December 23, 2007

Opinion about El Salvador 2009s elections

The year 2009 will bring new opportunities in El Salvador. The FMLN leadership
has selected a non-party member to be its candidate for President. Mr. Mauricio Funes, a
journalist, is the person who will contest for the position held by the Arena party during
the previous four presidential terms in El Salvador. Mr. Funes studied at the Universidad
Centroamericana (UCA).

After the recent civil war, the situation for the great majority of people in the
country has not improved. Poverty, un-employment, and crime have been worsening. On
the other hand, a small group of investors have been reaping away the remesas that the
Salvadorians in the USA have been sending to their families. The remesas have reached
close to 2 billion dollars a year becoming one of the largest economic push in the society.
The Arena party has constantly assured the Salvadorian people that if the FMLN wins the
presidential elections in El Salvador, the USA Government will retaliate against such
event, and the Salvadorians living in the USA will be penalized by not being allowed to
send the much needed remesas to their families. Even worse yet, most of the
undocumented Salvadorians in the USA would be deported. These scare tactics among
others are used by the Arena party to gain the support of the majority of the people who
are illiterate in a great percentage. One could not imagine how such intimidation could
work, but it does. My parents for example believe that what Arena is saying is true. They

go further thinking that if the opposition in El Salvador wins the presidential elections
their houses and personal belongings will be confiscated by the communists. This is a
belief that dates back to the 1932 peasant upraising in El Salvador. Arena uses this
ideological tool because the fear of the communists is ingrained in the Salvadorian
psyche.

The political life of El Salvador has been directly influenced by USA

Governments policies, and thus undermining the right of the people for self
determination. The USA Government has been supporting right-win parties,
governments, and the military dictatorships for many decades. Again, using fear as an
excuse that the communists were taking over the continent, in the 80s, El Salvador
became the demarcation line where the USA Government was going to stop communism
according to President Ronald Reagan. Now, the USA Government has allied itself with
the communists in China, and ex-communist countries of the debunked Soviet Union
such as Russia, for example. There is no Cold War. As a result of this, with the upcoming
elections in El Salvador, the USA Government cannot use that excuse anymore. It is over.
Communism has died as a system. Capitalism is king. However, in El Salvador the
economic system is still pseudo feudalist where a small group of powerful interests
have control over the countrys resources. Will El Salvador be allowed to prosper and
participate in the worlds economy? According to Mr. Funes, the FMLN has agreed to
respect the free market enterprise and allow competition to take place while at the same
time develop government programs to benefit the majority of people in the country who
as stated before are illiterate in great numbers. The literate rate was approximately 80%

in 2005 according to the UN Human Report. Improvement in education and economic

development are areas that require immediate attention in El Salvador.

It is incredible that in the XXI century we are still dealing with injustices
committed against indigenous people in the American continent. The Maya Civilization
of which the Salvadorian People belonged to was destroyed in the country. Besides this
injustice, the land that belonged to the indigenous people was taken away by force. The
rightful owners of the land are now poor people. The Salvadorians have the right to enjoy
the fruits of the land, but this basic human right has been denied by a small group of
people who do not see the value of sharing the resources with others. This greed has
continued for a long time. This is a sin that reaches Gods heart in a land of injustice.

But there is hope that finally change will come to El Salvador. If the people of El
Salvador unite and elect Mr. Funes as President, the situation in El Salvador will most
likely improve. It seems that Mr. Funes has, over time, gained the peoples respect while
performing his journalists career confronting the powers that be in his country. However,
this is not enough. Mr. Funes and the leadership of the FMLN have to guarantee freedom
of expression, human rights, a free market, and foremost democracy.

It is important to note that El Salvador has great potential for development and
progress considering that there are about two million Salvadorians in the USA alone who
have prospered and provide economic support to the society. In addition, there are
numerous Salvadorians who have become professionals in many areas and could provide

technical and logistical support to their brothers and sisters in need. The Salvadorians
abroad and in El Salvador have a tremendous responsibility in this social, economic, and
political development regardless where they live. This is the time of unity. Salvadorians
must rise to the challenge. Their inspirations should be voiced. The winds of change are
present. Critical mass will be reached as the involvement of every Salvadorian in all
corners of the globe become a reality. All Salvadorians must struggle to obtain their right
to vote in the 2009s elections. The right to vote is imperative.

The churches and religious groups will have a role to play in the upcoming
presidential elections as well. The Christian values call for a practical expression of the
Gospels in El Salvador. The teachings of Archbishop Oscar Romero are now resounding
and making an echo every where. The voiceless now have voice. Christians all over the
world must listen and pay attention to the call for justice in El Salvador. The local
churches in El Salvador must unite under the banner of peace and justice. The body of
Christ must unite. All are welcome to the table of the Lord. When one of the least of
these is excluded, all suffer. The aspirations of the Salvadorians as well as their spiritual
needs must be attended to. The religious people cannot look the other way any more. To
do so is a sin.

Personally, I am very enthusiastic with the candidate selected by the FMLNs

leadership to run for President in the 2009 elections in El Salvador. Hope is the key word
for me. The election campaign is going to be very difficult since the Arena party has the
economic backing of the powerful interests group in the country. The ideological war

will also play an important part as well. Arena will insist that the FMLN has a communist
ideology. And that the FMLN wants to install an authoritarian regime in the country. The
small businesses in El Salvador along with the other sectors that could benefit from free
competition will play a crucial role in deciding the destiny of the country and thus
counter attack Arenas positions.

The popular vote will in the end determine the future of El Salvador. If Mr. Funes
wins the upcoming presidential elections, all Salvadorians will have an opportunity to see
their country develop into a democracy of the people by the people in all aspects of the
society. My hope is that this will become a reality with Gods help.

Miguel A. Hernandez
________________________________________________________________________
Miguel A. Hernandez was born in El Salvador and is living in NYC. He has been residing
in the USA since 1977. He is a USA Citizen. Master in Electrical Engineering:
Polytechnic University, New York. Certificates in Theology: The Newark School of
Theology, New Jersey. Email: miguel_h92atyahoo.com