Central America
El Salvador says over 15,000 suspected gang members arrested
AFP
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said Friday that police and soldiers have arrested more than 15,000 suspected gang members in under a month in a crackdown seeking to halt surging homicides.
Bukele announced a state of emergency at the end of March following a bloody weekend in which 87 people were killed in gang-related violence.
Since then, the police and military have been rounding up suspected gang members using emergency powers that have done away with the need for arrest warrants.
“More than 15,000 terrorists captured in only 27 days. We continue the War Against Gangs,” the president said on Twitter.
The wave of detentions is unprecedented in a country that has suffered decades of violent crime driven by powerful gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18.
These gangs count some 70,000 members, about 26,000 of whom are behind bars, according to authorities.
A CID Gallup poll published Thursday said 78 percent of Salvadorans fully support the fight against gangs.
A state of emergency decreed by Congress at Bukele’s request last month allowed for arrests without warrants and increased sentences for gang membership five-fold to up to 45 years.
Rights groups say innocent people are getting caught up in an indiscriminate roundup.
The emergency law also allows jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone “spreading” gang-related messages in the media, prompting journalists to raise censorship fears.
On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken referred to the crackdown during a visit to Panama to discuss migration with regional leaders.
“We can tackle violence and crime while also protecting civil rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Blinken.
“El Salvador has experienced setbacks in democratic governance, in the separation of powers, the rule of law. And we look to President Bukele to make progress in addressing some of those setbacks,” he added.
Earlier this month, Bukele hit out at the administration of US President Joe Biden over a perceived lack of support.
The US says it has invested $411 million in improving citizen security and helping El Salvador combat gang violence since 2008.
Central America
Trump Pardons Former Honduran President Hernández and Warns of Aid Cuts Ahead of Election
On Friday, President Donald Trump granted a pardon to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández — who was convicted on drug trafficking charges — and threatened to cut U.S. aid to the Central American nation if his preferred candidate loses Sunday’s presidential election.
Trump announced the pardon for Hernández, who is currently serving a 45-year prison sentence in the United States, through a post on social media.
In the same message, the former U.S. president voiced his support for Nasry Asfura, the candidate representing Hernández’s right-wing party in the Honduran elections.
“If he doesn’t win, the United States will not waste any more money, because the wrong leader can only bring catastrophic results to a country, no matter which one it is,” Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social.
Asfura, a 67-year-old construction magnate and former mayor of Honduras’s capital, is competing in a tight race against attorney Rixi Moncada of the ruling leftist Libre party and television host Salvador Nasralla of the right-leaning Liberal Party.
Central America
Washington calls for oversight as Honduras faces allegations of electoral interference
The United States government urged members of the Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday to support a transparent electoral process in Honduras, free from intimidation, interference, or fraud, just days before the general elections scheduled for this Sunday.
The call was made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during an extraordinary session of the OAS Permanent Council. The meeting was convened at the request of the United States in response to reports of irregularities marking the final stretch of Honduras’ electoral process. Landau expressed concern over the situation in the country, warning that Honduras is facing an institutional crisis. “I fear that Honduras faces an uncertain future. Therefore, I urge you to use your collective voice to warn Honduran officials about the consequences of interfering in the electoral process,” he stated.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed its support for electoral integrity and called on Hondurans to exercise their right to vote. “We hear you and we stand with you. Go out and vote on November 30 to be part of the democratic future of this country,” Landau said in Spanish during his remarks.
In response, Honduras’ ambassador to the OAS, Roberto Quesada, rejected the allegations and said there is no evidence of election-related crimes. “We are surprised that a Permanent Council meeting was called when no crime has been committed,” the diplomat said, dismissing reports of repression against journalists. “These narratives are invented because, as we know, fake news runs wild on the internet,” he added.
The session was also requested by Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay, whose governments expressed concern over the direction of the Honduran elections.
The process has been questioned due to the actions of the Public Ministry and the Armed Forces, both accused of interfering in matters under the exclusive authority of the National Electoral Council (CNE). The Attorney General’s Office has opened investigations into senior electoral officials, while the military has been accused of improperly intervening in civilian affairs.
Marlon Ochoa, a CNE councilor, maintained that despite the pressure, “general elections will be held despite the conspiracy that has been attempted against the electoral process,” and confirmed that all logistical materials are ready.
Colombia’s ambassador, Luis Vargas, announced that his country will provide “accompaniment” during the election, while Argentina’s representative, Carlos Bernardo, stressed that “there is no room for rigged electoral processes” in the region.
The main presidential contenders are Rixi Moncada of the Libre party, Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, and Nasry Asfura of the National Party.
Central America
Panama reinforces security with new helicopters and Super Tucano Aircraft purchases
The government of Panama confirmed on Wednesday the purchase of two Bell 407 GXi helicopters for $10.49 million, aimed at strengthening the patrol and surveillance operations of the National Aeronaval Service (Senan), according to an official statement from the Presidency.
The funds used for the acquisition come from an insurance payout related to the crash of the AN-141 helicopter on September 10, 2023, an accident in which three Senan officers died. Panama received $13.4 million from the insurance claim, and the remaining balance will be allocated to three additional operational projects that have not yet been disclosed. “These two new aircraft are essential for Senan, as they will enable the protection of the country’s airspace, maritime domain, continental platform, as well as river and lake areas,” the statement emphasized. The government justified the purchase as necessary due to the deterioration of current aircraft and the reduced operational capacity of the security force.
In addition to the helicopters, President José Raúl Mulino’s administration announced the purchase of four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, valued at $76.3 million. These military-grade planes will bolster aerial and maritime surveillance and are intended to support operations against drug trafficking and organized crime.
According to Panamanian authorities, nearly 70% of homicides recorded in the country are linked to organized crime, especially gangs involved in drug trafficking. As Panama serves as a key transit point for narcotics moving from South America to the United States and Europe, strengthening its aerial capabilities forms part of its broader national security strategy.
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