CAFTA Update

December 6, 2004

News from El Salvador

Sources in El Salvador are suggesting that a vote on CAFTA could happen within the next two weeks in the Salvadoran National Assembly.

CAFTA was officially presented to general assembly members on Thursday, December 2nd. Previously, the Salvadoran Ministry of Economy had promised law makers sufficient time to review and debate the lengthy agreement (all 2,500 pages of it) and it’s long term legal implications. It seems, however, that President Tony Saca and the ARENA Party want to avoid the PR damage of a long debate and as a result are pushing for a quick vote.

Thursday there were reports that ARENA was pushing for a Friday vote. A heated debate, however, lead to an agreement that CAFTA will first be studied and debated in the International Relations committee. Tony Saca has said that he still hopes for a short debate and quick vote; he has said that he wants El Salvador to be the first country to ratify the agreement.

Critics of CAFTA had hoped that lengthy an in-depth debate in the National Assembly would reveal the threat CAFTA represents for the majority of Salvadorans; they also had planned large marches and protests to coincide with the debates in order to show the broad based opposition which exists to the agreement in. This past week’s events are an unfortunate reminder of the undemocratic nature of CAFTA's development.

Thursday afternoon University students and members of social organizations began gathering in front of the National University and the National General Assembly to protest the process by which CAFTA is being expedited- and its content. During a protest at the National University, an armed gunman shot at students. While the police were present, they did not catch, nor aggressively pursue the gunman.

It is expected that there will be popular protests and gatherings throughout El Salvador next week. We will update our webpage on a regular basis as reports from El Salvador come in. www.share-elsalvador.org

Congressional Update

Members of Congress will be home for the holidays between December 25th and January 20th, making now through mid January a great time to get out and visit them. To find contact information for your member of Congress, please visit: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov or use this locator.

For letter writing tools and tips on talking to your members of congress please see SHARE's Congress Kit