Salvadoran-Canadian Writer Arrested in El Salvador Has Been Released, Reports Reuters

By Sarah Kinosian and Nelson Renteria

SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) – A Salvadoran-Canadian writer who was detained in El Salvador for reading the constitution inside a voting center to protest President Nayib Bukele’s participation has been released from jail, as confirmed by his lawyer on Wednesday.

Carlos Bucio, 57, was arrested on Sunday under allegations of disorderly conduct, a move that rights organizations criticized as an alarming development in a country where many fear retribution for opposing Bukele.

This incident raises concerns over the ongoing deterioration of democracy in El Salvador, especially following the removal of top judges by Bukele’s appointees, which was seen as a step towards facilitating his re-election.

Bukele, bolstered by a strong media presence, is known for aggressively attacking those who criticize him, claiming that journalists and international human rights groups are attempting to undermine his authority after recent elections.

Bucio’s lawyer, Emperatriz Flores, reported that he was taken from his cell and instructed to call someone for pickup.

Following the elections, Bukele declared himself the victor and claimed a significant lead in the early results, although voting continues to be counted due to issues reported by the electoral authority that affected the preliminary results’ transmission.

Despite the controversy, Bukele remains popular among many Salvadorans for leading efforts against gang violence, and his New Ideas party is anticipated to retain a supermajority in Congress.

“This is the first time in history that El Salvador has had democracy,” Bukele stated in his victory address on Sunday. “And I’m not saying it, the people say it.”

El Salvador has experienced democratic governance since the peace agreements of 1992 that ended the civil war, but Bukele has effectively capitalized on public disillusionment with the country’s traditional political parties, which appear destined for low support in the final election outcomes.

Bucio, who resides in Canada and holds Canadian citizenship, was in El Salvador for the elections when he was detained in a facility in southern San Salvador, according to his sister Lucia Bucio Borja, who also lives in Canada.

She mentioned earlier Wednesday that he had been provided with food and a book, and would soon be released, as per the family’s attorney.

The Canadian embassy in El Salvador acknowledged Bucio’s release and stated it had been in contact with him and his family.

The Human Rights Institute of the Central American University (Idhuca) called for Bucio’s release, emphasizing that his arrest raised significant concerns regarding freedom of thought and expression in El Salvador.