Salvadoran President
Says "Maras" New
Terrorist Threat Facing
Latin America
The president of El
Salvador, Elías Antonio
Saca, considers the
youth gangs that are
plaguing his country are
the new terrorism threat
facing Latin America.
The Maras youth gang has
been terrorizing El
Salvador for the last
several years and the
Saca government has been
fighting a direct
confrontation with the
gangs of criminals.
"They are bunch of young
guys who use brutal
initiation rituals, are
very violent and
maladjusted; they are a
real band of criminals
tied to murders and drug
trafficking. It is a
dangerous plague", said
Saca during an interview
with Telenoticias while
visiting Costa Rica.
Saca began his fight
with the youth gangs
when he took office in
2004 in an action called
"Súper mano dura" (a
hard hand).
As a consequence of the
Saca actions, some 7.000
'maras' are in
Salvadoran jails,
however, Saca is warning
other Latin American
countries of the
infiltration by the
Salvadoran youth gangs
in other countries in
Latin America.
"Legislators have to
change laws as citizens
are asking for tougher
laws; notwithstanding I
am not in agreement with
the death penalty
because it solves
nothing, resolution is
by way of order,
respect, well trained
police, reintegration
and prevention", said
Saca.
According to Saca, Costa
Rica is still in time to
stop delinquency,
especially when it comes
to youth gangs.
Saca is in Costa Rica
this week on an official
visit to tighten ties
between the countries. |
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