Police attack El Salvador protest against water privatization

On July 2, protesters rallied against plans to privatize El Salvador’s water supply. Riot police attacked the protest with

tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray. Over 100 people were injured and 14 were arrested. The 14 remain political prisoners, according to the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).

The protest in the municipality of Suchitoto targeted President Antonio Saca’s announcement of the “National Policy of Water Decentralization.” Saca fled Suchitoto in his helicopter and made the announcement from the presidential palace in San Salvador instead.

The protest underscores the rejection of neoliberalism by Latin Americans. Millions are incensed by the willingness of pro-Washington governments to put profits before people’s needs.

In Bolivia, the people of Cochabamba wrestled control of their water resources from Bechtel in 2000. Popular mobilization in El Alto forced the government to take back a water concession from the French water giant Suez in 2005.