El Salvador approves the sixth extension of the state of emergency to fight gangs

MADRID, 15 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The National Assembly of El Salvador approved this Wednesday the sixth extension of the state of emergency in the country, which will complete its seventh month under the mechanism that allows the Salvadoran government to suspend certain freedoms and guarantees, alleging its fight against gangs.

With 65 votes in favor and 12 against, the Parliament of El Salvador has carried out a new extension that will begin on September 19 and will continue for 30 more days, as requested this Wednesday by the Ministry of the Interior, as reported by 'The printing press'.

As with each extension, the Government has ensured that the extension of the state of emergency serves to continue fighting "terrorist gang members" and protecting families who "work day by day for a better future."

In the 171 days that the emergency regime has been in force, 52,000 people have been captured and 99 days have been counted without murders, which implies a reduction in violence, as detailed by the Salvadoran National Assembly in a statement.

During the period of the state of exception, the Salvadoran government is empowered to suspend certain freedoms and guarantees to facilitate the deployment of the military and police in the streets and in the municipalities where these homicides occurred.

Specifically, this measure allows the suspension of the right of assembly throughout the country, the increase in the maximum detention from 72 hours to 15 days, the elimination of the right of defense and the elimination of the right not to be intervened in telecommunications, according to has detailed the aforementioned newspaper.

The United Nations and organizations such as Human Right Watch or Amnesty International have repeatedly shown their concern about the "serious evidence" of human rights abuses since the state of emergency was adopted on March 27, 2022.