State of the World from NPR The Triumph of a Doctrine of Cruelty in El Salvador
Mar 25, 2025
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele employs brutal tactics against prisoners, claiming it's essential to combat gang violence. The podcast reveals how this harsh treatment reflects a troubling state of exception and escalating human rights violations. It dives into the implications of U.S. support for Bukele's regime, raising concerns about the erosion of civil rights. Listeners gain insight into the alarming consequences of this power consolidation in El Salvador and how it impacts both nations.
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El Salvador's Prison Videos
- El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele released videos of prisoners in barbaric conditions.
- These videos, released in 2022 after a state of exception, showed alleged gang members being manhandled by guards.
U.S. Deportations to El Salvador
- The United States sent 200 Venezuelan migrants suspected of gang affiliation to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center.
- This action followed the inauguration of the prison and a documentary showcasing its harsh conditions.
Bukele's Tactics and U.S. Endorsement
- President Bukele's actions mirror tactics used in Cold War Europe, China, and Russia, using terrorism as justification.
- This is concerning because the U.S. is endorsing these tactics and paying El Salvador to jail deportees.