El Salvdor president promises to look into case of journalist jailed for "terrorism"

Salvadorian President Elías Antonio Saca’s has pledged to intervene personally in the case of journalist María Haydee Chicas arrested and held for alleged “terrorist acts.” Saca's promise comes in wake of the appeal made by the El Salvador Association of Journalists (APES) and civil society organisations.

Rosalia Nunez, left, and Elizabeth Torres, members of the 'Journalists United for Freedom of Expression Movement' hold signs that read in Spanish 'I am a journalist, not a terrorist' during a press conference in San Salvador, Wednesday, July 11, 2007. Both journalists announced they will file a lawsuit before the Inter-American Press Society, SIP, demanding the immediate release of Haydee Chicas, a journalist detained by police forces during a street protest last July 2, 2007 and accused of breaking the anti-terrorist law. (AP Photo/ Luis Romero)

Community journalist Chicas was arrested along with 13 others by the anti-riot police on July 2 during clashes on the fringes of a demonstration against the privatisation of water distribution. The 14 people arrested were jailed under a new anti-terror law adopted this year, which puts them at risk of 40 years in prison.

During an interview on July 11, the head of state said: “Certainly I am going to speak to the minister of Security and Justice to find out about this case. I do not know this case, but I will look it into. I promise to examine it.”

“These comments suggest that the president, while reacting cautiously, is aware of the absurdity of the accusations against María Haydee Chicas and her 13 fellow detainees,” said Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). “We urge the head of state to resolve this situation as quickly as possible”, it added.

Chicas went to Suchitoto in the northeastern province of Cuscatlán to cover a forum organised by community groups and NGOs in protest against government plans to privatise water distribution, a RSF report said. Chicas is in charge of press and communications for the Association of Rural Communities for the Development of El Salvador (CRIPDES), one of the groups that organised the meeting.

Around 100 peasants who were due to participate in the forum blocked off several of Suchitoto’s streets in a show of protest prior to a visit to the town by President Saca. Initially peaceful, the demonstration turned violent and 25 people were injured when the police intervened. A Reuters photographer, Luis Galdámez, was among those injured during the Suchitoto demonstration.

The police arrested 14 people. Five of them, including Chicas, were arrested while they inside a vehicle belonging to CRIPDES. At the moment of her arrest, Chicas had been getting ready to film the scene outside. One of the detainees has since been released.

The arrest of Chicas and the others has sparked an outcry from the press and civil society. Around 100 civil society groups have petitioned for their release. APES has appealed to human rights ombudsman Oscar Humberto Luna.