The government of El Salvador has been heavily criticized for its suspension of civil liberties in order to combat gang activity. Last week, the first 2,000 people accused of gang membership were transferred to a newly opened “mega-prison”, which has space for 40,000 people and is said to be the largest in the Americas. President Nayib Bukele celebrated the arrival of the alleged gang members at the prison, while human rights groups have decried the measures, accusing the government of empowering itself to act with impunity.
Despite the criticism, the crackdown has been widely supported by Salvadorans who credit it with reducing criminal gangs that have terrorized neighbourhoods for decades. An article in El Faro noted that the state of exception had produced tangible results for the population, but questioned its sustainability. Critics have also asked what would happen when those arrested are eventually released from prison.
In response, Bukele and his allies have stated that they will never be released. The prison complex is located 74 kilometres (46 miles) southeast of San Salvador, and consists of eight buildings with 32 cells that hold more than 100 people each. However, each cell only has two sinks and one toilet, and no mattresses.
The Salvadoran government’s decision to suspend civil liberties in order to combat gang activity has been met with both praise and criticism. While many Salvadorans have welcomed the reduction in criminal activity, human rights groups have accused the government of acting with impunity and disregarding key rights such as the right to a lawyer and private communication. The mega-prison’s warden has also revealed that inmates will not be provided with mattresses, raising further questions about the government’s commitment to human rights. It remains to be seen whether the state of exception will be successful in eliminating gang activity in El Salvador, or if it will simply lead to further suffering for those wrongfully imprisoned.