Voices is planning a 10-day delegation in December 2008 to report on the campaigning for the 2009 Salvadoran presidential, legislative and local elections.
Too often, candidates and political parties ignore campaign laws that were enacted to ensure a free and fair election process. And in recent campaigns, the U.S. government has interfered with elections by supporting specific candidates or political parties, or denouncing others.
The goal of this delegation will be to investigate and report on whether the political parties and candidates at the national and local levels are adhering to the election laws and regulations, and adhering to the campaign laws. To accomplish this goal, the delegation will meet with a number of knowledgable sources such as:
- Government officials
- Officials and candidates from all parties
- The U.S. Embassy
- Salvadoran NGOs (non-governmental organizations)
- Citizens and community leaders
- The Ombudsman for the Defense of Human Rights
- and many others
Delegates will spend approximately five days in San Salvador, and another 5 days visiting Voices' partner communities to discuss the political process and democracy in their communities.
To put the election in historical and political context, the delegation will also discuss past and present political repression, the state of democractic institutions in El Salvador, and the basic platforms that each of the national candidates are running on.
By the end of their 10-day investigation, delegates will draft one or more information sheets and outline a report on the status of the 2009 election process. These information sheets and report wil identify specific violations of election law, U.S. involvement in the campaigning, and what citizens in the U.S. may do to ensure that the elections are both free and fair.
The cost of the delegation will be $900 per person plus airfare - that will include all meals, lodging, in-country ground transportation, and any admission fees.
Information on the delegation dates will be announced soon.
Fore more information, contact Thomas R. Hughes at voices@votb.org or (202) 529-2912.