According to 15 US lawmakers, acts such as intimidation of opponents, the attack on FMLN militants or the armed capture of the Legislative Assembly seriously jeopardize democracy and the stability of the region.
In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, 15 U.S. congressmen express their “deep concern over political violence, intimidation and corruption in El Salvador.”
In it, they call on Joe Biden’s government to “avoid inadvertently supporting undemocratic or corrupt people and systems.”
Lawmakers celebrate the White House strengthening relations with Western Hemisphere countries, something “critical to stability in the region.” However, they say it is not possible to “ignore violent trends and tactics in the pursuit of political gain.”
They claimed that the government launches constant attacks that hit democracy. Therefore, they call on the United States to respond to these actions “with a broad denunciation and a speedy condemnation” and call for this to be before the February 28 elections.
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This is in order to “promote a peaceful electoral process, denounce the attacks against the democratic advances achieved with the El Salvador Peace Accords, and reaffirm the commitment of the United States to the defense of human rights, peace and democracy.” in the region “.
The letter to the head of government diplomacy Joe Biden cites as a precedent for the political violence and abuses of government power of Nayib Bukele the military takeover of the Legislative Assembly on February 9, 2020. ” a group of armed soldiers and police in the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, after lawmakers did not approve a multimillion-dollar budget to implement a phase of its internal security proposal, which was a clear attempt at intimidation. and harassing the chamber and its representatives.Also, seeing his authority questioned, President Bukele threatened to dissolve the Assembly, “congressmen say.
They also denounce that in the current electoral process, “political dialogue has deteriorated on issues such as intolerance, violence, bribery and corruption” and add that “these tactics possibly contributed to the attack committed on January 31 against of the main opposition party, the Farabundo Martí Front for National Liberation, in which gunmen shot at political activists, killing two people and leaving five more wounded. it continues unabated. “
Congressmen drew a simile between political violence in El Salvador and the violent takeover of the U.S. Congress, as well as the empowerment of radical groups by former President Donald Trump. This was achieved, they say, by using “misinformation and violence to impose power and legitimacy.”
They also state that speaking out against abuses in El Salvador will gain the Biden government credibility throughout the region as an actor seeking democracy and the rule of law.
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“Our relationship with El Salvador must continue to be based on substantial progress towards constitutional democracy, political independence, human rights, non-violence, and respect for the rule of law. By protecting these values in El Salvador, the United States can credibly promote the security, prosperity and democracy of all nations in the region.We look forward to your response and to be able to work with the administration to promote democratic values in El Salvador and for the future of all democracies, “they said.
This letter adds to other convictions by U.S. lawmakers for abuses of power in El Salvador already mentioned that several congressmen have made so that the White House does not make the same mistake as the Trump administration, which endorsed abuses of power in El Salvador and applauded, through then-US Ambassador Ronald Johnson, the presidency of Nayib Bukele and all in his most questionable moments.
This letter was led by Democrat Jimmy Panetta, representing California. The text was seconded by his co-partners James McGovern, Ilhan Omar, Jim Costa, Raúl Grijalva, Mark Pocan, David Price vision on Schakowsky, Salut Carbajal, Hank Johnson Jr., David Trône, Jesus Garcia, Anna Eshoo, Thomas Suozzi and Jamie Raskin.