El Salvador: Peace Accord Signatory's Family Demands Fair Trial Amid Terrorism Charges

The family of Atilio Montalvo, a former guerrilla fighter and signatory of El Salvador's 1992 peace accords, is calling for a just trial as he faces accusations of terrorism-related offenses. Montalvo, who was part of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), was arrested on May 30, 2024, after previously being released under alternative measures following 14 months of detention.

The prosecution alleges that Montalvo and nine other former FMLN members were involved in planning attacks during the 2024 inauguration of President Nayib Bukele's second term. They are accused of belonging to terrorist organizations and committing terrorist acts. The family, however, is firmly requesting that the trial adhere strictly to due process and international legal standards.

"We make a respectful but firm call for a fair trial to be guaranteed, with full respect for due process and the constitutional and international law guarantees that assist him," Montalvo's family stated in a release. They emphasized that the court's decision should be based solely on an objective and impartial evaluation of the evidence. The family also urged the court to consider Montalvo's significant health problems, including chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis, a history of stroke and heart attack, and diabetes.

Furthermore, his family seeks acknowledgment of Montalvo's role as a signatory of the 1992 peace agreements and his commitment to peace and democracy. The peace accords, signed in January 1992, ended a brutal 12-year civil war that claimed approximately 75,000 lives. The FMLN transitioned into a left-wing political party after the accords, sharing power with the right-wing Arena party for three decades until Bukele's rise to power.

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We make a respectful but firm call for a fair trial to be guaranteed, with full respect for due process and the constitutional and international law guarantees that assist him.