FMLN activist speaks

On September 23, Jayme Magana, a young activist in El Salvador's Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front, addressed a community meeting about the oppressive conditions in El Salvador. A short documentary by Salvador Castro about political struggles in the country was also shown.

Jayme said that every day in El Salvador seven children die of starvation and 1000 people flee to the United States — money sent by them back to their families in El Salvador accounts for 40% of the country's income. A recent $10 per week minimum wage increase was immediately followed by an increase in taxes and interest rates. Meanwhile, taxes on foreign enterprises have been abolished.

Due to massive theft by politicians, and high interest rates and foreign debt, some expect El Salvador to experience a severe crisis in the coming year.

From GLW issue 686