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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:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";
font-weight:bold'>Spanish Human Rights Organization Files Suit Against
ex-president Cristiani and 14 others for involvement in Jesuit massacre of 1989</span></font></b><font
size=5 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><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-family:"Times New Roman";font-weight:bold;
font-style:italic'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman";font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'>Also in this update:<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><b><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;font-weight:
normal'><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></b><![endif]><font face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><a
href="#_Presidential_campaign_officially">Presidential campaign officially
begins</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><b><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;font-weight:
normal'><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></b><![endif]><font face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><a href="#_Dirty_campaign_and">Dirty
campaign and violence against the FMLN</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><![if !supportLists]><b><font
size=3 face=Symbol><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;font-weight:
normal'><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></b><![endif]><font face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-family:"Times New Roman"'><a href="#_Salvadoran_Healthcare_Workers">Salvadoran
Healthcare Workers Strike</a><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-family:"Times New Roman";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;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>As Salvadorans prepared to commemorate
the 19<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Jesuit massacre, a major development
related to the perpetrators of that crime occurred. The Association for Human
Rights in Spain (APDHE) with the support of the San Francisco-based
organization Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) has filed a criminal
complaint with the Spanish High Court against former president of El Salvador
Alfredo Cristiani Berkard and 14 former members of El Salvador’s armed
forces for the murder of 6 Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter
on November 16 of 1989 by the US-trained and equipped Atlacatl Battalion. The
complaint will now go before the Spanish High Court who will decide whether to
press charges against and seek the extradition of Cristiani and the 14 former
military officials and soldiers for trial. The APDHE and CJA confirm that
there is sufficient proof including eye-witness accounts and government
documents to prove the guilt of those charged.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Regarding the charges against Cristiani,
current president of El Salvador Tony Saca of the ARENA party said,
“Definitively, president Cristiani had absolutely nothing to do with
this,” and added, “we are with him and support him, and we will
support him until the last moment because he is an historic man for our
country.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>The 1991 trials and convictions in El
Salvador of two military officers for the massacre of the Jesuits was followed
up by a 1993 Amnesty Law—granting amnesty to crimes committed during the
Civil War—and the officers’ release. The Spanish criminal
complaint brings hope that justice will be brought to the victims of the
murders, massacres, and human-rights abuses committed by the US-backed and
US-funded Salvadoran military and death squads. It also brings hope that
a renewed effort to do away with the Amnesty Law could bring justice to the
countless victims of crimes and human rights abuses here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h3><b><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:13.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><a name="_Presidential_campaign_officially"></a><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Presidential
campaign officially begins<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>November 14, 2008 marked the official
beginning of <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>’s
presidential campaigns, formally inaugurating the various political
parties’ ability to ask the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> for their vote.
The FMLN launched their campaign with a national “mega-caravan”
that left <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San Salvador</st1:City></st1:place>
Saturday morning with presidential candidate Mauricio Funes and
vice-presidential candidate Salvador Sánchez Cerén.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>The caravan traveled across the country
– from <st1:City w:st="on">San Salvador</st1:City> to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Santa Ana</st1:City></st1:place> to La Union - drawing huge crowds
waving FMLN flags and chanting, “¡Vamos por el cambio! ¡Vamos a la <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Victoria</st1:State></st1:place>! ¡Funes,
Funes!” Funes declared, “We’re going to defeat the
Right in the Western region, 20 years of poverty and exclusion will be defeated
next year,” to a sea of red cheering him on at a stop in Ahuachapán.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<h3><a name="_Dirty_campaign_and"></a><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Dirty campaign and
violence against the FMLN<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";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;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Though the campaign just now officially
started on November 14, a smear campaign against the FMLN by the
Venezuela-based Fuerza Solidaria—allies of ARENA—has been underway
for several weeks. Television spots, pamphlets, and posters all attempt
to link the FMLN and Funes to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and claim that
an FMLN presidency would be the end to friendly relations between El Salvador
and the United States. The FMLN has filed a complaint against ARENA and
the Fuerza Solidaria before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) for the use of
images of President Chavez as well as for accusing and defaming Funes in
violation of the Salvadoran Electoral Code. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>In response to ARENA’s claims that
Fuerza Solidaria is an independent organization not related to them, FMLN
spokesperson Sigfrido Reyes called Fuerza Solidaria a “ghost
organization.” Jaime Ricardo Handal, who represents Fuerza
Solidaria in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>, is
an ARENA militant and former candidate for the municipality in <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San Salvador</st1:City></st1:place>. The
FMLN is requesting the TSE to use its authority to put an end to this dirty
campaign which, according to Reyes, “offends the public morale and
violates the rights of the people.”<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-family:"Times New Roman";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;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>ARENA has also filed an official
complaint against the FMLN before the TSE for an incident of electoral
violence. ARENA makes these charges against the FMLN despite multiple
incidences of campaign violence perpetrated by members of their campaign.
In early September of this year, supporters of ARENA’s <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">San Salvador</st1:City></st1:place> mayoral candidate Norman
Quijano, violently attacked FMLN party employees leaving several wounded.
Quijano confirmed the next day that many of his campaign activists are armed
and should be considered dangerous. Earlier this month, over 100 Quijano
campaigners entered the Montserrat Market in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">San Salvador</st1:City></st1:place> and became hostile and violent
with people not interested in joining the campaign. The ARENA members
broke and destroyed kitchen utensils belonging to Doña Antonio Calderón, a
71-year-old woman who sells food in the market. More violence is expected as
ARENA becomes desperate before polls giving a clear advantage to 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;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<h3><a name="_Salvadoran_Healthcare_Workers"></a><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Salvadoran
Healthcare Workers Strike<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";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;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Members of the Trade Union of Healthcare
Workers of El Salvador (SIGEESAL) stopped all outpatient appointments and
surgeries at Benjamin Bloom Children’s Hospital and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Rosales</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
on Monday, November 10 and during the morning of Tuesday, November 11,
referring urgent matters to the emergency room and other hospitals. The demands
of SIGEESAL include: a budget adjustment to provide enough funds to finish the
year; an additional $7.9 million in funds to purchase sufficient medicine and
food, as well as repair the dryers for bed linens and hospital clothes, at the
30 public hospitals; a $300 bonus for 26,000 employees; and an end to
repression against unions, specifically against a group of employees at the
Psychiatric Hospital who were penalized for organizing.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Bloom and Rosales Hospitals, along with
the other 28 public hospitals in the country, currently face shortages of food
for patients, bed linens and hospital gowns, basic medicines, equipment, and
anti-microbial soap for surgeons. “We are asking for a space for
dialog with the Minister of Health. For him to demonstrate his good will
and speak with us,” explained Evelyn Aguilero, SIGEESAL spokesperson at <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Bloom</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Hospital</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
Members of SIGEESAL ended the strike at 2 PM on Tuesday, November 11, when
Minister of Health Guillermo Maza agreed to several of the demands and opened a
permanent space of negotiation to discuss the others.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>The strike and its wins demonstrate the
strength of the Healthcare Worker’s Movement in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place> and their commitment to
make healthcare a human right for all. They have also led the struggle
against privatization of public healthcare. The current situation at the
public hospitals is a stark example of the current ARENA government’s
neglect towards social programs benefiting the poor majority of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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