CRISPAZ

CRISPAZ
Christians for Peace in El Salvador
2016 Security Letter
January 20, 2016
Dear (Delegation Leader):
CRISPAZ is very excited that you are planning on visiting with the people of El
Salvador. In preparation for your visit we would like to address certain issues
regarding the safety of the group.
CRISPAZ takes the safety of your delegation very seriously. Our staff in El Salvador
remains constantly aware of situations that may affect delegations. As you may
know, the U.S. State Department updated a travel warning for El Salvador on January
15, 2016. We realize that this warning (which is not a prohibition of travel for
United States citizens) may bring up questions as to the advisability and safety of
coming to El Salvador. We at CRISPAZ believe that the travel warning deserves a
more in-depth look to more accurately help assess the picture of El Salvador for
those considering a delegation. Our delegations and volunteers have always been
safe in El Salvador. For 30 years we have taken, and continue to take, active security
measures to provide a safe and meaningful experience in El Salvador. Over the
years we have not had any major instance in which the well-being of our delegation
participants was threatened.
The January 15, 2016 Travel Warning
Our many years of solidarity work in El Salvador enables us to add some perspective
to the concerns mentioned.
The State Department accurately notes that violence in no way targets United
States citizens. However, it also states that 38 US citizens have been homicide
victims since 2010. According to the government of El Salvador, the records show
that all of these citizens were Salvadorans with dual citizenship. This violence was
not associated to tourism or solidarity work.
The travel warning highlights types of crime that have been perpetrated against
US citizens, mostly in situations of lone travelers or in dangerous areas. Members of
CRISPAZ delegations are never left to wander on their own, and CRISPAZ intentionally
avoids locations and situations that might be prone to violence. Gang territorial
disputes are the most common reason behind the violence.
2016 Security Letter
The State Department mentions a few incidents that took place midway through 2015
such as the public bus strike, none of which would have affected visitors to El Salvador
in anyway.
There have also been recent reports that the Peace Corps has closed their program in
El Salvador. In fact, their program was suspended already three years ago when the
first warning came out. Volunteers who were already in country were allowed to finish
their 2 year term and did so without incident. Sad as it is, this is not current news.
We recognize that El Salvador is still healing from a long and protracted war which
ended in 1992, and that it continues to battle against poverty and a host of other social
issues. However, the country is by and large safe, and the occurrence of violence is
limited to particular areas that are known for gang and organized crime activity. CRISPAZ
closely monitors the local situations so our delegations avoid these areas.
Delegation Safety
CRISPAZ has hosted hundreds of delegations since 1984. From 2010-2015, we received
135 delegations. During 2014 we hosted 25 delegations, in 2015 we welcomed 27
delegations and in 2016 we have already hosted 6 delegations. These CRISPAZ delegations
have had no issues with violence or criminal activity. While no program can guarantee
the total safety of its participants, CRISPAZ has always placed participants’ safety as its
top priority. In addition, it is enormously helpful that our staff leadership team is made
up of Salvadorans who have an intimate understanding of their own country and are
vigilant in obtaining current information about potential problem areas.
CRISPAZ Safety Measures
CRISPAZ provides the following safety measures for all of its delegations:
Housing: Participants stay at an enclosed guesthouse with a CRISPAZ representative
present; contact information for the guesthouse and representative is provided prior
to the trip. Rural stays are arranged in communities where we have strong connections
and which have been free from violence for many years.
Office: So as to avoid attracting attention, the CRISPAZ’s office is in a residential
neighborhood where other offices are located. This area is not isolated and coincidentally,
there is a police station a few blocks away.
Transportation: CRISPAZ uses only one company which is properly certified every
year for this service. The company has well-maintained, up-to-date micro buses so as
to avoid breakdowns anywhere. All the buses are air-conditioned to avoid having to
have the windows open at any time while driving.
2016 Security Letter
Program: A CRISPAZ representative is with the group at all times. Participants remain together
as a group and, as in any large city or unfamiliar country, participants are reminded to move in
pairs or groups. At no time will participants be taken into a known dangerous area. The Executive
Director is in constant contact with the CRISPAZ delegation leader throughout the time the
group is in El Salvador and periodically accompanies the group during its visit.
Over the more than 32 years of CRISPAZ history, Board members regularly lead delegations.
CRISPAZ delegations have not encountered any major issues since safety of all delegations is
the primary focus of our staff in El Salvador. We would be glad to provide you with any additional
verification about the safety of your delegation to El Salvador by putting you in touch with any
of our board members.
The following delegations traveled to El Salvador from 2010-2015. Thus far in 2016 we have
received 6 delegations out of the 20 scheduled to come this year. None of them had any issues
with security.
2011
2010
1
Villa Angela St.
University of San Joseph High
Diego.
School
San Diego, CA Cleveland, OH
3
4
Spring Hill
College
Mobile, AL
Boston College
STM
Boston, MA
5
6
7
8
9
10
University of
Dayton
Dayton, OH
Brebeuf
Preparatory
High School
Indianapolis, IN
St. John the
Baptist Church
Harrison OH.
Santa Clara
Business
School
Santa Clara, CA
Seattle
University.
Seattle, WA
Xavier
University
Cincinnati, OH
8
9
10
Boston College
STM
Boston, MA
Our Lady
of Good Counsel
Church,
Canton, MI
8
9
10
Boston College
STM
Boston, MA
Brebeuf
Preparatory
High School
Indianapolis,
IN
United Church of
Christ,
Elyria, OH
11
12
13
14
15
Loyola Maryland
University
Baltimore, MD
Pontifical
North
American
College
St. Ignatius
Preparatory
School
San Francisco,
CA
St. Ignatius
Preparatory
School
San Francisco,
CA
Santa Clara
University
Santa Clara, CA
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Fordham
University
Bronx, NY
University of
Virginia
Charlottesville,VA
Holy Names
University
Oakland, CA
University of
Dayton
Dayton, OH
University of
San Diego.
San Diego, CA
Equal Exchange
Coop.
Several US
cities.
St. John the
Baptist Church
Harrison OH.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Loyola
Maryland
University
Baltimore, MD
St. Ignatius
Preparatory
School
San Francisco,
CA
Santa Clara
University
Santa Clara, CA
St. Michael's
Church
Fort Laramie,
OH
Villa Angela St.
Joseph High
School
Cleveland, OH
3
4
5
6
7
University of
San Diego.
San Diego, CA
St. John the
Baptist Church
Harrison, OH
Luther College
High School
Regina
Saskatchewan,
Canada
Spring Hill
College
Mobile, AL
Xavier
University
Cincinnati OH
13
14
16
17
Equal
Exchange
Coop
from several
US cities
Santa Clara
University
Santa Clara,
CA
Xavier
United Church of
University
Christ,
Cincinnati, OH
Elyria, OH
1
2012
2
Fordham
University
Bronx, NY
11
2
University of
Dayton
Dayton, OH
12
St. Ignatius
Loyola Maryland Preparatory
University
School
Baltimore, MD San Francisco,
CA
15
30th
Anniversary
Sanctuary
Texas, Ohio,
New York and
PA
Spring Hill
College
Mobile, AL
2016 Security Letter
2014
2013
1
2015
3
4
5
6
7
University of
San Diego.
San Diego, CA
University of
Scranton, Staff
& Faculty
Scranton, PA
St. Catherine
University
St. Paul, MN
8
9
10
St. John the
Baptist Church
Harrison, OH
Stonehill
College
Boston, MA
19
20
Fordham
University
Bronx, NY
Dominican
University of
California
San Rafael, CA
University of
Dayton
Dayton, OH
Union
Theological
Seminary
Manhattan ,
NY
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
Davidson
College
Davidson, NC
Boston College
STM
Boston, MA
Loyola
Marymount
Los Angeles,
CA
University of
Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
Fairfield
University
Fairfield, CT
John Carroll
University,
Cleveland, OH
Xavier
University,
Cincinnati, OH
Loyola
University,
Maryland
Baltimore, MD
University of
Scranton
Scranton, PA
Moeller High
School
Cincinnati, OH
21
22
23
24
25
Juarez/El Paso
Group
El Paso, TX
Methodist
Covenant
Church
Spokane, WA
Saint Ignatius
Prep
San Francisco,
CA
Santa Clara
Univ. Santa
Clara, CA
St. Michael’s
Church
Fort Laramie,
OH
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Fordham
University
Bronx, NY
Dominican
University of
California
San Rafael, CA
University of
Dayton
Dayton, OH
University of
San Diego
San Diego, CA
University of
Scranton, Staff
& Faculty
Scranton, PA
Luther College
High School
Regina
Saskatchewan,
Canada
St. John the
Baptist Church
Harrison, OH
Boston College
STM
Boston, MA
Loyola
Marymount
Los Angeles,
CA
University of
Michigan
St Marry’s Parrish
Ann Arbor, MI
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Loyola
Maryland
Baltimore,, MD
University of
Scranton
Scranton,PA
Saint Ignatius
High School
San Francisco,
CA
St. Francis
High School
Mountain Vew,
CA
Northwest
University,
Seattle, WA
Elder High
School
Cincinnati, OH
St. Rita’s
Parish
Solon, OH
Ignatian
Solidarity
Network
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Seattle U.
Santa Clara U.
9
Brebeuf
Xavier
Preparatory High
University
School
Cincinnati, OH
Indianapolis, IN
21
2016
2
22
United
Methodist
Clemsen, SC
John Caroll
University,
Cleveland, OH
Santa Clara
University,
Santa Clara,
CA
1
2
Fordham
University
Bronx, NY
Luther College
High School
Regina
Saskatchewan,
Canada
18
Joint Dellegation
Seattle, WA
Sana Clara, CA
St. Michael’s
Church
Fort Laramie,
OH
3
4
5
6
7
8
Dominican
University of
California
San Rafael, CA
University of
Dayton
Dayton, OH
Union
Theological
Seminary
Manhattan ,
NY
University of
San Diego.
San Diego, CA
University of
Scranton, Staff
& Faculty
Scranton, PA
John Carroll
University
Cleveland, OH
University of
Michigan
St. Mary’s
Parish
Ann Arbor, MI
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
University of
Detroit Mercy,
Detroit, MI
Boston College
STM
Boston, MA
Loyola
Marymount
Los Angeles,
CA
Urban Catholic
Teacher Corp
Boston, MA
St. Rita Parish
Solon, Ohio
Northwest
University
Seattle, WA
Xavier
University,
Cincinnati, OH
Loyola
University,
Maryland
Baltimore, MD
University of
Scranton
Scranton, PA
Moeller High
School
Cincinnati, OH
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
Carroll High
School, Dayton,
OH
Clemsen
Methodist
Clemsen, SC
Saint Ignatius
Prep San
Francisco, CA
Santa Clara
Univ. Santa
Clara, CA
Seattle
University,
Seattle, WA
John Carroll
University
Cleveland, OH
Loyola
Marymount
Staff & Faculty
Los Angeles,
CA
1
Loyola
Marymount
University, Staff
& Faculty,
Los Angeles
California
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
35 th Church Women
Anniversary
Dominican
University,
San Rafael, CA
Fordham
University,
Bronx, NY
Dayton
University,
Dayton, OH
University of
San Diego.
San Diego, CA
University of
Scranton the
Jesuit Center,
Scranton, PA
St. John the
Baptist Parish,
Harrison, OH
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
University of
Detroit Mercy,
Detroit, MI
St. Michael &
St’s. Peter and
Paul Churches,
Ft. Loramie, OH
St. Ignatius
College Prep,
San Francisco,
CA
Mount Notre
Dame High
School,
Cincinnati, OH
10
St. John the St. Francis High
School,
Baptist Church
Harrison, OH Mountain View,
CA
St. Mary
Rotary Club of Student Parish Brebeuf Jesuit
Mechanicsburg, at the University
Preparatory
Mechanicsburg, of Michigan,
School,
PA
Ann Arbor, MI Indianapolis, IN
2016 Security Letter
I hope this letter answers any questions you have about your delegation to El Salvador.
If there is any other way I can be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me at
[email protected] or you can write directly to Francisco Mena Ugarte our Executive
Director at [email protected]. Thank you for continuing to work with CRISPAZ in
planning your next visit to El Salvador.
Ernesto Valiente
CRISPAZ Board President
Ph. D. School of Theology Boston College
CRISPAZ USA
• 808 Brookhill Rd. Louisville, KY 40223
• Tel: (502) 592 5295
CRISPAZ El Salvador
•Apartado Postal 2944•San Salvador, El Salvador•Tel. 011-503-2225-9031 • [email protected]
CRISPAZ USA•215 East 14th Street•Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 •tel: (617) 567-2900 •fax: (617) 249-0769