El Salvador president denies negotiating with gang
MARCOS ALEMAN
, Associated Press
Sep. 4, 2020
Updated: Sep. 4, 2020 2:50 p.m.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) El Salvador President Nayib Bukele denied a report Friday that his government has been negotiating with one of the countrys most powerful gangs to lower the murder rate and win their support in mid-term elections in exchange for prison privileges.
The allegation is highly sensitive in the Central American nation, where the gangs have terrorized people with extortion and killings for years. Multiple former officials from previous administrations are currently being prosecuted for allegedly participating in a similar deal with the gangs.
Attorney General Raúl Melara, whose office is independent of the presidency, said in an interview with a local television show that his office would investigate the allegations reported by online media outlet El Faro.
El Faro reported Friday that it had obtained a cache of government documents, including prison logs and prison intelligence reports, that show government officials have held ongoing negotiations with the MS-13 gang since June 2019.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/article/El-Salvador-president-denies-negotiating-with-gang-15543473.php