GILES CLARKE

EL SALVADOR: GANG CAGES

In San Salvador, the two main street gangs are known as 'Mara Salvatruchas' (MS-13) and 'Barrio18' (M18). Through friends in the country, I joined with a Police Captain and former gang-members who together immersed me into the 'gang truce' situation in a rough suburb that's some 20 miles outside of San Salvador. Over the next few days, I spent time with the special police units patrolling the streets of this particularly troubled area where the two main gangs live and operate.In the back of the local police station, I was shown a sweltering enclosure ringed by a high, barbed wire wall, there were three, 12x15 ft cages each full of prisoners, one for each gang and another for 'common criminals'. These cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells but many have been imprisoned here for over a year and spend their days pulling apart their clothes and sewing together hammocks in which they sleep stacked on top of each other.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

MS-13 gang members languish in one of the three 'gang cages' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells for common criminals and the two rival gangs, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

MS-13 gang members languish in one of the three 'gang cages' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells for common criminals and the two rival gangs, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

M18 gang members inside the designated M18 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

An MS-13 gang members gestures the Devils Head insignia inside one of the three 'gang cages' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells for common criminals and the two rival gangs, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

M18 gang members looks out through the bars of the designated M18 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

M18 gang members looks out through the bars of the designated M18 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. Gang leader, 'El Sucre' (not pictured) credits himself in disarming his gang of assault weapons as well as spreading Christianity. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

A prisoner looks out through the bars of his designated 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

M18 gang leader and recent 'gang truce' co-signer, 'El Sucre' (C) stands inside the designated M18 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

Gang members being fed food inside their designated 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

Gang members inside the designated 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. (

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

A prisoner looks out through the bars of his designated 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

A prisoner looks out through the bars of his designated 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

An MS-13 gang members gestures the Devils Head insignia inside one of the three 'gang cages' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells for common criminals and the two rival gangs, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

In the common criminals cage, this one-legged, civil war veteran poses for a portrait in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year. This veteran has been locked up for over 5 months for protesting against the government's slashing of his medical benefits. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

M18 gang members inside the designated M18 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

M18 gang members inside the designated M18 'gang cage' in the Quezaltepeque police station May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. These overcrowded, 12x15 cages were designed to be 72-hour holding cells, but many of the individuals have been imprisoned for over a year.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

Policemen in the Quezaltepeque district May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

Policemen question a suspected gang member in the Quezaltepeque district May 20, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The two main El Salvadorean street gangs are known as 'Mara Salvatruchas' (MS-13) and 'Barrio18' (M18). For close to twenty years, these gangs have raged against each other, but a 'truce' was brokered in 2012 by leading gang members, the government, and the church.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

A masked and heavily armed guard patrols the streets for suspected gang members at night in the Quezaltepeque district May 18, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The two main El Salvadorean street gangs are known as 'Mara Salvatruchas' (MS-13) and 'Barrio18' (M18). For close to twenty years, these gangs have raged against each other, but a 'truce' was brokered in 2012 by leading gang members, the government, and the church.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

Policemen detain a suspected gang member during a night patrol in the Quezaltepeque district May 18, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The two main El Salvadorean street gangs are known as 'Mara Salvatruchas' (MS-13) and 'Barrio18' (M18). For close to twenty years, these gangs have raged against each other, but a 'truce' was brokered in 2012 by leading gang members, the government, and the church. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

A guard keeps watch for gang related activity in front of an MS-13 insignia. in the Quezaltepeque district May 18, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The two main El Salvadorean street gangs are known as 'Mara Salvatruchas' (MS-13) and 'Barrio18' (M18). For close to twenty years, these gangs have raged against each other, but a 'truce' was brokered in 2012 by leading gang members, the government, and the church.

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

Policemen searches a suspicious vehicle for contraband during a night patrol in the Quezaltepeque district May 18, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The two main El Salvadorean street gangs are known as 'Mara Salvatruchas' (MS-13) and 'Barrio18' (M18). For close to twenty years, these gangs have raged against each other, but a 'truce' was brokered in 2012 by leading gang members, the government, and the church. 

SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR - 20 MAY 2013.

Community members gather for a funeral procession as a result of gang violence in the Quezaltepeque district May 12, 2013 in San Salvador, El Salvador. The two main El Salvadorean street gangs are known as 'Mara Salvatruchas' (MS-13) and 'Barrio18' (M18). For close to twenty years, these gangs have raged against each other, but a 'truce' was brokered in 2012 by leading gang members, the government, and the church.

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