Hey all,
Here's word from our friends at CISPES about trial for 4 people accused of the June 2009 murder of Marcelo Rivera, who's disappearance torture and death we documented in "Return to El Salvador". Please read and help! [Link to CISPES post here]
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Call the Salvadoran Supreme Court and demand a fair, impartial trial be held this Friday!

This Friday, April 30th 4 people accused of the June 2009 murder of anti-mining activist Marcelo Rivera will stand trial. The National Roundtable Against Metallic Mining in El Salvador (the Mesa) is mobilizing a presence outside the courtroom to insist on a fair, unbiased trial of these alleged perpetrators of Marcelo’s assassination. The anti-mining movement fears a repeat of the farcical March 15th “trial” of Oscar Menjívar, who community members consider to be a paid promoter for Pacific Rim Mining and who was charged with the attempted murder of another anti-mining activist Ramiro Rivera. Menjívar is now walking the streets of Cabañas free and clear after a judge slept through the proceedings and the tribunal ruled “not guilty” because Ramiro himself – murdered last December – was unable to give eye-witness testimony against Menjívar. (For more information on Menjívar's trial and the Mesa's struggle against Pacific Rim's gold mines and CAFTA lawsuit, visit www.cispes.org)

Today, just two days before the next trial concerning violence against the anti-mining movement, the Mesa has called on international solidarity to take action and ask for justice for all Salvadorans, not just those with economic and political power. There have been no convictions for the 3 assassinations of anti-mining activists or for any of the death threats, kidnappings and other violent acts experienced by members of the mining resistance in Cabañas. While the perpetrators of these crimes walk free, the local activists and leaders engaged in the struggle to defend their community from Pacific Rim's gold mines do so under the constant threat of violence. Join the Mesa’s call against impunity and ask the President of El Salvador’s Supreme Court to ensure that a legitimate, fair and impartial trial be held on April 30th!

TAKE ACTION! CALL or send a FAX to Dr. José Belarmino Jaime, President of the Salvadoran Supreme Court TODAY (sample scripts and contacts below)! For calls from the US, dial (011-503) 2271-8738 or (011-503) 2271-8888 ext. 1403 and ask to speak with Dr. Jaime.

Phone Talking Points (Please be sure to say point #1):

“Hola, buen día. Quisiera hablar con el señor presidente de la Corte sobre el caso del asesinato del ambientalista Gustavo Marcelo Rivera. [The assistant will most likely tell you he is not available, so you should ask to leave a message.]

Entonces, quisiera dejar un mensaje con usted para pasar al señor presidente de la Corte.

Me llamo ______ y soy un/a ciudadano/a salvadoreño/estadounidense/canadiense. Estoy muy preocupado/a por la situación de violencia que están viviendo los y las ambientalistas del departamento de Cabañas y el clima de impunidad que existe.

1. Para demostrar que la Corte de El Salvador está realmente comprometida a una aplicación justa y equitativa del ley y a la erradicación de la impunidad, la Corte Suprema de Justicia debe garantizar un proceso transparente y un juicio imparcial en la audiencia preliminar del caso de Gustavo Marcelo Rivera este viernes 30 de abril en el Juzgado Especializado en San Salvador.

2. No es solo una cuestión de justicia para la familia de Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, también será una fuerte señal a los autores de esta campaña de violencia y terror en Cabañas que no pueden seguir con su campaña sin consecuencias, considerando que los autores intelectuales de este crimen y los demás asesinatos siguen en libertad.

3. Ya es hora que la justicia fuera un derecho de todos y todas y no un privilegio solo de los sectores con poder económico y político.

Yo y el resto de la comunidad internacional estaremos pendientes de este caso y seguiremos informando a nuestros gobiernos sobre el estado de la justicia en El Salvador. Gracias.”

Translation:

Good morning.

My name is _____ and I am a Salvadoran/US/Canadian citizen. I'm very concerned about the violent situation that the environmentalists in the department of Cabañas are experiencing and the climate of impunity that exists there.

1. To demonstrate that the Court of El Salvador is truly committed to a just and fair application of the law and the eradication of impunity, the Supreme Court of Justice should guarantee a transparent process and an impartial trial for the preliminary hearing in the case of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera this Friday, April 30th in the Specialized Tribunal of San Salvador.

2. This is not only a question of justice for the family of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, but it will also be a strong signal to the perpetrators of this campaign of violence and terror in Cabañas that they can no longer continue this campaign without consequences, given that the intellectual authors of this crime and other assassinations remain free.

3. Now is the time for justice to be the right of all and not a privilege of those who have political and economic power.

I and the rest of the international community will be watching this case and we will continue informing our governments about the state of justice in El Salvador. Thank you.

Sample letter to fax to Supreme Court President Dr. José Belarmino Jaime:

28 de abril 2010

Dr. José Belarmino Jaime: Presidente de la Corte Suprema de Justicia (President of the Supreme Court of El Salvador)

Telephone: (011-503) 2271-8738, (011-503) 2271-8888 ext. 1403.

Fax: (011-503) 2271-8758.

Web-Page: www.csj.gob.sv

Buen día, señor magistrado presidente.

Me llamo _____ y soy un/a ciudadano/a salvadoreño/estadounidense/canadiense. Estoy muy preocupado/a por la situación de violencia que están viviendo los y las ambientalistas del departamento de Cabañas. Miembros del movimiento anti-minero en Cabañas que oponen al proyecto minero propuesto por la empresa canadiense Pacific Rim me han contado de las amenazas de muerte, los atentos de secuestros y asesinatos, y los asesinatos de tres activistas anti-mineros el año pasado. Me preocupo mucho que todos estos casos de violencia y amenazas contra ambientalistas siguen en la impunidad.

Durante décadas, la justicia salvadoreña ha sido un privilegio de los ricos y de los sectores poderosos de la sociedad salvadoreña. Hay una larga historia en El Salvador de impunidad en casos de crímenes y violencia contra miembros del movimiento social y ya es hora de acabar con esta práctica. Mientras sigue la impunidad en Cabañas, los y las demás activistas y ambientalistas estarán en peligro y las amenazas y violencia seguirán.

Por las razones ya mencionado, le solicito a usted que preste mucha atención al caso del asesinato de Gustavo Marcelo Rivera y la audiencia preliminar programada para el viernes 30 de abril en el Juzgado Especializado en San Salvador. Para demostrar que la Corte de El Salvador está realmente comprometida a una aplicación justa de la ley y a la erradicación de la impunidad, la Corte Suprema de Justicia debe garantizar un proceso transparente y un juicio imparcial en la audiencia este viernes. No es solo una cuestión de justicia para la familia de Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, considerando que los autores intelectuales de este crimen siguen en libertad, también será una fuerte señal a los autores de esta campaña de violencia y terror contra los y las ambientalistas de Cabañas que no pueden seguir con su campaña sin consecuencias.

Yo y el resto de la comunidad internacional estaremos pendientes de este caso y seguiremos informando a nuestros gobiernos sobre el estado de la justicia en El Salvador. Ya es hora que la justicia fuera un derecho de todos y todas y no un privilegio solo de los sectores con poder económico y político.

Atentamente,

(your name, affiliation)

Translation: (send the Spanish version, though)

Good morning Mr. Magister President,

My name is _____ and I am a Salvadoran/US/Canadian citizen. I'm very concerned about the violent situation that the environmentalists in the department of Cabañas are experiencing and the climate of impunity that exists there. Members of the anti-mining movement in Cabañas that oppose the proposed mining project by the Canadian corporation Pacific Rim have spoken of death threats, kidnapping and murder attempts and the assassinations of 3 anti-mining activists last year. I am very concerned that there have not been any convictions for any of these cases of violence and threats against environmental activists.

For decades, justice in El Salvador has been a privilege of the rich and powerful sectors of Salvadoran society. There is a long history in El Salvador of failing to prosecute in cases of violence and crime against members of the social movement and now is the time to end this practice. As long as impunity continues in Cabañas, activists and environmentalists will be in danger and threats and violence will continue.

For the reasons mentioned, I ask you to pay careful attention to the case of the assassination of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera and the preliminary hearing that is planned for Friday, April 30th in the Specialized Tribunal in San Salvador. To demonstrate that the Court of El Salvador is truly committed to a just and fair application of the law and the eradication of impunity, the Supreme Court of Justice should guarantee a transparent process and an impartial trial for the preliminary hearing this Friday. This is not only a question of justice for the family of Gustavo Marcelo Rivera, but it will also be a strong signal to the perpetrators of this campaign of violence and terror in Cabañas that they can no longer continue this campaign without consequences, given that the intellectual authors of this crime and other assassinations remain free.

I and the rest of the international community will be watching this case and we will continue informing our governments about the state of justice in El Salvador. Now is the time for justice to be the right of all and not a privilege of those who have political and economic power. Thank you.

Sincerely,