Reactions found in El Salvador by Veterans

The news of the arrests has provoked mixed reactions

El Salvador was the scene of a major police operation that resulted in the arrest of eight war veterans of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), accused of planning explosive attacks during the inauguration of President Nayib Bukele. Among those detained is Atilio Montalvo, known as ‘Salvador Guerra’, member of the Peace Agreement Negotiating Commission.

The National Civil Police (PNC) carried out the arrests between Thursday and Friday, in a context of maximum security before Bukele’s inauguration, which took place this Saturday, June 1. According to the PNC, the detainees planned to attack gas stations, supermarkets and public institutions. The capture took place just a few hours before the arrival of King Felipe VI, who attended the ceremony as a symbol of friendship between Spain and El Salvador.

The PNC published an audio that supposedly reveals the detainees’ plans, although it does not explicitly mention any explosives. However, authorities found multiple explosive devices during the raids in Guazapa, north of the capital. Among the finds were explosives with fuses, ammonium sulfate, plastic tubes filled with explosive materials and other devices designed to cause significant damage.

The head of the PNC, commenting on the arrests, noted that the veterans were part of the ‘Salvadoran Insurrection Brigade’ and that their objective was to place explosives with timers at various targets. Those arrested also include José Santos Melara Yánez, former FMLN deputy, accused of financing these plans, and Wilfredo Parada, an expert in explosives during the civil war in El Salvador.

The news of the arrests has provoked mixed reactions. The Committee of Relatives of Political Prisoners rejected Montalvo’s capture, demanding his immediate release and describing the accusations as false. Several organizations, such as the Movement of Victims of the Regime (Movir) and the Popular Resistance and Rebellion Bloc, denounced the arrests as arbitrary and accused the government of establishing a “new dictatorship.”

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Humanitarian Legal Aid criticized that among those detained is José Santos Melara, who has been a constant critic of corruption and the loss of human rights under the Bukele government. The organizations indicated that these arrests are part of a pattern of repression against opponents and members of social organizations.

Since March 2022, El Salvador has lived under an Exception Regime that has resulted in the capture of almost 80,000 people accused of collaborating with gangs. This regime was part of the Territorial Control Plan implemented by Bukele since his first term in 2019, which has militarized the country’s streets in an attempt to reduce crime.

The operation and arrests have added a layer of tension in a country already polarized by Bukele’s security policies. The international community and human rights organizations continue to closely monitor developments in El Salvador, concerned about the balance between security and civil rights. Meanwhile, the Bukele administration remains steadfast in its heavy-handed approach against any form of dissent or threat, real or perceived.

The situation in El Salvador remains complex, and these recent events underscore the deep divisions and challenges the country faces on its path toward stability and peace.