|
Submitted Y., July 2001
La Prensa Grafica, June 7, 2001
In its first statements, the United States Embassy declared that the
arms dumped in the area did not cause the earthquakes, saying that it
was scientifically impossible. Nobody, however, had ever made the charge
that the arms were responsible for the earthquakes. But, there is
knowledge that both the US and Russia have fabricated earthquakes by
placing bombs deep into the ground in strategic places.
The Salvadoran ministers and the official party, ARENA, have defended
the United States and want to quickly forget the issue. On Tuesday, June
12, the special commission met with FUNDASISMICA and UNES. The message
sent was very clear. ARENA deputies verbally attacked Mr. Colindres and
accused the NGOs and the FMLN of carrying out "a political campaign to
attack the government of the United States."
La Prensa Grafica, June 13, 2001
Furthermore, on June 19, 2001, the Salvadoran Minister of Defense, Juan
Antonio Martinez Varela, stated that it was the Salvadoran military that
dumped almost 20 tons of highly explosive arms into the same dumping
ground in 1997. Apparently, this is an effort to protect the US in case
of a possible investigation of the site, since El Salvador's arms came
from the United States. The Salvadoran official party and the United
States government have gave misleading statements, withheld information,
and shown no political will to reveal what is at the bottom of the sea.
ARENA, the Salvadoran military and the United States government are
trying to disband the commission, claiming there is nothing to
investigate. In an interview on June 5, the Minister of Defense gave
little importance to the possible effects on the environment stating,
"...since when has the environment been in style?" Even the Minister of
the Environment, Ana Majano doesn't seem to have much concern. Her
response, according to the Diario de Hoy, was that "there are arms here,
arms there, there are arms dumps everywhere on the planet."
El Diario de Hoy, June 20, 2001
The Minister of Foreign Relations... has stated
that she feels satisfied with the explanations given by the US
Ambassador Likens who has said that in 1947 the dumping ground was in
international waters. (El Salvador had declared 200 miles off the coast
as territorial waters, but it was not recognized. In 1986, an
international treaty was signed thereby establishing 200 miles as the
international norm. All countries now have 200 miles from their coast as
territorial waters.)
Despite the explanations given (or lack there of) the questions and
worries remain. Regarding a "left" attack on the US government, one only
need ask a few simple questions: 1) who secretly dumped arms of an
unknown nature and size where?; and 2)who has lied and withheld
information regarding the dump?
Additionally, it certainly is questionable if the arms caused the
earthquake, but this is not the primary issue and this argument is being
used to divert attention from the real concern: what exactly is in the
dump?; what can it cause?; and for how long have they been using it?
Simply stating that other countries have arms dumps in the sea does not
solve any matter and the case of El Salvador is different than that of
other countries. Many dumps in other countries are created by that same
country itself. In other words, an outside force is not secretly dumping
unknown types of arms into another country's waters, or international
waters for that matter. In addition, in other countries the dump is
placed on national maps and local fishers are aware of the danger. In El
Salvador, the dump was not identified on any Salvadoran map nor did the
public have any knowledge of it. Furthermore, in other countries, the
contents of the dump are known, making monitoring efforts possible. El
Salvador does not know what is in its waters, how long it has been used,
or what the effects could be; and the US does not give any specific
information regarding the case.
If there is only conventional "ammunition" dating from 1947 why was it
necessary to secretly hide it off the coast of another country? ... If there
is no issue or concern, why are both the Salvadoran and US authorities
withholding information and giving misinformation? One only has to
remember a little history of US military pollution. In the Philippines,
the US military has caused over 1 billion dollars in toxic environmental
damage and has refused to take any responsibility. In Vieques, according
to the ex-chief of the depleted uranium project, depleted uranium was
found in Vieques, being used in preparation for the war on Yugoslavia.
And off the Nicaraguan coast, and all along Central America, similar
dumps have been found. The Nicaraguan fishing industry has complained
that the catches have dropped considerably due to the mysteriously death
of large populations of fish.
|
