From: CISPES Nat'l Office (cispes@cispes.org)
Date: Mon Aug 12 2002 - 21:39:51 EDT
>
>
>CISPES Emergency Action Alert:
>
>RIOT POLICE THREATEN TO ATTACK PROTEST AGAINST SAN SALVADOR BELTWAY
>Community Members Demand No Violence Against Protesters
>
>August 12, 2002
>
>At this moment (7:00 pm local time, 9:00 pm EST) some 70 riot police
>of the UMO division have moved into formation against a peaceful
>protest in the FMLN municipality of Ciudad Delgado, a working-class
>suburb of San Salvador, where community members have been opposing
>the construction of a San Salvador beltway. According to reports,
>police are armed with teargas and rubber bullets, as well as
>automatic weapons with live ammunition. As night falls, protesters
>are preparing themselves for the possibility of attack, as FMLN
>members from around the region arrive to reinforce the protesters.
>Mauricio Sandoval, director of the National Civilian Police, has
>also threatened to arrest various FMLN functionaries, including
>Mayor of Soyapango Marta Elena de Rodríguez, for their participation
>in the protests.
>
>For months, communities around the San Salvador metropolitan area
>have been protesting against the construction of a proposed beltway,
>proposed as part of the Plan Puebla-Panama road network and paid for
>by loans from the Inter-American Development Bank. No environmental
>or social impact study has been done, in violation of local laws,
>and over the past year affected communities have turned out in
>increasing numbers to voice their rejection of the project. Now,
>some 100 community members are maintaining a round-the-clock
>blockade of the construction site, placing their bodies in front of
>the bulldozers, and community vigilance squads are patrolling the
>area to ensure that no other demolitions take place. Yesterday,
>FMLN legislators and mayors from around the country joined the
>protest in solidarity. The threat of police violence has not
>deterred the anti-beltway protesters, who continue their direct
>action and plan to take part in a multi-sectoral march on Thursday,
>August 15, organized by the STSEL electricity workers' union.
>According to one FMLN representative, "The government has used the
>police to try to scare the people off, but the opposite effect has
>happened: more and more community members are coming out to protest.
>If the police attack, we will resist, peacefully but unwaveringly."
>
>El Salvador is entering a moment of total social upheaval. Right
>wing attacks against the STSEL electricity workers' union and the
>STISSS health care workers' union have backfired, and only produced
>more militancy and stronger protest actions on the part of union
>members. Now, anti-beltway protesters are putting their lives on
>the line to defend their homes, their communities, and their
>environment. But the government is threatening to react with
>massive violence. Protesters have called on CISPES to do everything
>within our power to prevent this repression from taking place.
>
>TAKE ACTION:
>
>… Sign the attached letter and FAX it to (011.503.235.0862)
>Mauricio Sandoval, director of the National Civilian Police
>… Or CALL (011.503.225.4487) and tell him:
>1. Not to use violence against protesters in Ciudad Delgado or in Soyapango!
>2. Demand that he withdraw police immediately, and that he not take
>any repressive actions against communities in struggle against the
>San Salvador Beltway!
>3. Demand that he not arrest Mayor Marta Elena de Rodríguez, or any
>other public functionary, for participating in anti-beltway protests!
>
>
>
>Sr. Mauricio Sandoval
>Director Policía Nacional Civil
>Presente.
>
>
>Con suma preocupación he recibido la noticia de que en estos
>momentos, lunes 12 de agosto, 2002, un convoy de agentes de la UMO
>se aprestan a desalojar a un grupo de ciudadanos que pacíficamente
>se manifiestan en contra del anillo periférico en los municipios de
>Soyapango y Ciudad Delgado.
>
>Sigo muy atentamente el desarrollo del respeto a los derechos
>humanos en El Salvador y me preocupa que se utilicen tácticas
>intimidatorias violando el derecho que cada ciudadano tiene a
>expresar su opinión de manera pacifica, trayendo a memoria el
>accionar de los antiguos cuerpos de seguridad que quedaron extintos
>con los Acuerdos de Paz.
>
>Ante lo anterior, le exijo que:
>… Retire inmediatamente a los miembros de la PNC y el UMO que se han
>hecho presente en el municipio de Soyapango y Ciudad Delgado, donde
>se esta llevando la acción de protesta.
>… Cesen las acciones intimidatorias y de provocación en contra de
>los manifestantes en contra del anillo periférico.
>… Respete el acuerdo suscrito entre las alcaldías de Ciudad Delgado
>y Soyapango y la Procuraduría de Derechos Humanos de que cese la
>construcción del anillo periférico y que se retire la maquinaria en
>ambos municipios.
>
>No dude que le informare a mi representante en el Congreso de los
>Estados Unidos de los eventos hoy suscitados, especialmente en el
>marco de las pláticas con relación a un posible inicio de
>negociaciones del tratado de libre comercio con Centro América.
>
>Atentamente,
>
>--
>
>CISPES - Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador
>130 W. 29th Street, 9th floor
>New York, NY 10001
>212-465-8115 phone
>212-465-8998 fax
>cispes@cispes.org
>www.cispes.org
-- CISPES - Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador 130 W. 29th Street, 9th floor New York, NY 10001 212-465-8115 phone 212-465-8998 fax cispes@cispes.org www.cispes.org
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