The endless emergency state has made people afraid of speaking, protesting or informing abuse.

El Salvador remains under a “State of Emergency,” which has become President Nayib Bukele’s primary—and only—security policy against gangs. Supported by thousands of reports of human rights violations, critics warn that this policy is becoming “a tool” to silence dissent.

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Originally approved as an extraordinary measure in March 2022 following a weekend of more than 80 homicides, the emergency decree has, according to the government, allowed authorities to combat gangs, reclaim territory from their control, and significantly reduce the homicide rate in what was once one of the world’s most violent countries.

Since the crackdown began, more than 87,000 alleged gang members or suspected affiliates have been detained. Human rights groups have reported numerous human rights violations—most involving arbitrary arrests—and more than 400 deaths in custody while under the control of state agents.

In recent weeks, critics have increasingly denounced the emergency measure’s use not only for gang-related violence but also as a means to stifle dissent and target critics of the government.

“The emergency rule is no longer about fighting gangs, but about suppressing social and popular discontent. The measure has stopped being a matter of security and become a political issue,” said Samuel Ramirez, coordinator of the Movement for Victims of the Regime (MOVIR), a group offering free legal assistance.

“The state of emergency is now understood as a mechanism that gives the president control because people are afraid to speak out, protest, or report abuses. And the government wants to make sure no one speaks up. People are afraid to protest. Human rights defenders and independent journalists have had to flee the country because of the emergency regime,” he added.

The text reads, “Nayib Bukele does not fully fit the classic definition of a dictator, given his democratic rise to power and broad popular support—84% approval in 2024. However, his actions—including control over state institutions, unconstitutional re-election, an extended state of emergency, and repression of critics—reflect an authoritarian style of leadership that undermines democratic norms. Whether Bukele is seen as a dictator largely depends on which aspect is emphasized: his success in dramatically reducing violence—El Salvador’s homicide rate dropped from 38 to 1.9 per 100,000 inhabitants between 2019 and 2024—or the erosion of the rule of law and human rights violations denounced by international organizations.”

On June 1, Bukele marked the first year of his second consecutive term. During that time, he has weakened institutions and the rule of law, while targeting civil society organizations and independent journalists. The country has witnessed widespread arbitrary detentions, criminalization of protest, illegitimate use of military forces, and efforts to restrict or punish those who assist victims of state abuses.

So far, humanitarian organizations have received more than 6,400 complaints of human rights violations—mainly arbitrary arrests and torture. Over 400 deaths of detainees in state custody have been reported, most showing signs of violence.

Ingrid Escobar, a lawyer with the group Humanitarian Legal Relief (SJH), which assists detainees’ families, said most rights violations occur outside the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), in prisons “where no one has had access.”

“SJH has testimonies from individuals who said they saw others being tortured into confessing they were gang members… They were suffocated with plastic bags or forced to inhale baking soda until they gave in and confessed,” she said, stressing that “in the country’s prisons, there are cruel, inhuman, and degrading practices.”

Kilmar Abrego, a Salvadoran migrant deported from the United States, alleged he was tortured during his detention at CECOT, the massive prison built to hold gang members.

“He was subjected to physical and psychological torture, including beatings, sleep deprivation, extreme overcrowding, poor nutrition, threats, and constant exposure to bright lights,” his legal team denounced.

Due to hundreds of cases like this,, El Salvador now ranks among the countries at the highest risk for torture, according to the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT).

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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