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Sunday, December 31, 2006
Bishop Says Salvadorans are Worse Off in 2006
(From a report in Terra news service) The auxiliary bishop of San Salvador speaking at a press conference
this evening said that, in balance, Salvadorans are worse off this year than they were a year ago. The critical economic
situation in the country, continuing violence and family breakup caused by migration are all negatives. He said that
much of the violence is gang related, especially the gangs Mara Salvatrucha and Mara 18. Every day seven hundred Salvadorans
are leaving the country to travel north for the "American Dream". The bishop went on the say that he believes in 2007
the government needs to make democracy more participative, to become more credible and address the economic model that keeps
so many in poverty.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Another Earthquake
At 11:42 AM local time today an earthquake occurred off the Pacific coast of Guatemala, 90 miles west of
San Salvador. The USGS reported the intensity at 5.0. There have been no reports of injuries at this time.
Friday, December 29, 2006
El Salvador buries remains from civil war massacre
SAN SALVADOR, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The exhumed remains of 41 victims of an army massacre during El Salvador's
12-year civil war were reburied on Thursday near the site where the brutal killings occurred.
The bodies were discovered in November 2004 after families of the victims, backed by the Salvadoran Roman
Catholic Church, forced legal investigations that revealed a series of mass graves close to the village of La Quesera, south
of the capital, San Salvador.
Families of the victims and locals from La Quesera, singing songs and carrying out popular funeral traditions
of the Central American nation, buried the remains in urns close to a monument in memory of the victims.
According to investigations into the 1981 La Quesera massacre, about 500 people were killed by the army,
with widespread rape of women and torture.
"They raped girls and young women, and the pregnant had their stomachs opened up to remove their children,"
massacre survivor Julia Garcia, 42, told reporters.
More than 75,000 people were killed during the 1980-1992 conflict that saw the U.S. government support
the right-wing Salvadoran government and its army against leftist guerrillas.
Intra-familial Violence Victims Include Both Men and Women
The Division of Family and Youth Services reports that there were 913 reported cases of family violence
in the country this year (which seems like underreporting to your editor). Of the victims, 183 were men. According
to police, 49 people have been arrested for family violence and 35 were given special protection.
The Safest Place in El Salvador
Way up in the corner of Chalatenango is the village of San José Ojos de Agua. In El Salvador there
have been 3,618 homicides this year, but none in this village. The 6,000 people here live a quiet life, accompanied
by legal restrictions on activities that seem related to crime. There are only a few police, the two bars must close
at 8:00 PM, and billiards and gambling are not allowed. In this town and the two neighboring towns, equally peaceful,
there is no graffti. There are, however, lots of pictures of Che and Archbishop Romero.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
National Pupusa Day
It's a little dated, but check out the pupusa festival:
Salvadorans with HIV Suffer with 70% Unemployment
"Strategy for the development of initiatives of generation of income in the people living with VIH/Sida
(PVVS) in El Salvador", a report generated by the organization Asociación Atlacatl Vivo Positivo says that 70% of people
with HIV are unemployed or earn less than $150 per month. It is estimated that 13,000 people over the age of 16 have
HIV in the country. The report goes on to say that less than 40% of those with HIV have completed primary school (9th
grade).
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Massive Shortages of Gas in El Salvador
(From El Diario de Hoy) Tropigás, the major supplier of LP gas to homes in El Salvador, has been experiencing
significant shortages. Tropigás says the shortage will end in a few days; their competitors say it will be weeks.
Salvadorans buy small tanks of LP from local vendors to use with their kitchen stoves. None, except the extremely rich,
have heat in their homes, even though temperatures can drop to forty degrees in the mountains at this time of year.
Medical Research in El Salvador
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has helped establish research ethics committees in El Salvador to aid
investigators in conducting clinical trials.
The committees will advance the study of pediatric catastrophic diseases in El Salvador through rigorous ethical
oversight of research involving human participants.
Investigators are hoping that the programs can serve as a model for other high income countries to help establish
and strengthen research ethics committees in other low income countries.
"The absence of an REC either restricts or prevents just the collaboration needed to improve medical care
in countries with limited resources," said lead author of the report, Miguela A. Caniza, in a statement.
Memphis-based St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is an international leader in research on childhood cancer
and other catastrophic diseases.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Catholic Church Begins Campaign of Aid to Earthquake Victims
The Roman Catholic church has announced it is beginning to organize aid to those who homes were damaged
or destroyed in the recent (December 18 through 21) earthquakes in the Santa Ana area. The homes of more than 5,000
people were damaged. More than four hundred homes were declared uninhabitable by the authorities. The homes most
severely damaged were of adobe earth brick.
Remains of a house destroyed in the earthquakes.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Three Views on Dollarization
El Salvador, Panama and Ecuador are now "fully dollarized", that is they have fixed their currency to the
value of the US dollar. In fact, in El Salvador the dollar has completely replaced the colon. In Agriculture
on the Brink, Raúl Gutiérrez claims that dollarization has been one of the things (along
with CAFTA) that have driven domestic agriculture to the edge of collapse. For his article see http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=35921
Economist Manuel Hinds, a native of El Salvador, on the other hand says, "that [dollarization]
will be a winning development for everybody as the forces of globalization continue bringing together what are now, still,
the more separate economies of different regions and nations." In his new book, Playing Monopoly With the Devil:
Dollarization and Domestic Currencies in Developing Countries, Hinds argues that the sooner most developing countries
adopt the U.S. greenback and ditch their respective, national currencies, the better for their often unstable governments.
See http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=15archive/&entry_id=11979 for more on this view.
LA PRENSA GRÁFICA last Friday reported on the increasing presence of multinational
banks (most recently Citibank [US], HSBC [Hong Kong and London], Scotiabank [Canada] and GE) in El Salvador. Economists
interviewed by LPG agreed that it was dollarization that was attracting the large banks. They believe this may result
in lower interest rates which could spur economic growth in the country. See http://www.laprensagrafica.com/economia/672474.asp for the whole story.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Green Alert for Earthquakes in Western El Salvador
Servicio Nacional de Estudios Territoriales (SNET) of El Salvador has declared an alert in western El Salvador
because of increased seismic actitivty. There have been 193 earthquakes detected between late last night and 4:00 AM
today; the most intense was a Richter 4.9 event centered in the department of Ahuachapán. The United States Geological
Survey (USGS) hasn't reported any events greater than 4.0.
Salvadorans Disillusioned with 2006 Economy
Very few Latin Americans qualify their own country’s finances in a positive way, according to the 18-country
Latinobarómetro released by The Economist. Only 18 per cent of all respondents in every nation surveyed rate their
economy as good or very good, but 31 per cent believe the situation is at least slightly better than last year.
Salvadorans were near the bottom of the list. Central American nations are among the worst rated.
Only six per cent of respondents in Nicaragua have a good view of the country’s current economic situation, as well as eight
per cent of those in El Salvador, and 12 per cent in Guatemala.
Less than 20 per cent of respondents in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Paraguay and El Salvador think the
situation has improved since 2005. Twelve percent of Salvadorans surveyed said they see improvement since 2005. Conversely,
43 per cent of those surveyed in Venezuela hold the current economic situation in a positive light, and 59 per cent think
of it as better than last year’s. 58 per cent of Argentinean respondents also believe their country was better off in 2006
than in 2005.
Wed, December 20, 2006 | link
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
US Embassy Evacuated on Bomb Threat
(Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador was evacuated on Tuesday after receiving a bomb threat, the
embassy said.
"The U.S. embassy confirms that today a bomb threat was received," it said in a brief news release in
Spanish.
A spokesman said police were inside the building.
Several streets were closed to traffic in the residential zone around the embassy, and visa applicants
and other visitors said services had been suspended.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Salvadoran Economy Grows by 4.2%
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of El Salvador grew 4.2% for the twelve months ending in October.
This is the highest rate in ten years. Growth was driven by non traditional exports which grew by 23.2% and tourism
which grew by 10.7%. Other areas of growth were agriculture, 7.1%, transport, storage and communications, 5.3%, and
restaurants and hotels. 4.9%.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
El Mozote Remembered, 25 Years Later
On Dec. 10, 1981 the Atlacatl Battalion of the Salvadoran Army—led
by the now deceased SOA graduate Col. Domingo Monterrosa--entered the village of El Mozote, Morazán and commenced a two-day
bloodbath that resulted in the summary execution of the town’s population. The town was then burned to the ground. When all
was done, around 1000 poor campesinos had been murdered. Resulting excavations of the area unearthed the skeletons
of 136 children under six. There is one known survivor of the massacre, Rufina Amaya, who's story is recounted in the book
"The Massacre at El Mozote," by Mark Danner.
The act was
perhaps the most gruesome of the 12-year civil war that gripped El Salvador from 1980-1992, but it came to symbolize a policy
of collective punishment and human rights abuse exacted by the army against the civilian population. Despite this, no one
has ever been tried or convicted of the horrendous acts that occurred in Mozote.
In honor
of the 25 th anniversary of the massacre, the community held a commemorative mass and cultural event on December 9. The event
was attended by thousands of Salvadorans and internationals.
The anniversary
events fall as the Legal Protection Office of the Archbishop of San Salvador filed a legal motion for the El Mozote case to
be re-opened. A court in San Francisco Gotera, the municipal capital of Morazán, received the filing. According to Office
Director María Julia Hernández, the Archdiocese has all the proof necessary to re-open the case on charges of “Crimes Against
Humanity,” which were not covered by a 1993 Amnesty Law. In addition to Monterrosa, the suit names ex-Defense Minister José
Guillermo García, and the ex-Chief of State Mayor Rafael Flores Lima as defendants.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Today's Editorial Cartoon
The niño asks for less violence and more jobs.
Santa laughs and says, "You're kidding".
Wed, December 13, 2006 | link
Murder Rate Continues to Rise
LA PRENSA GRÁFICA - Police authorities predict that 2006 will end with more murders than
2005 for another all time high. There are about ten murders a day in El Salvador, mostly gang and drug related.
The murder rate in 2005 was 55.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. In comparison, the 2005 murder rate in Detroit, MI,
was 39.3, and 67.1 in Compton, CA, near Los Angeles.
In a related story, La Prensa reported 1,089 deaths in roadway accidents though December 11. There
were more than eight thousand injuries through the same date.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
San Diego Parish Empowers Latinas Through Guadalupe Art Program
[ENS] The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated on December 12 to commemorate the appearance of the
Virgin Mary in the Americas. However, for the past four years, St. Paul's Cathedral in the Diocese of San Diego has
used that icon to spiritually empower Latinas in their Guadalupe Art Program.
The Guadalupe Art Program is a bi-lingual
workshop for girls aged 8-17 that uses the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the most ubiquitous icon in Latino culture, to
explore, develop, and deepen their spiritual lives through art, music, and dance. The art program addresses many of the negative
issues within the participants' culture and society at-large: oppression, sexism, abuse, addiction, and violence. The girls
learn about and discuss positive changes that come through wise choices that can be implemented in their lives. Aspects
of the program include art, music, dance, education and pastoral care.
Through art, the girls use the image of Guadalupe as their model and paint themselves into her corona, thereby placing
them within her loving aura. In doing this, they have the opportunity to explore their own sacred beauty. These images have
now moved beyond the canvas and the same theme has been extended to the creation of jewelry, gardens, pottery, quilts, and
photographic images.
The Cathedral celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 10, at 5 p.m., with Mañanitas -- Serenade
to our Lady Guadalupe. The service featured actor Caitland Wachs (Commander in Chief), Jamie Donnelly (Grease), Enrique Moronas,
E.D., human rights advocate, Danza Azteca de la Catedral, and Mariachi Real of San Diego, plus an Art and Altars exhibit
in the Great Hall. The works of art have been displayed in exhibitions at several cathedrals -- Episcopalian and Roman Catholic
-- in both Los Angeles and San Diego. Some of the work can be seen at: http://www.stpaulcathedral.org/slideshows/guadalupe/guadalupe.html
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Cold Weather in El Salvador
Two brothers snuggle together against the cold. They live on the slopes
of the San Salvador volcano northwest of the city. They are fortunate to have clothing aginst the cold; many in the
mountains have no warm clothing.
Dengue Continues in El Salvador
Dengue fever, a mosquito carried disease, continues to be a problem in El Salvador and other tropical countries.
There are several types of dengue with relatively mild to severe symptoms. In 2006 there have been four deaths from
dengue in the country and almost nine thousand reported cases. Soyapango, a poor suburb or San Salvador, has had a high
incidence -- 301 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The government continues a campaign to reduce mosquito breeding in standing
water.
Remittances Are Not Necessarily Beneficial
Salvadorans working overseas (largely in the USA) send $2.8 Billion back home every year. This money
is a significant part of the Salvadoran economy. In an interesting article appearing in The Washington Post Marcela
Sanchez reports several views on the subject. The growing dependance on remittances may be stifling economic growth
in El Salvador. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/07/AR2006120701342.html
New Links
Note the new links on the Useful Links Page to the historical timeline of El Salvador and a Country Profile
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Rains Expected in December
Because of El Niño rains are expected in El Salvador in December, a normally dry month. SNET (Servicio
Nacional de Estudios Territoriales) has predicted three cold fronts in December bringing more rain. El Niño causes the
ocean to be warmer than usual, resulting in more humdiity and more rain. SNET predicts the next four months will be
colder and rainier than usual.
Israeli aid group to assist in El Salvador
Last month Meir Handelsman, External Professional Relations Director of the Israeli aid group Yad Sarah
returned on November 20th from his second trip to El Salvador in six months. The object of the trip was to complete the feasibility
study that was started in May of this year. The study is a joint initiative with the Inter-American Development Bank and at
the invitation of the El Salvadorian government.
Handelsman met with governmental officials, local NGOs and members
of the Jewish community. It is hoped that part of the Yad Sarah model will be established in an initial pilot project – to
include lending and guidance centers, workshop for the maintenance of equipment to be loaned and a warehouse. The site for
the center has already been chosen.
Air Canada Technical Services buys stake in TACA
From CBC News MONTREAL (CP) - Air Canada Technical Services is buying 80 per cent of Grupo TACA's
Aeroman aircraft maintenance division in El Salvador, extending the Canadian company's geographic reach toward South America,
a growing market.
Under the deal announced Monday, Air Canada Technical Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of ACE Aviation
Holdings (TSX:ACE), will pay US$44.7 million cash and the right for Grupo TACA Holdings Ltd. to acquire equity in ACTS.
"We want to position ourselves for growth and establish ourselves as a leading MRO organization in North America," an
Air Canada executive said in an interview. "So with this acquisition we're really going to extend our presence
geographically because where they are located you can fly any aircraft from either South or North America to that location."
Saturday, December 2, 2006
On This Date in 1980
In 1980, four American churchwomen were raped, murdered and buried outside San Salvador, El Salvador. (Five
national guardsmen were convicted in the killings.)
See
for how this tragedy affected one person.
Friday, December 1, 2006
Interesting Speculation...
Fri, December 1, 2006 | link
U.S., El Salvador Agree on $461 Million Program To Cut Poverty
The government of El Salvador and the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have agreed to a $461
million anti-poverty program intended to stimulate economic growth in one of the poorest areas of the country and complement
its participation in the Central America-Dominican Republic-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).
The MCC is a U.S. supplementary aid program launched by President Bush to assist developing nations that invest
in their people, promote economic freedom and demonstrate good governance.
According to the MCC, the five-year compact seeks to promote economic growth and reduce poverty in the northern
zone of El Salvador where more than 50 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Work under the compact will
be aimed at improving the lives of approximately 850,000 Salvadorans through investments in education, public services, agricultural
production and rural business development, and transportation infrastructure.
Source: US State Dept., http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=November&x=20061130174508asrellim0.3666345
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