Early Sunday, President Nayib Bukele, of El Salvador, was given permission by their congress to declare a state of emergency. This comes after many gang-related killings transpired throughout the weekend.
On Friday, 14 people were killed, and on Saturday, 62 people died.
Since the decree was announced, constitutional guarantees of freedom of assembly will be halted. Arrest guidelines will also be loosened for thirty days or longer.
Several street gangs control many communities in the capital, and the murders appear to be connected to them. Authorities say that five gang members from the Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13, have been apprehended for ordering the murders over the weekend.
In a December report, Bukele’s administration is said to have privately negotiated an agreement with leaders of the street gangs.
The U.S. alleged that Bukele used money to get the support of the gangs and provided special privileges for gang leaders who were incarcerated. This included offering them cell phones and prostitutes.
The act was supposedly done in order to ensure that gang attacks and murders would decrease.
The emergency request was voted upon and approved by 80% of their lawmakers.
