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Guatemalan Presidential Guard Watch Buses
Some 250 members of the Guatemalan Presidential
Guard are watching urban buses to prevent
assaults and extortion, the National Security
Council reported on Monday.
Retired General Julio Balconi, technical
secretary of the Council, said the operations
will be carried out in marginalized areas of the
capital, where most assaults take place.
According to Balconi, it is an additional effort
in conjunction with the National Civil Police
and the Army to curb the wave of violence
affecting urban transportation.
The military officer said there is great concern
about the escalation of crimes against drivers
and assistants who refuse to pay the so-called
"tax" demanded by gangs.
So far this year, 20 transportation workers have
been killed by criminals. The drivers of one
thousand out of three thousands buses
circulating in the capital are victims of
extortion, and 280 buses are assaulted every
day, according to business representatives.
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