May
Human Rights, Politics
Comunicado de organizaciones salvadoreñas / Statement of Salvadoran Organizations (May 3, 2021)
(PUEDE LEER EL COMUNICADO EN ESPAÑOL ABAJO)
Social organizations reject the actions of the Legislative Assembly, as they put the peace and well-being of Salvadorans at risk
We, representatives of social organizations with a membership of thousands of compatriots, condemn the dismissal of the magistrates of the Constitutional Chamber and the Attorney General by the new Legislative Assembly, because it is an illegal and unconstitutional act that has the dangerous intention of accumulating power in one person and one political party against the common good. We know from our own experience that the concentration of power only brings pain and suffering for people, and it is something that we do not want to be repeated.
At this time it is not about defending specific people; it is about defending the rule of law that guarantees the human rights of the entire population. The action of the deputies who endorsed with their vote the removal of constitutionally elected authorities generates instability and conflict in the country, reduces the possibilities of human and economic development, and increases the risk of human rights violations. El Salvador does not need this.
The Salvadoran population wants a change in the behavior of politicians. For this reason, they gave their vote to a party that offered new ideas, but what happened on May 1 does not meet those expectations. Acting without respect for the law is a setback in the progress that the country had made in building its democracy.
For all of the above,
- We demand that the Legislative Assembly and President Nayib Bukele restore the country’s democratic order and refrain from continuing with these wrong actions that only endanger the well-being and peace that it has been difficult to achieve.
- We ask sister organizations and peoples from other countries to join us at this grave moment and pressure their States to speak out in favor of the rule of law and respect for human rights in El Salvador.
- We ask international organizations and friendly countries to observe what is happening in our country and call on the Government and the Legislative Assembly to respect the mechanisms and principles of democracy.
- In the country, many think that what is happening does not affect them directly, but they are wrong; the destruction of democracy will hurt us all sooner or later. There is no excuse for passivity. Keeping quiet in these moments will make us complicit in what happens next. Therefore, we invite the Salvadoran population not to recognize as legitimate the officials who were elected to replace the magistrates of the Constitutional Chamber and the Attorney General. The people want changes that deepen democracy and lead to social justice; they did not elect another leadership to take advantage of power for their interests.
San Salvador, May 3, 2021
