"The cells reserved for detainees of the same gang, it's over, we are now mixing all the terrorist groups in the same cell, in all the detention centers. The state respects itself! " It was with this angry tweet that the Salvadoran vice-minister of justice, Osiris Luna Meza, announced, on Monday, April 27, the end of the prison policy in force since 2002 in El Salvador, which consisted in imprisoning the members of the maras rival gangs that are spreading terror across the country to prevent murder in prison.
A decision that comes after criminal activity has resumed in El Salvador, which has had its bloodiest weekend since President Nayib Bukele came to power in June 2019: around sixty people were killed between Friday April 24 and Sunday April 26. This wave of assassinations breaks with the brake applied in recent months, in particular thanks to containment measures taken against the epidemic due to the coronavirus.
"The maras benefit from the fact that almost all of our security forces are busy controlling the pandemic", was outraged on Twitter President Bukele, who announced on Tuesday the arrest of a " large number " gang members.
Publication of photos
On Saturday evening, the head of state announced that "The use of lethal force (was) authorized for self-defense or for the defense of the lives of Salvadorans " and declared a state of emergency in penitentiary centers, in order to prevent detainees from being able to pass on their troops outside orders to commit crimes: opaque signs were placed on the doors cells, usually separated from the corridor by a simple grid, and all visits have been canceled. "No more rays of sunlight will enter these cells", thundered Osiris Luna Meza, also director general of penitentiaries.
To illustrate the implementation of his decision, Mr. Luna Meza published photos of detainees from the powerful rival gangs Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gathered in underpants, their heads shaved, their characteristic tattoos in evidence and, for the most part, without a protective mask against the epidemic due to the coronavirus.
"We will end the killings, I promise youBukele added Tuesday to Twitter, his preferred means of communication. It would not be the first time we get there. "
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