MEXICO CITY: The United States government’s allegations that President Nayib Bukele’s administration negotiated with El Salvador’s powerful street gang touched on a sensitive topic. Past administrations in El Salvador have done this from both the left and the right and have paid a political price. Some former officials are facing trial over past agreements. The US Treasury said an investigation revealed that officials in Bukele’s government offered financial benefits to gangs in exchange for lowering the murder rate and political support in this year’s legislative elections, as well as offerings such as prostitutes and cellphones. Gave benefits to their imprisoned leaders also. The US government did not provide evidence, and Bukele has denied any deals with the gang.
Why are gangs a sensitive topic in El Salvador?
Street gangs, which originated in the United States and took root in El Salvador after gang members were exiled, are a force in Salvadoran society. They control neighborhoods and areas of the region. There is no reliable figure for how many gang members there are, but estimates are in the thousands. They commit extortion, carry drugs, kill, recruit children and restrict the free movement of people. Most of his leadership is imprisoned, but continues to run criminal enterprises.
The gang problem is like a cancer, said Carlos Carcach, research coordinator at the Higher School of Economics and Business in San Salvador. It is so present in everything that happens in the country that it is difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate.
Are there new deals with gangs in El Salvador?
No, previous governments have been accused of doing this for short-term political gains.
In 2012, officials in the government of then-President Mauricio Funes negotiated a ceasefire with gangs in the country, which reduced the murder rate, but was blamed for allowing the gang to consolidate and expand their territory. Various forms were offered to the gangs, including payment to members, but the most important was to imprison gang leaders from maximum security facilities to less secure prisons where they could continue their criminal activities.
Several former executives are being prosecuted for offenses related to that agreement. The Funes fled to Nicaragua where they found refuge. Bukele has been extremely critical of previous governments for making deals with gangs.
The U.S. government’s allegations against the Bukeles government are not the first. Local news outlet El Faro reported last year that officials were secretly meeting with gang leaders to strike a deal, which the president also denied at the time.
If it results in fewer murders, why shouldn’t the government compromise?
On the surface, the idea of the government tackling organized crime is distasteful. The government is responsible for the safety of the citizens. On a deeper level, it is an example of who really has power.
The decline in homicides is great, but must be met with good public policies, protections and effective investigations and prosecutions, said Leonor Artega, program director for Due Process of the Law Foundation, a regional Rule of Law organization based in Washington.
He said that what happened is that there are gangs imposing conditions and the government has accepted them. Given that this reduction is actually a compromise, a negotiation, its gangs who have control and who have now reduced the killings, may pick them up again tomorrow.
One problem is motivation, Artega said. He said that the aim of the government to enter into these talks is not to gain benefit for the people, but to gain political mileage.
Will this hurt Bukele’s popularity?
Bukele is extremely popular. He won over traditional parties from the right and left in 2019 after corruption scandals largely discredited him. His New Ideas party won legislative elections earlier this year, giving him control of Congress.
Bukele supporters applauded him for a drop in killings, early acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines and government handouts of food and laptops to school children.
I don’t see his popularity level decreasing dramatically, Artega said. People are more interested in finding some way to survive and get to a certain point with the gang.
Disclaimer: This post has been self-published from the agency feed without modification and has not been reviewed by an editor
read all breaking news, today’s fresh news And coronavirus news Here.