On the eve of a special hearing in their cases, the Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) reiterates our call for the immediate release of Alliance for a Peaceful El Salvador coordinator José Santos Melara (Pepe) and grassroots journalist Luís Menjívar, who were arrested in the leadup to Nayib Bukele’s unconstitutional inauguration for a second consecutive term.

Their arrests, on fabricated terrorism charges in relation to peaceful protests, represent a concerning escalation in the Bukele government’s attacks on human rights activists and the journalists that cover their activities, and we condemn the sustained attempts to silence those who are fighting to defend the victims of the Bukele regime in El Salvador.

We denounce the government’s recent decision to approve an additional six-month investigation period and corresponding pretrial imprisonment. This extension is especially concerning given the significant health complications faced by Melara and Menjívar. Both suffer from type 2 diabetes while Melara, who is 69 years old, also suffers from hypertension and lower limb venous insufficiency.

In light of the the grave violations of the human right to health in the country’s prisons as detailed in the report recently published by the Community and Human Rights Defense Unit (UNIDEHC), we are concerned by the denouncements of Melara’s attorneys that a judicial order from the First Organized Crime Tribunal mandating that he receive adequate medical treatment has been ignored by the General Director of Prisons. In addition to torture, beatings, unhygienic conditions, and insufficient food, the UNIDEHC report also describes medical neglect and a lack of medication and medical supplies in prison clinics.

These conditions have already resulted in the deaths of at least 349 incarcerated people since March 2022. They are inadequate for any human being and they represent a heightened risk for people with serious medical conditions, especially those who are elderly.

We are heartened by the announcement of Friday’s special hearings, which follows petitions by UNIDEHC in support of Melara and Menjívar. Given the serious risk El Salvador’s prison conditions pose to both men and the clear political motivation of their arrests, we echo UNIDEHC’s lawyers in their call to release Melara and Menjívar on house arrest.

CISPES will continue our solidarity with José Santos Melara, Luís Menjívar, and all political prisoners until they are granted the freedom that has been unjustly stolen from them.