Salvadoran
American Unionist Murdered- Case Remains Unsolved
Pressure for a Full Investigation
On November 5, 2004, Jose
Gilberto Soto, a representative of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, was assassinated outside
his family's house in Usulutan, El Salvador.
Mr. Soto had lived in the U.S. since 1975 and
was a committed community leader, organizer
and activist. Mr. Soto was in El Salvador visiting
his family, and preparing to participate in
efforts to organize truck drivers and port workers
throughout Central America. On the eve of his
50th birthday, Mr. Soto was eating dinner with
his family when he received a call on his cell
phone. When Mr. Soto stepped outside to take
the call, three men approached him, drew their
guns and shot Mr. Soto multiple times; no attempt
was made to rob him.
Please read
this wonderful article written in the Washington
Post about Soto and the history of, and current
conditions of, labor in El Salvador.
Slaying
of U.S. Labor Organizer Opens Old Wounds in
El Salvador
By Kevin Sullivan
Washington Post, December 2, 2004; Page A23.
What
you can do
Unfortunately, the government
of El Salvador has implied that Mr. Soto’s
death was gang or crime related, despite any
such evidence, and has done little to investigate
the matter. The murder of a U.S. citizen under
suspicious circumstances should be a matter
of great concern to our Embassy. This is especially
the case when reports suggest that the murder
may have been pre-meditated, and the motivation
may be political. The history of repression
against labor union activists in Central America
cannot help but leave one concerned, and it
is important that the case be fully investigated,
and the motives for Mr. Soto’s killing
clarified.
Click here to Contact the State Department.
Our government ought to make clear to the government
of El Salvador that we are deeply concerned
and that a full investigation is needed.
• Biography of Gilberto Soto: http://www.teamster.org/04news/hn_041122_2.htm
Fax Colin Powell at 202 647-2283 and demand
that the U.S. State Department pressure the
Salvadoran government to investigate the murder
of Gilberto Soto.
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SAMPLE LETTER TO COLIN POWELL
December 3, 2004
General Colin L. Powell, Secretary of
State
Department of State
2201 C St., NW
Washington, DC 20520
Fax: 202-647-2283
Dear Secretary Powell:
On November 5, 2004, Jose Gilberto Soto,
a representative of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, was assassinated
outside his family's house in Usulutan,
El Salvador. Mr. Soto had lived in the
US since 1975 and was a committed community
leader, organizer and activist. Mr. Soto
was in El Salvador visiting his family,
and preparing to participate in efforts
to organize truck drivers and port workers
throughout Central America. On the eve
of his 50th birthday, Mr. Soto was eating
dinner with his family when he received
a call on his cell phone. When Mr. Soto
stepped outside to take the call, three
men approached him, drew their guns and
shot Mr. Soto multiple times; no attempt
was made to rob him.
Unfortunately, the government of El Salvador
has implied that his death was gang or
crime related, despite any such evidence,
and the government has done little to
investigate the matter. The murder of
a U.S. citizen under suspicious circumstances
should be a matter of great concern to
our Embassy. This is especially the case
when reports suggest that the murder may
have been pre-meditated, and the motivation
may be political. The history of repression
against labor union activists in Central
America cannot help but leave one concerned,
and it is important that the case be fully
investigated, and the motives for Mr.
Soto’s killing clarified.
I ask that you pressure the Salvadoran
government to do a full investigation
into the killing of Gilberto Soto. I also
request that sufficient U.S. resources
and personnel be made available to monitor
this investigation.
Thank you for your efforts to uncover
the truth about this terrible crime, and
for your efforts to confront impunity
in El Salvador.
Sincerely,
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