CRISPAZ El Salvador Weekly News and Analysis
Dec. 4-10, 2006

In this edition:
1) Salvadorans Recognize World AIDS Day
2) Constitutionality of "Anti-terror Law" Challenged
1)Salvadorans Recognize World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day did not go unnoticed in El Salvador. Many gay, lesbian and straight organizations held actions to honor AIDS survivors and their families, and to advocate for more access to treatment. A candlelit procession honoring victims of the disease marched from El Salvador del Mundo to the heart of San Salvador on the evening of Friday December 1, culminating a full week of activities.
According to official statistics, 15,000 Salvadorans have tested positive for HIV. However, Otoniel Ramirez from the survivor advocacy group Atlacatl Association, points to UN data revealing that 50% of HIV positive cases go undetected in El Salvador . “If this is true,”
Ramirez told Diario Co-Latino, “then we have about 30,000 HIV carriers in our country. The goal is to prevent more infections and to ensure that HIV+ people aren’t discriminated against by society, the government or by business.”
Jaime Argueta of the National Organization of HIV+ People—Vida Nueva--,  said, “I remember the 1990’s when doctors didn’t recommend that I get tested, they just treated the resulting infections that were destroying my immune system. Times have changed, but still more changes are necessary.”
HIV/AIDS advocacy groups have prioritized youth education on HIV infection, since young people are most likely to become infected. Catholic-based Cáritas has supported youth education on HIV in the eastern part of El Salvador and has organized an HIV+ self-help group in Suchitoto. World AIDS Day offered many groups an opportune moment to call on the Saca government to step-up funding for prevention education and to work more with civil society to tackle HIV/AIDS-related issues effectively.
2) "Anti-terror Law" Unconstitutional: Center for the Defense of the Constitution
Concerns about a new so-called “Anti-terrorism” Law coming from many sectors of Salvadoran society caused the The Forum for the Defense of the Constitution (FDC) to hold a panel on the Law and the threat it poses to the social movement here. FESPAD, the IDHUCA, UNES, IEJES and the FDC itself participated.
Human and civil rights defenders argue that the controversial law is too general and ambiguous and that it gives the Executive Branch too much lee-way in interpreting and enforcing . Critics are concerned that it could easily be utilized to repress public demonstrations, legitimate protest and other activities criticizing the government and its policy. Panelists joked that the Law could easily be interpreted to criminalize audience members for attending the same panel discussion.
Many opponents of the law believe that special legislation was unnecessary because post 9-11 acts of terrorism have not occurred in El Salvador and besides, terrorism is already sanctioned under the current penal code. Edgardo Amaya of FESPAD pointed out that terrorism has existed in El Salvador and was perpetrated mostly by the State during the armed conflict.
“What is necessary,” stated Benjamin Cuellar of the IDHUCA, “is the strengthening of government institutions responsible for the investigation and prevention of all crime and modifying current laws on terrorism to agree with international standards and agreements.
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