CISPES Delegation in El Salvador Presents Initial Observations about Elections and Rights Violations
CISPES Delegation Statement
June 28, 2008
We come to ElSalvador from diverse sectors of the U.S. population. We are unionists, teachers, students,journalists, and activists, among others. Our mission is to monitor the human rights abuses in the country, but wealso came to witness the tenacity and hope of the Salvadoran people so that wecan continue to construct a movement that struggles alongside them.
We have also come to El Salvador to monitor how ourgovernment is interfering in the Salvadoran electoral process of 2009. We believe that the U.S. must actively avoidany intervention in the elections.
In 2004 U.S.officials such as Rose Likins, Roger Noriega, Otto Reich, and Tom Tancredo allstated that an FMLN victory would jeopardize the relationship between the U.S. and El Salvador. In the most glaring example, Congressmen TomTancredo threatened that the US would restrict remittances if the FMLN were towin the elections. This statement, among others, caused many Salvadorans tovote out of fear of U.S. retaliation. The U.S. embassy failed to correct this false information.
In this 2009 pre-electoral period, we already see U.S.political involvement. U.S. officials are participating in an internationalsmear campaign that against the FMLN though the right-wing media in ElSalvador.
One element we see as importantfor there to be free and fair elections involves the Salvadoran SupremeElectoral Tribunal (TSE). We recommendthat the TSE follow the recommendations of the Organization of American States(OAS), including full public access to the voter registry, which is outdatedwith inaccurate data, as well as a reinstatement of the past electoral practicein which officials sign and seal ballots on the day of the elections. Finally, we believe that the institution of the TSE should be apolitical, whichis to say it should act as a non-partisan entity. We stand in solidaritywith Salvadorans who are working for free and fair elections.
In our meetings with FESPAD, the Salvadoran Union Front, and from personaltestimonies, we confirmed that there continue to be serious violations of humanrights and labor rights in ElSalvador. We heard firsthand about theincrease in repression in all sectors of civil society, directed at unionactivists at maquilas, the draconian application of Anti-Terrorism and Anti-OrganizedCrime laws, police violence and torture, inhumane prison conditions, and thelack of access to adequate legal representation.
We are also concerned that the presence of the International Law EnforcementAcademy (ILEA) has encouraged impunity for resurgent death squads, as well asother forms of repression. Furthermore, though adequate labor rights areguaranteed in the Salvadoran Constitution, they are not enforced. There are consistentviolations of workers rights, repression of unions, firing of workers andharassment of labor organizers. In addition, there exists the threat of furtherviolations of fundamental rights such as the privatization ofwater. Given the context of extreme repression, it is essentialthat international pressure be applied to ensure investigation of acts ofrepression, total and complete respect of human rights, as well as adherence tothe Salvadoran constitution and the 1992 peace accords.
It is also essential that the U.S.government not play a destructive role in the electoral process. For thisreason, as a delegation we went to the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador to expressour concerns about the situation of human rights in El Salvador as well as theintegrity of the electoral process of 2009; specifically, our concern about theintervention of our government in the electoral process. The ambassadorCharles Glazer told us that the U.S.had indeed intervened in the elections of 2004 but that this time they wouldnot. We will work to ensure that our governments promise is carriedthrough.
During the course of this delegation we received the news that our belovedcompañero Don White died in LosAngeles. It was a big blow for us but we decidedto continue with the work of the delegation, using his inspiration to carryforward our solidarity commitment. Throughout the delegation we met with people and organizations fightingto create a new and just country. As CISPES delegates we will continueour solidarity with the people of El Salvador as they work to build abetter world.
"I am a CISPES supporter because continuing to fight for social justice and a more people-centered country means continuing the dream and sacrifice of thousands of my fellow Salvadorans who died for that vision.” - Padre Carlos, New York City
