Running the Gauntlet, Guatemalan Bus Murders (26 images)

In the first days of the new year, a hope for a safer year in Guatemala has already been put in question. So far there has been around 2- 3 bus attacks a day in the city or surrounding area. Major transportation systems were paralyzed in November because bus drivers refused to drive dangerous routes for lack of security. The previous year alone, 123 bus drivers, 39 bus assistants, eight bus company owners and inspectors, and 24 passengers have been killed, that is up from 2007 where around...
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In the first days of the new year, a hope for a safer year in Guatemala has already been put in question. So far there has been around 2- 3 bus attacks a day in the city or surrounding area. Major transportation systems were paralyzed in November because bus drivers refused to drive dangerous routes for lack of security. The previous year alone, 123 bus drivers, 39 bus assistants, eight bus company owners and inspectors, and 24 passengers have been killed, that is up from 2007 where around 33 bus workers were killed. Already in the first 18 days in guatemala the number is at 12These attacks vary in scale and technique, be it by shooting the driver and assistant in the back of the head while driving or spraying the bus as it departs and stopsthe end result is the same. For two days the buses stopped running in protest to the murders, in the past it was if you did not pay extortions you got killed but now they have even hit lines that pay the fees. Many people say its in attempt to destabilize the country that has been under the new presidency of Mr. Colom, but no one really knows who or what the real reason is. What ever it is the basic service of a city is public transportation and to shut that down is a sign of a country in major trouble
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