[Cispes-update] U.S. Ambassador Uses Anti-Gang Summit to Intervene in Salvadoran Domestic Security Issues

[CISPES National Office]

U.S. Ambassador Uses Anti-Gang Summit to Intervene in Salvadoran Domestic
Security Issues

CISPES update

April 18, 2008



Also in this update:

*	Rising prices threaten the population <> 
*	FMLN denounces Saca <> ’s fundraising activities in the United
States

 

 

During an April 8 “Anti-Gang Summit” in San Salvador, United States
Ambassador Charles Glazer urged Salvadoran authorities to quickly approve
certain laws and reforms to the penal code, stating that, “it is necessary
to make several critical reforms to get criminals off of the streets.”

 

The three demands put forward by Ambassador Glazer are the prompt approval
of a new Criminal Processing Code, new powers of telephone surveillance, and
a new extradition law. Glazer justified these proposed reforms by insisting
that they would help El Salvador’s economy. In a clear allusion to the
massive stream of Salvadorans immigrating the United States, Glazer stated
that “extortion and the threat of violence impede economic growth and force
your citizens to leave in search of safer streets and better economic
conditions.” 

 

Minister of Public Security René Figueroa expressed his hope that Glazer’s
interventionist statements will help pressure the Legislative Assembly to
approve the legal reforms. Figueroa joined the ambassador’s call, declaring
to the Assembly that “it is necessary that we provide ourselves with the
ability to carry out telephone surveillance, and that it always be
authorized by a judge.” According to Figueroa, the reforms are necessary
because “security is synonymous with development.” 

 

However, telephone wiretapping powers such as those proposed by the pending
reforms have the potential to be used arbitrarily, according to social
organizations that challenge the proposal. The general sentiment of leaders
in the social movement is that given the control that the executive branch
exercises over the judiciary, there is not a guarantee that telephone
surveillance will not be used as a means of coercion against civil society
and social movement groups. 

 

According to Benito Lara, Legislative Deputy from the leftist FMLN party,
“The proposed changes in the criminal processing code amounts to a new
version of the “Iron Fist” Plan, and therefore should be profoundly
discussed.” Lara similarly questioned the proposed wiretapping powers.

 

It was also announced at the Anti-Gang Summit that U.S. Government agencies
such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be taking part in the new
Transnational Anti-Gang Center, to be located in El Salvador. Currently,
U.S. intervention in El Salvador already involves the presence of FBI
detectives working with the National Civilian Police (PNC), presumably to
help combat gangs.

 


Rising prices threaten the population


 

The prices of several staple products have dramatically increased in recent
months adding to the economic hardship that Salvadoran families are facing.
On top of this, last week, the executive branch of the Salvadoran government
decided to increase the price of the standard 25 pound propane gas tank 95
cents. Such a change would only benefit the Z Gas company, which is not only
supported by the right wing ARENA party, which granted it a government
subsidy, but also has the Saca administration’s backing to pass onto
Salvadoran families the burden of high international gas prices.

 

These rising prices add to the economic crisis that has become more serious
with the ongoing implementation of the Free Trade Agreement with the United
States (CAFTA). With the agricultural sector having been abandoned by the
government, and cheap, subsidized imports from the United States undermining
El Salvador’s food sovereignty, the country now depends upon imports of
staples such as corn, beans and rice to meet the needs of the majority of
the population.

 

The crisis is worsened by the fact that a veritable monopoly of large
business interests imports these grains, free from government oversight or
price regulation. Consequently, prices for these products have become too
high for the majority of the population to afford in the past six months. 

 

In the face of such a terrible economic and social situation, more than
twenty social organizations, including the Salvadoran Union Front (FSS) and
the National Agricultural Coordination (CNA), held a press conference on
April 9 to promote participation in the annual May Day march, in which the
social movement will continue to denounce ARENA’s favoritism of corporate
profit for companies like Z Gas Company over the welfare of the general
population.   

 

This march has historically been celebrated by diverse social organizations
and unions in defense of the rights of the working class, but this year its
message will go even further.  According to organizers of the march, this
May Day will be the day that the people declare “Enough already with life as
dictated by the government of ARENA!”

 

The FMLN party, along with civil society organizations, has proposed a law
that would reduce the value added tax by 50% for the six principle staple
products in El Salavdor (beans, rice, milk, wheat flour, corn and oil.)  At
this point, no other party has expressed support for the idea, nor put
forward other proposals for dealing with the ongoing economic crisis facing
the Salvadoran people.


 


FMLN denounces Saca’s fundraising activities in the United States


 

On April 10, the FMLN’s faction in the Legislative Assembly sent official
correspondence to President Antonio Saca requesting that he account for the
collection of more than $250,000 during an early April visit to Los Angeles,
California.

 

According to information published in the Spanish-language newspaper Diario
Hoy, Enrique Alejo, a Cuban-American, hosted a fundraiser for the ARENA
party’s presidential campaign at his Los Angeles-area ranch. Alejo promoted
the event by means of an invitation on his company’s letterhead, urging
attendees to make “the maximum contribution that you are able to offer to
President Saca to help him in the most difficult political campaign that the
country has faced since it joined the community of democratic nations.”
Alejo specifically requested donations of $1,000-$10,000, with checks made
payable to the ARENA party. (Click here
<http://www.elfaro.net/secciones/elecciones2009/20080407/invitacion.pdf>  to
see a copy of the invitation.) 

 

Upon being questioned about the event, Saca declared the
seemingly-indisputable evidence as “rumors; they are lies.” The chief of
ARENA’s Legislative faction, Guillermo Gallegos, affirmed Saca’s assertions,
stating, “It is a lie of the FMLN. They are worried because it was
discovered that Venezuela was giving them financial assistance. ARENA has
not been able to substantiate this claim.

 

In January, Saca likely requested that the Bush Administration include in a
national intelligence report a line about how the U.S. expected the
Venezuelan government to fund the FMLN’s presidential campaign.  Saca
subsequently warned the FMLN that such foreign financing, which the FMLN
denies, is both illegal and undermines El Salvador’s sovereignty. Clearly,
foreign financing is only viewed as illegal when it benefits the FMLN, and
such rebukes do not apply to the president’s own party.

 

Salvadorans criticized the double standard of President Saca and his ARENA
party around campaign fundraising.  According to FMLN deputies Sigfrido
Reyes and Walter Duran, the President used the official state travel for
“political reasons”, since he also apparently participated alongside ARENA
presidential candidate Rodrigo Avila in fundraising activities to finance
the 2009 ARENA campaign.

 

 

 

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