MEDIA REACTION - PROPOSED WALL ON U.S. BORDER

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000192 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, WHA/CEN, WHA/PDA AMEMBASSIES FOR PAS, POL, DHS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR ES KPAO IMMIGRATION SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - PROPOSED WALL ON U.S. BORDER THE JANUARY 25 EDITION OF MODERATE DAILY LA PRENSA GRAFICA (CIRC. 110,000),PUBLISHED AN OP ED ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WALL IN THE US BY JOAQUIN SAMAYOA ENTITLED "WALLS, HEDGES AND OTHER DIVISIONS." EXCERPTS FROM THE ARTICLE FOLLOW: "I CAN SEE A DOUBLE STANDARD IN SOME OF THE CRITICISM THAT THE IDEA HAS PROVOKED. NO ONE WOULD SAY THAT THE WALLS AND INNER DOORS WITH WHICH WE PROTECT OUR HOUSES CONSTITUTE AN AGGRESSIVE GESTURE TOWARDS OUR NEIGHBORS. THE WALL IS NEITHER THE PROBLEM NOR THE SOLUTION. THE ONLY THING THAT IT WILL ACCOMPLISH IS THAT OUR PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO THINK OF NEW WAYS AND DEVELOP NEW SKILLS IN DIGGING TUNNELS. THE ONES THAT MANAGE TO CROSS WILL BE CALLED MOLES INSTEAD OF WETBACKS. THAT IS SOMETHING OUR FRIENDS IN THE NORTH SHOULD KNOW. THE REAL PROBLEM IS THE MORE AND MORE WORRISOME SENSATION OF INSECURITY AND FEAR THAT HAS SEIZED A GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS A SENSATION THAT DOUBTLESSLY HAS ITS COMPONENT OF RACISM, BUT ALSO IT HAS A LEGITIMATE FOUNDATION. OVERFLOWING IMMIGRATION IS CAUSING TENSIONS AND DIVISIONS AMONG THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES BUT ALSO WITHIN THEM. MANY SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN SEE THEMSELVES PRESSURED BY THEIR OWN ELECTORAL BASES TO ADOPT EXTREME MEASURES OF CONTROL. WE CAN PROTEST IN FRONT OF THE WALL, BUT WE WOULD ACCOMPLISH MUCH MORE BY HELPING TO CONTROL IMMIGRATION FROM OUR COUNTRIES AS WELL AS MAKING BETTER EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE BEHAVIOR AND THE IMAGE OF OUR BROTHERS IN THE UNITED STATES." BARCLAY