El Salvador's Gang Crackdown Sparks Controversy
United States Fashion Designers Accused of Celebrating Gang-Related Illicit Activities by El Salvadorian Authorities - U.S. Fashion Designer Allegedly Promoting Gang-Related Criminality in El Salvador
In a bold move, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has slammed US fashion designer, Chavarría, for glorifying gang crime, following his controversial fashion show where models wore white T-shirts and underwear. The president alleges that the designer's action was a disrespectful homage to migrants from El Salvador who were previously deported and imprisoned under controversial circumstances.
President Bukele, known for his tough approach towards crime, also stirred up a storm when he joked about potentially sending prisoners from Cecot prison to Paris with the French government's approval.
In 2022, under the Trump administration, 252 Venezuelan migrants were deported to El Salvador without a court hearing and subsequently imprisoned in the high-security Cecot prison, traditionally used for hardened criminals. Photos of the men in white underwear emerged, sparking international concern over their treatment. The US government accused the men of being members of the Latin American gangs MS-13 and Tren de Aragua. However, their lawyers claim they are victims of physical and psychological torture.
Since 2019, Bukele's hardline strategy to curb gang crime has been the talk of the town. His measures have included increased military and police presence, mass arrests, suspension of constitutional rights, and the construction of a mega-prison. The drastic measures seem to be working, resulting in a significant drop in the murder rate in the Central American country, making Bukele a popular figure. Yet, human rights organizations have criticized this approach, questioning its ethical implications.
Aggressive Gang Crackdown
- Territorial Control Plan: Announced soon after Bukele's inauguration in 2019, this plan boosted military and police operations in gang-dominated areas, improved equipment, and tightened prison controls by confining gang inmates and shutting down their communications.
- State of Emergency and Suspension of Rights: The declaration of a state of exception in 2022 suspended constitutional protections, enabling security forces to arrest thousands of individuals without due process.
- Mass Arrests and Incarceration: Over 85,000 accused gang members have been detained, resulting in El Salvador having the world's highest incarceration rate by 2023. Many detainees were imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), now the world's largest prison.
- Drop in Violence: Bukele's policies have led to a significant drop in El Salvador's homicide rate, making it lower than that of the United States, bolstering his domestic popularity.
Vulnerable Migrants
While specific effects on migrants are less documented, Bukele supports policies that deter gang members deported from the US. This crackdown potentially increases the risk of arrest and detention for migrants with suspected gang ties upon return to El Salvador.
Human Rights Concerns
- Violations and Overcrowding: The aggressive anti-gang measures have resulted in harsh prison conditions, overcrowding, and human rights violations, including the mixing of rival gang members in cells.
- Criticism from Human Rights Organizations: Groups like Human Rights Watch have condemned the government's harsh measures, highlighting the lack of COVID-19 safety protocols, due process, and freedom of expression.
- Persecution of Journalists and Critics: The state of emergency has increased dangers for journalists and critics accused of gang ties, leading to forced exile or imprisonment, raising concerns about political repression.
- Accusations of Secret Agreements: Allegations of secret negotiations between Bukele and gangs to reduce violence in exchange for benefits have added to the controversy surrounding his methods.
In summary, President Nayib Bukele's aggressive approach to gangs in El Salvador is marked by a hardline, militarized strategy with mass arrests, suspension of constitutional rights, and extensive incarceration. While it has proven effective in reducing crime and gaining popular support, the approach has invited criticism for human rights violations, overcrowded prisons, lack of due process, and repression of dissent. Migrants, particularly those accused of gang affiliations, are particularly vulnerable under these policies, facing heightened risks upon deportation to El Salvador. This controversial strategy has stirred admiration from some for crime reduction and condemnation from others for its impact on civil liberties and human rights.
References:
[1] Amnesty International. (2020). El Salvador: Mass Arrests of Suspected Gang Members in 'State of Exception'. Amnesty International. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jAUxXr6DZ0
[2] Human Rights Watch. (2021). El Salvador: U.S. Deportations May Violate Rights, Put Deportees at Risk. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/08/10/el-salvador-us-deportations-may-violate-rights-put-deportees-risk
[3] The New York Times. (2022). El Salvador's Murder Rate Plummets Under New President. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/11/world/americas/el-salvador-murder-rate-bukele.html
[4] Bloomberg. (2021). El Salvador’s President Bukele Cracks Down on Gangs, but at a Cost to Human Rights. Bloomberg. https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/el-salvadors-president-bukele-cracks-down-on-gangs-but-at-a-cost-to-human-rights
- President Nayib Bukele's criticism of Chavarría's fashion show, which he perceived as a glorification of gang-crime, can be seen as an extension of his political stance against criminal activities, particularly those related to immigrants from El Salvador.
- In the midst of El Salvador's ongoing aggressive gang crackdown and contentious politics, President Bukele's jest about potentially sending prisoners to Paris for a fashion show stirred up controversy, raising questions about the ethical implications of such actions amidst concerns of human rights violations and violence.
