The United States ambassador to El Salvador, William Duncan, stated that “the government has the responsibility to respect the due process of the law, and that is what is needed now in the state of emergency.”
Duncan made the statement on Tuesday, September 12, at the Ilopango Air Force military installations during the delivery of two helicopter engines to the Salvadoran Armed Forces.
Coincidently, it was the same day the Legislative Assembly approved the eighteenth extension of the emergency security measure.
I recognize the danger that the gangs represented for Salvadoran society, the suffering of the people thanks to them. There was a need for some action on the part of the government, there is no doubt about that; but also, at the same time, the government has the responsibility to respect the due process of the law and that is what is needed now in the state of emergency.” US Ambassador to El Salvador William Duncan.
Duncan’s comments came while answering questions about the concern expressed by the high commissioner for human rights of the United Nations (UN) over the excessive duration of the emergency regime.
A few days ago, Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, indicated his concern about the excessive duration of the state of emergency in El Salvador and proposed addressing the causes of violence to find sustainable solutions.
Duncan was also asked whether he believes it is time for the emergency regime in El Salvador to end; the ambassador declared: “I believe that the responsibility for public security falls to the Salvadoran government but also the responsibility to restore due process of law.”
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“I hope that they (Salvadoran Government) can consolidate what they have gained in terms of public safety but can return to normality in the due process of the law as soon as possible,” said the US ambassador.
The US Ambassador has praised security in the country. Last June, the ambassador assured that he has not met a person who is not happy with the security in El Salvador, even among those who have reservations or are critical of the government.
