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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 30 december 2020
U.S. cuts military aid to El Salvador amid intense lobbying

By JOSHUA GOODMAN affected, it’s nonetheless a Milena Mayorga, who this
Associated Press Writer symbolic blow to the coun- month became El Sal-
MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. is tries as they try to show vador’s ambassador in
slashing foreign military progress in strengthening Washington, said she was
aid to El Salvador despite the rule of law, said Adam surprised by the curtail-
staunchly pro-American Isacson at the Washington ment, which she said goes
President Nayib Bukele’s in- Office on Latin America. against decades of close
tense lobbying in Washing- “It basically puts these military cooperation be-
ton to counter criticism he countries on the same tier tween the two countries.
has taken his country down as dictatorships and failed El Salvador was one of the
an authoritarian path. states,” said Isacson, an ex- few Latin American nations
Tucked into the omnibus pert on defense spending. to join the U.S.-led coalition
spending bill signed Sun- “Only a handful of coun- that invaded Iraq in 2003
day by President Donald tries aren’t eligible for this and the country’s interna- In this Feb. 9, 2020 file photo, armed Special Forces soldiers
Trump was a provision bar- program.” tional airport is one of just of the Salvadoran Army, following orders of President Nayib
ring access for El Salvador Israel, Egypt and more than two in Latin America used Bukele, enter congress upon the arrival of lawmakers, in San
— as well as for neighbors a dozen other countries by the U.S. military to carry Salvador, El Salvador.
Guatemala and Honduras annually receive around out anti-narcotics missions Associated Press
— to a State Department $5.6 billion through the so- in the region. world’s highest homicide inviting the Organization of
program that finances the called Foreign Military Fi- “It’s of vital importance this rates. But in Washington he American States to lead a
purchase of U.S. defense nancing program to fund decision be reconsidered,” has drawn criticism from commission to investigate
equipment. purchases of U.S. military Mayorga said in an inter- Democrats and some Re- graft, are in line with anti-
The ban is part of an initia- equipment and services. view with The Associated publicans for strong-armed corruption concerns in the
tive by House Democrats to El Salvador has received Press. “Our military will al- tactics like his decision last U.S. Congress.
strengthen anti-corruption about $15 million through ways need to have certain February to surround con- “Right now is when we most
efforts in Central America. the program since 2016, tools to fight insecurity.” gress with heavily armed need the U.S.’s support,”
While far larger secu- including $1.9 million this Bukele took office in 2019 troops to pressure lawmak- said Mayorga, a popular
rity assistance channeled year. Honduras and Gua- vowing to rescue El Salva- ers into approving a loan former TV anchor who as a
through the Pentagon to temala last received such dor from the deep divisions to fund the fight against lawmaker angrily split with
fight drug trafficking is not funding in 2018. left by uncontrolled gang gangs. her conservative ARENA
violence and systemic cor- Mayorga said the tradi- party to back Bukele.
ruption in both right- and tional parties that have Bukele’s government tried
left-wing governments dominated El Salvador’s to improve its standing
that followed the end of a congress have spared in Washington by signing
bloody civil war in 1992. no effort trying to portray lobby contracts with three
He remains popular at Bukele as an autocrat. But different Washington firms
home thanks to a sharp she said many of the presi- totaling more than $1.6 mil-
reduction in one of the dent’s initiatives, such as lion since August. q

Relatives of 12 Hong Kong activists detained at sea by Chinese
authorities, attend a press conference in Hong Kong, Monday,
Dec. 28, 2020.
Associated Press
Hong Kongers charged in China

plead guilty, relatives told

By ZEN SOO lies.
Associated Press It was not clear whether
HONG KONG (AP) — Rela- the 10 would also be sen-
tives of the 10 Hong Kongers tenced on Wednesday,
accused of fleeing the city but Chinese courts often is-
by speedboat during a sue sentences at the same
government crackdown time as verdicts.
on dissent say they’ve The 10 defendants all
been informed that their faced charges of illegally
family members pleaded crossing the border, while
guilty, according to a sup- two of them faced addi-
port group. tional charges of organiz-
The families of the de- ing the attempt, according
tainees were informed by to an indictment issued in
court-appointed lawyers Shenzhen. Separate hear-
Tuesday that a court in the ings were expected for
southern Chinese city of two minors who were also
Shenzhen will deliver the aboard the boat that was
verdicts on Wednesday, apparently heading for Tai-
according to the 12 Hon- wan when it was stopped
gkongers Concern Group, by the Chinese coast
which is assisting the fami- guard on Aug. 23. q