Few things are capable of causing unrest in a society hardened by violence. Guatemala, with an average of between 18 and 20 murders a day, is one of the most violent countries in Latin America. But the killing of 27 peasants this weekend in the municipality of La Libertad (Petén, north) has shaken the conscience of a population begins to reach unusual levels of anger.
Until noon there were more questions than answers. But all indications are that the Mexican group Los Zetas drug is responsible for the attack. The brutality of the murders leaves little room for doubt: the victims were beheaded and some were amputated legs and arms they used as brushes to leave messages written in blood on the wall of the manor house of the Finca Los Cocos, where the event occurred .
With respect to the motives, background allow a preliminary explanation. The aim of the Assassins was the owner of the property, Otto Salguero, a rancher who is suspected of having ties to drug traffickers and that allegedly is involved in the relentless war that keep the cartels for control of the area.
Petén, the largest province and jungle of Guatemala, has a long border with Mexico and its territory there are about 150 steps blind to cross from one to another country, all quite beyond the control of the authorities. According to the first versions arrived early Sunday at the farm about thirty gunmen armed with assault rifles.
Recruited workers (humble laborers who move from place to place to harvest the crop and make a living) and demanded that they reveal the whereabouts of Salguero. Not getting any response, were murdered one by one. Then they left his body, decapitated and dismembered in some cases, around the main house.
Two farmers were able to survive and statements allow authorities to reconstruct what happened. Police and elite Army troops have launched cordon and search of those responsible. During his flight, traffickers threw hand grenades and fired machine guns at a time against a school, forcing the suspension of classes in some municipalities.
There was another grenade attack on a house, but fortunately no casualties. The balance of these attacks is part of a policeman wounded. According to authorities, security forces cut off the retreat into a car with alleged gunmen in the neighborhood of Flores, the capital of Petén. This was confirmed by Interior Minister Carlos Menocal, who has traveled to Petén to the first light of day, accompanying President Alvaro Colom.
According to Menocal, the capture of these thugs is a matter of time. The minister added that a radio station, which did not identify, is engaged in a work of disinformation that creates anxiety in the population, to speculate about alleged confrontations. The president calls for calm Meanwhile, President Colom appealed to the tranquility of the inhabitants of the Petén and said security forces have retaken control of the province and its access roads.
Referring to the killing, the president called it a fact, "grim and savage." He added that it was confirmed that all the victims were day laborers, all unarmed, "extreme indignation increases." Meanwhile, in the morgue of La Libertad, relatives of victims have identified the bodies of 14 peasants, including three women and two teenagers aged 13 and 16. 
Until noon there were more questions than answers. But all indications are that the Mexican group Los Zetas drug is responsible for the attack. The brutality of the murders leaves little room for doubt: the victims were beheaded and some were amputated legs and arms they used as brushes to leave messages written in blood on the wall of the manor house of the Finca Los Cocos, where the event occurred .
With respect to the motives, background allow a preliminary explanation. The aim of the Assassins was the owner of the property, Otto Salguero, a rancher who is suspected of having ties to drug traffickers and that allegedly is involved in the relentless war that keep the cartels for control of the area.
Petén, the largest province and jungle of Guatemala, has a long border with Mexico and its territory there are about 150 steps blind to cross from one to another country, all quite beyond the control of the authorities. According to the first versions arrived early Sunday at the farm about thirty gunmen armed with assault rifles.
Recruited workers (humble laborers who move from place to place to harvest the crop and make a living) and demanded that they reveal the whereabouts of Salguero. Not getting any response, were murdered one by one. Then they left his body, decapitated and dismembered in some cases, around the main house.
Two farmers were able to survive and statements allow authorities to reconstruct what happened. Police and elite Army troops have launched cordon and search of those responsible. During his flight, traffickers threw hand grenades and fired machine guns at a time against a school, forcing the suspension of classes in some municipalities.
There was another grenade attack on a house, but fortunately no casualties. The balance of these attacks is part of a policeman wounded. According to authorities, security forces cut off the retreat into a car with alleged gunmen in the neighborhood of Flores, the capital of Petén. This was confirmed by Interior Minister Carlos Menocal, who has traveled to Petén to the first light of day, accompanying President Alvaro Colom.
According to Menocal, the capture of these thugs is a matter of time. The minister added that a radio station, which did not identify, is engaged in a work of disinformation that creates anxiety in the population, to speculate about alleged confrontations. The president calls for calm Meanwhile, President Colom appealed to the tranquility of the inhabitants of the Petén and said security forces have retaken control of the province and its access roads.
Referring to the killing, the president called it a fact, "grim and savage." He added that it was confirmed that all the victims were day laborers, all unarmed, "extreme indignation increases." Meanwhile, in the morgue of La Libertad, relatives of victims have identified the bodies of 14 peasants, including three women and two teenagers aged 13 and 16.
- 5th hour's trip to Guatemala - Km 18.8 Carretera A El Savador, Guatemala (27/04/2011)
- Massacre in northern Guatemala leaves 27 dead (15/05/2011)
- Massacre In Northern Guatemala Leaves 27 Dead (15/05/2011)
- Good Beer - Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala (01/05/2011)
- 27 die in Guatemala massacre; most of the victims beheaded (15/05/2011)
No comments:
Post a Comment