Four of those detained under El Salvador’s emergency regime in Bukele have been found dead in a mass grave

The organization Humanitarian Legal Aid (SJH) denounced that four of the detainees during the exceptional regime imposed by the government of Nayib Bukele appeared dead in a mass grave and pointed out that these people died under state custody and they were buried without informing their relatives.

“We have started the systematization of innocent people whom the state has captured, imprisoned, killed and buried in mass graves without informing their relatives. None is profiled as a member of a gang, all without having been defeated in court”, denounced SJH in a press release posted on Twitter.

One of the NGO’s lawyers, Ingrid Escobar, consider that the State is obliged to repair the damage caused to the families and for this he must bring to justice those who, having the responsibility to inform their relatives, have not done so.

“In principle The State must recognize the error and the chain of responsibility to identify, if there was negligence of the State in the management of the chronic diseases of these people or whether there was torture by other detainees, an issue that has not been addressed,” he said according to statements collected by the portal. The Savior.

Escobar urged authorities to launch remedial actions and non-repetition by actions as public apology and an Compensation for damages.

“These people have not only been accused of being terrorists, the presumption of innocence has not been respected, but also, they had no right to defenseEscobar added.

According to the lawyer Humanitarian Legal Aid, It is the obligation of the State to pay the debts contracted by the families to carry out the exhumation and the funeral expensesas well as providing psychological and medical assistance to the closest family circle of the victims.

“In the case of families who have continued to bring parcels to penitentiary centers for months because they have not been informed of the death of their loved one, the State must reimburse the full amount of the expenses,” said he added.

Another SJH lawyer, Ramon Rosalesurged the families to present joint actions before the Supreme Court of Justice, prepare a report and submit it to United Nations Human Rights Committee.

among the dead is Henry Eleazar Joya Jovel45 years old, died on May 8, 2022 and he was buried in a mass grave in the cemetery of La Bermeja in San Salvador, but with the name of Enri Cuellar Jovel. His relatives only learned of his death September 19when his brother, because they didn’t give him any information about him, decided to go to Forensic medecine.

Henry’s name was not on the list of those buried in the tomb, but when the brother asked to see the photographs of the buried bodies, he recognized Henry.

The family explains that Henry was captured on April 21 in the district of Luz.in San Salvador, under the exceptional regime for crime of illegal groups, that is, owned by gangs. But Jesús Joya, the brother of the victim, assures that his brother was not a member of these organizations.

The second case is that of Rafael Lopez Castellon53 years old, died on June 1, 2022but his family learned of his death two months later, when a relative went to ask for the Solvency of criminal records.

López was a miller and was captured on April 8, 2022 under the exceptional regime accused of illicit groupsaccording to what the family said The printing press. “He convulsed and maybe he got sick while he was in jail or they abused him. We do not knowsays German López, another brother of Rafael.

López remained confined to the Mariona Jail until May 17, 2022, when he was admitted to Zacamil Hospital where he died and was later buried in a mass grave in La Bermeja Cemetery without informing his family.

The third case is Rosa Aviles76 years old, died on November 29, 2022, but her family did not learn of her death until three months later, when they went to drop off a package for her at Apanteos prison and informed them that she had been buried in a mass grave. Aviles was captured on April 30, 2022 and although her parents brought her packages every month, they did not inform them that she was ill.

The fourth and last case is that of Marvin Antonio Benitez23 years old, died on June 1, 2022 and was buried in a mass grave in La Bermeja cemetery, but his family did not learn of his death until six months later.

Benítez had been detained under the emergency regime on April 1, 2022 and was being held in Mariona prison. His remains were exhumed on February 23, 2023.

(With information from Europa Press)

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