Archive for January, 2012

Leaders from the Central American community gathered in Houston on January 29th and 30th to launch the national campaign.

Central American Organizations throughout the U.S. Launch Campaign to Push for Permanent Residency for Central Americans with Temporary Protected Status in the U.S.

Houston, TX, January 26, 2012- On Monday, January 30^th at 11:00 AM at the Mickey Leland Federal Building in Houston, Texas, community, religious, labor, and civil rights representatives from all around the country held a press conference to announce a campaign to push for Permanent Residency for the approximately 300,000 Central Americans with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the U.S.

Nearly 14 years ago, Central America was hit with several devastating natural disasters which had a significant impact on entire communities throughout the region and led to hundreds of thousands of Central American families establishing roots in the United States.   In 1998, Hurricane Mitch, one of the deadliest hurricanes in Central American history, ravaged Honduras and Nicaragua and resulted in the loss and displacement of thousands, as well as a collapse in the physical infrastructure.  Due to this devastation, TPS was designated to both countries in 1999. Read More »

March 24th, 2012 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Sanctuary Movement as well as the beginning of a national campaign to grant residency to the thousands of Central Americans and Haitians with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Here is a letter written by leaders of the Sanctuary Movement. Please help us spread this letter and Call! (PDF format: SHARE 30th Anniversary of Sanctuary Letter, Call to Action)

March 24, 1982: Press Conference at University Lutheran Chapel in Berkeley, California. Launching of the National Sanctuary Movement

On March 24, 1982, the second anniversary of the assassination of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, five Berkeley congregations declared public sanctuary simultaneously with the Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona!

Over the next decade, more than 500 congregations and thousands of people stood in solidarity with our Central American sisters and brothers seeking political refuge. The Sanctuary Movement challenged unjust immigration policies and the U.S. foreign policies that fueled the exodus. We thought and acted locally and globally. We crossed borders and made covenants in search of the Common Good. We were transformed. Read More »

Violence and intimidation against anti-mining activists and defenders of human rights continues in El Salvador.

On Friday, January 20th, Father Neftalí Ruiz, Salvadoran Catholic Priest, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Cabañas Environmental Committee, and member of the National Working Group against Metallic Mining, opened his home to a group of university students who had expressed interest in his work.  He was then tied up, intimidated, and robbed. The young men did not take anything of value other than Father Neftalí’s computer, and stated numerous times that they were looking for information.

At a Press Conference held by the National Working Group Against Mining on Tuesday, January 24th, David Pereira of CEICOM emphasized: “These acts are meant to intimidate us to weaken our resistance.”

Alluding to past cases, in which the Attorney General and police have tried to blame cases of death threats and violence against activists on common delinquency or gang violence, Father Neftalí explained that he has no enemies. “The only work I do is to defend mother nature, to preach the Gospel, and denounce injustices.” Catholic Bishop Monsignor Francisco Sol added: “We have shown that in our country, it is a crime to defend the interests of the vast majority.”

Finally, Father Neftalí had a direct plea: “I ask the National Civilian Police and the Attorney General, what are they going to do in this case? Since 2008 and 2009 I have reported death threats. What are they waiting for? For there to be more deaths, more bloodshed?” Read More »

SHARE recently interviewed Isabel Hernandez, Director of SHARE El Salvador and Madre Guadalupe of the Committee of Family Members of the Disappeared (CODEFAM) to reflect on the peace accords and what it means 20 years after a war that took more than 75,000 lives. Below are just some of the powerful responses we received from these women:

Is the transition of the country to democracy durable and irreversible?

Madre Guadalupe

Madre Guadalupe-

“There has been a transition because now we have the space to speak up and say how we feel, however we are living in the same conditions. To have peace people need to be able to fulfill basic needs, like food. If you are hungry, you are not at peace. If you are scared of violence, you are not at peace. If you are under economic stress, you are not at peace. When you have been a victim, you are not at peace.  When these conditions exist you cannot speak of peace.”

On the eve of the 20th anniversary of the Chapultepec Peace Accords, what are your thoughts on the state of peace in this country and the extent to which the state has complied with recommendations of the Peace Accords/Commission on Truth?

Isabel Hernandez-

Isabel Hernandez

“For the Salvadoran people, the peace agreements meant an end to 60 years of military dictatorship and space for the construction of a new democratic system that respects freedom of thought. The main achievements were the dissolution of the ill named security forces (Treasury Police, National Police and National Guard) that were used to repress the people, the armed forces assumed its role of protecting the state and ceased to engage in political affairs. Also, there was a great reduction in  military personnel. Some constitutional amendments were made, including the legalization of the FMLN as a political party, the National Police was created with a new doctrine of  civil service to the public and the Humans Rights Ombudspersons Office was created to ensure that the state does not violate human rights.

There are areas of the peace agreements that are pending compliance and others that have not advanced at all. For example:

In the economic sphere there was a social and economic forum created, consisting of employers, workers and the government to discuss and propose economic changes. That initiative did not work.

The governments of Cristiani, Calderon Sol, Francisco Flores and Saca did not promote or support policies to improve the agricultural sector. Therefore, there has been no progress in Argarian reform. Another debt of the Peace Accords is the lack of justice for victims and their families.”

Read More »