[peace-announce] CISPES Election Observer Delegation to El Salvador March 4-1

[Jeff Duritz]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Boston CISPES <boscispes at gtcinternet.com>


March 4-15, CISPES will be leading an elections observing delegation to El
Salvador.

Enclosed is some information about the delegation including the preliminary
itinerary, the estimated cost, and the application (attached).

If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call.  I'd be happy to
answer any questions you might have about the delegation or CISPES,
generally.  We can also talk about ideas and support on fundraising for the
trip.

In Solidarity,

Dave Grosser
Boston CISPES
2161 Mass. Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140
617-576-1709
boscispes at gtcinternet.com


_________________________________________________________

*CISPES - Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador*



November 2005

Dear Potential CISPES Delegate:

*
*
*Thank you for your interest in solidarity delegations to El Salvador!  *The
upcoming delegation* *is a legislative and municipal elections delegation
from March 4th-15th, 2006. *
*


El Salvador continues to be at the forefront of the United States¹ agenda as
attempts for permanent US intervention in the country persist through guises
of ³joint economic and military cooperation.² Last July we came remarkably
close to winning the CAFTA battle, but the agreement was passed in the US
Congress by a mere two votes! Now, and despite massive popular resistance in
El Salvador, privatization is more threatening than ever as CAFTA is set to
be implemented as of January 1st, 2006. In addition, and with the excuse of
combating ³global terrorism,² the US is pushing to open an International Law
Enforcement Academy (Police School of the Americas), also known as ILEA, in
El Salvador. Many Salvadorans have denounced the proposal, particularly
because of the current increased political repression being used against
civilians voicing any opposition to the right wing government; and the
historical military presence that the US had in El Salvador during the
eighties which resulted in over 70,000 ³casualties.²

As if this panorama wasn¹t daunting enough, El Salvador has been through a
year of devastating natural disasters such as a volcanic eruption,
earthquakes, and major floods that have had dire consequences on farmers,
workers and the poor. These disasters exposed the complete incompetence of
ARENA ­the ruling ultra right-wing party- in providing relief during the
country¹s most desperate times. Even the partial international aid that made
its way from the government to the people was delivered under a campaign of
self promotion, where ARENA illegally politicized the process by taking
credit for the delivery of foreign support.

Although there are several political parties active in El Salvador, in
reality there are only two economic models competing for power: the model of
corporate globalization and Free Trade, represented by the ruling ARENA
party, and the alternative model of social and economic justice represented
by the opposition party FMLN (Farabundo Marti Front for National
Liberation). Despite denouncements by observers in past elections, the
right-wing party has persistently committed fraud by buying votes,
intimidating civilians, and threatening opposition candidates. In the 2004
elections, they tried to stop international observers from attending the
elections and have recently been making statements about limiting the amount
of international observers allowed to be present at these upcoming
elections. In addition, ARENA recently passed a constitutional reform on the
electoral process that not only makes it easier for the right wing to
concentrate its power and commit fraud, but also violates the 1992 Peace
Accords.

During a time of such crisis, military and economic intervention, and
political repression, international solidarity is vital. We, as observers,
will have the opportunity to accompany Salvadorans during elections that
have the potential to drastically shift the political direction of the
government and reverse decisions and policies that have been made despite
the widespread disapproval of the Salvadoran people. CISPES delegates have
participated in every election since the signing of the Peace Accords in
1992 as accredited international observers, and we will be there again this
year to accompany the Salvadoran people as the FMLN prepares to win even
more representation at the local level! The Salvadoran people are calling
upon us to accompany them as these elections will not only define the local
and national legislative powers for the next three years, but also be
crucial in defining the presidential elections of 2009. *Join us next March
in El Salvador to observe the elections, and learn first-hand about the
resistance and struggle for an alternative in El Salvador, the importance of
El Salvador¹s struggle to all of Latin America, and how you can participate
in the international campaign to stop privatization and the imposition of
the ILEA! *

*
*
*The preliminary objectives of the delegation are:*

*1.**     Accompany the Salvadoran people to promote accessible, free and
fair elections by observing the March 12th legislative and municipal
elections as international accredited observers.
*
*2.**     Observe the repercussions of state-led increased repression; and
be part of the first group to witness the initial effects of CAFTA so as to
deepen our understanding of corporate globalization.
*
*3.**     Accompany the Salvadoran social movement, labor movement, and the
FMLN in their campaign to stop these policies, and provide direct financial
support to their grassroots organizing efforts. *

*4.**     Organize our communities and pressure our congress people to stop
both US intervention in El Salvador¹s electoral process and the imposition
of the ILEA. *

*
*
*The itinerary is currently being developed.  At a minimum, you will:*

§        Observe El Salvador's elections process as an accredited
international election observer

§        Help build the campaign against the implementation of CAFTA and the
ILEA

§        Accompany the Salvadoran social and labor movement in their
struggle against privatization

§        Learn about how the free trade model and corporate globalization
have already increased poverty for the majority while making a few rich in
El Salvador

§        Meet with FMLN (Left opposition party) members and visit
FMLN-governed municipalities

§        Meet with representatives from the women¹s movement

§        Meet with student organizations that are actively and creatively
organizing young salvadoreños

§        Meet with union organizers and discuss building cross-border
resistance to neoliberalism

§        See examples of alternative models of development that put people,
not profits, at the center

§        Have fun!

*
*

*The approximate cost of the delegation:
*Airfare ($400 - $700), $150 Administrative Fee, $550 In-country costs
(meals, housing, election observer training, translation, local
transportation, etc), and material aid to directly support grassroots
organizing: ($300 - $500).  *Fundraising support is available! (Join your
local committee or see attached guide for ideas)*



*TO APPLY: *

§        *Contact CISPES immediately: Call your local CISPES office or the
National Office at (212) 465-8115, or email the delegation coordinators at
christine at cispes.org or krista at cispes.org
*
§        *Complete the application as soon as possible and mail or email it
to the CISPES National Office (See application for addresses). The
application deadline is January 15, 2006.  We encourage you to get your
application in as soon as possible.  Don't wait until the last minute!
*
§        *Upon acceptance into the delegation, secure your spot by sending
in your $150 Administrative Fee to the CISPES National Office. *

§        *Be sure you have a valid passport.*

§        *Make travel arrangements (plan to arrive in El Salvador on March
4th and leave on the 15th ).*

§        *Begin fundraising (your local CISPES chapter/the National Office
can provide advice and support). *

*
*
We will begin processing applications in December, and will contact you to
set up an interview. Following your acceptance into the delegation, an
Administrative Fee of *$150 *is required to guarantee your spot on the
delegation. * Space is limited. *Upon acceptance, we will also send you a
waiver form and an orientation packet, which includes an analysis of the
organizing conditions in El Salvador, information about the elections
process and a description of the political parties, security guidelines,
travel preparation tips, and other important information.



Thanks again for your interest in CISPES delegations and for your commitment
to social and economic justice in El Salvador!  We look forward to hearing
from you.

In Solidarity,

Christine Raine and Krista Lee Hanson
Delegation Coordinators


--
******
The struggle of people against power is the struggle of memory against
forgetting.
      Milan Kundera
******

Terrorism, Echelon, NSA
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