Solidarity Action: Nueva Esperanza Support Group 1991-2006
| June 6th, 2006Post by Tim Hollins (first post in a series of five) 1
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Tim Hollins is a long standing supporter of GSN and has been active in promoting solidarity in the UK with Central America. In the following series of articles, Tim gives an account of 15 years of grass roots solidarity with the former refugee community of Nueva Esperanza, El Salvador. It is not intended as a model for others to follow, but merely as a record of some of the successes and difficulties that have been encountered in this period, and some reflections on what makes solidarity effective and some of the traps that lie in wait…
Background
The modern day community has its roots in the outbreak of civil war in the late 1970s. Campesino communities throughout the country began to organise to demonstrate around simple demands : fair pay for hours worked, land reform. In Nicaragua the Sandinistas were engaged in overthrowing their corrupt right wing (pro US) government, the Cuban Revolution was already nearly 20 yrs old. Protest in El Salvador was met with state repression, repression with armed struggle. For a detailed account, read Like Gold in the Fire, published by the support group. Suffice it to say here that the villagers from San Miguelito escaped the brutality around them for a nightmare refuge, followed by exile in newly liberated Nicaragua.
The two founder members of the support group, Maureen Russell and Tim Hollins first met these refugees 10 years later, in 1990, in Managua, Nicaragua, through political work for the FMLN coordinated by Armando Martinez, a disabled ex-combatant. Within a few months Armando’s role changed to general coordinator (along with his cousin, Gloria Nuñez) of the repatriation of some 350 refugees, (approximately 80 families), who were demanding the right to return to El Salvador as a Community. It was an extraordinary experience to meet these amazing people who were so resourceful in solving endless problems through discussion, plans and action, – in short through organisation.
Repatriation
The Repatriation Committee asked the group of internationals for support in their campaign, and we raised funds, supported marches and occupations, protested by fax to the UNHCR in Geneva. After countless difficulties, all eventually overcome, the repatriation was arranged, and the internationals were invited to the airport to see off the families on their odyssey. The invitation to visit the new community, now named Nueva Esperanza – New Hope – wherever it ended up! – was warm and genuine, and we decided to journey into the war zone to see how they were getting on, some six weeks later (June 1991)
First Visit
Having sneaked through the army checkpoint when they were at lunch, we found ourselves lurching down a quagmire of a road, eventually making it to the land being cleared by machete. Everyone was working, building champas (improvised shelters) planting crops, organising work teams, planning structures, raising money for food, singing songs of struggle through the nights. Sounds of combat could be heard in the distance. It all made a huge impression during our week long stay (as did the clouds of mosquitoes whose jungle home was being so rudely interrupted!). On our last morning, Armando called us into his champa and gave us a “Revolutionary pep talk We were due to return to Britain soon, and he impressed on us that we could help the new Community survive and develop in many ways – but that we would have to work out what these were, since he was not able to assess what was possible in Britain. We pledged there and then to work in solidarity with the Community, and not to forget their struggle for survival in a tiny corner of El Salvador once we had returned home to the grey skies and material comforts of Britain. The people we had met had become friends, comrades, an inspiration. The Nueva Esperanza Support Group was born.
Back in Britain
We spent a good deal of time thinking through what kind of support we could realistically deliver – and the ethics and practicalities involved. We had seen fantastic projects in Nicaragua – and some total disasters too. Good will and good intentions are not enough. We had several false starts, approaching NGOs (CAFOD and OXFAM – they had their own priorities) and Trade Unions (NUT and NATFHE – ditto). Our first realistic plan was to raise a number of standing orders – from friends in work, with money and a conscience – we were aiming for the ambitious sum of £90 a month, a state teacher’s salary there. The community had clear plans for a primary school – but no resources whatsoever. As teachers we felt this was where we fitted in.
Through slide shows and events, and a fair bit of arm twisting and appealing to political mates, this got going – £10 a month, £20, £30 £35, £37, £40 a month. It was hard going. This model was not new, but like all the best ideas, nicked / adapted from a successful model we had seen work in Managua. A group of Italian women activists had become involved in supporting the Casa de la Mujer (Women’s Centre) in Bello Horizonte, Managua. They had returned to Italy and signed up a number of their friends and contacts to pay a monthly sum, and were funding three full time posts – lawyer, health worker and psychologist. These were Nicaraguan professional women, (Sandinistas) earning a living doing the jobs they were trained for in a political setting with no other sources of funding. It worked – brilliantly.
Meanwhile back in Britain, communication with the community pre-email was extremely difficult. Our only method of contact back to the Community was via faxes through Mexico – a long and uncertain chain. Within six months we had collected some funding, written several articles, spoken at meetings and organised a number of gatherings (mostly in Birmingham). Money was able to be sent in cash via a solidarity worker. Our funding was up and running.
You can read all the posts in this series here: 1
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If you're interested in visiting the community of Nueva Esperanza: El Salvador for Beginners Ethical/Eco Visit (2 weeks) Easter 2007
