“Hour 0” in El Salvador	Workpeople protest
Obama throws aggressive reform to the education	It kills mother, grandparents, six neighbors and commits suicide
Andrés Tobar postulates to the Assembly of VA	Not to the jail construction private road for undocumented persons

The urns decide future of the Central American country

“Hour 0” in El Salvador

This Sunday, the 15th, about 4,2 million Salvadorans go to the polls, in a polarized ambience. One of these two candidates-Rodrigo Avila, of SAND, and Mauricio Funes, of the FMLN - will be in charge of directing the destinations of El Salvador in the next five years.

Mauricio Funes, presidential candidate of the Front Farabundo Marti for the National Liberation (FMLN). Photo: Rodrigo Abad / AP.

Funes: the journalist who offers the change

Marcos Alemán
AP

Turned into a real political phenomenon and moving the masses where he wants that it goes, the television journalist Mauricio Funes thinks about how to turn into president of El Salvador postulated by the Front Farabundo Martí for the National Liberation (FMLN).

Leaving aside the old guerrilla commanders and passing of changes towards the moderation, the Front looked for a fresh face, without the scars of the war, to compete in the presidential election of March 15.
With the motto “the hope Is born, the change comes”, Funes has promised a “government of national unit”, enclosing, and of respect to the Constitution that should guarantee the democracy, which according to him has been stained for 20 years of sand government.

Funes, of 49 years, was a war reporter during the conflict (1980-1992) and later driver of a program of interviews that was tackling the most controversial topics, accumulating a big popularity, which led it to receiving the presidential offer of the Front.

The candidate of the FMLN

Name: Carlos Mauricio Funes Cartagena.
Age: 49 years.
Party: Front Farabundo Martí for the National Liberation (FMLN).
Campaign motto: "The hope is born, the change comes”.
Occupation: Journalist.
Experience: The first experience as candidate of popular election.

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Rodrigo Avila, presidential candidate of the oficialista Nationalistic Republican Alliance (SAND). Photo: Luis Romero / AP

Avila: ex-chief of police officer that wants to govern

Diego Méndez
AP

Rodrigo Avila, the ex-director of the police, prepared in the academy of the FBI and candidate for the presidency of El Salvador, is the standard-bearer of the ruling party that takes the round rejection as a principal battle anthem to the communism.

He is a 43-year-old engineer adjusted as the State University of North Carolina and it obtained also a title in business administration and mathematics of Gainesville College, of Georgia.

It studied studies in the academy of the American federal police (FBI), he was a safety vice-minister and in two occasions it directed the police (1994-2006).

Avila promises “to keep on doing changes” to favor all the Salvadorans and not only to the rich ones, as the Front accuses him. Sand has 20 years in the power.

It was confirmed like candidate oficialista in the middle of hard criticism between the same partial sand-dealers.
His plan, “more Just country”, tries to "improve" the quality of life of thousands of families that are still not provided with a worthy and sure housing.

The sand candidate

Name: Rodrigo Avila Avilez.
Age: 44 years.
Party: Nationalistic Republican alliance (Sand).
Campaign motto: "More just country”
Occupation: Engineer.
Experience: Deputy, vice-minister of Public Safety and the Director of the Civil National Police.

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For his part, Latin businessmen face to the economic crisis

Obama throws aggressive reform to the education

The President Barack Obama along with the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, David Lizárraga, in the inaugural ceremony of the Legislative Conference of the organization that was carried out this week in DC. photo: ap

The chief used as a platform the opening of the 19th Legislative Conference of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC.

Felipe Lagos
Washington Hispanic

Since tradition is already done, the President inaugurated officially the Legislative Conference of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the United States, which began on Tuesday, the 10th and spread even for three days.
Although the President Barack Obama could have spoken on the hard situation economic that it affects to the Hispanic business or his potential plan on the migratory reform, the chief used the opportunity to throw his educational plan, which basically includes wage awards for the teachers who could demonstrate success with his students, longer days and widespread school cycles.
The plan, between other things, also supports the called schools for articles of association (charter schools in English), which are elementary or secondary educational establishments that receive public funds, but which are free of some of the rules that are applied to other public schools in exchange for demonstrating results.
“ The slope of the American education is untenable for our economy, for our democracy and it is unacceptable for our children. We cannot give ourselves the luxury of allowing this to be still like that. What is in game is neither more nor less than the American sleep’, he emphasized Obama.
“ In spite of being provided with resources that have no comparison in any other part of the world, we have allowed our educational quality to droop, our schools to crumble, the quality of the teachers to remain short and other nations to overcome us”, added the chief in the occasion.
Businessmen think
The speech liked in the assistants to the Legislative Conference, in spite of the nonexistence of a direct message on behalf of the president to the Hispanic business (to see box).
The president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, David Lizárraga, pointed out that the Obama speech “gave in the nail, because the tomó the responsibility as government of giving more resources, but he said to us that also we are persons in charge of supporting our young people, of working with them and of speaking to them. We cannot leave that the teachers of the school do the work of the parents.”.
The secretary of the Work, Hilda Solís, pointed out that the president chose the educational topic for “the problems that exist in the Latin community, where many students do not finish the school. Obama is going to put more funds in the primary schools so that the children have more support, that the parents focus in his education and hence to keep on fighting so that they graduate of the secondary one, community schools and universities. This is very important”.
With regard to the economic situation, the businessmen quoted that the difficulties to gain access on credit it is the most important problem that they are facing.
Nevertheless, Lizárraga had words of good upbringing. “I am Hispanic, since I am optimistic. Like that we are the Latin businessmen. Often we come from South America, the Caribbean Sea or Central America for the opportunities that presents this country. But since we are here we have to arise and advance, and do it in a particular way. In these times it is important that we speak with a voice and use resources and benefits of this big country to achieve the success. I know that our companies are having, especially in the field of construction, a very difficult time, but we know how to arise in difficult times. I him am suggesting to our businessmen that it is important to advance and that we speak with only one voice”.

Was he waiting for a direct message of the President on the economy?

“The President has given direct messages to the businessmen in other occasions. He realizes that the purchasing power of the Hispanics is impressive and that the Hispanic women are opening more business”
Ann Recio Harvey
The president Cámara de Comercio Hispana of DC

“The expectation of the country is more global. The education is principally the most important thing and if we are not prepared, that we are in the business we are not going to have long-term success”.
Jorge Ribas
President Cámara de Comercio Hispana Mid Atlantic

“In San Antonio the immigration is an excellent matter, and he was waiting that Obama hudiese to have spoken on that. Nevertheless, I know that Congressional Hispanic Caucus has conversed with him on the topic. I hope of to knowing his plan of migratory reform”.
Marisol Robles
Vice-president Cámara de Comercio Hispano of San Antonio

“It seems to me that the Hispanics lacked a direct message on the economy, but the tiene his agenda and we are grateful that his first presentation to an organization went to the Chamber of Commerce”.
Elliott Rivera
Close center of Retailers of Puerto Rico - Chairman emeritus of USHCC

“If we do not educate the Latin population, for what we wait in the future for the business, works or opportunities. But I am optimistic, believe that there is a progress chance in the future”
Gladis Martínez
Hispanic chamber of commerce of Massachussets

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He would be the first Hispanic delegate in Richmond

Andrés Tobar postulates to the Assembly of VA

 

Andrés Tovar. FotoAP

This June 9 there will be realized the primary elections where Andrés Tobar is one of five democratic candidates who aspires to the nomination then to take part in the general elections next November.

Mitzi Mace
Washington Hispanic

Of Mexican parents, educated in California, with 23 years of experience in the department of education and to have served to the immigrant community during all his professional and social management, Andrés Tobar throws himself to a new political adventure, but where this time he is the protagonist.

Andrés Tobar, who per years has worked of the hand with elect authorities like the members of the council of Arlington, Walter Tejada and Chris Zimmerman, also turned into the chief of the political campaign of Emma Violand-Sánchez, who gained in elections the member's position of the school meeting of Arlington. Now Andrés Tobar postulates to delegate of the District 47 for the Legislative Assembly of Virginia with head office in Richmond. The decision took it then that knew that the current delegate Al Eisenberg was deciding not to postulate to the reelection.
“ My decision arises on having realized that we need to have representation in Richmond.

Definitely an absence of sensibility exists towards the Hispanic culture and I want to be this bridge connector between the immigrant community and the Legislative Assembly”, it expresses to Washington Hispanic, Andrés Tobar.

Inside his engagement book the education occupies the first place, since he thinks that with a good education any young man is capable of reaching the real American dream. Also he emphasizes that it will worry about finding solutions so that both businessmen and workpeople could overcome the current financial crisis that crosses the country and for changing the tone that exists in Richmond where a struggle exists for wanting to impose antiimmigrant law proposals.

“ It is necessary to eliminate the attacks against the immigrants in VA. I believe that I can take the voice of which the Latin immigrants we are like any other community like which it has gone so far as to this country, only to work, to develop his family and to aspire for the American sleep”, points out Tobar.

Tobar represents to the District 47 that basically comprises big part of the county of Arlington with a high quantity of Hispanic population. It is known that 70 per cent of the electorate are democratic and that at least they are registered to vote 2.000 Hispanic electorate.

“ I need at least 4.000 votes therefore the support of the Hispanics is fundamental because it would represent 50 per cent, in addition to the community African American and anglo that it knows my work and trayectorio. Joined yes we can”, it finished Tobar.

The interested persons in registering to vote can do it until May 9. For more information to call (703 379-7487

Of the hand with the leaders

Last Tuesday, the 10th of March Andrés Tobar received the official support of the elect authorities of the county Arlington as Walter Tejada and Chris Zimmerman, as well as of Emma Violand-Sánchez.

“ Andrés Tobar is a very qualified person who has worked for more than 30 years in favor of the community and has pleaded in Richmond in many areas on the educational topic. His life is an example of how it has gone out forward by what it is identified by the needs for the humble and hard-working families”, expressed Emma Violand-Sánchez.

At present Andrés Tobar is withdrawn from the Department of Education and is the executive director of the Center of Education and employment of Shirlington (SEEC, for his initials in English).

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Juan Paredes (Der). along with Luis Larín of Close Workpeople they point out that the employers do not offer worthy labor conditions. photo: Close workpeople

147 workers of the Port of Baltimore took part of the survey

Mitzi Mace
Washington Hispanic

In October, 2008 one declared to the Port of Baltimore Area of Human rights as part of a campaign that thinks about how to improve the labor conditions of the personnel who are employed at the diverse restaurants, located in the visited tourist area. The initiative headed by the organization Close Workpeople decided to realize a survey between 147 workers which revealed that the majority faces limited labor conditions that go from very low wages, maltreatment, absence of respect and of basic benefits as access to a health insurance.
“ Work for 10 years for Cheesecake Factory and to the beginning the discipline and the labor ambience was formidable, but in the last years everything was for worse. According to the survey of which we are part a general discomfort exists between most of personnel for the low salaries and the way how us tartan”, it expressed to Washington Hispanic, Juan Paredes, who works like kitchen assistant.

During the protest realized on Friday, the 6th of March in the Port of Baltimore there appeared the results of the survey that there indicated CheeseCake Factory to, the restaurant Phillips and M and S Broiler like the worst employers of the region.

Of equal way the workpeople, mostly of Hispanic origin, they expressed his testimonies and presented a request with four requests, which would make to come to his employers.

In the document they demand worthy wages, the right to be treated by respect, I access to medical insurance for all the workers and not only for those who could pay, as well as a better communication with the supervisors and programs of training.

“ For example I lost my medical insurance in an opportunity because the working time cut me away and to have access to he you must work at least 25 weekly hours. On the other hand most of personnel we speak English little, but the supervisors do not speak Spanish what provokes a problem of communication, but at the same time the company does not do anything for qualifying or offering us the resources to improve the language”, tells Juan Paredes of Peruvian origin.

As part of the campaign they will realize a community fair next April where he will announce the worst employer to himself like a way of pressing the employers.

“ Our intention is that the employers feel to the table to negotiate with his workpeople and offer them just and worthy labor conditions. We have not contemplated an official demand yet, but in case of not coming to an agreement we will take severer measures”, there finished Luis Larín, coordinator of Close Workpeople.

Close workpeople there is an organization that fights for the human rights of the workpeople and has reached several achievements in his gait. The most recent is the recognition of a just salary for the workpeople of the stadium of the Orioles, which per years were receiving salaries below the poverty levels.

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Horrible massacre in Alabama

It kills mother, grandparents, six neighbors and commits suicide

 

Josh Myers, deputy of the county of Geneva, Alabama, shows the photos of his wife Andrea and his daughter Gracie, who died during the shooting at random in Samson, Alabama, on Tuesday, the 10th. Foto:Phil Coale / AP

Blood bath causes pain and distresses in calm frontier rural county with Florida

DJessica Gresko
Samson, Alabama / AP

The authorities were trying to determine why a man killed ten persons in two counties of Alabama, at the time that the families of the victims were hoping that the answer should not have disappeared when the man committed suicide.

The slaughter of Tuesday, the 10th in an area mainly rural close to the border with Florida was the work of Michael McLendon, who lived with his mother and once it was employed at a local metallurgical plant.

Everything began when McLendon set fire to the house of his mother in Kinston, in accordance with the police physician of the county Coffee, Robert Preachers. The authorities found the corpse of Lisa McLendon inside the house, and thought that she was the first victim of the slaughter of his son.

Then, McLendon directed in a vehicle approximately 12 miles for himself on the south up to Samson, in the county Geneva, where it killed nine persons, including two of his grandparents and other members of his family. The butcher's shop finished another 20 kilometers to the east of Geneva in the plant where McLendon was employed at an occasion. After a shooting with the police, McLendon committed suicide.

The police refused to mention the possible motives of the attack, in which at least four persons were hurt, included a minor. The names of the victims were not spread immediately.

“ It triumphed with his family”, said Preachers. “We do not know what the motive was”.

Five persons were murdered in a portal in Samson, in addition to a 74-year-old oldster in the contiguous house, sñaló Kirke Adams, district attorney of the counties of Geneva and Le Da. Four of the dead persons were McLendon relatives. A niñita of four months was the only survivor in the portal and it was being treated in a hospital in Florida.
Preachers revealed that between the McLendon victims his grandparents were.

Others two victims in the portal were the wife and the son of 18 months of the deputy of the county Geneva, who were visiting the house.

Next it killed a person in a provisions shop and other one at a gasoline station, informed the police officer department.

THE WHOLE HORROR-STRICKEN PEOPLE

“It was shooting the people in his porches”

The state senator Harri Anne Smith reported to the press that some of the victims of the massacre were seated in the doors of his housings.
“The man was leading his vehicle, shooting the people who was seated in his porches; a family that was seated in the porch was riddled”, it indicated.
The state representative Warren Beck said that his secretary “listened to shots everywhere”, and that “this is one of the most tragic events of the county Geneva”.

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Nearly 200 persons came to Farmville to protest for the construction of a center of detentions for immigrants. photo: Mexicans without borders

350 local and state facility across intergovernmental agreements (IGSA).

7 centers of detention under contract.
8 centers of detention that are a property of the ICE.
5 prisons of the Bureau.

Mitzi Mace
Washington Hispanic

Nearly 200 persons came to the Farmville town at three hours and a half of Manassas to protest for the construction of a center of detention for undocumented immigrants whose administration would be in private hands.

The march headed by the Coalition of Immigrant Peoples of VA is a part of a campaign that tries to sensitize the local authorities of Farmville so that they annul as soon as possible the agreement with the Office of Immigration and Customs (I HOISTED, for his initials in English) and the private sector.

“ The construction of a center of detention for undocumented immigrants is a real threat for our communities because, on having been deprived, it will be based on the lucre. What sells a jail there are cells and you are they will have to be occupied to generate profit, so equally as it produces a hotel”, expressed aWashington Hispanic, Ricardo Juárez, Mexicans' coordinator without Borders, one of the organizations members of the Coalition.
The new center of detention would have capacity for 1.200 recluses and it will represent an initial investment for 21 million dollars. The interested parts point out that the project establishes that it departs from the profit they would be assined to the government of Farmville and that would generate work places for the administration of the center.

“ At present the arrested who enter a deportation process the metropolitan area are moved to centers in Piedmont and Hampton and now they would be moved to Farmville”, tells Juárez.

The federal government is the one that grants the funds for the construction of new centers and is the person in charge of covering the expenses generated by every arrested immigrant. It is believed that the government will pay between 18 to 23 dollars newspaper to the company entrusted to administer the center

“ The worrying thing is that in the last years one has given him an industrial approach to the prisons for immigrants by what the massive arrests and the raids are considered to be sources of prime matters leaving to the centers of detention millionaire profit. The problem is that we do not know if they are going to increase the raids or not”, showed Juárez.

One hopes that they should begin the construction works in the middle of this year, one was hoping that the center was ready for June, but due to the financial situation of the country the funds were late. The investor ICA-Farmville will be the manager of raising what will be a new center of regional detention of immigrants with the possibility of extending his facility up to 2.500 beds and even the project contemplates the establishment of federal courts of immigration.

As part of the campaign against this project the Coalition of Immigrant Peoples of VA realizes visits to the domiciles of the residents of Farmville and she is sending letters to the authorities to take the voice of the immigrant communities and the real consequences of this measurement.

“ To make a profit with the human pain is inconceivable because because there exist enough cases that they illustrate that not only it has stopped to criminals but to persons whose only one sin it has been to be undocumented.
This center more than a question of public safety and control of immigration is a business of industrial size”, it finished Juárez.

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