El Salvador’s Police Chief Dies in Helicopter Crash
New York TimesSep 09
El Salvador Police Chief Dies in Helicopter Crash
Above: In this handout picture provided by the Salvadoran presidency A police officers walks holding a gang member inside the mega- prison Terrorist Confinement Centre (CECOT) on June 11, 2024 in Tecoluca, El Salvador. Image copyright: Handout/Handout/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
El Salvador's police chief, Police Director-General Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, was one of nine killed when a military helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff near the border with Honduras on Sunday.
Director Arriaza Chicas was central in government efforts to eradicate gang violence in El Salvador, during which he oversaw a push to jail thousands.
The Spin
Narrative A
The death of the head of the police is a significant blow to the president's efforts to combat criminal gangs in El Salvador. Since March 2022, almost 82K suspected gang members have been taken into custody and Arriaza was the architect of this plan. The Salvadoran government is determined to carry on with Arriaza's mission to restore order to the country.
Narrative B
Police Chief Arriaza was the driving force behind President Bukele's war on criminal gangs. Rights groups have accused the government of using arbitrary arrests and detentions to undermine the rule of law and criminalize the opposition, while Human Rights Watch has asked states to impose travel bans and asset freezes on several Salvadoran officials, including Arriaza, over allegations that the national police "has been responsible for widespread human rights violations." The Police Chief was not restoring order but undermining human rights.