[Marxism] El Salvador: Unionist murdered

[Greg McDonald <sabocat59@xxxxxxx>]

VEIL OF DOUBT COVERS THE KIDNAPPING AND MURDER OF UNION LEADER.


Wednesday, 25 July 2007
From: Center of Labor Studies and Support (CEAL), El Salvador,  
Central America.



Miguel Angel Vasquez, Leader of STSEL

Miguel Angel Vasquez was the Secretary of Finances of the Workers of  
the Electrical Section (STSEL) Union. His friends and co-workers  
describe him as methodical, orderly, a family man, and very dedicated  
to his union and his co-workers. He joined STSEL (then known as  
ATCEL) in 1990 and had worked for more than 20 years in the electric  
sector. ´He was a friend with a great loyalty to the organization`  
says Roxana Deras, General Secretary of STSEL. Another friend and co- 
worker identified as Ernesto, mentioned `He was a man who would take  
the shirt off his back for another`. Many who knew him said he was a  
man without pride and always worked in collaboration with others.  
When co-workers look back through the years of labor conflicts,  
Miguel is remembered as always being concerned about the wellbeing of  
his fired work companions. Miguel was also a person with strong  
religious convictions.

On July 19th co-workers had a ceremony to commemorate Miguel's years  
of service in the company ´Duke Energy’ where he worked. This  
ceremony included executives of the company, who gave their  
condolences to his family and friends, including friends from the  
local union. It is of note that STSEL and Duke Energy maintained a  
normal labor relation, which included collective bargaining.

The causes for his murder remain unclear for his family, the union  
community, and the Salvadorian soical and popular movement.

IN THE CASE OF HIS WORK

Miguel’s wife stated that Miguel always came home after work. His co- 
workers last saw him on Monday July 17th at 5pm after leaving the  
plant terminal of Soyapango, the section he was in charge of. Friends  
of Miguel knew that his plans were to go to the veterinary in  
downtown Sal Salvador to pick up some vaccines. The owner of the  
veterinary, a friend of the family, said he never arrived. It is  
supposed that he was kidnapped during this time, on his way traveling  
to the veterinary

In the report from police, he was in the vicinity of ´Las Palmas´  
neighborhood in the municipality of Mejicanos in the northern end of  
San Salvador. They report that he was in a vehicle that he owned  
which was parked on a side street in ‘Mejicanos’.

There were several people in the parked car with him, and that the  
car was kept running for close to two hours, with the lights on.  
Later, two shots were heard and the vehicle sped off.

The same vehicle owned by Miguel was later found at 12pm on Wednesday  
July 18th in Neighborhood ‘22 April’ in Soyapango. The search for  
Miguel by family and friends started the same night, as they thought  
it was strange and were worried that he had not come home or called  
the house. Police investigators found an unknown body with two  
gunshots to the head at 9:10pm on the night of July 17th. The next  
day family identified the body as Miguel Ángel Vásquez. Miguel did  
not have any money or anything of value, only his documents were taken.

Members of STSEL have pointed out that a murder of a union member has  
occurred in a very difficult time for the popular movement, and union  
movement in El Salvador, and that this must be taken into  
consideration during the investigation. Right now in the country,  
there is increased political repression and tension surrounding the  
13 political prisoners that are being charged with the new anti- 
terrorism laws. These political prisoners were arrested on June 2nd  
for protesting against the governments plans to privatize the water  
in Suchitoto. As well, in the last three years, various murders of  
political leaders and union leaders have occurred with complete  
impunity. One of these cases is the murder of Salvadorian-American  
union leader Gilberto Soto, along with other religious and left  
leaders in El Salvador. Says fellow union member Roxana Deras, ‘ We  
will not ignore any motive, but as well, we can’t be sure of a  
concrete cause of this crime yet. The most important thing is that we  
do not let impunity thrive and make sure this is investigated  
thoroughly.’

Though these statements are sensible, it does not allow for the very  
serious threat this sends to social and union organizations. ‘This  
reminds of 1978, when the skillful and sinister assassinations of  
union leaders started’ mentioned Miguel’s co-worker. The union  
community maintains that they will not hurry to any conclusions, but  
they are not ruling out conducting a simultaneous independent  
investigation, given that police investigations often turn up empty.

What is true is that El Salvador can’t seem to shake the serious  
social and political crisis it is in. The country is at a height of  
crime, economic crisis, and repression of social organizations,  
causing great worry both inside and outside of the country. It is  
evidence of governmental crisis and the exhaustion of the economic  
model which is incapable of offering stability and wellbeing to the  
population.


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