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JEB BUSH, CENTRAL AMERICA IS NOT FOR SALE!

TAKE ACTION!
This week, Florida Governor Jeb Bush is visiting Central America to promote the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Bush's four country, five-day tour is sponsored by private businesses that hope to make Miami the headquarters of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas and expand the model of trade and development that puts U.S. corporate interests over those of poverty-stricken Central Americans. The trip also comes on the eve of the highly-contested March 21 presidential elections in El Salvador and in the aftermath of statements by a top State Department official condemning the leftist FMLN party's position against CAFTA and calling for Salvadorans to vote for someone who "shares [U.S.] vision and values." This statement contradicted earlier claims by US Ambassador Hugh Barclay that the US would respect the results of the elections.

Salvadoran's remember well the last time Governor Bush stuck his neck into Central American politics: in 2001, Bush published a full-page ad in the largest Nicaraguan newspaper calling FSLN candidate Daniel Ortega "an enemy of everything the US represents" and imploring Nicaraguans to vote for Liberal Party candidate Enrique Bolaños. Ortega was ahead in the polls at the time, but ended up losing by a significant margin. Now, in El Salvador, FMLN candidate Schafik Hándal has pulled ahead of the ruling party in some polls, and the US is on the offensive. During his visit to El Salvador last week, Roger Noriega, Assistant Secretary of Western Hemispheric Affairs for the State Department, made veiled threats about the nature of US relations with El Salvador should the FMLN win, while canceling his meeting with Hándal.

The Salvadoran right is terrified of losing power, and recent election-related violence in El Salvador raises the stakes in this all-important election. In the 1980s, U.S. government aid and intervention contributed to major bloodshed in El Salvador; since the Peace Accords in 1992, U.S. involvement in El Salvador has done little to encourage a peaceful democratic transition, and statements such as those by Noriega during tense political moments work only to perpetuate violence and embolden those who seek to hold onto power through undemocratic means. Therefore, it is urgent that Governor Bush refrain from partisan statements and threats about the nature of U.S. economic relations with the future government. The sovereign, democratic process in El Salvador must be respected!


TAKE ACTION!

1. Call Florida Governor Jeb Bush at (850) 488-4441 and demand that he:

- Refrain from making statements either endorsing or condemning any party or candidate in the upcoming Salvadoran elections.
- Reinforce US Ambassador Barclay^(1)s commitment to "respect the results of Salvadoran elections, regardless of who wins."
- Do not use economic threats against the Salvadoran people.

2. Send Florida Governor Jeb Bush a fax at (850) 487-0801 (see sample fax below)

3. Contact CISPES at (212) 465-8115 to find out how you can get involved in our on-going campaign against US intervention in the Salvadoran elections, or go to www.cispes.org to learn more.


***Sample Fax to Florida Governor Jeb Bush:



To Governor Bush,


I am writing to express my deep concern about your visit to El Salvador this week. I was outraged by your direct intervention in the Nicaraguan Presidential elections of 2001, when you published a paid ad calling FSLN candidate Daniel Ortega as "an enemy of everything the United States represents. . . and a friend of our enemies," and endorsing Liberal Party candidate Enrique Bolaños. I insist that you not attempt a similar action in El Salvador where the FMLN (leftist party) is currently ahead in many polls.


I also understand that the nature of your visit is to promote a free trade model that puts US corporate interests over the well-being of poor Central Americans. Though the FMLN opposes this model, it is inappropriate for US government officials to make partisan statements about the situation in El Salvador, and even worse to make threats about the nature of US relations should an "unfavorable" political force emerge victorious. For this reason, I demand that the US government stop using its power and influence to undermine the democratic process in El Salvador and throughout Central America. Peace and democracy will only come to El Salvador once the United States makes a genuine commitment to not intervene and to respect the right of self-determination in this country.

Sincerely,


(Your Name)

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