Background on Ruth Eleonora López and Her Work
Ruth Eleonora López, a well-known 47-year-old activist and lawyer, was apprehended by the police on Sunday night under a warrant issued by the Fiscalía. López serves as the director of the Anti-Corruption and Justice unit at Cristosal, an organization that supports families of 252 Venezuelan migrants detained after being deported by the United States.
Cristosal’s Role and Recent Developments
Cristosal, a human rights group in El Salvador, has been assisting families of individuals detained under President Nayib Bukele’s “war on gangs” initiated in 2022, as well as families of Venezuelan migrants held for two months in a high-security Salvadoran prison. The organization recently launched an online application to gather information from the families of detained Venezuelans.
- Based on responses from family members, Cristosal found that 78% of Venezuelans migrated in search of better economic opportunities, 35% to escape violence, and 9% due to political persecution.
Allegations and Recent Arrests
Two days after lawyers for the Venezuelan migrants reported that their clients suffered physical and psychological torture, López was arrested. President Nayib Bukele is a crucial ally of U.S. President Donald Trump in his strict migration policies.
Context of Authoritarianism
Last week, environmental lawyer Alejandro Henríquez and evangelical pastor José Pérez were arrested during a farmers’ protest. In February, human rights activist Fidel Zavala was detained and accused of belonging to illegal groups (gangs) by the Fiscalía. Cristosal reported that police officers entered their offices during a press conference, photographing and recording the premises, vehicles, and media present.
- Cristosal stated that the police’s actions reflect the current context of authoritarianism and closure of democratic spaces in El Salvador.
- Last week, nine international organizations accused the Bukele government of adopting an authoritarian approach towards social discontent.
- These organizations, including Amnesty International, also criticized Bukele’s proposed “foreign agents” law, which includes a 30% tax on donations received by NGOs.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Ruth Eleonora López? Ruth Eleonora López is a prominent 47-year-old lawyer and human rights activist who directs the Anti-Corruption and Justice unit at Cristosal, an organization supporting families of deported migrants in El Salvador.
- What is she accused of? López has been charged with “peculado” (embezzlement) based on her past work a decade ago at the electoral court.
- Why is her arrest significant? Her arrest comes amid growing concerns about the rising risks faced by human rights defenders in El Salvador within a context of institutional weakening and repression.
- What is Cristosal’s role? Cristosal supports families of individuals detained under Bukele’s “war on gangs” and Venezuelan migrants held in Salvadoran prisons. They recently launched an online application to gather information about detained Venezuelans.
- What criticisms have been raised against the Bukele government? Critics, including Amnesty International, accuse the Bukele government of adopting an authoritarian approach towards social discontent and proposing a controversial “foreign agents” law imposing a 30% tax on NGO donations.
