Nov
Human Rights, Politics
Search warrant to search the premises of 7 Salvadoran NGOs
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jean Manes said today on local television that she will be returning to the U.S. and that relations between El Salvador and the United States are temporarily on hold “due to the Salvadoran government’s apparent lack of interest in dialogue” after several meetings where they wanted to verify whether the Salvadoran government wanted to continue on an “anti-democratic path“. A few hours later, the District Attorney’s Office and national police raided seven NGOs with a search warrant signed by Haydee Flores, one of the newly-appointed judges and former wife of appointed General Attorney.
#ContraLaImpunidad I Son 8 inmuebles de 7 diferentes ONGs ubicadas en San Salvador, La Libertad y Santa Ana, en los que la @FGR_SV y @PNCSV han realizado allanamientos esta mañana.
Conoce más detalles sobre las intervenciones ⬇️: pic.twitter.com/qV5DexdDIw
— Fiscalía General de la República El Salvador (@FGR_SV) November 22, 2021
According to the warrant, these organizations are being investigated on charges of embezzlement. This investigation started months ago when many of their representatives were called to give testimony to the commision created by the Legislative Assembly, after enduring several public attacks by Nuevas Ideas representatives. This is yet another blow for critical NGOs that were still pondering how their situation will change if the “Foreign Agents Law” proposed by the Presidency is approved.
The organizations mentioned in the operative are:
- PROCOMES
- LAS MELIDAS
- FUNDASPAD
- UNA MANO AMIGA
- PRO-VIDA
- ASOCIACION DE MUJERES TECLEÑAS
- FUNDASAN
Many organizations quickly reacted in solidarity to such news through their social media:
#Alerta con gran preocupación, nos solidarizamos ante el allanamiento en las oficinas de @Las_Melidas por parte de la @FGR_SV #SolidaridadFeminista pic.twitter.com/xGo6l7upnn
— Colectiva Feminista (@Colecfeminista) November 22, 2021
PRO-VIDA held a press conference outside of their premises (still occupied by State’s agents) and released the following statement:
We stand in solidarity with these organizations and invite you to search reliable sources to learn more about the events unfolding in El Salvador.
