Did jealousy and envy lead to the arrest of the engineer from Isla El Espiritu Santo (Holy Spirit Island) under state of exception in El Salvador?

 

The government has arrested and imprisoned 22 men from the Island of the Holy Spirit where there are no gangs.

 

On May 16, 2022, Andrés Antonio Guzmán Argueta graduated from the Technological University of El Salvador with a degree in Computer and Systems Engineering, after six years of sacrifice from his family. His father owns a small hardware store where Andrés worked full time, and his mother owns a mini store on the island called Tienda Silvia. Andrés lives with his parents, humbly, and with his daughter who spends the day at his house. He has two older sisters who immigrated to the United States, and all helped make Andres the first in the family to graduate from high school and college. It was a proud day for the whole family, and especially for Andrés.

 

During his last two years in the university, Andrés studied online due to the pandemic. Andrés dedicated his life to his studies, his work at the hardware store, and taking care of his little daughter. Andrés and his daughter's mother share custody, because despite having separated, they maintain a relationship of respect and affection. Even his daughter and his daughter's mother spend most of her time every day in Andrés parents' house, helping Andrés's mother with work in her small store, Tienda Silvia. 

 

Andrés is very popular on the island, and he was the second student to graduate from the university from the island, two months after his cousin graduated as a Doctor of Medicine. Both were supported by the scholarship program of the Centro De Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS). Andrés's mother says that her son's only vice is that he likes to have beer from time to time. 

                                       

 

Two months after his graduation, on July 18, Andrés and five other young men were arrested in an operation of the National Civil Police and the Armed Forces on the Holy Spirit Island. Despite not having tattoos or criminal records, the six men joined the list of fishermen, oystermen and agricultural workers arrested, reaching a total of 22 captured on the island. The local people of the Holy Spirit Island have been organizing their own Security for more than 16 years. On the island there is an office of the National Civilian Police (PNC) and private security guards hired by El Jobal Cooperative where control is carried out monitoring the people who enter and leave the island. Thanks to this organization, the island has never experienced gang problems or organized crime.

 

When walking on the island, you will see bicycles without locks or anti -theft protection on the street, open doors to homes, and windows without metal bars. The local people are proud that the Holy Spirit Island is considered the safest place in the municipality of Puerto El Triunfo. This is something that was even affirmed by the Mayor of the New Ideas Party (the party that enacted the State of Exception) in that municipality.

 

Andes was arrested at his girlfriend’s home.   She said that three members of the armed forces and two members of the National Civilian Police (PNC) knocked on her door asking for her, calling her by name, Sandra (fictional name) and asked for her grandmother. One of the police who arrived at the house that night is known by the family. Andrés was in Sandra's house along with her father. One of the police asked Sandra's dad if the young man in his home was called Andrés, and the dad replied yes. They then went to Andrés and asked him what his nickname was, and he replied that it was "Nacana." Another of the police said that this was not his nickname. After these questions they took Andrés out of the house and punched him strongly on the ribs three times using a rifle. They proceeded to put him on his knees and handcuffed him. When Andrés's girlfriend asked the agents why they were taking him, they told her to shut up and go to sleep, or they would also arrest her.

 

The afternoon before the capture, on Sunday, July 17, several local people commented that there was an argument between Andrés and an element of the National Civil Police at the only restaurant on the island, where people were drinking beer after a soccer came.  The policeman was not on duty.   Witnesses commented that the policeman said: "This little engineer is going to know me." Part of the argument happened because the policeman wanted to date Andrés' girlfriend; Although she clarified that she rejected him and told him clearly that she already had a boyfriend. When the policeman asked Sandra who her boyfriend was, she answered: "Andrés."   Witnesses report that three people who were captured the same night as Andrés, witnessed the discussion. None have criminal records or links to criminal structures or organizations; yet they were charged with gang membership under El Salvador’s “regime of exception” which include suspension of many constitutional rights since March 27,2022. After they were arrested, the policeman who argued with Andrés was never seen on the island again and was transferred to another area.

 

Therefore, we ask for a profound investigation into the operation that took place on the night of July 18, 2022, on the La Isla Espiritu Santo. If there is no reliable evidence of illicit activity, we ask for the immediate release of the engineer Andrés Antonio Guzmán Argueta and the other residents of the island who were unjustly arrested.

 

Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (CIS), San Salvador, March 1, 2023