A crackdown in El Salvador, and fears of arbitrary arrests

By MARCOS ALEMAN and CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN
Associated Press

LA LIMONERA, El Salvador (AP) — Over the past 10 weeks, El Salvador’s security forces have arrested more than 36,000 people since the congress granted President Nayib Bukele the power to suspend some civil liberties to pursue powerful street gangs. Lawmakers extended those powers by another 30 days last week as public opinion polls showed broad popular support. However, human rights groups say a growing number of the arrests appear arbitrary or unjustified. The nongovernmental organization Cristosal has documented more than 500 cases of arbitrary arrests since the state of exception was imposed March 27. Amnesty International says in a report released Thursday that thousands of people have been arrested without legal requirements being met.