The Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in El Salvador, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in El Salvador, the Office of the Attorney for the Defense of Human Rights and political parties condemned the armed attack that killed two FMLN militants.
An FMLN caravan returning from a rally in San Salvador’s II District neighborhoods was attacked with gunfire between 11 avenida norte and 1 calle poniente in downtown San Salvador around 6:25 PM on Sunday.
Two people were killed in the attack and two more injured. For now it is settled that the names of the murdered are Gloria Rogel del Cid and Juan de Dios Tejada.
The press and FMLN officials, such as party general secretary Óscar Ortiz and deputies Nidia Díaz and Yanci Urbina, were in the emergency room of Rosales Hospital last night where the rest of the injured were found.
The group of militants were returning from a meeting when they were attacked by unknown persons in the center of the capital. The FMLN secretary, Óscar Ortiz, described the event as a result of the hatred promoted by President Bukele.
In view of the event and at a press conference, Ortiz asked the international community for support, saying the events are the product of “hate speech” being handled by the government.
‘We are furious. We want to condemn this terrorist act. On behalf of our party, we sent a message of rejection, of conviction, for this vile crime committed on this day by a group of gunmen aboard a car who deliberately crossed in front of the vehicle carrying our companions militants, ”he said.
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But what outraged the leader most were President Nayib Bukele’s statements about the attack.
“It seems that the dying parties have carried out their latest plan. What despair not to lose its privileges and corruption. I thought they couldn’t fall lower, but they fell, ‘said Bukele through his Twitter account.
These statements led Ortiz to describe Bukele as the “most rapist” president in the country’s history, saying that “sooner or later that violence will reach him.”
In this regard, José Miguel Vivanco, director of the US division of Human Rights Watch, assured that Bukele was not behaving “at the height of his inauguration as president of the republic”.
“Even an armed attack on FMLN sympathizers, which has so far claimed the lives of two of them, caused Nayib Bukele to behave at the height of his inauguration as President of the Republic,” he posted through his account. . From Twitter.
Until 11.06 pm, the police reported five arrests. Three of them drove a blue sedan and are the prime suspects in the shooting at the militants. Two are admitted to the emergency department of the Medical Surgical Hospital.
One of those involved is a member of the Protection of Important Personalities (PPI), assigned to the Ministry of Health. Bukele reported this on Twitter. Apparently he came from attending a football match at the Cuscatlán Stadium.
Bukele also said that among the five imprisoned, two FMLN militants “are apparently suspected of shooting the PPI.” However, the party’s general secretary said that none of the caravan members were armed.
Attorney General Raúl Melara was also present at Rosales Hospital emergencies, who said he is cooperating with police in the investigation. Likewise, he added that the fact cannot be repeated again.
“This is serious, the election contest should not be a bloodbath.”
This day a meeting of the general secretaries of all political parties with Melara is scheduled.
The US, the United Nations and political parties condemned the attack
The Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in El Salvador, Brendan O’Brien, condemned the double murder and said he was willing to support the prosecutor’s office in investigating the incident.
“As the US Embassy, we extend our sincere condolences to the victims of the attacks. Any violence is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice ”.
While the United Nations’ permanent coordinator in El Salvador and Belize, Birgit Gerstenberg, urged the Salvadoran authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into what happened.
In El Salvador, deputies from the rest of the banks joined the complaints.
“The president’s hate speech leads to violence and death. This afternoon comrades of the FMLN were attacked in the center of San Salvador. The Prosecution must act immediately, the murderers will not control the Assembly. We promise to win, ”said Lorena Peña, the leader of the FMLN, on her Twitter.
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While the Chairman of the National Executive Council (COENA) Erick Salguero condemned the attacks and assured the prosecutor of his presence at today’s meeting.
ARENA strongly condemns political violence that threatens security, life, democracy and human rights. These actions are the visible result of incitement to hatred, bigotry and division ”.
The chair of the legislative body, Mario Ponce, also joined the complaints while at the same time demanding the functionality of the state through an “in-depth investigation”.
Likewise, the Office of the Attorney for the Defense of Human Rights published on Twitter: “We strongly condemn the criminal action against FMLN militants, who were victims of a firearms attack, on the afternoon of this Sunday in the center of Amsterdam. San Salvador. The event took place after they returned from a meeting, ”the institution published.
The vehicle in which the protesters were traveling was parked for hours outside the hospital in Rosales.
Inside was a half-hung banner of the candidate for mayor of San Salvador, Rogelio Canales; a pair of shoes, broken glasses and blood.
Police surrounded the vehicle with yellow tape. While FMLN leaders, relatives of the militants and the press were outside the hospital.
A police officer guarding the scene assured that there are cameras at the site where the people were attacked.
Meanwhile, the only evidence the eye inspections apparently collected was the sleeves and other blood that showed the attack.
According to the public prosecutor, three detainees are suspected of committing an attack on an FMLN caravan