José Santos Alfaro Ayala, a community leader in the canton of Guarjila, Chalatenango, northern El Salvador, who was arbitrarily arrested on January 12 for allegedly having a relationship with illicit groups, remains in prison despite having an acquittal of the charge signed by a judge, because the prison where he is located said it wanted to "do its own investigation."
Santos, as he is known by the community that misses and needs him, has been in the Izalco Penal Center in Sonsonate for almost 90 days, although yesterday, April 8, the First Court Against Organized Crime Judge 1, issued that at 4:00 p.m. hours a resolution in favor of the accused.
?RELEASE YOURSELF IMMEDIATELY to the accused JOSÉ SANTOS ALFARO AYALA, for which, RELEASE the respective offices to the Penal Center where the aforementioned accused is detained?, refers to the Court's ruling.
Given the news, received on Sunday, his family, lawyer and representatives of organizations came at night to receive him. They remained waiting, astonished and sad, they retreated back to their homes, when they were informed that Santos would not go out that night because, prison officials said, they would do their own investigation to reaffirm Santos Alfaro's innocence.
"Santos is not free because there is still another process outside the court, although he was declared innocent, the prison said it would investigate if it had nothing else," said John Guiliano, founder and executive director of the Tamarindo Foundation during an interview with Manuel Ortiz on the program Peninsula 360 Radio in collaboration with Marcos Gutiérrez from “Hecho en California”.
This lack of transparency and consistency has occurred within the framework of the Exception Regime undertaken by President Nayib Bukele, which although initially served to remove gangs from the streets, today, according to Human Rights defenders, is just an instrument of opacity that has led to arbitrary arrests against community leaders.
Given this, civil and Human Rights organizations, independent media, and the civilian population demand the corresponding release of Santos Alfaro, remembering that he is a necessary leader for his community, where after carrying out his work, which is for the own government of El Salvador, carries out teaching work at the foundation where he served as recreation director.
The Institute of Human Rights of the José Simeón Cañas Central American University, made a statement this morning, demanding the release of the community leader.
#Urgent ? | The First Court against Organized Crime has ordered the release of José Santos Alfaro, community leader of Guarjila, Chalatenango.
We request the authorities of @PenalesSV that they comply with the court order to make their release effective. pic.twitter.com/59v7cWG5HZ
— Idhuca (@idhuca) April 9, 2024
Likewise, the organization Cristosal, with more than 20 years of experience defending Human Rights in El Salvador, communicated the Court's resolution and requested, through his social networks, the release of Santos Alfaro.
#Let's defend ourselves together | José Santos Alfaro Ayala, renowned community leader and president of the Tamarindo Foundation, was arbitrarily captured in January. This Monday, a judge ordered his immediate release, but he remains in prison. We demand his release! pic.twitter.com/TKFmB6sPqw
— Cristosal (@Cristosal) April 9, 2024
"We need Santos in the communities so that he can continue his work in favor of the communities, in favor of young people," commented John Guiliano.
Letters of support have already been presented from different media and organizations demanding respect for the legal processes for the Santos Alfaro case, demanding the release of a community leader who is dedicated to bringing sport to his community.
This case has brought to light many more, people who have been detained under the Exception Regime and whose legal process is never carried out, or, there are people who are declared free and without charges, but are locked up waiting up to a year to be free, by orders of the authorities of the prison where they are located.
Listen to the full interview at Peninsula 360 Press or of click here.
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