- Tweeter
republish
In Guatemala, the situation is becoming tense in some parts of the country, forcing the authorities to declare a state of siege on Wednesday, 4 September. A decision announced by President Jimmy Morales at the request of Congress and will be effective during the next 30 days. The announcement follows the death of three soldiers in the north of the country who were allegedly executed by an alleged group of drug traffickers during an ambush. Three more soldiers were wounded and two others missing
The tension remains at its height in Guatemala nearly a month after the second round of the presidential election. And the decision to declare the state of siege will certainly not reassure the minds. It must be said that the week was agitated after the arrest of Sandra Torres , candidate in the second round of the presidential election, who would be involved in a corruption case, and the departure Tuesday, September 3, of the UN anti-corruption mission in Guatemala , declared "persona non-grata" by the president.
This state of siege concerns 6 departments where, according to the authorities, institutions and security can no longer be guaranteed due to the proliferation of groups affiliated with drug traffickers. A decision following an ambush by these groups against the army in the municipality of El Estor, located in the north-east of the country, which killed three soldiers. The state of siege involves the suspension of several rights such as freedom of movement, the right of assembly and demonstration, as well as the carrying of weapons and allows the authorities to carry out arrests and interrogations without the authorization of a judge.
Guatemala is regularly accused of hosting mafia organizations. The United States estimates that 90% of the cocaine that enters its territory passes through Mexico and Central America.