Sunday, November 22, 2020

Protesters set fire to Guatemala's Congress to demand president resign

Issued on: 22/11/2020 - 

Text by:NEWS WIRES

Hundreds of Guatemalans partly burned the Congress building Saturday in a protest demanding the resignation of President Alejandro Giammattei, following the passage of a budget that has sparked outrage in the impoverished Central American nation.

The flames in the legislative building could be seen from the street in Guatemala City, and a spokesman for the Red Cross told journalists the group had treated several people for smoke inhalation.

Police arrested more than 20 people and almost 50 were sent to hospital injured, one of them in a serious condition.

A separate, peaceful, protest took place in front of the old government palace in the historic center of the capital, not far from Congress, also urging Giammattei to resign.

Carrying the national flag and banners that said "No more corruption," "Giammattei out," and "They messed with the wrong generation," the protesters filled the central square in Guatemala City in front of the old palace.

In a tweet, Giammattei denounced the attack on the Congress, and vowed legal repercussions.

"I reiterate that you have the right to demonstrate according to the law. But we cannot allow vandalism of public or private property," he posted.

"Whoever is proven to have participated in these criminal acts will fall under the full weight of the law."

Reitero que se tiene el derecho de manifestar conforme la ley. Pero tampoco podemos permitir que se vandalice con la propiedad pública o privada. Al que se le compruebe su participación en estos hechos delictivos les caerá todo el peso de la ley.— Alejandro Giammattei (@DrGiammattei) November 21, 2020

The widespread discontent and indignation in Guatemala against Giammattei's administration and Congress are caused by a lack of resources for battling the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the new budget.

Guatemala's Congress, dominated by conservative pro-government parties, this week approved an almost $13 billion budget, the largest in the country's history.

Most of the funds will go to infrastructure tied to big business, sparking outrage in a country where poverty is widespread and half of children under five years old are malnourished.

Analysts have also warned that a third of the budget will need to be financed by debt.

The country's Congress has also approved $3.8 billion to fight the coronavirus pandemic, but less than 15 percent of those funds have been invested.

Giammattei's vice president said Friday night he had asked the president to resign with him.

"For the good of the country, I asked him that we present our resignations together," Guillermo Castillo said in a message posted on social media.

He also reportedly told the president that "things are not right," and admitted to tensions between himself and the head of state.

Giammattei, a 64-year-old doctor, swept to power in January promising to clean up corruption and fight organized crime.

But his presidency has been dominated by controversy over his handling of the coronavirus, particularly deficiencies in the country's hospitals.

He has also publicly sparred with his vice president, who in May revealed the two had privately clashed over the best response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to official data, 118,417 people have been infected by the coronavirus, and 4,074 have died.

(AFP)


Guatemala's Congress burns as anger grows over government cuts to education and healthcare

Riot police form a cordon as flames shoot out from the Congress building after protesters set a part of the building on fire, in Guatemala City


HUNDREDS of protesters broke into Guatemala’s congress and set fire to part of the building on Saturday amid growing anger at President Alejandro Giammattei’s budget cuts to education and healthcare.

Around 10,000 people were protesting in front of the National Palace, Guatemala City, against corruption and the budget, which was negotiated and passed by legislators in secret while the Central American country was dealing with the fallout of back-to-back hurricanes and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Footage on social media showed flames lapping against a window of the legislative building on Saturday. Police fired tear gas at protesters and about a dozen people were reported injured.

“We are outraged by poverty, injustice and the way they have stolen the public’s money,” said psychology professor Rosa de Chavarria.

“I feel like the future is being stolen from us. We don’t see any changes. This cannot continue,” said Mauricio Ramirez, a 20-year-old university student.

The amount of damage to the building was unclear, but the flames initially appear to have affected legislative offices, rather than the main hall of congress.

Mr Giammattei condemned the fires via his Twitter account on Saturday.

“Anyone who is proven to have participated in the criminal acts will be punished with the full force of the law,” he wrote.

The president defended people’s right to protest but said we cannot “allow people to vandalise public or private property.”

The Guatemalan Trade Union, Indigenous and Peasant Movement hit back at the president’s comments today, saying that “the only violence in Guatemala at this time has been carried out [by] Giammattei and his 115 deputies against the people.”

“Every act of protest and resistance is legitimate and framed in the defence of constitutional order,” the organisation said.

Guatemalans were angered last week when politicians approved £49,000 to pay for meals for themselves, but cut funding for coronavirus patients and human rights agencies, among other things.

Vice-President Guillermo Castillo has offered to resign, telling Mr Giammattei that both men should relinquish their positions “for the good of the country.”

He also suggested vetoing the approved budget, firing government officials and attempting more outreach.

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