Hundreds of former paramilitaries who participated in the Guatemalan civil war Between 1960 and 1996 they closed roads in various parts of the country demanding payment for their services during the conflict.
The General Directorate of Road Protection and Safety reported that on Wednesday some 15 blocked sections were recorded in at least 10 of the country’s 22 departments.
In the Guatemalan capital, the former paramilitaries were stationed at various points, including Congress, the Ministry of Public Finance and in front of the United States embassy.
On October 12, 2022, Congress approved a law that established a payment of 1,000 quetzales per month (about $130) for 36 months to the so-called Civil Self-Defense Patrollers (PAC). According to the former paramilitaries, this year they have only received two payments.
President Bernardo Arévalo said at a press conference that there are conversations with the leaders of the blockades to try to convince them to free the roads.
“The government has told them that we have the money in cash, but since the previous government did not leave the mechanisms (to make payments), they cannot be paid unless Congress in budget expansion allows us to do so,” he said. Arevalo.
The PACs were groups of civilians who were used by the military, some by force, to exercise control over populations and territories. Some have been brought to justice for crimes against the civilian population.
The day before, the Constitutional Court ruled that the government must guarantee the free exercise of demonstrations and, if necessary, create exclusive lanes for protesters, while limiting the use of force against protesters.
According to a report by the Human Rights Office of the archbishopric of Guatemala on what happened during the armed conflict, these patrols had 900,000 members.
The civil war in Guatemala left some 200,000 dead and more than 45,000 missing, according to a report by the United Nations.
The archbishopric document stated that paramilitary patrols were responsible for almost one in every five massacres that occurred in the country—more than 600 in total.
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