEUU-El Salvador
Ciudades Hermanas y la Fundación SHARE.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Según el Director Ejecutivo del CISPES, Burke Stansbury, “como
organizaciones que trabajamos en solidaridad con el movimiento social
salvadoreño, tenemos la responsabilidad de luchar contra la represión en El
Salvador, especialmente cuando la represión es apoyada e impulsada por los
Estados Unidos”. <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
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