By Zoila Palma: Guatemala declared a 30-day state of emergency on Sunday as authorities moved to confront a surge in gang-related violence that has included prison uprisings and the killing of eight police officers.
President Bernardo Arévalo said the measure would empower the national police and army to act against gangs and organized crime, while stressing that it would not affect daily life for most citizens.
Schools were suspended on Monday as a precaution.
The decision followed coordinated uprisings at three prisons on Saturday, where inmates took dozens of guards hostage after authorities withdrew privileges from leaders of criminal organizations, The New York Times report.
Guatemalan officials noted that the unrest was organized in response to the crackdown.
By Sunday, police had regained control of all three prisons and freed the hostages.
Later Sunday, 8 police officers were killed in attacks the government blamed on gangs, which President Arévalo said were carried out in retaliation for the restoration of control at the prisons.
The Guatemalan President has pledged to work with the F.B.I. and other U.S. agencies to combat drug gangs that he says effectively run the prison system and have fueled violence nationwide.
The post International News: Guatemala declares State of Emergency following escalating gang violence appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Guatemala declared a 30-day state of emergency on Sunday as authorities moved to confront a surge in gang-related violence that has included prison uprisings and the killing of eight police officers. President Bernardo Arévalo said the measure would empower the national police and army to act against gangs and organized crime, while
The post International News: Guatemala declares State of Emergency following escalating gang violence appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
