Bachelet Condemns Bukele’s ‘Anti-Gang’ Plan in El Salvador: ‘Human Rights Have Been Violated’

In a powerful rebuke, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has sharply criticized the ‘anti-gang’ plan implemented by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, stating that human rights have been violated and due process has not been respected.

Bachelet’s comments came during a forum held in Guatemala on Thursday, where she did not mince words in her assessment of Bukele’s controversial approach to tackling gang violence in El Salvador.

"When one does not respect (due process), is authoritarian, puts 50,000 young people in jail (…) of course, people say ‘Oh, how efficient the case of El Salvador is’"

The former president of Chile went on to state that "the truth is that human rights have been violated there. There has been no due process, people are crowded in prisons with inhumane conditions".

Bukele’s ‘war’ against gangs, which began in 2022 under a state of emergency, has led to the arrest of at least 82,000 alleged gang members without judicial oversight, drawing widespread criticism from human rights groups.

A Controversial Crackdown

Bachelet’s scathing remarks underscore the growing international concern over Bukele’s heavy-handed approach, which has been praised by some for its apparent effectiveness in reducing gang-related violence, but condemned by others for its disregard for civil liberties and due process.

The former UN official’s intervention comes at a critical juncture, as the debate over the appropriate balance between security and human rights continues to rage in El Salvador and beyond.

Conclusion

Michelle Bachelet’s unequivocal condemnation of Bukele’s ‘anti-gang’ plan serves as a stark reminder that the pursuit of public safety must always be tempered by respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens. As the world watches the unfolding situation in El Salvador, the call for a more nuanced and rights-respecting approach to combating gang violence has never been more urgent.

References:

– Bachelet, M. (2023). Remarks at the forum in Guatemala. Antigua Guatemala.

– Salvadoran Government (2022). State of Emergency Decree. San Salvador.

– Human Rights Watch (2023). Report on Human Rights Violations in El Salvador. New York.