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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Brutal Government
Attacks on Community of Cutumay Camones Continue<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>CISPES update<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>November 27, 2007<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'><img width=384
height=251 id="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image002.jpg@01C830E1.4F26B210"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><font size=1
face=Arial><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-style:italic'>A young
Salvadoran is arrested by riot police after tear gas attacks in Cutumay
Camones (photo Diario de Hoy)<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On November 22, the community of Cutumay Camones was again brutally attacked
by the Salvadoran riot police (UMO). The community, in their continuous
resistance to the construction of a garbage dump, blocked the entrance of
the construction site. Orlando Mena, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Santa
Ana</st1:place></st1:City>’s mayor, joined with Police Director Rodrigo
Avila in sending more than 300 riot police to “dissolve the protest”,
attacking the community with tear gas fired from surrounding helicopters. <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'>The attack on the community likely caused the death of 14-year old
William Alfredo Ventura who died from bronchitis and pneumonia complications
provoked by the tear gas. At the same time, 39 people, including children under
the age of 18, have been arrested and are under police custody. The community
is demanding the immediate release of all community members captured last week
and continues to demand an end to the construction of the garbage damp as well
the end of police intervention on behalf of the private company Presys. <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'>Given that the death of Ventura cold have been directly related to the
use of tear gas, Human Rights Ombudsman Oscar Luna called for an investigation into
his death. “We are questioning the police abusive use of force, for
which there must be an investigation into the actions of the National Civilian Police,”
said Ombudsman Luna. Social organizations that make up the Forum for the
Defense and Sustainability of Water are joining in the demand that the death of
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:City> to be
investigated. They are calling for solidarity with the community against the
repressive acts of the National Civilian Police. Also, the Legislative Assembly
called for Police Director Rodrigo Avila to visit the Assembly on Wednesday
November 28 to explain the police procedure implemented in Cutumay Camones. <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'>Previously, social organizations such as the Water Workers Union SETA
organized an activity to accompany the community in their resistance against
the building of the garbage dump which will contaminate local water resources.
Various communities in resistance gathered at the event to show their support. The
case is similar to that of the community of Tacuba where community leaders were
targets of state repression for defending the administration of water earlier
this year.<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'>Right-wing parties such as the PCN recently voted in favor of a
resolution in the Legislative Assembly which includes a series of
recommendations on the Cutumay Camones case. First, the resolution demands that
the General Attorney’s office investigate the series of irregularities in
the concession of construction and operating permits that the Environmental
Ministry awarded the private company Presys. Second, it asks the National Civilian
Police to stop intervention in the community, saying that a national security
entity cannot serve the interests of a private company, nor should it be
applying excessive force. Lastly, the resolution calls for the suspension of
the garbage dump.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Murder of Jesuit priests commemorated
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>With an ecumenical act on November 16, the Central American University
(UCA) remembered the murder of six Jesuit priests who were assassinated on the
same date in 1989. It is publicly known that the orders to kill Jesuit priest
Ignacio Ellacuria came from the Salvadoran government and were executed by
members of the Battalion Atlacatl trained at the School of the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Americas</st1:country-region> in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. To accomplish the
mission, the military also assassinated Jesuit priests Ignacio Martín-Baró, Segundo
Montes, Juan Ramón Moreno, Amando López, Joaquín López, as well as their housekeeper
and her daughter. Students at the UCA protested against the impunity that
still reigns in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region>
around these cases and many more that occurred during and after the war. <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'>In the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>,
CISPES joined over 20,000 people at the annual vigil against the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Army</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType>
of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Americas</st1:country-region> in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Ft. Benning</st1:City>, <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Georgia</st1:country-region></st1:place><b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>. </span></b> Josefina Lazo, a leader of the National Vendors
Movement in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>,
spoke from the stage about the atrocities committed by <st1:country-region
w:st="on">U<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>.</span></font>S<font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>.</span></font></st1:country-region>
trained soldiers in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>,
and about the increase in repression in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> that she linked to the
opening of the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). Lazo joined
Father Roy Bourgious and presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich in leading the
procession to the gates of the school.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>FMLN denounces ARENA’s dirty
campaign<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>In the lead-up to the FMLN’s 23<sup>rd</sup> National Convention
on November 11, ARENA created the “Permanent Forum for Freedom.”
The group is composed of and funded by ARENA members who become active during
past electoral periods. During the last couple of months they have paid for a
series of ads relating the FMLN with Venezuelan president Chavez, and warning
the Salvadoran population that the Venezuelan model of “dictatorship and
evil” would be imported to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> if the FMLN were to win
in 2009. After the convention, president Saca continued the attacks against the
FMLN saying that “the relationship with the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> would be practically
ruined” if the FMLN wins the presidency in 2009. Furthermore, Saca said
the FMLN is all about “controlling prices, closing private companies
which would end all that this country has progressed in the last 20
years.” The reference comes after FMLN presidential candidate Mauricio
Funes stated in his speech that more state intervention will be needed in order
to improve the economic and reverse the social crisis which the country is
mired in after 18 years of ARENA governance. <font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'> </span></font>FMLN Communications Secretary Sigfrido Reyes
denounced ARENA’s dirty campaign in a press conference last week, calling
Saca to end this fear mongering and stating that “this time around, fear
will not defeat the hope” for change expressed by most Salvadorans. Even
Honorary President of ARENA Armando Calderon Sol admitted the advantage the
FMLN currently has over his party, stating that the outcome of the FMLN
convention “forces ARENA to start making decisions more quickly<font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>.</span></font>” <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'>Meanwhile Mauricio Funes and his running mate Salvador Sanchez Ceren,
accompanied by other FMLN leaders, continue their visits to various
municipalities in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region>. This weekend Funes visited the <st1:place
w:st="on">Lower Lempa</st1:place> region of the country, an area known for its
economic and geographical vulnerability to annual flooding. The visit is part
of the FMLN’s Open Social Dialogue initiative (or Dialogo Social Abierto)
to create a government platform with input from different sectors of society.
The Open Dialogue will come to <st1:City w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:City>, <st1:City
w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Washington</st1:State>
DC and <st1:State w:st="on">New York</st1:State> in the next week as a way of
including Salvadorans living in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>.</span></font>S<font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>.</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region>
in the party’s creation of a presidential platform.<font color=navy><span
style='color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
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