Increase in homicides linked to “extermination groups” and ARENA campaign

Photo: Transparencia Activa

by CISPES

Since the beginning of the New Year and with the February 2^nd presidential elections less than two weeks away, El Salvador has seen a dramatic increase in homicides.  In the month of January, El Salvador has seen an average of 9.4 violent deaths per day, a shocking increase from months past, many of them carried out en masse and reminiscent of death squad-style murders.

President Funes expresses concern about possible link between increased violence and electoral season

On January 16th, the President’s Communication Secretary released the following statement. (Unofficial translation into English by U.S.-El Salvador Sister Cities).

President Mauricio Funes expressed concern about the recent reported increase in violence attributed to gang members because, according to intelligence reports, it could be related to the electoral situation in the country.

“I worry that there is a relationship or there could be a relationship between this insistence on the part of ARENA that Salvadorans are tired of the crime wave sweeping the country, with the increase in homicides,” said the president in his press release.