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AméricaLatina | February, 15, 2011
EDITORIAL
Latin@s, We are all Jose By Hassan Reyes
Jose Figueroa has much in common with many other Latin Americans living in Canada. For 13, he has been living, working and contributing to his community in Langley, B.C. He has raised a family that includes 3 Canadian-born children and is a member of a church. Like many other Latin American, he came to Canada to escape the danger of a civil war in his country where a brutal, right wing government and allied-death squads killed tens of thousands with the assistance of the United States. Jose, like too many other Latin Americans in North America is now under the threat of deportation. Jose Figueroa like many other Salvadoreans resisting the violence of the Salvadorean regime participated in the mass movement calling for democracy, respect for human rights and equality. A student at the time, Jose became involved with a student group that had links to the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a guerrilla organization that was officially recognized as a ‘belligerent’ force by most governments in the World, meaning that they were a legitimate party in a civil war. In 1992, the FMLN signed a peace agreement in Chupulteque, Mexico with the Salvadorean government, effectively ending the civil war and paving the way for the legalization of the FMLN as an electoral party. Despite the legalization and the ending of the civil, harassment and violence has continued to be perpetrated against community leaders and activists to this day. In 2009, the FMLN became the largest party within the Salvadorean Congress and won the Executive branch of the government on the ticket of Mauricio Funes for President and Salvador Sanchez-Ceren for VicePresident. Mauricio Funes was a well-known journalist in El Salvador, while Sanchez-Ceren was a commander of the guerrilla forces. Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kent, Canadian Minister of State Affairs for the Americas attended the swearing of President Funes in June of the same year. Despite these facts – that the FMLN was a legitimate resistance organization and that the current FMLN government is recognized by the Canadian government – officials for the Customs and Border Services Agency (CBSA) have denied Jose’s request for residency on the basis that he had affiliation to a ‘terrorist’ organization. This ludicrous and arbitrary decision by one ill-informed CBSA official is an insult to the memory of the tens of thousands killed in the war and may lead to the uprooting of the Figueroa Family - Jose, his wife and their three Canadian born children including an autistic son. That is, unless our community joins the efforts to keep Jose and his family in Canada. Friends and supporters across the country have launched the ‘We Are Jose’ campaign that hope to reverse the deportation order. The campaign has the support of US Actor and Activist Martin Sheen, several MP’s including Mark Warawa, Don Davies, Peter Julian, the President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador Sigfrido Reyes as well as many other unions, faith organizations, academics and concerned members of the community. Keeping the Figueroa family in Canada will not only impact one family, but it will also be a victory for our entire community. Visit www.wearejose.com to get involved.
Human Rights’ Press: Publisher Pedro Valdez: Editor-in-Chief Editorial Board José Castro Pozo, Hassan Reyes Copy Editor Renée Castro-Pozo Redaction Fernando Flores Pinel José Luis Bendezu, Jeannine M Pitas, Contributors: Xavier Mayorga, & Carlos Torchia Coorrespondents throughout Latin America and the Caribean 42-85 Irwin Road. Toronto, ON M9W 5W1 Phone: 416-742-5004 / 647-377-2433
www.hrpress.org
E-mail: a.latinapaper@hotmail.com Los artículos y opiniones expresadas en “AméricaLatina” son responsabilidad de sus autores
CHILE CAN RISE Casa Salvador Allende A year ago today, an earthquake measuring 8.8 shook the coast of Chile near Concepcion. Shortly after, a tsunami further devastated coastal communities. Almost instantly, Chileans all over the World organized to respond to the destruction of buildings, villages and lives in our Chile. All over Canada, Chilean organizations worked with friends and allies to gather supplies and resources for relief and reconstruction efforts. One year later, we give a warm abrazo solidario to all of those who worked and continue to work to assist the affected by the Earthquake, especially those communities which have yet to receive much in the way of resources and supports. Chile CAN Rise, a grassroots organization that was one of the spontaneous responses by Chileans in Toronto to assist in solidarity efforts has joined with CASA Salvador Allende and with Victor Jara Cultural Group to support the reconstruction efforts of the fishing town of Tubul. The town has asked for solidarity in building a much-needed Community Centre and these three organizations will be supporting these efforts through fundraising activities that will begin this spring. Once again, we invite the Chilean community and our friends to join in these efforts and will be sending out information on an organizing meeting in the near future. For further information, contact info@chilecanrise.com / info@casasalvadorallende.com ------------------------------Hace un año, un terremoto de magnitud 8,8 sacudió la costa de Chile cerca de Concepción. Poco
después, un tsunami devastó las comunidades costeras. Casi instantáneamente, los chilenos de todo el mundo se organizaron para responder a la destrucción de edificios, pueblos y pérdidas de vida en nuestro querido Chile. Por todo Canadá, las organizaciones chilenas trabajaron con amigos y aliados para juntar ayuda y recursos para las actividades de socorro y reconstrucción. Un año más tarde, le damos un abrazo cálido y solidario a todos los que han trabajado y continúan el trabajo de ayuda a los afectados por el terremoto, especialmente en aquellas comunidades que aún no han recibido mucho en cuanto a recursos y apoyo. Chile CAN Rise, una organización de base que fue una de las respuestas espontáneas de los chilenos en Toronto para asistir en los esfuerzos de solidaridad, se ha unido a Casa Salvador Allende y al Grupo Cultural Victor Jara para apoyar los esfuerzos de reconstrucción del pueblo de pescadores de Caleta Tubul. La comunidad ha pedido la solidaridad en la construcción de un Centro Comunitario muy necesario para la reconstrucción de la Caleta. Estas tres organizaciones apoyarán estos esfuerzos mediante actividades de recaudación de fondos que comenzará esta primavera. Una vez más, invitamos a la comunidad chilena y a nuestros amigos y miembros a unirse a estos esfuerzos. Se mandará más información sobre una reunión para formar un comité organizador para llevar a cabo este evento en la primavera. Para más información, póngase en contacto info@chilecanrise. com / info@casasalvadorallende. com