An election observer reports from El Salvador

[4-26-04]

Sunday, March 21, I served as an International Election Observer in El Salvador, representing the U.S. as one of the 300 Observers from 17 countries. The position of Observer was guaranteed to the El Salvadoran people in the 1992 Peace Accords to assure that the Salvadoran people, free of outside influence or internal violence, would determine their government. The United States was a signee to that agreement.

However, when I arrived in San Salvador for orientation a week before the election, I was told that our Assistant Secretary of State, Roger Noriega, and Jeb Bush, the President's brother had made visits to El Salvador just 2 weeks prior to the election. The message they sent through the El Salvador media was "that a vote for the wrong party would seriously jeopardize any aid from the United States."

Then, just two days before the election we International Observers were totally shocked when the headline in the main San Salvadoran newspaper read, "U.S. Congress threatens bill to cut off any remittances (money) sent to Salvadorans by relatives living in U.S should FMLN win." The indisputable evidence of our involvement in all cases totally violated the Peace Accords and International Law.

Well, I don't have to tell you we got our way. Fear struck the Salvadoran people and the ARENA party, responsible for the killings by the "death squads" in the 1980's, will continue in power for the next five years. Just another small country where we got our way and the poor people lost!

Tom White

[2-27-03]

February 17, 2003

Dear friends,

I hope this email finds you well. I have exciting news that I am eager to share with you!: I will be returning to El Salvador in March, for two weeks, to be an election observer there. I'm thrilled about this opportunity to return. Indeed, the invitation came as a surprise in January, and although I felt very drawn to it I initially dismissed the idea as impossible due to work, cost, etc. But God's gentle hand is always at work and one thing has led to another to enable me to go, and to receive academic credit as I work to complete my Master's degree.

You walked with me in my journey in Central America in 2001/2002, and I again thank you for your interest and prayers. I hope you won't mind me sharing with you a bit more about my experience as an election observer: Just a bit now, more when I'm there.

I will be traveling to El Salvador with the InterReligious Task Force on Central America, a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Cleveland with which I worked during my days at the College of Wooster. The Salvadoran hosting organization is the Center for International Solidarity (CIS), an educational organization. The next presidential election will be in 2004, but this year's elections are important all the same.

As I wrote last year, El Salvador faces some serious economic and social issues right now. The two main political parties have differing views as to how to improve the situations. It is crucial that the people realize that their votes make a difference in the future of the country and that the election proceeds fairly. Many Salvadoran communities have invited international observers to be present on election day (Sunday, March 16) and as the votes are counted into the night and next day. This presence dissuades any corrupt practices and ensures that if irregularities do occur, Salvadoran and non-Salvadoran voices can raise concerns together. There is strength in solidarity.

I will spend 10 days in El Salvador, mostly in meetings and training sessions and, finally, observing the elections. We will hear from the various political parties, meet with U.S. embassy officials, and speak with the Salvadoran Ombudswoman for Human Rights who has played a significant role in preparing for these elections.

While El Salvador's elections are generally considered free and fair, there are still obstacles. As I understand it, voting is not done in a private booth but in the open, so all can see how someone votes. Also, you can sign up to vote in another area of the country besides your own town, so some candidates are "stacking the deck", bribing outsiders to arrive, vote for them, and thus influence the outcome of the election in a given town. Travel to your polling place and waiting to vote takes a significant part of the day, which often discourages people, especially women with many daily tasks to complete, from voting.

I look forward to learning lots more in the coming weeks and serving the Salvadoran community in this unique and fascinating way.

I also look forward to spending at least a day with my Salvadoran host family, with whom I've kept in touch since I left, and seeing Julie and Bob Dunsmore (Presbyterian missionaries) and the housing projects they've been involved with recently. While Chicago hasn't been blessed with as much snow as other areas of the country, the bitter cold alone has made me daydream about a day at the beautiful beaches in El Salvador. If I'm lucky I'll work that in too!

Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers, from March 6-19 especially. I feel so grateful to have you: a loving, supportive community, working towards the peaceful, prosperous future of our brothers and sisters around the world.

In peace, Julia

P.S. - Several friends have asked me if I need any financial support for this trip. I'm happy to report that frequent flyer miles have made this trip affordable (thanks United Airlines!), but have told them that if they (or you) are interested in standing with the Salvadoran people, contributions can be made to the "CIS Fund for Democratic Participation." The CIS works toward the realization of truly free and fair elections and this fund finances activities concerning democratic participation and transportation for voter turn-out. If you'd like to support the Salvadoran people in this way, please send me a note and I'll tell you how you can send a contribution. I'd be happy to present it to the CIS in your name. Gracias!