El Salvador

The arrests of three members of the Mara 18 gang bring the total number of suspects detained to 28.

The threats, first reported on 23 July 2009, have resurfaced days after the recent killing of two environmentalists.

In Honduras, the daughter of journalist Karol Cabrera was murdered after her mother filed formal complaints stating she had received threats.

Three gang members and a police officer suspected of being a gang ally have been arrested in connection with the murder of Christian Poveda.

The body of journalist Christian Poveda, whose new documentary on a Salvadoran street gang was scheduled for wide release, was discovered near the capital.

A thorough investigation should be conducted into the murder of community leader Gustavo Marcelo Rivera Moreno, as well as subsequent threats to others, says Human Rights Watch.

The IAPA called on officials in Bolivia, El Salvador and Venezuela to quickly investigate the acts of violence and intimidation reported in recent days against journalists in those countries.

(AMARC/IFEX) – El Salvador, 3 May 2009 – In the framework of World Press Freedom Day, the Movement for Democratic Communication launched a campaign calling on the government elect, which will take power on 1 June, to implement public policies on information and communication. According to the Movement, which is comprised of freedom of expression […]

General Assembly 2008 Country Report: El Salvador

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF calls on the police and judicial authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into a 17 September 2008 incident in Huizucar, a municipality near San Salvador, in which Allan Martell, a reporter and producer with Radio Bálsamo ( http://balsamofm.blogspot.com ), a community radio station based in Zaragoza , in the western department […]

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – On 12 May 2008, a San Salvador court convicted three youths – José Alfredo Hernández, José Luis Martínez Mejía and Héctor Adalberto Ortiz Mejía, all of whom are members of criminal street gangs – of aggravated homicide in the killing of journalist Salvador Sánchez Roque in September 2007. The investigation and trial failed […]

Report to the Midyear Meeting 2008: El Salvador

Freedom of the Press 2007: El Salvador

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – In a 17 January 2008 press release, spokespeople for radio station Radio Cadena Mi Gente condemned death threats made against one of the station’s main stockholders, William Osmar Chamagua Morataya. The threats were made by telephone, twice to the station and once to his family’s home. The last call was received on 16 […]

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – Three journalists have been assaulted during clashes between the police and local residents in the Santa Ana department. On 25 October 2007, local residents in the town of Santa Gertrudis, 50 kilometres from the capital, San Salvador, blocked the highway leading into the area to protest the construction of a garbage landfill site […]

(PROBIDAD/IFEX) – On 11 October 2007, the National Civil Police announced the capture of José Alfredo Hernández, suspected murderer of radio journalist Salvador Sánchez Roque, who was killed on 20 September. According to the authorities, Hernández is a gang member. He, among others, previously issued death threats against the journalist, believing that the journalist had […]