The norm, adopted on March 27, 2022, will be renewed for the sixteenth time from July 16 and, on this occasion, in addition to the repeal of various constitutional guarantees, will also introduce changes in the penal system for gang members.
Presenting the initiative to the assembly, members of President Nayib Bukele’s security cabinet, Defense Minister René Merino Monroy and Justice and Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro reiterated that it must be extended and maintained until the last gang member is on the street.
Since March 27, 2022, 71,479 terrorists, the legal term for gang members, have been arrested, from which more than 3,000 firearms, 4,690 vehicles, 17,359 cellphones, and more than $3 million in logistics, among other items, have been seized.
Merino added that the homicide rate was 7.8 per 100,000 people at the end of 2022 and has ranged from 1.9 to 2.8 this year, making El Salvador the safest country in the Americas.
The measure suspends the rights of defense under Article 12(2) of the Constitution, the 72-hour detention term under Article 13(2) and the inviolability of correspondence under Article 24.
Described by humanitarian organizations as a violation of human rights, the decree resulted in the arrests of more than five thousand innocent people, many of whom have been released by the government, and the deaths of more than a hundred Salvadorans in custody.
During the debate, Farabundo Martí Front MP Marleni Funes sharply criticized the ruling party’s arguments for institutionalizing this measure, reiterating that her party does not defend terrorists or criminals.
As every month, the passing of the law was preceded by fierce attacks between opponents and pro-government MPs, who again won their majority in the forum.
The extension was approved by 67 votes in favour, 10 against, two abstentions and five absent.
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