People walk by the Gerardo Barrios square decorated in celebration of the Bicentennial of Independence in front of the National Palace, at downtown of San Salvador, El Salvador, on Sept. 14, 2021. El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica commemorated the Bicentennial of Independence of Central America on Sept. 15. Photo: Xinhua

El Salvadoran lawmakers on Sunday declared a state of emergency at President Nayib Bukele's request, expanding police powers and curtailing civil liberties as the country faces soaring gang-related bloodshed that has left dozens dead in just two days.

The small Central American nation has endured a fresh wave of gang violence, with police reporting 62 people killed on Saturday alone, and another 14 on Friday.

Armed with assault rifles and bulletproof vests, police and soldiers patrolled the streets Sunday, with the security cabinet announcing the capture of "more than 400 gang members" from Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13)and Barrio 18, which are accused of having unleashed a "wave of violence" in the country.

"We will not back down in this war against gangs, we will not rest until the criminals responsible for these acts are captured and brought to justice," the country's National Civil Police posted on Twitter.

In response to the surge in violence, Bukele asked the legislature to approve a one-month state of emergency, under which certain freedoms are curtailed.

Under the move, free association and assembly are restricted, and correspondences may be opened or telephone calls and emails intercepted without a court order.

It also curtails the right to be informed of the reason for arrest and access to a lawyer upon being detained, in addition to allowing for administrative detention of more than 72 hours.

"For the vast majority of people, life continues as normal," though "targeted" temporary closures will be in effect in some areas, Bukele tweeted after the lawmakers approved the request early Sunday. 

"Religious services, sporting events, commerce, studies, etc., may continue as normal," he added, "unless you are a gang member or are considered suspicious by the authorities."

Approved by a large majority, 67 of 84 legislators, the decree "declares an emergency regime throughout the national territory."

"We approve the #emergencyregime that will allow our Government to protect the lives of Salvadorans and confront criminality head-on," the Legislative Assembly president, Ernesto Castro, said in a tweet.

Bukele additionally decreed a "maximum emergency" in all prisons, which house more than 17,000 of the 70,000 some members of MS-13, Barrio 18 and other gangs, whose operations involve homicides, extortion and drug trafficking.

"All cells are closed 24/7, no one goes to the outdoor area," the president tweeted. "It's a message to the gangs: Because of your actions, your 'homeboys' won't see a ray of sunshine."

Bukele said the country "must let the agents and soldiers do their job and must defend them from the accusations of those who protect the gang members."

The country registered 1,140 murders in 2021, an average of 18 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, and the lowest figure since the country's civil war ended in 1992, according to official data. 

AFP