President Funes has the Highest Approval Ratings in the Americas

Consulta Mitofsky recently released a compilation of poll results, which found that Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes enjoys an approval rating of 84%, the highest in the Americas. Luiz Inacio Lula of Brazil enjoys an 81% approval rating, coming in a close second, followed by Michelle Bachelet of Chile with 78%. Among Central American countries, Ricardo Martinelli of Panama follows Funes with 77% and Alvaro Colom with 46%. President Obama enjoys a 54% approval rating.

In August, Consulta Mitofsky cunducted a series of polls on the Funes Administration’s first 100 days. The poll found that 82% of Salvadorans believe that the economy is worse than it was a year ago, down from 89% in May. Similarly, 56% of the population believes that the political situation is worse, down from 64% in May. Despite the increase in violence in recent months, 66% of the population believes that the security situation has worsened, down from 75% in May. The most dramatic change came in the area of health care, in which 44% of Salvadorans believe that the situation is worse compared to last year, down from 64% in May; 54% believe that health care has improved over the last year, up from 34%.

Though Funes enjoys some fairly high approval ratings, there are some weak areas. When asked if certain areas have improved or become worse, respondents believe that health care and education have significantly improved, 82% and 81% respectively. Similarly, 54% of Salvadorans believe that assistance in the rural areas has improved. When it comes to some of the more crucial social issues, however, the administration’s numbers are not as strong. Only 32% of Salvadorans believe that corruption has improved, while 63% believe that it has gotten worse in Funes’ first 100 days. Similarly, only 28% believe that job creation has improved, while 67% believe that it is worse. Only 22% of Salvadorans believe that the fight against youth gangs has improved, while 76% believe it to be worse. So while Funes enjoys a high approval rating early on, they will have some very difficult issues to take on in the months ahead.

The August polls also show that Funes enjoys a 66% approval rating among Salvadorans who identify themselves as supporters of the right-wing ARENA party. This cross-over support is especially significant in light of El Salvador’s long history of political polarization, which led to a twelve-year civil war in the 1980s.

President Funes at the United Nations

On Wednesday, Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes made his first speech before the United Nations General Assembly, during which he discussed some of his administration’s accomplishments in its first 100 days, ongoing issues such as insecurity and immigration, and El Salvador’s foreign policy objectives.

Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes before the United Nations General Assembly

Unity was a theme throughout Funes’ speech. At home, Funes declared that national decisions are no longer made within the confines of four walls, rather around a national table in which all sectors have a seat. He also called for greater unity amongst members of the international community to address issues such as climate change, drug trafficking and organized crime.  

President Funes also called for greater unity within the Central American region, stating that building stronger ties with El Salvador’s neighbors is a top priority of his administration. He also called for the interim government in Honduras to return ousted-President Zelaya to power, stating that the region cannot return to its history of military dictators.

President Funes also highlighted some of his administration’s successes since taking office on June 1, 2009, including the creation of a new Economic and Social Council, and a housing initiative that will provide 25,000 new homes to impoverished families and create 100,000 new jobs.  He also raised concerns about immigration, pointing out that 3 million Salvadorans live abroad and their remittances count for 18% of El Salvador’s economy.  Funes said that his administration will work to improve conditions in El Salvador so that their children do not have to leave to survive. At the same time, they will fight for the rights of the 3 million immigrants living abroad so that they will enjoy the right to vote in their native country, and are able to secure appropriate documentation from their host country.

Funes also used his moment on the international stage to address charges made during the presidential campaign that if elected his party and government would lead to economic and political instability. He argued that his administration has already demonstrated that they are serious and responsible; managing the country’s finances well; and creating a secure environment for foreign and domestic businesses.

To read his speech in its entirety, click here.

FMLN Says it Will Back Transparency Law

Last week El Faro reported that FMLN legislators have committed to supporting a law on transparency and access to public information. The announcement followed a meeting with a group of stakeholders that include the Association of Salvadoran Journalists (APES), the Latin American Institute of Constitutional Law, the National Foundation for the Development, the Salvadoran Chapter of Transparency International, the University of José Siméon Cañas (UCA), the Association of Broadcasters (Asder), and FUSADES.

The Legislative Assembly considered a similar proposal last year, but ultimately rejected it, arguing that the cost of a new government institution to oversee transparency was too great considering the country’s economic concerns. The stakeholders group argues that the cost of implementing a transparency program far outweighs the current costs of corruption and misappropriation of government funds. In a recent public statement, representatives from Transparency International also stated that a country that is transparent and accountable to its citizenry is more efficient and faces less national and international arbitration.

In June, representatives from the ARENA party committed their support for legislation to promote transparency and access to public information. With support from both parties, legislators and members of the working group will begin drafting a new law followed by legislative discussions. El Salvador is one of the last countries in Latin America to adopt a transparency law.

Voices has a new Flickr Account

Voices has created a Flickr account and we’re posting photos from our partner communities and projects. We are just starting out, so we’ve got some organizing to do, and we have a lot more to post, but please visit our page often.

SIGET Urges Suspension of Chaparral

The Diario Co-Latino published an article on Tuesday reporting the Electricity and Telecommunications General Superintendent (SIGET) has presented a report to the President recommending the suspension of work on the Chaparral Hydro-electric dam due to protests and social conflict.  SIGET  says the suspension will provide an opportunity to complete a more comprehensive environmental impact study and reconsider negotiations with the communities that will be displaced by the project. If accepted, SIGET’s “El Chaparral Project – Plan B” will result in President Fune re-negotiating the project with ASTALDI, the Italian contractor, and the Central American Economic Integration Bank (BCIE).

Nicolás Salume, president of the Executive Hydroelectic Commission (CEL), stated that if SIGET and the President rescind approval of the project, ASTALDI will likely file a lawsuit seeking damages of more than $500 million.  President Funes inherited the El Chaparral dam issue when he took office on June 1, 2009, and has stated publicly that his administration was unable to stop the project.  

In addition to citing the protests and social conflict that has surrounded the dam project, SIGET’s report also questions the projects profitability and value.  The dam, once completed, would not generate sufficient revenue to pay for itself, and it will likely take 20 years or more for the project to break even.  SIGET urges the Funes Administration to accelerate alternative and renewable energy projects such as the geo-thermal plant in Chinameca, which could one day render dams such as the proposed El Chaparral dam obsolete.  

President Funes recently formed a commission to negotiate with the families affected by the dam, though he has stated publicly that the El Chaparral project will move forward. Following SIGET’s recommendation to take a break from construction, would at least provide the opportunity to conduct a more thorough environmental and social impact study, and better negotiate compensation for the affected families.

Funes Administration to Strengthen Agricultural Sector

Last week, the Funes Administration launched a program that aims to strengthen El Salvador’s agricultural system by increasing production and legalizing land possession for farmers that have been unable to obtain titles to their property.

In a ceremony launching the initiative, President Funes stated that his administration “wants to make the countryside into the driving force behind the country’s development.”  President Funes also acknowledged that the agricultural sector has been ignored for too many years.  Since the late 1980s, conservative administrations have supported industrialization and manufacturing, and built a dependency on agricultural imports.

The administration’s plan will benefit 600,000 farmers and increase agricultural outputs by 10% from 2009-2010.  Government agencies will distribute fertilizers, and seed for corn, beans, rice, and sorghum.  The government will also create a commission to address the issue of cattle rustling, which has been a growing problem in recent years.  The plan also commits to renewing a Coffee Park over the next five years, by distributing 20 million coffee plants to growers.  Farmers will also receive technical training from agricultural experts, who will stress the importance of growing more fruits and vegetables for local consumption. 

Since taking office on June 1, the new administration has granted land titles to 934 families that have farmed without them for over twenty years.  The government will soon begin reviewing title requests for another 849 families in Izalco, Usulután, and Ahuachapán. The government’s goal is to grant 3000 land titles as a part of the agricultural project.  Besides the obvious benefit of protecting the farmer’s right to his or her land, studies show that land titles allow farmers greater access to credit and provide incentives for investments into a property.   

The Threats and Violence in Cabanas Continue

July 30, 10:00 pm.  Our friends at U.S. Sister Cities just forwarded to us an email update from Christina at Radio Victoria in Sesuntepeque, Cabanas.  Over the past few weeks we’ve posted a few articles about the increase in political violence and threats in Cabanas, which began with the assassination of Marcelo Rivera, and has escalated into an attack on Father Quintanilla and threats against employees of Radio Victoria. 

Though we do not have all of the details, someone sabotaged the radio station last night then again this evening.  The email we received from Christina states that sometime last night the saboteur(s) attacked the radio’s electricity shutting down the transmitter and forcing the radio off the air.  They were able to fix the electrical system and get the radio back on-line today, but tonight the saboteurs again shut down the transmitter to forced the radio off-air.

Isabel Gamez, the head of Radio Victoria’s news team, was the last person at the radio station tonight.  Just after her last co-worker left, she received a phone call – the caller indicated that they knew she was alone, and that they came for her last night, but will have better luck tonight. 

No one is certain who is making these threats and attacks, nor their exact motive.  Marcelo Rivera, the employees at Radio Victoria, and Father Quintanilla, who was attacked Monday night, are all leaders in the struggle against mining, local corruption, and other social injustice.  So far, the police and attorney general’s office have failed to properly investigate any of these crimes.  They have attributed Marcelo’s homicide to gang violence, and failed in their duty to protect.

Stay tuned for a Call for Action – you can help!

More than 100 Organizations from the International Community Demand an Investigation of the Murder of Marcelo Rivera

Last Friday, July 24, one hundred and eight international organizations sent a letter to El Salvador’s Acting Attorney General, Ástor Escalante Savaria, demanding an exhaustive investigation of the kidnapping and brutal murder of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera Moreno. Among the signatory organizations are the Salvadoran American National Association (SANA) and the North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA). Gustavo Marcelo Rivera was from San Isidro, Department of Cabañas. He disappeared on June 18th and his body was found 11 days later with signs of terrible torture according to a forensic report. In the letter the organizations vehemently reject the statements that prosecutor Rodolfo Delgado gave to the media, expressing that the hypothesis of the crime is that Rivera was killed by gang members after a disagreement.

According to the organizations, by attributing the motives of the crime to common violence, the prosecutor is discarding a priori the existence of intellectual authors of this assassination. Rivera was a renowned leader in the struggle against mining in El Salvador and in addition he played a key role at denouncing the electoral fraud that resulted in the suspension of the municipal elections in San Isidro in January 2009. For this reason the international organizations consider that there is enough evidence to suggest that that the crime was committed for political reasons and that “the failure to investigate this motives , including the slow response of the police in the initial search for Marcelo constitute serious irregularities that need to be investigated and corrected.”

Therefore, as representatives of the international community, the 108 organizations call on the Office of the Attorney General to carry out an impartial, exhaustive, and effective investigation in order to bring to justice the intellectual and material authors of this horrendous crime, and prevent these tragedies from happening again. It is alarming that in the last weeks, several activists including three young reporters from Radio Victoria have received death threats for publicly denouncing the mining activities. This shows the urgency for a through investigation. The international organizations state that “If Marcelo’s murder is left in a state of impunity, it will generate a climate of intimidation and uncertainty for social leaders and activists, undermining the advances in the democratic process in El Salvador.”

The organizations also sent copies of the letter to following authorities: Salvadoran President, Mauricio Funes; the Ministry of Governability, Humberto Centeno; the Director of the National Civil Police, Carlos Ascencio; the Chief of Public Safety- San Isidro Delegation, Saúl Venegas; the Charge d’Affaires, US Embassy to El Salvador, Robert Blau; and the Canadian Ambassador to El Salvador, Claire Poulin.    

Letter Marcelo Rivera with signatures English

Carta Marcelo Rivera con firmas Spanish

MARN Officials Say License for El Chaparral Cannot Be Annulled

 Despite continuous protests and public outcry against the construction of the El Chaparral dam in the department of San Miguel, Hermán Rosa Chávez, the Minister of Environment, announced this week that the license to build the dam cannot be legally annulled. El Diario de Hoy reported that Rosa Chávez said that it would be up to President Funes to make a final decision after having a dialogue between government officials and community leaders.

 The environmental impact study completed before construction began has been widely criticized for its lack of transparency and full analysis. There is also great contention about the benefits of this project due to the flooding of communities that will result. Individuals whose land will be lost have been assured by contractors and government officials that they would be compensated. However, many local citizens claim they were deceived by the Comisión Ejecutiva del Río Lempa (CEL) concerning the purchase of lands for the project. 

According to the Salvadoran Foundation for Social and Economic Development (FUSADES), the current level of energy production will be insufficient for El Salvador’s growing energy consumption, and if investment in energy sources is not increased by 2013, the country may face rations.

However, because of the size and population density of El Salvador, large dam projects are undesirable. In the past, they have served to displace populations in rural areas, destroy farmland, and cause unrest among local populations. Furthermore, past governments have often been more interested in exporting the energy produced instead of providing for the Salvadoran population. There are other means of obtaining new energy sources that do not include flooding communities and homes. This has been the message of resistance efforts against El Chaparral. 

 

photo from El Diario de Hoy

Update on Marcelo Rivera

Last week we reported on the disappearance of Marcelo Rivera, a social leader and activist from the community of San Isidrio, Cabanas.  We received notice this morning that the Salvadoran police found a body at the bottom of a well that family members believe to be Marcelo.  The body is in poor condition and the police are testing DNA to make a positive identification.  While we have few details, reports indicate that the body shows signs of torture.

Among other things, Marcelo was a leader in the anti-mining movement that has prevented Pacific Rim from mining gold in his home community of San Isidrio.  He also spoke out against corruption in the local government and helped to identify acts of voter fraud in San Isidrio during the January 18th elections.  Students, friends, neighbors, and other activists recently held a “white protest” to denounce the inaction by police and prosecutors in investigating his disappearance.  

While the recent election of Mauricio Funes to the Presidency was a significant victory, the struggle for justice and equality continues in El Salvador.  We in the U.S. must stand with the Salvadoran community in demanding that the police and prosecutors conduct a thorough investigation into this heinous crime, and that those responsible are brought to justice.  We will post more information as it becomes available, and let you know ways that you can get involved.

Our condolences to Marcelo’s family and community for their great loss.