OPEN LETTER TO SALVADORAN PRESIDENT ANTONIO SACA ON THE ESCALATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN EL SALVADOR

October, 2006

Dear President Saca,

As the 15th anniversary of the Salvadoran Peace Accords approaches, we the undersigned are extremely concerned about the roll back of this historic agreement. It is deplorable that the government had made no serious effort to investigate the resurgence of death squad-style groups and serious violations of human rights, including:

• the murder of the elderly Manzanares, the parents of the historic community radio figure “Mariposa” on July 1st;
• the August 29th murder of two FMLN activists in Coatepeque;
• death threats sent to the water workers’ union SETA;
• the report from the Human Rights Ombudswoman citing evidence of “extermination groups” functioning within the National Civilian Police (PNC);
By refusing to investigate these crimes, the Salvadoran government is condoning these attacks on the population’s right to organize.

Meanwhile the Salvadoran government, through the PNC and the ministry of the interior, has attacked protestors and violated basic human rights. In the past three months, the police have illegally raided union offices and the campus of the National University and violently attacked protestors demanding water for their communities, while the military has illegally invaded the community of La Sabana in the Bajo Lempa. These acts of repression are reprehensible.

Despite these intimidation tactics, we know that people in El Salvador continue to organize and protest policies such as CAFTA and privatization that will worsen conditions for the poor majority in El Salvador. As concerned organizations from the US and around the world, we insist that you:

- Investigate and put and end to the death squad-style threats and murders;
- Reverse the militarization of the police, which is a direct violation of the Peace Accords;
- Repeal the anti-terrorism law and halt government repression of protest;
- Close the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA).

Sincerely,

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