Recovering Government Control over Mara Salvatrucha territory: Analysis based on the “Santa Tecla, a Municipality Free of Violence” Agreement

Abstract

This article presents the first half of a much more extensive investigation over Mara Salvatrucha’s social and territorial control in colonia San José del Pino and the
San Rafael community, both from the Santa Tecla municipality. In a case study conducted within the framework of a Master’s Degree in Latin American Studies at the University of Amsterdam, the effects of preventive public security policies in the area were mapped, with emphasis on the strategy known as “Santa Tecla, a Municipality free of Violence” (MLV). The article takes a closer look at the effects of the peace process which began in 2012 with the implementation of the community policing philosophy and the MLV strategy over the social fabric and local sustainability in the above mentioned communities. It also evaluates the recovery of local governance after decades of a lack of Government presence in the area. As a result of the new public security policy, crime rates have decrease, fear has decrease, local sustainability has improved and both values and social networks have been reestablished. However, it is necessary to create a public security police able to withstand on the medium and long term all demands and needs of the sector regardless who is governing the municipality; this effort cannot stop if the ultimate goal is achieving the best results.

Revista Policía y Seguridad Pública 5(1) 2015: 179-246