FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JULY 18, 2007

FOR INFO CALL: 608-251-9280 (MASCP office) or Marc Rosenthal 608-215-3358 (cell)

 

MADISON MAYOR SENDS LETTER OF CONCERN TO PRESIDENT OF EL SALVADOR OVER JULY SECOND ARRESTS

 

Madison, WI – Madison, Wisconsin Mayor Dave Cieslewicz today sent a letter of concern to Salvadoran President Tony Saca and U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador Charles Glazer as well as two other Salvadoran judicial officials.

 

In the letters, Cieslewicz stated: “On behalf of the citizens of Madison, Wisconsin, USA, I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent arrests and ongoing detentions in the city of Suchitoto.”

 

“We are very concerned over the safety and well-being of those currently in detention,” the letter continues, “We are also particularly concerned over the charges of terrorism and the planned use of ‘Special Tribunals’ to prosecute these individuals for what was clearly an exercise of free speech, protected under the Salvadoran Constitution and International Law. We feel this recent event is clearly a breach of the spirit of the 1992 Peace Accords.”

 

The arrests of fourteen people took place on July 2^nd just before a scheduled protest over a speech that Salvadoran President Saca was to make announcing water privatization in that country.

 

Madison has had a Sister relationship with Arcatao, El Salvador since April 1st , 1986. One of those arrested, Lorena Martinez, has visited Madison several times.

 

The letter was co-signed by Common Council President Mike Verveer, and nine other alders (Brenda Konkel; Satya Rhodes-Conway; Tim Gruber; Brian Solomon; Marsha Rummel; Julia Kerr; Robbie Webber; Larry Palm; and Tim Bruer). Copies will also be sent to Senators Kohl and Feingold, and Representative Baldwin.

 

A “Dear Collegue” letter is being circulated in the U.S. House of Representatives later this week, and other cities with Sister relationships are expected to follow Madison’s lead by sending letters of their own.

 

For more information on this developing situation, please visit the Madison-Arcatao Sister-City project on-line at --www.mascp.org--

 

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