Ruth Lopez, a prominent lawyer advocating for the families of Venezuelan migrants imprisoned in El Salvador, was arrested amid allegations of embezzlement from a decade ago. Her detention is part of a broader strategy by President Nayib Bukele to suppress civil society and dissent, especially against those who criticize his administration's policies. Cristosal, the human rights group she works for, condemned the arrest as a violation of due process, reinforcing fears about a government crackdown on freedom of expression. This incident aligns with other recent actions against journalists and NGOs in El Salvador, fueled by Bukele's connection to the Trump administration.
The authorities' refusal to disclose her location or to allow access to her legal representatives is a blatant violation of due process, the right to legal defence.
The arrest is part of an accelerating government crackdown on civil society and the free press as Bukele is apparently emboldened by his close relationship to the Trump administration.
Earlier this month, seven journalists from the investigative news outlet El Faro... had to leave the country after they were tipped off that the government was preparing arrest warrants.
After protesters gathered outside Bukele's house, he accused NGOs of manipulating them and proposed a bill to tax 30% of all contributions to NGOs.
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