Drug War Pushed Into El Salvador

This past week was a busy one for the masters of war in Central America.

Presidents and bankers gathered at a high profile meeting on the drug war in Antigua Guatemala from June 21-23, producing a familiar sounding series of commitments to fight organized crime in Central America. The event was rounded out with pledges of almost two billion dollars in foreign aid and loans, much of which will go towards intelligence gathering and training of police forces.

The International Conference in Support of the Central America Security Strategy brought together Central American heads of state, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos, Mexico’s Felipe Calderon, and representatives from more than fifty countries, including Israel, Spain, Canada, and South Korea. Also present was Luis Alberto Moreno, president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), as well as representatives from the World Bank, the Organization of American States, the United Nations, and the European Union.

 

See the whole story at: http://upsidedownworld.org/main/international-archives-60/3093-security-conference-vows-to-push-drug-war-into-central-america

The march of unsustainability in El Salvador gains speed

From "upsidedownworld" website:

In the last year, El Salvador has been cited in at least three reports issued by international institutions that have credibility among public officials, politicians and businesspeople. However, this grave situation has gone unnoticed since then, to the point where it is referred to as an exagerration or attempt to discredit certain actors.  According to ECLAC, we already suffer from hydric stress, meaning the availability of water for human consumption tends to be less than 1750 mts3 per person per year. In the 2010 Report of the Global Fund for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, our country tops the list of highest-risk countries in the world: 88.7% of the territory is considered at risk of disaster, and 95.4% of the population is at risk. At the same time, the organization Germanwatch located in El Salvador in the first place in the Global Climate Risk Index 2009.

For the full report, go to http://www.upsidedownworld.org/

Disappearance of Juan Francisco Duran Ayala in Cabañas

An update on the mining situation from our friends "Voices on the Border" with assistance from our friends Sister Cities...

Action Alert - Disappearance of Juan Francisco Duran Ayala in Cabañas
   On Sunday we posted an alert that anti-mining activist Juan Francisco Duran Ayala has been missing for over a week. He disappeared the day after he was hanging anti-mining posters in Ilobasco, Cabañas. Representatives of the CAC, the local environmental organization to which Juan Francisco belongs, report that the Mayor of Ilobasco, Eliseo “Cheyo” Castellanos ordered municipal police to remove the signs that Juan Francisco was hanging the day he disappeared.
   Please join Juan Francisco’s family and friends in calling on the Salvadoran authorities, including the Attorney General’s office and the National Civilian Police, to set up a special search party to find Juan Francisco, as well as investigate all cases of threats and violence against civil society actors in the region. The CAC demands that these investigations also consider the links between the powerful network of local mayors, including Mayor José Bautista of San Isidro, Mayor Edgar Bonilla of Sensuntepeque, and Mayor “Cheyo” Castellanos of Ilobasco, and Pacific Rim Mining Company.

Cheyo Castellanos - Mayor of Ilobasco
Here’s what you can do:
Send an email to the Attorney General Romeo Barahona (see sample email below) and Manuel Melgar, the Minister of Justice and Security, to demand a full investigation and protection for the victims. Please send the email to Barahona’s assistant at hector.burgos@fgr.gob.sv and to Minister Melgar jusegministro@seguridad.gob.sv and his assistantSandra.lazo@seguridad.gob.sv.
If you speak Spanish, please also call Salvadoran Attorney General Romeo Barahona at 011-503- 2230-6350 (see sample script below). Please also call Minister Melgar 011-503-7070-0081 (see sample script below).
Sample Email to Attorney General Barahona
hector.burgos@fgr.gob.sv
Estimado Señor Fiscal General de la República,
   Como miembro de la comunidad internacional, quiero expresar mi profunda preocupación sobre las nuevas amenazas y los casos de violencia contra líderes sociales en Cabañas.
Hace más de una semana Juan Francisco Duran Ayala, miembro del Comité Ambiental de Cabañas en Defensa del Agua y Cultura (CAC) desapareció, a pocos días después de haber participado en actividades contra la minería en Cabañas.  Urge que el PNC y la Fiscalía establezcan un equipo especializado de investigación sobre este caso.
   Además, urge una investigación profunda y eficaz sobre este último caso y todas las amenazas contra los ambientalistas de Cabañas, para determinar quiénes son los autores materiales, intelectuales y financieros. Es necesario también re-abrir los casos de Marcelo Rivera, Dora Alicia Sorto y Ramiro Rivera para investigar vínculos entre estos caso, los asesinatos de Darwin Serrano y Gerardo Abrego León, las nuevas amenazas contra el personal de Radio Victoria, y la desaparición de Juan Francisco Duran Ayala.
Finalmente, tomando en cuenta los nexos entre esta violencia y la lucha contra la minería, los casos de violencia y las amenazas contra líderes sociales en Cabañas requieren una investigación profunda para identificar los autores materiales e intelectuales.  Estas investigaciones deben de incluir posibles nexos entre la violencia y la compañía minera Pacific Rim, y las autoridades locales como los alcaldes de San Isidro, Ilobasco y Sensuntepeque.
   El hecho de que la violencia y amenazas que se han dado en Cabañas desde 2007 siguen en impunidad ha permitido que surgieran los nuevos casos de violencia. Pido que, por favor, tome las medidas necesarias para asegurar justicia y protección para los afectados.
Agradezco de antemano sus gestiones para agilizar las investigaciones y espero que pronto se haga justicia en estos casos. Estaré pendiente de las acciones de la Fiscalía y seguiré informando a los y las funcionarias de gobierno en mi país sobre estos casos.
Atentamente,
Your Name

Sample Email to Minister of Justice and Security jusegministro@seguridad.gob.sv andSandra.lazo@seguridad.gob.sv
Estimado Señor Ministro de Seguridad y Justicia,
   Como miembro de la comunidad internacional, quiero expresar mi profunda preocupación sobre las nuevas amenazas y los casos de violencia contra líderes sociales en Cabañas.
Hace más de una semana Juan Francisco Duran Ayala, miembro del Comité Ambiental de Cabañas en Defensa del Agua y Cultura (CAC) desapareció, a pocos días después de haber participado en actividades contra la minería en Cabañas.  Urge que el PNC y la Fiscalía establezcan un equipo especializado de investigación sobre este caso.
   Además, urge una investigación profunda y eficaz sobre este último caso y todas las amenazas contra los ambientalistas de Cabañas, para determinar quiénes son los autores materiales, intelectuales y financieros. Es necesario también re-abrir los casos de Marcelo Rivera, Dora Alicia Sorto y Ramiro Rivera para investigar vínculos entre estos casos, los asesinatos de Darwin Serrano y Gerardo Abrego León, las nuevas amenazas contra el personal de Radio Victoria, y la desaparición de Juan Francisco Duran Ayala.
   Finalmente, tomando en cuenta los nexos entre esta violencia y la lucha contra la minería, los casos de violencia y las amenazas contra líderes sociales en Cabañas requieren una investigación profunda para identificar los autores materiales e intelectuales.  Estas investigaciones deben de incluir posibles nexos entre la violencia y la compañía minera Pacific Rim, y las autoridades locales como los alcaldes de San Isidro, Ilobasco y Sensuntepeque.
   El hecho de que la violencia y amenazas que se han dado en Cabañas desde 2007 siguen en impunidad ha permitido que surgieran los nuevos casos de violencia. Pido que, por favor, tome las medidas necesarias para asegurar justicia y protección para los afectados.
Agradezco de antemano sus gestiones para agilizar las investigaciones y espero que pronto se haga justicia en estos casos. Estaré pendiente de las acciones de la PNC y seguiré informando a los y las funcionarias de gobierno en mi país sobre estos casos.
Atentamente,
Your Name

 Translation
   As a member of the international community, I want to express my deep concern about the new cases of violence and threats against social leaders in Cabañas.
   More than a week ago Juan Francisco Duran Ayala, member of the Environmental Committee of Cabañas in Defense of Water and Cultura (CAC) disappeared, a few days after having participated in activities protesting mining in Cabañas.  A specialized task force of prosecutors and members of the National Civilian police should be assigned to investigate this case.
   In addition, there needs to be a thorough and efficient investigations into this recent case and all of the threats to environmentalists in Cabañas, to determine who the material, intellectual and financial authors are.  It is also necessary to re-open the Marcelo Rivera, Dora Alicia Sorto, and Ramiro Rivera cases in order to investigate links between those cases, the murders of Darwin Serrano and Gerardo Abrego León, the new threats against the staff of Radio Victoria, and the disappearance of Juan Francisco Duran Ayala.
Finally, taking into account the ties between this violence and the anti-mining struggles, the cases of violence and threats against Cabañas social movement leaders require a thorough investigation to identify the material and intellectual authors. These investigations should look into the possible ties between the violence and the mining company Pacific Rim as well as local authorities like the mayors of San Isidro, Ilobasco, and Sensuntepeque.
   This new case of violence has arisen because the violence and threats that have occurred in Cabañas since 2007 remain in impunity. I ask that you please take the necessary measures to assure justice and protection for those affected.
   Thank you in advance for your efforts to begin thorough investigations and I hope that soon there will be justice in these cases.  I will continue to follow the actions of the Attorney General’s office and the National Civil Police (PCN) and will continue informing my elected officials about these cases.

Call Script for Attorney General Barahona (direct number for his assistant, Hector Burgos: 011-503- 2230-6350)
Buenos (días/tardes)
Mi nombre es_______________________ y llamo para expresar mi preocupación sobre la desaparición de Juan Francisco Duran Ayala y la violencia contra líderes sociales en Cabañas.
Urge una investigación profunda sobre la desaparición del Señor Duran Ayala con un equipo especializado, y así también es necesario re-abrir los casos de Marcelo Rivera, Dora Alicia Sorto y Ramiro Rivera para investigar vínculos entre estos caso, los asesinatos de Darwin Serrano y Gerardo Abrego León, las nuevas amenazas contra el personal de Radio Victoria y la desaparición del Señor Duran Ayala.
El hecho de que la violencia y amenazas anteriores quedaron en impunidad ha permitido que surgieran los nuevos hechos de violencia. Pido que el Fiscal General tome las medidas necesarias para asegurar justicia y protección para las y los afectados.
Gracias

Call Script for Minister of Justice and Security Manuel Melgar (direct number: 011-503- 7070-0081)
Buenos (días/tardes)
Mi nombre es_______________________ y llamo para expresar mi preocupación sobre la desaparición de Juan Francisco Duran Ayala y la violencia contra líderes sociales en Cabañas.
Urge una investigación profunda sobre la desaparición del Señor Duran Ayala con un equipo especializado, y así también es necesario re-abrir los casos de Marcelo Rivera, Dora Alicia Sorto y Ramiro Rivera para investigar vínculos entre estos caso, los asesinatos de Darwin Serrano y Gerardo Abrego León, las nuevas amenazas contra el personal de Radio Victoria y la desaparición del Señor Duran Ayala.
El hecho de que la violencia y amenazas anteriores quedaron en impunidad ha permitido que surgieran los nuevos hechos de violencia. Pido que el PNC tome las medidas necesarias para asegurar justicia y protección para las y los afectados.
Gracias.
And we'd like to thank the folks at CISPES and US Sister Cities for their hard work in drafting the letter and script!
Cheyo Castellanos - Mayor of Ilobasco

Former CRISPAZ Board Member Dies May 27

Board members and friends of CRISPAZ mourned the May 27 passing of Rev. William Lytle, one of the first Board members at Christians for Peace in El Salvador. He was 87 and died of cancer only days within discovering his disease had metastasized. Lytle is survived by his wife Renate Frick Lytle Gatos, and children, daughters Ruth Hamilton of Washington, D.C., and Aimee Hearn of Groveton, Texas; and sons David Lytle of San Antonio and Paul Bierman-Lytle of Denver. Lytle had nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 58 years, Faith Williamson Lytle of San Antonio.
   Lytle was born in Pittsburgh July 3, 1923, and after the influence of growing up in his father’s United Presbyterian Church in Ben Avon, PA, Lytle became an ordained minister in 1947. He and wife, Faith, were “mobile missionaries” in the remote ranching areas of Reserve and Corona, N.M., and then they moved in 1962 to Clarksville, AR, where he directed the Ozarks Area Mission program at the College of the Ozarks for 11 years. Beginning in 1973, he served 17 years as pastor at Madison Square Presbyterian Church in San Antonio. He retired in 1990 as pastor.
   In 1978, while in San Antonio, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church USA, leading that year’s annual national gathering of church representatives and visiting as the church’s representative through the year throughout the United States, also visiting Ireland and numerous African nations.
   “Bill Lytle served on the CRISPAZ Board from the very beginning” of the organization, in 1985,” recalled Rev. Peter Hinde, OCarm, one of the three founders of Christians for Peace in El Salvador. “With one interruption, he served for a total of 12 years, three of those years as president of the Board. He gave extra time in the beginning as a member of the Board Support Committee for the first staff members of CRISPAZ in San Antonio. Bill brought a deep spirituality to CRISPAZ and commitment to the values of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One time on a Board meeting he was asked to do a favorite recitation from memory.: the complete fifth and sixth chapters of St. Matthew’s Gospel…This was no recitation, but the Gospel come alive in the accents and gestures of Bill in sharing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He held us spellbound.”
   “Bill’s smile made me melt with joy,” said current CRIZPAZ Chair Cathy Cornell. “Bill was a big man. Yes, he was tall, but his presence was big. Not a flashy, look at me kind of presence but a feeling of solid calm and caring. One of my first memories of Bill was meeting at Jennifer Casolo’s mom’s house in a small town in Connecticut and his wise and thoughtful presence taught me so much – about valuing each voice and holding the large view. But mostly what I remember is Bill’s big smile…with joy.”
   “When I think back to the many CRISPAZ meetings where Bill was present or facilitating, my picture and feelings of him are that of Bill the Reconciler,” said Paul Knitter, former CRISPAZ Board President. “He had an easy-going or free-flowing, but at the same time clear and strong, way of inviting people to both speak their minds and listen to what others had to say. His was a gentleness that brought people together.”
   Peter Hinde also recalled Lytle’s ability to see through the darkness of the military in El Salvador during the civil war.
   “Bill on one of his visits in the 1980s in El Salvador with others of CRISPAZ had an interview with General Eugenio Vides Casanova. He commented afterwards how a fine uniform could cover deep evil. Vides Casanova, with another top officer of the Salvador Armed Forces was later charged and convicted in a civil trial in Miami court of torture of two Salvadorans who had survived and were living in the United States, along with two retired military leaders.”
   Always eager to be engaged in community, Lytle was key in the development of Hospice for people living in downtown San Antonio, where with his first wife, Faith, they also established a base for Habitat for Humanity that operated for a quarter-century. After Faith’s death, Lytle moved to Los Gatos, CA, to marry a college-friend, Renate Frick, who herself was widowed. “Friends attested that late marriage was a marriage leading Bill into the foyer of Heaven,” Peter Hinde said.