VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0041/01 0422225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 112225Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1029
INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000041 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/WHA 
DEPT ALSO FOR DS/ITA/WHA, WHA/CEN, CA/OCS/ACS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC KCRM GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: RECENT CRIME EVENTS AND TRENDS 
 
REF: 10 GUATEMALA 27 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY: As violent crime continues to be a significant 
issue for Guatemala, with police struggling to address gang and 
street crime, and citizens taking the law into their own hands more 
frequently, 2009 police statistics show an increase from 2008 and 
2007 for almost all reported criminal acts, including homicide and 
robbery.  The following are just some of the recent notable 
criminal events impacting Guatemalan government facilities and 
personnel, American citizen visitors, Mission employees, and in the 
residential areas of Mission personnel.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (U) On January 13, 2010, at approximately 0930 hours, in Zone 1 
of Guatemala City and within 1.5 miles of the Embassy, an explosion 
occurred inside the "Transportes Sanaratecos" bus station, injuring 
4 adults and 1 minor.  Reports from the Guatemalan National Police 
(PolicC-a Nacional Civil (PNC)) stated the grenade was thrown into 
the station by an individual riding a passing motorcycle. 
 
 
 
¶3.  (U) On January 7, 2010, at approximately 0200 hours, a local 
restaurant owner and US citizen, well-known in the Mission 
community, was shot and killed while driving in Zone 9, within 0.5 
miles of the Embassy and Mission personnel residences.  The 
victim's car was disabled during the initial attack, at which time 
the assailants exited from their vehicle and shot the victim again 
at close range. 
 
 
 
¶4.  (U) On January 5, 2010, at approximately 1430 hours, in Zone 1 
of Guatemala City and within 2 miles of the Embassy, a grenade 
exploded next to a bus from Nicaragua, injuring 4 nearby 
pedestrians.  The PNC believes the grenade may have been thrown 
from a hotel room above the attack site. 
 
 
 
¶5.  (U) On January 5, 2010, a US citizen visiting Guatemala for the 
holidays was shot and killed by two men on motorcycles as he was 
leaving a medical clinic in Zone 9, within 0.5 miles of the Embassy 
and Mission personnel residences. 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) On November 27, 2009, at approximately 1330 hours in the 
city of SololC!, local residents, enraged over a recent incident 
where extortionists had killed a bus driver and two passengers, 
stormed the PNC station where the suspects were being held.  The 
mob executed the three suspects and then set the bodies on fire in 
the town square.  During the melee, numerous vehicles as well as 
the police station were burned.  Five policemen were also injured 
during the incident.  SololC! is a common transit route for Mission 
personnel taking holiday and weekend travel to Lake Atitlan.  One 
Mission employee witnessed the event and two other employees were 
caught up in the ensuing traffic jam just outside of town.  Note: 
This style of attack is called "lynching" in Guatemala and refers 
to any type of execution by mob, usually by hitting, stoning, and 
then burning the victim with fuel.  Although acts of lynching in 
the rural areas of Guatemala arQa relatively common occurrence due 
to inadequate police presence and enforcement capabilities, there 
has been a significant increase of reported cases in 2009, 
including in more urban areas.  End Note. 
 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) On November 18, 2009, at approximately 0930 hours, a 
Mission employee on foot in Zone 10 and within 0.25 miles of 
Mission residences, was approached by two men exiting a BMW sedan, 
who without presenting a weapon, asked him for his cell phone and 
money.  The employee complied and the suspects departed the scene 
without further incident. 
 
 
 
¶8.  (SBU) On November 10, 2009, at approximately 1200 hours, a 
Mission employee and his girlfriend were walking near Mission 
personnel residences when a man in a SUV pulled up and pointed a 
gun at them in an attempted robbery.  The employee pushed his 
girlfriend aside, started yelling, and the assailant, apparently 
startled, drove away without further incident. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) On November 10, 2009, in the parking lot of "Pollo 
Campero" in Zone 15, a restaurant frequented by Mission personnel 
and within 0.25 miles of Mission residQes, a passenger of one 
vehicle fired multiple rounds at the driver of another vehicle, 
injuring the presumed target.  A Mission employee in the restaurant 
witnessed the event and waited at the scene to provide a report to 
the police, however the PNC departed without questioning witnesses. 
 
 
 
¶10.  (SBU) On October 14, 2009, at approximately 0330 hours, a 
Mission employee and companion were driving in Zone 10 of Guatemala 
City when they were subject to a police vehicle stop.  Four 
uniformed PNC officers demanded 2000 Quetzales (approximately $241 
USD) in return for their release.  The companion was driven to an 
ATM by the police while the employee remained in her vehicle under 
guard.  Both victims were released unharmed after payment of the 
2000 Quetzales. 
 
 
 
¶11.  (SBU) On August 24, 2009, in the parking lot of a McDonald's 
in Zone 15, a restaurant frequented by Mission personnel and within 
2 blocks of Mission residences, a Guatemalan pedestrian was shot 
and killed by a passenger in a passing vehicle. 
 
 
 
¶12.  (SBU) On August 21, 2009, at approximately 0800 hours, the son 
of a Mission employee was driving a vehicle within one block of the 
Embassy when two armed men on two motorcycles approached his 
stopped vehicle and robbed him of personal belongings. 
 
 
 
¶13.  (SBU) Comment: This is just a small sampling of daily criminal 
acts in Guatemala.  Although the recent capture of fugitive and 
former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo made headlines and is 
a success story for Guatemalan law enforcement, the underlying 
issues remain (Reftel).  According to PNC reports for 2009, there 
were 6498 recorded homicides (3% increase from 2008, 11% increase 
from 2007) and 7603 recorded injured in assaults (8.5% increase 
from 2008, 18% increase from 2007).  From these numbers, 49 were 
killed and 56 injured in acts of lynching in 2009, versus 17 killed 
and 22 injured in 2008 (65% and 61% increase from 2008, 
respectively).  Also from these numbers, 10 were killed and 65 
injured in attacks with explosives in 2009, versus 1 killed and 5 
injured in 2008 (90% and 92% increase from 2008, respectively). 
See below chart for PNC reported annual data. 
 
 
 
Homicides                          2009                       2008 
2007 
 
Firearm                              Q                5405 
5237                       4776 
 
Lynching                              49 
17                           20 
 
Explosive                             10 
1                              1 
 
Other                                    1034 
1037                       984 
 
Total                                      6498 
6292                       5781 
 
 
 
Injured                                 2009 
2008                       2007 
 
Firearm                                                5573 
5212                       4480 
 
Lynching                              56 
22                           32 
 
Explosive                             65 
5                              4 
 
Other                                    1909 
1721                       1722 
 
Total                                      7603 
6960                       6238 
 
 
 
                                                2009 
2008                       2007 
 
Sexual Assault                  401                         385 
318 
 
Robberies                           15578                    14802 
14457 
 
Kidnappings                       162                         213 
98 
 
Disappearances                                1347 
1318                       1324 
 
 
 
¶14.  (SBU) Acts of violence against bus companies that don't comply 
with extortion demands continue to rise annually.  Assailants 
typically target the drivers and assistants, however bystanders are 
often caught in the crossfire.  According to the Guatemalan Office 
of Human Rights (ProcuradurC-a de los Derechos Humanos (PDH)), there 
were 192 bus drivers reportedly killed in 2009, 131 in 2008, and 68 
in 2007.  In addition, 121 bus driver assistants and 52 bus 
passengers or bystanders were reportedly killed in 2009. 
Frequently, these attacks occur in close proximity to the Embassy 
and on roads Mission personnel must use daily in their commutes. 
The media has recently commented that "El Obelisco", a major 
intersection near the Embassy and heavily utilized by Mission 
personnel, is becoming a "red zone" due to all the attacks at this 
location.  This termQs typically reserved for the most dangerous 
sections of Guatemala City. 
 
 
 
¶15.  (SBU) Although the Guatemalan national average for homicides 
is approximately 50 per 100K residents, the PDH has reported for 
2009 an average of 113 homicides per 100K in the Department of 
Guatemala, which includes Guatemala City.  In comparison, the 2008 
FBI Uniform Crime Report lists the US national average at 5.4 
homicides per 100K residents, and Washington, D.C. at 31.4 
homicides per 100K residents.  The significant increases in the use 
of explosives, presumably by gangs, as well as the acts of lynching 
by angered citizens are both disturbing trends that will continue 
to be monitored.  End Comment. 
MCFARLAND