World

Guatemala Polarized Over Assassination

by AlvarezGalloso | May 18, 2009 at 05:56 am

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The City of Guatemala was the scene of demonstrations in favour and against President Alvaro Colom. The cause of the demonstrations were a video by Rodrigo Rosenberg recorded before his assassination. In the video, Mr. Rosenberg made statements against President Colom and his government. In the video, he also added that the government of Colom would be to blame if he were killed. Since the death of Mr. Rosenberg, people in favour or against Colom have been demonstrating. The Anti Colom Demonstrators accuse Mr. Colom of permitting insecurity and are asking for his resignation. They have also accused him of taking Guatemala towards the same path as Cuba and Venezuela. The Pro Colom Demonstrators have accused the Anti Colom Demonstrators of wanting to "maintain the status quo" and for opposing Mr. Colom's attempts at "reform". The demonstrations with 40,000 people participating took place in the area called Plaza Italia in front of the municipal builing. There were similar demonstrations in another area called Plaza de La Constitucion or Place of the Constitution. It remains to be seen what will transpire.

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Paschen

at 06:11 on May 18th, 2009

Is it clear who assassinated Rosenberg?

sara star

at 06:24 on May 18th, 2009

Volunteers gathered more than 30,000 signatures of the million that would be needed seeking to have Mr Colom impeached.

Jorge Rivas, a mechanic, said the government was trying to turn the case into "just" a class struggle, but "we all are rich and poor," he insisted.

"We are here fighting for every one of us," said Ana Isabel Mata Castillo, a housewife out protesting the lack of safety on public transport and elsewhere.

"We are fighting for all of Guatemala."

Jarrett Martineau

at 10:40 on May 18th, 2009

Thanks for this post. There were extensive demonstrations and protests over Rosenberg's death that were held last week. See additional coverage of this story:

Guatemalan Protesters Demand President Colom's Resignation