The regime imposes persecution and criminalization of trade unionists and human rights defenders.
El Salvador has been experiencing a process of democratic involution since the arrival of the current government, which with each passing day shows an anti-democratic attitude and its fascist vocation.
By EL SALVADOR WORKING CLASS PLATFORM
To date, the government has promoted the loss of fundamental rights to the population, through the implementation of a harsh exception regime, which already has 12 extensions, a measure that on March 27 completed one year of implementation, under the Due process guarantees have been eliminated under the pretext of fighting the gangs, with which anyone could easily end up imprisoned for at least 6 months without being guilty of anything.
Thousands of arrests, violations of fundamental rights and deaths in prisons.
As of February, there have been nearly 65,000 prisoners under these special conditions, thousands of complaints of human rights violations, and even deaths under the supposed “custody” of the state of people who died in inhumane conditions in the prisons of our country.
The political persecution of union and social dissidence is a reality
However, what began as part of the so-called “War against the gangs” has taken a dangerous turn when it begins to persecute and imprison union, social, indigenous and popular movement leaders, and that is that the basic and logical fact of demanding the payment of back wages, has been the reason for imprisonment, the simple labor protest for a social benefit not delivered has meant the accusation of crimes of public disorder and imprisonment, this situation means a worrying setback, especially in a country that has in its history recent record of extreme authoritarianism, political persecution and criminalization of fighters for human rights.
We present an account of the main cases of imprisonment of union, social and popular leaders as a result of the application of the exception regime to the fighters:
- Dolores Almendaresunion leader of the Cuscatancingo Mayor’s Office and national leader of the National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers-CNTS, captured after participating in the march on May 1st, International Day of the Working Class.
- John Guerreromember of the San Salvador Mayor’s Union and part of the social movement, captured after the march on May 1st, International Day of the Working Class.
- Jose Leonidas Bonilla Torresunion leader of the Mexican mayor’s office, and member of the National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers, who died due to lack of supply of medicines in prison.
- Rodolfo Pereiraleader of the National Association of Salvadoran Independent Workers, Stationary and Street Vendors, ANTRAIVEAS, member of the National Coordinator of Vendors and member of the El Salvador in Peace National Alliance, was captured in June 2022.
- David Melchizedek Castilloworker of the Autonomous Executive Port Commission (CEPA) and General Secretary of the Union of Workers of the Port Industry of El Salvador (STIPES), were also with him David Castillo; Francisco Ayala, from SITICOR; and Oscar Bolanos of the ANDA Workers Union (SITRAANDA), who were also arrested and released hours later.
- Levi Cesar Moralesson of the indigenous leader Silverio Morales, of the Unified Indigenous Movement, was captured on November 11, 2022
- Miguel Venturaa trade unionist from the San Marcos mayor’s office, who was captured and is still being held in custody for having demanded compliance with an economic benefit that had always been delivered in said municipality in December.
- Ana Joma, Edwin Lobez and Ovidio Hernándezmembers of the Union of Workers of the Soyapango Mayor’s Office (SITRASOYA) were captured for demanding the non-payment of salaries for December 2022. and bonuses.
- Five worker members of the National Printing Union (SEPIN) were arrested Emilia de Paz Santa Maria, general secretary of the union; Veraliz Martinezwoman’s secretary; Esteban Galdamezorganization secretary; Sergio Ramosunion member and Jose Abraham Torres, member of the board. For protesting against the attitude of a manager.
- Benjamin Castilloa founding member of the Indigenous Movement for the Integration of the Ancestral Peoples of El Salvador, who was captured on February 8.
- Anthony Pachecodirector of ADES, Saúl Rivas, a lawyer, and community leaders Pedro Antonio Rivas, Alejandro Laínez and Miguel Gámezall fighters for the defense of the land against mining projects in El Salvador.
- On February 22, the Coordinator of the Working Group for a Dignified Pension, Patrick Pineda who recently led an important mobilization of workers towards the presidential house denounced the attempted capture by members of the National Civil Police.
This long list is only a sample of the constant violations of labor human rights against union and social leaders, but there are also daily dismissals of union leaders, workplace harassment, union discrimination, and obstacles to the exercise of freedom of association and the right to protest in El Salvador.
It is for this reason that we call on the international community, political, trade union, popular, youth, indigenous, human rights organizations and personalities to unleash a campaign for Freedom of Association and for the Non-Criminalization of Social Protest and Wrestlers in El Salvador.
Fighting is not a Crime!
Freedom to the fighters!
International solidarity NOW