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A6 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 18 OcTOber 2022
Salvador court orders arrests in Dutch journalist killings

By MARCOS ALEMÁN criminal complaint with the
Associated Press El Salvador’s Attorney Gen-
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador eral’s Office to investigate
(AP) — A Salvadoran judge the murders of the Dutch
has ordered the provision- journalists. In response, the
al arrest of several retired Prosecutor’s Office pros-
high-ranking members of ecuted the case and sent
the armed forces accused the file to a court in the mu-
of having participated in nicipality of Dulce Nombre
the killings of four Dutch de María in Chalatenango
journalists in 1982 while they province, where in the case
were covering the Central was opened in 1982.
American nation’s civil war. The killings took place dur-
Among those facing ar- ing the height of El Salva-
rest orders are former de- dor’s civil war between
fense minister Gen. José the government and the
Guillermo García and Col. Farabundo Martí National
Francisco Antonio Morán, Liberation Front, or FMLN,
former director of the now- guerrillas.
defunct treasury police, The Dutch TV journalists had
according to the judge’s linked up with leftist rebels
ruling, a copy of which was and planned to spend sev-
seen on Sunday by The As- The former defense minister of El Salvador, Jose Guillermo Garcia-Merino is surrounded by eral days behind rebel lines
sociated Press. the press as he arrives at the ‘’Oscar Arnulfo Romero’’ international airport in San Luis Talpa, El reporting.
Neither the National Civil Salvador, Friday, Jan. 8, 2016. Associated Press But Salvadoran soldiers
Police, which is charged armed with assault rifles
with carrying out the court commander of El Salva- has also died. Canizales al- Dutch government and the and machine guns am-
order, nor the Public Min- dor’s Fourth Infantry Bri- legedly led the patrol that European Union demand- bushed them and the
istry have confirmed the gade, who currently resides carried out the massacre of ed that El Salvador bring to guerrillas. The United Na-
arrest warrants or whether in the United States. The the journalists. justice those responsible for tions Truth Commission for El
they have been carried judge ordered that authori- Morán and Reyes Mena, as the murders of Dutch tele- Salvador, which was set up
out. Neither agency im- ties begin an extradition well as Canizales, are iden- vision journalists Jan Kuiper, as part of a U.N.-brokered
mediately responded to re- process against him. tified as the perpetrators of Koos Koster, Hans ter Laag peace agreement in 1992,
quests for comment. Also included in the rul- the massacre, while gener- and Joop Willemsen. said in a report on wartime
The ruling by Judge María ing are Gen. Rafael Flores als García and Flores Lima Oscar Pérez of the Comu- human rights violations that
Mercedes Arguello in Cha- Lima, former chief of staff were accused of crimes nicandonos Foundation, the ambush was set up
latenango province also of the armed forces, who of omission. In March, rela- which represents victims’ to kill the journalists, and
mentions Col. Mario Adal- died on June 29, 2020, and tives of the victims, and families, said that in March was ordered by Col. Mario
berto Reyes Mena, former Sgt. Mario Canizales, who representatives of the 2018 the foundation filed a Reyes Mena. q

Digital activists challenge Uganda’s harsh new internet law

By RODNEY MUHUMUZA the restrictions introduced terms of up to seven years right to take my picture and unwarranted information,”
Associated Press in a controversial 2011 law in some cases, including use it for your interests?” Amnesty International’s
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) on the misuse of comput- for offenses related to the Muhammad Nsereko, the Muleya Mwananyanda
— Ugandan activists ers. The legislation, passed transmission of information lawmaker who brought said.
launched a legal chal- by the national assembly about a person without the bill, told The Associated “It is designed to deliber-
lenge Monday to con- in September, was brought their consent, as well as the Press by phone Monday. ately target critics of gov-
troversial new legislation by a lawmaker who said sharing or intercepting of Opponents of the law say ernment and it will be used
criminalizing some internet it was necessary to deter information without autho- it will stifle freedom of ex- to silence dissent and pre-
activity in the East African those who hide behind rization. pression in a country where vent people from speaking
country. computers to hurt others. “Yes, we live in the digital many of Museveni’s oppo- out.”
Their petition to the consti- The new law proposes jail space. But do you have the nents for years unable to While the law has useful
tutional court argues that stage street protests often provisions such as those
the description of com- raise their concerns on Twit- protecting the right to pri-
puter-related crimes in the ter and other online sites. vacy, including responsible
bill enacted with President Others say it will kill investi- coverage of children, “it in-
Yoweri Museveni’s signa- gative journalism. troduces punitive penalties
ture last week violates the Critics range from the Com- for anyone accused of so-
right to freedom of expres- mittee to Protect Journalists called hate speech,” the
sion and criminalizes some to Amnesty International, statement added.
digital work, including in- which called the legislation Museveni, 78, has held pow-
vestigative journalism. “draconian.” er in Uganda since 1986
In presenting their petition “This piece of legislation and won re-election last
at the court in the capital, threatens the right to free- year. Although he is popu-
Kampala, the petitioners dom of expression online, lar among some Ugandans
were backed by silent pro- Digital activists hold placards as they demonstrate after including the right to re- who praise him for restoring
testers who carried plac- submitting a legal petition against controversial new legislation ceive and impart informa- relative peace and eco-
ards reading “This law is criminalizing some internet activity, at the constitutional court in tion, on the pretext of out- nomic stability, many of his
worth breaking.” Kampala, Uganda Monday, Oct. 17, 2022. lawing unsolicited, false, opponents describe his rule
The legislation increased Associated Press malicious, hateful, and as authoritarian.q