For more than 40 years, El Salvador was the literal murder capital of the world. Crime was so intense, that the government reported that in 2015 there were 103 homocides per every 100,000 people. The majority of crime wasn't even reported because of the intimidation of the gangs. Most of the crime was committed by MS-13, A gang created by El Salvador refuges in LA during the 80's. In an effort to reduce crime, many presidents were accused of negotiating with the gangs to lower murders. The gangs controlled nearly 247 out of the 267 provinces and charged extortion fees to leave provinces. The gangs were so prevalent and powerful that they didn't even conceal their crimes with them instructiong witnesses to "hear, listen but dont tell"
Everything changed when a new political entity began to form. The gangs were controlling the majority of political parties, so Nayib Bukele began the "Nuevas Ideas" party. In 2019, He became the first president not to be from either of the two major political parties. As an entrepenuer, business leader and leftist, he began to lead massive changes within the country. Most predominantly of these was the crackdown on gang violence. In June of 2019, Bukele began implementing anti-gang policies to cut them off, consequently the country reached the lowest homocide rates since the end of the civil war: 18 per 100,000. Policies include deploying troops to areas with significant gang presences, increased funding for the police and extreme lockdowns in prisons. On the 27th of march, 2022 the legislative branch approved a special period of exception which increased the powers of the prosecution and gave the government the abilitity to monitor people without a warrant. It also drastically increased the punishments available for gang lords, from 6-9 years to 45-49 years in prison. In addition to this the government also lowered the age at which people could be prosecuted from 16 to 12.
On the 25th of may, the national civil polic announced they had arrested 34,500 people due to arrest quotas. This put immense strains on the budgets for prisons. Bukele denied increasing spending for the quality of life for prisoners claiming they were not important. Currently meals are rationed to twice a day and they are not allowed outside of their cells. Outside of their cells the government began to remove the headstones and graves of known gang members to prevent them from becoming martys. When asked about this the minister of justice claimed it to be like de-nazification, with the government also relating the gangs and nazis many times over. In 2023, a new superprison was announced capable of holding 40,000 inmates, TCC.
Politically, the government crackdowns have been considerably highly approved, 70% approve of the crackdowns and 85% approve of Bukeles leadership. Critics have said his ruthless pursuit of crime has crossed lines with civil liberties. Bukele has been well recieved among the international community, with many in south america copying his agenda in their political campaigns. Personally i'd be very glad to see law enforcement take harder stance, especially in cities with high crime rates like Seattle. Many questions are still remaining concerning the state of the nation, are the governments powers justified in this state of emergency? Is the treatment of prisoners in their detentions and jails fair? What about the lack of civil liberties? Is cereal a soup?
Replies
I don't think people should be treated unhumane because of their choices. Although they could've done the unthinkable, they still deserve the basic human rights that everyone should have. They should also be in better living conditions that the jail can even afford.
When you deny other human beings of their most fundamental human rights not to be raped and murdered, you lose your privileges as a human being. If you were the victim of the gangs and cartels that were once in El Salvador, would you still say it is undeserved punishment? Why do you say the prisoners deserve better privileges, and what government programs would you propose the government reduce funding from so that gangseters, murderers and rapists can live in decent priviliges? Many of the regular citizens of El Salvador do not have fair living conditions, should the prisoners have higher priority than them?
I feel as though both of these comments are on the extremes of both sides. While there is absolutely nothing wrong about that, I think that finding a middle would be much more effective. Perhaps jails should be put lower on the priority list, but maybe the prisoners' quality of life should be high enough for them to go outside once a day.
2.) Due to the crimes some criminals have committed, I think the conditions they face, are fair and justifiable. On the other hand, if they were forced to sleep on a cold, concrete floor, that would not be fair, but due to them having beds, food, and clothes, I think the punishment is understandable. But in the end, I could also agree that younger people in gangs do not deserve to be in jail or prison for 6-49 years, especially because not all of the crimes that are committed are federal and as serious, as something like murder is.
I don't think these rules are fair or right like people being at 12 too 16 or 6-9 years became 45-49 years in prison is a dastic inrease for people to be in jail Psones are not being treated faily not being able to leave your cell must make you go crazy And no cereal is not a soup.
I feel like the treatment is a complex issue, but I feel as if the prisoners should be treated with dignity and respect regardless of what they have done in the past. If the prisoners did do something terrible then I don't know what they expect. They committed a horrible crime, to begin with, that is how they got there. But aside from that we have to take in the conditions that they live in and how some places can be very harsh. They need to have enforced laws with their legal protection.
I think the prisoners are being punished unfairly, no body should get away with what they did but they are humans, not savage animals, they were just fighting for what they belived in.
I think the prisoners are being treated very strictly. I also think there shouldn't be punishments because they are already being punished for being in jail so I don't think they need to be punished more. I also think that some ways people are treating the prisoners is unfair.
I don't think these rules are fair or right, like people being prosecuted at 12 to 16 or 6-9 years became 45-49 years in prison is a drastic increase for people to be in jail. Prisoners are not being treated fairly, not being able to leave your cell must make you go crazy. And no cereal is not a soup.
I think that the punishment is a little to harsh, i think the punishment should be as bad as there own actions. I don't think cereal is a soup and it is already determined that it is not a soup.
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