It seems that El Salvador pres has went into full dictator mode in an attempt to demonstrate a tough on crime stance. While I applaud the effort, the way they are doing it and sweeping up so many seems like it will kneecap the country for long time to come. Of course, so is never ending exodus of people fleeing crime. Over 62k people arrested and incarcerated already, no trial, just judgement at arrest and off to prison. It appears that the pres is taking a very harsh stance while others believe that he is in business with the gangs that seem to be running the country Controlling crime and providing economic opportunity is the only practical way to slow illegal immigration. Sadly the US seems more intent on paying Mexico to host them than investing into security and opportunity in El Sal, Guatemala etc built the largest prison in the western hemisphere to hold 40k people. if they weren't hardened criminals going in, they will be coming out El Salvador bets safety on incarceration; unveils new prison | AP News When El Salvador began making mass arrests of people with suspected gang affiliations last year, President Nayib Bukele ordered the construction of what would be the largest prison in Latin America. This week, Bukele rolled out the completed project, a sprawling campus 45 miles (72 kilometers) east of the capital, that could eventually house 40,000 inmates. Dubbed the Terrorism Confinement Center, the prison will hold many of the more than 62,000 people authorities have arrested since the government suspended some constitutional rights and pushed an all-out offensive against the gangs last March. The effort enjoys broad support in El Salvador, but has been strongly criticized by human rights organizations and some foreign governments for its lack of due process and other abuses. Bukele put it in simple terms in a tweet Thursday: “El Salvador has managed to go from being the world’s most dangerous country, to the safest country in the Americas. How did we do it? By putting criminals in jail. Is there space? There is now.” El Salvador opens one of Latin America's largest prisons (nbcnews.com) Under the measure some constitutional rights have been suspended, including allowing authorities to make arrests without a warrant and giving the government access to citizens’ communication. With nearly two percent of its adult population behind bars, El Salvador has the highest incarceration rate in the world. The rising inmate population as a result of the anti-gang measures, which the vast majority of the population supports, has stretched the country’s already overwhelmed prison system. El Salvador’s largest prison, La Esperanza, currently holds 33,000 people despite having a capacity of 10,000. El Salvador’s Prisons Director Osiris Luna said the new prison will span over 410 acres, while 600 troops and 250 police officers will secure it. “All those home boys, those terrorists in the organization that made our beloved Salvadoran people suffer, will be house and subjected to a severe regimen,” Luna said on state television.
I spent a week in their Capitol. Everywhere you went bank mall (reasonably ok) bars, businesses of repute there were armed men (shotguns rifles). It was insane. We made one trip out of the city but we had an escort car (armed men) and we only travelled by day. It so sad to see people living in corrugated tin huts no windows no running water while in the Capitol there was a Porsche dealership with a freaking GT3 proudly on display. Meanwhile the truly rich had a massive gated compound complete with fancy restaurants bars and boutiques. A true he’ll hole and I see why they attempt to get here in droves.
Bukele put it in simple terms in a tweet Thursday: “El Salvador has managed to go from being the world’s most dangerous country, to the safest country in the Americas. How did we do it? By putting criminals in jail. Is there space? There is now.” El Salvador is the safest country in the Americas? I am going to need to see the receipts.
La Esperanza (the hope) what a name for a prison. My question is it hope for the prisoners being reformed or is it hope for the stability of a civil society? Either way you look at it those not imprisoned are the fortunate ones and whether this stops the gang mentality remains to be determined. One thing is certain though if you are the gang member advertising affiliation with tattoo's, clothing etc... may soon be a thing of the past. Then how to determine whose who in the zoo becomes the issue.
They seemed to have made progress vs when I was there circa 2014, but still yikes… https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/El-Salvador/United-States/Crime
the skeptic in me says it is hope to get reelected and send a message to the gangs that they will deliver when I call while solidifying my dictatorship.
The strategy is fairly simple. Incarcerate anyone who may be even remotely associated with a gang and later release those who have no gang connection. Seems that we (the US) may be partially for the policy considering that we have been pressuring El Salvador as well as other Central American countries (what Fox News once referred to as "Mexican" countries) to crack down on gangs.
Perhaps with the slow divestiture from Chinese manufacturing some of that money will flow to central and South America. The only way this gets better is if they have better opportunities.
Problem is that it’s chicken and egg. What business is going to want to invest in one of the most dangerous places in the America’s? Let alone a dictatorship.
They really don’t have any infrastructure or skills to do it. In another life I looked at opening a small factory to manufacture leather goods. It wasn’t feasible. OTOH I visited a factory that made clothe hangers for Walmart. 15 extrusion machines the size of a small bus running 24/7. Impressive but also surrounded by armed guards. They do make some nice hand made furniture there and in Honduras as well.
I applaud their brutal approach to rehabilitation. MS-13 gangs are even more ruthless than this. The group's motto, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, is "kill, rape, control." What Is MS-13 and Why Is It So Scary? | HowStuffWorks
Can confirm that they're very bad people. I was a prospective juror in a Federal case in which four members of MS-13 were charged with murdering a witness who testified against some other gang members. She was placed in the witness protection program (I believe she was given a new identity and relocated to Arizona). She was only 18 and probably because she became lonely she returned to Northern Virginia. As soon as the gang discovered her presence they lured her into a remote area and slit her throat. The four of them were found guilty and are now serving life sentences. I never got to hear the case. I was peremptorily challenged by one of the defense attorneys during the selection process (vior dire) and never made it the trial.
I’m not saying specifically El Salvador. I’m saying the whole continent. It’s already starting to happen.
Article in NYT on civil liberties issues but seeming success in gang suppression. I would not be surprised to find a US role in this as gang violence is a major driver of emigration from the Golden Triangle to US El Salvador Decimated Its Ruthless Gangs. But at What Cost?
The average person/family will always chose safety and security if given the choice. I don’t blame them. There will likely be a price to pay, but it sounds like for now the government’s harsh measures have been met with approval by the masses.
