By NNN-PRENSA LATINA
Guiatemala : Guatemala lived under a cloud of violence and insecurity last week forcing the polile to take action to take over the towns controlled by criminals.
Attacks on public transportation and several areas of the capital were on the rise and the public are deprived of the service after drivers and assistants became the target of the violence.
Over 65 drivers and assastants were killed this year for refusing to pay the operation tax demanded by gang members, noted several representatives.
Even Guatemalan President Oscar Berger and the Vice President Eduardo Stein believed that the killing to contain political motives.
They said that the attacks were not only perpetrated by delinquents but backed by political sectors interested in creating instability for the benefit of some candidates.
Several Government ministers meanwhile, denied having evidence of any party’s participation in those crimes.
In an attempt to curb the problem, authorities began a large-scale operation to take over areas in the cities and municipalities, which were until now, are in the hands of youth gangs, calling themselves “Maras.”
On Friday, about 100 police and army conducted 40 raids and arrested 26 people suspected to be involved in drugs and arms possession.
“This is the first large-scale operation to face the increasing violence and insecurity that have become a scourge for the Guatemalan society,” noted a government minister.