Message from SHARE's Director, Jose Artiga

I have just returned from El Salvador where SHARE sponsored a delegation to observe the Presidential elections on March 21. With the support of staff from our three offices and volunteers, 100-plus SHARE delegates joined in a coordinated effort with other organizations to bring 600 international electoral monitors from 16 countries. We are thankful to the National Lawyers Guild, Pax ChristiUSA, CARECEN DC, the Northwest School in Seattle, Central Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Grantmakers without Borders, St Mary’s University Parish in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, Good Shepherd Sister Parish in Kansas City, and all the members of the delegation for their outstanding participation.

Election day went relatively smoothly with minor violations to the electoral code, including lack of accessibility of the voting roster for the voter, confusion regarding the proper steps to open and close the voting process by those running the voting tables and lack of secrecy of the vote. However, the main problem was the fear-mongering tactics that existed primarily as a result of political violence and partisan insults promulgated by the ARENA party through a massive media campaign. ARENA won the election through its wide-spread campaign messages that Salvadorans were going to be deported from the US; the US was not going to extend the Temporary Protective Status; the FMLN was going to impose a “communist” regime that was going to eliminate all freedoms from the population and that Salvadorans were going to be prevented from sending remittances to their relatives in-country. As you may know, many families depend on the $300/monthly average remittance (2 billion/yearly) that they receive from their families in the US. I visited my aunt in Suchitoto and asked her why she had accumulated so much water and supplies? She said that if the FMLN was to win there was going to be chaos.

The campaign of threats by ARENA did shock the people. Some were not only threats but also concrete measures, like not paying workers at the maquilas until after the elections.

The final results were 57% of the vote for Arena and 35% for the FMLN, leaving them as the only political parties. The PCN and CDU/PDC did not get enough votes to stay as a political party for next elections.

Five more years of ARENA could mean the signing of CAFTA, more privatization of basic services, elimination of social programs, more violence and an increase of immigration of people leaving to the US. This calls for the continuation of solidarity and accompaniment with the struggle for justice for the people of El Salvador.

After the elections, we visited communities where SHARE is working in the new target area of Chalchuapa in Santa Ana and Atiquizaya in Ahuachupan. I went to visit the cooperative of El Jicaro, a former coffee cooperative that diversified into shrimp, fish and dairy production. These visits gave all of us hope because we were able to meet with members of the communities that are implementing the projects. The women from the cooperative are planning to get a Molino de maiz (corn grinder) a Panaderia (bakery) and a Tienda (store). Each of the projects is an initiative planned by the women who are committed to improve the conditions of their community, their families and children. The lesson was, la lucha continua -–the struggle continues and continues in very concrete ways.

These women belong to cooperatives that are members of the Federation of Cooperatives (FEDECOOPADES). They have had great success over the last four years promoting committees to address the particular economic, social and political needs of women. With these projects FEDECOPADES supports low-income women in generating income and strengthening the organization of women in each cooperative.

Once again, we thank you for your steadfast support, which enables us to be witness and advocate for democracy- building and sustainable development in the communities that are building a new El Salvador.

Atentamente,

Jose Artiga
Executive Director