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Salvadoran Government Refuses
Dialogue with Hooded Protestors
The government of El Salvador
continues to refuse talks with
relatives and friends of
prisoners that have occupied the
Metropolitan Cathedral since
Monday demanding changes in
prison visit regulations.
Astor Escalante, director of
Salvadoran penal institutions,
confirmed his official refusal
Wednesday to talk unless
demonstrators adopt "a
respectful attitude".
Dozens of people wearing hoods,
who police dismiss as gang
members, are in the cathedral
towers, listening to music and
occasionally waving blankets.
Meanwhile, in Gerardo Barrios
Square in front of the
cathedral, some 100 relatives of
prisoners demand abolition of
Article 103 of the Penitentiary
Law and the resignation of
Escalante and Interior Minister
Rene Figueroa.
This regulation toughened
security measures by limiting
prisoners' visits and allowing
the high security prison of
Zacatecoluca, also known as "Zacatraz".
Most of the 20 penal
institutions of El Salvador are
overcrowded; there is capacity
for 7.3 thousand and there are
12.4 thousand imprisoned people.
Beatriz de Carrillo, human
rights attorney, said some
detainees have not been tried
and are subjected to physical
and psychological abuse, to
which the government has closed
its eyes.
Miguel Montenegro, Human Rights
Commission coordinator,
considers this protest a
confirmation of the breakdown of
a system that favors repression
over reeducation.
Salvadoran President Elias
Antonio Saca said this protest
has no justification, adding
that occupying a cathedral "is
an archaic way to get
attention."
In April 2004 hooded union
members occupied the Cathedral
to protest privatization of the
health care system.
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