El Salvador Heightens Security Against Street Gangs | Here's the Number of Suspects Arrested by the Authorities in Connection to the Weekend Killings

El Salvador's government tightened its security against street gangs on Tuesday, following its declaration of a state of emergency over the killings that occurred on weekend.

According to Associated Press, the country's security forces intensified their operations, including mass arrests, and house-by-house searches in the country's neighborhoods.

The outlet also mentioned that the security forces are also cordoning off the neighborhoods to secure them against the street gangs.

One of the areas surrounded by the security forces was the San Jose El Pino neighborhood located in Santa Tecla. AP noted that soldiers wearing masks and carrying rifles stopped everyone from leaving and entering the neighborhood.

Backpacks and cars were also reportedly searched by the authorities. Identification documents were also required among those who wish to enter or leave the said neighborhood.

Resident Héctor Flores shared that he did not have any problems because he had his identification card. However, he claimed that the security officers search for everything.

The resident also shared some of the activities the police and the soldiers made in their neighborhood.

"The soldiers and police entered Sunday night and went house to house. I believe they took them [gang members] all, but they are still looking," Flores noted.

El Salvador Groups, Officials, Comment on Heightened Security Against Street gangs

Not all officials from El Salvador are in favor of the current heightened security in the country's neighborhoods.

Citizen Action Director Eduardo Escobar slammed the security forces that encircled the neighborhoods and stops everyone from entering and leaving, claiming that the state of emergency declared in their country did not include restrictions on mobility, per AP.

National Lawmaker Claudia Ortiz from the conservative Vamos party said that the transit was affected by the heightened security.

"Free transit was not limited [in the state of emergency] and there are already citizens denouncing the encircling of neighborhoods," Ortiz pointed out.

The heightened security in El Salvador came after the government's parliament declared a state of emergency on Sunday.

Human Rights Watch acting director, Tamara Broner, on Tuesday, condemned the move of El Salvador's government.

"The government of President Bukele should take serious and rights-respecting steps to address heinous gang violence in El Salvador... Instead of protecting Salvadorans, this broad state of emergency is a recipe for disaster that puts their rights at risk," Broner underscored.

Nearly 1,500 Arrested in Connection to El Salvador Weekend Killings

Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado said that nearly 1,500 gang suspects were arrested by the officials in connection to the killings, per AP.

According to NPR, the total number of killing that occurred around the country was recorded at 82. Those murders were known to occur last Friday Saturday, and Sunday.

Bukele ordered food for gang members held in Salvadoran prisons to be reduced to two meals per day. Authorities also seized the inmates' mattresses and even posted a video of prisoners being frog-marched through corridors and stairs. Furthermore, the inmates were also stripped to their underwear.

In a statement mentioned by NPR, Bukele said that those detained will not be released and that his order to cut the meals inside the prison is aimed to address the stretch in the food supply.

Bukele also mentioned that the international community should bring the inmates food if they are worried, contending that he will not cut money from the budgets allocated for the schools.

Human Rights Watch also commented on how authorities treat the gang inmates, saying that El Salvador's president may amount to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment agianst them.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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