CISPES Fact Finding Delegation to El Salvador, June 20-29 (plus other actions)

Mon Mar 24 15:53:28 EDT 2008

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March 24, 2008

Friends,

Solidarity greetings on this the 28th anniversary of the assassination on
Monseñor Oscar Romero!  Below is the announcement for an important CISPES
delegation this summer, followed by some actions you can take through two of
the national coalitions that CISPES is part of (the Latin America Solidarity
Coalition and the Alliance for Responsible Trade.)

Also, a special thank you to all those who have sent messages of support to
us in the weeks following the letter we received from the Department of
Justice.  We haven’t heard anything recently from the Bush Administration
but we will keep you posted.

Que viva Romero y la lucha de los pueblos organizados!

-the CISPES National Office

CISPES Fact Finding Delegation to El Salvador: June 20-29, 2008

In the midst of a Latin American shift to the left, El Salvador just might
be next in line! The Committee with the People of El Salvador continues to
support REAL democracy and human rights in El Salvador, opposing U.S.
intervention through institutions like the International Law Enforcement
Academy (ILEA) - an instrument for exporting repressive U.S. policing
tactics – and the CAFTA free trade agreement.  CISPES invites you join a
summer fact-finding delegation to witness first hand the social movement
inspiration behind the 2009 electoral process, while delving into the
economic, political, and human right challenges that El Salvador is
confronting prior its key upcoming elections!

2008 is a pre-electoral year in El Salvador but it already sure seems like
the elections are right around the corner. U.S. intervention in support of
the right wing ARENA party, as well as repression and political violence are
expected to increase. In the 2004 presidential elections, the ARENA
government declared that remittances from the US would be halted if the FMLN
were to win the elections, a statement supported by U.S. representative Tom
Tancredo, who threatened to introduce such a bill in Congress. Already this
year, the popular elected FMLN mayor of the municipality of Alegría was
assassinated. For the social movement and the FMLN this shows the level of
violence, dirty tactics, and fear that will be used by the ARENA party.
Meanwhile, recent reports by U.S. intelligence agencies show that our
government’s interference can be expected throughout the rest of 2008.

CISPES has long solidarity relationships with the Salvadoran social
movement. As the right wing government strives to demobilize the social
movement and other Salvadorans with its fear campaign, our allies in El
Salvador are asking for CISPES to come to El Salvador for a delegation that
investigates the electoral reforms and the functioning of the ILEA, , as
well as being presente to support the social movement.  In order to
accomplish this, we are especially looking for experienced and committed
organizers, journalists, and teachers, to join this delegation.

This delegation will:

1) Meet with and show solidarity to our allies as they fight water
privatization, the effects of CAFTA, and government repression, and support
them in their work towards change in the upcoming elections.

2) Meet with human right offices and other institutions that have worked to
denounce political violence and repression.

3) Produce a report about human rights abuses, government repression, and
potential irregularities leading up to the 2009 elections

4) Generate media both in the US and El Salvador

5) Build alliances and project CISPES in the broader movement

To join this delegation, please contact your local
<http://cispes.org/index.php?option=com_contact&catid=59&Itemid=3>  CISPES
committee, or reach the national office (202) 521-2510, Elizabeth at cispes.org
for more information.

**********

Close the SOA (and denounce the ILEA) - Sign the Petition to the
Presidential Candidates – From the LASC

Given the way the primaries have been going, we are currently having more
leverage with the U.S. presidential candidates than at any other time. Let's
use it! Committing one or more of them to come out publicly for the closure
of the School of the Americas (SOA/WHINSEC) is a realistic and attainable
goal. Once the candidate is elected president, we can hold him or her
accountable to follow through and to close the school by executive order.

Please sign the Latin America Solidarity Coalition (LASC) online petition
about the School of the Americas to the presidential candidates here:
http://www.LASolidarity.org/petition

**********

Take Action March 17-30 to Stop the U.S.-Colombia FTA Vote – From the
Alliance for Responsible Trade

President Bush is threatening to force a vote on the Free Trade Agreement
over the objection of Congressional leadership! Most recently, the
Administration has said that it will be introduced immediately after the
March recess.

Call or visit your members of Congress while they are home these next two
weeks and ask them to oppose the President introducing the U.S. Colombia
FTA. More info here: http://www.art-us.org/node/338

**********

Help CISPES continue its solidarity with El Salvador - go here
<https://chavez.mayfirst.org/cispes/>  to make your tax-deductible
contribution today! 

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© 2008 CISPES - The Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
CISPES National Office | ph. 202-521-2510 | 1525 Newton St. NW, Wash. DC
20010| cispes at cispes.org

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