- Title: El Salvador packs semi-naked gang members in cells to tout crime strategy
- Date: 5th September 2020
- Summary: QUEZALTEPQUE, EL SALVADOR (SEPTEMBER 4, 2020) (REUTERS) INMATES IN WHITE SHORTS, FACE MASKS AND PACKED INTO JAIL CELL TATTOOS ON TORSOS OF INMATES PRISON DIRECTOR, OSIRIS LUNA, ON PRISON GROUNDS PRISONERS PACKED IN JAIL, SITTING ON ROWS THAT ARE SET ON TOP OF EACH OTHER INMATES BEHIND BARS PRISONERS PACKED IN JAIL, SITTING ON ROWS THAT ARE SET ON TOP OF EACH OTHER INMATES BEHIND BARS TATTOOS ON INMATES' TORSOS AND CHESTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEMBER OF THE MARA SALVATRUCHA GANG, JOSE ANTONIO ALFARO, SAYING: "We have had health problems. We have lost companions from tuberculosis, among other illnesses that have resulted in death. Some of us who are here have recovered from the virus, the one called coronavirus." PRISONERS PACKED IN CELLS OFFICER ON DUTY NEAR PACKED CELL INMATES BEHIND BARS TATTOOED ARMS OF INMATES HANGING OUT OF CELL INMATES WEARING FACE MASKS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEMBER OF BARRIO 18 GANG, MELVIN GIOVANI FLORES, SAYING: "Zero communication with the outside. Nothing, that is the truth. We have faith in God that soon we can get visits, our mothers, our children, those who we most want." PACKED CELLS INMATES IN PACKED CELL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRISON DIRECTOR, OSIRIS LUNA, SAYING: "In every tour (of the prison), in every corner we see there is not one bit of graffiti for the Mara or a gang. This is from the measures that we are taking daily. This (tough measures in prisons) has not changed, as you can all see." INMATES IN PACKED CELL INMATE IN PRISON, GRAFFITI ON HIS FACE LUNA IN TOUR OF PRISON GUARD ON DUTY
- Embargoed: 19th September 2020 03:08
- Keywords: El Salvador President Nayib Bukele cells crime gang members inmates jails prison violence
- Location: QUEZALTEPQUE + SAN SALVADOR + COMALAPA, EL SALVADOR
- City: QUEZALTEPQUE + SAN SALVADOR + COMALAPA, EL SALVADOR
- Country: El Salvador
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,South America / Central America,El Salvador,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001CUEUSZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: El Salvador opened up the gates of an overcrowded prison on Friday (September 4) to talk up the success of its crime strategy, on the day that the country's attorney general said he plans to investigate allegations that the government of President Nayib Bukele is negotiating with members of a notorious gang to reduce homicides.
Reuters video captured jailed gang members stripped to underwear and packed together in cells on Friday's visit. The government claims its tough approach to policing the country's jails is bearing fruit.
Murder rates have dropped significantly under Bukele's government, which assumed power in June 2019. Homicides have dropped 56% between January and September this year, compared with the same period in 2019.
Bukele has attributed the drop to an increased police and military presence on streets and tighter security in gang-controlled jails.
When the number of homicides in the poor Central American country started to drop, Brussels-based International Crisis Group suggested it might be down to "quiet, informal understandings between the gangs and the government".
Local newspaper El Faro has published prison documents purportedly showing government dealings with a gang. The presidency did not respond to a request for comment but Bukele on Twitter called El Faro's article a "sham."
Director of prisons Osiris Luna has also called the allegations false. El Faro, citing the documents, reported Luna was involved in the negotiations.
Official prison documents that were not previously made public detail how Bukele's government has been negotiating with the leaders of the powerful Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, the paper said.
The gang would reduce violence in exchange for better prison conditions, El Faro said. The two sides have also discussed MS-13 support for the government in legislative elections next year, the paper said.
Several current and former officials of parties across the spectrum have been investigated and prosecuted for similar allegations of past agreements with gangs in exchange for benefits and electoral support.
(Production: Wilfredo Pineda, Manuel Carrillo, Paul Vieira) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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