Date: May 10, 2005 12:05 AM

PRESIDENT OF EL SALVADOR CUTS SHORT SESSION WITH BUSINESS LEADERS AS ACTIVISTS CONFRONT,CHALLENGE HIM

by don white

The Salvador president was meeting with business

people at an elite Beverly Hills hotel early Monday

morning to sell the "investment benefits" of CAFTA

when five young Salvadorans, who had registered for

the session, opened up with questions challenging his

facts and his motivations.

Media immediately moved in on the five Salvadoran

questioners, annoying the President and causing

security people to approach them. One young man, who identified himself only as "Ernie," was escorted out by State Department officials.

No arrests were made and the confrontation went on

for several minutes.

President Saca cut short the q and a and said the

young people "obviously had not been to El Salvador

and did not know the situation there."

Outside the hotel the five told reporters that they

had visited El Salvador and that was part of their

motivation to confront Saca.

Spanish television focused on the confrontation in

coverage Monday evening.

Outside demonstrators carried banners and signs and

drew attention with their spirited anti-CAFTA

chanting. The predominately Salvadoran group used a

bullhorn to project their message to the parking lot

and lobby.

Saca left the hotel through an alternate exit to

avoid protesters on his way to a San Diego appearance.



The direct confrontation with Saca came at a time

when two more California members of the House

announced opposition to CAFTA. The President seemed

frustrated that his appearance touched off an

anti-CAFTA scenario in front of mainly Spanish

language television crews.

Scores of California representatives, including

Congresswoman Jane Harman, are now firmly opposed to

the trade legislation and the list is growing.



CISPES

Committee In Solidarity With The People of El Salvador

8124 West 3rd Street L.A. Ca. 90048

323-852-0721

Founded: 1980 - 25 Years of Solidarity