El Salvador: Update to SLV23047.E of 12 February 1996 on the treatment of private citizens who expose government corruption (1997-1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 9 December 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLV33394.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, El Salvador: Update to SLV23047.E of 12 February 1996 on the treatment of private citizens who expose government corruption (1997-1999), 9 December 1999, SLV33394.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad783c.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Between 1997 and 1999, individuals exposed a number of cases of alleged corruption by government officials or agencies (El Diario de Hoy 23 July 1999; Revista Probidad 10-16 Oct. 1999; Proceso 27 Jan. 1999). In its most recent annual report, the Procuraduria para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos stated that it had received 40 complaints of irregular or illegal acts by public officials between June 1998 and May 1999 (July 1999).
However, very little information could be found among the sources consulted on the treatment of individuals who had uncovered cases of alleged government corruption, with two exceptions. In the first case, a newspaper publisher was said to have been jailed in 1998 for "reporting on alleged police corruption" (Freedom House 1999). In the second case, Juan José Flores, a councillor for the municipality of Ilopango, stated that he had been dismissed from his post after he had submitted a complaint to the office of the public prosecutor regarding corrupt practices by municipal officials (El Diario de Hoy 23 July 1999).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
El Diario de Hoy [San Salvador]. 23 July 1999. Elder Gómez. "Revelan corrupción en alcaldía Ilopango."
Freedom House. 1999. Freedom in the World: The Annual Survey of Political Rights & Civil Liberties 1998-1999: El Salvador.
Procuraduría para la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos. July 1999. Informe Anual de Labores Julio 1998 - Mayo 1999.
Proceso [San Salvador]. 27 January 1999. No. 840. "Corruption in the Legislative Assembly."
Revista Probidad [San Salvador]. 10-16 October 1999. "Anomalías en la Corte de Cuentas." < http://www.probidad.org.sv/> [Accessed on 7 Dec. 1999]
Additional Sources Consulted
Central America NewsPak [Austin]. Jan. 1997-Oct. 1999.
Central America Report [Guatemala City]. Jan. 1997-Oct. 1999.
La Prensa [San Pedro Sula]. Nov. 1997-Dec. 1997.
Proceso [San Salvador]. Jan. 1997-Nov. 1999.
Revista ECA [San Salvador]. Jan. 1997-Aug. 1999.
Revista Probidad [San Salvador]. Mar. 1999-Dec. 1999.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact an oral source.
Internet sites including:
Committee to Protect Journalists.
Fundación Arias.
Instituto de Derechos Humanos.
Instituto Latinoamericano de las Naciones Unidas para la Prevención del Delito y el Tratamiento del Delincuente.
National Institute of Justice.
Office of International Criminal Justice.
Proyecto de Información Estratégica Centro Americana.
Transparency International.