El Salvador Extends State of Exception for the 5th Time; Arrests Reach 50K

El Salvador has extended the state of exception in the country, making it the fifth time extending the measure to alleviate gang violence.

According to Prensa Latina, the measure was extended by the Legislative Assembly late Tuesday night with 66 votes. The request for the extension was made by Minister of Justice and Security Gustavo Villatoro.

"We have strongly impacted the terrorist structures... We have witnessed how Salvadorans were able to enjoy the safest vacations in history," Villatoro said in presenting the extension request to lawmakers.

Reports noted that only 12 lawmakers voted against the extension to the state of exception, which will expire on August 20, the Associated Press reported. The state of exception will be extended from next Saturday for 30 days.

Arrests in El Salvador During the State of Exception Reached 50K

On Wednesday, El Salvador's National Civil Police Director Mauricio Arriaza announced that 50,000 people had been arrested amid the implementation of the state of exception.

Rights groups and international observers have accused the government of committing "massive human rights violations" during El Salvador's crackdown on gangs. Many Salvadorans claimed that the authorities had detained their families even with no ties to gangs.

Virginia Guadalupe Solano Lopez, a Salvadoran, said her husband, Jose Alfredo Vega, was relaxing in his home with their daughter on March 27 when authorities took him away without explanation.

She noted that she had not seen him since. However, most Salvadorans favor the state of exception, saying peace in the streets was prevalent after the measure was imposed.

An association of bus companies noted that gang extorsion had decreased by 95%. On Tuesday, the National Civil Police reported that the homicide rate has dropped to less than one per day so far in August.

The agency's report said only 14 deaths were recorded in the first 15 days of the month following the application of the actions of the Security Plan and the state of exception. However, experts said focusing on arrest and mass incarceration will not solve El Salvador's gang violence problem.

"Governments should aim at strengthening democratic institutions in El Salvador, including by promoting judicial independence. Independent courts and prosecutors are needed to ensure justice for the victims of gang violence and to take serious steps to dismantle the gangs," said Juan Pappier, a senior Americas researcher at Human Rights Watch.

El Salvador's State of Exception

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele requested extraordinary powers after gangs in the country were blamed for killing 62 people on March 26, which paved the way for the state of exception.

The measure suspends an individual's right to be informed of the reason for an arrest and access to a lawyer. The government can also intercept the calls and mails of anyone deemed a suspect. It also authorizes officials to hold someone without charges from three to 15 days.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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