(PFC/IFEX) – The following is a 25 September 2002 PFC alert: PROBIDAD, a non-governmental anti-corruption and free press organisation that administers regional projects – such as Journalists Against Corruption (PFC) – and local ones in El Salvador, Panama and Honduras, coordinated an effort to protest the government’s intention to further limit access to information. On […]
(PFC/IFEX) – The following is a 25 September 2002 PFC alert:
PROBIDAD, a non-governmental anti-corruption and free press organisation that administers regional projects – such as Journalists Against Corruption (PFC) – and local ones in El Salvador, Panama and Honduras, coordinated an effort to protest the government’s intention to further limit access to information. On 25 September 2002, PROBIDAD, the human rights/rule of law organisation FESPAD, and APES, the association of Salvadoran journalists, presented a letter to the Legislative Assembly criticizing the readiness of congressmen from both government and opposition parties to approve on 26 September a legislative proposal that will further undermine public access to information in El Salvador and efforts to combat corruption. The letter to the president of the Legislative Assembly can be found at: http://www.probidad.org/local/libexp/docs/2002/022.html
Transparency and accountability are uncommon practices in El Salvador despite the large financial investment since 1989 of U.S. and international financial and development agencies which have promoted anti-corruption legislative proposals and administrative reforms, and have provided training and other opportunities that not only equip the government with skills to implement them but encourage the government to do so. From 1993-95, the U.S. Agency for International Development promoted reforms that would strengthen the anti-corruption role of the national government auditing agency, the Court of Accounts. Unfortunately, instead of embracing anti-corruption, the institution, controlled for over 20 years by the right wing National Conciliation Party (PCN), has continued to function as a mechanism for covering up corruption and for negotiating favors from the right wing governing party ARENA (1989-present).
The Court of Accounts has consistently refused to hand over auditing reports to opposition congressmen, the press, citizen groups, and others who request them, in violation of the Court of Account Law passed in 1995 that stipulated these reports would be made public. The results of its audits are rarely made known and there are even less occasions when it has made public its auditing reports.
Soon after his recent election as president of the Court of Accounts, Hernan Contreras announced that he would promote a legislative bill to amend the 1995 law so that his institution would not have to make auditing reports public. During the past few days, congressmen from both ruling and
opposition parties have publicly admitted that they are willing to approve the proposal during the legislative session on 26 September.
As in many other Latin American countries, the government of El Salvador has demonstrated little will to combat corruption. Corruption coverage by the local press has been the most successful weapon against corruption which more than any other factor perpetuates poverty, inequality, development stagnation, and has generated the frightening perception held by the majority of Salvadorans that democracy does not work.
The mobilization of the president of the Court of Accounts, his party PCN, and other political parties to pass a law that guarantees secrecy and exclude government audit reports from public scrutiny not only negates anti-corruption efforts but violates regional and international laws that promote access to government information.
For further information on the history of the Court of Accounts see: http://probidad.org/local/docs/cdccp.html
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– protesting a congressional vote in favor of restricting government auditing reports from
public access
Appeals To
Lic. Francisco Flores
Presidente de la República
Fax: +503 243 9947
Lic. Ciro Cruz Zepeda
Presidente de la Asamblea Legislativa
Miembro de la Fraccion del
Partido de Conciliacion Nacional (PCN)
Fax: +503 281 9812
E-mail: czepeda@asamblea.gob.sv
Dr. Julio Gamero
Presidente de la Comision de Hacienda y
Especial del Presupuesto
Miembro de la Fraccion de Alianza
República Nacionalista (ARENA)
Fax: +503 281 9721
E-mail: jgamero@asamblea.gob.sv
Sr. Shafick Jorge Handal
Jefe de Franccion del
Frente Farabundo Martí (FMLN)
E-mail: shandal@asamblea.gob.sv
Lic. René Aguiluz
Jefe de Fraccion
Partido Democrata Cristiano (PDC)
E-mail: raguiluz@asamblea.gob.sv
Dr. José Marinero
Movimiento Renovador
E-mail: jmarinero@asamblea.gob.sv
Ing. Jorge Villacorta
Jefe de Fraccion
Centro Democrático Unido (CDU)
E-mail: jvillacorta@asamblea.gob.sv
Ing. Tomás Mejía
Jefe de Fraccion
Partido Accion Nacional (PAN)
E-mail: jmejia@asamblea.gob.sv
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
