Security forces encircle neighbourhoods in gang crackdown

SAN SALVADOR (AP):

Security forces intensified operations against El Salvador’s street gangs Tuesday with mass arrests, the cordoning off of neighbourhoods and house-by-house searches under a state of emergency that has raised concerns among some organisations it could open the door to human rights abuses.

Rather than back down under growing criticism, President Nayib Bukele appeared ready to double down, announcing late Tuesday that he had asked the president of the Congress to convene lawmakers to give him more legal tools to take on gangs.

The country’s relatively low homicide rate during Bukele’s administration had been one of his most touted accomplishments. Even while some raised doubts about how it was obtained, the country had been living in peace compared to earlier periods of bloodshed.

That changed last weekend when 89 people were killed in a four-day span, compared to 79 in all of February. The Congress passed Bukele’s state of emergency early Sunday giving authorities broad latitude in making arrests and extending jail time while investigations are carried out.

Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado told state television that in the past two days nearly 1,500 alleged gang members were captured “without firing a single shot”.

Only two murders were confirmed Monday compared to 62 on Saturday.

“I’ve been a victim of the gangs, I’ve paid them (extortion),” said Esteban Maravilla, who works in transportation. “They should lock them all up.”

Bukele enjoys extremely high popularity in El Salvador, but some heavy handed tactics have faced criticism.

Opposition politicians and non-governmental organisations say security forces are going beyond even their newly enhanced powers.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement Tuesday that the government should confront gang violence, but while respecting rights. “Instead of protecting Salvadorans, this broad state of emergency is a recipe for disaster that puts their rights at risk,” the organisation said.

INCARCERATED GANG MEMBERS

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights condemned measures that keep incarcerated gang members inside their cells 24 hours a day and reduce their food to two meals a day.

“The measures implemented in the prisons constitute policies of a repressive nature that can result in serious violations of the human rights of persons deprived of liberty,” the commission said.

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, said Tuesday the secretary general was concerned with the sharp increase in gang killings and trusted that measures taken by the government would be in line with international human rights law and standards.

Bukele responded via Twitter that the organisations criticising his actions now had done nothing to help El Salvador battle the gangs.