MEXICO CITY — El Faro, a prominent investigative outlet from El Salvador, announced on Thursday that two of its members had their assets frozen, an action the organization claims reflects ongoing political persecution stemming from its reporting on governmental corruption under President Nayib Bukele.
Carlos Dada, the director of El Faro, characterized the asset freeze as a targeted effort to suppress the outlet’s journalism, stating, “These are not fiscal measures. They are political measures trying to silence us.” The outlet has had a contentious relationship with Bukele, particularly following its investigations into the government’s controversial negotiations with gangs, highlighted in a recent documentary produced with PBS Frontline.
Bukele, who gained office in 2019 on an anti-corruption platform, has faced increasing scrutiny from human rights organizations for his crackdown on dissent, including a state of emergency that has led to the imprisonment of over 91,000 individuals. While Bukele has previously dismissed El Faro’s reporting as "fake news," his office did not respond to recent inquiries regarding the asset freezes.
Dada explained that the outlets learned about the asset freezes through bank and property registries instead of official governmental notifications. Since 2020, the outlet has faced various audits from Salvadoran authorities, including allegations of $200,000 in unpaid taxes, which Dada refutes.
El Faro journalists have also encountered threats and intimidation tactics, including spyware attacks detected on their devices in 2022. As of 2023, the outlet has relocated to Costa Rica amid growing repression, with its members currently living in exile.
Claudia Paz y Paz from the Center for Justice and International Law described the frozen assets as retaliation against El Faro for its investigatory work aimed at holding the government accountable.
Why this story matters:
- Ongoing challenges to press freedom in El Salvador may have broader implications for journalist safety in the region.
Key takeaway:
- El Faro’s asset freeze highlights the risks faced by investigative journalists in oppressive political climates.
Opposing viewpoint:
- The Salvadoran government labels El Faro’s findings as misinformation, arguing that the outlet misrepresents the state’s efforts.
