Translation to English:
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OFFICIAL STATEMENT
UNIVERSITY HIGHER COUNCIL
IN THE FACE OF THE INCREASE IN PUNITIVE ACTIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT
The Higher University Council of the University of El Salvador, in its capacity as the authority of the country's public higher education institution, and consistent with its historical commitment to the defense of human rights, legality and social justice, expresses its concern about recent events that may affect the rule of law and the exercise of fundamental freedoms of citizens in El Salvador; and about them STATES:
- Arrests of social and professional actors
Recently, there have been arrests of several social actors, professionals, and businessmen; punitive actions that generate great concern in Salvadoran society and in the international community, in view of the apparent disrespect for the principle of typicity, due process and constitutional and legal guarantees of the persons captured; who exercised their right and duty of citizenship to dissent from actions that seem unjust to them.
- Use of public force in peaceful demonstrations
That the recent and increasingly frequent excessive and disproportionate use of public force against persons who demonstrate peacefully also causes great concern, due to the negative impact it has on the exercise of the legitimate right of citizens to demonstrate against those actions or decisions of the government that they consider harmful to their rights and interests.
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- Approval of the Foreign Agents Act UNIVERSITY OF EL SALVADOR
That the recently approved legislative decree containing the so-called Law on Foreign Agents constitutes a clear restriction ◦ limitation of the citizen's right to international solidarity and to associate freely for the achievement of his or her aims; which will also have a negative impact on the population in general and particularly on the poorest, to whom the so-called NGs have traditionally channeled international cooperation, thus reaching segments of the population that the State Government does not reach. A decree that, moreover, constitutes a forbidden threat against the existence of the organizations themselves, since their registration ◦ validity is at the discretion of government officials; and against the directors of the aforementioned social organizations, since, in their content, there are blank criminal provisions, which may be activated against them at their discretion.
- Implications for democracy and human rights
Taken together, these negative developments could have repercussions on: the attention to the basic needs of communities and social sectors, which are not met by the State, ◦ are met with a great deficiency; in the validity of democratic principles and in respect for the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic and in international treaties signed by El Salvador.
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By virtue of the above, the SUPERIOR UNIVERSITY COUNCIL (CSU), making use of its powers:
• Calls on the competent authorities to guarantee respect for due process and fundamental freedoms for all natural and legal persons, regardless of their affiliation or professional activity.
• Calls for constructive dialogue between government, civil society and other relevant actors, in order to address existing concerns and strengthen social cohesion.
• Calls for the development of a State policy which, far from limiting the organized social fabric and closing the doors to international cooperation channeled in this way, strengthens the work of institutions that truly work for the benefit of the most needy and the ethical and responsible strengthening of the national democratic system and creates conditions so that cooperation can continue to give its support, with the guarantee that their contribution goes directly to the beneficiaries of the service.
• Reiterates the commitment of the University of El Salvador to the promotion of a just, equitable society that respects human rights. and makes itself available to contribute to initiatives that promote peace and mutual understanding.
"TOWARDS FREEDOM THROUGH CULTURE"
University City, May 22, 2025.
My bad, thanks for calling out. I went to search the post to back it up and found out I actually confused this drama with the recent feddit.org dramas