El Salvador president gives police free reign to crack down on alleged gang members. With over sixty murders reported in 48 hours, the president of El Salvador Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency giving the police extraordinary power. The surge in violence to due to an increase in gang activity. El Salvador’s rise in gang activity is attributable to its faltering economy and lack of economic business, and job opportunities. In order to combat the violence, paramilitary police units were dispatched and over 6,000 purported gang members were detained and jailed. None of the arrestees were provided with an attorney, and neither were any bought before a judge to be formally charged. Civil rights monitors have criticized the actions of the El Salvordian president Nayib Bukele calling his actions an abuse of power. president Nayib Bukele Unmoved by his critics doubled down his actions. Issuing a stern warning to outstanding gang members that any retaliatory activity will result in harsher treatment of the detainees including deprivation of food.
