Producers/Hosts: Meredith DeFrancesco, Jesse Dyer-Stewart, Amy Browne
The people of El Salvador are no strangers to right-wing paramilitary death squads and intimidation of community activists, and although the left-wing FMLN party candidate was elected president in March, members of those right-wing death squads–who were given immunity following the war in the 1980s—are still holding positions of power.
Last month a community activist who had been working on efforts to protect the area from international gold-mining operations, disappeared. His body was found earlier this month at the bottom of a well, with obvious signs of torture. Since that time, other community activists have also been receiving death threats, including a Priest and the staff of Radio Victoria, a community radio station.
Just hours ago we spoke by phone to Antonio Pacheco, Director of ADES, the Association for Social and Economic Development in Santa Marta, El Salvador. Jesse Dyer-Stewart translates.
FMI: Asociación de Desarrollo Económico y Social – ADES Santa Marta
Tel. (+503) 2382-1082/5 adessm@gmail.com , Web: http://adessantamarta.codigosur.net, and http://www.radiovictoria.org/ingles.htm