Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) – Quite a surprise was caused by the television appearance of Father Antonio Rodríguez, a Passionist priest that has been working in El Salvador for about 12 years. On the evening of September 8, during a television program, he read a statement regarding the “maras” (youth gangs), seeking to be their mediator in initiating dialogue with the authorities. Father Rodriguez, originally from Spain, leads the parish of Mejicanos, the neighborhood that was the scene of the bus burning massacre a few months ago (see Fides 30/6/2010).
In his speech, the priest said that the members of “maras” are willing to work with society to "improve conditions in prisons, so that prisoners can have professional training and can help their families." A few days ago, the Centers Directorate prison proclaimed a state of emergency in six prisons where detainees had rebelled. "In the prisons, many rights are trampled upon. Being a member of a gang is not synonymous with being violent," said the priest.
The bands "18" and "Mara Salvatrucha" (MS-13) challenge the law made by the Government which prohibits "the existence, acceptance, funding, and support for groups, associations or illegal organizations, so-called Maras or gangs and death squads, increasing the time of imprisonment (see Fides 13/7/2010). One of the members of the gang "Mara Salvatrucha", present at the television station with his face covered, said that "the new government of President Funes has promised to be open to all sectors. A couple of months ago he made a round of consultations with all sectors to address the problem of violence, but we were not invited." The gang “18” has also asked that the law not be passed, asking that "the authorities conduct a transparent process of dialogue with the sole purpose of finding solutions to violence."
From September 1, 70% of shops have closed for fear of reprisals; 80% of public transport is suspended and the army patrol the city and major highways. The head of the National Civil Police (PNC), Carlos Ascencio, rejected the invitation to dialogue, because "we are not willing to have conversations with criminals." "The band knows exactly where this judicial document is headed. It is certainly not directed against children and adolescents who have been induced by these criminals to join the work of gangs,” said the Chief of Police. “Indeed, I would take this opportunity to ask these guys to return to their homes, to their parents, and to leave these structures of the crime behind." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 09/09/2010)
