Guatemala, Concerns on Electoral Violence
Five months after the call for the 2007 elections in Guatemala, political leaders, civil society organizations and the international community warned about the increase of electoral violence on Saturday.

If there have been attacks against the politicians before the beginning of the campaign, it is probable that violence becomes part of it when it really starts, declared Anders Kompass, dun high-ranking official for Human Rights.

Alvaro Colom, general secretary of the National Unity of Hope, denounced that 14 leaders of the party have been murdered and expressed concern on the lack if interest showed by the authorities to guarantee security.

Similarly General Secretary of the Patriot Party Otto Perez Molina referred to the murder of three leaders of his organization.

The Supreme Electoral Court admitted the threat of violence during September 2 elections in 144 of the 332 municipalities.

That situation will be worsened by the non approval of the nation's general budget for next year in which 53 million dollars intended to guarantee the adequate development of elections was expected to be included.

With the objective to analyze the matter, Government Minister

Carlos Vielmann will meet with leaders of the political organizations to elaborate a security strategy in January.