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30 July 2007
El Salvador: Assassination of a trade union official
PSI is appealing to its affiliated organisations and the international community to send letters of protest to President Antonio Elías Saca condemning the assassination of Miguel Angel Vásquez Argueta, Finance Secretary for PSI’s affiliate STSEL in the electricity sector (Sindicato de Trabajadores del Sector Eléctrico), and calling for a full and independent investigation into the matter.
BACKGROUND
PSI only very recently launched an Urgent Action Appeal on 13
July, concerning acts of violence in El Salvador, when participants of a public meeting to oppose water privatisation were victims of brutal repression by the national police force. The STSEL had taken an active part in these protests.
It is with great sorrow that PSI learnt of the assassination of Miguel Angel Vásquez Argueta, Finance Secretary for the STSEL. Miguel Vásquez went missing on Tuesday 17 July and was discovered the following day assassinated with two bullets in the head.
Miguel Vásquez was highly respected by his colleagues and recognised as a responsible and committed trade union official dedicated to the defence of workers’ rights and social justice.
PSI extends its most sincere condolences to Miguel Vásquez’ family, friends, relatives and colleagues and fully supports its affiliate STSEL in its demands to the El Salvador
government:
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That the case be thoroughly investigated and that the intellectual and physical authors of these crimes be detained and brought to justice;
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That previous and similar cases, such as that of Gilberto Soto assassinated last November by gunshot, also be thoroughly investigated and that the impunity of those responsible be brought to an end;
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That the Salvadoran government respect fundamental human and trade union rights including the right to life, freedom of speech and freedom of association in conformity with international standards.
PSI has written to ILO Director General Juan Somavia requesting his direct intervention in this case. PSI has been informed that the ILO has contacted the Government of El Salvador urgently requesting information on Miguel Vásquez’ assassination.
PSI is asking its affiliates to:
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Send a letter of protest to President Saca condemning this assassination and calling for a full and independent investigation into the matter (please use the attached model letter in Spanish or the online form)
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If there is a mission of El Salvador in your country, send a letter to the Ambassador, requesting an interview and to call for a full and independent investigation into this crime.
Please remember to send copies of your letters to the PSI subregional office in Central America (oscar.rodriguez@psi-ca.org) and to PSI Headquarters at rights@world-psi.org as well as to the El Salvador mission in your country.
You can send this online by filling in the boxes and clicking "submit" below.
 View PSI's letter
View
STSEL's Statement
Download
model letter (word)
_____________________________________________
Model Letter
Señor Elías Antonio Saca González
Presidente de la República de El Salvador
Casa Presidencial
Alameda Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo 5500
Frente a Canal 6
San Salvador
EL SALVADOR
Fax: +503 2243 7857/+503 2243 9930
E-Mail: fmelgar@presidencia.gob.sv.
Señor Presidente,
Asesinato de Miguel Angel Vásquez Argueta
(Name of your organisation
and country) eleva su más enérgica voz de protesta por el asesinato del Sr. MIGUEL ANGEL VÁSQUEZ ARGUETA, quien desempeñaba el cargo de Secretario de Finanzas de la Junta Directiva del Sindicato de Trabajadores del Sector Eléctrico (STSEL), afiliado a la ISP.
El pasado martes 17 de julio, Miguel Angel Vásquez Argueta fue secuestrado mientras se desplazaba de su centro de trabajo hacia su casa; al día siguiente, su cuerpo sin vida fue hallado en el Instituto de Medicina Legal; había recibido dos disparos en la cabeza.
El Sr. Miguel Vásquez era una persona muy respetuosa, responsable y sobretodo comprometida con la defensa de los intereses de los trabajadores e idealizado en lograr una sociedad con justicia social.
(Name of your organisation) expresa su total solidaridad con STSEL en sus gestiones ante el Gobierno de El Salvador, la Policía Nacional Civil y la Fiscalía General de la República. En particular,
(Name of your organisation) apoya las demandas
siguientes:
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Que se realice una investigación exhaustiva e independiente para identificar a los responsables del asesinato del Sr. Vásquez Argueta y someterlos a los tribunales
correspondientes.
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Que se combata la impunidad llegando a fondo en las investigaciones de este y otros casos similares, como es el caso también del sindicalista Gilberto Soto.
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Que se definan, institucionalicen y promuevan políticas reales de respeto a los derechos fundamentales como el derecho a la vida y la libertad de expresión y de asociación.
Muy atentamente,
(Name and signature of the President and/or General Secretary)
(Name of your organisation and country)
Fill in the boxes below to send this letter of protest
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