Feminists against militarisation and in defence of the secular state in El Salvador

The Salvadoran feminist movement is deeply concerned about the events that took place on Sunday 9 February 2020, as they constitute an act of violence against women. setbacks in human rights and interference in the independence of state bodies.

The democratically elected president Nayib Bukele held a excessive use of military and police force to pressure and oblige the legislative body to approve a loan of 109 million dollars for the execution of the third phase of the Territorial Control Plan, which is not public knowledge and has not been subject to consultation processes with the different sectors of the population for its elaboration.

This fact shows the incapacity of representatives of the executive and legislative bodies, to use the ordinary existing mechanisms for decision-making based on dialogue and consensus for the well-being of the population in general, without disturbing public order, guaranteeing the independence of state bodies.

In view of the foregoing, we express that:

• The use of armed forces and police in the surroundings and inside the Legislative Assembly, as it has not been seen for the last 28 years, is an indication of a demonstration of hegemonic masculinity, that resorts to arms and brute force to subdue opponents, denoting a step backwards in the construction of democracy.
• In a country where public policies of reparation and restorative justice have not yet been developed, and where impunity for crimes committed during the armed conflict persists, the massive presence of military and police on the streets and inside the legislative body constitutes not only an interference and a violation of the independence of powers, but a fact of re-victimisation of victims and relatives of the armed conflict.
• The growing process of militarisation entailed in El Salvador's “security policies” as a response to organised crime in order to restore order, is increasing and legitimising violence against women, children, adolescents and young people, especially through sexual violence, abuse of power and repression. The so-called “fight against insecurity” proposals have only served to criminalise and persecute the poorest populations, the most vulnerable and disenfranchised sectors.
• Historically, militarisation has been synonymous with persecution, systematic and targeted violence, disciplining through fear and unprotection at the hands of the repressive forces of the chauvinist and capitalist State, where women are the main target along with other bodies living on the margins of heteronormative, racist, classist and patriarchal politics, such as LGTBI people, youth, indigenous people and Afro-descendants, among others.
• The use of religious resources to legitimise the abuse of power denotes a clear violation of the secular state. It is regrettable that their discourse and practice is based on symbolism that leads to regression in the field of human rights.
• The unfounded call for insurrection by the President of the Republic, since there has been no danger of a rupture of the constitutional order, implies a enormous danger to democracy and social cohesion as it can pit civilians against each other.

So we call on you:

• To the democratically elected president, Nayib Bukele, The EU has been called upon to rectify its actions by complying with the mechanisms that guarantee the rule of law, which has cost this country so much.
• To the Supreme Court of Justice that as soon as possible it can make a statement in order to guarantee the rule of law.
• To the Legislative Assembly and the Executive to initiate a real process of consultation with the different sectors of the population for the development of a public security policy and to legislate to guarantee the construction of a culture of peace and social cohesion, ensuring respect for diversity from a gender perspective.
• To all state organs to respect the principles of secularism as set out in the Constitution of the Republic.
• To the entire Salvadoran population to rescue from our collective memory the consequences and suffering of social confrontation to ensure that it does not happen again by uniting against the militarisation of the state.

San Salvador, 10 February 2020

Feminist movement:

Red Nacional de Colectivas Juveniles Feministas | Agrupación Ciudadana por la Despenalización del Aborto | Asociación de Jóvenes Feministas Ameyalli | Movimiento de Mujeres de Santo Tomás | Colectivo Casa Abierta | Colectiva Feminista para el Desarrollo Lcaol | Red Salvadoreña de defensoras de Derechos Humanos | Servicio Social Pasionista | Mujeres Transformando | La Salvadoreñísima | Ni una Menos El Salvador | Ni una Menos El Salvador | Señorita Violenica | Asociación Solidaria para Impulsar Desarrollo Humano | Colectiva Las Incómodas | Movimiento Ecofeminista de El Salvador | Asociación de Mujeres Sindicalistas | Las Febes | Las Febes | Asociación de Mujeres Sindicalistas de El Salvador | Las Febes Señorita Violenica | Asociación Solidaria para Impulsar el Desarrollo Humano | Colectiva Las Incómodas | Movimiento Ecofeminista de El Salvador | Asociación de Mujeres Sindicalistas | Las Febes | Sindicato de Trabajadoras Domésticas | Jóvenes voceras y voceros en Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos | Feministas independientes | Amanda Libertad Castro | Diana Díaz | Fátima Ortiz | Patricia Girón | Claudia Fuentes.