2012–2014 Salvadoran gang truce

Government truce with gangs in El Salvador February 2023 February 2023 2012–2014 Salvadoran gang truce MS-13 tattoo 2.jpg A member of MS-13 with a tattoo displaying the gang's name and the country's coat of arms A member of MS-13 with a tattoo displaying the gang's name and the El Salvador's coat of arms es Tregua entre pandillas es 2012 03 09 2014 05 26 and 9 March 2012 – 26 May 2014 El Salvador Truce Government of El Salvador Catholic Church Criminal gangs Mara Salvatrucha 18th Street gang Truce faltered by May 2014 2,576 homicides in 2012 2,492 homicides in 2013 3,912 homicides in 2014 0.5em Mauricio Funes (illicit association), 14years imprisonment"Funes conviction" Tried and sentenced in absentia David Munguía (illicit association), 18years imprisonment 0.5em Raúl Mijango es Raúl Mijango (illicit association), acquitted in 2017 and 2019 From March 2012 to May 2014, the Salvadoran government, the Catholic Church, and the country's two largest criminal gangs — Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) — came to a truce, known in El Salvador simply as the Gang Truce (es tregua entre pandillas),https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-officials-deals-gangs/ El Salvador's Prosecutions of Officials Who Negotiated With Gangs Explained en InSight Crime 7 February 2020 25 February 2023 Parker Asmann Seth Robbins https://web.archive.org/web/20230215131618/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-officials-deals-gangs/ 15 February 2023 live to lower the country's rate of homicides and extortions in exchange for improved prison conditions and certain visitation privileges. The truce's principal negotiators were Minister of Public Security David Munguía Payés, former deputy Raúl Mijango es Raúl Mijango, and Bishop Fabio Reynaldo Colindres Abarca, and the negotiations were overseen by President Mauricio Funes. The existence of the truce was alleged by the online newspaper El Faro in early March 2012, after 30 gang leaders were transferred from a maximum-security prison to a lower-security prison, and confirmed after representatives from the gangs and the Catholic Church admitted that they negotiated a truce with the government. However, the government initially denied that they had negotiated with the gangs and that any truce existed; as the truce resulted in a decrease in crime, the government began to acknowledge its existence, but continued to attribute the decrease in crime to its security policies. The government formally recognized its role in negotiating the truce in September 2012. Although fractures in the truce began to manifest in July and August 2012, in November 2012 an effort to establish "peace zones" in Salvadoran municipalities helped restore the truce and reaffirm the gangs' commitments to reduce their criminal activities. Although the gang surrendered its weapons and the government removed soldiers from the designated peace zones, the truce again began to break down in February 2013 following an increase in homicides; the truce continued to fall apart throughout 2013 as homicides continued to rise. In May 2014, as the homicide rate reached 14 per day, Funes stated that "the truce has failed". The truce received criticism from journalists, religious figures, and politicians, who claimed that the truce gave the gangs political legitimacy, that it failed to produce any benefits for the population, and that it failed to solve the overall problem of gang violence in the country. Additionally, the truce became a major issue during the 2014 presidential election. In 2016, the gangs revealed that members of both the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) secretly negotiated with the gangs prior to the election to persuade them to vote in the election. The truce resulted in an overall decrease in homicides. The government recorded 2,576 homicides in 2012, a 41 percent decrease from the 4,371 homicides recorded in 2011; in 2013, the government recorded 2,492 homicides, a slight decrease from 2012. With the truce's collapse in mid-2014, homicides returned to pre-truce levels and the country recorded 3,912 homicides in 2014. The year after the truce ended, 2015, saw 6,657 homicides, the most since 1983 during the Salvadoran Civil War. In the years following the truce's collapse, several individuals have been arrested, charged, and ordered to stand trial regarding their involvement with the truce, including Funes, Munguía, and Mijango. In 2017 and 2019, Mijango was acquitted of all charges, while in 2023, Funes (la in absentia) and Munguía were sentenced to 14 years and 18 years imprisonment, respectively, for their roles in the truce. Background Criminal activity Criminal gangs have been a major problem in El Salvador since the conclusion of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, being responsible for the majority of the crimes committed in the country. According to journalist C. Ramos, more violent deaths occurred in the 1990s than during the entirety of the twelve-year civil war. In 2004, there were an estimated 10,000 to 39,000 gang members in El Salvador;Mano Dura: El Salvador Responds to Gangs en Taylor & Francis, Ltd. Development in Practice Mo Hume 17 6 November 2016 25548280 739–751 10.1080/09614520701628121 144984287 by 2012, the estimate was over 60,000.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-sees-almost-60-drop-in-murders-in-april-as-gang-truce-holds/ El Salvador Sees Almost 60% Drop in Murders in April, As Gang Truce Holds 1 May 2012 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Hannah Stone https://web.archive.org/web/20221129073001/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-sees-almost-60-drop-in-murders-in-april-as-gang-truce-holds/ 29 November 2022 live The country's two largest gangs are Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18),https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/church-brokered-el-salvador-gang-truce-bishop/ Church Brokered El Salvador Gang Truce: Bishop en 21 March 2012 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Christopher Looft https://web.archive.org/web/20220926090605/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/church-brokered-el-salvador-gang-truce-bishop/ 26 September 2022 live and most of its members arrived in the country after being deported from the United States.https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2013/11/08/gang_violence2012.pdf El Salvador – Gang Violence Library of Congress 1–7 en 24 February 2023 c. 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20180907175758/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2013/11/08/gang_violence2012.pdf 7 September 2018 dead For most of its history, the country has faced high homicide rates in comparison to its neighboring countries. In the 1960s and 1970s, the rate was 30 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants; from 1994 to 1997, the rate was 80 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Other crimes committed by the gangs included making threats, robbery, motor-vehicle theft, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, extortion, rape, and kidnapping.http://sustainablesecurity.org/article/mano-dura-gang-suppression-el-salvador Mano Dura: Gang Suppression in El Salvador https://web.archive.org/web/20130511183052/http://sustainablesecurity.org/article/mano-dura-gang-suppression-el-salvador 11 May 2013 24 February 2023 March 2011 en dead Sonja Wolf Sustainable Security According to Salvadoran President Antonio Saca of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), over 50 percent of homicides in the country were committed by gang members, and the National Civil Police (PNC) estimated that the gangs committed over 60 percent of all crimes. According to polling conducted by the Central American University (UCA) during the 2000s, 20.8 percent of Salvadorans believed that gangs were the main issue facing the country, 55 percent would support killing a criminal who terrorizes a community, and 40.5 would approve the lynching of a criminal. es La Mano Dura La Mano Dura 310 right President Francisco Flores El Salvador1 (cropped).jpg Antonio Saca.png Mauricio Funes (Brasilia, May 2008).jpg left Presidents Francisco Flores (left), Antonio Saca (center), and Mauricio Funes (right) each implemented strict anti-gang policies during their presidencies. In July 2003, Salvadoran President Francisco Flores Pérez of ARENA announced the implementation of es La Mano Dura (Spanish for "The Iron Fist") security policy to combat the gangs and lower the country's homicide rate. Upon assuming office in June 2004, Saca increased the security policies of es La Mano Dura, announcing that es Super Mano Dura ("Super Iron Fist") would replace the original policy. The policies of es La Mano Dura and es Super Mano Dura included joint police and military patrols of gang-controlled areas, random searches of suspected gang members, and the ability to arrest individuals on appearance alone. As a result of both es La Mano Dura and es Super Mano Dura, around 4,000 gang members were arrested, leading to overcrowding in El Salvador's prisons.https://insightcrime.org/investigations/how-mano-dura-is-strengthening-gangs/ How 'Mano Dura' is Strengthening Gangs en 22 November 2010 24 February 2023 Steven Dudley InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221003105636/https://insightcrime.org/investigations/how-mano-dura-is-strengthening-gangs/ 3 October 2022 live Upon assuming office in June 2009, President Mauricio Funes of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) maintained some of the policies of es Super Mano Dura. He ended mass raids of gang territory to instead focus on the police's investigation capacities. In September 2010, the Legislative Assembly passed the Gang Prohibition Act in response to an increase in gang violence. The law doubled the maximum prison sentence for minors, allowed authorities to freeze bank accounts and seize assets of gang members, and made gang membership illegal.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-mediators-repeal-anti-gang-law/ El Salvador Truce Mediators Call for Repeal of Anti-Gang Law es 28 November 2012 24 February 2023 James Bargent InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221201205739/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-mediators-repeal-anti-gang-law/ 1 December 2022 live In February 2012, Funes implemented new anti-gang policies to increase the militarization of the police and a proposed curfew to prevent gang members from being in the streets at night. The policies resulted in an increase of homicides, however, and the government blamed the increase on "backlash" from the gangs against the policies.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/the-iron-fist-returns-to-el-salvador/ The Iron Fist Returns to El Salvador Hannah Stone InSight Crime 2 February 2012 24 February 2023 en live https://web.archive.org/web/20221207010517/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/the-iron-fist-returns-to-el-salvador/ 7 December 2022https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-govt-blames-murder-spike-on-anti-gang-drive/ El Salvador Govt Blames Murder Spike on Anti-Gang Drive en Hannah Stone 21 February 2012 23 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221201100324/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-govt-blames-murder-spike-on-anti-gang-drive/ 1 December 2022 live Truce Beginning of the truce On 9 March 2012, 30 gang leaders of MS-13 and Barrio 18 were moved from the Zacatecoluca maximum-security prison to lower-security prisons with "more relaxed rules on visitors". On 11 March, the online newspaper El Faro suggested that the Salvadoran government had been secretly negotiating with MS-13 and Barrio 18 in an effort to reduce the country's homicide rate. The following day, 12 March, was reportedly "the least violent day the country has seen in three years" when only two people were killed.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/is-el-salvador-negotiating-with-street-gangs/ Is El Salvador Negotiating with Street Gangs? Geoffrey Ramsey 15 March 2012 24 February 2023 InSight Crime en https://web.archive.org/web/20221006195051/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/is-el-salvador-negotiating-with-street-gangs/ 6 October 2022 live thumb|left|220px|David Munguía Payés in 2015. On 21 March 2012, Bishop Fabio Reynaldo Colindres Abarca claimed that the Catholic Church helped mediate a truce between MS-13 and Barrio 18 to end "deadly attacks". He stated that the government had not given the gangs any concessions and that the gangs contacted him to mediate in the truce's negotiations. Raúl Mijango es Raúl Mijango, a former deputy of the Legislative Assembly, stated that he helped mediate the truce and that the government was fully aware of the truce. Representatives of both MS-13 and Barrio 18 confirmed that a truce between them and the government existed.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-confirm-truce/ El Salvador Gangs Confirm Truce en 23 March 2012 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Hannah Stone https://web.archive.org/web/20221127053105/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-confirm-truce/ 27 November 2022 live The Salvadoran government denied negotiating a deal with the gangs to decrease homicide rates in exchange for better prison conditions. In a press conference, Funes denied that the government ever held negotiations with the gangs, stating "the government did not sit down to negotiate with gangs". He did, however, state that the government supported the agreement between the gangs and the Church. He added that the transfer of prisoners was "not illegal" and that those being transferred did not receive "preferential treatment" at their new prison.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-president-denies-negotiating-with-gangs/ Govt-'Facilitated' Gang Truce in Salvador Sets Dangerous Regional Precedent en InSight Crime 29 March 2012 24 February 2023 Elyssa Pachico Steven Dudley https://web.archive.org/web/20221202173450/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-president-denies-negotiating-with-gangs/ 2 December 2022 live Minister of Public Security David Munguía Payés also denied the allegations, saying "I want the following statement to be loud and clear [...] the government of the republic is not at any time negotiating with any gang". He said that the prisoners were moved because of the Church's appeals on humanitarian grounds, that they were attempting to escape from the prisons, and that they had already served their required ten-year sentence in a maximum-security prison.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-denies-negotiating-with-gangs/ El Salvador Denies Negotiating with Gangs en 19 March 2012 Hannah Stone 24 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221204005234/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-denies-negotiating-with-gangs/ 4 December 2022 live Police officials denied the allegations of a truce, claiming that the reduce in homicides were a result of "improved coordination and intelligence". Continued negotiations In April 2012, the Church announced that it was continuing further negotiations with the gangs to reduce extortion. Munguía stated that the government was willing to facilitate the negotiations but not participate in them, saying that "the government cannot sit down to negotiate with criminal groups". He also stated that any concessions from the government would be "within the scope of the law", such as allowing gang members to be visited by their children and increasing the allowed time for visitations. He added, however, that the government was ready to return to stricter anti-gang measures if the negotiations collapsed.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/salvador-church-seeks-gang-agreement-to-cut-extortion/ El Salvador Church Seeks Gang Agreement to Cut Extortion en 12 April 2012 24 February 2023 Tatiana Faramarzi InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221001043053/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/salvador-church-seeks-gang-agreement-to-cut-extortion/ 1 October 2022 live After the truce's first month, Munguía acknowledged that it existed, saying "I think that this pact between gangs still has not yet been totally fulfilled, and I think it will be difficult to fulfill to perfection [...] there are also other gangs who haven't agreed to the pact, and there are still internal problems inside these gangs". Nevertheless, he claimed that the decrease in violence was a result of improved police operations and better government security strategy.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/salvador-govt-says-truce-will-not-end-gang-violence/ El Salvador Govt Says Truce Will not End Gang Violence en 13 April 2012 InSight Crime 24 February 2023 Elyssa Pachico https://web.archive.org/web/20221006031723/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/salvador-govt-says-truce-will-not-end-gang-violence/ 6 October 2022 live In mid-April 2012, the government announced a plan to allow tens of thousands of imprisoned gang members to find employment opportunities after being released; the plan was expected to cost around US$20 million. Despite the announcement, the government stated that it was difficult to find companies who were willing to participate.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/govt-pins-hope-on-jobs-scheme-to-solidify-gains-of-salvador-gang-truce/ Govt Tries to Solidify Gains of El Salvador Gang Truce en 23 April 2012 24 February 2023 Hannah Stone InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221006164404/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/govt-pins-hope-on-jobs-scheme-to-solidify-gains-of-salvador-gang-truce/ 6 October 2022 live In early May 2012, the gangs agreed to extend the truce to school zones and said that they would end the forced recruitment of members. The announcement, presented by Víctor Antonio García Cerón, a leader of Barrio 18, at the Quezaltepeque prison, read:https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-expand-truce-end-forced-recruitment/ El Salvador Gangs Expand Truce to School Zones 3 May 2012 24 February 2023 InSight Crime en Christopher Looft https://web.archive.org/web/20220704083342/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-expand-truce-end-forced-recruitment/ 4 July 2022 live We have considered making a second gesture of good faith, which consists of declaring all scholarly centers of the country, public and private, as zones of peace; that is to say, they are no longer to be considered disputed territories, which will permit the students and teachers to carry on with their educational activities with all normality, and the families of the students will be liberated of all worry when they send their children to school... We also declare that henceforth, all involuntary recruitment of adults and children into our ranks will cease. Fracturing in late 2012 In mid-July 2012, the government arrested 185 gang members in San Salvador as a part of a "mega-operation" intended to capture 200 gang members. Additionally, three gang leaders were arrested in Soyapango who were connected to the assassinations of three police officers three months prior.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-takes-advantage-of-truce-to-pursue-street-gangs/ El Salvador Takes Advantage of Truce to Pursue Street Gangs 19 July 2012 24 February 2023 Christopher Looft en InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221206034301/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-takes-advantage-of-truce-to-pursue-street-gangs/ 6 December 2022 live In August 2012, Munguía stated that the police were arresting an average of 250 people per day, but announced that the police would begin reducing the number of arrests. He denied the reduction was in response to demands from the gangs.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-to-cut-mass-arrests-after-gang-demands/ El Salvador to Cut Mass Arrests, After Gang Demands en 8 August 2012 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Hannah Stone https://web.archive.org/web/20221201100907/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-to-cut-mass-arrests-after-gang-demands/ 1 December 2022 live According to Miguel Fortin, the director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML), the truce began to fracture in August 2012 as homicide rates began to steadily increase, with 58 homicides being recorded in the first week of the month.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/rise-in-murders-could-indicate-cracks-in-el-salvador-gang-truce/ Rise in Murders Could Indicate Cracks in El Salvador Gang Truce 9 August 2012 24 February 2023 en InSight Crime Michael Kane https://web.archive.org/web/20220926192402/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/rise-in-murders-could-indicate-cracks-in-el-salvador-gang-truce/ 26 September 2022 live On 20 August 2012, two leaders of MS-13 were killed in Soyapango by lower-ranking members, supposedly due to the two leaders attempting to undermine the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-mara-salvatrucha-killings-truce-gangs/ Do El Salvador Killings Reflect Danger to the Gangland Truce? 31 August 2012 24 February 2023 Patrick Corcoran en InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221205045114/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-mara-salvatrucha-killings-truce-gangs/ 5 December 2022 live In September 2012, the Salvadoran government formally acknowledged its role in organizing the truce, stating that the Ministry of Public Security directly negotiated with the gangs under the oversight of Funes. According to Mijango, some of the gangs' demands included the repeal of the Gang Prohibition Act, the end of police operations in gang-controlled territory, the repeal of a law which provided benefits to individuals in exchange for information about others with criminal connections, and general improvements in the prisoners' quality of life.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/the-new-truth-about-the-gang-truce/ The New Truth About El Salvador's Gang Truce Carlos Martínez José Luis Sans InSight Crime en 14 September 2012 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221219045335/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/the-new-truth-about-the-gang-truce/ 19 December 2022 live In November 2012, Mijango and Colindres called upon the Legislative Assembly to repeal the Gang Prohibition Act to further distance the country from the old es Mano Dura policies, but Funes stated that he would oppose any effort to repeal the law.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-funes-repeal-anti-gang-law/ El Salvador President Open to Reform But Not Repeal of Anti-Gang Law en 18 December 2012 24 February 2023 James Bargent InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220926031055/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-funes-repeal-anti-gang-law/ 26 September 2022 live Peace zones On 22 November 2012, Mijango and Colindres announced that the next phase of the truce would be the implementation of so-called "peace zones", special municipalities where the gangs should aim to eliminate all criminal activities. Gang members would be required to surrender their weapons and make peace with rival gang members, while the police would end night-time operations and the government would implement programs to support gang members by providing them work.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/next-phase-salvador-gang-truce-peace-zones/ Next Phase of Salvador Gang Truce: Peace Zones en 23 November 2012 24 February 2023 Hannah Stone InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221205005546/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/next-phase-salvador-gang-truce-peace-zones/ 5 December 2022 live Some gang leaders accepted the proposal and even proposed ten municipalities where the peace should be established. The peace zones would affect around 900,000 people.http://www.lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/74767/2012/12/04/Pandilleros-eligen-municipios-considerados-“santuarios”-en-segunda-fase-de-tregua Pandilleros Eligen Municipios Considerados "Santuarios" en Segunda Fase de Tregua Gang Members Select Municipalities to be Considered "Sanctuaries" in the Second Phase of the Truce es La Página 4 December 2012 24 February 2023 Carmen Rodríguez https://web.archive.org/web/20170926201753/http://www.lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/74767/2012/12/04/Pandilleros-eligen-municipios-considerados-“santuarios”-en-segunda-fase-de-tregua 26 September 2017 dead The peace zone project formally began on 22 January 2013 in the city of Ilopango.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-peace-zone-launched-in-second-phase-of-gang-truce/ El Salvador 'Peace Zone' Launched in Second Phase of Gang Truce 23 January 2013 24 February 2023 en InSight Crime Miriam Wells https://web.archive.org/web/20221205021516/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-peace-zone-launched-in-second-phase-of-gang-truce/ 5 December 2022 live Quezaltepeque, Santa Tecla, and Sonsonate became peace zones soon after. Additionally, Minister of Defense Atilio Benítez announced that the military would withdraw its forces from the peace zones after confirming that MS-13 and Barrio 18 were surrendering their weapons and ceasing criminal activities.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/military-to-withdraw-from-el-salvador-peace-zones/ Military to Withdraw from El Salvador 'Peace Zones' en 4 February 2023 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Elyssa Pachico https://web.archive.org/web/20220926085928/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/military-to-withdraw-from-el-salvador-peace-zones/ 26 September 2022 live By May 2013, the country had 19 peace zones.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-may-homicides-climb-to-65-as-ninth-peace-zone-launched/ Spate of Killings Shakes El Salvador Gang Truce 9 May 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Marguerite Cawley https://web.archive.org/web/20221006170027/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-may-homicides-climb-to-65-as-ninth-peace-zone-launched/ 6 October 2022 live Further fracturing in 2013 Homicides once again began to increase in February 2013, rising from 5.3 homicides per day at the end of 2012 to 6.6 homicides per day in mid-February 2013. A shootout between rival gang members occurred in San Miguel on 1 February resulting in four deaths, and in mid-February, three homicides occurred in Ilopango despite the city being a peace zone. Munguía described the shootout in San Miguel as "a chain of revenge" and denied that the homicides in Ilopango undermined the truce, stating that they were committed by a gang which was not involved in the deal.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/vengeance-killings-undermine-el-salvador-gang-truce/ Is Uptick in Murders Eroding El Salvador Gang Truce? en 21 February 2023 24 February 2023 James Bargent InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221201232136/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/vengeance-killings-undermine-el-salvador-gang-truce/ 1 December 2022 live In March 2013, Salvadoran authorities admitted that the truce was not working in some parts of the country, and that the gangs were unable to enforce some cliques of members to abide by it, especially in La Unión. According to Munguía, the mayor and police chief of La Unión stated that the truce was not in force in the city with 31 homicides being recorded since the start of the year.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/maras-unable-to-enforce-truce-in-eastern-el-salvador/ Gangs Unable to Enforce Truce in Eastern El Salvador Miriam Wells 13 March 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime en https://web.archive.org/web/20221006164408/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/maras-unable-to-enforce-truce-in-eastern-el-salvador/ 6 October 2022 live In April 2013, Salvadoran officials requested financial assistance from the United States to fund the truce, which they estimated as requiring US$150 million.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-seeks-us-truce-funding/ El Salvador to Seek US Truce Funding Marguerite Cawley en 5 April 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221006052413/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-seeks-us-truce-funding/ 6 October 2022 live In June 2013, the US announced that it would spend US$91.2 million to fund El Salvador's security programs, but not the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/us-funds-el-salvador-security-not-truce/ US Funds El Salvador Security, Not Gang Truce en 17 June 2013 24 February 2023 Miriam Wells InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220929041339/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/us-funds-el-salvador-security-not-truce/ 29 September 2022 live In regards to the US, Mijango stated that "the US has not only decided to maintain their distance, they have begun a strong campaign to try to destroy this process".https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-gang-truce-battered-by-electioneering/ Can El Salvador Gang Truce Survive Presidential Campaign? en 5 August 2023 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Seth Robbins https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172652/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-gang-truce-battered-by-electioneering/ 6 October 2022 live Mauricio Ramírez, the sub-director of the PNC, stated that some arrested gang members have argued that they should not be arrested because they were participating in the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-peace-truce-avoid-arrest/ El Salvador Gang Members Use Peace Truce to Avoid Arrest: Police en 25 March 2023 James Bargent InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221003204749/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-peace-truce-avoid-arrest/ 3 October 2022 live Despite the gangs' opposition to the Gang Prohibition Act, Salvadoran prosecutors revealed in May 2013 that they had been using the law to convict 180 gang members during ten of the thirteen months in which the truce was present, following a freedom of information request by the Salvadoran Foundation for Economic and Social Development (FUSADES).https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-prosecutors-use-of-anti-gang-law-during-truce/ El Salvador Prosecutors Reveal Use of Anti-Gang Law During Truce en James Bargent InSight Crime 31 May 2013 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221005022725/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-prosecutors-use-of-anti-gang-law-during-truce/ 5 October 2022 live Following a spike of homicides in early May 2013, Munguía claimed that the homicides did not represent a trend. Despite comments and statements from the Church and politicians claiming that the truce has failed, Funes reiterated that "the truce has not failed" and stated that US$18 million would be invested in creating programs in the country's peace zones to continue to offer support and opportunities to gang members.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/social-reinsertion-programs-el-salvador-gang-truce/ El Salvador Promises More Social Aid for Gang Truce en 14 May 2013 24 February 2023 Miriam Wells https://web.archive.org/web/20221006003022/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/social-reinsertion-programs-el-salvador-gang-truce/ 6 October 2022 live Munguía was ousted as minister of public security on 17 May 2013 following a ruling from the Supreme Court of Justice of El Salvador which stated that his appointment to the position as a former military general was unconstitutional. Mijango criticized the ruling, claiming that it was "influenced by enemies of the peace process", while gang members lamented his removal, stating that it "puts the security of Salvadorans at risk". Funes stated that, although he opposed the court's ruling, he would respect the decision.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/exit-of-el-salvador-security-minister-puts-gang-truce-at-risk/ Exit of El Salvador Security Minister Puts Gang Truce at Risk 20 May 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime en Héctor Silva Ávalos Steve Dudley https://web.archive.org/web/20221129170223/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/exit-of-el-salvador-security-minister-puts-gang-truce-at-risk/ 29 November 2022 live Collapse In July 2013, an anonymous police chief told the La Prensa Gráfica newspaper that the gangs were preparing to end the truce and that they were using it stockpile weapons, acquire vehicles, and diversify their means of obtaining revenue.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-offering-business-loans/ El Salvador Gangs Offering Business Loans en 8 July 2013 24 February 2023 James Bargent InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221209093952/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-offering-business-loans/ 9 December 2022 live Additionally, Ricardo Perdomo, who succeeded Munguía as minister of public security, told La Prensa Gráfica that the gangs also used the truce to strengthen their connections with international drug traffickers.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-using-truce-to-strengthen-drug-ties-security-minister/ El Salvador Gangs Using Truce to Strengthen Drug Ties: Official Marguerite Cowley InSight Crime 19 July 2013 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221006173146/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-using-truce-to-strengthen-drug-ties-security-minister/ 6 October 2022 live An analysis of around 500 weapons surrendered by the gangs revealed the majority of them to be non-functional, raising concerns over the validity of the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/weapons-surrendered-el-salvador-maras-useless/ Weapons Surrendered by El Salvador's Maras Useless Jeremy McDermott InSight Crime 8 August 2013 24 February 2023 en https://web.archive.org/web/20220930125900/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/weapons-surrendered-el-salvador-maras-useless/ 30 September 2022 live Four members of Barrio 18 were killed in Ilopango, the first peace zone, on 6 September 2013.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-rocked-by-peace-zone-murders/ El Salvador Gang Truce Shaken by 'Peace Zone' Murders en 9 September 2013 24 February 2023 Charles Parkinson InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221204014904/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-rocked-by-peace-zone-murders/ 4 December 2022 live In late September 2013, gang leaders issued a joint statement announcing their desire to continue the truce despite September being the fourth consecutive month of increasing homicides. They described their desire to continue the truce as "unbreakable".https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-release-joint-statement/ El Salvador Gangs Release Joint Statement Promoting Truce Marguerite Cowley InSight Crime 24 September 2013 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221206100845/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-release-joint-statement/ 6 December 2022 live In November 2013, eight mayors of the country's peace zones stated that the truce was failing, while Mijango stated that the gangs were the only ones putting effort into maintaining the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-peace-zone-mayors-say-truce-is-failing/ El Salvador Peace Zone Mayors Say Truce Is Failing Miriam Wells 1 November 2013 25 February 2023 en InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221202160025/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-peace-zone-mayors-say-truce-is-failing/ 2 December 2022 live On 21 November 2013, Perdomo stated that the truce was "all but dead" and that the gangs "are at war, in a process of vengeance and territorial control". He began to distance the government from the truce, stating "I have never mentioned a truce. [The gangs] decide the details of the truce, only they know how things are. We, the authorities, do not get involved in this; we restrict ourselves to enforcing the law and stopping violence". Perdomo also believed that the gangs planned to increase homicides in December 2012, which the gangs denied as they accused the government of wanting to return to the old es Mano Dura policies.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-at-war-as-truce-hits-the-rocks/ El Salvador Gangs 'At War' as Truce Hits the Rocks James Bargent InSight Crime 21 November 2013 25 February 2023 en https://web.archive.org/web/20221128014450/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-at-war-as-truce-hits-the-rocks/ 28 November 2022 live On 3 March 2014, with 484 homicides being recorded between 1 January and 1 March 2014 (or 8 homicides per day), and with 60 to 70 percent of them being committed by gang members, Rigoberto Pleités, the director of the National Civil Police, announced that "the truce technically no longer exists, given the increase in homicides in the past months".https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-technically-finished-police/ El Salvador Gang Truce 'Technically' Finished: Police en Michael Lohmuller InSight Crime 4 March 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172740/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-technically-finished-police/ 6 October 2022 livehttp://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=47859&idArt=8601235 Director PNC: "Tregua se Está Agotando" PNC Director: "The Truce is Failing" es 3 March 2014 25 February 2023 El Salvador.com https://web.archive.org/web/20140305011644/http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=47859&idArt=8601235 5 March 2014 dead On 26 May 2014, four days before the end of his term as president, Funes stated that Barrio 18 had "decided to break the truce". Funes admitted that "the truce has failed, not only because of the decision of those who agreed to it; it is because a state of opinion contrary to it was created; with this, I am not saying that the truce was necessary or the only option". The country at this time averaged 14 homicides per day.http://noticias.univision.com/article/1967148/2014-05-26/america-latina/el-salvador/presidente-de-el-salvador-reconoce-fracaso-de-tregua-entre-pandillas Presidente de El Salvador Reconoce Fracaso de Tregua Entre Pandillas The President of El Salvador Recognizes the Collapse of the Truce with the Gangs es 26 May 2014 25 February 2023 Univision https://web.archive.org/web/20141022105319/http://noticias.univision.com/article/1967148/2014-05-26/america-latina/el-salvador/presidente-de-el-salvador-reconoce-fracaso-de-tregua-entre-pandillas 22 October 2014 dead Criticism Journalists Shortly after the truce was announced, Elyssa Pachico and Steven Dudley, two writers for InSight Crime, stated that the gang truce set a "dangerous regional precedent". They stated that truces only lead to a temporary decrease in violence and are difficult to maintain or transform into a long-term solution. They added that the truce emboldened the gangs' political power and that they "may seek to further upset the delicate balance between justice and peace by demanding more concessions [...] this balance may have already tilted too far in the favor [of the] gangs". Others have stated that the truce gave gangs political leverage. In March 2013, El Faro writer José Luis Sanz criticized the truce as violating the Anti-Gang Law, as any negotiations or dealings with gangs violates the law. He also added that 22 mayors across the country have contracted gang members to carry out public works projects, such as resurfacing paved roads, which he argued also violated the law.https://www.elfaro.net/es/201303/noticias/11225/ La Tregua Entre Pandillas y el Estado en Conflicto con la Ley The Truce Between the Gangs and the State is in Conflict with the Law es El Faro José Luis Sanz 4 March 2013 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20220120092004/https://elfaro.net/es/201303/noticias/11225/ 20 January 2022 livehttps://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-gang-truce-illegal/ Why El Salvador's Gang Truce Is Illegal, and Why It Matters en 27 March 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Hannah Stone https://web.archive.org/web/20221206173520/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-gang-truce-illegal/ 6 December 2022 live Religious figures On 6 March 2013, Spanish priest Antonio Rodríguez claimed that one of his colleagues, Édgar Giovanni Morales, was assassinated by members of Barrio 18. Rodríguez claimed that Morales was assassinated in retaliation for Rodríguez's opposition to the gang truce, and claimed that the truce benefited the gangs while they continued to participate in criminal activities.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/opponents-of-el-salvador-gang-truce-facing-pay-back-killings/ Opponents of El Salvador Gang Truce Facing Payback Killings en 6 March 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Marguerite Cawley https://web.archive.org/web/20220926023150/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/opponents-of-el-salvador-gang-truce-facing-pay-back-killings/ 26 September 2022 live He later changed his position and supported the truce. According to Mijango, who met Rodríguez shortly after he made his claim, Rodríguez changed his view in part due to fear after Morales' death.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-father-antonio-critics-church/ Priest Critic of El Salvador Gang Truce Switches Sides en Marguerite Cawley 7 May 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220930153145/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-father-antonio-critics-church/ 30 September 2022 live Despite Colindres' role in forming the truce, three of the Church's top leaders informed the government that they did not want anything to do with the truce. The country's Catholic Conference of Bishops issued a statement on 12 May 2013 questioning the effectiveness of the truce, seeking to distance themselves from Colindres, stating that "the truce has not produced any benefits for the honorable and hard-working population".https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-catholic-church-pawn-or-player-in-gang-truce/ El Salvador Catholic Church: Pawn or Player in Gang Truce? en Steven Dudley InSight Crime 13 May 2013 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221004094011/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-catholic-church-pawn-or-player-in-gang-truce/ 4 October 2022 live Additionally, many lower ranking Church officials also opposed the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/5-things-el-salvador-gang-truce-taught-us/ 5 Things the El Salvador Gang Truce Has Taught Us 12 March 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime en Steven Dudley https://web.archive.org/web/20221209055502/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/5-things-el-salvador-gang-truce-taught-us/ 9 December 2022 live According to Colindres himself, he participated in the truce's negotiation without consulting the conference and that he was motivated by the Church's humanitarian imperative. Munguía and Mijango believed that Colindres' participation would help legitimize the truce. In April 2012, José Luis Escobar Alas, the archbishop of San Salvador, praised Colindres' efforts in forming the truce and called upon Salvadorans to take advantage of the situation to "surpass the intolerable violence",https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2012/4/7/el-salvadors-gang-truce El Salvador's Gang Truce en Mike Allison 7 April 2012 25 February 2023 Al Jazeera https://web.archive.org/web/20221126151521/https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2012/4/7/el-salvadors-gang-truce 26 November 2022 live but as the truce was collapsing in March 2014, he stated that the truce was "well intentioned, but did not work".https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/archbishop-joins-calls-to-abandon-el-salvadors-crumbling-gang-truce/ San Salvador Archbishop: Gang Truce 'Did Not Work' en InSight Crime James Bargent 31 March 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221206113203/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/archbishop-joins-calls-to-abandon-el-salvadors-crumbling-gang-truce/ 6 December 2022 live Politicians Ernesto Muyshondt, a spokesman for the Nationalist Republican Alliance, stated following the announcement of the truce that he might call for an investigation hearing against Munguía, stating that making deals with the gangs would be "a nefarious precedent [...] the government would be offering itself to extortionists".https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/world/americas/homicides-in-el-salvador-drop-and-questions-arise.html?_r=2&ref=americas Homicides in El Salvador Dip, and Questions Arise Randal C. Archibold 24 March 2012 24 February 2023 The New York Times Mexico City, Mexico en https://web.archive.org/web/20170925184039/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/world/americas/homicides-in-el-salvador-drop-and-questions-arise.html?_r=2&ref=americas 25 September 2017 live On 8 May 2013, Attorney General Luis Martínez criticized the truce as "hypocritical". He stated that "this false truce does not really exist, because every day it is demonstrated that there continue to be victims in our country, of working people, of fighting people, not of these lazy gang members who only dedicate themselves to stealing, extorting, and murder".http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=47859&idArt=7876930 Fiscal: "Tregua de Pandillas es Falsa e Hipócrita" Attorney General: "Gang Truce is False and Hypocritical" es El Salvador.com 8 May 2013 24 February 2023 David Marroquín https://web.archive.org/web/20130523001312/http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=47859&idArt=7876930 23 May 2013 dead In June 2013, he accused Munguía of suspending fourteen anti-gang operations in San Salvador and leaking information to gang members in October 2012 to help them avoid arrest.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/ex-minister-accused-of-interfering-in-anti-gang-ops-in-el-salvador/ Ex-Minister Accused of Interfering in El Salvador Anti-Gang Ops en 28 June 2013 24 February 2023 James Bargent InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220925214835/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/ex-minister-accused-of-interfering-in-anti-gang-ops-in-el-salvador/ 25 September 2022 live He has also referred to the peace zones as "pandillalandia" (literally "gang land"). In July 2013, deputy Guillermo Gallegos of the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA) called for an investigation into Mijango's activities after he claimed on 4 July 2013 that the number of homicides would decrease in 72 hours following a significant spike in homicides in the first three days of July. Gallegos claimed that "a person who has knowledge, control, and knows how the gangs act, and says that in 72 hours homicides may drop is also in some way an accomplice". Another politician commented that Mijango appeared to have information regarding the truce which was not available to others. Mijango refuted their claims and stated that the homicides were not part of a plan to blackmail the government.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-politicians-order-investigation-into-truce-mediator/ El Salvador Politicians Demand Investigation into Truce Mediator 5 July 2013 24 February 2023 Marguerite Cawley InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221003104906/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-politicians-order-investigation-into-truce-mediator/ 3 October 2022 live 2014 presidential election thumb|right|220px|2014 ARENA presidential candidate Norman Quijano criticized the truce throughout his electoral campaign. The truce became a major topic in the 2014 presidential election. FMLN presidential candidate Salvador Sánchez Cerén criticized the truce, and claimed that his party was never the reason that the truce was formed.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvadors-revamped-truce-plan-a-political-stunt/ Is El Salvador's Revamped Truce Plan a Political Stunt? en Armando Córdoba InSight Crime 21 April 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20220926034639/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvadors-revamped-truce-plan-a-political-stunt/ 26 September 2022 live Funes continued to defend the truce and expressed his support for it. Perdomo stated that the government would continue supporting the truce, but questioned its effectiveness claiming that it allowed the gangs to strengthen their connections with international drug traffickers. Meanwhile, ARENA presidential candidate Norman Quijano criticized the truce. He claimed that it "did not solve the problem" of violence and that it only served to legitimize the gangs through the government's cooperation with them. Mijango dismissed Quijano's comments, claiming that they were only for show for his presidential campaign, adding that "it would be stupid to end the possibility that this process keeps advancing". He also stated that while Funes' government was supporting the truce, it was also "creat[ing] more obstacles" to the truce being effective. He believed that the country's political climate was not enough to break the truce; he added, "I told [the gang members] that it's necessary to wait until after the elections, so that [the election], where everyone is so frenzied, passes". He asked the gangs to "stay out of politics"; "we have an agreement that no one in the gangs is even going to wear a party shirt nor form any part of the party structures". In September 2013, gang leaders announced they would vote in the 2014 election and that they encouraged other gang members to do the same. In October 2013, Mijango claimed that both Quijano and representatives from the FMLN had met with leaders of both MS-13 and Barrio 18 in an effort to rally the gangs' support for the election. He stated that the gangs constitute "an elector that can define the result [of the election]", and referenced the 60,000 gang members that can be mobilized to vote and sway the election. He described Quijano as a hypocrite for allegedly meeting with the gangs while publicly voicing his opposition to the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-opposition-leader-meets-with-gangs/ El Salvador Meetings Raise Question about Gangs' Political Might 24 October 2013 25 February 2023 en Charles Parkinson InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221209071439/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-opposition-leader-meets-with-gangs/ 9 December 2022 live According to Roberto José d'Aubuisson Munguía, a deputy of the Legislative Assembly from ARENA, recordings and documents leaked in January 2014 allegedly revealed that the government authorized payments to the mediators and the families of gang leaders, as well as gave benefits to incarcerated gang leaders such as nights out of prison, prostitutes, and luxury goods.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-recordings-spark-gang-truce-controversy/ Recordings Spark Gang Truce Controversy in El Salvador Marguerite Cowley James Bargent InSight Crime 23 January 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20220926022735/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-recordings-spark-gang-truce-controversy/ 26 September 2022 live In 2016, MS-13 released YouTube videos and audio recordings which allegedly showed politicians of both ARENA and the FMLN negotiating with gangs, offering them identity cards and financial support in exchange for the gangs supporting their political campaigns prior to the 2014 presidential election.The Evolution of MS 13 in El Salvador and Honduras en 2017 7 1 58–73 Institute for National Strategic Security, National Defense University 26470498 Douglas Farah Kathryn Babineau PRISM On 4 June 2021, Muyshondt was arrested for allegedly engaging in electoral fraud and negotiating with the gangs to vote for ARENA in 2014.https://lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/pnc-captura-al-ernesto-muyshondt-por-apropiacion-indebida-de-retenciones-en-perjuicio-de-la-hacienda-publica/ PNC Captura al Ernesto Muyshondt por Apropiación Indebida de Retenciones en Perjuicio de la Hacienda Pública PNC Captures Ernesto Muyshondt for Misappropriation of Retentions to the Detriment of the Public Finance es Julio Villarán 4 June 2021 25 February 2023 La Página https://web.archive.org/web/20230215224823/https://lapagina.com.sv/nacionales/arresto-para-muyshondt-por-apropiarse-de-cuotas-laborales-cuando-fue-alcalde-de-san-salvador/ 15 February 2023 live On 11 November 2022, Quijano himself was ordered to stand trial for allegedly offering the gangs favors in exchange for them voting for him in the 2014 election.https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/norman-quijano-enfrentara-juicio-por-negociar-con-pandillas Norman Quijano Enfrentará Juicio por Negociar con Pandillas Norman Quijano to Face Trial for Negotiating with Gangs 11 November 2022 23 February 2023 es El Mundo Leonardo Cerón https://web.archive.org/web/20230224071119/https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/norman-quijano-enfrentara-juicio-por-negociar-con-pandillas 24 February 2023 live Public opinion According to a poll conducted by the Technological University of El Salvador in August 2013, 47 percent of respondents believed the truce benefited the gangs, 16 percent believed it benefited the public, and 13 percent believed it benefited the government. The poll also found that 68.1 percent of respondents believed the truce had "political ends" and 50 percent believed that the truce had not produced any results.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/maras-gaining-most-from-truce-say-el-salvador-survey-respondents/ Gangs Gain Most from El Salvador Truce: Opinion Poll en 28 August 2013 24 February 2023 Marguerite Cowley InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221006171525/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/maras-gaining-most-from-truce-say-el-salvador-survey-respondents/ 6 October 2022 live Results Homicide rate In the first 21 days of March 2012, a total of 186 homicides were recorded (or 5 homicides per day), a decrease from 402 in February 2012 and 411 in January 2012 (or 14 homicides per day). Although the number of homicides significantly decreased in March 2012, the gangs were still responsible for about half of the homicides committed; according to La Prensa Gráfica, from 10 March to 11 April, a total of 209 homicides were recorded. By May 2012, homicides had reportedly decreased by 58 percent from the beginning the truce. On 3 January 2013, the government announced that it had registered 2,576 homicides throughout 2012, a decrease of 1,795 (or 41 percent) from 2011, when 4,371 were killed.http://agencias.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=1325776 El Salvador Registra Casi 1,800 Homicidios Menos que en 2011, Según Policía El Salvador Registers Nearly 1,800 Less Homicides than in 2011, According to Police es ABC https://web.archive.org/web/20170925221655/http://agencias.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=1325776 25 September 2017 dead Additionally, a few days without a homicide were reported in 2012, something which had not occurred in El Salvador in over thirty years.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-homicides-fell-over-40-percent-2012/ El Salvador Homicides Fell Over 40% in 2012 en 4 January 2013 24 February 2023 Edward Fox InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221204075052/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-homicides-fell-over-40-percent-2012/ 4 December 2022 live From January 2013 to April 2013, the government recorded 694 homicides, a 45 percent decrease from the 1,224 homicides recorded in the same period in 2012. The figures did not include the number of people recorded missing.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-homicides-gang-truce-2013/ El Salvador Sees 45% Drop in Murders: Police James Bargent en InSight Crime 2 May 2013 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221209054112/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-homicides-gang-truce-2013/ 9 December 2022 live In the first eight days of May 2013, however, a spike of 65 homicides was registered which seemed to be gang related, and the homicide rate continued to steadily increase throughout May and June 2013. In the first three days of July 2013, 56 homicides were registered. In the first six days of August 2013, 69 homicides were registered, with 29 of them being linked to gang violence; by late August, 208 homicides were registered in the month, a 45 percent increase from August 2012. A total of 176 homicides were registered in the first 17 days of November 2013, compared to only 91 homicides recorded in the same period in November 2012. According to the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML), the Salvadoran government forensic institute, a total of 2,492 homicides were registered in 2013, a 4 percent decrease from 2012 for an average of 7.1 homicides per day.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-murders-fall-slightly-in-2013-but-rising-again/ El Salvador Murders Fall Slightly for 2013, but Rising Again en Michael Lohmuller InSight Crime 14 January 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221201202055/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-murders-fall-slightly-in-2013-but-rising-again/ 1 December 2022 live By the end of the truce in May 2014, the country was experiencing an average of 14 homicides per day. El Salvador recorded 3,912 homicides in 2014.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-homicides-skyrocket-after-gang-truce-unravels/ El Salvador Homicides Skyrocket After Gang Truce Unravels en 9 January 2015 25 February 2023 InSight Crime Kyra Gurney https://web.archive.org/web/20221209045733/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/el-salvador-homicides-skyrocket-after-gang-truce-unravels/ 9 December 2022 live The following graph visualizes the number of homicides recorded in the three calendar years the truce was in force.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/2-divergent-views-on-el-salvador-gang-truce-1-sad-conclusion/ 2 Divergent Views on El Salvador Gang Truce, 1 Sad Conclusion en Steven Dudley InSight Crime 15 April 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221202003557/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/2-divergent-views-on-el-salvador-gang-truce-1-sad-conclusion/ 2 December 2022 livehttps://www.fiscalia.gob.sv/wp-content/uploads/2013/Boletin-Estadistico-Mensual-de-Homicidios-Diciembre%202014/files/assets/downloads/publication.pdf Reporte Mensual de Homicidios Conciliados del Mes de Diciembre 2014 Monthly Report of Conciliated Homicides for the Month of December 2014 es Office of the Attorney General of El Salvador January 2016 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230226020548/https://www.fiscalia.gob.sv/wp-content/uploads/2013/Boletin-Estadistico-Mensual-de-Homicidios-Diciembre%202014/files/assets/downloads/publication.pdf 26 February 2023 live 2012–2014 homicides in El Salvador.tab Raw data Other crimes Although the number of homicides recorded decreased during the truce, the number of missing persons increased. In the first two months of 2012, 99 people were reported missing, while in the same period in 2013, 150 were reported missing. Meanwhile, the police reported an 81 percent increase in the number of bodies found in shallow graves, with all 20 discovered bodies having been killed in 2012 or 2013.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/disappearances-clandestine-graves-rise-el-salvador/ Disappearances, Clandestine Graves on Rise in El Salvador en 8 March 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime James Bargent https://web.archive.org/web/20221202173920/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/disappearances-clandestine-graves-rise-el-salvador/ 2 December 2022 live By August 2013, the country registered 949 disappearances; 49 percent were later found alive, 6 percent were later found to have been killed, and the remainder were still missing.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/rise-in-disappearances-in-el-salvador-feeds-doubts-over-truce/ Rise in Disappearances Feeds Doubts Over El Salvador Truce en InSight Crime James Bargent 1 August 2013 24 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221002140232/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/rise-in-disappearances-in-el-salvador-feeds-doubts-over-truce/ 2 October 2022 live A total of 97 bodies were recovered from shallow graves between August 2012 and August 2013.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-mass-graves-put-pressure-on-gang-truce/ El Salvador Mass Graves Put Pressure on Gang Truce en Miriam Wells InSight Crime 10 December 2013 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221129235633/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-mass-graves-put-pressure-on-gang-truce/ 29 November 2022 Despite the decrease in homicides, extortions increased during the first month of the truce. According to gang member Ludwing Alexander Rivera, extortion would continue until the gangs and their families could make up for the lost revenue from ending the practice. By July 2012, gang-related extortion reportedly began to decrease, but anonymous extortion was increasing.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/100-days-into-gang-truce-el-salvador-sizes-up-security-gains/ 100 Days into Gang Truce, El Salvador Sizes Up Security Gains 19 July 2012 Elyssa Pachico 24 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221202024402/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/100-days-into-gang-truce-el-salvador-sizes-up-security-gains/ 2 December 2022 live According to some gang members, they were ordered to not murder or extort people in their territories as to not raise attention but that they were free to do so elsewhere. Interest in Guatemala and Honduras In May 2012, government officials in Guatemala and Honduras announced that they might consider implementing similar agreements with gangs in their countries to reduce crime, seeing the results of the truce in El Salvador. Héctor Mauricio López, the minister of the interior of Guatemala, stated that the truce was "very innovative" and "worthy of being studied". Pompeyo Bonilla, the minister of security of Honduras, stated that the truce was "a lesson which deserves to be replicated, to attempt it in my country, where we regrettably have the highest homicide rate".https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/guatemala-honduras-may-replicate-el-salvador-gang-truce/ Guatemala, Honduras May Replicate El Salvador Gang Truce en InSight Crime 4 May 2012 24 February 2023 Geoffrey Ramsey https://web.archive.org/web/20221109011153/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/guatemala-honduras-may-replicate-el-salvador-gang-truce/ 9 November 2022 live In May 2013, gang leaders in Honduras called upon President Porfirio Lobo Sosa to agree to a similar truce as was met in El Salvador.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/honduran-gangs-to-replicate-el-salvador-truce/ Honduran Gangs May Replicate El Salvador Truce 27 May 2013 24 February 2023 en InSight Crime James Bargent https://web.archive.org/web/20221201035359/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/honduran-gangs-to-replicate-el-salvador-truce/ 1 December 2022 live Adam Blackwell, a representative of the Organization of American States (OAS), and Romulo Emiliani, a bishop of the Catholic Church, were present at a prison in San Pedro Sula when the gangs formally announced that they were committed to ending gang-related violence. Lobo Sosa stated he was willing to support the truce, but Emiliani believed that the truce would not result in a decrease in violence as seen in El Salvador.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/3-questions-about-honduras-gang-pact/ 5 Questions About Honduras' Gang Pact en 31 May 2013 24 February 2023 InSight Crime Elyssa Pachico https://web.archive.org/web/20221202160159/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/3-questions-about-honduras-gang-pact/ 2 December 2022 live Aftermath Subsequent homicides According to the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML), a total of 1,857 homicides were recorded in the first six months of 2014, a 77 percent increase from the same period in 2013 for an average of 10.3 homicides per day. In June 2014 alone, 378 homicides were recorded; with June's daily average of 12.6 homicides per day, the country effectively returned to its pre-truce homicide rate.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/homicides-in-el-salvador-reach-pre-truce-levels/ Homicides in El Salvador Reach Pre-Gang Truce Levels Kyra Gurney InSight Crime en 8 July 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172632/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/homicides-in-el-salvador-reach-pre-truce-levels/ 6 October 2022 dead By 24 July 2014, the country recorded 2,098 homicides throughout the year; Mauricio Ramírez Landaverde, the director of the National Civil Police, stated that gang members were responsible for the majority of the homicides, but were also the majority of homicide victims.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/new-el-salvador-govt-yet-to-take-action-as-homicides-rocket/ New El Salvador Govt Yet to Take Action as Homicides Rocket en Camilo Mejía Giraldo 29 July 2014 25 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221123234208/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/new-el-salvador-govt-yet-to-take-action-as-homicides-rocket/ 23 November 2022 live The country recorded 3,912 homicides in 2014, an average of 10.8 homicides per day. In February 2015, as crime began to "skyrocket" in El Salvador, Ricardo Salvador Martínez, the director of police internal affairs, stated that "we're at war" with the gangs. March 2015 marked the deadliest month in El Salvador since the end of the civil war in 1992 with 481 homicides being committed. This mark was later surpassed with 622 homicides in May 2015, then 677 homicides in June 2015, and 907 homicides in August 2015.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/assessing-el-salvador-gangs-in-a-post-truce-context/ Assessing El Salvador's Gangs in a Post-Truce Context en InSight Crime Michael Lohmuller 30 November 2015 25 January 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221209145420/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/assessing-el-salvador-gangs-in-a-post-truce-context/ 9 December 2022 live On 25 August 2015, the Supreme Court declared that both MS-13 and Barrio 18 were officially designated as terrorist organizations, stating that they were responsible for "systematic attacks on the lives, security, and personal integrity of the population".https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2015/08/25/el-salvador-declara-como-grupos-terroristas-a-las-pandillas/ El Salvador Declara como Grupos Terroristas a las Pandillas El Salvador Declares Gangs as Terrorist Groups 25 August 2015 24 February 2023 Merlid Delcid es CNN en Español https://web.archive.org/web/20230213105540/https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2015/08/25/el-salvador-declara-como-grupos-terroristas-a-las-pandillas/ 13 February 2023 live Throughout 2015, the government recorded 6,657 homicides, the most the country had seen in a single year since 1983 for a homicide rate of 104 per 100,000 people.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/el-salvador-violence-deaths-murder-2015 Violent Deaths in El Salvador Spiked 70% in 2015, Figures Reveal en The Guardian 4 January 2016 25 February 2023 Betsy Reed https://web.archive.org/web/20230114073630/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/04/el-salvador-violence-deaths-murder-2015 14 January 2023 live Additionally, the rise in homicides in 2014 and 2015 led to the revival of the Sombra Negra, a vigilante death squad with supposed police connections which targeted and killed gang members.http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/gang-violence-el-salvador-sparked-death-squad-revival Has Gang Violence in El Salvador Sparked a Death Squad Revival? James Bargent InSight Crime 23 May 2014 26 February 2023 en https://web.archive.org/web/20150404140517/http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/gang-violence-el-salvador-sparked-death-squad-revival 4 April 2015 live Due to the sharp rise in homicides in 2015, El Salvador was frequently referred to as the "world's deadliest peacetime country".https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/el-salvador-inside-the-world-s-deadliest-peacetime-country-a7062426.html El Salvador: Inside the World's Deadliest Peacetime Country en The Independent 3 June 2016 26 February 2023 Andrew Buncombe San Salvador, El Salvador https://web.archive.org/web/20220728112558/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/el-salvador-inside-the-world-s-deadliest-peacetime-country-a7062426.html 28 July 2022 livehttps://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-executioners-of-el-salvador The Executioners of El Salvador en The New Yorker 4 August 2015 26 February 2023 Daniel Alarcón https://web.archive.org/web/20230203151139/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-executioners-of-el-salvador 3 February 2023 livehttps://www.cjr.org/special_report/el_faro_el_salvador.php A Light in the Underworld en 21 November 2016 26 February 2023 Columbia Journalism Review Sarah Esther Maslin https://web.archive.org/web/20220906175634/https://www.cjr.org/special_report/el_faro_el_salvador.php 6 September 2022 live Legal proceedings Mauricio Funes In February 2016, the office of the Attorney General leaked recordings from gang members who alleged that Funes' government gave money, conjugal visits, and transfers to lower-security prisons to gang leaders in exchange for their participation in the truce. Funes denied that his government ever gave perks to gang leaders, stating "the only thing the government did was monitor this agreement through the mediators". He also questioned the validity of the allegations, claiming that as the allegations came from gang members, they were only seeking to shorten their sentences in exchange for making allegations against Funes.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/former-el-salvador-president-denies-giving-perks-to-gangs/ Daugherty Arron 8 February 2016 Former El Salvador President Denies Giving Perks to Gangs InSight Crime 23 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230213010604/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/former-el-salvador-president-denies-giving-perks-to-gangs/ 13 February 2023 live Funes left the country in June 2016 and travelled to Nicaragua; he claimed to have left because he was working as a consultant. In August 2016, his properties were raided by Salvadoran authorities who were searching for evidence to charge Funes with charges of embezzlement, illicit negotiations, misuse of funds, illicit enrichment, and influence-trafficking. In September 2016, he and his family were granted asylum by the Nicaraguan government, which said the reason for granting him asylum was a result of Funes "fighting in favor of democracy, peace, justice and human rights". Funes denied all the allegations against him, stating, "asylum only seeks to guarantee protection from persecution [...] I have not given up on confronting the judicial process nor proving my innocence".https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/06/mauricio-funes-el-salvador-president-nicaragua-asylum Former El Salvador President Granted Asylum in Nicaragua, Government Says en The Guardian Betsy Reed 6 September 2016 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221013064827/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/06/mauricio-funes-el-salvador-president-nicaragua-asylum 13 October 2022 live On 12 June 2018, Attorney General Jorge Cortéz requested Funes' extradition to El Salvador to stand trial for money laundering charges unrelated to the truce.https://www.fiscalia.gob.sv/fiscalia-general-de-la-republica-solicitara-extradicion-de-expresidente-funes-y-sus-tres-parientes-asilados-en-nicaragua/ Fiscalía General de la República Solicitará Extradición de Expresidente Funes y Sus Tres Parientes Asilados en Nicaragua The Attorney General of the Republic Will Request the Extradition of Former President Funes and His Three Relatives Who Are Asylum Seekers in Nicaragua es Office of the Attorney General of El Salvador 12 June 2018 25 February 2023 Jorge Cea https://web.archive.org/web/20220121205103/https://www.fiscalia.gob.sv/fiscalia-general-de-la-republica-solicitara-extradicion-de-expresidente-funes-y-sus-tres-parientes-asilados-en-nicaragua/ 21 January 2022 live On 21 March 2019, all 15 magistrates of the Supreme Court approved a request from the attorney general to request Funes' extradition to El Salvador to stand trial for embezzlement charges unrelated to the truce.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-el-salvador-corruption-idUSKCN1R303P El Salvador's Top Court Approves Extradition Request for Ex-President Funes Nelson Renteria en 21 March 2019 25 February 2023 Reuters https://web.archive.org/web/20221208134514/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-el-salvador-corruption-idUSKCN1R303P 8 December 2022 live On 26 July 2020, Attorney General Raúl Melara announced that he would issue an arrest warrant for Funes for his role in forming the truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/munguia-gang-truce-el-salvador/ El Salvador Arrests General Behind 2012 Gang Truce en 28 July 2020 25 February 2023 Héctor Silva Ávalos InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221006121359/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/munguia-gang-truce-el-salvador/ 6 October 2022 live In response to Melara's announcement, Funes said on Twitter:Funes Mauricio Mauricio Funes FunesCartagena 1287555973792411656 26 July 2020 Los fiscales dejan mucho que desear. Hoy resulta que me acusan de los delitos de negociaciones ilícitas y de incumplimiento de deberes por haber sido "facilitador" de la tregua. Entonces con quién negocié y qué dejé de hacer? The prosecutors leave a lot to be desired. Today, it turns out that they accuse me of the crimes of illegal negotiations and breach of duty for having been a "facilitator" of the truce. So who did I negotiate with and what did I stop doing? es live https://web.archive.org/web/20200727012525/https://twitter.com/FunesCartagena/status/1287555973792411656 27 July 2020 es Los fiscales dejan mucho que desear. Hoy resulta que me acusan de los delitos de negociaciones ilícitas y de incumplimiento de deberes por haber sido "facilitador" de la tregua. Entonces con quién negocié y qué dejé de hacer? Para que haya una asociación o negociación ilícita debí haberme asociado con alquién para delinquir. Con quién? La FGR no lo dice. Y para incumplir mis deberes debí haber faltado a mis responsabilidades como Presidente. Qué obligaciones dejé de cumplir en el caso tregua? Estos fiscales deben regresar a la Universidad y el Fiscal General debe dejar de seguir la agenda de la Embajada USA y de la derecha oligárquica. Cada día se desprestigia más. The prosecutors leave a lot to be desired. Today, it turns out that they accuse me of the crimes of illegal negotiations and breach of duty for having been a "facilitator" of the truce. So who did I negotiate with and what did I stop doing? For there to be an illicit association or negotiation, I should have associated with whom to commit a crime. With who? The Attorney General does not say. And to fail in my duties, I should have failed in my responsibilities as President. What obligations did I stop fulfilling in the truce case? These prosecutors must return to university, and the Attorney General must stop following the agenda of the U.S. Embassy and the oligarchic right. Every day, it loses more prestige. yes On 30 November 2022, Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado ordered Funes to stand trial for his role in organizing the truce. He stated that Funes allegedly "granted benefits to gang members who were in prison" and engaged in illicit association with the gangs.https://www.contrapunto.com.sv/mauricio-funes-rebelde-y-juzgado-en-caso-tregua-con-pandillas/ Mauricio Funes Rebelde y Juzgado en Caso Tregua con Pandillas es Contra Punto 30 November 2022 25 February 2023 Alessia Genoves https://web.archive.org/web/20221207053322/https://www.contrapunto.com.sv/mauricio-funes-rebelde-y-juzgado-en-caso-tregua-con-pandillas/ 7 December 2022 live Prior to Delgado's order, Funes tweeted that any legal proceedings carried out in his absence would be "illegal".https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/MauricioFunes-dice-que-audiencia-en-su-contra-en-Caso-Tregua-es-ilegal-20221022-0026.html Mauricio Funes Dice que Audiencia en su Contra en Caso Tregua es "Ilegal" Mauricio Funes Says that Hearing Against Him in Truce Case is "Illegal" es 22 October 2022 22 March 2023 La Prensa Gráfica live 3 November 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221103054001/https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/MauricioFunes-dice-que-audiencia-en-su-contra-en-Caso-Tregua-es-ilegal-20221022-0026.html On 26 April 2023, a criminal trial against Funes, who was tried in absentia, began; he was charged with illicit association and failure to perform his duties. Funes denied his role in truce, writing on Twitter the day before the trial began that he "never ordered nor authorized any negotiation".https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/26/el-salvador-mauricio-funes-gang-truce/6bb3cb8e-e480-11ed-9696-8e874fd710b8_story.html El Salvador Tries Ex-Leader Funes In Absentia for Gang Truce en 26 April 2023 29 April 2023 Marcos Alemán The Washington Post San Salvador, El Salvador https://archive.today/20230429152321/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/04/26/el-salvador-mauricio-funes-gang-truce/6bb3cb8e-e480-11ed-9696-8e874fd710b8_story.html#selection-291.0-291.60 29 April 2023 live During the trial, a former high ranking government employee only referred to as "Franco" testified that Funes secretly authorized US$50,000 from the country's reserve fund to be transferred in cash to "necessary sources" ("es fuentes necesarias") to those who collaborated in the truce.https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/tregua-entre-pandillas-mauricio-funes-/1058879/2023/ Mauricio Funes Aprobó 50,000 Dólares para Tregua de 2012, Según Testigo Mauricio Funes Approved 50,000 Dollars for 2012 Truce, According to Witness es 5 May 2023 12 May 2023 El Salvador.com Lissette Lemus https://web.archive.org/web/20230512191752/https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/tregua-entre-pandillas-mauricio-funes-/1058879/2023/ 12 May 2023 live The attorney general solicited 16 years imprisonment for Funes.https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/fiscalia-pide-16-anos-carcel-mauricio-funes-tregua/1060527/2023/ Fiscalía Solicita 16 Años de Cárcel para Expresidente Funes por Tregua de 2012 Attorney General Solicits 16 Years Imprisonment for Ex-President Funes for 2012 Truce es 12 May 2023 12 May 2023 El Salvador.com Lissette Lemus https://web.archive.org/web/20230512192331/https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/fiscalia-pide-16-anos-carcel-mauricio-funes-tregua/1060527/2023/ 12 May 2023 live On 29 May 2023, Funes was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment—8 for illicit association and 6 for failure to perform his duties—making him the second former president in Salvadoran history to be sentenced to prison after Saca was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 2018 for embezzling US$300 million.https://www.thejournal.ie/el-salvador-gang-negotiation-mauricio-funes-6080840-May2023/ Former El Salvador President Mauricio Funes Sentenced to 14 Years Over Gang Negotiation en 29 May 2023 29 May 2023 TheJournal.ie https://web.archive.org/web/20230529201202/https://www.thejournal.ie/el-salvador-gang-negotiation-mauricio-funes-6080840-May2023/ 29 May 2023 live Following his sentencing, he stated that "the sentence, insofar as it refers to me, is illegal, doesn't have legal foundation", claiming that the government failed to prove the charges against him.https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-president-mauricio-funes-sentenced-70a77555aa50ac517be659b65cab6d1a Ex-El Salvador President Mauricio Funes Sentenced to 14 Years for Negotiating with Gangs en 30 May 2023 30 May 2023 Associated Press Marcos Alemán San Salvador, El Salvador https://web.archive.org/web/20230530192843/https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-president-mauricio-funes-sentenced-70a77555aa50ac517be659b65cab6d1a 30 May 2023 live Truce negotiators On 3 May 2016, Attorney General Douglas Meléndez began ordering the arrests of law enforcement officials who were responsible for helping carry out the truce. That month, Mijango and 20 law enforcement officials were arrested and charged with illicit association with gang members. He stated that he would seek to impeach Perdomo and have the Legislative Assembly remove Munguía's immunity from prosecution, as he had since been appointed as the country's minister of defense by Sánchez Cerén.https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/world/americas/el-salvador-throws-out-gang-truce-and-officials-who-put-it-in-place.html El Salvador Throws Out Gang Truce and Officials Who Put It in Place en The New York Times Alberto Arce 20 May 2016 25 February 2023 San Salvador, El Salvador https://web.archive.org/web/20221109105223/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/world/americas/el-salvador-throws-out-gang-truce-and-officials-who-put-it-in-place.html 9 November 2022 live thumb|right|200px|Mijango in 2023. After his arrest Mijango stated, "there was a peace process [...] it pains me that those who are being judged are people who only wanted to contribute to a solution to a problem that is the most serious in the country". Blackwell criticized the arrests being made, stating, "it's all political, there is no logic or rational reason for this [...] [Meléndez is] playing into the hands of the political discussion: 'more police, less crime, eliminating the scourge and the more we kill, the better,' [...] that unfortunately is more popular than building community centers and community policing and focused deterrence as a strategy". Mijango stood trial in August 2017 in the so-called "Truce Trial" but was acquitted as the court ruled that he was "merely following orders".https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/all-suspects-acquitted-el-salvador-gang-truce-trial/ All Suspects Acquitted in El Salvador Gang Truce Trial 1 September 2017 en 25 February 2023 María Cidón Kiernan InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221225030917/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/all-suspects-acquitted-el-salvador-gang-truce-trial/ 25 December 2022 live He was acquitted for a second time in May 2019 after prosecutors appealed the case.https://historico.elsalvador.com/historico/608311/tribunal-exonera-de-nuevo-a-19-involucrados-en-caso-tregua-entre-pandillas.html Fiscalía Pierde por Segunda Ocasión el juicio en el Caso Conocido como Tregua Attorney General Fails a Second Time in the Judicial Case for the Truce es El Salvador.com 31 May 2019 25 February 2023 David Marroquín https://web.archive.org/web/20220629005246/https://historico.elsalvador.com/historico/608311/tribunal-exonera-de-nuevo-a-19-involucrados-en-caso-tregua-entre-pandillas.html 29 June 2022 live He was, however, sentenced to 13 years imprisonment in 2018 for conspiring with gang members to extort a food production and distribution company. Mijango died on 28 August 2023 while imprisoned.https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/muere-el-exmediador-de-la-tregua-con-pandillas-raul-mijango Muere el Exmediador de la Tregua con Pandillas, Raúl Mijango Ex-Mediator of the Gang Truce, Raúl Mijango, Dies es 28 August 2023 28 August 2023 El Mundo Iliana Cornejo Leonardo Cerón https://web.archive.org/web/20230829044321/https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/muere-el-exmediador-de-la-tregua-con-pandillas-raul-mijango 29 August 2023 live On 23 July 2020, Munguía was arrested for his role in organizing the truce.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-el-salvador-crime/ex-salvadoran-defense-minister-arrested-for-suspected-role-in-gang-truce-idUSKCN24P09K Ex-Salvadoran Defense Minister Arrested for Suspected Role in Gang Truce en 23 July 2020 25 February 2023 Reuters Nelson Renteria San Salvador, El Salvador https://web.archive.org/web/20230224071118/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-el-salvador-crime/ex-salvadoran-defense-minister-arrested-for-suspected-role-in-gang-truce-idUSKCN24P09K 24 February 2023 live He was charged with illicit association with gangs, abuse of authority, and non-compliance. Munguía's lawyer argued that "there had not been sufficient evidence to make the arrest". After his arrest, Munguía stated that he "knew of this process for three years" but "did not escape".https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Caso-Tregua-entre-pandillas-Supe-de-este-proceso-hace-tres-anos-y-no-escape-dice-Munguia-Payes-20200728-0079.html Caso Tregua Entre Pandillas "Supe de Este Proceso Hace Tres Años y No Escapé", Dice Munguía Payés Gang Truce Case "I Knew of this Process for Three Years and Did Not Escape", Says Munguía Payés es 29 July 2020 22 March 2023 La Prensa Gráfica live Ricardo Flores 20 December 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211220173635/https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Caso-Tregua-entre-pandillas-Supe-de-este-proceso-hace-tres-anos-y-no-escape-dice-Munguia-Payes-20200728-0079.html Munguía's criminal trial began on 26 April 2023, being charged with illicit negotiation and failure to perform his duties. He faces up to eleven years imprisonment if convicted. The attorney general solicited twenty years imprisonment for Munguía. On 29 May 2023, Munguía was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment—8 years for illicit association, 6 years for failure to perform his duties, and 4 years for committing arbitrary actions.https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/condenan-a-funes-y-munguia-payes-por-la-tregua Condenan a Funes y Munguía Payés por la Tregua Funes and Munguía Payés are Condemned for the Truce es 29 May 2023 29 May 2023 El Mundo Leonardo Cerón https://web.archive.org/web/20230529201944/https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/condenan-a-funes-y-munguia-payes-por-la-tregua 29 May 2023 live Munguía claimed that there were irregularities present during his trial. He added that he believed his sentencing was "a political condemnation" ("es un condenado político")https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/munguia-payes-dice-es-un-condenado-politico-tras-ser-declarado-culpable-en-el-caso-tregua Munguía Payés dice es "un Condenado Político" Tras ser Declarado Culpable en el Caso Tregua Munguía Payés Says its "a Political Condemnation" After He was Declared Liable in the Truce Case es El Mundo Leonardo Cerón 29 May 2023 29 May 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230529202454/https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/munguia-payes-dice-es-un-condenado-politico-tras-ser-declarado-culpable-en-el-caso-tregua 29 May 2023 live and that he considers himself to be a political prisoner. Funes stated that Munguía's sentence seemed "unjust" to him. Colindres had not been arrested or charged for his role in negotiating the truce.https://www.revistafactum.com/colindres-tregua/ El Problema de no Vincular al Padre Colindres con la Tregua The Problem of Not Linking Father Colindres to the Truce es 29 July 2020 26 February 2023 Luis Aguilar Revista Factum https://web.archive.org/web/20221126085223/https://www.revistafactum.com/colindres-tregua/ 26 November 2022 live He presented testimony against both Funes and Munguía during their criminal trial in May 2023.https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/el-obispo-colindres-y-otros-24-testigos-declararan-en-el-juicio-de-la-tregua-a-partir-del-martes El Obispo Colindres y Otros 24 Testigos Declararán en el Juicio de la Tregua a Partir del Martes Bishop Colindres and 24 Other Witnesses Will Testify in the Truce Trial Starting Tuesday es 29 April 2023 29 April 2023 El Mundo Leonardo Cerón https://web.archive.org/web/20230429171925/https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/el-obispo-colindres-y-otros-24-testigos-declararan-en-el-juicio-de-la-tregua-a-partir-del-martes 29 April 2023 live Other individuals In August 2017, a criminal trial known as the "Truce Trial" was held for eighteen of the truce's organizers, who were charged with criminal conspiracy and smuggling prohibited items into prisons.https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/magazine/el-salvador-police-battle-gangs.html They Will Have to Answer to Us en 29 November 2017 25 February 2023 Azam Ahmed The New York Times https://web.archive.org/web/20220728112332/http://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/magazine/el-salvador-police-battle-gangs.html 28 July 2022 live The trial's presiding judge was Godofredo Salazar.https://apnews.com/article/fccd14b52fb148168fe3be969f531a5e El Salvador Judge Acquits 18 for Role in 2012 Gang Truce en 29 August 2017 25 February 2023 Associated Press San Salvador, El Salvador https://web.archive.org/web/20230226041755/https://apnews.com/article/fccd14b52fb148168fe3be969f531a5e 26 February 2023 live Among those on trial were Mijango; Nelson Rauda, the director of the prison system; Anílber Rodríguez, the inspector general of the prison system; and Juan Roberto Castillo, a deputy inspector with the National Civil Police. Colindres and Munguía presented testimony against the defendants, with Munguía testifying that "the truce between gangs was a state policy".https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-state-policy-trial-testimony/ El Salvador Gang Truce Was 'State Policy': Trial Testimony InSight Crime Angelika Albaladejo en 9 August 2017 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20221209102434/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gang-truce-state-policy-trial-testimony/ 9 December 2022 live Carlos Eduardo Burgos Nuila, a former member of Barrio 18, also testified against the defendants. All 18 defendants were acquitted on 29 August 2017. Salazar stated that the attorney general failed to prove that the defendants acted deliberately, and stated that they were "following their duties as state officials" and "merely following orders". He instead stated that Funes and Munguía were responsible for the truce. The prosecutors appealed the decision to a higher court. The defendants were again acquitted on 31 May 2019. On 29 July 2014, Rodríguez was arrested and charged with bringing illegal objects into the country's prisons, including drugs, money, and cell phones; illicit association with gangs; and influencing trafficking. As a result of his actions, he allegedly "helped gang members continue committing crimes". Following a series of protests against his arrest, Rodríguez was granted "conditional liberty" on 4 August while his legal proceedings continued,https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-arrests-priest-over-gang-negotiations/ El Salvador Arrests Priest Over Gang Negotiations en 4 August 2014 Marguerite Cowley 25 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221209064742/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-arrests-priest-over-gang-negotiations/ 9 December 2022 live but a judge ordered him to return to prison on 6 August.https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/spanish-priest-known-rehabbing-gang-members-jailed-again-el-salvador Spanish Priest Known for Rehabbing Gang Members Jailed Again in El Salvador en 6 August 2014 25 February 2023 National Catholic Reporter Edgardo Ayala San Salvador, El Salvador https://web.archive.org/web/20221202225203/https://www.ncronline.org/news/world/spanish-priest-known-rehabbing-gang-members-jailed-again-el-salvador 2 December 2022 live Martínez stated that he would "reveal the truth" of the trucehttps://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-probes-irregularities-in-failed-gang-truce/ El Salvador Probes 'Irregularities' in Failed Gang Truce Marguerite Cowley InSight Crime 29 October 2014 25 February 2023 en https://web.archive.org/web/20221205051855/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-probes-irregularities-in-failed-gang-truce/ 5 December 2022 live and believed that Rodríguez's arrest would "mark the beginning of revelations of illegality in the truce process".https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-investigates-gang-truce-negotiations/ El Salvador Investigates both Sets of Gang Truce Negotiators en 26 August 2014 25 February 2023 InSight Crime James Bargent https://web.archive.org/web/20221209060719/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-investigates-gang-truce-negotiations/ 9 December 2022 live Rodríguez was convicted on 4 September 2014 for bringing cell phones and SIM cards to prisoners and for asking prison authorities to lower the strength of prison phone signal jammers. He was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison, but was released the same day and deported to Spain under the condition that he does not communicate with gangs and does not visit the country's prisons.https://www.telegram.com/story/news/state/2014/09/30/convicted-priest-says-el-salvador/36053536007/ Convicted Priest Says El Salvador Backed Gang Work en 30 September 2014 26 February 2023 Telegram & Gazette Madrid, Spain https://web.archive.org/web/20230226070810/https://www.telegram.com/story/news/state/2014/09/30/convicted-priest-says-el-salvador/36053536007/ 26 February 2023 livehttps://apnews.com/article/49cb673ddc9844749b71a16e98f546e1 El Salvador Judge Orders Former Attorney General Freed en 12 September 2016 26 February 2023 San Salvador, El Salvador Associated Press https://web.archive.org/web/20230226071227/https://apnews.com/article/49cb673ddc9844749b71a16e98f546e1 26 February 2023 live Subsequent revival attempts 2014 and 2015 In August 2014, the leaders of five gangs—Mara Salvatrucha, 18th Street gang, Mao Mao, Maquina, and Miranda Locos 13—offered to relaunch the truce, promising to avoid "civilian attacks". The gangs described their offer as a "second chance for the country to achieve peace", but Sánchez Cerén rejected the gangs' appeal, stating that he was developing his own strategy to reduce crime.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29000158 El Salvador Gangs Announce Re-Launch of 2012 Truce en BBC 30 August 2014 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20220601113914/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29000158 1 June 2022 live In November 2014, Martínez stated that the government would not enter any talks with the gangs for another truce.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-squashes-talk-of-dialogue-with-gangs/ El Salvador Squashes Talk of Dialogue With Gangs David Gagne 6 November 2014 25 February 2023 en InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220925110528/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-squashes-talk-of-dialogue-with-gangs/ 25 September 2022 live On 17 January 2015, the gang leaders which were moved out of the Zacatecoluca maximum-security prison at the beginning of the truce were returned to Zacatecoluca.http://www.laprensagrafica.com/2015/01/17/goes-inicio-retorno-de-jefes-pandilleros-a-maxima-seguridad GOES Inició Retorno de Jefes Pandilleros a Máxima Seguridad GOES Began Returning the Gang Leaders to Maximum Security es La Prensa Gráfica Nelson Rauda Zablah 17 January 2015 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20150705173341/http://www.laprensagrafica.com/2015/01/17/goes-inicio-retorno-de-jefes-pandilleros-a-maxima-seguridad 5 July 2015 dead That same day, MS-13 and Barrio 18 announced that they had agreed to a new truce without asking for concessions from the government. Five days later, El Salvador reported a day without a murder.https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/new-gang-truce-announced-in-el-salvador/ 'New Gang Truce' Announced in El Salvador 26 January 2015 25 February 2023 en Elyssa Pachico InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220925080915/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/new-gang-truce-announced-in-el-salvador/ 25 September 2022 live In April 2015, spokespeople for MS-13, Barrio 18, Mao Mao, and Mirada Locos 13 announced that they would "[give] instructions for our units to stand down" and work towards "satisfactorily responding to what society hopes of us: less murders, less extortion; and definitely: less violence". They described it as a "gesture of goodwill" and "a gift to Monsignor Romero".https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-want-a-peace-process/ El Salvador Gangs Want a Peace Process en InSight Crime 24 April 2015 25 February 2023 Michael Lohmuller https://web.archive.org/web/20221006192727/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-want-a-peace-process/ 6 October 2022 live Gang leaders sent a letter to the Salvadoran government in June 2015 calling for them to reinstate the truce, a letter which the government dismissed.https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-call-for-a-renewed-truce/ El Salvador Gangs Call for a Renewed Truce Sam Tabory en 17 July 2015 25 February 2023 InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221209060754/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-gangs-call-for-a-renewed-truce/ 9 December 2022 live Alleged negotiations under Nayib Bukele In September 2020, El Faro alleged that President Nayib Bukele had entered secret negotiations with MS-13 and Barrio 18 to reduce the country's homicide rate, similar to the allegations they presented against Funes in March 2012. El Faro alleged that the government promised to repeal laws and relax security in prisons in exchange for the gangs supporting Nuevas Ideas (NI), Bukele's political party, in the 2021 legislative election to bring them to power. Bukele denied the allegations, tweeting, "they accuse us of violating the terrorists' human rights. Now they say we give them privileges? Show me a privilege. Only one" and posted images of gang members in cramped conditions from a prison lockdown from April 2020. In another tweet, he stated, "Are they not themselves the ones who have been DENOUNCING US for our treatment of terrorists? 'Someone' is passing them false information".https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2020/09/04/nayib-bukele-niega-supuesto-pacto-con-pandillas-para-reducir-homicidios-en-el-salvador/ Nayib Bukele Niega Supuesto Pacto con Pandillas para Reducir Homicidios en El Salvador Nayib Bukele Denies Alleged Pact with Gangs to Reduce Homicides in El Salvador es 4 September 2020 25 February 2023 Marlin Delcid CNN en Español https://web.archive.org/web/20230216032443/https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2020/09/04/nayib-bukele-niega-supuesto-pacto-con-pandillas-para-reducir-homicidios-en-el-salvador/ 16 February 2023 live Melara stated that he would investigate the allegations made against the government but he was removed by the Legislative Assembly in May 2021. In December 2021, the United States Department of the Treasury alleged that Bukele was secretly negotiating with gangs to lower the homicide rate, allegations which Bukele again denied.https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/from-bad-to-worse-nayib-bukeles-split-with-washington/ From Bad to Worse: Nayib Bukele's Split with Washington 15 December 2021 25 February 2023 en Americas Quarterly Stephen McFarland https://web.archive.org/web/20230218012147/https://www.americasquarterly.org/article/from-bad-to-worse-nayib-bukeles-split-with-washington/ 18 February 2023 live From 25 to 27 March 2022, a spike in homicides in El Salvador left 87 people dead. The government attributed the spike to gang activity, and on 27 March, the Legislative Assembly declared a state of exception and authorized the mass arrests of gang members in the country.https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/28/el-salvador-invokes-state-of-emergency-after-62-killings-in-a-day El Salvador Declares State of Emergency After Gang Killings en Al Jazeera 28 March 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20230223211241/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/28/el-salvador-invokes-state-of-emergency-after-62-killings-in-a-day 23 February 2023 live In May 2022, El Faro alleged that the spike in homicides occurred as a result of a breakdown in negotiations between the government and the gangs following the arrest of a high-ranking member of MS-13 in mid-March 2022.https://insightcrime.org/news/new-revelations-herald-grim-future-for-el-salvadors-security/ New Revelations Herald Grim Future for El Salvador's Security en Scott Mistler-Ferguson InSight Crime 19 May 2022 25 February 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230225003134/https://insightcrime.org/news/new-revelations-herald-grim-future-for-el-salvadors-security/ 25 February 2023 live 2024 October 18, the ensuing gang crackdown has resulted in the arrests of 82,963 alleged gang members.https://diario.elmundo.sv/nacionales/el-regimen-de-excepcion-ya-permitio-la-captura-de-82963-personas El Régimen de Excepción ya Permitió la Captura de 82,963 Personas The State of Exception has Allowed the Capture of 82,936 People es 18 October 2024 21 October 2024 El Mundo Iliana Cornejo Notes References Further reading 35em yes https://insightcrime.org/special-series/el-salvador-gang-truce/ El Salvador's Gang Truce: Positives And Negatives 7 June 2013 24 February 2023 Adriaan Alsema InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20230213010606/https://insightcrime.org/special-series/el-salvador-gang-truce/ 13 February 2023 live Government Responses to Gang Power: From Truce to War on Gangs in El Salvador en January–June 2019 Chris van der Borgh European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revista Europea de Estudios Latinoamericanos y del Caribe 107 1–25 26764790 https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/reporting-from-ilopango-el-salvadors-first-peace-zone/ Reporting from Ilopango: El Salvador's First Peace Zone 4 April 2013 24 February 2023 Marguerite Cawley InSight Crime en https://web.archive.org/web/20221003172536/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/reporting-from-ilopango-el-salvadors-first-peace-zone/ 3 October 2022 live https://www.interpeace.org/latinoamerica/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2017/09/La-tregua-como-proceso-de-construcci%C3%B3n-de-paz-social.pdf La Tregua Entre Pandillas Salvadoreñas Hacia un Proceso de Construcción de Paz Social The Salvadoran Gang Truce Was a Process of Construction and Social Peace es 2013 Ana Glenda Tager Isabel Aguilar Umaña 3 April 2023 Interpeace Guatemala City, Guatemala 3 April 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230403190321/https://www.interpeace.org/latinoamerica/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2017/09/La-tregua-como-proceso-de-construcci%C3%B3n-de-paz-social.pdf live https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/is-it-possible-to-negotiate-with-criminal-groups/ Is it Possible to Negotiate with Criminal Groups? 19 July 2012 24 February 2023 Alejandro Hope InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20221001154234/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/is-it-possible-to-negotiate-with-criminal-groups/ 1 October 2022 live Gang Truce for Violence Prevention, El Salvador en 1 September 2016 10.2471/BLT.15.166314 Bulletin of the World Health Organization Charles M. Katz E.C. Hedberg Luis Enrique Amayac 660–666 94 9 5034635 27708471 https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/the-inconvenient-truth-about-gang-truces-in-the-americas/ The Inconvenient Truth About Gang Truces in the Americas Robert Muggah Ami Carpenter Topher McDougal InSight Crime 5 December 2013 25 February 2023 en https://web.archive.org/web/20221207133012/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/the-inconvenient-truth-about-gang-truces-in-the-americas/ 7 December 2022 live https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/violence-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/salvadoran-gang-truce-20122014/A315F84AF27F51F7AB489EFA346E652C en 14 September 2017 27 February 2023 Gaëlle Rivard Piché Violence in Latin America and the Caribbean The Salvadoran Gang Truce (2012–2014) Tina Hilgers Laura Macdonald Cambridge University Press 112–131 10.1017/9781108140553.006 9781108141451 2 June 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200602042430/https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/violence-in-latin-america-and-the-caribbean/salvadoran-gang-truce-20122014/A315F84AF27F51F7AB489EFA346E652C live subscription https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/are-el-salvador-s-maras-becoming-political-actors/ Are El Salvador's 'Maras' Becoming Political Actors? 19 July 2012 24 February 2023 en Geoffrey Ramsey InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220516153723/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/are-el-salvador-s-maras-becoming-political-actors/ 16 May 2022 live https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/peace-with-gangs-colombias-lessons-for-el-salvador/ Peace with Gangs: Colombia's Lessons for El Salvador 8 August 2012 24 February 2023 Hannah Stone InSight Crime https://web.archive.org/web/20220703111900/https://insightcrime.org/news/analysis/peace-with-gangs-colombias-lessons-for-el-salvador/ 3 July 2022 live External links https://insightcrime.org/tag/El-Salvador-gang-truce/ All About El Salvador Gang Truce en InSight Crime 24 February 2023 https://www.laprensagrafica.com/tregua-entre-pandillas-t2412 Tregua Entre Pandillas Gang Truce es La Prensa Gráfica 20 March 2023 El Salvador Law Politics Category:2012 in El Salvador Category:2013 in El Salvador Category:2014 in El Salvador Category:2012 crimes in El Salvador Category:2013 crimes in El Salvador Category:2014 crimes in El Salvador Category:Ceasefires Category:Crime in El Salvador Category:MS-13 Category:Politics of El Salvador