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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-weight:bold'>Anti-mining
organizer from <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Isidro</st1:place></st1:City>
missing, foul play suspected<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'>June 30, 2009<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'><img width=320
height=384 id="_x0000_i1029" src="cid:image002.jpg@01C9F988.624FB870"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-style:italic'>Marcelo
Rivera, community activist from San Isidro<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></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><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Also in this
update:<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_Mining_corporations_attack">Mining corporations attack FMLN government</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_FMLN_and_Mauricio">FMLN and Mauricio Funes join presidents
throughout Latin America in denouncing coup in Honduras</a></span></font></b><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_Funes_reports_on">Funes reports on corruption</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_FMLN_uncovers_plan">FMLN uncovers plan to spy on new
administration</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><b><font size=2
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'><a
href="#_Funes_and_his">Funes and his new administration begin the process
of change</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></li>
</ul>
<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'>Social movement organizations have denounced the disappearance of
Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, a well-known anti-mining organizer from the town of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San Isidro</st1:City></st1:place>, Cabañas.
Rivera is a local leader of the FMLN party, the director of the San Isidro
Community Center, and the legal representative of Amigos de San Isidro Cabañas
(ASIC). He is a vocal opponent of the <st1:City w:st="on">El Dorado</st1:City>
gold mine, a project of the <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place> mining
company that has been stalled based on disputes over permits. Pacific Rim
recently sued <st1:country-region w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region>
for $77 million under the Central America Free Trade Agreement after the
government refused to grant a permit to open the <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">El Dorado</st1:place></st1:City> mine.<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 addition to helping organize opposition to the <st1:City w:st="on">El
Dorado</st1:City> mine, Rivera played a key role in January when the results
of the municipal elections in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Isidro</st1:place></st1:City> were challenged due to fraud and the presence
of foreign voters. Social movement groups believe that his disappearance is
politically motivated and have called on the National Civilian Police, the
Attorney General’s office, and the Human Rights Ombudsman's office to
actively investigate his whereabouts. Local leaders have met with new Public
Security Minister Manuel Melgar about the case but have continued to complain
about the lack of action on the part of the local police and the Attorney
General’s office, the leadership of which remains in limbo due to a
refusal by the right-wing bloc in the Legislative Assembly, led by the ARENA
party, to hold an election for a new Attorney General.<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>
<h3><a name="_Mining_corporations_attack"></a><b><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Mining
corporations attack FMLN government<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-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 March 16, the Commerce Group Corporation and San Sebastian Gold
Mines, both U.S.-based companies, filed a Notice of Intent to open legal
proceedings against the government of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> in a special tribunal
established by the Central America Free Trade Agreement. The companies allege
that the government has illegally refused to issue mining permits. The
Notice of Intent begins a 90-day period in which <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the companies can
amicably resolve the issue. If the issue is not resolved, Commerce Group
and San Sebastian Gold Mines can then sue <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> for lost investments.
The two companies are demanding $100 million compensation, or the immediate
issuance of the mining permits. This is the second demand made against <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region>
under CAFTA laws by mining companies. In April, Pacific Rim Mining demanded
approximately $77 million in lost investments from the government. Read more
about the <a
href="http://cispes.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=496&Itemid=28">Pacific
Rim case HERE</a>.<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 mining of precious metals in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region> is opposed by a broad coalition of social
movement groups that make up the National Roundtable on Metallic Mining, which
was recently awarded the Letelier-Moffit Human Rights Award by the Institute
for Policy Studies in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">D.C.</st1:State></st1:place>, for its work resisting
mining in the country. The resistance movement contends that the proposed mines
would cause major destruction to the already fragile environment in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:place></st1:country-region> and
contaminate the few sources of clean drinking water that remain.<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 Center for Studies on Investment and Trade (CEICOM) in <st1:country-region
w:st="on">El Salvador</st1:country-region> has called on President Mauricio
Funes to refuse to pay the <st1:place w:st="on">Pacific Rim</st1:place> demand.
William Castillo of CEICOM’s Board of Directors has encouraged
Funes’ administration to work with the social movements opposed to mining
and make use of their evidence and arguments against issuing permits in his
refusal to pay the demands. “There is sufficient documentation to defeat
this demand,” said Castillo.<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 FMLN faction in the Legislative Assembly recently introduced
legislation to reform El Salvador’s Mining Law by halting all metallic
mining exploration and operations and giving companies currently operating in
the country six months to close operations. FMLN Legislative Deputy Lourdes
Palacios explained that the proposed legislation seeks to “give tools to
the new government to avoid mining exploration and exploitation in the
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><b><i><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Please stay tuned
to CISPES updates and action alerts for news on this important subject and
actions you can take to accompany the Salvadoran resistance to mining,<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p>
<h3><a name="_FMLN_and_Mauricio"></a><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<h3><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:13.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman"'>FMLN and Mauricio Funes join presidents
throughout Latin America in denouncing coup in Honduras<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<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'>President Mauricio Funes and the Political Commission of the FMLN both
made strong statements denouncing the military coup in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Honduras</st1:place></st1:country-region> which
took place on Sunday, June 28. On Monday Funes travelled with the
Secretary General of the Organization of American States Jose Miguel Insulza to
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nicaragua</st1:place></st1:country-region>
where they appeared in a joint press conference. According to
Insulza, "There is no room for the military in our region and we will not
recognize the force that has brought about this break with the
constitution." Meanwhile, FMLN deputy Lorena Peña led a boisterous
rally outside the Honduran Embassy in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Salvador</st1:place></st1:City> calling for the peaceful return of Zelaya to
the presidency. Social movement groups in <st1:country-region w:st="on">El
Salvador</st1:country-region> are also standing with the people of <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Honduras</st1:place></st1:country-region>, who
on Monday were attacked repeatedly by riot police and soldiers as they
protested outside of the presidential palace. Dozens of people were
injured in the repression, which is being directed by unlawful interim
president Roberto Micheletti.<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'>CISPES participated in an action in front of the Honduran Embassy on
Monday, while chapters in <st1:City w:st="on">Seattle</st1:City>, <st1:City
w:st="on">Portland</st1:City>, <st1:City w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">New York</st1:State> and <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Francisco</st1:place></st1:City> also led rallies at consulates condemning the
coup and calling for the Obama Administration to take stronger action.
The Latin America Solidarity Coalition, of which CISPES is a coordinating
committee member, is calling on people to make three demands to the White House
and State Department: 1) cut off of all US aid (as required by US law) until
Zelaya is safely returned to office, 2) Financial sanctions against the coup
plotters, and 3) An investigation into what signals U.S. Ambassador to Honduras
Hugo Llorens gave to coup plotters before the coup. For more information go to
<a href="http://www.cispes.org/">www.cispes.org</a> or <a
href="http://www.lasolidarity.org/"
title="http://www.lasolidarity.org/ blocked::http://www.lasolidarity.org/">www.lasolidarity.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoBodyText><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></b></p>
<h3><a name="_Funes_reports_on"></a><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Funes reports on
corruption <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-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 Friday June 12, President Mauricio Funes held a press conference in
which he reported on rampant corruption found in many government ministries
that he inherited after his June 1 inauguration. Among the examples cited, the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">National</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Registry</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
was found to have some of the most severe cases, including “ghost
positions” and excessive payments to ARENA party functionaries. Over
$74,000 dollars were being paid monthly to 29 individuals who were not actually
working for the institution. Many of these individuals had worked on ARENA
presidential candidate Rodrigo Avila’s campaign. Funes’ press
conference also noted many ARENA administration officials who were using
multiple state vehicles, in some cases up to 5, for personal use.<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'>Excessive spending that occurred in the months after former President
Tony Saca announced a government austerity plan was also brought to light. The
government’s Family Secretariat threw a Christmas celebration that cost a
half million dollars at a time that public hospital workers were protesting a
lack of medication, food, and clean bedding in the hospitals. “There are
institutions where the irregularities are frightening, truly frightening, and
demand an expedited and systematic investigation that permits us to uncover
administrative and criminal responsibilities,” Funes said during the
press conference.<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>
<h3><a name="_FMLN_uncovers_plan"></a><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>FMLN uncovers plan to
spy on new administration<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></h3>
<p class=MsoBodyText><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><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 a June 14 press conference, FMLN spokesperson and Legislative Deputy
Sigfrido Reyes announced that the Funes administration had uncovered an
elaborate plot to spy on the new FMLN government. “It was a far-reaching
operation to keep the new government under observation, with cameras, with
microphones, with a clandestine apparatus,” explained Reyes. Surveillance
equipment was discovered in the Ministry of Governance as well as in other
unspecified institutions. Reyes admitted that the FMLN does not know who is responsible
for the plot, but assured that the government will carry out an investigation.
Reyes did not directly accuse the ARENA party, but called upon its leaders to
make a statement. “If this [plot] did originate from the membership of
the [ARENA] party, it should be denounced, and [the responsible parties should
be] punished,” Reyes declared. ARENA subsequently denied culpability in
the matter.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<h3><a name="_Funes_and_his"></a><b><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'>Funes and his new
administration begin the process of change<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-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'>President Mauricio Funes and his executive cabinet have hit the ground
running to implement the programs that will allow them to complete their
campaign promises. Major policy announcements relating to public health,
education, water services, and combating tax evasion were made in the first
month of Funes’ administration.<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'>One of the first announcements was the end to “voluntary
quotas” in the public health network. These “voluntary
quotas” were essentially charges for doctors' visits and other health
services that often led people to leave the hospitals without receiving
treatment. Additionally, money from the national budget was reallocated
for the purchase of essential medicines that the public health system currently
does without.<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 Ministry of Education, new policies will guarantee free public
education through high school as well as provide free uniforms and school
supplies for students. Salvador Sanchez Cerén, Vice-president and Minister of
Education, announced a series of education reforms intended to raise a
generation of “Salvadorans that can act freely, capable of incorporating
themselves into a system with a critical vision of their reality, which will
require a high social content [in the educational system].” Sanchez Cerén
added, “we must prepare the individual to be an agent of change in
society.”<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'>Francisco José Gómez, the new president of the public water
distribution company, ANDA, announced that he plans to investigate the Office
of Decentralization, which facilitates and encourages the privatization of
local water distribution services. “I am reviewing [the subject] because
decentralization has not produced any [positive] results. One alarming case
that appeared… is in Lolotique [a municipality with decentralized water
services], which has gone four months without water.” Gomez explained
that he will do away with preferential services for the wealthy, and instead
focus on providing water to the poorest communities.<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 new administration has also announced the creation of a <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Vice-ministry</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Public Income</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> in order to combat commercial
tax evasion in the country. This was a major promise of Funes’ campaign,
and is one of the mechanisms the new administration will use to cope with the
lack of public funds for social investment. The new Vice-ministry will unite
the work of the current Treasury, Customs, and Internal Tax offices, and will
coordinate their databases.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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