President Bukele Proposes Prisoner Swap with Venezuela for Deportees
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele proposed a prisoner swap with Venezuela, seeking to exchange 252 Venezuelan deportees for an equal number of political prisoners. Bukele emphasized the humanitarian aspect, listing detained individuals related to political opposition. The proposal coincides with growing scrutiny of his government’s treatment of deported individuals, particularly amid allegations of gang affiliation without evidence.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has proposed a prisoner exchange with Venezuela, aiming to swap Venezuelan deportees held in El Salvador for political prisoners detained by the Maduro government. In a post on the social media platform X, Bukele directed his message to President Nicolás Maduro, highlighting family members of opposition figures, activists, and journalists arrested during Venezuela’s recent electoral actions.
In his proposal, Bukele emphasized that the detentions were political in nature and were a response to opposition to Maduro’s electoral integrity. He suggested a humanitarian agreement for the repatriation of 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for an equal number of political prisoners held by Venezuela.
Among the individuals mentioned in his proposal were the family members of prominent opposition leaders and those seeking asylum, as well as various detainees from different nationalities. Accusations of instigating international scrutiny arose, particularly in light of El Salvador’s treatment of deportees, many labeled as gang members.
Controversy has risen around the treatment of individuals in the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the mega-prison established by Bukele’s administration to combat gang activities. Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas urged Bukele not to turn the country into an “international prison” amid accusations related to unverified deportations and legal challenges over American citizen Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s status. Bukele maintained, however, that those held in CECOT were part of a broader strategy against transnational gang influences, such as Tren de Aragua.
President Nayib Bukele’s proposal for a prisoner swap with Venezuela raises significant humanitarian and diplomatic implications, as it seeks to balance the situation of deported Venezuelans with the plight of political prisoners in Venezuela. Despite the contentious backdrop of deportations and allegations of ineffectiveness against gang violence, Bukele continues to advocate for his policies firmly. The response from the Maduro administration remains pending, heightening the situation’s complexity.
Original Source: www.haltonhillstoday.ca
