Human rights group leaves El Salvador for repression against criticism
Human rights group leaves El Salvador for repression against criticism
A prominent human rights organization that the government of El Salvador and President Nayib Bukele has criticized, their activities in the country. The reason is the harassment, repression and persecution of human rights defenders by the government.
continuation of work from abroad
The executive director of Cristosal, Noah Bullock, said that the organization would continue to operate from Guatemala and Honduras because the measures of the Salvadoran government made its work difficult. "We are forced to choose between prison or exile," said Bullock on Thursday at a press conference in Guatemala City.
harsh measures against civil society
Detention of Human Rights Lawyer
The announcement of Cristosal is made for almost two months after one of her members, the lawyer and human rights activist Ruth Eleonora López, is made by the Salvadoranian authorities due to alleged illegal enrichment was arrested. López rejected the indictment and asked for a public process. The leaders of the organization believe that their arrest is not an isolated case, but is a turning point for the organization.
growing threats and uncertainties
"In view of the threats we have received, the criminalization of Ruth and the limited possibilities for security guarantees, we are outside the country, but in freedom, more useful (for the matter) than if we get into prison in El Salvador," emphasized Bullock. Abraham Ábrego, the head of the legal department of Cristosal, also added: "Currently, El Salvador does not offer the conditions to continue this work on site."
The challenges for human rights organizations
Cristosal has been working in El Salvador for 25 years. Under Bukele's administration, the organization carried out numerous studies and condemned what it considers a lack of transparency, responsibility and erosion of democracy as well as human rights violations. However, the government has accused organizations such as Cristosal to be political activists and ignore the rights of the Salvadorians.
other organizations in exile
Cristosal is the latest organization, which was pushed out of El Salvador in the course of the repressive measures of the government. The investigative medium of El Faro has been running most of its operations in exile from Costa Rica since 2023. Several journalists of the medium fled the country at the beginning of this year because they feared a arrest with regard to their reporting.
The law on foreign agents
Another obstacle to Cristosal is the law on foreign agents, which NGOs, with a tax of 30% on transactions, payments, donations or donations in kind, which are financed from abroad. According to the law, these income should be used for projects of general or social interest. Human rights groups have referred to this legislation as an existential threat.
criticism of legislation
"The intention is to apply the law arbitrarily in order to silence us and other human rights organizations to silence or even criminalize," said Bullock. "The law on foreign agents allows the authorities to control every organization at their own discretion and raise a tax on these organizations. Only the government will have the discretion of whom they are charged and who did not," added Ábrego.
The law gives NGOs until September 4th to register with the Interior Ministry. Otherwise you can no longer work and have to expect fines between $ 100,000 and $ 250,000. Cristosal has already submitted its registration, but has not yet received an answer.
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