Where: Fernwood Community Assoc. 1923 Fernwood Rd.
When:
7:30pm Singalong with Nedjo Rogers & friends
8:00pm: Slide presentation by Theresa Wolfwood
What: A vivid portrayal of how people the world over have used their creative power to resist war, violence & injustice, including in Latin America & here on Vancouver Island
Refreshments served: Nicaraguan Fair Trade coffee
All welcome: admission by donation
At the end of May ,CASC members John Hillian, Deirdre Kelly and Char Bell installed the Revolutionary Poster Exhibition at the Cedar Hill Arts Centre, and the Bruce Hutchinson Library. The display was formed from the personal collections of some CASC members, of posters that had been made to raise awareness of various campaigns throughout the years. (the oldest dated back to Nicaragua in 1980.)
Never before seen except in the context of our own events, this was the first time that such a show would be on display for the general public in Victoria. The hope was that it would also serve to let the wider public know about the history of CASC, and publicize our current campaigns.
The formal opening of the exhibition took place on Friday, May 28th at the Cedar Hill Arts Centre. About 50 people attended, and were treated to some great authentic music from Latin America by local group Los del Sur. The group whose members are originally from Chile and Argentina, performed 2 sets, between which Deirdre Kelly, Juan Carlos Flores, and Peter Golden gave their spoken reflections on some of the subjects depicted in the posters. Deirdre talked specifically about Nicaragua, Carlos talked about Chile and El Salvador, and Peter talked about Human Rights, Guatemala, and Chiapas. John Hillian, who was the MC, acknowledged the support of the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria for allowing CASC to have our show in their space. He also made special recognition of long time CASC member Andree Scott, who was in attendance, and thanked her for her years of solidarity with the people of Central America.
The following Friday, Nedjo Rogers organized and hosted an evening of “Music and Solidarity”. The invited guests used the Café Gallery and Poster Exhibition as their back drop. The evening was spirited, and the voices of the singers resounded through the halls of the Art Centre.
The final event before the main display was taken down was a powerpoint slide presentation entitled “The Arts of Resistance” with CASC member Terry Wolfwood. Terry, also with the Barnard Boeker Foundation and Women in Black, shared many examples of Art that had been done by people in resistance in many places in the world. These ranged From mining protests in Southern Mexico, the struggles against military occupation in Palestine and the Western Sahara, to works promoting good treatment of the environment in Africa, and many more. Terry had documented and offered solidarity to all the people in the presentation, many of whom we in CASC had known about through campaigns that were the subject of Café Simpatico over the past several years. Terry also included in the slides many of her own works in resistance, brightly coloured banners sewn with slogans, some of the most striking examples in the whole talk.
We thank Terry, Nedjo, and all the other folks who helped make our Revolutionary Poster Exhibition a success.
Normal 0 0 1 211 1208 10 2 1483 11.1539 0 0 0
CASC presented an illustrated talk by Theresa Wolfwood, recently returned from Western Sahara refugee camps, entitled:
BEYOND the VEIL of SAND: The Saharawi people in exile & under occupation.
This little-known land is known as Spain’s last colony and as Africa’s only remaining colony. Theresa gave the historical background to the present state of injustice, exile and repression.
Spain occupied Western Sahara for nearly 100 years. When it pulled out in 1975, Morocco invaded and settled thousands of Moroccan colonists in the country. Morocco militarily drove out thousands of Saharawi civilians, who fled across the desert to Algeria, where they have lived in exile for thirty-nine years. The remaining population in Western Sahara is subjected to the brutal regime of Moroccan occupation.
For the complete story with photos, references and action suggestions please see:http://www.bbcf.ca/_articles/PeaceForWesternSahara.pdf
This photo shows the sand wall, the berm that Morocco built to separate its occupied Western Sahara from a small liberated Saharawi strip and Algerian. It is heavily fortified and is seeded with 10 million landmines.
Aminatou Haider lives in occupied Western Sahara. She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace prize for her leadership in non-violent resistance; she has been beaten, tortured and jailed.
Girls in refugee camp celebrate the 38th anniversary of the founding of the nation. Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.
The Central America Support Committee with assistance from the Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria are putting on a Revolutionary Poster Exhibition at 2 locations at the end of May.
The main exhibition will be held at the Café Gallery at the Cedar Hill Recreation Centre, 3220 Cedar Hill Rd. beginning May 28th and showing until June 11th. The other
location is the Bruce Hutchinson Library at Saanich Commonwealth Place, May 30th to July 11th.
There will also be 3 separate events during the exhibition.
The purpose of this exhibition is:
We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events.
2012. Translated from the Spanish & published with assistance of Rights Action & Breaking the Silence Solidarity Network. www.mayawuj.nawalwuj.com ISBN 978-9929-634-008
Review by Theresa Wolfwood
Images from the book
“May my parents’ tragic story live on in the memories of my children”
“The objective… is to share the bloody history that we have lived and to make this story available in all of the education centres so that our children and grandchildren may know it and never forget it.”
The only country in North America that is populated with a majority of indigenous peoples, resource-rich Guatemala has a long and brutal history that continues today. This straightforward narrative of one child’s experiences, illustrated with his own drawings of the brutal events of his life, is interspersed with verses of poignant poetry by Jose Luis Villatoro from Balada de los ninos y de las mujeres en Rio Negro…
Oh these tears have no end,
Life belonged to the children,
Life belonged to the women,
Life is in the earth;
Death arrived and plagued
The land of Rio Negro.
Life was harsh and difficult for Osorio’s family in his birthplace, in the village of Panima’ or Rio Negro in the highlands of Guatemala – a poor community of small farmers who traded their surplus for some basic goods, but the author had love from his parents, siblings and playmates. He was eight years old when the electrical company, INDE, came to build a dam on the river and displace the community, causing social conflict in the village as opinions differed about the project. Sacred archaeological sites were destroyed and, when some people opposed the dam, they were branded as guerrillas.
In 1980 “a period of history called la violencia (the violence) began with the arrival of the National Army of Guatemala.” Within two years most of the villagers had been massacred, the author, still a boy was a witness to these horrors.
Conflict between company officials and the military with villagers became violent; the arrests, torture and killings began and continued. In February1982 most of the villagers of Rio Negro were tortured and murdered, including Osorio’s parents. Those killed were always called guerrillas.
He writes, “These were days of much sadness for me and my siblings…We lived in a society of terror.”
In March the military came again and started raping women and forcing their captives to march into the hills. The killing began with women first; children witnessed the horror and some of them were beaten and killed.
“I cannot forget the day when they killed all the women and children. I still remember the screams and the gunshots in the ravine.”
Some boys, including Osorio were spared to become slave labour. But when the author carried his younger brother with him, his captors beat and killed the little child in front of Osorio. He was taken to the home of Pedro Gonzales Gomez, his captor, and became his slave until his older sister rescued him in 1984. He went to school for a few years until he had to work to help the family survive.
But in spite of continued repression, people resisted, some returned to their villagers and INDE made some gestures of compensation.
By 1993, mass graves had been found and Osorio and other survivors began to report these discoveries. Even with the fears of reprisal they went to Guatemala City, contacted human rights groups and filed reports to start court proceedings against the killers and for official exhumations of the graves. In April, 1994, his family members were reburied with a last farewell from the living.
Osorio was ostracised, threatened and called a guerrilla fighter when he went to court to seek justice for the murdered but he persevered.
“What was important to me was that those who had violated the fundamental rights of other people were brought to justice. I was no longer scared by the threats I received.”
After many trials, re-trials and appeals, many of the killers, including Osorio’s captor, were found guilty of murder. The Commandante, protected by the government, was not charged.
There is a powerful and positive end to this memoir. Amazingly, Osorio has turned his story into hope and action. He has travelled abroad, telling his story, written this book and gained international support. In 1996 he was chosen for the Rebok Human Rights Award in the USA. With the prize money he has created Foundacion Nueva Esperanza in Rio Negro. The organization has given many scholarships to young people of families affected by the massacres and violence. It also promotes the consciousness of human dignity, and respect for human rights…and cooperates with other institutions that have similar aims.
The violence has not ended; now mining exploitation threatens those who oppose the social and environmental destruction that greed for resources creates. Osorio’s story illustrates what can happen when development projects are inflicted on communities without permission and participation of those to be most affected.
Osorio is happily married and continues his commitment to the aims of his foundation.
“My challenges are to continue the struggle for justice until the material and intellectual authors of the genocide…are brought to trial…In reaching this goal we will be able to say Guatemala has achieved reconciliation and peace.”
CAFE SIMPATICO: April 25, Friday. 1923 Fernwood Road. Doors open at 7 pm. Live Music at 7:30 pm Presentation at 8 pm.
Presentation by Theresa Wolfwood
Beyond the Veil of Sand:
The Life of the Saharawi people in exile & under occupation
followed by discussion and action suggestions.
Theresa Wolfwood has recently returned from the Saharawi refugee camps in the desert of Algeria where she attended the 38th anniversary of the founding of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Admission by donation – refreshments available – organic fair trade coffee–
Information: bbcf(at)bbcf(dot)ca
Wendy Mendez spoke to Café Simpatico, the monthly event of Victoria Central America support Committee on March 28, 2014
Report by Theresa Wolfwood
Wendy Mendez was coming home from school in Guatemala City with her brother – looking forward to playing hide- and- seek with her friends, but there were no other children on the street, no people at all. They ran home and found their house full of soldiers and their mother being interrogated. Born in Guatemala in 1976, Wendy’s mother and father were suspect because they were active in the university community during the time of civil conflict and government brutality. She was nine years old when she saw her mother, Luz Haydee Men
dez, being taken away by the Guatemalan Military Intelligence on March 8, 1984. Luz has never been found. Wendy’s grandmother s
at outside every day, waiting in vain for her daughter to appear, thinking she might miss the house in a changed neighbourhood. She died a disappointed mother.
Wendy and her brother were also interrogated, but managed to escape, using those hide- and- seek places they knew so well. They were sheltered and cared for by neighbours and the soldiers could not find them. Her father stopped at a local shop to buy tortillas on his way home; the store-keepers stopped him from going home, they told him that his children needed him and dressed him as a
woman so he also could hide. Three years later, Wendy, her father and brother were in Vancouver as refugees. She grew up and went to school there.
Wendy founded the organization, HIJOS (sons and daughters of the disappeared) in 1999 with others who were children when their parents were disappeared or massacred and during the civil conflict. Many, like Wendy, returned to Guatemala, where a Peace Treaty was signed in 1996, to seek information about their parents and to reveal the identity of those who were responsible for these crimes against civilians. HIJOS also intended to educate the new generation in Guatemala about what happened during the years of repression. They choose June 30 as the day to commemorate the disappeared and the dead, the same day as Guatemala’s annual military parade. They started with 8 people with signs and photos standing in front of the military parade. Every year their numbers increased up to 1000 with more banners and a band playing funeral music. The military has now cancelled its parade and the day is now known, thanks to the efforts of HIJOS and others, as the “Day of Heroes and Martyrs.” Wendy’s presentation to Café Simpatico was inspiring and full of hope. She was able to smile and even joke about these events. She has lived through her story and turned her grief into action. She and her friends say they are not victims; they are survivors and are bold and clear about their activities.
She said that the possibilities of the Peace treaties were not realized; no government has respected the accords and the agenda of the right has always been to continue the repression through economic means, including CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement.
The torturers and murderers have enjoyed impunity until recently. The trial of Rios Montt, the President responsible for some of the worst massacres and repression, was the result of hard work by HIJOS and other human rights groups and a major victory for justice. He was found guilty of genocide, even though another court overturned the verdict, HIJOS was jubilant. There will be more trials and revelations as determined activists continue their work.
My blood chilled when Wendy told us that in the corridors of the courthouse, upper class supporters of the military said to HIJOS members “Our only regret is not getting rid of you snotty nosed children when we had a chance.”
The present right-wing President Molina, a military man who promised to be tough on crime, is doing his best to reverse the few advances made under President Colon in education and health. Molina has upped the military budget and under him, military bases have been reopened and new ones have been created. In communities fighting to save their natural resources from transnational mega-projects, such as mines and dams that threaten to destroy the land and displace thousands of indigenous people, citizens are constantly spied on and threatened. Wendy reminded us of the deaths of community activists in places where Canadian mining companies are active – and who opposed the environmental and social degradation caused by mining exploration and extraction.
HIJOS continues to call for an end to impunity for those who were responsible for death and disappearance. Members have been threatened, beaten, experienced attempted kidnapping and attacks in Guatemalan media.
Mendez has said that HIJOS believes that the best way to bring honour and glory to their mothers and fathers, to all the victims of genocide in Guatemala, is to continue the struggle for social justice and democracy.
Wendy and her son, Rueben, with CASC activists.
If you missed the Café presentation, you can listen to the podcast of her interview with Chris Cook on CFUV.
HIJOS members confront the Military parade
Report 2014:
Victoria International Election Observers to El Salvador
Introduction: CASC invited 2 observers to share their experiences & reflections on the 2014 Presidential election in El Salvador. After 2 elections & a recount Salvador Sanchez Ceren was declared winner by 7000 votes. His inauguration will take place on June1.
From Cory Greenlees
In the fall of 2013, the Victoria FMLN club requested volunteers to serve as international observers in the upcoming presidential election. After several meetings, eight of us volunteered and travelled to El Salvador for the February 2, 2014 presidential election.
Most of the delegation spent about ten days in El Salvador. Our responsibilities included monitoring events prior to the election, including press coverage, attending observer training, election day observation, and post election reporting.
Since the end of the civil war, and the signing of peace accords in 1992, international observers have been participating in El Salvador elections. International observers are invited to help ensure elections are fair and transparent. This year, approximately 6,000 international observers, from 33 countries, went to El Salvador to express solidarity and assist with the election.
International observers receive instructions.
On election day, international observers were dispatched to polls all over the country. The task was to witness proceedings in and around voting places. The instructions we received were not to interfere directly but to report questionable activities to local election officials. Intimidation, fraudulent voting, and inaccurate reporting of ballots were issues to be alert to. Thanks to the organization of the Victoria FMLN, our delegation was able to participate fully and contribute to the best of our ability.
Unfortunately, the first round of voting on February 2, did not produce a clear winner. With 49.5%, the incumbent FLMN party garnered 10 points more than the right wing ARENA party but did not get the required 50% +1 majority. A second round of voting takes place on March 9, 2014 and an FMLN win is predicted
FMLN campaign rally San Salvador 2014
Although a second round of voting is required, reports confirm that the February election was transparent and peaceful. The process of democratization continues to advance in El Salvador. Ease and access to voting places increased, fraud was reduced, and attention to human rights, including those of the disabled, gays, and women were enhanced. And no small matter, the 2014 election was the first election campaign in which no one was killed.
An inked finger serves as proof of voting in the presidential election on Feb 2.
While in El Salvador, the Victoria delegation also continued the solidarity work started by CASC, in 2009, with the community of El Milagro. Prior to departure, the Victoria delegation raised about $1600 for El Milagro. The funds were designated for improvements to the community health centre. Once in El Salvador, the delegation delivered the funds and met with people in El Milagro.
The children of El Milagro
Serving as an election observer was fascinating and worthwhile.
If you are interested in participating in the future contact: victoriafmln@yahoo.com
Report by Kevin Neish.
For his full account see: www.kevinneish.ca
The March 9th second round of the Salvadoran election was a close one, with FMLN winning by only 0.22%, a 6,300 vote lead out of 3 million. How did the right wing ARENA party come so close to over taking the FMLN? Well, basically by using lies, threats, intimidation and cheating. In its 2nd round campaign, ARENA simply promised to do everything that the FMLN had already promised or done, usurping their campaign. For example, the FMLN government gave free education, school books, back packs, uniforms, shoes and a daily meal with a glass of milk to every Salvadoran school child.
As can be seen in this photo, ARENA blatantly steals the FMLN program victory, by proclaiming on its billboards that “We Eat Well in School”, showing healthy kids in new uniforms and backpacks, with glasses of milk in their hands, all of which was provided by the FMLN not ARENA.
As part of the intimidation campaign, the pro ARENA media, ran a daily stream of lurid anti-Venezuela articles, suggesting that the same fascist violence was in store for El Salvador, if the FMLN won the election.
I saw wholesale cheating and intimidation by ARENA on election day, at the “Feria Internacional” polling station in San Salvador.
Election rules state that there can be no campaigning within 300 meters of the poll entrance, but here you cannot even see the poll entrance, behind all the
Voters had to line up amongst intimidating ARENA propaganda and goons, just to enter the polling station yard.
But with the support of the majority of Salvadorans, like this vote being counted, the FMLN won, despite ARENA’s cheating, intimidation and lies.
Now we have to do whatever we can to support the new FMLN government against the expected attacks of ARENA and the US government.
Kevin Neish
CASC observer for both 2014 presidential elections.
When: Friday, March 28, 2014, 7:30 PM
Where: 1923 Fernwood Dr., Victoria
Learn about historical memory and the struggles of today with Wendy Mendez, founding member of HIJOS, sons and daughters of the disappeared in Guatemala.
Wendy came to Canada as a refugee after her mother was disappeared by the Guatemalan military, then returned to spend the last nine years working for truth and justice in Guatemala.
Wendy will share her own story and experiences with HIJOS in the trial of ex-dictator Rios Montt and trace connections between past repression/genocide and the neo-liberal economic interests of today, including mining projects.