Who's Killing These Criminals?
Sergio De Leon
AP
Chicago Sun-Times, US
_________________
Guatemala City (Guatemala):
Some are shoved into cars with dark windows and never seen again. Sometimes bodies turn up with messages left on paper or carved into their bodies: ''Car thief.'' ''I behaved badly.'' ''I'm going to hell.''
''This is how snitches die.''A string of mysterious killings targeting Guatemalan gang members and criminals has prompted rumors of a ''social cleansing'' in a country where crime is rising.In recent weeks, at least two unknown groups have left fliers in parks claiming to be civilian vigilantes at war with gang members.
Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, Sergio Morales, suspects rogue police, but Attorney General Juan Luis Florido blames mob warfare -- perhaps ''drug dealers, bank robbers or gang members.''So far there is little evidence supporting any of the theories, though the ombudsman's office calls it ''social cleansing'' and is trying to determine how many of the 1,615 violent deaths in the first half of 2005 fall into that category.
Morales claims information that some security forces were involved, but refuses to give details.The killings appear to have begun late last year. The term ''social cleansing'' was coined by Mutual Support Group, a human rights organization, and was widely accepted in a country known for vigilante justice and a deep mistrust of public officials, stemming in large part from the nation's 36-year civil war.
Oct 18, 2005
Sergio De Leon
AP
Chicago Sun-Times, US
_________________
Guatemala City (Guatemala):
Some are shoved into cars with dark windows and never seen again. Sometimes bodies turn up with messages left on paper or carved into their bodies: ''Car thief.'' ''I behaved badly.'' ''I'm going to hell.''
''This is how snitches die.''A string of mysterious killings targeting Guatemalan gang members and criminals has prompted rumors of a ''social cleansing'' in a country where crime is rising.In recent weeks, at least two unknown groups have left fliers in parks claiming to be civilian vigilantes at war with gang members.
Guatemala's human rights ombudsman, Sergio Morales, suspects rogue police, but Attorney General Juan Luis Florido blames mob warfare -- perhaps ''drug dealers, bank robbers or gang members.''So far there is little evidence supporting any of the theories, though the ombudsman's office calls it ''social cleansing'' and is trying to determine how many of the 1,615 violent deaths in the first half of 2005 fall into that category.
Morales claims information that some security forces were involved, but refuses to give details.The killings appear to have begun late last year. The term ''social cleansing'' was coined by Mutual Support Group, a human rights organization, and was widely accepted in a country known for vigilante justice and a deep mistrust of public officials, stemming in large part from the nation's 36-year civil war.
Oct 18, 2005
