The government of El Salvador transferred thousands of suspected gang members to a newly opened “mega prison” on Friday (24), in the latest stage of a controversial crackdown on crime that has seen the country’s prison population soar.
“This will be their new home, where they will no longer be able to harm the population,” President Nayib Bukele wrote on Twitter.
About 2,000 accused gang members were transferred to the prison, which has a capacity of 40,000 people, considered the largest in the Americas.
In a video posted by Bukele, prisoners in white shorts, with their heads shaved, are seen running through the new prison to their cells. Many have gang tattoos.
Bukele urged his allies in the Salvadoran Congress to pass a state of exception last year, which has since been extended several times, which suspends some constitutional rights after a rise in murders attributed to violent gangs.
Since then, more than 64,000 suspects have been arrested. Arrests can be made without a warrant, private communications are accessible by the government, and detainees no longer have the right to a lawyer.
Human rights organizations argue that innocent people were caught, including at least dozens of people who died in police custody.
However, Bukele’s anti-gang push remains very popular with Salvadorans, and the country’s security minister told Reuters it will continue until all criminals are caught.
Source: CNN Brasil
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