URGENT ACTION
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
In the name of God, our Mother Earth, and our Lord Jesus Christ, we give thanks to you for your economic, political, and spiritual support of the indigeneous nations of El Salvador--the Nahuat, Lenca, and Maya. We are asking you to intervene immediately in a very serious situation developing with the Salvadoran indigenous people communities, represented by the Associacion Nacional Indigena Salvadorena (ANIS).
On February 5, 1997, ARENA party activists Jorge Alberto Ruiz Camacho and Marta Benavides forced ANIS leader Chief Adrian Esquino Lisco and his family out of their home in Comarca San Ramon. The family was told that they would all be killed if they did not leave immediately. Chief Lisco took refuge in the ANIS offices in Sonsonate; offices which are also scheduled for impoundment. Death squad members continue to patrol the streets around ANIS. As of March 3, 1997, ANIS members have been given 72 hours to evacuate their homes and offices. Armed men are removing families as of this writing.
PLEASE SEND A COPY OF THE SAMPLE LETTER IMMEDIATELY TO THE ADDRESSES LISTED BELOW.
We know that letters of support from the United States have tangible effects for ANIS. On January 30, 1997, the State Department's Human Rights report acknowledged the grave situation of the indigenous people of El Salvador. A February 18, 1997, letter from members of Congress John Moakley and James McGovern resulted in the Adrian Esquino's family returning to their home (although armed men came the next morning searching for Adrian).
This recent violence against the Associacion Nacional Indigena Salvadorena community resembles the brutal massacre in the Las Hojas ANIS cooperative in 1983. They have received death threats, been brutally beaten, had their homes destroyed by bulldozers, watched as their children were beaten and seen their wives raped. Threats from death squads, political killings, brutal beatings, and illegal evictions continue--despite statements of peace in the El Salvador Accords.
On November 3, 1996, the entire Vasquez Ramirez family of San Miguelito, Sonsonate, was murdered with machetes by the Jaguar Battalion death squad. Of the eight victims, four were children and three were women. The family was a member of ANIS. Margarito Esquino, the leader of ANIS in the United States, had his home bombed, was himself beaten, and his wife and young niece were raped by armed men.
Indigenous Salvadorans continue to be subjected to patterned attacks of violence and political intimidation. The leaders of ANIS have documented that the violence comes at the hand of those affiliated with the ruling ARENA party, the National Civilian Police (PNC), and the judicial offices. ARENA representatives have promised the indigenous lands to other parties. Even those lands for which ANIS has paid for and has title.
We need you to write letters of support for the ANIS community. ANIS also needs financial support for lawyers, travel fare for Margarito Esquino to make a presentation in Geneva before the U.N. Human Rights Commission, and to reestablish their self-sufficient businesses. For information on how to contribute financially, contact Rev. Rose Berger at Sojourners, 2401 15th St., NW Washington, D.C. 20009; or via e-mail at: sojourn@ari.net
Again, we give thanks to God and our Mother Earth for the blessing of your support of the Nahuat, Lenca, and Maya people of El Salvador.
In the name of Jesus our Lord,
Margarito Esquino and Maria Mendez Esquino
Association Nacional Indigena Salvadorena
Rose Berger
pastor, Sojourners Community
P.S. The enclosed sample letter can be downloaded and reprinted on your own letterhead.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO:
The President of El Salvador
Dr. Armando Calderon Sol
Presidente de la Republica de El Salvador
Casa Presidencial
San Salvador, El Salvador
(Fax: 011-5503-271-0950)
Attorney General, Office of Human Rights, El Salvador
Dra. Victoria Marina Velasquez de Aviles
Procurada para la defensa de los derechos humanos de El Salvador
9a. Avenida Nte. y Calle Poniente
Edificio Amsa No. 535
San Salvador, El Salvador
Ambassador of El Salvador
Ambassador Ana Cristina Sol
Embassy of El Salvador
2308 California St. NW
Washington, DC 20008
(Fax: 202-328-0563)
PLEASE SEND COPIES TO:
Adrian Esquino Lisco
ANIS
Calle Obispo Marroquin
Oficina Antigua Aduana Ferrea 5-1
Sonsonate, El Salvador
(Fax:011-503-451-0742)
Margarito Esquino
ANIS
c/o Rev. Rose Berger
Sojourners
2401 15th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(Fax:202-328-8757 or email: sojourn@ari.net)
WE URGE YOU TO STOP IMMEDIATELY THE UNJUST EVICTIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION NACIONAL INDIGENA SALVADORENA (ANIS).
There have been a series of recent violent incidents against the Association Nacional Indigena Salvadorena (ANIS) community that resemble the brutal massacre of Las Hojas in 1983. Indigenous Salvadorans continue to be subjected to patterned attacks of violence and political intimidation. The violence comes at the hand of those affiliated with the ruling ARENA party, the National Civilian Police (PNC), and the judicial offices. ARENA representatives have promised the indigenous lands to other parties, even those lands for which ANIS has paid for and has title.
On February 5, 1997, ARENA party activists Jorge Alberto Ruiz Camacho and Marta Benavides forced ANIS leader Chief Adrian Esquino Lisco and his family out of their home in Comarca San Ramon. The family was told that they would all be killed if they did not leave immediately. Chief Lisco took refuge in the ANIS offices in Sonsonate; offices which are also scheduled for impoundment. Death squad members continue to patrol the streets around ANIS. As of March 3, 1997, ANIS members have been given 72 hours to evacuate their homes and offices. Armed men are removing families as of this writing.
Leaders of ANIS are receiving death threats, being brutally beaten, and having their homes destroyed by bulldozers. In the past they watched as their children were beaten and their wives raped. On November 3, 1996, the entire Vasquez Ramirez family of San Miguelito, Sonsonate, was murdered with machetes by the Jaguar Battalion death squad. Of the eight victims, four were children and three were women. The family was a member of ANIS. Margarito Esquino, the leader of ANIS in the United States, had his home bombed, was himself beaten, and his wife and young niece were raped by armed men.
On January 30, 1997, the State Department's Human Rights report acknowledged the grave situation of the indigenous people of El Salvador. A February 18, 1997, letter from members of Congress John Moakley and James McGovern resulted in the Adrian Esquino's family returning to their home (although armed men came the next morning searching for Adrian).
The people of the United States are aware and concerned about the pattern of repression against indigenous Salvadorans, particularly members of ANIS. We understand the need to strengthen a growing economy like El Salvador's, however we urge you not to do this at the expense of the human rights of indigenous Salvadorans. We hold you personally responsible for the safety of ANIS members and for the securing of ANIS' lands, homes, and properties in their own name. Only in this way will true peace and democracy come to El Salvador.
Sincerely,