Salvadoran Unionists Begin Indefinite Hunger Strike!

Demand Immediate Freedom for Jailed Healthcare Union Leaders!

The material in this alert comes from the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES)
Posted May 18, 2004

In this alert:

1) Update on situation of STISSS leaders
2) Background on protest against health care privatization in El Salvador
3) Take Action, (includes sample letter with translation into English)

1) Update on situation of STISSS leaders

Today Ricardo Monge, Secretary General of the STISSS health care workers union, Javier Ayala, Secretary of Organization of the STISSS, and three other union members began a hunger strike to protest the Salvadoran government's continued illegal detainment of Monge and Ayala. In a press conference this morning, the union also demanded an end to government firings of union members, the creation of a dialogue commission to resolve the health care crisis, and an end of the privatization of public health care. The hunger strike comes as members of the Immokalee Workers Union prepare a similar action to protest the exploitation of immigrant workers here in the United States.

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2) Background on protest against health care privatization in El Salvador

Monge and Ayala were arrested during the peaceful occupation of the San Salvador Cathedral on April 28. In spite of the fact that the two leaders did not take part in the occupation, and that they had already been detained by the time riot police provoked a rash of violence in the downtown area, Attorney General Belisario Artiga charged them both with "acts of terrorism", and accused Monge of being the "intellectual author" of violence. When a judge exonerated Monge, Ayala and 35 others of all but a minor charge on May 5, Artiga appealed the case and the government refused to release the leaders. Despite tireless work by their legal team, daily protests by the union and its supporters, and political pressure by CISPES and international solidarity, the unionist have now spent 20 days in detainment.

The right-wing ARENA party is also creating a new "anti-disturbances" law that would criminalize street protests and make it easier to prosecute those arrested during anti-government actions. The law would expand on draconian "Patriot Act" style legislation that ARENA has sought to implement since the successful health care strike by workers and doctors in 2003.

Monge and Ayala remain in the Isidro Menéndez Judicial Center, while their supporters and the other hunger strikers continue to rally outside. The STISSS is calling on solidarity activists for financial support and to pressure the Attorney General and the Salvadoran government for the immediate release of Monge and Ayala, and the end of repression and firings of union workers.

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3) Take Action (includes sample letter with translation into English)

1. Pressure Attorney General Belisario Artiga (as well as Social Security Director Mauricio Ramos Falla and President Francisco Flores) by faxing and/or sending an email. Demand the immediate release of Monge and Ayala, and that all charges against them be dropped (see below for sample letters and contact info)

2. Send money to the STISSS's organizing fund to help pay legal fees and buy food for fired workers and supplies for mobilizations. Donate online at https://secure.people-link.com/~cissecure/ (write "STISSS" beside the amount of your donation) or call CISPES (212) 465-8115. Also, help raise money for the STISSS by reaching out to unions and organizations in the US (download support materials and sample letters at http://www.cispes.org/english/stisss_materials.html )

3. Send your own messages of solidarity to the STISSS: email the union at stisss@saltel.net

Sample Fax and email:

18 de Mayo, 2004

Fax: 011-503- 249-8607

Email: belisario_artiga@hotmail.com , comunicacionesisss@elsalvador.com , casapres@casapres.gob.sv

Fiscal General: Lic. Belisario Artiga
cc. Director del Instituto Salvadoreño de Seguro Social
Lic. Mauricio Ramos Falla;
Presidente de la República Francisco Flores

Estimado Lic. Artiga,

El motivo de la presente es para tratar la situación actual de los sindicalistas del Sindicato de Trabajadores del Seguro Social - STISSS. Estamos sumamente preocupados por las constantes violaciones a los derechos humanos y laborales que se suscitan en El Salvador. Sabemos que mas de 150 trabajadores de salud han sido ilegalmente despedidos desde el mes de septiembre del 2002, vale notar que la mayoría de ellos son activistas del STISSS, y fueron cesados sin haber recibido el debido proceso de acuerdo a las leyes laborales.

El pasado 28 de abril durante una protesta frente al Catedral, en la cual se denunciaba el ilegal despido de los trabajadores de salud, el Sr. Ricardo Monge, Secretario General del STISSS y el Sr. Javier Ayala, Secretario de Organización del mismo sindicato, fueron violentamente arrestados por miembros de la Unidad Antimotines de la PNC. Ahora el gobierno desea aprobar una ley que facilitaría la penalización de personas que realicen acciones durante protestas. Los señores Monge y Ayala siguen presos a pesar de que los cargos que se le imputaron, entre ellos los de terrorismo y destrucción de la propiedad privada, han sido rechazados.

Los trabajadores salvadoreños tienen derecho a organizarse. ¡Una protesta pacifica no es un acto terrorista! Este tipo de represión policial y la persecución que sufren los sindicalistas deben TERMINAR. Le solicitamos respetar los derechos laborales universalmente reconocidos y cesar de todos los cargos imputados a los Srs. Monge y Ayala, permitiéndoles salir en libertad inmediatamente. Le solicitamos también un alto a los ilegales despidos de trabajadores en el Seguro Social y que reinstale a los trabajadores que han sido despedidos hasta la fecha.

Continuaremos monitoreando la situación de los trabajadores de salud en El Salvador y desde allá le responsabilizamos por lo que ocurre con las personas en huelga de hambre. También, mantendremos nuestro apoyo solidario a nuestras hermanas y hermanos en El Salvador, luchando por el derecho de la salud para todos y todas.

Atentamente,

(English version - do not send)

Lic. Attorney General Belisario Artiga
c.c. Mauricio Ramos Falla, Director of the Social Security Institute (ISSS), and Salvadoran President Francisco Flores

Dear Mr. Artiga,

We are deeply concerned by the labor and human rights violations being committed in El Salvador. We have heard that over 150 healthcare workers have been illegally fired since September 2002, most of them STISSS activists, and that none of them have been given due process.

On April 28, during a protest at the San Salvador Cathedral denouncing the illegal firings of healthcare workers, Ricardo Monge, the Secretary General of the STISSS union, and Javier Ayala, Secretary of Organization, were violently arrested. Now, the government is trying to pass legislation that would make it easier to prosecute people for actions during street protests. Monge and Ayala are still being held in jail even though most of the charges against them, including terrorism and destruction of private property have been dropped.

Salvadoran workers have the legal right to organize, and a peaceful protest is not an act of terrorism! This type of police repression and severe charges against lawful union activities MUST stop. We urge you to respect internationally recognized workers rights by dropping all charges and releasing Monge and Ayala. We also urge that the ISSS stop the illegal firings of union workers, and that all workers be rehired.

We will continue to monitor closely the situation of health care workers in El Salvador, and we recognize that anything that happens to those on hunger strike will be your responsibility. We will continue to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in El Salvador fighting for the universal right of public health care.

Sincerely,

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