This was announced by Ricardo Zúñiga, who said Joe Biden’s government is “proud” to support this fight in El Salvador.
In addition to rhetoric and constantly identifying the fight against corruption as its priority, the United States has devoted more resources to that fight against the misuse of public funds.
On Wednesday, Joe Biden’s special envoy for the Northern Triangle, Ricardo Zúñiga, announced that the United States will allocate $ 2 million to the International Commission Against Impunity in El Salvador (CICIES).
“The United States is proud to support the work of the CICIES and the prosecutor’s office, and is making a donation of more than $ 2 million. This is part of our commitment. The United States is joining them in this fight, ”said Zúñiga.
Keep reading: Biden’s envoy to the Northern Triangle meets with the Attorney General and the head of the CICIES in El Salvador
This contribution is part of the United States’ commitment to strengthen the Salvadoran institutional framework charged with combating the misuse of public funds or redirecting them to “selfish” interests, the diplomat explained.
Attorney General Raúl Melara thanked the United States for the support of CICIES. Photo: EDH / Yessica Hompanera
In addition, Zúñiga said that one of the lessons the United States has learned from the anti-impunity commissions in Guatemala (the CICIG) and in Honduras (the mission in support of the fight against corruption and impunity in Honduras, MACCIH) is to function. , it must work closely with the public prosecutor’s office and have the support of the country’s political class.
In Honduras and Guatemala, the committees perished because of the meager support of governments or even the determined blockade of political and business elites threatened by the fight against corruption.
For this reason, in El Salvador, in addition to financial autonomy, sectors of civil society are demanding that CICIES be given greater independence from the executive by approving its framework agreement in the Legislative Assembly, and to provide it with more “teeth”. the ability to prosecute in corruption cases.
That was one point in favor of the Guatemalan commission, which joined forces with the local prosecutor’s office to unravel a network of customs fraud led by then-President Otto Pérez.
Attorney General Raúl Melara thanked the United States for the support of the CICIES and said the North American country’s role in the fight against corruption is fundamental.
He also expressed his satisfaction with the joint work with the committee. “This effort and commitment that the United States government is taking today to strengthen the CICIES is important because it will indirectly allow the prosecution service to continue the investigation,” said Raúl Melara.
Ochaeta added that he has sent 12 notifications of possible crimes in 5 state portfolios to the prosecutor’s office, although he did not detail the cases or the institutions.
Attorney General Raúl Melara, who also participated in this bilateral meeting, said that “it is essential that the rulers and the entire political class commit to providing the tools to fight corruption and impunity.”
In addition: Joe Biden’s envoy in Guatemala reiterates that it is a US priority to strengthen democracy in the Northern Triangle
This meeting of Zúñiga in El Salvador comes at the end of a two-day visit to Guatemala, where he met President Alejandro Giammattei and numerous cabinet members. There he emphasized that the rule of law and democratic governance are central axes in Joe Biden’s policy towards the region.