Inside El Salvador’s gang crackdown - BBC News

For decades, rival gangs ruled the streets of El Salvador, earning the country the title of murder capital of the world.
But last year, the country’s President Nayib Bukele declared war on gangs, imposing emergency security measures and giving police sweeping powers of arrest.
Despite thousands of gang members now being behind bars, there is a dark side to the crackdown.
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#ElSalvador #BBCNews

[@storm8192]

"Where were you when the gangs were killing our children" President Bukele. Extreme situations call for extreme actions.

[@mrb2643]

80 people murdered in my country a day. 50 000 rape sexual assaults annually. Hundreds of police killed. The only time it was checked in the past decades was during covid lockdowns,military n cops were put and lethal.

[@ronalburgos3855]

True ! Al rato voy de visita ya que en 7 años no he ido a El Salvador 🇸🇻

[@Locofriends.]

​@@ronalburgos3855I'm here rn and is chill

[@ronalburgos3855]

@@Locofriends. Thats great, some of my cousins including my big sister are married to Mexicans but we are from El Salvador my siblings from my dad’s side were born here in California. I am the only one born in El Salvador. Como decirte va paja no me dan a mi lol 😎🇸🇻🇺🇸

[@Locofriends.]

@@ronalburgos3855 I was born in USA and my grandmother lives in el Salvador

[@LuisMontoya59]

El Salvador is becoming an example to many. 365 days without a crime. 40% of emigration has stopped, Royal Caribean and 11 cruise line are decking in ES, New Mega Library, 1500 remodeled schools, satellite internet for all, new hydro electric power , 40% of increasing tourism visiting, New highways , thank you Nayib Bukele

[@marciabarreto780]

Amazing!! God bless this man and his people!!

[@LuisMontoya59]

@@marciabarreto780 🙏🙂

[@EbonySaints]

365 days without a murder, much less any crime? You don't seriously believe that, right? Even countries with insanely low crime rates have at least one a year. Going off of Wikipedia and data from the UNODC, the only countries that had no murders recently were the Vatican, a few British territories, and Monaco. Even Luxembourg had one. Reading the statement translated by the Telegraph, one of his reps clarified that to mean that there were 365 days since Bukele took office without a murder. Which is fair, I'm glad that El Salvador has fixed its gang problem. But it's not zero and even Monroy said that there were 496 last year, which is not zero.

[@JulieVoutet]

A Lot of corruption too .. Bukele an his family are very happy ...

[@davidlanceescandor1310]

@@JulieVoutet As long as the people are happy and arent under gang rule, they wont care as much.

[@buzabuba7326]

I wonder if those “human” rights groups are “dismayed” with the murders those gang members committed…

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Those idiots blame governments no matter what happens. The secret is these rights groups just want to bark orders and berate authorities for being to stupid to do anything.

[@aritragupta4182]

I don't think they get paid to be "dismayed" by those deaths. Because the victims are of the wrong kind - innocent everyday people.

[@houssedecouette4056]

they dont give a fuck they only exist to give moral speaches

[@peterCNGrblx]

Brutal ones at that.

[@sphixion]

Those human rights groups should team up with the homeless advocates and take all those they want to help into their own homes and backyards.

[@thesixth2330]

Let's be honest, there aren't too many mothers that'd be honest about their child's criminality, especially once that child is arrested...

[@Imafuckingpandanigga]

It’s hilarious because the mother was caught lying. Her son had been with gang members for a while, even after the crackdown started but technically he’s not affiliated to MS13. Fuck them families. I lost loved ones to MS13, these “human rights activists” didn’t.

[@JC-qi5bn]

I like how there is absolutely no explanation about the circumstances of the arrest. What do the police accuse her son of doing? I'm sure there are some being arrested unfairly, but with zero context this could easily be a justified arrest.

[@houssedecouette4056]

true

[@sambradley7393]

The issue is that the Salvadoran police can arrest without warrants. Most of these arrests aren’t for committing specific crimes, but rather on loose suspicion of being associated with gangs.

[@Muddy.Teabagger]

yep its like that when people die that are criminals, people come out the wood work saying there nice people butt in the end that dont matter as there doing crime.

[@toothlessseer3153]

I get sick listening to these mothers lying about their sons being innocent. 🤢🤮 Most of the arrested have their entire bodies covered with MS-13 and other gang tattoos

[@convoyjack3310]

What do you expect from these people with jungle rot in their brains

[@MrMisterDerp]

Right 😂, I say if they find any trace of a gang tattoo on them then it’s instant life in prison

[@hnacs8117]

@@MrMisterDerpidk if you’re being sarcastic but if someone has a gang tattoo that means they have killed someone.

[@rotciv1492]

​@@MrMisterDerpWell. If you got a gang tattoo and are discovered by a rival gang, they will end you. If you got a gang tattoo only for faking as a member of a gang and then are discovered by them, that exact gang will end you for pretending to be one of them. If you got a gang tattoo, you'll get targeted by the police. If you got a gang tattoo, you might get alienated by friends and family. Conclusion: having a gang tattoo pretty much proves you're a gang member. Unless you are retarded or have a death wish.

[@prouddegenerates9056]

@@MrMisterDerp It’s not wise to get tattoos that mean you killed someone for fun.

[@KeithRingo]

I've never heard a criminals mother not declare their son is a Saint.

[@cdean2789]

He didn't look like he was covered in gang tattoos

[@al85v]

@@cdean2789 you don’t know, I do believe mistakes can be made but the son could be hidden the truth from his family etc, best is to prove his innocence

[@marciabarreto780]

LOL

[@Atite_Lometen]

@@cdean2789 lol There is a lot of them that don't have tattoos, they could be lower ranks like "look-outs" that is the rank at the bottom of the pyramid, and they are not arresting only gang members they are arresting their collaborators too, there is a lot women involve as well.

[@TheAlbinoskunk]

"He was turning his life around"

[@Samael-Metzger]

How about the human rights of the victims of gang violence? Tough times require tough measures. Good for this President and for El Salvador. Every mother's son is innocent.

[@liamg1706]

I think you are missing the point. It's about establishing who is innocent and who is not.

[@spooky_zen]

how about due process

[@Samael-Metzger]

@@spooky_zen They aren't the U.S. Second, how do you know they aren't getting due process? If there laws aren't being followed, they have a judiciary to hear the claims. Right now they are in a domestic war to protect their country. This would justify martial law, which suspends due process and habeas proceedings.

[@spooky_zen]

@@Samael-Metzger it said in the video alot of them have not gone through the process and other sources confirm that. The prison is inhuman i bet u facist sheep would have a different perspective if the gov came busting down ur door. the drug war is a man made problem the manifestion of hundreds of years of latin american imperialism. if they really wanted to a safe latin america they would legalize and regulate

[@CB-cv9yh]

​@@Samael-Metzger It is a fact their is no due process as the government itself put a "temporary" stop to it over a year ago. It's not an assumption @spooky_zen made up.

[@mr_bluegreen2214]

My mom is from El Salvador, I have family in El Salvador; my wife and her family are from El Salvador, they do live in Soyapango. I have walked there, day and night and I saw how much safer the people are there, they are thankful for what their president has done. Yes, some people have been wrongfully arrested and I hope it gets sorted out fast. My wife says she has never seen so many people out at night in her town. I thank their President too. BTW: The people from El Salvador are called Salvadorians not El Salvadorians. You don't need the El. 😊

[@taiwanownschina4954]

I heard that before the crackdowns, criminals were walking into people's homes and taken daughters away for whatever .... Glad your homeland is getting safe now.

[@cdean2789]

Are most of these gang members covered in tattoos?

[@cdean2789]

I hope your country finds peace one day.

[@houssedecouette4056]

@@taiwanownschina4954 these gang members are animals

[@Atite_Lometen]

@@taiwanownschina4954 The gangs found out that one army service man was living in their neighbourhood so they took his eight year old son in the middle of the day and chop him up in the main street while he was still alive so everyone could hear and see what happens to you if you are close to law enforcement, they left his body parts in a pile so everyone coming back home could see it. They kill seniors, woman and children without thinking twice. Once they burn a bus and stand watching and laughing while shooting the people that was trying to get out of the bus. 17 people lost their life. And there are worst things they've done but it would be too much to write.

[@jeffsiegwart]

El Salvador is in survival mode in dealing with gangs. There will be some unexpected injustices. They will get a handle on it over time and things should improve.

[@clanmacmillan4483]

Yep. You are who you hang out with. Spend time with gangs 24/7 even if you didn't directly commit a crime, you're enabling them.

[@liamlinson7563]

@@clanmacmillan4483 that has to be the most retarded twitter take of all time, if you didnt commit a crime then you shouldn't be sent to jail and if you were then you have every right to sue the justice system

[@Nova_Ash]

Killers dont have human rights, Well done Elsalvador

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Dude, there's literally no difference between the killers and the surrounding population. These are simply the men who had means, motive, and opportunity.

[@duncanchizizi6543]

@@samsonsoturian6013 in such a situation you don't even think of human rights... otherwise the country will be in continued mess. These foolish human rights groups didnt speak when people were being killed in the Streets.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

@@duncanchizizi6543 one mass of pirates versus another?

[@duncanchizizi6543]

@@samsonsoturian6013 the situation is under control now. If you are not from that country you will not understand. Go there and ask people. The public is now feeling more safe in the streets and there is more than 90% approval of the operations. The president too has probably highest approval ratings in the world today. That must tell you something. Gangs brought the country to a halt.

[@traceler]

@@mylesaway3393 no everybody killed in Germany during Uk bombings were Nazi, they killed children and woman in the fire bombing of Dresden, but probably they had no other way to defeat Germany than to destroy all their cities. Even when targeting a terrorist sometimes other people get hurt today.

[@StanRT]

Have you ever known a mother of a murderer say that her son is guilty?

[@cdean2789]

He didn't look like he was covered in gang tattoos. Even in American people can be wrongly arrested.

[@FlatEarthKiller]

@@cdean2789or BBC showed a picture of him pre-gang?

[@srgoti8234]

Yes, but i get what you’re trying to say

[@theImmortalsquirrel87]

He had a long sleeved shirt on 😮​@@cdean2789

[@Newdivide]

Nope they are in denial

[@forgofire5583]

President Bukele is a breath of fresh air

[@CarlosLopez-bq9lz]

Well done Bukele.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

Bukele is just as dirty as the rest of them

[@st.thomasredevelopment]

JAMAICA NEEDS THIS 🇯🇲

[@Atite_Lometen]

First the reason this president won the election is on his promise to stop corruption, his slogan was "there is enough money for the country if you don't steal it" because the past 40 years every government between the conservative and the liberals in power has stolen billions of dollar when they were in power. this old politicians had treaties with this gang members and some of them even made money out of the extortion of people. His new political party has destroy the conservative party and the socialist party to pulp. So unless you can stop corruption in your country than you can do this cause you need resources and to pay police more and that what this guy did.

[@user3r74uz3u3]

​@@Valhalla-vk7hfyes....but its beautiful and reliefing that the change is possible if enough people stand together..people look at world in white and black collors while everxthing is possible

[@user-td1me4tv3u]

The whole world needs this.

[@kdg.04]

Central America as a whole does

[@playaccount589]

Can I tell you but politicians in ja would never

[@MrRoque-pg3yr]

I applaud 👏 El Salvador’s President for making his country safe. Don’t listen to the critics.

[@fairplayer7435]

To him getting re-elected added more joy to the story. He's a great leader of his generation.

[@longjidalu3845]

Why are people so evil? These gangs must be crushed regardless of the price as it would be worse if allowed to continue unchallenged.

[@Gabsboy123]

Because they don't realize that democracy and rule of law have failed and the El Salvador president realized that violence is the only way to destroy the gangs and bring peace to the country once again

[@MahoCan]

well done Elsalvador

[@robertglennon8284]

Speaking from South Africa - and all I can say is we need a response like this over here. Gender based violence, drugs and gangs are rife, and nobody seems to be able to do anything about it. Our police are basically a laughing stock 😢

[@nobs997]

ANC is so corrupt to the core that will never happen

[@Arab--Man]

I'll be honest , segregation is the best option available at the moment, it should've never been abolished, or get yourselves an Arab president like Rl Salvador, safety before food

[@Stoxks]

No El Salvador is a racial homogeneous society which has a gangsterism problem. However South Africa crime was created by the racist apartheid society which was built for the white minority. Crime in South Africa is a product of economic inequality experienced by one racial group. Until the economic crimes of white ruled South Africa are changed, the crimes will always exist.

[@lightbody232]

i hope it getting better there, i will pray for South Africa from palestine!.

[@LordDirus007]

As an American, I actually would consider El Salvador as a Vacation spot. Never would consider that a few years ago.

[@facediaper09]

I'm here right now. I fell asleep with my door open the other night 😂 It's safer than Denver or Orlando where I have homes.

[@okboomer6201]

Can they do this in the big USA cities too?

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

you mean shutdown the corporate headquarters in the downtown highrises? CIA drug bank smuggling are the real criminals in the U.s.

[@grandtheftavocado]

Would be easy, they just don’t want to do it

[@voidisyinyangvoidisyinyang885]

@@grandtheftavocado Minneapolis just arrested 45 gang members at the same time as a Federal FICO FBI raid.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

No need. Law enforcement solves most gang killings.

[@nikeairjordanfly]

those big cities are run by democrats, so probably not

[@conradcoolerfiend]

Innocent people will be harmed if they do or they dont. the question is which route is preferrable, have innocent people mixed into arrests, or have the whole population scared to live normal lives. I don't envy their situation!

[@Atite_Lometen]

What is worst, having 1200 innocent people arrested or have 50 homicide daily plus extortion and not freedom of movement, is not rocket science. Total death toll in the past 30 yrs 120,000. Only one option hurts innocent people. and this segment fails to mention that they have release 1200 innocent people so far.

[@beyondseeker7250]

Excellent point.

[@LunaticTheCat]

Very good point.

[@liamp.8826]

Take notes US and Europe! That's how you treat criminals!

[@stc3145]

Europe and even the US dont have this problem so this solution would not work

[@blue-9-2-199]

​@@stc3145 Us dont have this Problem?? Lol do reaserch murder Rate in Chicago,Detroit,New york and LA including Mass shooting and School shooting

[@Instead2]

@@stc3145 82 school shootings per year is not a good thing!!! 48,830 murders from guns alone in a single year is not a good thing!!!!

[@anibalmiranda2733]

​@@stc3145 what do You mean?Europe and USA don't have these problems? Explain yourself better.

[@honourisnotbought.4225]

@@anibalmiranda2733 perhaps america does have these issues, but the per Capita homicides in USA even then are far lower than in El Salvador, you have to remember USA is the world's 4th most populous country, El Salvador is like an ant in comparison. More than 50× less people! Yet the daily homicides were higher in El Salvador than in USA. El Salvador has a major gang problem, consisting of EXTREMELY LARGE gangs made up of tens of thousands of members 50000+. In the USA it is not like this. There are smaller gangs, but the brutality of the gangs differ big time. Those in El Salvador are murderous psychos when compared to their US counterparts. Europe as a whole is a very safe continent, same thing applies them, only thing is they have a larger population than USA and the homicide rate is lower.

[@conradcoolerfiend]

El Salvador is a dictatorship now. It is actually an extremely effective form of governing, as long as the dictator remains doing the will of the people and not becoming corrupt. It's a high risk high reward strategy, hope the leader stays good for the long run.

[@marciabarreto780]

Very well said, my friend. I really hope it stays good there.

[@Atite_Lometen]

Is not a dictatorship, the country is in state of emergency, that what would be call in your country if this was happening. Canada did the same when the truckers took over the capital and torture the resident for two weeks, imagine that happening for 30 years.

[@asw654]

@@Atite_Lometen Dictatorships always come from varying states of emergency. The only reason people people try to deny this is because it's a term with so much baggage in the West. Everyone wants to claim dictatorship is always bad, but sometimes it can be justified.

[@Atite_Lometen]

@@asw654 You are wrong, he was elected by a voting process, and the reforms he has done is to get rid of all the vermin that was running the country for the past 40 years, they banana republic politicians that are back by western identities, that would like to see every Latin American country end up like Haiti.

[@Mutterschwein]

Yeah same thing with China. We can all yell "dictatorship bad" but for better or for worse, when the CCP wants something done they get it done quickly without wasting months or years of bickering.

[@SunbeamGiant]

Congratulations El Salvador

[@charlestruter7171]

Once again everyone is demanding that the bad people (who are now in jail) must be treated well. This world has gone to the dogs!

[@CB-cv9yh]

IDK who "everyone" is but a lot of us with family in El Salvador and citizens over there are just fine with the conditions and regulations implemented in the "mega prison" opened this year.

[@charlestruter7171]

@@CB-cv9yh I am talking about the "everyone's" in the world who always demand that the bad people must be treated with dignity while the people who suffered under these gangs are happy that they are now in prison. i wish the New Zealand government will do something about the gangs but they even paid them $3 million to appoint a spokesperson to tell us how good the gang members are. 😢😢

[@CB-cv9yh]

@@charlestruter7171 Ahhh yes. The good old bleeding hearts who have come out of the woodwork crying about human rights for prisoners. Half of who a decade ago when El Salvador had one of the highest murder rates per Capita where nowhere to be found 🦗🦗

[@LunaticTheCat]

I think people are more worried about totally innocent people getting swept in this crackdown.

[@charlestruter7171]

@@LunaticTheCat- There will be collateral damage and we hope it is kept to the minimum, but the problem must be fixed first and the problem is the gangs.

[@robertoh.20]

after leaving the country as a teenager in 1989, i was able to return this year for the first time, i loved it, and i'm going back next year.

[@putzak]

The only way to deal with criminals, good on them.

[@bonnierumboll-harding6792]

That’s wonderful that it sounds like the corruption has been curbed there

[@conradcoolerfiend]

well they are essentially a dictatorship now. so it will improve as long as the dictator remains benevolent. if he corrupts then they will be screwed once again

[@saulcortez-alvarado401]

Yes, so my understanding was that the people in office prior to Bukele were very corrupt and kept all of the country's money for them and their families. Bukele kicked out a lot of people in power and rearranged government positions (not sure about the details). With this administration new jobs have opened for the poor and have provided hope for the future. I was just there a couple of weeks ago and I saw a lot of construction opportunities that were never a thing back in early 2010s (that's when I was like 10years old) There's new hope and the country is much safer

[@drewhoffman1461]

Sometimes you have to send a message regardless of the consequences. Looks like the message has been heard and the country is a safer place.

[@user-qm2sz4ix1v]

President Bukele is a hero of the Salvadorian people.

[@noelcampos5083]

I was born in El Salvador and I was raised most of my life there and I couldn’t even go outside to play most times because of the gangs I couldn’t go out after 6pm because if I was out after 6pm I would either get beat and robbed or killed. My uncle got killed by a gang for no reason I saw him get killed when I was around 6-7

[@noelcampos5083]

He got killed by MS

[@Omgiamsotriggered]

Sorry for your loss of your uncle. Do you still live there? Hows the life for you now after all the Bukele measures? I hope life is becoming better after living thru hell, so sorry that you and your people had to go thru 7 layers of hell because of corrupted incompetent leader who let that happen in the first place.

[@danielaortega7143]

Where were these humanitarian groups when young girls were being raped killed and trafficked by these gangs where were they when you couldn’t order a pizza or you couldn’t go out past a certain time because of the fear of games? Were they dead? Where were they?

[@thecaptaintaz420]

As an adopted Salvadoran/American citizen born there during the war, and seeing the effects of gangs and thug culture here. I applaud the president. Its sad to see the people who str innocent but this has gotten out control. Its funny to see how a bunch of english forgeiners speak so freely about a county they dont live in or reallt give a care about but at least he was honest how people feel. I pray for the innocent. But love to the change in the country already

[@marciabarreto780]

They speak about it because they have heard about the country's situation and are happy about the improvement ! It is pure and simple empathy.

[@thecaptaintaz420]

@@marciabarreto780 i was more expecting a condemnation but he eas fair and I appreciate that

[@saulcortez-alvarado401]

Agree, I'm the son of a Salvadorian born Americanized mom and dad, and the changes have been drastic. I just got back from El Salvador and it's much safer than what it was when I last visited (age 9). To hear foreigners who do not understand the dynamics of El Salvador ~3 years back is absurd. The country is heading in the right direction and I'm glad that Bukele is leading the country to a better tomorrow filled with hope

[@tubaboytom]

I don't need to be in a country to know when justice is extinct. How long before there's more and more innocent people imprisoned or killed by the government. And the thing is I love Latin America. I'd love to visit some of the Central American countries or Bolivia one day. But I don't want to visit a country that puts safety over justice. I feel like my life would be endanger.

[@nikeairjordanfly]

El salvador has easily become one of the best countries in central America. I expect alot of people from south/central America to migrate over to El salvador. And I hope preisdent Bukele becomes El salvador's permanent president

[@emilydavison2053]

Permanent presidents are never good! Best if he serves 2 terms and then a peaceful change of power.

[@saulcortez-alvarado401]

Completely agree Bukele was a god send! However, Bukele has said multiple times that he only plans to follow the law and only serve 2 terms (5 years per term)

[@Publicenemy85]

Not just south and central, with the way some of the mayors of major cities are running things I wouldn’t be slightly surprised if North Americans also start migrating.

[@2011Cape]

If your car is encrusted in dirt and you use a power washer on it, sure, you might take off some sealant coating but now you’re ready for fresh wax.

[@bushdwellagraphics2199]

they could have given poor Will some sunglasses lol

[@SkywalkerExpress]

just like the 99% of criminal shot down by the US police, their mother always said "He was a cute kid soon to be quantum physic professor" 😂 Nah..

[@FuneFox]

I'm so glad El Salvador is doing this. No real human being seems to be against this, only the scripts that the news reporters read from do.

[@icedcoldkilla]

House the human rights groups in cells with these prisoners

[@calvinduke4810]

We should do this in America

[@samsonsoturian6013]

You first

[@jeanclaudejunior]

@@samsonsoturian6013 Nem. Nem fogadunk el megrendeléseket

[@samsonsoturian6013]

@@jeanclaudejunior English! Speak it, mother f***er!

[@marciabarreto780]

@@samsonsoturian6013 LOLLLL

[@andycheng9066]

In New York

[@convoyjack3310]

We should do this in every country in the world

[@TheFrank1025]

Don’t let criminals dictate your future, you have to dictate their future! Mother’s in general they always going to claim that their son’s are innocent even showing them the proof of the crime. I am not sure why you guys are there now and not when you could see the dead bodies on the streets. I have a lot of friends that still leaving in El Salvador, and because they are not doing anything wrong they are not afraid of the new government measurement. I support 💯 % president Bukele ✊✊✊✊✊💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪

[@warsamaosman0894]

Mr. Bukele did a great job👍🏾

[@luisamaya1509]

Eliminating or combating a problem that has grown up for years a problem that involves so many people is a tall and very hard task. What president Bukele has accomplished in a short period of time is amazing. And yes it sounds very extreme but unfortunately necessary. May God bless the president and guide him through this tough time and.

[@patomolina]

I am also grateful to Mr Bukele

[@meejinhuang]

It's been a great success. Other Latin American countries need to do the same.

[@morimusic2012]

Where were human rights when these gangs were murderous.Humsn rights groups are so shameless, anachronistic and dead

[@milky287]

order need to be established at any cost, if the crackdown did not happen way more people would end up dying.

[@daviestewart1725]

Maybe they should do that in the UK but, with all the corrupt politicians.

[@beyondseeker7250]

That's right, they see others but they don't see themselves.

[@maxthemagition]

El Salvador today, USA tomorrow. How else does a government bring runaway criminaliy under control? Human Rights should still be a major concern and be enforced relentlessly.

[@bensonselebogo2768]

The only thing that is unsatisfying is the government lack of arresting the parents too.

[@murk2002]

Well I feel sorry for those innocently swept up but with mothers it’s never their son. This operation as a whole is good for the country.

[@The3rdTower]

I am sure BBC were just trying to report in a balanced way, showing good and bad. Miracles rarely happen in El Salvador, but it seems to be happening right now.

[@saulcortez-alvarado401]

Not sure if anyone has talked yet about gang initiations, but a couple of years ago (to my knowledge from previous documentaries) initiation into ms-13 involved a 13 second jump in, getting marked with a large and identifiably tattoo (in case you tried leaving the gang life behind, you would be an easy target), and you woule have to kill someone that had connections to the rival gang (18th street). Note that gang members recruited as early as age 9. The state of the country was always an issue and the gang situation was the reason I could never travel to el Salvador and visit family with the peace of mind that nothing would happen to me. (This was a wory I had as a preteen, teenager and young adult). Moreover, if people found out that you were a forigner from a "rich" country, word would get to the gang members and you would be in great danger. Thankfully things have changed and I was able to visit recently my family in the capital and things are much safer. You can now walk the streets at anytime (the latest I walked infront of the cathedral was 10pm) and feel safer than it was a couple years ago. My family and I have lost many, but glad to see things drastically change in the past year. As a Salvadorian who understands what the dynamics have been, this is a step in ghe right direction and proud to call Bukele president

[@a.mor.rebecca1682]

Well,we are at last free and we don’t need the world approval to continue the good work ✌️we the vast majority of Salvadorean will continue supporting our hero president Bukele!!

[@MyHighDesertGarden]

That is the type of leadership we need in the US to reduce crime that has gotten out of control in the past couple of years due to a very stupid system that seems to protect thugs rather that the honest hard working Americans.

[@baseupp12]

Dude stop we don't need this system in case you haven't noticed America already has the largest prison population in the fuckin world

[@gruntusmc8922]

All those criminals have the same "human rights" of all the other Citizens untill they began their reign of terror, at that point these criminal lost all their "human rights". Now they're been treated like they deserve after all the atrocities they'd commited against good people in all those years, they're extremelly lucky if they're still breathing. President Bukele has proved to be a blessing for El Salvador's hard working, good people.

[@richardlongmore9301]

The human rights lawyers need to leave this man to do what needs to be done

[@taniarodriguez7941]

My family (in-laws) are from El Salvador. My daughter, who is a Canadian citizen, was finally able to meet her salvadorian family at age 21. It's so nice to see everyone enjoying their travels without fear.

[@traceler]

Even in wars like the second war 2 there were "casualties" and Germany was bombed indiscriminately killing woman and children, but probably there was not way around to avoid a greatest danger.

[@Ulnvtcydr]

It's an effective method but I bet there will be thousands of innocent people in jail which is unforgivable.

[@Atite_Lometen]

1200 people have been release or more and most of them have been capture.

[@V.E.R.O.]

For a lot of these guys you only have to look at their gang tattoos as evidence.

[@rositalarkin7352]

But it is “forgivable” the killing, rape, extortion of thousands of innocent victims.

[@Ulnvtcydr]

@@rositalarkin7352 of course not, just saying the innocent ones need compensated

[@Ulnvtcydr]

@@V.E.R.O. Most but not all

[@calvinduke4810]

Sounds like a good idea

[@jeanclaudejunior]

Against Pro-Putin traitors mainly

[@proudbhartiya1993]

It's like El Salvador has got their own version of Yogi Adityanath.

[@nobs997]

Human Rights Organization wants the new president to make an omelette without breaking eggs.

[@bonnierumboll-harding6792]

That’s fabulous, so glad

[@arcan762]

great work

[@wrathofgrothendieck]

Just don’t cry when he starts putting people he doesn’t agree with or like in those prisons too.

[@kwektans]

Still better than allowing the country to become like Haiti.

[@houssedecouette4056]

taiwan , south korea and singapour says your simplistic argument is wrong

[@beyondseeker7250]

Long Live the Best President of the World, Nayib Bukele. United Kingdom Should learn from this president.

[@VTR1756]

Give them death sentences

[@samsonsoturian6013]

All of El Salvador?

[@Atite_Lometen]

@@samsonsoturian6013 To your mother and yourself.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

@@Atite_Lometen you're not funny

[@CB-cv9yh]

No death penalty in El Salvador. I'm guessing Bukele would love to cross that part out of their constitution.

[@samsonsoturian6013]

@@CB-cv9yh They don't have that law because they think all killing is wrong, they ban death penalties because they don't trust other people to decide who needs killing. Pleanty of people are executed via criminal conspiracies between authority figures and the population is generally complicit.

[@thipayajones]

Onr of my staff used to be family from El sanvado run away from gangter almost them population were living in fear on there own country.

[@kashattack]

Typical of the BBC to find negatives in a superb achievement by the President of El Salvador.

[@marcosguerrero6029]

Now it's time for all the victims family members to step forward and protest. Do they not have a voice? They need to be heard as well. Let's not forget about them. Because at the end of the day, that's what matters here the most are the victims family's.

[@thegianttreeservice63]

Well done El Salvador don’t let anyone stop you. Most of the people talking about El Salvador live in a city that filled with crime.

[@user-ru5xz3lz9c]

🇺🇸 needs a president like this rather than a walking mummy!

[@3rdrick]

Bruh I went through Soya and San Martin the othwr day and man, I used to be afraid to go through these spots. Now that joint looks spiffy. Very nice. I love it here.

[@sjsharks2106]

El Salvador gets much respect for me here in California because gang should not be able to dictate people's Lifestyles and make it a danger to walk down the street

[@dhwjohnston7212]

What, he found a mother that claimed her son was innocent! Well done. Fantastic reporting. Not.

[@beyondseeker7250]

Only one, or she was paid to say that.

[@pancitoconcoca8007]

"human rights are meant to be there to help us"? wheeeen?????? I´m from El Salvador born and raised, and never heard anything from that organization but full corruption, it was the organization where FMLN would appoint their family members to have a "good" salary. Something is off about that lady.

[@henerdalamina7684]

Her voice is so soothing

[@user-fi6iw8wz7e]

Improving security is important, but concentration of power in hands of the police and military may be a problem.

[@wrathofgrothendieck]

We don’t like what that reporter wrote in the paper this week, let’s accuse him of being a gang member… - some crooked cop in El Salvador

[@houssedecouette4056]

yes it can be but as of now it was necessary

[@Atite_Lometen]

@@wrathofgrothendieck lol that doesn't happen, you most be a gerrillero or arenazi

[@diegomorata2885]

Doesn't matter what power the hands is in there will be collateral damage as the usa would say lol but as long results are shown why not. Better than gangs ruling your community. I live in a country where gangs have control and it is hell

[@saulcortez-alvarado401]

​@@wrathofgrothendiecklol you must be directly affiliated with the gangs to be persecuted. Usually you can tell who is affiliated with either ms-13 or 18th Street by the the large and distinct tattoos (usually on the back or chest areas) that are tatted on after the initiation process.

[@pksearch1980]

I hope the young lad is innocent and will be released soon. So good to see ordinary people getting their lives back. Well done 👏

[@beyondseeker7250]

So far there have been released more than eight thousand people very soon.

[@hectorcastillo7521]

Do your live in El Salvador 😂

[@beyondseeker7250]

@@hectorcastillo7521 Of course.

[@liamlinson7563]

@@hectorcastillo7521 yes 8k have been released because they were innocent, do you keep up with the news?

[@LoukozeMalukos]

People who doesn't have respect for life should not have rights Human rights should be for right humans

[@Liberty2358]

Amazing how safe El Salvador has become, all it took was to remove the violent criminals from society. Who would have thought?

[@KillersFromTheWest]

Of course the family members say that shit, same shit happens in the USA when some criminal kills someone, their family comes out and says “he was a good guy, not a criminal”. BS! We support you El Salvador 🇸🇻

[@pukavoket]

It would be worth looking into those who claim they were not part of gang activity. The question to ask is: Do they fit what would describe someone who may have been a member of a gang, then consider their innocence!

[@user-kx1vy1il8h]

human rights for criminals? what abou the decades of murder rape and criminality these monsters committed?

[@OfficialMaddeck]

New challange unlocked: Get some tatoos and walk the streets of El Salvador

[@ccsorn]

This is what you get when a country's citizens believe "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear."

[@MrShadowfax42]

No, this is what you get when when a country's citizens are constantly terrorised by a criminal gang. Bleeding heart liberals are the reason that country is in the state it was in before it has been basically saved by Bukele. There were no rights or judicial order before, until that is established then all your liberal nonsense will get you NOWHERE.

[@JamesJangmaw]

That's how you handle violence. 👍

[@Dan-cn6zp]

Cant make an Omelette with out Breaking some Eggs

[@theuser810]

Even though these gangsters are terrible people, they do deserve the right to a fair trial, but only to release non-criminals.

[@Atite_Lometen]

They are terrorist, they are worst than isis, but if you want them we would be happy to sent them to you so you could kiss and wash their feet.

[@theuser810]

@@Valhalla-vk7hf if those people were put on a fair trial, they would just be thrown back in jail. But these murderers can be thrown into an active volcano for all I care.

[@raulestrada6866]

@@Essentially_Nobody not really, it’s pretty hard to get mistaken by one of these terrorists. You should look at how gentle and inviting they look.

[@raulestrada6866]

@@Essentially_Nobody again, where’s your plan then?

[@raulestrada6866]

@@Essentially_Nobody everyone here just keeps trying give their 2 cents about how this is wrong and unfair lmao but literally no one in the last 40 years has done anything or even talked about innocent civilians dying , then someone does something about the gang violence, 90% + of the country is happy, yet here you all are downplaying and judging how he should do things differently. Lol

[@homelessoreo5118]

All Hail President Bukele! We need him in LA. Just Law and Just Order!

[@carlospadetto]

I’ve seen many families protecting its gang members saying they are angels 😇 when they are working for drug dealers’ gangs

[@vincentmorales564]

The whole world needs about 10 or more Bukele's.

[@salvib10]

Mom tends to defends their kids even though they know what they are doing.

[@OJ1992]

Reminds me of Singapore hope it works out for them but at the moment he seems a good leader

[@darex0827]

Hard times call for hard measures. Once the war is won, you can look back and re-access.

[@timbnsfs.9275]

The whole country is getting WAY better but ofcourse outsiders want to come in and judge what others are doing in a place they don't live. Most dangerous to rapid turn around isn't a good enough story.

[@Edfons]

I do hope more presidents would be "more" like him!

[@kidcudi908]

News outlets aALWAYS sniff out the tiny negatives even if this is a transformational thing in the history of the country