El Salvador: CFWIJ Condemns The Assault Of Photojournalist Jessica Orellana.

Location: El Salvador
Date: March 1, 2021

Photojournalist for El Diario de Hoy, Jessica Orellana was physically assaulted by President Nayib Bukele’s security team. Jessica was impeded while trying to capture images of the president casting his vote. Jessica was hurt by a security member who took her by the arm and injured her neck. Jessica collected herself and resumed taking pictures when she was pushed again by another member of the security detail. CFWIJ condemns the physical assault of the journalist at work. We ask government authorities to step in and hold the president's security team accountable for forcefully interfering with a journalist doing her job.

Jessica was pushed twice by the guards of the president's security team. The photojournalist was hurt while trying to capture pictures of President Nayib Bukele. Jessica Orellana was present with other media team members at a voting booth situated on Boulevard del Hipódromo in San Salvador. She was able to capture the exact officer who pushed her a second time. A video available on the internet shows the guards pushing Jessica in an attempt to maintain a security formation around the president.

#ElFaroElectoral | El presidente Nayib Bukele, junto a la primera dama Gabriela de Bukele, posan para las cámaras luego de emitir su voto en el centro de votación del bulevar el Hipódromo, en la JRV 502.
📸: @victorpena84 pic.twitter.com/nUFZSy4E4N

— El Faro (@_elfaro_) February 28, 2021

The Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES) has presented its concerns regarding journalists’ safety in the backdrop of electoral elections. According to the president of APES, Angelica Carcamo, "We do not rule out that there may be an electoral climate towards the press that could lead not only to threats of a verbal nature or to restrictions on journalism, but also possible effects of physical damage or damage to the work team.” APES condemned the incident in a detailed statement.

#Violencia| La @apeselsalvador condena agresión por parte de miembro de seguridad presidencial contra la fotoperiodista Jessica Orellana. pic.twitter.com/ytP8uLEZDr

— Revista La Brújula (@labrujula_rev) March 1, 2021

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by the recent attacks on journalists in the preview of elections. We urge law enforcement and governing bodies in El Salvador to ensure press safety. We demand the members of the security team who attacked Jessica Orellana be held accountable for their misconduct.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.