tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post9012750900787915294..comments2024-03-28T11:30:20.005-05:00Comments on El Salvador Perspectives: Greater violenceTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02452039674856298357noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post-23576234388013500972010-03-01T04:44:52.675-06:002010-03-01T04:44:52.675-06:00One bright spot, or at least less-dim spot, is San...One bright spot, or at least less-dim spot, is Santa Tecla -- only 15 km from San Salvador but the only city in El Salvador where violent deaths have declined markedly over the past few years. Interestingly, this is at least partly due to improving and protecting public spaces as safe places for the community. The current mayor has expanded the city's parks from three small parks ten years ago to 63 today, with police strictly enforcing a no-weapons policy, and this is considered to be one of the reasons for the decline. http://iddbirmingham.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/violence-cohesion-and-public-space/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post-22210483334254223422010-02-15T02:07:30.822-06:002010-02-15T02:07:30.822-06:00Well, since we have no death penalty, the thugs an...Well, since we have no death penalty, the thugs and massacrers of Suchitoto <i>know</i> that they worst that can happen is that they get a slap in the wrist.<br /><br />As long as there is no credible, severe penalty for crime in El Salvador, there is no credible deterrent to crime.El-Visitadorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08823897085882597971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9177745.post-72646430934508706962010-02-12T10:12:49.888-06:002010-02-12T10:12:49.888-06:00I'm a US citizen who has spent over two years ...I'm a US citizen who has spent over two years living, volunteering and traveling in Central America. In that time the biggest incidents I experienced were two failed pick-pocket attempts in Nicaragua. Two days ago, however, in Santa Tecla, El Salvador (a supposedly "safer" place) I was a victim of police brutality. I was unlawfully targeted and punched a couple times in the gut and given a total BS story about how I was supposedly seen trying to rob a bike from a kid. (Note: I'm someone whose height, skin color and hair color makes me stand out here.) All these years I thought I was trying to avoid the "criminals". It's obvious that things have become so critical that there is just a pervasive fear throughout the population. Many people afterwards told me they would never go to the police. Salvadorans told me of similar police abuses against Mexicans and other Salvadorans, although top town and police officials sounded shocked by what had happened. I hope for the sake of the people here that things will start to change soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com