home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
- Path: sparky!uunet!gumby!wupost!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!daemon
- From: Andrew Lang <lang@igc.apc.org>
- Subject: Salvadoran Youth Leader Threatened
- Message-ID: <1992Nov6.045314.25449@mont.cs.missouri.edu>
- Followup-To: alt.activism.d
- Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Sender: news@mont.cs.missouri.edu
- Nntp-Posting-Host: pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Organization: ?
- Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 04:53:14 GMT
- Approved: map@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
- Lines: 84
-
- /* Written 9:57 am Nov 5, 1992 by cispesnatl@igc.apc.org in igc:carnet.alerts */
- /* ---------- "Salvadoran Youth Leader Threatened" ---------- */
-
-
-
-
-
- URGENT ACTION ALERT NOVEMBER 5, 1992
-
- POPULAR LEADER THREATENED BY DEATH SQUADS
-
- Mirtala Lopez, General Secretary of the Farabundo Youth and leader
- of the youth of the FMLN, was threatened by the Maximiliano
- Hernandez Martinez Brigade in a note that was left at her house on
- the night of November 1 or the morning of November 2. At the same
- time, Lopez's house was broken into, and work and personal files
- and photos were searched.
-
- The note left at the Lopez house states, "We did not find you...
- But we are going to kill you, BMHM." The initials stand for
- Brigada Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez, the well-known name of a
- death squad form 1979 and 1980. Neither Lopez nor any of her
- housemates were home at the time of the break-in. All were with
- their families celebrating Dia de los Difuntos - the Day of the
- Dead.
-
- No objects of value were taken from the house. However, files
- corresponding to Lopez's work with the Farabundo Youth were taken
- as well as several photos. ONUSAL has already investigated the
- case and Lopez held a press conference at her home on November 3.
-
- Lopez was a leader of CRIPDES before beginning to work with the
- Farabundo Youth. She was captured and held for four months in 1989
- and was threatened several times in September 1991 before being
- allowed to travel to the United States.
-
- This death threat follows several general threats made by the same
- death squad and others like it. Two weeks ago, BMHM leveled a
- death threat against leaders of the FMLN, ONUSAL, and journalists.
- It is well known that these forces are trying to destabilize the
- peace process at this time. The FMLN has accepted a UN proposal to
- extend the implementation deadline of the Accords to December 15.
- The Salvadoran government accepted this agreement only in part, and
- is now negotiating with the UN to reschedule the Accords calendar.
- President Cristiani has declared that he would not carry out the Ad
- Hoc recommendations, dismantling of the elite battalions, or
- reduction of the armed forces until the FMLN is completely
- demobilized and their arms destroyed.
-
- For the sake of the peace process, and the spirit of
- reconciliation, Cristiani must distance himself from those who
- would undermine the implementation of the Accords. The Salvadoran
- government should know that the international community is aware
- and responding to the situation in El Salvador.
-
- (This information was taken directly from a CRIPDES report)
-
- SUGGESTED ACTION
-
- 1. Call, telex, or fax President Cristiani to demand an
- investigation of the attack on Lopez and full governmental
- cooperation and compliance with the entire peace process.
- Phone: 011-503-71-1555 Fax: 011-503-71-0950 Telex 20245
-
-
- 2. Call Congress and ask them to call the State Department which
- can in turn pressure the Salvadoran government to investigate this
- latest human rights abuse and support the implementation of the
- Peace Accords. Congressional Switchboard (202) 244-3121
-
- 3. Incorporate news on Peace Accords and this latest attack in
- all Caravan and Work-A-Thon outreach.
-
- 4. Write letters to the editor or have local relations write
- opinion editorials. (Samples can be obtained from the National or
- Regional offices.) Get interviews on local television and radio
- talk shows to talk about the peace process and human rights in El
- Salvador. Start contacting potential signers to the December paid
- advertisement in El Salvador.
-
- 5. Go on the December 8-20 Delegation to El Salvador. Accompany
- the popular movement and the FMLN through the final demobilization
- and the end of the cease fire period. Contact your Regional office
- for details.
-