Democratic Party member prompted The Biden administration cited “authoritarian” actions by El Salvador’s president in a letter Tuesday.
“We are writing to express our grave concerns about the decline in democracy and increasing reports of human rights violations in El Salvador,” the letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. read. “These concerns are particularly pressing with elections scheduled for early next month, where incumbent President Nayib Bukele is running for an unconstitutional second term.”
The group of lawmakers who sent the letter to Blinken was led by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), according to a Tuesday press release. Also, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Texas), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), It also features the signature of Rep. Raul Grijalva (Democratic Party). (Arizona), Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Greg Casar. (D-Texas), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), and Nydia Velasquez (D-New York).
“The exceptional measures declared by President Bukele in March 2022 provided a framework for the arrest of tens of thousands of people, including US citizens, without due process, and also served as a smokescreen for targeted harassment of the government’s political opponents. .human rights activists, environmental activists, and others,” the letter continues.
The letter also says that during Bukele’s first term, he “oversaw military harassment of parliament, a significant erosion of judicial independence, and the de facto criminalization of civil society.”
“As elections approach, this suppression of dissent and restrictions on multiparty democracy has expanded to include arrests and arrest warrants for political opponents, including former Salvadoran Ambassador to the United States Rubén Zamora,” the letter continues. There is. “Much of this persecution was carried out with the active complicity of El Salvador’s judicial system.”
The Democratic group also urged the State Department to send a message about the importance of “respecting the Constitution and democratic norms to the government of El Salvador, both publicly and privately” and to “provide security assistance and other assistance to El Salvador’s police and military.” He urged them to take measures such as “limiting support.” In line with existing human rights law. ”
“The upcoming elections are also a serious violation of El Salvador’s constitutional norms, and President Boucle is running for re-election,” the letter said. “El Salvador’s constitution clearly prohibits consecutive terms as president, and Mr. Bukele can only run after a ruling by a judge appointed by members of the president’s ruling party after the removal of a former Supreme Court official; This move has been criticized by the United States. ”
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