10 September 2011

GUATEMALA : Growing Narco Presence...Feeds Longing For Military's "Mano Dura".

                            NYTIMES / D.CAVE/ 2 screens combined

      As the presence of dangerous and violent narco gangs from Mexico grows...Guatemaltecos long for stability...and even the re-emergence of their military.
     The 3 choices in Sunday's election are all calling for a crime fighting military...the so-called "mano dura"/"strong fist."
     The front runner appears to be ex-general Otto Perez Molina (above).
     This in a nation that suffered mightily from 36 years of civil war...with 200,000 dead civilians.
    “It’s even scarier now than during the war,” said a middle aged cook. “The danger used to be in the mountains — now it’s everywhere.”


 TO READ LATIMES VERSION:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-guatemala-elections-20110911,0,4350727.story