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CIS
Boulevard Universitario #4
Colonia El Roble
San Salvador, El Salvador
Centroamérica
Tel/FAX: +503 226-2623
cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com
Ecuadorian Advisor to
the Salvadoran Social Security Institute Physician and Worker Union (SIMETRISSS)
and long-time El Salvador resident expelled for supposed involvement in
“political activities.”
Officials
from the Human Rights Ombudswoman’s office
arrested for entering
airport to oversee deportation.
May 3, 2005
On the evening of Thursday, April 28 the Border Patrol Division of the National Civilian Police (PNC) under orders from the President of the Republic, expelled Ecuadorian Citizen Pedro Enrique Banchón Rivera from Salvadoran territory. An advisor to the Salvadoran Social Security Institute Physician and Worker Union (SIMETRISSS), Dr. Banchón has had permanent residency in El Salvador since 1998 and is married to a Salvadoran citizen.
The Salvadoran Government accuses Banchón of participating in “national politics.” Article 97 of the Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador states that “Foreigners that directly or indirectly participate in the internal politics of the country lose the right to reside in said country.” While referring exclusively to participation in political parties, the vagueness of the language has provided a catch-all justification for deporting any foreigner that is critical of government policy. In the case of Banchón Salvadoran government officials point to his participation in the “white marches,” organized as part of the movement against the privatization of healthcare. Those marches were the response of doctors, healthcare workers, and the larger public to the process of privatization being executed in the Social Security and Public Health systems. As such, the expulsion of Banchón based on this rationale constitutes a violation of his right to free expression, guaranteed in Article 19 No. 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (agreement to which El Salvador is a signatory nation).
It is worth noting that public access to healthcare—endangered by privatization—is a right guaranteed in Article 1 of the Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador and Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Banchón’s colleagues as well as his lawyer have denounced his deportation as a violation of his rights, as much for the Salvadoran governments failure to take into account his family within the country, as for their failure to follow proper procedure for deportation. Indeed, the Supreme Court of El Salvador ruled on January 18, 2005 that Banchón had not been properly notified that deportation proceedings had been initiated against him. Furthermore, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of the Republic define the family a fundamental social component, and call on the State to protect it accordingly.
Even more worrisome, however, is the fact that Banchón filed a lawsuit against Social Security Communications Director Carlos Lopez Barrundia for defamation. A hearing was scheduled for Friday, April 30 (the day following Banchón deportation). Lopez Barrundia’s lawyers took advantage of Banchón absence to argue that the case should be dismissed. The presiding judge declared that Banchón needs to justify his absence to the court before any further action can be taken. This deportation could therefore be considered an obstruction of justice, in addition to the human rights violation it represents.
Also worrisome is the arrest of three employees of the Human Rights Ombudswoman’s Office (PDDH), who were arrested after following Banchón and his police escort onto the runway of San Salvador’s Comalapa International Airport. Police officials claim that the three PDDH employees did not have authorization to enter the runway area, and did not respond when asked to stop. The Human Rights Ombudswoman Dr. Beatrice de Carrillo has fiercely denounced the arrest, noting that it violates the constitutionally granted right of PDDH officials to be present in any situation that they deem necessary to ensure compliance with Human Rights norms. This broad mandate was one of the fruits of the 1992 peace accords. Dr. de Carrillo has characterized the incident as one in a series of efforts on the part of the Salvadoran Government to impede the work of the PDDH.
It is worth noting that these events have occurred within the context of increasing repression against democratic and progressive spaces in post-war El Salvador. The firing of journalist Mauricio Funes in February of this year is just one example. More recently, Archbishop of San Salvador Fernando Sanz Lacalle announced that the Oscar Romero Foundation no longer has permission to hold the “popular mass” near Monsignor Romero’s crypt in the basement of the Cathedral.
The fact that these incidents are not isolated makes action all the more necessary. The comprise a threat to continued international accompaniment of Salvadoran Civil Society, as well as a threat to the democratic gains secured through the 1992 Peace Accords. We need you to send letters to President Elias Antonio Saca and Minister of Governance Rene Figueroa, requesting that they overturn the decision to expel Dr. Bachón. While the three representatives of the Human Rights Ombudswoman’s office were absolved of all charges on Monday, May 3 we ask that you also denounce their arrest.
Please also contact your local elected officials, and request that they contact the Salvadoran Government regarding your concerns. The United States Government, along with many European Governments, financed much of implementation of the Peace Accords. The fruit of those Accords are growing increasingly vulnerable. It is important that the international community react accordingly.
Please
send copies of you letters to the CIS (cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com)
so that we can share them with the PDDH and SIMETRISSS.
See contact information below:
President of the Republic of El Salvador, Elias Antonio Saca Gonzales
Visit <http://www.casapres.gob.sv/prescartas.htm>
and paste your letter into the online form.
Minister of
Governance, Rene Figueroa
DT@gobernacion.gob.sv
Sample Letters (Translation):
Señor
Elías Antonio Saca González
Presidente de la República de El Salvador
Presente.
Excelentísimo Presidente Saca:
Le escribo con referencia a la reciente deportación del medico ecuatoriano Pedro Enrique Banchón, y también el arresto de 3 empleados de la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos.
En el caso del Dr. Banchón, parece que no se tomó en cuenta que Dr. Bachón está casada con una salvadoreña, con quien tiene hijos. La Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos dice en el Articulo 16, No. 3 declara que «La familia es el elemento natural y fundamental de la sociedad y tiene derecho a la protección de la sociedad y del Estado.» De forma similar, Articulo 32 de la Constitución de la República de El Salvador declara que «La familia es la base fundamental de la sociedad y tendrá la protección del Estado, quien dictará la legislación necesaria y creará los organismos y servicios apropiados para su integración, bienestar y desarrollo social, cultural y económico.»
Quisiera recordarle también que la Corte Suprema de Justicia de El Salvador falló el 18 de enero, 2005 que Dr. Banchón no había recibido aviso con suficiente anticipación que había un proceso administrativo en su contra. Esto consiste una violación de su derecho de petición y por lo tanto, pone en duda la legalidad de su expulsión del país. También se podría considerar su deportación un obstrucción de justicia, dado que fue expulsado del país un día antes de que se iba a realizar un audiencia como parte de un juicio por difamación que el Dr. Banchón había iniciado en contra del Director de Comunicaciones del Instituto Salvadoreño de Seguro Social, Carlos López Barrundia.
Además, el derecho a la libre expresión está garantizada en Articulo 19, No. 2 del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Politicos, que declara que «Toda persona tiene derecho a la libertad de expresión; este derecho comprende la libertad de buscar, recibir y difundir informaciones e ideas de toda índole, sin consideración de fronteras, ya sea oralmente, por escrito o en forma impresa o artística, o por cualquier otro procedimiento de su elección.» El Salvador ha firmado dicho Pacto.
Igual de preocupante es el hecho de que agentes de la Policía Nacional Civil arrestaron a 3 funcionarios del la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos por haber entrado a la pista del Aeropuerto Internacional de Comalapa. Agentes policiales dicen que dichos funcionarios tenían que haber solicitado permiso, a pesar de que es un derecho constitucional de la Procuraduría de estar presente en cualquier situación que les parezca necesario para mantener respeto a los derechos humanos. Por lo tanto, esta actuación por parte de la PNC pone en riesgo los Acuerdos de Paz, dado que la PDDH es fruto de dichos Acuerdos.
Por las razones mencionados, le pido que revise la decisión de expulsar Dr. Banchón. Le pido también que usted haga todo lo posible para asegurar que ningún funcionario publico impida el trabajo de los funcionarios y las funcionarias del PDDH.
Atentamente,
Your
Name, Title and Country
Lic. René
Figueroa
Ministro de Gobernación
Presente.
Estimado Ministro Figueroa:
Le escribo con referencia a la reciente deportación del medico ecuatoriano Pedro Enrique Banchón, y también el arresto de 3 empleados de la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos.
En el caso del Dr. Banchón, parece que no se tomó en cuenta que Dr. Bachón está casada con una salvadoreña, con quien tiene hijos. La Declaración Universal de Derechos Humanos dice en el Articulo 16, No. 3 declara que «La familia es el elemento natural y fundamental de la sociedad y tiene derecho a la protección de la sociedad y del Estado.» De forma similar, Articulo 32 de la Constitución de la República de El Salvador declara que «La familia es la base fundamental de la sociedad y tendrá la protección del Estado, quien dictará la legislación necesaria y creará los organismos y servicios apropiados para su integración, bienestar y desarrollo social, cultural y económico.»
Quisiera recordarle también que la Corte Suprema de Justicia de El Salvador falló el 18 de enero, 2005 que Dr. Banchón no había recibido aviso con suficiente anticipación que había un proceso administrativo en su contra. Esto consiste una violación de su derecho de petición y por lo tanto, pone en duda la legalidad de su expulsión del país. También se podría considerar su deportación un obstrucción de justicia, dado que fue expulsado del país un día antes de que se iba a realizar un audiencia como parte de un juicio por difamación que el Dr. Banchón había iniciado en contra del Director de Comunicaciones del Instituto Salvadoreño de Seguro Social, Carlos López Barrundia.
Además, el derecho a la libre expresión está garantizada en Articulo 19, No. 2 del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Politicos, que declara que «Toda persona tiene derecho a la libertad de expresión; este derecho comprende la libertad de buscar, recibir y difundir informaciones e ideas de toda índole, sin consideración de fronteras, ya sea oralmente, por escrito o en forma impresa o artística, o por cualquier otro procedimiento de su elección.» El Salvador ha firmado dicho Pacto.
Igual de preocupante es el hecho de que agentes de la Policía Nacional Civil arrestaron a 3 funcionarios del la Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos por haber entrado a la pista del Aeropuerto Internacional de Comalapa. Agentes policiales dicen que dichos funcionarios tenían que haber solicitado permiso, a pesar de que es un derecho constitucional de la Procuraduría de estar presente en cualquier situación que les parezca necesario para mantener respeto a los derechos humanos. Por lo tanto, esta actuación por parte de la PNC pone en riesgo los Acuerdos de Paz, dado que la PDDH es fruto de dichos Acuerdos.
Por las razones mencionados, le pido que revise la decisión de expulsar Dr. Banchón. Le pido también que usted haga todo lo posible para asegurar que ningún funcionario publico impida el trabajo de los funcionarios y las funcionarias del PDDH.
Atentamente,
Your
Name, Title and Country
Translation of Sample Letters:
Dear__________________:
I write to you regarding the recent deportation of Ecuadorian Doctor Pedro Enrique Banchón, and also the arrest of three employees of the Human Rights Ombudswoman’s office.
In the case of Dr. Banchón, it seems his marriage to a Salvadoran citizen was not sufficiently taken into account. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states in Article 16, No. 3 that “The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.” In a similar fashion, Article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of El Salvador declares that, “The family is the fundamental base of society and will have the protection of the State, who will dictate the necessary legislation and will create the organisms and services appropriate for its integrity, wellbeing, and social, cultural and economic development.”
I would like to remind you also that the Supreme Court of El Salvador ruled on January 18, 2005 that Dr. Banchón had not received sufficient notice that administrative processes (possibly leading to deportation) had been initiated against him. This constitutes a violation of his right to information regarding his case, and for that reason, places in doubt the legality of his expulsion from the country. His deportation could also be considered an obstruction of justice, given that he was expelled from the country one day before a hearing was to be held regarding a suit Dr. Banchón had filed against Social Security Communications Director Carlos López Barrundia for defamation.
In addition, the right to free expression is guaranteed in Article 19, No. 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that, “Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.” El Salvador is a signatory nation to that Covenant.
Equally worrisome is the fact that agents of the National Civil Police arrested three functionaries of the Human Rights Ombudswoman’s Office for having entered the runway area Comalapa International Airport. Police officials say that the PDDH functionaries needed to have solicited permission, despite that fact that it is a Constitutional right of employees of the Ombudswoman’s office to be present in any situation they deem necessary to ensure compliance with Human Rights standards. For this reason, this behavior on the part of the National Civilian Police places at risk the Peace Accords, given that the PDDH is the fruit of those Accords.
For the aforementioned reasons, I ask that you review the decisión to expel Dr. Banchón. I also ask that you do everything within your power to ensure that no public functionary impedes the work of the officials of the Human Rights Ombudswoman’s office.
Sincerely,