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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=5
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Youth Arrested
Under Anti-Terrorism Law Assassinated in Suchitoto<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<h1 align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>CISPES Update<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Friday,
May 9<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Also in this update:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><b><span style='font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_Salvadoran_social_movement">Salvadoran social movement celebrates May
Day</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><b><span style='font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_Social_sectors_criticize">Social sectors criticize government’s
ineffectiveness in face of economic crisis</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><b><span style='font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_AREAN_and_PCN">ARENA and PCN propose alarming change to Electoral Code</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>-<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]><b><span style='font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_FMLN_commemorates_the">FMLN commemorates the birth of Farabundo Martí</a><o:p></o:p></span></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 style='text-indent:.25in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>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
assassinated on May 3 in his home. The assailants apparently stabbed him to
death, while another man was attacked but survived. Organizations such as the
legal group FESPAD have called for a full investigation into the death of the
19-year old <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ventura</st1:place></st1:City>,
while already expressing concern that Salvadoran authorities would not
sufficiently address the likely political motivation for the murder.<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><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ventura</span></font></st1:City></st1:place>
was among 13 people charged under the controversial “Special Law Against
Acts of Terrorism”, which was passed by the right-wing bloc in the
Legislative Assembly in 2006. In February all charges against the activists
were dropped, but the case demonstrated internationally the repressive nature
of the current right-wing ARENA government. Meanwhile, other possible
political murders – such as the slaying of FMLN mayor Wilber Funes in
January – have yet to be resolved, raising the specter of increased
political violence during the lead up to the 2009 Salvadoran elections.<o:p></o:p></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>
<h1><a name="_Salvadoran_social_movement"></a><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Salvadoran social
movement celebrates May Day<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
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src="cid:image002.jpg@01C8B1D3.31E3AF00" align=right hspace=12 v:shapes="_x0000_s1026"><![endif]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman">Denouncing the high cost of living, the ongoing
food crisis, and the rising fuel prices that are paralyzing the country, a
diverse group of social organizations marched through the main streets of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Salvador</st1:place></st1:City> on May 1st,
International Workers’ Day.<o:p></o:p></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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The participation of various sectors of the population, including
peasants, students, women, professionals, unionists, and FMLN party members,
made the march a historic one. Thousands of people peacefully walked through
the streets until arriving in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Civic</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Plaza</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, where the march
culminated with a political and cultural celebration featuring speeches by
Mauricio Funes and Salvador Sánchez Cerén, the FMLN’s presidential and vice-presidential
candidates, respectively.<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 message of the assembled organizations, and of the FMLN’s
candidates, focused on the high cost of living and the central
government’s ineptitude in implementing any means of alleviating the
economic crisis faced by the Salvadoran population. According to Benito Lara,
an FMLN deputy to the Legislative Assembly, the march was “a rejection of
the economic crisis, which is the product of the failure of the neoliberal
model.”<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'>At the same time, the social organizations – joined by the FMLN
– rejected ineffective, facade-like measures taken by Salvadoran Presidenet
Antonio Saca, including the creation of the Economic Commission, which is
similar the failed Security Commission that was created last year. The Security
Commission made numerous recommendations to the government which have yet to be
acted upon. <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 government manipulates the discussion to the point that
everything appears under control, but the working class continues being
marginalized, with salaries hitting the floor and the cost of food on the
rise,” said Rufino Quesada, march participant and Chancellor of the National
University of El Salvador.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<h1><a name="_Social_sectors_criticize"></a><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.0pt'>Social sectors criticize
government’s ineffectiveness in face of economic crisis<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<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'>On Monday, April 28, President Saca delivered a 9-page speech on the
national networks outlining the government’s 8 measures to alleviate the
economic crisis facing <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<b><span style='font-weight:bold'> </span></b>The
majority of the announced policies have already been proposed as components of
previous government initiatives, including the much criticized “<st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Alliance</st1:place></st1:City> for the
Family” and “Solidarity Network.” In response, several international
officials, as well as economists, judged Saca’s proposals to be sterile
and ineffective. William Pleytez, representative of the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> concurred that, “the country
definitely needs more aggressive measures” to alleviate the crisis faced
by the vast majority of the population.<b><span style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Joining the chorus of criticism, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>
economist Raúl Moreno highlighted Saca’s refusal to recognize the failure
of the ruling ARENA party’s economic policies over the past 20 years.
Instead, Saca contends that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s economic crisis results
only from a larger global problem. “It is time to stop attributing
internal problems of this country to external phenomena,” <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moreno</st1:City></st1:place> stated.<b><span
style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Additionally, Human Rights Ombudsman Oscar Luna called upon President
Saca to declare a national emergency in response to the high cost of certain
staple food products. Luna emphasized that the government is doing little to
nothing to fight the crisis, and insisted that Saca initiate “other types
of progressive measures so that economic, social, and cultural rights can be
guaranteed.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <b><span style='font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></font></p>
<h1><a name="_AREAN_and_PCN"></a><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt'>ARENA and PCN propose alarming change to Electoral
Code<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<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'>After pushing reforms to the Electoral Code through the Legislative
Assembly at the end of 2007, including the elimination of the requirement that
all ballots be stamped and signed by poll workers, the right-wing PCN (National
Conciliation Party) and ARENA parties recently proposed an additional amendment
to the same law, which governs El Salvador’s electoral process. The proposal
would affect Article 175, which deals with the ability of parties to field
candidates in coalition. After dramatic public outcry, the PCN has withdrawn
its support for the proposal at this time, though it could be brought up again
at another time.<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 proposed reform would permit the votes for one presidential
candidate to be counted toward the total of another, more popular candidate if
the two parties concerned have previously formed an official coalition<b><i><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>. </span></i></b>Such a reform
would allow PCN and ARENA, the principal right wing parties, to combine their
candidates’ votes in order to retain the presidency in the event of a
strong showing by the FMLN.<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'>Legislative deputy Elizardo González Lovo, in statements made to the
Salvadoran news website El Faro, argued that the reform is not means of robbing
the election. “If you will notice, this article [175] does not impede
parties from competing separately in the presidential campaign. This affects
what can happen after the end of the voting, when it is time to count votes.
Imagine: the PCN’s candidate receives 600,000 votes and ARENA’s
candidate received 800,000, totaling 1,400,000 votes. The right wins.”<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'>According to Juan Carlos Sánchez, representative of the legal
organization FESPAD and member of the Citizens’ Action initiative, the
reform “destroys the direct vote, thus violating Article 78 of the
Constitution, which deals with this subject.” In Sanchez’s
analysis, the proposed amendment to the Electoral Code leaves open the
possibility that the valid votes for lesser parties within a coalition would be
negotiated away to benefit the party that received the most votes among those
in the coalition. This paves the way for a deliberate, fraudulent manipulation
of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
electoral process.<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'>Delmy <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Valencia</st1:country-region></st1:place>,
representative of the Center for Exchange and Solidarity, denounced the
proposed reform, stating that “these are the types of actions that led to
the civil war. These are practices designed to keep one group in power.”<b><i><span
style='font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<h1><a name="_FMLN_commemorates_the"></a><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt'>FMLN commemorates the birth of Farabundo Martí<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h1>
<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><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>El Salvador</span></font></st1:place></st1:country-region>’s
principal opposition political party, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation
Front (FMLN) celebrated the 115th anniversary of it’s namesake’s
birth on Monday, May 5. A public event honored the historic revolutionary
leader at his graveside in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San
Salvador</st1:City></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>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Farabundo Martí was born on May 5, 1893, in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">municipality</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Teotepeque</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>,
Departament of La Libertad. As a young man, Martí enrolled in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, where he studied
Jurisprudence and Social Sciences. However, academic pursuits turned out to be
a low priority for the budding leader, who left the university to travel
throughout the region, joining workers and peasants in their struggles wherever
he found them. <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'>After being elected Secretary of the Exterior of the Central American
Communist Party in 1925, Martí returned to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> to form part of the
leadership of the Regional Federation of Salvadoran Workers. In 1928 he
ventured to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nicaragua</st1:country-region>, where
he fought under General Augusto Cesar Sandino against the invasion by <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>
military forces. In 1930 he again returned to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>, this time as a
representative of the International Red Cross. At the same time, Martí became
involved in the Communist Party of El Salvador, and in little time was among is
leaders. <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'>At the end of the 1920s, the Salvadoran military dictatorship expelled
Martí from his own country. However, he returned on February 20, 1931, to help
the Communist Party lead the General Insurrectional Strike. Less than a year
later, on February 1, 1932, Agustín Farabundo Martí and two of his <i><span
style='font-style:italic'>compañeros</span></i> in the struggle, Alfonso Luna
and Mario Zapata, were shot and killed by operatives of dictator Maximiliano
Martínez.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
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