Tuesday, March 07, 2006
CAFTA Takes Effect in El Salvador
The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) officially began on March 1 between El Salvador and the United States. The other member countries have yet to comply with all the necessary laws.
What began as a peaceful protest against the free trade agreement on February 28, ended in a violent confrontation between protestors and members of an anti-riot police unit positioned inside the Rosales Hospital. Thousands of protestors took part in the march.
Protestors said the disturbance began when “a group of infiltrators” started the violent actions, throwing stones at anti-riot police agents. Unofficial sources told the Diario Co Latino that agents had prior orders to use force if protestors refused to clear out the access routes near the Rosales and Benjamin Bloom Hospitals.
Workers at both hospitals and from the Salvadoran Social Security Institute denounced that since the night before the hospitals had been militarized by members of the anti-riot squad. Read article (in Spanish)
A non-violent protest took place on March 1st and received less media coverage.
Elections 2006: What’s at Stake
The municipal and legislative elections scheduled for this Sunday, March 12, will determine the country’s 262 mayors, based on a simple majority vote, as well as representation in the Legislative Assembly. Party representation in the assembly is based on a more complex calculation of each party’s share of the total vote. Municipal and legislative elections are held every three years.
Polls Vary in Projections
According to a poll by Angus Reid, a Vancouver-based organization that conducts public opinion polls around the world, when likely voters were asked which party they would vote for in the next legislative election, 40.2% chose the FMLN, followed by President Tony Saca’s party, ARENA, with 38.1%. The National Conciliation Party (PCN) garnered 11.6%, the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) 6.9%, and the United Democratic Centre (CDU) 2.2%.
In a poll conducted by the Technological University’s Salvadoran Public Opinion Research Center, when asked about party preference in general, ARENA received 52.04% compared to the FMLN’s 39.86%.
In the UCA’s University Institute of Public Opinion Research (IUDOP) poll, when asked about party preference, 48.3% chose “none of the above,” perhaps indicating a high level of disillusionment in Salvadoran politics or at least a reluctance be identified as a member of a particular party. ARENA finished with 24.7% to the FMLN’s 17.4%. When asked who participants intended to vote for in legislative and mayoral races, the two major parties finished closer, ARENA with 27.6% and the FMLN with 25.3%.
In San Salvador’s mayoral race, on intention to vote, FMLN candidate Violeta Menjivar leads with 34.5% over ARENA candidate Rodrigo Samayoa with 28.8%. In that poll, nearly 30% said neither, did not know or did not wish to reveal their vote.
Technological University’s Salvadoran Public Opinion Research Center poll (in Spanish)
UCA University Institute of Public Opinion Research (IUDOP) poll (in Spanish)
Angus Reid Poll (in English)
The Schafik Factor
(Except where indicated as quotes from La Prensa Gráfica, the following are translated excerpts from El Faro, an online Salvadoran newspaper)
The untimely and unexpected passing of FMLN standard bearer Shafik Handal six weeks ago has caused both major political parties to alter their electoral strategy.
Handal’s wake lasted five days, and FMLN followers from around the country poured into the capital to pay their respects. The campaigning stopped—if only briefly—and President Saca said of his former rival: “We should remember Schafik Handal for the good times, not for our differences.”
FMLN campaign chairman Roberto Lorenzana is conscious of the impact of the death of his party’s leader. “In countries around the world, we’ve already seen how the death of a leader benefits his party.” Schafik’s image and name can be seen everywhere in El Salvador—in graffiti, on flags and banners in protests, or on trinkets sold on street corners.
While ARENA stopped using the name Schafik Handal in their electoral message, the FMLN is asking for votes to honor his memory. Some FMLN leaders, like representative Hugo Martinez, speak of the “Schafik Effect,” apparently confident the death of the FMLN standard bearer will spark electoral interest.
The newspaper La Prensa Gráfica reported on an FMLN rally held Sunday in the capital. Party leaders expressed confidence in their prospects to gain mayor and legislative seats. Medardo Gomez, General Coordinator of the FMLN said: “I am convinced the Frente will have a majority of the mayorships and representatives on the national scale. I have no doubt that the beginning of the end of the ARENA dictatorship has started with Schafik.”
Salvador Sánchez Cerén, Handal’s replacement as head of the FMLN in the Legislative Assembly, thanked a head of time those Salvadorans who with their vote on March 12 “will pay homage to the compañero Schafik.” Read La Prensa Gráfica article (in Spanish)
On the ARENA side, it appeared party leaders wished to make the upcoming elections a referendum on the two parties’ patriarchs, Saca and Schafik. Before Handal’s death, at the start of the campaign for representatives in Izalco, Sonsonate on January 11th, President Tony Saca said during his speech: “Representative Schafik Handal has done what he promised: fight for the destabilization of the work of the elected leader…Those that don’t want to let me govern, that barbudo (barbudo means bearded one and was a term used for guerillas), you all know who he is, right?...”
Now, after the death of the FMLN leader, ARENA has changed its target: the accusations are no longer against one person but instead against the party in general.
There are various bearded ones, Salvador Arias (FMLN representative) also has a beard…,” responded Julio Rank, head of the ARENA campaign, to explain the presidents comments on that occasion. Later after a brief pause, he corrected himself: “(if we referred to him it was) because he was the reference point for them, he was the strongman, they’re all anonymous and no one wants to come out into the light and say ‘I’m the one making the decisions.’ At no time was our campaign focused on the figure. Our strategy has not been affected,” he assured.
ARENA party Political Affairs Director César Funes assures the references to Handal were due to the fact that “historically he was the spokesperson for that party (FMLN). The target then changes to the institution itself.” Read El Faro article (in Spanish)
ARENA Using Fear Tactics Again
(Also translated excerpts taken from El Faro)
When Tony Saca was running for president two years ago, his campaign warned that if the FMLN won, Salvadoran immigrants living in the United Status would no longer be able to send remittances, using statements from former State Department official Otto Reich and René León, Salvadoran ambassador in Washington, to support the claim. The U.S. Embassy remained silent.
Then president Francisco Flores said: “We will no longer have migratory protection, we won’t be able to protect the immigrants, they’re going to deport them. How many families will stop receiving family remittances?”
Now the Salvadoran government and the ARENA party electoral campaign are employing a different kind of scare tactic. In public statements by government officials and in radio and television spots, the fear tactic of choice this election year is linking the FMLN with gang activity.
President Saca himself told El Faro “it is evident the FMLN has an intimate relationship with the gangs in our country.”
“The electoral strategy was decided upon a year ago,” remembers César Funes, government Political Affairs Director. One of the principal points was “to point out the bad practices of the other parties. We decided that was important. Just as in the Legislative Assembly they say no to the budget, no to strengthening anti-gang laws, well we have to point that out. With that spirit the campaign is framed,” he says.
“The FMLN has close ties to the gangs. This is clear,” continues Funes. “It’s totally valid for a campaign to call them out on that.”
Meanwhile, on television, an ARENA ad shows gang members telling of their ties to the FMLN. Another warns of the imminent planning of violent protests by the FMLN to destabilize the government. The slogan: Think before you vote. Vote for ARENA.
The FMLN’s campaign press secretary refutes the allegations. “There isn’t even the smallest connection. This is another perversion of the mind of ARENA leaders looking to dump their responsibilities on a third party.” Read El Faro article (in Spanish)
Nevertheless, fear registered in the poll conducted by the Technological University’s Salvadoran Public Opinion Research Center. When asked why the FMLN hasn’t had more success in past elections, the most commonly held view, with 43.53%, blamed the candidates the FMLN has put forth. But the second most popular response, with 28.93%, was that people are still afraid to vote FMLN. Other answers were: No credibility (5.92%), Party division (7.44%), Incompetence (2.07%), Poor political decisions (3.31%).
Saca Sued for Illegal Electioneering
La Prensa Gráfica reported today that the Foundation for the Study of the Application of the Law (FESPAD) and the Institute of the Woman filed suit against President Tony Saca before the Supreme Electoral Tribunal for violating the constitution and proselytizing in favor of the ARENA party.
Abraham Abrego, of FESPAD, argued that the president cannot use his post for electoral activities and added that Saca’s argument, that he does it after 4:00 in the afternoon, is not a valid argument.
“According to the Constitution, the president cannot have a work day until 4 in the afternoon. The duties of the president are 24 hours a day, and above all, the president cannot use his post to favor one political party."
The FMLN and the PDC had previously filed suit against Saca for the same reason. Read article in La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish)