Investigating El Salvador's gang crackdown and forced disappearances | Fault Lines Documentary

In El Salvador, Gabriel Urrutia searches for his wife and stepdaughter, who were jailed in the country’s repressive crackdown on gangs that has resulted in nearly 70,000 arrests since March 2022.

The government suspended the constitutional right to legal defence and made it possible to imprison people indefinitely before trial. Like Gabriel’s family members, many others have disappeared into the country's dangerous and overcrowded prisons. Human rights groups have documented many in-custody deaths since the start of the state of emergency.

Despite El Salvador’s new repressive reality, the policy is extremely popular and has helped President Nayib Bukele consolidate his hold on power.

Fault Lines travels to El Salvador to report on the war on gangs and investigate claims of abuse and deaths in prison.

Producers: Mark Scialla and Neil Brandvold
Correspondent: Monica Villamizar
Director of Photography: Neil Brandvold
El Salvador Producer: Salvatore Escalante
Editor: Leslie Atkins
Executive Producer: Laila Al-Arian
Additional Camera: Mark Scialla
Fact Checker: Abdulai Bah
Digital Producer: Riham Mansour
Sound Mixer: Linus Bergman
Production Manager: Anabelle Rojas
Archivist: Shelley Simpson
Special Thanks: Kavitha Chekuru


#Documentary #ElSalvador #HumanRights

[slguevara]

I’m a Salvadorean native and I do support 100% the president decision, the criminal gangs were absolutely terrorizing the entire population, so yes we do support this measures that the government has taken

[Gyurza]

I am from Honduras, for someone who has experience first hand, what gang members and associates can do, did and are still doing in my country, I find it repulsive to hear anyone pleading for those people. They have have never experience the terror, of receiving an unanimous note asking you for an amount of money that you don’t have…and if you don’t comply by the end of the week, you better move from your house…That was the reality for millions in El Salvador, the reality that people in Honduras is still living. It’s easy to speak when you know there will be no consequences.

[stuntkills]

As an El Salvadoran, I understand it's not fair and to outsiders it might seem abusive, but the fact that I can walk on any street with air pods in is so refreshing and its the freest I've ever felt in my country. I wouldn't trade this sense of safety for anything It's safer than the US now.

[jorgerodriguez]

The million-dollar question, where were those journalists when the gangs raped, extorted, kidnapped, killed, etc., etc. How many specials did they do to document the pain of the Salvadoran people at the hands of gang members. When were they concerned about the human rights of the population, of those who suffered the horror of the gangs for years and years. Now that a man had the courage to face and solve the problem, now they appear. What or who is behind these journalists?
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[cody]

What a beautiful thing, a government actually protecting it’s people and trying to root out evil.

[williamduran]

What’s making Nayib Bukele more popular day by day, is not only the fact that he’s locked in 90% of the gangs, but also giving tables and laptops to our children, housing, education, hospitals, infrastructure, and so many more things.

[shimi]

I love how Al Jazeera is trying to convince people about how awful the situation is but just end up proving how awesome this el salvdorian president is.

[Ben_Jammin]

I was in El Salvador 2 months ago, and wow! What a difference! Not once did I feel scared of walking the streets whether it was in the day time or night time. You see people walking around, families hanging out at parks in the night time, and kids playing in the streets. These human rights folks did not live and experience what the citizens experienced all of these years. They want rights for these criminals, but don’t think about all the families and people these criminals hurt.

[IvoryTrance]

If they are members of a gang they deserve to be in prison, period.

[tony]

The reporter seemed disappointed to hear that the neighborhood was safer and that the guy prefers how it is now versus how it was before. She kept prodding him with repeated questions like she was hoping he’d start talking about how terrible things are.

[JohnEastmanExAttyAtLaw]

This is the kind of leader that Haiti needs.

[CapiQpr]

That’s crazy that you’re not from the Salvador and you want justice for criminals

[StanRT]

If you live outside of El Salvador and watch this documentary where opponents of the government appear speaking, you would think that people hate Bukele for so many injustices, but the reality is that 96% support his management as president.

How strange don't you think?

[sinrecetask]

Time for all Human Rights organizations to go to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and stop all murders perpetrated by the gangs . Leave Bukele to complete his job in El Salvador.

[OO-nbkt]

This guy is cleaning up El Salvador and human rights have the nerve to call him a dictator? What about the rights of innocent people killed by these gangs?

[thediminished]

One thing that the reporters are not asking is... "What if the families are lying?"

[ramon]

Anyone criticizing it, had never lived in the hood or never had to deal with violence or the arrogance of these violent gang members. The lady had no idea what she’s defending.

[travelreveal]

You guys see when the reporter ask the families if they feel safer now and they answer with an yes, she looks saddened to hear that response.

[ViaScientifica]

The Salvadorian people have spoken. And they have agreed that they do not care if you can't see your criminal relatives. The Salvadorian people have been suffering for decades!

[LR-mhhs]

VIVA EL PRESIDENTE BUKELE!!! God bless this man and keep him safe. He's systematically eliminating this cancer from El Salvador. The people of this country have suffered ENOUGH! No more terrified fathers, suffering mothers, poisoned children. NO MORE! Criticize all you want, Al Jazeera, the people of e\El Salvador can finally breathe.