Translation of July 2 Events on Video – July 2, 2007

The following text is a translation of the video covering the events of July 2 that is available in two parts here (Part 1) and here (part 2).  The translation was made by a representative and volunteer at the SHARE Foundation — thank you!

CAPTURADOS EN SUCHITOTO1/CAPTURED IN SUCHITOTO

:30 REPRESSION IN SUCHITOTO, EL SALVADOR, JULY 2nd 2007

:40 A peaceful protest. (sign says NO TO THE PRIVATIZATION OF WATER)

:55 The arrival of the Police

“We peacefully ask you the policemen… We ask that you not attack your own people. We want to arrive at an agreement with you. We ask… (inaudible)”

1:38 The repression against the people…

2:08 “They came inside my house. And me inside with all my kids. They’ve  thrown tear gas over there. And so I think that that is- well it’s bad. Because they’ve come inside my house and they’ve used tear gas with all my kids around and even a pregnant woman. This is an abuse- what the government is doing here in our country.”

2:38 Men and women were victims of the Police repression.

2:53 “My arms too- you can see- all burned. And only because we are asking that they release the compañeros of CRIPDES. That’s the main reason.”

3:06 (inaudible)

3:52 Lorena Martinez, President of CRIPDES (inaudible)

4:20 The people demand the freedom of their leaders. The Police respond with more captures.

(crowd) “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!…”

5:08 “Run! Run!”

5:12 “Where are we going?”

(inaudible)

6:23 Mario Romero Campos, Presbyterian of Suchitoto: “We were there- delegates of Human Rights, some lawyers- a negotiating commission right? And well we saw an attitude that won’t help promote a dialog. I even told them that I was already there early. Talking with the head of the Unit for Maintenance of Order (UMO- riot police). …for superior orders. Which was my surprise- in 15 minutes we saw the UMO throwing tear gas…”

6:53 “We are lawyers of the Republic. It’s no longer possible that they continue to violate the human rights of these people. Only because they came on the road, they have been captured…”

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CAPTURADOS EN SUCHITOTO 2/CAPTURED IN SUCHITOTO

:00 “Only because they came on the road, they have been captured…”

:08 “Who shouldn’t protest when this government wants to privatize the water? The entire population has this right- to protest. We ask that this information goes out to all of the media sources as soon as possible.”

:22 “…because it’s an injustice against the people…(inaudible)… and that’s what we want- the women of Suchitoto- to fight for peace… We don’t want more violence… but us with only our hands and them with something- aggravated heavily.”

1:19 The militarization of the town and the searching/raiding in the communities

1:27 Office for the Defense of Human Rights  (inaudible)

1:56 (sign) WE WOMEN DEMAND…

2:11 Nelson Ayala- Director of CRC (Committee of Reconstruction of Communities of Suchitoto): “As a result of all of this -we had as a result- 14 compañeros captured. And we had 112 people wounded and well- other people that are in the hospital. That was, in summary, what happened. This government that really goes to implement its policies at all costs. And a police force…”

2:42 Monsignor Gregorio Rosa Chávez: “It’s not terrorism and there is a right to protest and also to act disorderly/disobediently in an adequate manner and I think in this case the force… …trying to make the water a business is contrary to the rights of life that the people have.

3:08 WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE FREEDOM OF:

Marta Lorena Araujo Martinez

Facundo Dolores García

Manuel Antonio Rodríguez Escalante

Rosa María Centeno Valle

Héctor Antonio Ventura Vásquez

María Aydee Chicas Sorto

Sandra Isabel Guatemala

José Ever Fuentes

Patricio Valladares Aquino

Clemente Guevara Batres

Santos Noel Mancía Ramírez

Marta Yanira Méndez

Beatriz Eugenia Nuila

Vicente Vásquez