Guatemala Polarized Over Assassination

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.