CounterPunch Exclusives

CounterPunch Exclusives

El Salvador: Between Tourism and Terror

Salvadoran police and cops providing a show of force at the CECOT prison. Photo: Office of the President of El Salvador.

While El Salvador’s government promotes its countries’ beaches, volcanoes, and safe streets in gentrified neighborhoods, thousands of Salvadoran families are denouncing arbitrary detentions and seeking justice for relatives imprisoned under President Nayib Bukele’s extended state of emergency.

The contrast is stark: the country welcomes tourists with open arms while ruthlessly imprisoning its own people, drawing widespread international criticism for human rights abuses.

May 18 marked one year since the arbitrary arrest of attorney Ruth López, head of the anti-corruption unit at the organization Cristosal, in a clear attempt to silence voices critical of the regime. She remains in prison despite the government’s earlier statement that her “provisional arrest” would last six months.

Hundreds of organizations around the world have demanded Ruth’s unconditional release, given the total lack of evidence against her. “Authoritarians love corruption and fear accountability,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, a U.S. Democratic congressman and staunch critic of Donald Trump. “The arrest of long-time human rights defender Ruth López is another chilling attack on democracy by Bukele’s regime. Free Ruth........

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