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03/10/2006:

"No Business As Usual in El Salvador as CAFTA Takes Effect"

There was little fanfare and much protest on March 1 as The Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) went into effect in El Salvador. The country is the first Central American nation to honor CAFTA and for the second straight day, thousands marched and traffic was snarled throughout San Salvador. Five other signatory nations have failed to meet US requirements necessary to join the agreement.

The day before, Salvadoran President Tony Saca proclaimed the start of CAFTA by announcing to George Bush (who was not present), "Come with your basket empty and take it home full."

Today’s march started at the "Salvador del Mundo Plaza" and streamed for blocks to the Civic Plaza, in the heart of downtown San Salvador. Vendors of pirated CD’s and small farmers took to the streets next to unionists, students, and anarchists. All declared their opposition to CAFTA, or the "TLC," as it is known in Spanish.
upsidedownworld.org


President-elect Chooses Free Trade Over Democracy
Oscar Arias, Costa Rica’s president-elect, has vowed to do everything in his power to push CAFTA through Congress despite widespread public opposition.

"You should not have the least doubt that in this, we will not cede," said Arias, who won the election by a mere 1.1 percent against a candidate who ran on an anti-CAFTA platform.

The Bush administration breathed a sigh of relief with Arias’ narrow victory and it is hoped that he "can be a counterbalance against leftist movements springing up in South America."

CAFTA opponents from different sectors of civil society have promised strikes and protests against the largely unpopular trade agreement.

"We are going to follow the strategy of the referendum of the streets," said Albino Vargas, leader of the main public employees' union.
upsidedownworld.com