Salvadoran gang crackdown: Difference between revisions
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The '''2022 Salvadoran gang crackdown''' began in March 2022, in response to a crime spike between 25 March and 27 March 2022 when 87 people were killed in El Salvador, which the government blamed on [[MS-13]]. The [[Legislative Assembly of El Salvador|Salvadoran Legislative Assembly]] approved a [[state of emergency]] that suspended the rights of association and legal counsel and increased the time spent in detention without charge was increased, among other measures that expanded the powers of law enforcement in the country. Since the declaration of the state of emergency, more than 34,500 people have been arrested, which has overcrowded El Salvador's prisons. Domestically, the crackdown has been popular |
The '''2022 Salvadoran gang crackdown''' began in March 2022, in response to a crime spike between 25 March and 27 March 2022 when 87 people were killed in El Salvador, which the government blamed on [[MS-13]]. The [[Legislative Assembly of El Salvador|Salvadoran Legislative Assembly]] approved a [[state of emergency]] that suspended the rights of association and legal counsel and increased the time spent in detention without charge was increased, among other measures that expanded the powers of law enforcement in the country. Since the declaration of the state of emergency, more than 34,500 people have been arrested, which has overcrowded El Salvador's prisons. Domestically, the crackdown has been popular among Salvadorans weary of gang violence. However, human rights groups expressed concern that the arrests were arbitrary and had little to do with gang violence, and US government representatives expressed concern about the violence in the country and the methods used to combat it; these comments were criticized by Salvadoran President [[Nayib Bukele]]. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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Revision as of 17:35, 28 May 2022
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The 2022 Salvadoran gang crackdown began in March 2022, in response to a crime spike between 25 March and 27 March 2022 when 87 people were killed in El Salvador, which the government blamed on MS-13. The Salvadoran Legislative Assembly approved a state of emergency that suspended the rights of association and legal counsel and increased the time spent in detention without charge was increased, among other measures that expanded the powers of law enforcement in the country. Since the declaration of the state of emergency, more than 34,500 people have been arrested, which has overcrowded El Salvador's prisons. Domestically, the crackdown has been popular among Salvadorans weary of gang violence. However, human rights groups expressed concern that the arrests were arbitrary and had little to do with gang violence, and US government representatives expressed concern about the violence in the country and the methods used to combat it; these comments were criticized by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele.
Background
For decades, El Salvador has had one of the highest rates of gang-related violence in the world. In 2015, its homicide rate was more than 100 homicides per 100,000 persons.[1] When Nayib Bukele was elected president in 2019, he declared that reducing violence was a priority,[1] and in 2021, the homicide rate reached the lowest it has been since the Salvadoran Civil War ended in 1992, with 18 homicides per 100,000.[2] Although the decline had begun in 2016, Bukele attributed it to his policies,[1] and it has been one of his most-touted accomplishments, with Bukele enjoying an "extremely high" popularity rating.[3] The United States government accused Bukele of negotiating a secret agreement with the gangs, reducing violence in return for financial and prison benefits; in December 2021, the US Treasury Department sanctioned two Salvadoran officials it claimed conducted the talks. Bukele called the accusations of making a deal a "lie"[1] and has denounced previous administrations who made similar deals.[3]
Crime spike
From 25 to 27 March 2022, 87 people were murdered in El Salvador,[4] including 62 people on Saturday alone,[1] the highest single-day tally in decades;[2] by contrast, 79 people were murdered throughout the entire month of February.[4] The victims were targeted randomly.[5] The government blamed the violence on Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).[6] William Soriano, a member of Bukele's Nuevas Ideas party, suggested the spike in violence was retaliation for the government's seizing control of two bus routes in the capital, which gangs often extort for revenue;[3] according to José Miguel Cruz, a research director at Florida International University, the gangs may have been sending a message to the government to try to obtain better terms.[1]
Government crackdown
During an extraordinary session early on 27 March, the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly approved a "state of exception".[7] The order, which was initially set to last thirty days but has been extended twice,[8] suspended the rights of association and legal counsel, increased the amount of time that persons may be detained without being charged from three days to fifteen, and permitted the government to monitor citizens' communications without warrants.[7] However, Salvadoran law enforcement was accused of violating even the expanded limits of their powers.[3][6] The government also restricted the ability of judges to offer prisoners alternatives to pre-trial detention, like bail and house arrest.[9]
Members of Nuevas Ideas passed new rules that increase prison sentences for convicted gang lords to forty to forty-five years (previously six to nine) and twenty to thirty years for other members (previously three to five)[2] and reduce the age of criminal responsibility, previously sixteen years old,[9] to twelve.[8] They also passed a law that threatens anyone who reproduces or disseminates messages from gangs, including news media, with ten to fifteen years in prison.[10]
The government deployed additional police and military forces,[11] raiding houses and creating checkpoints surrounding neighborhoods with known gang presences.[1] Soldiers checked everyone for identification cards and proof of address,[6] searched their vehicles and backpacks,[3] and refused to let anyone enter or leave without what they considered a legitimate reason.[6] Anyone considered suspicious was forced to strip so soldiers could check for gang-related tattoos.[6]
By the end of 27 March, Salvadoran security forces claimed to have detained 576 people;[5] within a week, almost 6,000 people had been arrested, straining El Salvador's already-overcrowded prisons.[6] Rations were reduced to two meals each day[4] consisting of only beans and tortillas;[1] Bukele explained that he would "not take budget away from schools to feed these terrorists".[7] Prisoners have also been denied mattresses and frog marched,[8] and Bukele ordered that all gang members be confined to their cells 24/7.[7] Despite the strain, the government pressured the police, military, and judicial to continue the mass arrests by setting arrest quotas.[9] After one month, more than 17,000 people had been arrested;[10] on 25 May, the National Civil Police announced they had arrested more than 34,500 people.[9] Many people were unable to learn where or why relatives were detained.[5]
Reactions
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Domestically, the crackdown was popular,[6] with many Salvadorans explaining that they were weary of violence.[12] However, human rights advocates have criticized the arrests as often arbitrary, based on a person's appearance or residence, and expressed concern that innocent people are being caught in the sweeps.[8] They have also expressed concern that the arrests have little to do with gang violence, suggesting Bukele will use them to consolidate power and target critics.[5]
A US State Department spokesperson condemned the rising violence in El Salvador,[13] and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the violence, and called on the government to "uphold due process and protect civil liberties",[13] to which president Bukele responded saying that "[El Salvador] received aid from the US, but under president Trump".[14]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Murray, Christine (5 April 2022). Written at Mexico City. "El Salvador's gang crackdown prompts fears of growing authoritarianism". Financial Times. London. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c "UN rights office raises concerns about El Salvador gang crackdown". Al Jazeera. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Alemán, Marcos (29 March 2022). Written at San Salvador. "El Salvador forces encircle neighborhoods in gang crackdown". Associated Press. New York City. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c "El Salvador locks down prisons after wave of 87 killings over weekend". The Guardian. Associated Press. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d Abi-Habib, Maria; Avelar, Bryan (28 March 2022). "Hundreds Arrested in El Salvador, Raising Fears of a Civil Liberties Crackdown". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Avelar, Bryan; Lakhani, Nina (5 April 2022). Written at San Salvador and Santa Tecla. "El Salvador reels as 6,000 people arrested in unprecedented crackdown". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d "El Salvador declares state of emergency after gang killings". Al Jazeera. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b c d Written at San Salvador. "El Salvador extends anti-gang emergency for another month". Associated Press. New York City. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d Brigida, Anna-Cat (26 May 2022). "Pressure to make arrests as El Salvador extends gang crackdown". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ a b "El Salvador extends state of emergency to curb gang violence". Al Jazeera. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ Brigida, Anna-Cat (28 March 2022). "Surge in gang killings spurs fear, uncertainty in El Salvador". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "El Salvador extends state of emergency amid gang crackdown". Al Jazeera. 26 May 2022. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
- ^ a b "Estados Unidos condenó el aumento de la violencia en El Salvador y exigió al gobierno de Bukele que respete las libertades civiles". Infobae (in Spanish). 10 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ EFE (12 April 2022). "Bukele tiene un mensaje para Biden: 'Sí recibimos apoyo de EU para combatir pandillas... pero con Trump'". El Financiero (in Spanish). Retrieved 16 April 2022.