[Cispes-Alert] Update: State Department Makes Statement of Neutrality--Your Action Needed NOW!

[CISPES National Office]

After receiving a flood of phonecalls from across the U.S. (“an inundation,”
in their words!) the State Department issued the following on-the-record
quote to a journalist in Washington this afternoon (Thursday March 12):

 

“The U.S. government reiterates its official position that it does not
support either candidate in the upcoming presidential election in El
Salvador on March 15th. Through our embassy in El Salvador, we have stated
this position publicly and repeatedly since November of 2007.

 

"With regard to the letters that have been sent [by members of Congress],
the separation of powers and freedom in the U.S. allow for a debate in which
members of the U.S. legislature have expressed their opinions. This does not
reflect the official position of the United States."

 

This is great news and it means that our grassroots pressure is working! Now
we have to push for the State Department to tell the Salvadoran people
directly that the Republican’s statements do not reflect the official
position of the United States. Please call and demand that they hold a press
conference in San Salvador!

 

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ACTION ALERT

March 12, 2009

 

Call U.S. State Department to demand neutrality and respect for Salvadoran
democracy!

 

2004 intervention repeated; Republicans threaten Salvadoran voters from
floor of House of Representatives 3 days before election

 

Phone calls to the U.S. State Department, demanding an official statement of
respect for the results of El Salvador's March 15 presidential election, are
needed today! Yesterday, two Republicans gave speeches on the floor of the
House of Representatives threatening that Salvadorans living in the U.S.
will lose their immigration status and be outlawed from sending money home
to their families if voters in El Salvador exercise their right to elect the
opposition FMLN party's candidate on Sunday. 

 

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) said, “Should the pro-terrorist FMLN party replace
the current government in El Salvador, the United States, in the interests
of national security, would be required to reevaluate our policy toward El
Salvador, including cash remittance and immigration policies to compensate
for the fact there will no longer be a reliable counterpart in the
Salvadoran government.”

 

Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) stated, “Those monies that are coming from here to
there I am confident will be cut, and I hope the people of El Salvador are
aware of that because it will have a tremendous impact on individuals and
their economy.” Indeed, these threats carry considerable weight for
Salvadoran voters, as 25% of the Salvadoran population lives in the U.S.,
and 20% of the nation's economy consists of remittances from those family
members.

 

These open, blatant threats to be plastered across the front page of one of
the biggest of newspapers El Salvador this morning. Such media coverage for
these statements is the very reason that they were made in the first place.
These threats endanger the sovereign right of the Salvadoran people to elect
their own government, free from outside manipulation. 

-----------------------------------------

TAKE ACTION!

Call the State Department to demand an immediate public declaration of U.S.
neutrality toward the Salvadoran election! 

CALL: (202) 647 6575 to leave a message stating your opinion or call (202)
647-4087 to speak with Chris Webster at the Central American desk at the
State Department

(SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT BELOW)

-----------------------------------------

 

The Republicans' statement stand in stark contrast to last week's
declaration by over thirty House Democrats and one Senator who publicly
committed to U.S. neutrality, to respect the election results, and to
maintain a positive relationship with whichever government is elected. In a
March 5 press conference in Washington, D.C., Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)
stated, “the proper position of the U.S. Congress and government is one of
neutrality and respect for El Salvador’s independent democratic process.”

 

With the election less than a week away, it is imperative that the State
Department declare this same position of neutrality and respect for El
Salvador’s independent democratic process, and reject the Republicans'
threats and lies about immigration status and remittances. The integrity and
fairness of El Salvador's presidential election is in danger as long as such
a statement is not made.

 

TAKE ACTION!

The U.S. must respect the will of the Salvadoran people!

 

 

1) Call the State Department to demand an immediate, public declaration of
respect for the results of the Salvadoran election!

 

CALL: (202) 647 6575 to leave a message stating your opinion or call (202)
647-4087 to speak with Chris Webster at the Central American desk at the
State Department

 

CALL SCRIPT:

“I am calling to urge the State Department and the U.S. Embassy to hold a
press conference in El Salvador immediately to declare that the United
States will respect the results of Sunday's presidential election in El
Salvador and seek a positive relationship with whoever is elected”

 

 

“On Wednesday, Members of Congress publicly threatened to revoke the
immigration status of Salvadorans living here in the U.S. and outlaw the
remittances they send back to their families. These threats have been
extensively covered by the media in El Salvador. Without a public statement
by the State Department made to the Salvadoran people and the Salvadoran
media refuting these threats, the integrity and fairness of the Salvadoran
election will be severely compromised.”

 

 

2) Then call the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador and ask to speak to chargé
d’affaires (interim Ambassador) Robert Blau.