Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10SANSALVADOR13
2010-01-11 23:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:  

El Salvador: Growing Concern Over Violent Crime

Tags:  PGOV ES XK KCRM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSN #0013 0112302
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 112302Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0217
INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000013 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ES XK KCRM
SUBJECT: El Salvador: Growing Concern Over Violent Crime

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000013

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ES XK KCRM
SUBJECT: El Salvador: Growing Concern Over Violent Crime


1. Summary: Recent comments by the Archbishop of San Salvador and
former National Civilian Police (PNC) Director Rodrigo Avila point
to growing public concern over El Salvador's spiraling violent
crime rates, and the mounting pressure on President Mauricio Funes
to reassure an anxious public that his administration has the
situation under control. 2009 ended with a total of approximately
4300 murders, an average of twelve per day. End summary.




2. On January 10, San Salvador Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas
used his high-profile Sunday homily to voice his dissatisfaction
with government public security plans that have "failed to stem the
violence" impacting the country. The Monsignor noted that with the
nation suffering on average twelve homicides a day, the current
public security measures "are not working." He went on to urge
implementation of a gun control law that would prohibit citizens
from possessing firearms. (Comment: Pronouncements by the
Archbishop of San Salvador normally carry considerable moral weight
in this largely Catholic country. End comment).




3. Also over the weekend, former two-time National Civilian Police
Director and 2009 ARENA Presidential candidate Rodrigo Avila called
for the Funes' administration to redouble efforts to control street
gang violence. In an interview with conservative daily El Diario
De Hoy Avila opined that "failure to take back control" of the
streets and the prison system from the street gangs could result
in the Funes government "completely losing control" over public
security in the near future. Avila, who stated that his comments
were meant as "constructive and helpful" (rather than political),
called for conceptualization of a comprehensive national gang
strategy, to include enhanced operational law enforcement efforts
and passage of an organized crime law similar to the U.S. RICO
statute.




4. Comment: The comments by the Monsignor and former PNC Director
Avila reflect a growing concern over violent crime that is shared
across the entire ideological spectrum of this highly-polarized
country. With the nation facing on average twelve homicides a day,
and the press serving up a daily dose of carnage, the public is
growing increasingly anxious for signs that the Funes
administration is capable of bringing the violence under control.
Recent developments, such as the Supreme Court voting to extradite
a wanted Salvadoran national to the U.S., and pending Legislative
Assembly passage of an electronic surveillance bill, bode well for
bilateral cooperation on law enforcement. In the meantime, the
Funes administration will continue to face difficult questions,
mounting public uncertainty, and loss of investor confidence if
violent crime rates stay high. End comment.
BLAU