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<p class=style3 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
color=red face=Garamond><span style='font-size:18.0pt'><br>
</span></font></b><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>CISPES
ACTION ALERT<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:right'><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>May 13, 2008<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=right style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:right'><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><b><font
size=5 face=Arial><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'>Salvadoran Youth from Suchitoto 13 Murdered; Tell
Congress No Funding to Plan Mexico or the ILEA!<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>On May 3, Hector Antonio Ventura, one of the 14 people
originally captured during an anti-water privatization protest in the town
of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Suchitoto</st1:place></st1:City>
last year, was stabbed to death in his home. Given his role as one of the
accused in the high profile anti-terrorism case, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:City>’s death could likely be
politically motivated, and therefore Salvadoran social movement organizations
have called for a full investigation into his death. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Ventura</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> 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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Meanwhile, Congress is set to vote this
week on a huge, new funding package that would dramatically increase <st1:country-region
w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> support for “security” forces
in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and <st1:place
w:st="on">Central America</st1:place>.</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> The so-called
Merida Initiative (also known as Plan <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>)
includes over $60 million for anti-gang and anti-drug programs in <st1:place
w:st="on">Central America</st1:place>, including an additional $2 million
for the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). The funding will be
voted on this week as part of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> war supplemental bill, and
the authorization will be voted on separately, first in a mark-up held
Wednesday in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The second part of the
Merida Initiative funding – which includes more than $120 million for
<st1:place w:st="on">Central America</st1:place> – will be voted on
in June as part of the 2009 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>CISPES and our allies reject increased <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> funding for repressive governments like
the right-wing ARENA government in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region>, be it for police
or military forces. Such initiatives work to reinforce failing policies
such as ARENA’s infamous <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Mano Dura
</span></i>(“iron fist”), which has contributed to a dramatic increase
in murder and violent crime since the crackdowns began in 2003. No funding
included in the Merida Plan addresses the real causes of poverty, violence,
and drug trafficking in the region; rather, the Central America portion of
the initiative would increase equipment and training for policing and
surveillance, as well as bolster institutions like the ILEA that many
believe have worsened the human rights situation in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'>Your action is critical at this moment!
Please call Congress about the upcoming votes on the <st1:City w:st="on">Merida</st1:City>
Initiative and the ILEA, and email or fax directly to the Salvadoran
government to insist they carry out a full investigation into the murder of
Hector <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center'><b><i><u><font
size=4 color=red face=Arial><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:red;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Take Action!<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=1 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'>Call your Congressional Representative and demand</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>
that they oppose the authorization of the Merida Authorization Act of
2008, otherwise known as <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Plan Mexico</span></b>.
If your member of Congress is on the House Foreign Affairs Committee
then ask that they opposed the authorization during the mark up on
Wednesday May 14. Go <a
href="http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/members.asp?committee=full&subnav=subcommittees">here
for a list of committee members</a> and go to <a
href="http://www.cispes.org/ilea">www.cispes.org/ilea</a> for talking
points. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=2 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'>Tell your Rep to contact Congressman Elliot Engel, Chairman of
the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, to request that he hold a hearing
</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>on the deteriorating situation of human rights in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
the role of the Salvadoran police, and the ILEA (see below or go to <a
href="http://www.cispes.org/ilea">www.cispes.org/ilea</a> for talking
points). <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<ol style='margin-top:0in' start=3 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:
bold'>Contact Salvadoran President Antonio Saca and Attorney General
Felix Safie to demand that a full investigation be carried out into
the murder of Hector <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:City>.</span></font></b><font
size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> You
can email Saca at <a href="mailto:fmelgar@presidencia.gob.sv">fmelgar@presidencia.gob.sv</a>
and cc Safie at <a href="mailto:fgsafie@fgr.gob.sv">fgsafie@fgr.gob.sv</a>,
as well as <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>
Ambassador Charles Glazer at <font color=black><span style='color:
black'><a href="mailto:GlazerCL@state.gov">GlazerCL@state.gov</a></span></font>.
You can also send faxes to Saca (011-503-<font color=black><span
style='color:black'>2243-9947</span></font>) and Safie (011-503-2528-6095).
<b><i><span style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>See below for
sample note.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV style='font-size:12.0pt'>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><u><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:
none'> </span></o:p></span></font></u></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><i><u><font
size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'>Talking points<o:p></o:p></span></font></u></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Background:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This year, the
International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) is being funded through both
the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill and the so-called Merida
Initiative, the latter of which will be voted on in the coming weeks in the
U.S. Congress. The U.S.-sponsored ILEA has been operating in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>
over two years and has been criticized by social movement organizations and
human rights groups as another potential School of the Americas (SOA), under
a new name and in a new location. Since the opening of this
institution, human rights abuses have increased in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>, from attacks on
peaceful protesters by the National Civilian Police (PNC) to the documented
role of the PNC in at least 8 extra-judicial killings in one year. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In the coming months
before the June vote on the Foreign Operation Appropriations bill we hope
to continue to educate Congress by pushing for a Congressional hearing and
challenging Congress to increase oversight of the ILEA, as part of our
campaign to shut down the police academy!<b><span style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
color=black face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.0pt;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>Call the House Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>When
you call:<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>1) Ask the operator for your
Representative, and then ask to speak to your Representative’s
foreign affairs legislative assistant, chief of staff or legislative
director.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>2) Tell them you are a </span></font>constituent
and want to know your congressperson’s position<font color=black><span
style='color:black'> on the Merida Initiative and the ILEA. If they
don’t know much about these programs, inform your rep. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>3) Using the description above and the
talking points on the CISPES webpage (<a href="http://www.cispes.org/ilea">www.cispes.org/ilea</a>),
explain why Congress should reject Merida Initiative funding. (If the
Rep. is on the Foreign Affairs Committee, tell them to vote against the
proposal in committee on Wednesday)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>4) Urge them to call congressmen
Engel’s office to request a hearing on the ILEA at the Western
Hemisphere Subcommittee</span></font> in order to provide them with more
information about the situation of the National Civilian Police, human
rights abuses in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>, and the ILEA.<font
color=black><span style='color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>5) If the Rep. agrees to take a stand
on the issue or push for a hearing, send an email to CISPES (</span></font><u><font
color=blue><span style='color:blue'><a href="mailto:burke@cispes.org">burke@cispes.org</a>)</span></font></u><font
color=black><span style='color:black'> with the name of the person you spoke
with and </span></font>your Rep’s name, and we will send their office
more details about Plan Merida, the ILEA and our campaign against
repression in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'><br clear=all style='page-break-before:always'>
</span></font>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Sample
letter to President Saca<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 color=black face="Times New Roman"><span
lang=ES-SV style='font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>Sr. Elías Antonio Saca,
Presidente de El Salvador:</span></font><span lang=ES-SV><br>
<font color=black><span style='color:black'>Fax (011 503) 2243-9947</span></font><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:12.0pt'>13 de Mayo de 2008<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Señor Presidente Saca:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-SV
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Le escribo con suma preocupación por el posible
asesinato político de Héctor Ventura. El joven – uno de los
arrestados durante la protesta en Suchitoto el año pasado quien fue acusado
erróneamente de actos de terrorismo – fue apuñalado hasta morir
cuando dormía en su domicilio en Suchitoto. Como presidente, es imperativo
que Ud. asegure se de una investigación completa y transparente de los
hechos para que de manera rápida se traiga justicia a este ataque violento.
</span></font><span lang=ES-TRAD>Además, es crítico que se resuelvan otros
casos de violencia política, como el posible asesinato político de Wilmer
Funes en Alegría, Usulután. Como presidente Ud. tiene que asegurarse que la
Fiscalía General conduzca una pronta investigación y que esta junto con la
PNC trabaje para poner un alto a cualquier violencia política en el
futuro. Finalmente, el gobierno debe de hacer una declaración pública
expresando su consternación por los asesinatos ocurridos y hacer un llamando
a la justicia.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:12.0pt'>El garantizar la libertad de expresión, y
particularmente la expresión política, es esencial en cualquier
democracia. Ahora, en este año pre-electoral, es crítico que el gobierno
de El Salvador demuestre su compromiso por la defensa del derecho de todas
y todos los salvadoreños y su expresión política.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span lang=ES-TRAD
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt'>Atentamente,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>__________________ (name)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>__________________ (state, country)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Cc Salvadoran Attorney General Felix Safie<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Cc US Ambassador Charles Glazer<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 color=blue face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:blue;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>This
is the translation; please send Spanish version<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dear President Saca,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am writing to express concern about the possible
political assassination of Hector Ventura. The youth – one of the
people arrested last year in Suchitoto and later falsely accused of acts of
terrorism – was stabbed to death while sleeping in his house in the
town of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Suchitoto</st1:City></st1:place>.
As president, its important that you assure a complete and transparent
investigation into the events in order to quickly bring justice in this
case. It is also important that you work to resolve other cases of
political violence such as the likely political assassination of the mayor
of Alegria, Wilmer Funes. Its also necessary that you ensure your Attorney
General conduct a thorough investigation and that together with the
National Civilian Police you work to put a stop to such violence in the
future. Finally, the government should make a public declaration
expressing your consternation for these recent assassinations and making a
call for justice.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Guaranteeing freedom of expression, and
particularly political expression, is essential in a democracy. Now, in
this pre-electoral year, it is critical that the government of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>
demonstrate its commitment to the defense of the right of all Salvadorans
to express themselves politically. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=1 color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:9.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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