ACTION ALERT: Release anti-water privatization activists in El Salvador

July 10, 2007

Please go to http://salvaide.ca/urgent.html to see an 'urgent action' request from Salvaide, which reports on "the arbitrary arrest and continuing detention of CRIPDES (The Association for the Development of El Salvador) leaders by the National Civilian Police" at a peaceful protest against the visit of Salvadoran President Antonio Saca to the municipality of Suchitoto and "in opposition to the movement toward privatization of the public water system."

Among the fourteen members of social organizations and municipal workers arrested on July 5 are: Marta Lorena Araujo, the President of the CRIPDES National Directive Council; Rosa Valle Centeno, Vice-President CRIPDES National Directive Council; María Haydee Chicas, CRIPDES journalist and photographer; and Manuel Antonio Rodriguez, who was driving the CRIPDES vehicle.

Our friends at SalvAide are asking that letters be sent to a listing they provide of media sources in El Salvador and that these letters also be copied to salvaide@web.net or 613-233-7375.

Brent Patterson, Director of Organizing and Campaigns, The Council of Canadians