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Recent pictures from the massive prison unveiled the horrific conditions inside the jail.
Recent pictures from the massive prison unveiled the horrific conditions inside the jail. The jail is built to house the most dangerous gang members of the country. This huge prison known as Cecot (Centre of Confinement of Terrorism) is in Tecoluca and can hold about 40,000 prisoners, which is equal to the size of two Madison Square Gardens. Pictures have been released by the Government of Salvador showing many shirtless prisoners who are heavily tattooed being moved to the maximum security prison. Prisoners of El Salvador live in constant fear of being killed or tortured while living in small, lit cells. Not even a single inmate from this prison has been ever released from the prison.
Recent transfer of over 2,000 suspected gang members
2,000 alleged imprisoned gang members are transferred by El Salvador to Mega Prison. Across the country, more than 2000 gang members imprisoned in different prisons were transferred to the Centre for the Confinement of Terrorism, which is considered the mega prison. President Nayib Bukele announced that the prisoners were transferred because of the fight against gangs in El Salvador.
Prisoners are forced to eat pasta, rice, or hard-boiled eggs with their hands because the guards are fearful that the prisoners can turn the utensils into weapons. The outing time for prisoners in a day is only 30 minutes because the prison authorities fear that the prisoners can harm each other using weights and dumbbells.
President Bukele’s crackdown on drug trafficking gangs
President Nayib Bukele has announced the transfer of 2,000 prisoners to Mega Prison. The president took to his social media account X and said, “We transferred more than 2000 gang members from prisons in Ciudad Barrios, San Vicente, and Izalco to Cecot.”
This transfer of prisoners is a part of President Nayib Bukele’s crackdown on the gangs of drug trafficking. Over the past two years, to combat street crimes, the authorities have jailed more than 70,000 people. President Bukele has assured that “the prisoners will pay for the crimes committed against people with no chance of leaving nor of ordering crimes from prison.”
El Salvador has extended the anti-gang emergency decree for the 24th time. The emergency is in effect for over 2 years. President Nayib Bukele has used this emergency power to arrest 78,175 alleged gang members, but due to insufficient evidence, the government has released almost 7,000 individuals.
Many fear risk of human rights violations in Cecot
In March 2022, since the state of emergency began, the authorities of El Salvador have violated and restricted basic human rights, including the right to life and prohibition against torture. This has led to forced disappearances, torture, and cruel treatment, with 190 deaths in custody due to poor conditions or torture.Amnesty International’s report has highlighted three major concerns: 1) large number of human rights violations 2) coordination of the state in enforcing these measures and 3) the efforts of the state to hide these abuses. Those who are detained under the emergency on the suspicion of being gang members are tortured by the authorities.
El Salvador’s history of gang violence and prison riots
Due to various gangs, crime in El Salvador has been historically high. By 2011, there were 25,000 gangs and another 43,500 in prison. The best-known gangs include MS-13 and 18th Street, who are targeted by death squads like Sombra Negra. El Salvador is known for its high level of violence. The civil war in Salvador resulted in about 80,000 deaths, and half of the population fled from poverty and violence. People moved to Los Angeles and California. The civil war ended with the Chapultepec Peace Accords, but violence in El Salvador has continued.
