Background on Nayib Bukele and His Recent Actions
Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, has recently announced a new law targeting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) by imposing a 30% tax on donations they receive. This decision comes in the wake of controversy surrounding the arbitrary detention of environmental lawyer Alejandro Henríquez, who is part of organizations advocating for environmental and human rights.
The Proposed “Ley de Agentes Extranjeros” (Foreign Agents Law)
Bukele announced the proposed “Ley de Agentes Extranjeros,” which includes a 30% tax on all donations received by NGOs in El Salvador. The president did not provide further details about the law, which is expected to be approved by the Congress, controlled by his party.
In 2021, Bukele had previously presented a similar law proposal, but it never reached the Congress for approval.
Detention of Alejandro Henríquez and Subsequent Protests
Alejandro Henríquez, an environmental lawyer and member of the Foro del Agua (Water Forum), which represents over a dozen organizations defending the right to water, was detained on charges of public disturbances. He was arrested following a protest on a road near Bukele’s residence in southwestern San Salvador.
During the protest, some participants engaged in altercations with anti-riot police and military forces. The demonstrators were calling for Bukele’s intervention to prevent the eviction of around 300 families from a private plot on the outskirts of Santa Tecla.
Amidst the struggle, police apprehended José Pérez, an evangelical pastor and president of the agricultural cooperative, who was also part of the protest.
Bukele’s Response and NGO Tax Implications
Bukele claimed that the “humble” protesters were manipulated by left-wing groups and globalist NGOs with the sole intention of attacking his government. Amnesty International demanded Henríquez’s and Pérez’s release, stating they were detained for exercising their right to peaceful protest.
Bukele argued that the tax on NGOs would help find a “real solution” to the families’ predicament. However, critics view this tax as a means of suppressing dissent and controlling NGOs in El Salvador.
Parallel Developments in Nicaragua
In neighboring Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, have also taken actions against NGOs. Since the 2018 opposition protests, more than 5,600 NGOs have been shut down in Nicaragua, resulting in over 300 deaths according to the UN.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the proposed law about? The proposed “Ley de Agentes Extranjeros” (Foreign Agents Law) imposes a 30% tax on donations received by NGOs in El Salvador.
- Who is Alejandro Henríquez? Alejandro Henríquez is an environmental lawyer and member of the Foro del Agua, which advocates for water rights and was part of protests against the eviction of agricultural cooperative families.
- Why were Henríquez and Pérez detained? They were arrested for participating in a protest demanding the president’s intervention to prevent the eviction of families from private land.
- What is the context surrounding NGOs in Central America? Both El Salvador and Nicaragua have faced criticism for their actions against NGOs. In Nicaragua, more than 5,600 NGOs have been closed since the 2018 protests, with over 300 deaths reported by the UN.
