Subject: Urgent Breaking News: Case
of CRIPDES arrests takes a dangerous turn"
Breaking News: The Case Takes a Dangerous
Turn; CRIPDES Members and Leaders Charged with Terrorism
We learned late Wednesday night that
the 13 people arrested last Monday, July 2, including CRIPDES leaders and
community members, are now being charged with “Creating Public
Disorder, Destruction of Property and Acts of Terrorism.” They
will be tried under the new Anti-Terrorism Law, (read the specifics here) created by the Salvadoran government and President
Saca. This means that they are taken out of the provincial court system
and will be tried in special tribunals, created specifically for cases under
this law.
Everything seems to indicate that these
arrests were strategically planned by the government to discourage social
protest and take apart the Salvadoran social movement. There are reports
that the Attorney General has planned to call on witnesses from within the
National Civilian Police (PNC) and Riot Police (UMO). At the time of
publication of this message, CRIPDES members and supporters from the rural
communities have peacefully gathered outside the courthouse in
Charges were heard this morning, and
preliminary information puts the public hearing of the case for this Saturday,
July 7, at
This turns up the pressure for
action on our part. Under the anti-terrorism law possible jail time can
reach nearly 40 years! We need to show our solidarity now more than ever,
and let the government know that CRIPDES leaders are not terrorists!
Please send faxes and
emails to:
1. Excelentísimo Sr. Elías Antonio Saca, Presidente de
Telephone (country code 503) 2248-9000.
Fax (503) 2243-7857 / (503) 2243-9930.
2. Lic. Felix Garrid Safie,
Fiscal General de la república de El Salvador (Attorney General
of El Salvador)
Telephone (country code 503)
2249-8412 / (503) 2249-8749
Fax (503) 2528-6096
E-mail: fgsafie@fgr.gob.sv
3. Dr. Agustín García Calderón,: Presidente de la Corte Suprema de Justicia (President of the Supreme Court of El Salvador)
Telephone (country code 503)
2231-8300, (503) 2271-8888.
Fax (503) 2243-9930, (503) 22437857.
Web-Page: www.csj.gob.sv
4. Charles L. Glazer, U.S. Ambassador to
Telephone (country code 503) 2278-4444
Fax: (503) 2278-6011
Web-Page: www.sansalvador.usembassy.gov
Also please contact your congressional representatives and urge them to
pressure the Salvadoran government about this situation!
----------------------TIMELINE
OF EVENTS-------------------------
- A
non-violent protest had been organized in Suchitoto for Monday morning,
- This
protest coincided with the visit of President Elias Antonio Saca and his
cabinet to Suchitoto. The purpose of this visit was to inaugurate the
public water system in the municipality and with it a “Plan for the
Decentralization of Public Services,” a policy which is viewed as a step
towards privatization of the public water system. The communities,
organized and accompanied by CRIPDES, staged a demonstration and other public
protest activities around the visit of President Saca and in opposition to the
movement toward privatization of water.
- Four
members of the Association for the Development of
- Manuel
Antonio Rodriguez, the driver of the vehicle, was struck violently by police
officers immediately after the officers approached the car. All four
CRIPDES members were handcuffed and thrown into an army vehicle, which took
them through back roads to the police station in Suchitoto.
- Shortly
thereafter, the CRIPDES leaders arrested were taken from Suchitoto police
station to Cojutepeque, the capitol of the
- Those
arrested were charged with “Creating Public Disorder,” and
lawyers who had been in contact with the police headquarters in Cojutepeque
confirmed that their case will be designated under those charges to the
Cojutepeque departmental attorneys and court system. Under Salvadoran law
the departmental prosecutors have 72 hours (that is, until late morning or
- Despite
the charges of “Creating Public Disorder,” the CRIPDES leaders
arrested never came close to the protest activities being carried out in
Suchitoto. News footage shown on the Salvadoran Tele-Corporation
(TCS) channels clearly showed the police vehicle overtaking the CRIPDES truck
on the paved road between Suchitoto and San Martín, swerving in front and
stopping the CRIPDES leaders. The video also shows the police forcefully
removing the passengers from the pick-up truck, and taking them away in
handcuffs, several kilometres away from where the protest took place.
(Some news footage can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e9Npsw4Xl8.
Also watch this video
for footage of the arrests.)
- When
news of the arrest reached the protesters in Suchitoto on the morning of July
2, the people moved from the central park protest site to the police station to
demand information and the liberation of those arrested.
- The
police found themselves surrounded, and called in the “UMO” (Unit
for Maintenance of Order) Riot Police, who forcefully dispersed the crowds with
tear gas, rubber bullets and wooden batons.
- Repression
of the protest was not limited to the crowd at the police station; rather it
was widespread. As of the evening of July 3, preliminary reports
indicate that a total of 13 people were arrested (including the 4 CRIPDES
members and 9 local community members), 25 injured by rubber bullets, 18
suffering serious effects of tear gas, 2 hospitalized, and an undetermined
number beaten by police officers.
- In the
community of Guillermo Ungo, several kilometres south of Suchitoto, where
the UMO riot police attacked community members on the road on their way to the
Suchitoto protests, again using rubber bullets and tear gas, forcing the
community members to flee into the hills. Police also entered the homes
of community members in Guillermo Ungo without legal warrant to do so.
- Fleeing
community members were followed by the UMO riot police and the Police Reaction
Groups (GRPs) by land and by air for more than 4 hours, with several
arrests made. School classes in the nearby community were suspended
because of the effects of the tear gas.
- The
local community members captured report psychological intimidation after
their arrest. One report reveals that detainees were taken in a
helicopter above Lago Suchitlán and told by the police holding them that they
were going to be thrown out of the helicopter.
- These specific tactics of repression, intimidation, persecution by helicopter, and invasion of homes are reminiscent of the most painful and disturbing moments of the armed conflict in El Salvador during the 1980’s. This repressive events of July 2 represent a step backwards in the process of building democracy that was proposed with the signing of the Peace Accords of 1992.
- Meanwhile, on the same morning as the protests in Suchitoto, the PNC and Salvadoran Armed Forces concluded a massive operation of some 300 officers who worked to capture Mario Belloso, the man accused of killing two police officers during a protest last July. Belloso was apprehended in his own home during the early morning and then paraded in front of news cameras shortly thereafter. The story filled newspaper and television reports and gave Minister of Security Rene Figueroa and PNC Director Rodrigo Avila the opportunity to attack youth organizations and the FMLN, insinuating that these groups have been aiding Belloso in his efforts to evade arrest over the last year.
- In the raid of Belloso’s home, the PNC
claims to have found FMLN paraphernalia, along with specific documents in
his computer that tie him to various youth organizations. Perhaps the
most ridiculous claim made by President Saca is that Belloso was the
“intellectual author” of the disturbances in Suchitoto; Figuero
and
-------------------------------------SAMPLE LETTER-----------------------------------
Sample Letter (Spanish):
5 de julio, 2007
(Title and Name)
Le escribo para expresar mi grave preocupación por las recientes acciones de represión realizadas en contra de la población rural en el Municipio de Suchitoto, así como la captura violenta y arbitraria de líderes de las comunidades.
La desmedida reacción policial se produjo contra la población en manifestación pacífica contra la privatización del agua, que no es otra cosa que la expresión legítima de descontento social ante las políticas anti-populares. Este tipo de acción represiva evidencia la violación de derechos humanos y amenazas a la libertad de organización y expresión. Los golpes, capturas, cateos, persecución y sobrevuelo de helicópteros traen a la memoria los momentos más difíciles para la población rural durante el conflicto armado, y veo con alarma este retroceso en el proceso de construcción de la democracia iniciado con los acuerdos de paz.
A la vez quiero denunciar la captura violenta de 13 personas incluyendo líderes de las comunidades y la organización no-gubernamental, CRIPDES, entre ellos Marta Lorena Araujo, Rosa María Centeno, María Haydee Chicas, y Manuel Antonio Rodríguez. Exijo para ellos el respeto a su integridad física y moral, y el proceso justo de ley que lleve a su inmediata liberación.
Por último quiero expresar mi solidaridad con las comunidades rurales y con CRIPDES en su labor a favor del desarrollo social y económico del país, un trabajo que he visto importante para la construcción de paz y democracia. Rechazo cualquier alegación directa o indirecta para vincular a CRIPDES con actividades terroristas, y asimismo los cargos de esta índole presentados contra ellos. Las personas arrestadas no son terroristas ni deben ser juzgadas bajo la ley anti-terrorista; son ciudadanos comprometidos con la justicia y el desarrollo de su país, y no deben ser criminalizadas.
Atentamente,
(your name)
Translation (send the Spanish version, though)
(Title and
Name)
I am writing
to express my grave concern about the recent actions of repression carried out
against the rural population in the
The
disproportionate police reaction against the population came in response to a
non violent protest against the privatization of water, a legitimate expression
of social discontent toward policies that hurt the people. This type of
repressive action gives evidence of the violation of human rights and threats
to the freedom of organization and expression. Beatings, arrests,
searches, persecution and helicopter fly-overs bring to memory the most
difficult moments for the rural population during the past armed conflict, and
I am alarmed by this step backwards in the process of building democracy that
was proposed with the signing of the peace accords.
As well I
want to denounce the violent arrests of 13 people including leaders from
the communities and the non-governmental organization, CRIPDES, among them
Marta Lorena Araujo, Rosa María Centeno, María Haydee Chicas, and Manuel
Antonio Rodríguez. I ask that you respect their physical and moral
integrity, and follow the just process of law that leads to their immediate
release.
Finally, I
want to express my solidarity with the rural communities and with CRIPDES in
their work for the social and economic development of the country, which I have
seen to be very important for the construction of lasting peace and
democracy. I reject any direct or indirect allegations that try to link
CRIPDES with terrorist activities, as well as the charges of this nature
brought against them. Those arrested are not terrorists nor should they
be tried under the anti-terrorism law; they are citizens committed to justice
and the development of their country and should not be criminalized.
Sincerely,
(your name)
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