In the fight against gang crime, the government in El Salvador is taking unusual measures: just at the time of the year when relatives commemorate their deceased, the authorities had the gravestones of gang members demolished with sledgehammers and crowbars.
El Salvador has a huge problem with gang crime: 62 gang murders were recorded in one day in March. President Nayib Bukele then requested and was granted special powers that went beyond some constitutional rights. The right of assembly is limited, arrests are possible without warrant, and communication oversight has been expanded. Since then, more than 56,000 people have been arrested for alleged links to criminal gangs.
Prisoners charged with demolishing tombstones
Now the government is also taking action against gang members who have already died. Earlier this week, inmates were sent to cemeteries to use sledgehammers and crowbars to destroy the graves of people suspected of having ties to gangs. One of the cemeteries affected is in Santa Tecla – the city is located next to the capital San Salvador and has long been a stronghold of the Mara Salvatrucha gang. According to the city’s mayor, Henry Flores, 80 graves have been affected. Other graves were destroyed in Colon.
Graffiti associated with gangs has also been removed. The aim of the action is that gang members can no longer feel safe, according to Flores.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
