Salvadorans celebrate a year of living under a state of emergency
- March 27, 2023
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Salvador meets this Monday one year in a state of emergency, approved to root out banditry in the country, and which, although accompanied by a sharp drop in
Salvador meets this Monday one year in a state of emergency, approved to root out banditry in the country, and which, although accompanied by a sharp drop in the number of murders, drew a flurry of criticism from the authorities and international organizations, questioning the lack of democratic guarantees and human rights measures.
On March 27, 2022, after a day of over 60 assassinations, El Salvadoran President Naib Bukele declared a state of emergency greater deployment of police and military in the country’s most conflicted areas and the arrest of anyone suspected of belonging to gangs, such as the Mara Salvatrucha, that intimidated the population.
Since that day, which Bukele called “one of the most difficult” in his mandate and in his life, the Salvadoran authorities, including the national police or the president himself, have worked to create an image of greater security, publishing an almost daily balance of murders, which has been constantly decreasing. until there were no violent deaths recorded in the country.
Photo: Reuters
On the other hand, while the number of murders was on the decline, day after day the security forces confirmed the arrests of thousands of suspected gang members, up to exceeds 60,000 per year, thereby trying to legitimize a controversial decision that international organizations say has claimed innocent civilians.
The most draconian nature of this measure was confirmed in recent weeks, when El Salvadoran authorities confirmed the dispatch of up to 4,000 suspected gang members to Terrorism Deterrence Center (CECOT), a massive prison built in record time and able to accommodate up to 40,000 inmates to relieve the rest of the nation’s prisons.
Confirmation of these transfers was accompanied by publications by Bukele with quasi-propagandistic videos showing dozens of mobilized prisoners with little or no clothes – only white underwear – with their hands cuffed behind their backs and with gacha on their heads. In CECOT, they are expected not only to remain in prison, but to be included in social work programs such as street cleaning, cleaning schools and hospitals, and even building new facilities.
Photo: Reuters
The “safest” country in Latin America
Thus, while the opposition and abroad question the methods of guaranteeing the situation in the country, President Bukele pomps at his administration, which managed to turn El Salvador from “the most insecure country in the world” into the most insecure country in the world.l “Safer in Latin America” despite the fact that “experts said it was impossible.”
In fact, this Monday the president celebrated the first anniversary of his measure. “Exactly one year ago, we ended the day with 62 kills. It was one of the most difficult days of my life and for this government,” Bukele acknowledged on his official Twitter profile, where, like almost every day, he shared the new balance of violent deaths confirmed by the National Police.
Now, a year later, we close (the day) without killing, and March 2023 is close to being the safest month in our history,” said Bukele, who on his social media daily receives support not only from his fellow party members, but also from part of the population, which is almost 70 percent welcome his re-election.
Photo: Reuters
In his relentless quest to promote El Salvador as a safe country and take his mind off the region’s problems, Bukele has gone so far as to post promotional posters on Twitter – in a style reminiscent of early-century propaganda – in which the country is “New Land of Freedom” while away from drugs, gunfire, or tax hurdles.
Violation of an individual’s rights
While national authorities celebrate every day that they have somehow eradicated street violence, international organizations warn that Bukele’s leadership and mass detentions imply, at the same time, widespread violations of human rights.
Organizations such as Human Rights Watch report that since March 2022, “security forces have detained tens of thousands of people, including hundreds of children, and committed massive human rights violations such as arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment.”
For NGOs, despite “significant reductions in violence,” “severe restrictions on access to abortion, harassment and arbitrary prosecution of journalists and civil society organizations, and poor accountability of human rights bills” remain a concern. rights violations.”
Photo: Reuters
In a similar vein, Amnesty International stressed that despite the “popular” nature of Bukele’s response to some of the gangs that had been intimidating the population for years, “Public security should not be achieved at the cost of massive violations of human rights.”
“The authorities have eliminated the independence of the judiciary, committed acts of torture and carried out thousands of arbitrary detentions and violations of due process. Meanwhile, at least 73 detainees died in jail.“, the organization said.
Thus, President Bukele finds himself in a paradoxical situation in which the majority of the local population welcomes his leadership, knowing that from abroad they are persistently questioning the methods of the president, who has gone so far as to ironically proclaim himself “the toughest dictator.” in the world.”
(Europe Press)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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