VZCZCXYZ0050
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0777/01 2242306
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 122306Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7926
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 5236

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000777 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/WHA, DS/ITA/WHA, WHA/CEN, CA/OCS/ACS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CASC KCRM GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: RECENT SIGNIFICANT CRIME EVENTS 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: As violent crime continues throughout 
Guatemala, the following are some of the more recent 
significant events, including acts against Guatemalan 
government facilities and personnel, American citizen 
visitors, Embassy employees, and in residential areas of 
Embassy personnel.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On July 30, 2009, at approximately 1100 hours, Luis 
Rene Ibanez, Sub-Director of the El Boqueron prison in 
Cuilapa, Santa Rosa, was driving near Embassy residences on 
Vista Hermosa Boulevard in Zone 15 of Guatemala City when he 
was attacked and killed by AK-47 gunfire from individuals in 
another vehicle.  This appears to have been an assasination 
and the National Civilian Police (PNC) stated that a gang 
leader from within the El Boqueron prison is responsible. 
 
¶3.  (U) On July 26, 2009, at approximately 2000 hours, a hand 
grenade was thrown at a group of off-duty private security 
guards who were assembled in a public transportation bus 
parking lot in Zone 5 of Guatemala City. Twelve guards were 
injured when the grenade exploded.  It was reported that the 
guards were providing security for the buses, and that the 
company employing them, "Seguridad Professional Privada", had 
failed to comply with recent gang extortion threats. 
Comment: The use of grenades in criminal assaults has been 
historically uncommon in Guatemala and is of growing concern. 
 End Comment. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) On July 25, 2009, at approximately 1310 hours, the 
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director for 
Guatemala was robbed at gunpoint while walkingin Zone 10 of 
Guatemala City, near Embassy personel residences.  The 
victim was walking with another CDC employee and both their 
spouses when a vehicle stopped ahead of them and two 
passengers exited.  All were allowed to pass by the vehicle 
except the victim, who was threatened with a pistol, patted 
down, and robbed of a cell phone and cash.  The assailants 
then departed without further incident. 
 
¶5.  (U) On July 21, 2009, at approximately 0100 hours, a 
grenade was thrown into a residence in Zone 18 of Guatemala 
City where a party was taking place, killing two and injuring 
nine people.  The PNC has declared that it was related to 
gang activity. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) On July 20, 2009, at approximately 0900 hours, the 
fiancee of an Embassy employee was driving in Zone 10 of 
Guatemala City near Embassy residences when he was assaulted 
at gunpoint.  Two men on motorcycles pulled up on either side 
of the victim's vehicle, displayed their pistols, and 
demanded his cell phone.  The victim complied and was left 
physically unharmed.  Comment: This is the first assault by 
motorcycle reported to the Embassy since the new motorcycle 
law went into effect that prohibits passengers and requires 
clearly marked license information on their jacket and 
helmet.  End Comment. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) On July 20, 2009, at approximately 0900 hours, 
eight American tourists escorted by two PNC officers were 
climbing the Acatenango volcano in Chimaltenango when they 
were assaulted by six armed men with shotguns.  The PNC 
officers attempted to repel the assault and were both shot 
and wounded by the attackers who subsequently fled without 
harming the tourists. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) On July 19, 2009, at approximately 0120 hours, an 
Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated in front of a 
PNC substation in Zone 18 of Guatemala City, causing material 
damage only.  Reports indicated that the device materials 
were similar to those used in commercial explosives for local 
road construction and excavations, with a parallel cable, 
Qroad construction and excavations, with a parallel cable, 
detonator and a car battery as the power source.  PNC 
investigated and reported that it was a dispute between the 
Mara 18 and MS gangs, with the involvement of one of the 
substation's former officers. 
 
¶9.  (U) On July 18, 2009, at approximately 0900 hours, four 
American male tourists were climbing the Agua volcano in 
Sacatepequez when they were assaulted by four men with 
machetes.  The attackers robbed the victims of their 
belongings and left them physically unharmed. 
 
¶10. (SBU) On July 14, 2009, at approximately 0640 hours, a 
jogger in Zone 10 and in front of Embassy residences was 
assaulted at gunpoint when a sedan pulled close and a 
passenger attempted to rob him of his personal audio device. 
As the victim resisted and tried to escape, the assailant 
drew a pistol and fired one round at him.  The bullet missed 
the victim and the assailants drove away without pursuing the 
victim further.  An Embassy employee witnessed and reported 
the event. 
 
¶11. (SBU) On July 6, 2009, at approximately 1600 hours, a 
group of nine visiting Americans were climbing the Acatenango 
volcano in Chimaltenango when they were assaulted by three 
masked men with shotguns.  All the victims were robbed of 
their valuables.  One female victim was taken to another 
location where the assailant attempted a sexual assault, but 
the victim immediately fought the assailant and escaped. 
Once the victims were released, they witnessed the same 
assailants rob another group of climbers and sexually assault 
one of the females in that group. 
 
¶12. (U) On June 28, 2009, at approximately 0230 hours, four 
men in their BMW vehicle received gunfire from assailants in 
a Land Rover vehicle outside of a nightclub frequented by 
Embassy personnel and on the same block as the US Animal and 
Plant Inspection Service facility in Zone 10 of Guatemala 
City.  Two of the victims died and the other two were 
wounded, all from gunshots. 
 
¶13. (U) Comment: Although these are notable incidents, they 
are just a small sampling of daily criminal acts in 
Guatemala. The recent introduction of grenades and IED's, 
presumably by gangs, is a disturbing trend that will continue 
to be monitored.  In addition, a Consular warden message and 
RSO security notice has been sent to alert Americans and 
Embassy staff of the recent criminal events on area volcanoes. 
McFarland