Thousands of inmates moved to El Salvador’s mega-prison

4,000 bare feet, 2,000 shaved heads, 2,000 tattooed backs – 2,000 prisoners in El Salvador were transported in a concealing operation to the new prison complex in Tecoluca. No one – not even the prisoners’ relatives – knew where the buses would take them. The prisoners sit on the floor with their hands behind their shaved heads, huddled before being taken to their cells.

President Nayib Bukele, 41, tweeted that the first 2,000 people were transferred “at dawn in a single operation” to the terrorist detention center, which he says is the largest prison in America. The prison will eventually house more than 40,000 prisoners. “This will be their new home, where they will live for decades, unable to harm the population any more.” Surrounded by nothing but flat countryside and encircled by high walls, the prisoners must make ends meet.

100 prisoners on 100 square meters

Bukele introduced the prison “Centro de Confinaiento del Terrorismo” (Centre of Detention for Terrorism) about three weeks ago. The mega prison, located 74 kilometers southeast of the capital San Salvador, consists of eight buildings. Each has 32 cells, each about 100 square meters in size and, according to the government, houses “more than 100” prisoners. The cells each have only two sinks and two toilets. The prisoners have to sleep on concrete beds, there are no mattresses, the BBC reports.

To prevent escapes, the prison has several security rings. The fences around the buildings are live at 15,000 volts. Security guards monitor what is happening in the prison buildings and on the grounds from 19 watchtowers. Even before the inauguration, the prison was criticized for its inhumane furnishings.

Human rights organizations have criticized the approach to gangs

Last March, President Bukele declared “war on the gangs” and issued emergency measures that were extended several times. These measures are controversial because they limit certain constitutional rights, allowing security forces, for example, to arrest suspects without an arrest warrant.

Authorities say criminal gangs such as MS-13 and Barrio-18 have tens of thousands of members and are responsible for murders, extortion and drug trafficking. The aim of the mass arrests is to make the gangs “completely disappear”, according to the government.

Human rights organizations have argued that innocent people are implicated in these policies, and that some of those arrested have reported being subjected to “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”. But Bukele’s anti-gang policies nevertheless remain popular with Salvadorans.

More than 64,000 suspects were arrested as part of the anti-crime campaign. El Salvador has the world’s largest prison population. (chs)

Source: Blick