This case study is a continuation of my last paper about the Civil War in El Salvador, in which I depicted overall political, social issues and influence of communism and the US support to the government forces, and is about one of the most violent gang called Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). During my study of MS-13, I tried to use not only material acquired in internet and books but also from my colleagues form Air Command and Staff College originated from ‘Northern triangle’, which is Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Hence, part of this paper is an interview with Maj. Roderico S. Guzman (R.S.G.) from Guatemalan Air Force. Between answers and questions asked by me (B.K.), there are inputs from other sources with data and other important information …show more content…
It consisted of immigrants from El Salvador who immigrated to the United States due to ongoing Civil War in El Salvador. Civil War started in 1980 and lasted until 1992 when both Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) commander Schafik Handal signed peace agreement with Salvadorean government. FMLN fought with its guerilla tactics against governmental ‘death squads’ twelve years. During this time about 75 000 people died. Both sides committed war crimes on huge scale. Enormous numbers of people were injured and displaced. Due to many violations of human rights, and tortures during the war, many people became psycho disabled. Moreover, war crimes caused pathology and changes in the Salvadorian society for generations. About 1 million of displaced people, immigrants, guerillas and others crossed the US border to find better life or to safe their life. They found it in Los Angeles and partly in …show more content…
At that time, the other gang named 18th Street ruled in Los Angeles twenty years earlier, and consisted mainly of Mexicans. Spanish language speaking gangs cooperated at the beginning, but the more Salvadorians came the worse were relationships between gangs. From Civil War reality young Salvadorians got to war of gangs. Furthermore, Salvadorian gangsters occurred to be incredibly aggressive. In other words, young Salvadorian depraved by war crimes and human violations were further more aggressive than their rivals from 18th Street were. Gang rules were not only striving for money but for opinion of being the most dangerous gang in the world. That is why MS13’s member raped, committed murders daylight with guns from short distances or simply used machete to slaughter their victims. Such explicit behavior set MS13 in the top of violence between gangs in US. Lack of the US sufficient programs to help immigrants caused gang related environment. Due to Mr. Buddy Howell – Senior Research Associate to National Gang Centre, most important risk factors that growths possibility of joining gang by youth are early delinquency, troubled home environment, unhealthy school environment and unsafe community environment. Moreover, if these factors occur together, young man or woman is forty times more endangered of becoming a gang member. That is why; massive immigrant