CNN
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El Salvadoran authorities have arrested a prominent lawyer critical of President Naive Bukere. This was arrested for a move criticised by rights groups who said it reflected the country’s growing trend in “authoritarianism.”
The Attorney General’s Office of El Salvador has accused Ruth Eleono Lopez, head of the anti-corruption and justice forces of rights group Cristál, of cooperating in “theft of funds from state funds.”
“Investigations and information collected during the attacks identified her active participation in the conduct she was charged,” the Attorney General’s Office said.
CNN is requesting more information from the prosecutor’s office.
Speaking at a press conference with Cristosal leaders on Monday, Lopez’s mother and husband said the arrest was part of a recurring pattern in which activists were detained, refused to contact their families, and their whereabouts were hidden.
They alleged that authorities had appeared at her home “pretending to be false” and that there was a traffic accident seducing her outside. She was later detained and was not allowed to see the warrant, they said. They added that they still don’t know of any formal charges beyond what the Attorney General’s office posted to X.
“This sends a message that the government is willing to violate human rights. At this point, it barely tries to hide it. It actually admits it,” said Abraham Abrego, director of strategic litigation at Christosal.
The organization labelled the move as “short-term forced loss disappear.” This is because you don’t know where Lopez, a lawyer and university professor, is taking place. He asked authorities to allow Lopez’s lawyers to meet with her.
Lopez has led a criticism of the Buquere government’s lack of transparency, denounces the abuses the state allegedly committed to crack down on crimes during an ongoing emergency, and denies the rise in public debt without buying Bitcoin for investment or use of public funds. She also criticizes the government’s decision to support mining, among other things.
Recognised by the BBC on the list of 100 influential and inspiring women in 2024, Lopez was an advisor to the former president of Eugenioticus, the highest election courtroom between 2009 and 2014.
Chicas is facing criminal lawsuits over the crime he pleaded not guilty after being arrested last February on suspicion of illegal enrichment for administrative disadvantage.
CNN is seeking comment from Chicas and his attorneys on these charges.
Since taking office in 2019, Bukel has for years enacted controversial measures to stem the crime and gang violence that have plagued the country.
In 2022, with the support of lawmakers, he declared a state of emergency that would allow the government to temporarily suspend constitutional rights, including the rights of legal defense provided by the state. The measure was intended to last for 30 days, but has been extended dozens of times and continues to this day.
Authorities say security forces have arrested around 87,000 people nationwide, or more than 1% of Salvadorans in the three years since it was declared.
The government argues that crackdowns have made the country safer, but critics say it violated people’s rights and led to countless illegal detentions.
International groups, including Amnesty International, condemned Lopez’s arrest in a joint statement on Monday, saying the Salvador emergency is “not only being used to deal with gang-related violence, but also as a tool to silence critical voices.”
CNN contacted the presidency for comment.
