Mass arrests in El Salvador: “The right to defense of detainees has been blocked”

Published on: 07/06/2022 – 13:33 More than 35,000 people have been arrested in El Salvador since March 27, when parliament declared a state of emergency in an attempt to stem gang violence. Those detained are accused by the authorities of belonging to these gangs. But innocent people have also been arbitrarily arrested, and their rights have been violated, explains Lucrecia Landaverde, a criminal lawyer, on our show. On March 27, the Salvadoran parliament declared a state of emergency following the murder of 87 people in three days. Crimes that the authorities have attributed to “pandillas” – gangs. Initially planned for a period of one month, this exceptional regime has been extended twice. To date, it is supposed to last until the end of June. Since its establishment, more than 35,000 people have been arrested, accused by the authorities of belonging to the gangs. But innocent people are also among them, according to NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Cristosal (local NGO). On social networks, many Salvadorans denounce the arrest – wrongly, according to them – of some of their relatives. This Salvadoran denounces the fact that her brother has been detained for a month. “Is that right ? NO, it is not. We want justice, he’s innocent, he shouldn’t be [en prison]“, she wrote, on May 25. On May 9, the authorities acknowledged that 168 people arrested had nothing to do with the gangs and that they had therefore been released. But they haven’t provided any new figures since. framework of the state of emergency. In addition to the arrest of innocent people, she denounces the obstacles that exist to defend detained persons. Their right to defense has been blocked. For example, we are prevented from accessing the files, from knowing the courts where the hearings take place… Moreover, before the establishment of this exceptional system, the accused were entitled to a [première] hearing 72 hours after their arrest. Since the establishment of the state of emergency, this period has increased to 15 days, in theory. But there are people who stay more than a month in detention [sans que leur cas ne soit présenté à un juge], and their families do not know where they are or if they are alive. Since the establishment of the state of emergency in El Salvador, approximately 300 people have come to seek advice from Lucrecia Landaverde, concerning their relatives who have been arrested. © Photo by Lucrecia Landaverde. According to Cristosal and Amnesty International, at least 18 people have died in custody since March 27. For their part, the authorities evoke eleven deaths. Cases of ill-treatment, even torture, have been denounced by those who have been released. People wait outside “La Esperanza” prison, hoping to hear from their imprisoned relatives (May 2022). © Video shot by a Salvadoran woman wishing to remain anonymous. Approximately 1.7% of adults in El Salvador are currently in detention, which corresponds to a prison occupancy rate of more than 250%.>> To find out more, read our full article on the subject: Mass Arrests, Arbitrary Detentions of Innocents: El Salvador’s Way Against Gangs