El Salvador Toughens
Penal Code
Despite the
much-criticized
anti-terrorist act in El
Salvador, another
Executive bill, this one
with tougher sanctions
against participants in
social protests, is
expected to be presented
before Congress.
Called "attack against
public peace," this new
crime will involve a
sanction of three to ten
years in prison.
According to Deputy
Minister of Security and
Justice Astor Escalante,
the current
administration is also
requesting a legal
resort so those tried
under this charge are
not entitled to parole.
The Salvadoran judicial
power has been strongly
criticized for applying
the anti-terrorist act
against seven nationals
from Suchitoto, north of
the capital, arrested
for participating in a
demonstration against
the government's
privatization policy on
July 2nd.
On Monday, El Salvador's
Ombudsman Oscar Luna
called on the attorney
general's office to
investigate repressive
acts by police,
including torture, of
those arrested in
Suchitoto.
Regarding the tougher
sanctions proposed by
President Antonio Saca,
Luna urged legislators
to be careful when it
comes to backing
sanctions against the
exercise of free
expression in civil
society. |
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