October
12th Day of Action!
In July, people from all over Mesoamerica and other
countries in solidarity with Mesoamericans, attended
the 5th Mesoamerican Forum in El Salvador. This year,
before the Mesoamerican forum, youth, women, and people
concerned with dams and education met in smaller forums
to develop their specific concerns they wanted to address
at the larger forum. More than 2000 people attended
the 5th Mesoamerican Forum. There were several round
table discussions focused on various aspects of the
Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).
The Mesoamerican forum started in 2000 as a reaction
to the planned mega-infrastructure project called the
Plan Puebla Panama, which is the infrastructure designed
to support the free trade agreement. This year people
recognized the significance of the looming vote on CAFTA,
so they focused the forum on CAFTA.
At the end of the forum, attendees agreed to organize
solidarity actions in their countries against CAFTA.
This was the first time that at least four Central American
countries were able to simultaneously march against
CAFTA. Here is a report on the fruits of these actions.
If you have other stories about local actions your committee
organized, please contact Chloe Schwabe at chloe@share-elsalvador.org.
El Salvador
 Thousands
of our Salvadoran brothers and sisters mobilized throughout
the country on Tuesday morning calling that sweatshops
and CAFTA were not appropriate development solutions
for El Salvador. The MPR-12, one of our Salvadoran local
partners, organized some of the biggest activities.
In San Salvador, 2500 people marched from the Christ
of Peace statue, near the airport, to the presidential
palace. Between 2500 and 3000 people blocked the coastal
highway at Puente del Oro (Gold Bridge) between San
Vicente and Usutlan. Many energized youth from CRIPDES-San
Vicente (who are about to begin a regional CRIPDES project
with support from St. Mary's University Parish and Holy
Spirit Parish) participated in this road blockade too.
The Center for International Solidarity (CIS) reported
that SINTI TECHAN, the Citizen trade and Investment
Network, organized and participated in many activities
including a student protest in Atiquizaya and Ahuachapan
(SHARE's new local development target zone) and strategic
road blockades, such as Puente del Oro.
Eight hundred people also blocked the coastal highway
that carries products from Port Acajutla and that borders
Guatemala. In one instance, four women were attacked
by the Salvadoran National Guard Riot Police when SINTI
TECHAN blockaded the Troncal del Norte Highway. They
also organized a student protest in front of the National
Water Infrastructure Administration focused on water
privatization.
Guatemala
Over 20,000 marched through Guatemala. In Guatemala
City Agence France Press reported that thousands of
farmers, workers, students and teachers marched along
the main streets to the congress against discrimination,
CAFTA, forced evictions, and for an improved agrarian
reform policy. People in Peten and Coban Road participated
in blockades, marches and Mayan prayer ceremonies.
Guatemalan legislators also participated in the first
of many forums with varying perspectives on CAFTA so
that they may make a more informed decision on CAFTA.
Costa Rica
In Costa Rica 30,000 people marched against CAFTA,
as well as government and corporate corruption. In San
Jose, when the president attempted to join the march,
the crowd refused his participation and called him corrupt
for trying to take money from the transnational corporation,
ALCATEL, to finance his 2002 campaign.
Many workshops were held in the rest of the country
to educate people on the free trade agreement.
Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, one thousand people marched in Managua
against CAFTA, the privatization of their water and
exclusion of many sectors of the population.
United States
 In
Washington DC, the stop CAFTA Coalition organized a
press conference on October 7th with Representative
Hilda Solis, a Democrat from California, Representative
Dennis Kucinich a Democrat from New Jersey, Representative
Salvador Arias from El Salvador, Maryland State Representative
(and Salvadoran American) Anasol Gutierrez, as well
as labor and religious leaders.
At the event, FMLN legislators from El Salvador presented
their case against CAFTA and also released a letter
to US Congress rejecting CAFTA and signed by the party's
31 deputies. The Stop CAFTA Coalition also presented
a letter with 160 signatures from the US and Central
America opposing CAFTA. Similar letters from Costa Rican
and Honduran legislators were also presented.
Let us celebrate the achievements of our neighbors
and friends in Central America as they continue in the
path of Romero to bring justice to their communities.
We can accompany these efforts by educating and activating
our own community to say no to CAFTA. It is not too
late to organize an activity in your area or to contact
your members of congress while they are in your local
area. Visit www.house.gov
or www.senate.gov to
learn who your members of congress are and how to contact
them. For letter writing tools and tips on talking to
your members of congress please see SHARE's
Congress Kit
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Chloe
Kathleen
Elly