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Alert

Journalist released from detention, still faces proceedings for "acts of terrorism"

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF welcomes the conditional release on 23 July 2007 of journalist María Haydee Chicas and three of the other people arrested with her on 2 July under the new anti-terror law.

The worldwide press freedom organisation said, however, that it regretted that Haydee Chicas was still facing proceedings for "acts of terrorism", a charge which had nothing to do with the incidents which led to her arrest. Although freed, Haydee Chicas cannot change her address nor leave the country and has to report to the court every two weeks until further notice. She is due to appear before the court in October 2007.

The arrest of Haydee Chicas and 13 others took place during a demonstration by residents of Suchitoto Cuscatlán, in the north-east of the country, against the privatisation of water distribution. Salvadoran President Elías Antonio Saca had promised to look into her arrest. The other nine are still being held in prison.