On Wednesday, official parliament members indicated that the measure is necessary because there are still gang members in the country as evidenced by the military siege in the department of Cabañas where more than 56 terrorists were apprehended and weapons such as AK-47, AR-15 and M-16 rifles, grenades and other military logistics were seized.

The measure was approved at the request of the Security Cabinet, and parliamentarians of Nuevas Ideas stated that it will be extended as many times as necessary until the criminals are eliminated.

Marlenis Funes, deputy of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) accused the government of making the regime of exception the center of its presidential campaign and detaining hundreds of innocent people.

The measure suspends three constitutional guarantees: the right to defense, the maximum time of detention without a hearing, and the privacy of telecommunications.

According to the last update provided by the security authorities, under the regulation more than 71,479 people have already been arrested, although official spokesmen point out that between 20 and 30 percent of these people are still at liberty.

Meanwhile, criticism from human rights and civil society organizations continues.

ef/ybc/jha/lb