El Salvador rights group reports forced out by Bukele repression

El Salvador rights group reports forced out by Bukele repression

El Salvador’s Human Rights Group Shifts Operations to Exile

Motivations Behind Cristosal’s Exit

  • Escalating Repression: The organization cited increasing harassment, espionage, and defamation under President Nayib Bukele.
  • Choice Between Detention or Departure: Director Noah Bullock warned that a “repressive apparatus without limits” forced the group to suspend operations.

Arrest of Ruth Lopez Sparks International Alarm

  • Charges of Illicit Enrichment: Lopez, head of Cristosal’s anti‑corruption unit, denies accusations and describes her detention as part of a systematic pattern.
  • Amnesty International’s Response: The organization named Lopez a prisoner of conscience and called for immediate release.
  • Foreign Agents Law: The policy taxes NGO funds 30 percent, a measure Cristosal calls an instrument of authoritarian control.

Consequences for Civil Society

  • Reduced Oversight: Human Rights Watch warned that fewer oversight mechanisms mean weaker justice for victims.
  • Decline in Democratic Spaces: Bullock described the current political environment as “no longer a state governed by the rule of law.”

Continued Assistance from Abroad

  • Remote Operations: Cristosal will operate from Guatemala and Honduras after a quarter‑century presence in El Salvador.
  • Support for Migrant Families: The group assists families of Salvadorans caught in Bukele’s “war on gangs” and more than 250 Venezuelans placed in a high‑security facility funded by the United States.

Public Perception of Bukele’s Governance

  • Homicide Rate Drop: Despite criticisms, Bukele’s methods have popularized him at home.
  • Fear of Criticism: A recent survey indicated that six out of ten Salvadorans fear criticizing the president, fearing arrest or other negative consequences.

Legal and Human Rights Community Reactions

  • Washington Office on Latin America: The organization expressed support for Cristosal and other civil society groups facing harassment.
  • Human Rights Watch’s Statement: Juanita Goebertus, Americas director, highlighted the cost of fewer spaces for dissent.