The first US Peace Corps volunteers return to El Salvador since leaving in 2016 because of violence

[ad_1]

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — U.S. Peace Corps volunteers returned to El Salvador Friday for the first time since the American force left in 2016 because of violence in the Central American country.

It was the latest sign of a thaw in U.S. relations with El Salvador, whose President Nayib Bukele was once shunned because of his harsh crackdown on street gangs.

It was also a sign of how much Bukele’s widespread arrests of suspected gang members - which also jailed a considerable number of apparently innocent young men - has reduced the country’s once-fearsome homicide rate.

The Peace Corps said the first nine volunteers would work on community economic development, education, and youth initiatives. All nine had previously worked two-year stints in other Central American countries.

“Today is not just a celebration, it’s a commitment to continue building on the decades-long partnership with the people of El Salvador,” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn.

More than 2,300 Peace Corps Volunteers had worked in El Salvador since 1962. The Peace Corps volunteers left after El Salvador’s gang-fueled homicide rate reached a high of 106 murders per 100,000 inhabitants on 2015. That year there were 6,658 killings in the country of 6.3 million.

Under a state of emergency originally declared in 2022 and still in effect, Bukele’s government has rounded up about 81,900 suspected gang members in sweeps that rights groups say are often arbitrary, based on a person’s appearance or where they live. The government has had to release about 7,000 people because of a lack of evidence.

In July, the human rights organization Cristosal said at least 261 people have died in prisons during the crackdown.

While the government is accused of committing mass human rights abuses in the crackdown, Bukele remains highly popular in El Salvador because homicide rates sharply dipped following the detentions. The Central American nation went from being one of the most dangerous countries in the world to having the lowest homicide rate in the region.

In all of 2023, the country saw only 214 homicides, and 116 so far in 2024.

Bukele rode that popularity into reelection in February, despite the country’s constitution prohibiting second terms for presidents. The United States did not object and sent a high-level delegation to his inauguration for a second term.

[ad_1]

Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66f7768439644cfa962a76d0ae57a28c&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapnews.com%2Farticle%2Fel-salvador-us-peace-corps-return-violence-crackdown-19da0bd2033789da73cbd9172901b181&c=15859628346470697831&mkt=en-us Author : Publish date : 2024-09-27 16:14:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source .

The first US Peace Corps volunteers return to El Salvador since leaving in 2016 because of violence

The new £2bn plan to create an incredible 188-mile rail network bypassing the Panama Canal

Chimayo Chile becoming rarer as fewer farmers stick with tradition

Chimayo Chile becoming rarer as fewer farmers stick with tradition

Heartbreaking Drone Strike: Were Two Trinidadians Victims of a U.S. Attack Near Venezuela?

Don’t Miss a Moment: Stream the Thrilling Uruguay vs. Peru Showdown in the Copa America Femenina Today!

Discovering the Untold Story: The 50-Year Quest for the U.S. Purchase of the Virgin Islands

Lawmakers Demand War Powers Vote as Tensions Rise Over Trump’s Venezuela Threat

Alabama’s Automakers Prepare for Trump’s Tariffs: A Bold New Strategy Unfolds!

Heartbreaking Tragedy Exposes Critical Failures in America’s Pedestrian Safety

Uncover the Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret: The Island Everyone is Talking About for Its Safety!

Antigua and Barbuda Poised to Shine as the Caribbean’s Second Fastest Growing Economy!

Exciting News: Aruba Reopens Its Borders to Latin America on December 1!

Urgent Warning: US Tariffs Could Jeopardize Bahamas’ Trade and Tourism!

Categories

Archives