The prominent human rights organization, Cristosal, has announced the closure of its offices in El Salvador, forcing over twenty employees to relocate to neighboring countries due to persistent threats and harassment from law enforcement. Noah Bullock, the organization's director, revealed this decision in a statement made on Thursday, citing increasing surveillance on the group’s members.
Cristosal has been actively documenting human rights violations, including incidents of torture and other abuses, tied to the government of President Nayib Bukele, particularly since he enacted a state of emergency aimed at combating gang violence in 2022. The organization's investigations have also delved into allegations of corruption within Bukele’s administration.
"This evaluation of Cristosal’s operations is a dire indicator of the situation on the ground," commented Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch, indicating the severe implications for those who report abuses and challenge governmental authority. The Salvadoran government has yet to respond to inquiries about these developments.
The crackdown on human rights defenders escalated following the May arrest of Cristosal’s anti-corruption director, Ruth López, a prominent lawyer who remains imprisoned. Shortly after her apprehension, another lawyer, Enrique Anaya, who spoke out against her detention and labeled Bukele a dictator, was also arrested— a title Bukele has publicly accepted.
Bullock conveyed that staff encounters with law enforcement had escalated to alarming levels, describing it as a new "wave of repression." This increased vigilance comes during a time when Bukele's relationship with the United States has seemingly strengthened, particularly after an agreement was formed to manage the deportation of migrants by the previous Trump administration. While U.S. officials under the Biden administration have voiced concerns over human rights situations in El Salvador, recent arrests have drawn silence from the Trump administration, despite condemnations from various European leaders.
