Update:
On December 19 the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador repealed the "Guarantee of Health and Social Security" law that prohibited private services within the public health care system.
The law was approved a month ago by a coalition of opposition parties. Several companies that expected to lose their contracts at the end of this year as a result of this law threatened to bring their case to the Supreme Court to claim compensation for lost revenues.
Management at the health care system did not provide the hospitals with an appropriate transition to public provision of services. One of the opposition parties (Partido de Coalición Nacional – PCN) that originally supported the law declared that it had made a mistake in not foreseeing the problems that would arise, and had to reverse their position.
The health care strike continues. A leader of the doctors’ union, Dr. Ricardo Cea, blamed the government, the political party in power (ARENA), and the PCN, for the intensification of the problem.
December 17, 2002
Police repression of peaceful demonstrations against privatization of health care in El Salvador.
Hundreds of people were demonstrating peacefully on Wednesday November 27 in San Salvador. They were demanding a solution to the health care system crisis, instead of the dilatory tactics that President Francisco Flores is using. The people participating included physicians and workers at the Salvadoran Social Security Institute (ISSS) accompanied by social organizations and Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) members of the Legislative Assembly.
The Police SWAT Team intercepted the demonstrators in the vicinity of three big hospitals. They found themselves surrounded by policemen using batons, water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, against the demonstrators. The police action left dozens of people injured, among the protesters, passers–by, people inside the near–by hospitals, and policemen. The two men who were still in hospital days later, were not protesters. One, Tito Orellana, a Red Cross paramedic, suffered a skull fracture when a police shot him at point blank. The other one, Victor Ruiz, an Associated Press photographer, was shot in the back.
Maternity hospital personnel said that over a hundred newborns and infants suffered effects from inhalation of tear gas, and many needed treatment for intoxication. Four minors from a Day Care Centre at one of the hospitals (Hospital Rosales), were rushed to the Emergency Room of another hospital, with signs of severe poisoning, according to a doctor from the doctors union (SIMETRISSS). He said: "We are back in the 80s, when people protesting peacefully were repressed by the Police SWAT Team. They even hurt people inside hospitals." Another doctor from the same union said he was in the Hospital Rosales and he saw people turning blue from the tear gas. The secretary of the workers union (STISSS), Roberto Monge, said: "How can we trust President Flores after what happened today? They have injured Salvadoran and foreign journalists, fellow workers, doctors and nurses." Mr. Monge's home had been raided on Friday November 15, when five masked men terrorized his wife and children and took union documents, leaving death threats for him and his family.
The Human Rights Ombudsman, Mrs. Beatrice Castillo, was in one of the hospitals checking the situation there when she too was affected by tear gas. Later on she denounced the police actions as "a violation of the 1992 Peace Accords" and "an attack against the democratic right to free assembly and free speech." The Principal of University of El Salvador, Maria Isabel Rodriguez, denounced the use of teargas in a hospital area as "a violation of the Geneva Convention, which establishes that under no circumstances may medical installations be attacked." The Ombudsman, together with an FMLN member of the Legislative Assembly, Schafik Handal, and other people, intervened and stop the police aggressive tactics.
Public demonstrations and police repression continued Thursday November 28, with members of other unions demonstrating in the streets, in solidarity with health care unions, and to protest police brutality on Wednesday. Municipal workers blocked a street in protest; twelve union members were arrested, many were beaten. The people arrested were held under charges of "Public Disorder," and the Chief of Police has threatened to increase their charges to "High Terrorism" for setting off firecrackers. Also on November 28, the police attacked health care workers who held a rally in front of a hospital. Two leaders, Modesto Diaz Jovel and Rene Edgardo Rico, tried to escape but they were beaten by the police and arrested for allegedly stealing a security radio, they denied the charges.
Doctors and health care workers have being carrying, for several months, a campaign against privatization of the public health care system. They have received a harsh response from the police.
The police violently entered the Oncology Hospital on September 19, dragging workers out on to the street, union leaders were held at gunpoint by masked agents. The National Police Chief placed a full–page ad, on October 30, warning that protesters could be charged with "high terrorism" for "obstructing the public right of way". The Police staged, on November 8, a demonstration of what public protestors could expect, police academy students holding blank placards were wrestled to the ground by police in full body armour, armed with assault riffles.
The government has already fired 65 members of the health care workers union. The union is asking for financial assistance from the public to help them.
The Physicians Union published an article in October (in the Journal of the Human Rights Commission of El Salvador) describing how the government of El Salvador has diminished its financial support for public health care and, at the same time, undertaken a campaign of disinformation, to convince the people of El Salvador that the workers are the ones responsible for the crisis of the health care sector, that the system is beyond repair, and that the only solution is privatization.
The government seems to be trying to sabotage the functioning of the health care system. The "State Guarantee of Health and Social Security," which outlaws the privatization of healthcare, was published on November 20 in the "Official Newspaper". The law requires that all contracts for private services be terminated by the end of the year, and President Flores is gathering together a coalition of major corporations to file a suit of unconstitutionality in front of the Supreme Court. Just like in a free trade tribunal, this lawsuit would include not only those corporations who already hold contracts, but also those whose "potential future ability to realize profit" is hindered by the legislation.
The people of El Salvador see the actions of their government and the police as clear violations of human rights. They are violating labour rights of the doctors and workers of the ISSS. They are violating the right to freedom of expression of all those who show public dissent to the government policies. Since the strike and protests are a response to the government's desire to privatize health care which would put health care even further away from the reach of the poor, the government is also violating the people's right to health care. The right to freedom of expression is part of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Labour rights and the right to health care are part of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Both covenants were ratified by El Salvador in 1979.
The strong public opposition might not be enough to stop the privatization of health care in El Salvador. The governments of developing countries are being pushed by international financial institutions to transfer social services to the private sector; it is part of the conditions attached to loans to third world countries. In the case of health care in El Salvador, the Inter American Development Bank approved a loan to El Salvador in 1998, to support the modernization of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance (a process started five years earlier with a World Bank loan). The health care sector reform that emerged would transfer direct service provisions to the private sector. Healthcare unions are concerned that the proposal gives priority to profit–seeking concerns and put health needs in a secondary position.
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has said, since 1990, that international financial institutions should pay greater attention to the protection of human rights when implementing their policies. The UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, when reviewing the report presented by El Salvador in 1996, stated concern about
"the undesirable consequences that could arise for economic, social, and cultural rights, specially in the short term, from structural adjustment, austerity, and privatization programmes."
In its General Comment on the Right to the highest attainable standard of health (2000) the Committee stated that:
"States parties [countries that have ratified the UN human rights Covenants, Canada ratified both Covenants in 1976] have the obligation to ensure that their actions as members of the international organizations take due account of the right to health. Accordingly, State parties which are members of international financial institutions, notably the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and regional development banks, should pay greater attention to the protection to the right to health in influencing the lending policies, credit agreements and international measures of these institutions."
Further support for this international responsibility is found in the Maastricht Guidelines on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1997). In its section on "Responsibility for violations", under "Acts by international organizations", stipulates:
"The obligations of States to protect economic, social and cultural rights extend also to their participation in international organizations, where they act collectively. It is particularly important for States to use their influence to ensure that violations do not result from the programmes and policies of the organizations of which they are members. It is crucial for the elimination of violations of economic, social and cultural rights, for international organizations, including international financial institutions, to correct their policies and practices so they do not result in deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights."
Information based on communications from: Centro para la Defensa del Consumidor, CISPES, Comision de Derechos Humanos de El Salvador, FMLN, Las Melidas, SIMETRISSS, Public Services International.
We can show our solidarity with the people of El Salvador, not only by expressing our concerns to the government of El Salvador, also, we must make our government accountable for their participation in the financial institutions that have such a strong influence on the realization of human rights.
Please send messages to the government of El Salvador expressing your concern for the violations of human rights that are occurring as a consequence of the privatization policies carried out by the government.
Please ask it:
Please ask for
Please send copies of your messages to the workers unions (SIMETRISSS, STISSS, and the Colegio Medico) to express your solidarity. If possible, please send the SJC a copy of your messages.
Please contact the media, local or national, with your position on this issue. It is important to disseminate information on human rights as widely as possible.
Addresses
Mr. Francisco Flores, President of the Republic of El Salvador
Casa Presidencial, San Salvador
Fax 011 503 243 9947 or 011 503.243 3710
CASAPRES@CASAPRES.GOB.SV
Please send copy of your message for the President, to
the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs,
the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador, and
the Salvadoran Embassy in Canada
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Bill Graham
House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 (postage free)
(When the Parliament is not in session please write to:
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2 )
Fax: 1 613 996 9607
e-mail: Graham.B@parl.gc.ca
Please add a cover letter for the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and send it with copy to the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador
Office of the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador:
Ambassador: Mr. James Lambert (resident in Guatemala)
First Secretary and Consul: Diane Harper
1 Centro Financiero Gigante, Alameda Roosevelt y 63 Ave. Sur, Torre A, Lobby 2, Colonia Escalon, San Salvador, Republic of El Salvador
Fax: 011–503 279–0765
E–mail: SSAL@DFAIT-MAECI.GC.CA
The Embassy of the Republic of El Salvador in Canada:
Ambassador: Mr. Mauricio Rosales–Rivera
209 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1Z8
Fax: 1 613 238–6940
Email: EMBAJADA@ELSALVADOR.ORG
Please send solidarity copies to:
Dr. Isaias Cordero del Cid - Secretary General of SIMETRISSS
e–mail: SIMETRISSS@TELESAL.NET
Roberto Monge, Secretary General of STISSS
e–mail: STISSS@SALTEL.NET
Colegio Médico de El Salvador:
e–mail: CONCOLMED@TELESAL.NET
Fax 011 503 260 0324
Please send the SJC a copy:
The Social Justice Committee 1857 Maisonneuve West, Montreal, QC H3H 1J9
e-mail: sjc@web.ca or gloria@s–j–c.net
Copies of letters sent by the SJC follow
Mr. Francisco Flores
President of the Republic of El Salvador
Casa Presidencial, San Salvador
Dear Mr President,
We are a Canadian organization, working for human rights in Central America for more than 25 years. We are concerned that privatization of public services in El Salvador, is showing a tendency to oppose the principles of the Salvadoran Constitution. According to the Constitution, the State should work for the common good and the respect of basic human rights.
The attempts to privatize health care and the resulting prolonged crisis of the health care sector is negating a fundamental right of all Salvadorans, the right to have access to health care.
We know that health care workers are on strike to protest against the privatization of the public health care system, and that many thousands of Salvadorans have held several public demonstrations to support them. We also know that leaders of the doctors' union have received anonymous death threats, health care workers' leaders have been dragged out on the street from a hospital and at least one union leader was held at gun point; two months later, his home was raided, terrorizing his family. Police has repressed public demonstrations with batons, water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, sending people to the hospital; among those hurt were journalists and, even, infants at a Day Care Centre. This means violation of labour rights, as well as a violation of the right of expression and criminalization of dissent.
As you know, the State has, not only, the obligation to protect and respect human rights but also to fulfil them. Therefore, we respectfully ask you to commit to a prompt solution to this crisis, a solution that will respect all human rights of Salvadorans.
We respectfully ask you
To respect the law decree passed by the Legislative Assembly prohibiting privatization of health care.
To negotiate a solution to the labour problem in the health care sector, without punishing the workers, who are putting their jobs, and even their lives, on the line to protect the right to health care for the population.
To investigate all the cases of threats to union members, and to investigate the excessive use of force by the police to workers, demonstrators, journalists, and public in general, and severely punish police and para–military forces found guilty of breaking the law.
To ensure that all human rights of Salvadorans are respected, following international legal obligations contracted by El Salvador when it ratified the UN International Covenants on Human Rights, in 1979.
Specially to commit to work towards a health care system that will respect the right to the highest attainable standard of health for all Salvadorans, a human right according to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
We are confident, Mr. President, that you will do what is best for the Salvadoran people.
Sincerely,
On December 19 the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador repealed the "Guarantee of Health and Social Security" law that prohibited private services within the public health care system.
The law was approved a month ago by a coalition of opposition parties. Several companies that expected to lose their contracts at the end of this year as a result of this law threatened to bring their case to the Supreme Court to claim compensation for lost revenues.
Management at the health care system did not provide the hospitals with an appropriate transition to public provision of services. One of the opposition parties (Partido de Coalición Nacional – PCN) that originally supported the law declared that it had made a mistake in not foreseeing the problems that would arise, and had to reverse their position.
The health care strike continues. A leader of the doctors’ union, Dr. Ricardo Cea, blamed the government, the political party in power (ARENA), and the PCN, for the intensification of the problem.
December 17, 2002
Police repression of peaceful demonstrations against privatization of health care in El Salvador.
Canada's responsibility as a member of international financial institutions
Hundreds of people were demonstrating peacefully on Wednesday November 27 in San Salvador. They were demanding a solution to the health care system crisis, instead of the dilatory tactics that President Francisco Flores is using. The people participating included physicians and workers at the Salvadoran Social Security Institute (ISSS) accompanied by social organizations and Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) members of the Legislative Assembly.
The Police SWAT Team intercepted the demonstrators in the vicinity of three big hospitals. They found themselves surrounded by policemen using batons, water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, against the demonstrators. The police action left dozens of people injured, among the protesters, passers–by, people inside the near–by hospitals, and policemen. The two men who were still in hospital days later, were not protesters. One, Tito Orellana, a Red Cross paramedic, suffered a skull fracture when a police shot him at point blank. The other one, Victor Ruiz, an Associated Press photographer, was shot in the back.
Maternity hospital personnel said that over a hundred newborns and infants suffered effects from inhalation of tear gas, and many needed treatment for intoxication. Four minors from a Day Care Centre at one of the hospitals (Hospital Rosales), were rushed to the Emergency Room of another hospital, with signs of severe poisoning, according to a doctor from the doctors union (SIMETRISSS). He said: "We are back in the 80s, when people protesting peacefully were repressed by the Police SWAT Team. They even hurt people inside hospitals." Another doctor from the same union said he was in the Hospital Rosales and he saw people turning blue from the tear gas. The secretary of the workers union (STISSS), Roberto Monge, said: "How can we trust President Flores after what happened today? They have injured Salvadoran and foreign journalists, fellow workers, doctors and nurses." Mr. Monge's home had been raided on Friday November 15, when five masked men terrorized his wife and children and took union documents, leaving death threats for him and his family.
The Human Rights Ombudsman, Mrs. Beatrice Castillo, was in one of the hospitals checking the situation there when she too was affected by tear gas. Later on she denounced the police actions as "a violation of the 1992 Peace Accords" and "an attack against the democratic right to free assembly and free speech." The Principal of University of El Salvador, Maria Isabel Rodriguez, denounced the use of teargas in a hospital area as "a violation of the Geneva Convention, which establishes that under no circumstances may medical installations be attacked." The Ombudsman, together with an FMLN member of the Legislative Assembly, Schafik Handal, and other people, intervened and stop the police aggressive tactics.
Public demonstrations and police repression continued Thursday November 28, with members of other unions demonstrating in the streets, in solidarity with health care unions, and to protest police brutality on Wednesday. Municipal workers blocked a street in protest; twelve union members were arrested, many were beaten. The people arrested were held under charges of "Public Disorder," and the Chief of Police has threatened to increase their charges to "High Terrorism" for setting off firecrackers. Also on November 28, the police attacked health care workers who held a rally in front of a hospital. Two leaders, Modesto Diaz Jovel and Rene Edgardo Rico, tried to escape but they were beaten by the police and arrested for allegedly stealing a security radio, they denied the charges.
Background information
Doctors and health care workers have being carrying, for several months, a campaign against privatization of the public health care system. They have received a harsh response from the police.
The police violently entered the Oncology Hospital on September 19, dragging workers out on to the street, union leaders were held at gunpoint by masked agents. The National Police Chief placed a full–page ad, on October 30, warning that protesters could be charged with "high terrorism" for "obstructing the public right of way". The Police staged, on November 8, a demonstration of what public protestors could expect, police academy students holding blank placards were wrestled to the ground by police in full body armour, armed with assault riffles.
The government has already fired 65 members of the health care workers union. The union is asking for financial assistance from the public to help them.
The Physicians Union published an article in October (in the Journal of the Human Rights Commission of El Salvador) describing how the government of El Salvador has diminished its financial support for public health care and, at the same time, undertaken a campaign of disinformation, to convince the people of El Salvador that the workers are the ones responsible for the crisis of the health care sector, that the system is beyond repair, and that the only solution is privatization.
The government seems to be trying to sabotage the functioning of the health care system. The "State Guarantee of Health and Social Security," which outlaws the privatization of healthcare, was published on November 20 in the "Official Newspaper". The law requires that all contracts for private services be terminated by the end of the year, and President Flores is gathering together a coalition of major corporations to file a suit of unconstitutionality in front of the Supreme Court. Just like in a free trade tribunal, this lawsuit would include not only those corporations who already hold contracts, but also those whose "potential future ability to realize profit" is hindered by the legislation.
The people of El Salvador see the actions of their government and the police as clear violations of human rights. They are violating labour rights of the doctors and workers of the ISSS. They are violating the right to freedom of expression of all those who show public dissent to the government policies. Since the strike and protests are a response to the government's desire to privatize health care which would put health care even further away from the reach of the poor, the government is also violating the people's right to health care. The right to freedom of expression is part of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Labour rights and the right to health care are part of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Both covenants were ratified by El Salvador in 1979.
The strong public opposition might not be enough to stop the privatization of health care in El Salvador. The governments of developing countries are being pushed by international financial institutions to transfer social services to the private sector; it is part of the conditions attached to loans to third world countries. In the case of health care in El Salvador, the Inter American Development Bank approved a loan to El Salvador in 1998, to support the modernization of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance (a process started five years earlier with a World Bank loan). The health care sector reform that emerged would transfer direct service provisions to the private sector. Healthcare unions are concerned that the proposal gives priority to profit–seeking concerns and put health needs in a secondary position.
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has said, since 1990, that international financial institutions should pay greater attention to the protection of human rights when implementing their policies. The UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, when reviewing the report presented by El Salvador in 1996, stated concern about
"the undesirable consequences that could arise for economic, social, and cultural rights, specially in the short term, from structural adjustment, austerity, and privatization programmes."
In its General Comment on the Right to the highest attainable standard of health (2000) the Committee stated that:
"States parties [countries that have ratified the UN human rights Covenants, Canada ratified both Covenants in 1976] have the obligation to ensure that their actions as members of the international organizations take due account of the right to health. Accordingly, State parties which are members of international financial institutions, notably the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and regional development banks, should pay greater attention to the protection to the right to health in influencing the lending policies, credit agreements and international measures of these institutions."
Further support for this international responsibility is found in the Maastricht Guidelines on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1997). In its section on "Responsibility for violations", under "Acts by international organizations", stipulates:
"The obligations of States to protect economic, social and cultural rights extend also to their participation in international organizations, where they act collectively. It is particularly important for States to use their influence to ensure that violations do not result from the programmes and policies of the organizations of which they are members. It is crucial for the elimination of violations of economic, social and cultural rights, for international organizations, including international financial institutions, to correct their policies and practices so they do not result in deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights."
Information based on communications from: Centro para la Defensa del Consumidor, CISPES, Comision de Derechos Humanos de El Salvador, FMLN, Las Melidas, SIMETRISSS, Public Services International.
Suggested Actions
We can show our solidarity with the people of El Salvador, not only by expressing our concerns to the government of El Salvador, also, we must make our government accountable for their participation in the financial institutions that have such a strong influence on the realization of human rights.
Please send messages to the government of El Salvador expressing your concern for the violations of human rights that are occurring as a consequence of the privatization policies carried out by the government.
Please ask it:
- To respect the law decree passed by the Legislative Assembly prohibiting privatization of health care.
- To negotiate a solution to the labour problem in the health care sector, without punishing the workers, who are putting their jobs, and even their lives, on the line to protect the right to health care for the population.
- To investigate all the cases of threats to union members, to investigate the excessive use of force by the police to demonstrators, journalists, and public in general; and severely punish police and para–military forces found guilty of breaking the law.
Please ask for
- Monitoring of the situation by the Embassy of Canada and use of diplomatic pressure to ensure respect for all human rights, as detailed above.
- A revision of the position that Canada takes in international financial institutions in regard to human rights consequences of policies adopted by these institutions.
Please send copies of your messages to the workers unions (SIMETRISSS, STISSS, and the Colegio Medico) to express your solidarity. If possible, please send the SJC a copy of your messages.
Please contact the media, local or national, with your position on this issue. It is important to disseminate information on human rights as widely as possible.
Addresses
Mr. Francisco Flores, President of the Republic of El Salvador
Casa Presidencial, San Salvador
Fax 011 503 243 9947 or 011 503.243 3710
CASAPRES@CASAPRES.GOB.SV
Please send copy of your message for the President, to
the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs,
the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador, and
the Salvadoran Embassy in Canada
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Bill Graham
House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 (postage free)
(When the Parliament is not in session please write to:
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: 125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2 )
Fax: 1 613 996 9607
e-mail: Graham.B@parl.gc.ca
Please add a cover letter for the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs and send it with copy to the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador
Office of the Canadian Embassy in El Salvador:
Ambassador: Mr. James Lambert (resident in Guatemala)
First Secretary and Consul: Diane Harper
1 Centro Financiero Gigante, Alameda Roosevelt y 63 Ave. Sur, Torre A, Lobby 2, Colonia Escalon, San Salvador, Republic of El Salvador
Fax: 011–503 279–0765
E–mail: SSAL@DFAIT-MAECI.GC.CA
The Embassy of the Republic of El Salvador in Canada:
Ambassador: Mr. Mauricio Rosales–Rivera
209 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1Z8
Fax: 1 613 238–6940
Email: EMBAJADA@ELSALVADOR.ORG
Please send solidarity copies to:
Dr. Isaias Cordero del Cid - Secretary General of SIMETRISSS
e–mail: SIMETRISSS@TELESAL.NET
Roberto Monge, Secretary General of STISSS
e–mail: STISSS@SALTEL.NET
Colegio Médico de El Salvador:
e–mail: CONCOLMED@TELESAL.NET
Fax 011 503 260 0324
Please send the SJC a copy:
The Social Justice Committee 1857 Maisonneuve West, Montreal, QC H3H 1J9
e-mail: sjc@web.ca or gloria@s–j–c.net
Copies of letters sent by the SJC follow
Mr. Francisco Flores
President of the Republic of El Salvador
Casa Presidencial, San Salvador
Dear Mr President,
We are a Canadian organization, working for human rights in Central America for more than 25 years. We are concerned that privatization of public services in El Salvador, is showing a tendency to oppose the principles of the Salvadoran Constitution. According to the Constitution, the State should work for the common good and the respect of basic human rights.
The attempts to privatize health care and the resulting prolonged crisis of the health care sector is negating a fundamental right of all Salvadorans, the right to have access to health care.
We know that health care workers are on strike to protest against the privatization of the public health care system, and that many thousands of Salvadorans have held several public demonstrations to support them. We also know that leaders of the doctors' union have received anonymous death threats, health care workers' leaders have been dragged out on the street from a hospital and at least one union leader was held at gun point; two months later, his home was raided, terrorizing his family. Police has repressed public demonstrations with batons, water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, sending people to the hospital; among those hurt were journalists and, even, infants at a Day Care Centre. This means violation of labour rights, as well as a violation of the right of expression and criminalization of dissent.
As you know, the State has, not only, the obligation to protect and respect human rights but also to fulfil them. Therefore, we respectfully ask you to commit to a prompt solution to this crisis, a solution that will respect all human rights of Salvadorans.
We respectfully ask you
To respect the law decree passed by the Legislative Assembly prohibiting privatization of health care.
To negotiate a solution to the labour problem in the health care sector, without punishing the workers, who are putting their jobs, and even their lives, on the line to protect the right to health care for the population.
To investigate all the cases of threats to union members, and to investigate the excessive use of force by the police to workers, demonstrators, journalists, and public in general, and severely punish police and para–military forces found guilty of breaking the law.
To ensure that all human rights of Salvadorans are respected, following international legal obligations contracted by El Salvador when it ratified the UN International Covenants on Human Rights, in 1979.
Specially to commit to work towards a health care system that will respect the right to the highest attainable standard of health for all Salvadorans, a human right according to the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights.
We are confident, Mr. President, that you will do what is best for the Salvadoran people.
Sincerely,
Sr. Francisco Flores
Presidente de la República de El Salvador
Casa Presidencial, San Salvador
Distinguido Sr.:
Somos una organización canadiense que ha trabajado por los derechos humanos en América Central por más de 25 años. Nos preocupa que la privatización de los servicios públicos en El Salvador está mostrando una tendencia a oponerse a los principios de la Constitución de El Salvador. De acuerdo a la Constitución, el Estado debe trabajar por el bien común y el respeto a los derechos humanos básicos.
Los esfuerzos para privatizar los servicios de salud y la resultante crisis prolongada del sector salud, están negando un derecho fundamental de todos los salvadoreños, el derecho a tener acceso a estos servicios .
Sabemos que los trabajadores de la salud están en huelga para protestar en contra de la privatización del sistema de salud., y que miles de salvadoreños han llevado a cabo varias marchas para apoyarlos. Tambien sabemos que líderes del sindicato de médicos han recibido amenazas anónimas de muerte, que líderes de los trabajadores de la salud fueron arrastrados fuera de un hospital y, al menos uno de ellos, con una pistola en la cabeza; dos meses más tarde, le allanaron su casa y aterrorizaron a su familia, (nos referimos al Sr. Roberto Monge). La Policía ha reprimido las demostraciones usando bastones, cañones de agua, bombas lacrimógenas, y balines, lo que ha enviado gente al hospital; entre los heridos se cuentan periodistas e, incluso, niños de una guardería infantil. Lo anterior describe violaciones de los derechos laborales, así como violación al derecho de libre expresión y una criminalización del desacuerdo con la posición del gobierno.
Como usted sabe, el Estado tiene, no sólo, la obligación de proteger y respetar los derechos humanos, sino también de realizarlos. Por lo tanto, respetuosamente le pedimos que se comprometa a una pronta solución de esta crisis, una solución que respete todos los derechos humanos de los salvadoreños.
Sr. Presidente, le rogamos se sirva
Respetar el decreto pasado por la Asamblea Legislativa que prohibe la privatización de los servicios de salud.
Negociar una solución al prblema laboral en el sector salud, sin repercusiones en contra de los trabajadores, quienes han expuesto su trabajo, e incluso su vida, para proteger el derecho a la salud de todos los salvadoreños.
Investigar todas la amenazas a miembros de los sindicatos, e investigar el excesivo uso de fuerza policial en contra de trabajadores, participantes en las marchas, periodistas, y público en general. Castigar severamente a los miembros de la policía y de fuerzas para–militares que hayan actuado fuera de la ley.
Garantizar el respeto de todos los derechos humanos para todos los salvadoreños, de acuerdo a las obligaciones internacionales contraídas por El Salvador cuando ratificó los Pactos Internacionales sobre derechos humanos, de las Naciones Unidas, en 1976.
Especialmente, comprometerse a trabajar para llegar a un sistema de salud que respete el derecho al disfrute del más alto nivel posible de salud, para todos los salvadoreños, de acuerdo al Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Clturales.
Confiamos, Sr. Presidente, que usted hará lo que sea mejor para el pueblo de El Salvador.
Lo saluda respetuosamente,
Presidente de la República de El Salvador
Casa Presidencial, San Salvador
Distinguido Sr.:
Somos una organización canadiense que ha trabajado por los derechos humanos en América Central por más de 25 años. Nos preocupa que la privatización de los servicios públicos en El Salvador está mostrando una tendencia a oponerse a los principios de la Constitución de El Salvador. De acuerdo a la Constitución, el Estado debe trabajar por el bien común y el respeto a los derechos humanos básicos.
Los esfuerzos para privatizar los servicios de salud y la resultante crisis prolongada del sector salud, están negando un derecho fundamental de todos los salvadoreños, el derecho a tener acceso a estos servicios .
Sabemos que los trabajadores de la salud están en huelga para protestar en contra de la privatización del sistema de salud., y que miles de salvadoreños han llevado a cabo varias marchas para apoyarlos. Tambien sabemos que líderes del sindicato de médicos han recibido amenazas anónimas de muerte, que líderes de los trabajadores de la salud fueron arrastrados fuera de un hospital y, al menos uno de ellos, con una pistola en la cabeza; dos meses más tarde, le allanaron su casa y aterrorizaron a su familia, (nos referimos al Sr. Roberto Monge). La Policía ha reprimido las demostraciones usando bastones, cañones de agua, bombas lacrimógenas, y balines, lo que ha enviado gente al hospital; entre los heridos se cuentan periodistas e, incluso, niños de una guardería infantil. Lo anterior describe violaciones de los derechos laborales, así como violación al derecho de libre expresión y una criminalización del desacuerdo con la posición del gobierno.
Como usted sabe, el Estado tiene, no sólo, la obligación de proteger y respetar los derechos humanos, sino también de realizarlos. Por lo tanto, respetuosamente le pedimos que se comprometa a una pronta solución de esta crisis, una solución que respete todos los derechos humanos de los salvadoreños.
Sr. Presidente, le rogamos se sirva
Respetar el decreto pasado por la Asamblea Legislativa que prohibe la privatización de los servicios de salud.
Negociar una solución al prblema laboral en el sector salud, sin repercusiones en contra de los trabajadores, quienes han expuesto su trabajo, e incluso su vida, para proteger el derecho a la salud de todos los salvadoreños.
Investigar todas la amenazas a miembros de los sindicatos, e investigar el excesivo uso de fuerza policial en contra de trabajadores, participantes en las marchas, periodistas, y público en general. Castigar severamente a los miembros de la policía y de fuerzas para–militares que hayan actuado fuera de la ley.
Garantizar el respeto de todos los derechos humanos para todos los salvadoreños, de acuerdo a las obligaciones internacionales contraídas por El Salvador cuando ratificó los Pactos Internacionales sobre derechos humanos, de las Naciones Unidas, en 1976.
Especialmente, comprometerse a trabajar para llegar a un sistema de salud que respete el derecho al disfrute del más alto nivel posible de salud, para todos los salvadoreños, de acuerdo al Pacto Internacional de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Clturales.
Confiamos, Sr. Presidente, que usted hará lo que sea mejor para el pueblo de El Salvador.
Lo saluda respetuosamente,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Bill Graham
House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario
Dear Minister Graham,
The Social Justice Committee is very concerned with the violations of human rights occurring in El Salvador as a consequence of the privatization policies carried out by its government.
There is a crisis of the health care system as a result of the attempts to privatize health care. This privatization is the latest stage of a reform of the health care sector supported by loans from the Inter–American Development Bank and the World Bank.
This privatization process has met with strong opposition from Salvadorans from all sectors. Health care providers have resorted to work stoppage, and the general public has supported them with massive public demonstrations. Union leaders have received death threats, the government has fired many workers, and police have responded to peaceful demonstrations with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, resulting in serious injures. As you can see, several human rights have been violated: the right to health care, labour rights of health care workers, as well as right to freedom of expression by the public. The State of El Salvador is not complying with its obligations to observe, protect, and fulfill these rights.
There are two levels at which Canada can act to support the realization of human rights. One is bilaterally, using diplomatic pressure on the individual countries where these rights are violated, and the other is at the international financial institutions, when decisions are made regarding policies and practices that could result in obstacles to the fulfillment of human rights.
We respectfully ask that the Canadian government express its concerns about the violations of human rights that are occurring as a consequence of the privatization of health care, and use its influence to ask the government of El Salvador:
To negotiate a solution to the labour problem in the health care sector, without punishing the workers, who are putting their jobs, and even their lives, on the line to protect the right to health care for the population.
To investigate all the cases of threats to union members, to investigate the excessive use of force by the police to demonstrators, journalists, and public in general; and severely punish police and para–military forces found guilty of breaking the law.
We are also asking you, as a Governor of the Inter–American Development Bank (IDB), to follow the Maastricht Guidelines, and make certain that Canada uses its influence to ensure that the programmes and policies of the IDB do not result in deprivation of economic, social, and cultural rights. This is especially pertinent in this case because the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has referred to this obligation specifically in relation to the right to health care, in its General Comment 14, from the year 2000.
We are looking forward to hear what position the government of Canada takes in relation to the government of El Salvador and the Inter–American Development Bank.
Sincerely,
House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario
Dear Minister Graham,
The Social Justice Committee is very concerned with the violations of human rights occurring in El Salvador as a consequence of the privatization policies carried out by its government.
There is a crisis of the health care system as a result of the attempts to privatize health care. This privatization is the latest stage of a reform of the health care sector supported by loans from the Inter–American Development Bank and the World Bank.
This privatization process has met with strong opposition from Salvadorans from all sectors. Health care providers have resorted to work stoppage, and the general public has supported them with massive public demonstrations. Union leaders have received death threats, the government has fired many workers, and police have responded to peaceful demonstrations with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets, resulting in serious injures. As you can see, several human rights have been violated: the right to health care, labour rights of health care workers, as well as right to freedom of expression by the public. The State of El Salvador is not complying with its obligations to observe, protect, and fulfill these rights.
There are two levels at which Canada can act to support the realization of human rights. One is bilaterally, using diplomatic pressure on the individual countries where these rights are violated, and the other is at the international financial institutions, when decisions are made regarding policies and practices that could result in obstacles to the fulfillment of human rights.
We respectfully ask that the Canadian government express its concerns about the violations of human rights that are occurring as a consequence of the privatization of health care, and use its influence to ask the government of El Salvador:
To negotiate a solution to the labour problem in the health care sector, without punishing the workers, who are putting their jobs, and even their lives, on the line to protect the right to health care for the population.
To investigate all the cases of threats to union members, to investigate the excessive use of force by the police to demonstrators, journalists, and public in general; and severely punish police and para–military forces found guilty of breaking the law.
We are also asking you, as a Governor of the Inter–American Development Bank (IDB), to follow the Maastricht Guidelines, and make certain that Canada uses its influence to ensure that the programmes and policies of the IDB do not result in deprivation of economic, social, and cultural rights. This is especially pertinent in this case because the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has referred to this obligation specifically in relation to the right to health care, in its General Comment 14, from the year 2000.
We are looking forward to hear what position the government of Canada takes in relation to the government of El Salvador and the Inter–American Development Bank.
Sincerely,