El Salvador: Nayib Bukele Criminalizes the Sharing of Gang Messages; Media Groups Push Back

El Salvador's Congress approved a request from President Nayib Bukele to criminalize media organizations or entities that will share gang-related messages.

Al Jazeera mentioned that Bukele made the request to El Salvador's Congress to curb the rising cases of homicide in the Latin American nation.

According to France 24, Congress approved the measure on Tuesday, which included a jail time from 10 to 15 years for offenders.

Reports noted that the reform to the penal code applies to those who "reproduce and transmit messages" that are from gangs or criminal groups, arguing that gang messages could generate anxiety and panic among the people of El Salvador.

Associated Press reported that President Nayib Bukele has lashed out at the media as well as non-governmental organizations and international bodies that critiqued some of the measures taken by his administration against the gangs.

The outlet furthered that Bukele also accused the media of siding with the criminals.

AP noted that the reforms passed the Congress with affirmative votes of 63 to 84 lawmakers. The measure went into effect when it was published on Tuesday night in the country's official gazette.

El Salvador's Media Groups on Nayib Bukele's Recent Move

Several media groups and entities retaliated against the recent mandate approved by El Salvador's Congress.

In a statement on Wednesday, the EL Salvador Journalist Association called the reforms a clear attempt at censorship of media.

"Prohibiting journalism from reporting the reality in which thousands of people inhabiting these gang-controlled communities live... will create an illusion that is not faithful to the truth," the group underscored, per AP.

The group also added that the measure requested by Bukele is a new tool to criminalize journalistic work, per France 24.

Inter American Press Association President Jorge Canahuati called the measure against the media a "legal gag" that will cause a profound consequence for the community of El Salvador.

"A country cannot block violence by censoring public opinion, since it is precisely in public debate that societies find the solutions to their problem," Canahuati pointed out.

Meanwhile, Journalist Association President Cesar Fagaoaga said on Wednesday that the reform is not only affecting the media, contending that the measure affects the availability of information for people.

"This reform is trying to get people to censor themselves and for us to not say anything," Fagoaga stressed.

However, the deputy of the ruling party, Marcela Pineda, retaliated against the media organizations and their heads, contending that the reform Congress approved does not seek to restrict the freedom of expression.

Pineda emphasized that the reform requested by Bukele aims to force responsibility in the messages promulgated among the people of El Salvador.

El Salvador State of Emergency

El Salvador declared a state of emergency on March 27, following the killing of over 60 individuals in just 24 hours.

Pres. Nayib Bukele's administration enforced several steps to control the gang violence, including an increase in the maximum prison sentence, and children will be allowed to be tried for most serious offenses, per Al Jazeera.

To date, reports mentioned that authorities from El Salvador arrested at least 6,312 alleged gang members.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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