SF & Boston: El Salvador Solidarity Actions Planned for Feb. 6th

9:00 am Thursday Feb 6th ~ 870 Market St @ Powell St

Statement by CISPES:

"On Thursday we will stand in solidarity with the people of El Salvador and the health care workers and doctors who have been on strike for over four months demanding an end to privatization and a stop to CAFTA (Central America Free Trade Agreement).  This strike has unified Salvadorans across many sectors of society, and over the past 7 months, the Salvadoran people have organized the largest popular mobilization El Salvador has seen since the 80s, bringing hundreds of thousands into the streets of San Salvador to defend their right to free and quality health care.

"The right-wing ARENA government has officially announced its goal of destroying the STISSS and SIMETRISSS healthcare and doctors? unions, who have courageously led the mobilization in the face of rising political violence and repression.  The government has begun arresting workers, raiding clinics, and declaring protestors to be 'terrorists.' The FMLN, (Left opposition party), who have been working closely with the unions, are also being targeted by ARENA; so far one activist has been killed and four critically wounded by ARENA violence.

"These recent attacks by ARENA seriously threaten the social movement's ability to wage their struggle. However, they are committed to continuing to organize street actions, cathedral takeovers and acts of civil disobedience.

"These unions along with the FMLN and the Salvadoran social movement refuse to be intimidated by violent repression, they see this as a pivotal time and they are calling for international support to continue the fight against privatization and CAFTA!

"Join the rally and action! We will be delivering the Salvadoran social movement's demands of the Salvadoran government to Salvadoran consulates in two major U.S. cities: San Francisco and Boston.

1. Stop CAFTA negotiations and end the privatization of health care by re-approving the "State Guarantee of Health and Social Security.
2. Immediately release all arrested union members! Stop the police repression against organized workers!
3. Investigate fully all incidents of political violence, and guarantee the safety of opposition supporters!
4. Grant a general amnesty to all striking workers.

"If you are interested in covering the health care struggle and the intensifying situation in El Salvador more in-depth, please contact Bay Area CISPES at 415-648-8222, or write to ba-cispes@prodigy.net.

"For current updates on the situation in El Salvador or more information about CAFTA, visit www.cispes.org."