URGENT ACTION: Help Free the Suchitoto 13

Bulletin from U.S. - El Salvador Sister Cities Network

URGENT ACTION, December 11th, 2007: THREE STEPS TO FREE THE SUCHITOTO 13 AND SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS IN EL SALVADOR!

Dear Friends of Sister Cities,

As we celebrate International Human Rights Day on December 10 and commemorate the victims of the El Mozote Massacre on December 11, it is once again time to take action to protest the violation of human rights and the erosion of civil liberties that our Salvadoran compañeros are facing under the guise of anti-terrorism. It is time to take action again in the case of the Suchitoto 13. You can see the previous reports and all the context at www.elsalvadorsolidarity.org. In this case, the prosecution has until February 8, 2008 to present their accusations, witnesses, and evidence. As the February hearing approaches, CRIPDES has called for concentrated spurts of international action to put pressure on the Salvadoran government and demand that all charges be dropped against the Suchitoto 13. Today, we urge you to take the following actions - these three small steps can make a big difference. Send out these letters, in full, or a shorter modified version to your own liking. (You can even make phone calls and send faxes if you are so moved!) But it is important to send something, and every bit helps.

1. Contact Salvadoran President Antonio Saca

Send the first email message below to President Antonio Saca, and send a copy (cc) the President of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General of El Salvador, and the Judge of the Special Tribunal Ana Lucila Fuentes de Paz. Please also bcc us at esaction@gmail.com so we can track the response rate.

Send To: fmelgar@presidencia.gob.sv
And CC: conchita_lopez@csj.gob.sv , fgsafie@fgr.gob.sv, lucila_fuentes@yahoo.com
BCC: esaction@gmail.com

2. Contact US Ambassador to El Salvador , Charles Glazer

Send the second email message below to Ambassador Glazer.

Send To: glazerCL@state.gov
BCC: esaction@gmail.com

3. Call the State Department El Salvador Desk

Call: 202-647-3505 and ask for Jeremy Cornforth at the State Department El Salvador Desk. Give him a similar message to that which you sent to Ambassador Glazer. If you are doubtful, check out the following sample script:

Sample Script: Hello, my name is______ and I am calling to express my continued concern for the 13 activists arrested in Suchitoto on July 2 and charged with Acts of Terrorism. I ask that the US State Department publicly oppose the use of anti-terrorist tribunals as a pretext to criminalize dissent and demand that the Salvadoran government drop all charges against the Suchitoto 13!

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(Letter to President Saca) (English version -Spanish follows)

December xx, 2007
Elias Antonio Saca
Presidente de la Republica de El Salvador
El Salvador, Centroamerica

Dear President Saca:

I'm writing again to express my concern about the case of the 13 protestors arrested in Suchitoto on July 2nd and subsequently charged as terrorists, and to demand that all charges against them be dropped immediately.

As you know, on July 2, 2007, the National Civilian Police ( PNC) and National Riot Police (UMO) violently repressed a peaceful protest against water privatization in Suchitoto, El Salvador . Four members of the social organization CRIPDES (Association for the Development of El Salvador ) were arrested when their truck was stopped by police forces before they ever arrived at the protest site. Over the course of the day, police arrested 10 more community members and injured dozens more with beatings, rubber bullets, and tear gas. 13 of the people arrested continue to be charged with Acts of Terrorism under El Salvador's Decree #108, "Special Law Against Acts of Terrorism". The accused were granted only conditional liberty and Special Tribunal Judge Ana Lucila Fuentes de Paz granted prosecution an extension to present their evidence. The extension expires early next year, on February 8th.

As the February hearing approaches, people around the world are expressing mounting concern for the Suchitoto 13 and overall democracy and human rights in El Salvador. The actions taken under your leadership against the July 2nd protestors represent violations of The Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador , the 1992 Salvadoran Peace Agreements, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They also represent a violation of the terms for "Ruling Justly" of the $461 million in development funds allocated to El Salvador by the United States for 2007 through 2011 through the Millennium Challenge Account.

In the name of democracy and human rights, I call on you to see that all charges against the Suchitoto 13 are dropped, that the right to peaceful protest is respected in El Salvador. I will continue to monitor closely the situation and have once again contacted the US State Department about my concerns.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

(Letter to Saca -Spanish Version)

Excelentisimo Presidente Saca,

Le escribo una vez mas para expresar mi grave preocupación por el caso de los 13 personas arrestadas en Suchitoto el 2 de Julio, y posteriormente acusados de terroristas, así como para exigirle el sobreseimiento total de los cargos.

Como usted sabrá, el pasado 2 de julio de 2007 agentes de la Policía Nacional Civil y Unidad de Mantenimiento de Orden (UMO) reprimieron violentamente una protesta pacífica en contra de la privatización del agua que tomaba lugar en Suchitoto. 4 miembros de la organización social CRIPDES (Asociación para el Desarrollo de El Salvador) fueron arrestados cuando su vehiculo fue detenido incluso antes de llegar al lugar de la protesta. En el transcurso del día, la policía arrestó a 10 personas mas, y hirió a docenas con golpes, balas de goma, y gases. 13 de las personas arrestadas continúan bajo cargos de Actos de Terrorismo de acuerdo al Decreto #108 "Ley Especial Contra Actos de Terrorismo." Los acusados lograron únicamente la libertad condicional, mientras la Jueza Especial Ana Lucila Fuentes de Paz otorgó una prórroga a la fiscalía para presentar su evidencia. La prórroga se vence el otro año, el 8 de febrero del 2008.

Mientras se acerca la audiencia de febrero, personas alrededor del mundo están expresando su creciente preocupación por los 13 de Suchitoto y el estado de la democracia y derechos humanos en El Salvador. Las acciones tomadas bajo su liderazgo y durante su gestión en contra de las personas arrestadas el 2 de julio representan violaciones en contra de la Constitución de la Republica de El Salvador, los Acuerdos de Paz firmados en 1992, y la Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas. Asimismo representan una violación de los términos "Gobernar con Justicia" que es requisito para los $461 millones en fondos para el desarrollo canalizados hacia El Salvador de los Estados Unidos para el 2007- 2011 a través de la Cuenta de los Fondos del Milenio. En nombre de la democracia y los derechos humanos, le hago el llamado a que asegure el sobreseimiento total de los cargos contra los arrestados en Suchitoto el 2 de julio, y el respeto al derecho de la protesta pacífica en El Salvador. Continuaré monitoreando de cerca los acontecimientos de esta situación y otra ves he contactado el Departamento de Estado de los EE.UU. para también comunicar mis preocupaciones. Gracias.

Atentamente,

CC: Dr. Agustín García Calderón
Presidente de La Corte Suprema de Justicia
Centro de Gobierno
San Salvador, El Salvador
Telefono: (503) 2271-8888 Extensión. 1403
Fax: (503) 2271-8758
Email: conchita_lopez@csj.gob.sv

Félix Garrid Safie
Fiscal General de la Republica
Colonia San Francisco, Calle Los Abetos # 85
San Salvador, El Salvador
Teléfono: 011-(503) 2249-8604
Fax: 011-(503) 2249-8605
Email: fgsafie@fgr.gob.sv

Licenciada: Ana Lucila Fuentes de Paz
Juzgado Especializado de Instrucción de San Salvador
Teléfono: 011-503-2264-1180 (or 1181)
Fax: 001-503-2264-1191
Email: lucila_fuentes2005@yahoo.com

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(Letter to Ambassador Glazer)

December xx, 2007

Ambassador Charles Glazer
Embassy of the United States to El Salvador
Colonia Santa Elena San Salvador, El Salvador

Dear Ambassador Glazer:

I'm writing again to express my concern about the case of the 13 protestors arrested in Suchitoto on July 2nd and subsequently charged as terrorists, and to demand that all charges against them be dropped immediately.

As you know, on July 2, 2007 , the National Civilian Police ( PNC) and National Riot Police (UMO) violently repressed a peaceful protest against water privatization in Suchitoto, El Salvador. Four members of the social organization CRIPDES (Association for the Development of El Salvador) were arrested when their truck was stopped by police forces before they ever arrived at the protest site. Over the course of the day, police arrested 10 more community members and injured dozens more with beatings, rubber bullets, and tear gas.

13 of the people arrested continue to be charged with Acts of Terrorism under El Salvador's Decree #108, "Special Law Against Acts of Terrorism". The accused were granted only conditional liberty and Special Tribunal Judge Ana Lucila Fuentes de Paz granted prosecution an extension to present their evidence. The extension expires early next year, on February 8th.

As the February hearing approaches, people around the world are expressing mounting concern for the Suchitoto 13 and overall democracy and human rights in El Salvador. The actions taken by Salvadoran authorities against the July 2nd protestors represent violations of The Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador, the 1992 Salvadoran Peace Agreements, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They also represent a violation of the terms for "Ruling Justly" of the $461 million in development funds allocated to El Salvador by the United States for 2007 through 2011 through the Millennium Challenge Account.

In the name of democracy and human rights, I call on you, the US Ambassador to El Salvador, to publicly oppose the use of anti-terrorist tribunals as a pretext to criminalize dissent and demand that the Salvadoran government drop all charges against the Suchitoto 13. I will continue to monitor closely the situation and would appreciate any updates you have on the US State Department's perspective. Thank you.

Sincerely,