Labor
Day Marchers Concerned about Defending Democracy
On Saturday, May 1st thousands
of Salvadorans took to the streets to celebrate
the International Day of the Worker, e.g., Labor
Day. Women’s groups, students, farmers,
health care workers and factory workers marched
from multiple locations throughout San Salvador
to the Plaza Civica, convening in front of the
Cathedral. With the Plaza Civica filled to capacity
the crowd spilled over into the adjacent streets
and city blocks. Participants were at once peaceful,
celebratory and resolute.
March organizers and participants
used the day to highlight a series of growing
public concerns including CAFTA, a sorely inadequate
minimum wage and the inaccessibility of education
for women. In particular, however, the crowds
made clear their deep anger over the government’s
ongoing efforts to dismantle healthcare unions.
Just days earlier, beginning
on April 27th, healthcare workers occupied the
National Cathedral for just over two days. The
occupants sought to bring national and international
attention to the government’s slow and
quiet march towards the privatization of health
care. To this end, union workers claim, the
Labor Ministry and Social Security administration
has purged the health care system of its organized
leaders, in particular STISSS members who lead
last year’s strike that fought to stop
the privatization of health care. To date over
156 unionized workers have been fired.
On the 28th, when riot squads
aggressively moved in to break up the crowd
which had gathered in front of the Cathedral
in a show support for the healthcare workers
inside, violence erupted. Today two STISSS union
leaders, Ricardo Monge and Javier Ayala, who
were arrested prior to the eruption of violence
in front of the Cathedral, remain in jail, charged
with, amongst other things, acts of terrorism.
Judge Octavo de Paz, who oversaw the charges
brought against Monge and Ayala, not only exonerated
the two of all but one charge, creating a public
disturbance, but stated that their arrests were
politically motivated and had served as a catalyst
adding to the already explosive elements which
lead to the violence downtown.
Shortly following Judge Paz’s
decision, the Attorney General, prompted by
pressure from ARENA government officials, appealed
the case ensuring Monge and Ayala’s continued
detention. Meanwhile, Rene Figueroa, the Minister
of Governance, has initiated the process to
create a new law which would effectively discourage
public protests. Following the unscrupulous
presidential campaign electoral period creation
of what are widely considered draconian laws
recently enacted against gang members in El
Salvador, the proposal of this new ‘anti-public
disturbance’ law has many critics claiming
that the delicate underpinnings of El Salvador’s
democracy may be eroding.
No to CAFTA.
No to Privatization. No to Plan Puebla Panamá.
The long list of demands made by civil society
on May 1st seems endless. However, when we take
a closer look, as the healthcare crisis illustrates,
the battle cry seems both simple and singular,
give us democracy: participation, transparency
and accountability.
Local
Actions
One way to support the struggle
for democracy in El Salvador is to assure CAFTA
is voted down in the U.S.. In its wake civil
society in Central America and the U.S. can
help create just economic relationships between
Central America and the United States.
If you are planning
any actions in your area involving CAFTA issues,
please let us know so that we can spread
the word!
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