crime
State of emergency extended again in El Salvador
A man arrested for alleged gang connections is handcuffed awaiting transfer to jail. photo
© Salvador Melendez/AP/dpa
War against gangs in El Slavador: State of emergency is extended once more. More than 50,000 suspected gangsters have been arrested so far. Human rights activists speak of arbitrary detentions.
The state of emergency remains in force for a sixth month in the fight against the powerful gangs in El Salvador. Parliament extended the state of emergency for the fifth time in a row.
More than 50,000 suspected gang members have been arrested since the state of emergency began in late March. Human rights activists speak of arbitrary detentions.
The government of President Nayib Bukele, on the other hand, argues that the state of emergency has enabled great successes in the so-called war against gangs in the Central American country. According to Bukele, the number of homicides has recently fallen significantly.
Defense Secretary Francis Merino recently said the state of emergency would last until the last gang member was brought to justice. According to government figures, around 70,000 gangsters belonged to the gangs before the state of emergency began. A number of fundamental rights were suspended as a result of the state of emergency, such as freedom of assembly and the secrecy of telecommunications. In addition, laws have been tightened – membership in a gang alone is to be punished with 20 to 30 years in prison.
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