On Obama's visit to El Salvador

central america / caribbean | miscellaneous | non-anarchist press Tuesday March 22, 2011 18:58 by Nora - leftblogger

Any agreement signed between El Salvador and the U.S government has to guarantee El Salvador´s democracy and sovereignty.

Barack Obama is on a trip through Latin American countries. He will arrive in El Salvador on the 22nd of March. It is considered to be a historic event for the country, as Barack Obama is the first U.S. president to visit El Salvador in the context of our first left wing government, led by President Mauricio Funes.

El Salvador has strong economic and political links with the government of the USA; links established on clear differences between the living standards of the citizens of both nations. El Salvador has a large amount of people living in the U.S, Salvadorans who have been forced to abandon the country to improve their economic situation. A significant part of El Salvador´s economy is sustained from the remittances Salvadorans in the U.S send to their families.

The USA has played a brutal role in El Salvadorian history. The United States provided around $ 1.5 million day in assistance to the military forces of El Salvador during its civil war in the 80´s. This obviously had a detrimental effect on the lives of many Salvadorans as well as for the relationships between both nations.

The governing political party, Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional (FMLN), has been very critical of U.S policies. Currently, its representatives are requesting agreements to improve Salvadorans living conditions, not only in El Salvador, but also for those in the United States. They are also asking the five Cubans` liberation in U.S. prisons.

United States spokespeople state that it is an event that underlines the close relationships between El Salvador and U.S, and recognition for El Salvador´s government in the efforts developed to solve the serious security problems the county is experiencing. It is also said that Funes is one of the most credible Presidents in the Central America region for the U.S government. The Salvadoran left has played a significant role in the advance of democracy in Central America.

Another relevant aspect of this event is Obama´s intention to visit Monsignor Oscar Arnulfo Romero´s tomb located in Metropolitan Cathedral in San Salvador. It has raised different reactions since it is the first time a president of the United States will visit Romero´s tomb. Monsignor Romero is an inspiration to everyone who struggles for peace, social justice and human rights. He opposed the assistance provided by the U.S. government to the then governing military forces in El Salvador.

Currently, there are different expectations regarding to this event. Salvadorans hope for a migratory reform between both nations; reform that guarantees and dignifies the living conditions of Salvadorans who have been forced to live in the U.S.A.

It is evident that the possible agreements that will be accomplished during Obama´s visit to El Salvador will not represent a real solution to the complex problems El Salvador is immersed in. These problems are the result of a set of neoliberal policies implemented during the former right wing governments supported by U.S.

However, Obama´s arrival to El Salvador is an opportunity to request the end of projects such as the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). These projects that have had a negative impact on the country´s economy, threaten our sovereignty, and represent a threat for human rights.

The integration of this kind of agreement in Obama´s agenda would be a great joy for Salvadoran people who are anxious to see a new and sovereign country, as well as true recognition of Romero´s struggle for social justice, peace and human rights.

We don’t need any further attempts to sharpen and spread U.S economic power over El Salvador and its neighbours. We need to be aware of imperialist strategies to stop the progress of the people towards the achievement of better living conditions, in the new political scenario emerging during the last few years in Latin American countries.

El Salvador is a country with a courageous and hard working population dedicated to overcoming any obstacle to improve their living conditions. Our people deserve to be respected in all their decisions, and the will of our population is to inherit a democratic and sovereign country for the next generations. So, any agreement signed with the U.S.A government during this visit has to guarantee our democracy and sovereignty.