2009.05.14: May 14, 2009: Headlines: COS - Guatemala: Safety: Personal Web Site: Peace Corps Volunteer Ungowa! writes: National Crisis in Guatemala
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2009.05.14: May 14, 2009: Headlines: COS - Guatemala: Safety: Personal Web Site: Peace Corps Volunteer Ungowa! writes: National Crisis in Guatemala
Peace Corps Volunteer Ungowa! writes: National Crisis in Guatemala
"A few days after Rodrigo Rosenberg was assassinated, a video he made hit the media. In the video he says (and I'm translating from the transcript of the video), "Good afternoon. Mi name is Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano and, sadly, if you are at this moment watching and listening to this message, it's because I was assassinated by President Alvaro Colom, with the help of Mr. Gustavo Alejos." What he means is that the president of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, knew and help orchestrate his assassination; not that he personally shot Mr. Rosenberg."
Peace Corps Volunteer Ungowa! writes: National Crisis in Guatemala
Thursday, May 14, 2009
National Crisis
As some of you may have heard, Guatemala is experiencing one of its worst political crisis in history. A few weeks ago a well-known businessman, Khalil Mula, and his daughter Marjorie were murdered. Their lawyer, Rodrigo Rosenberg, was investigating their deaths and this past Sunday, May 10, he was shot to death while riding his bicycle.
A few days after Rodrigo Rosenberg was assassinated, a video he made hit the media. In the video he says (and I'm translating from the transcript of the video), "Good afternoon. Mi name is Rodrigo Rosenberg Marzano and, sadly, if you are at this moment watching and listening to this message, it's because I was assassinated by President Alvaro Colom, with the help of Mr. Gustavo Alejos." What he means is that the president of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, knew and help orchestrate his assassination; not that he personally shot Mr. Rosenberg. Anyway, you can watch the video on YouTube for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/user/wwwprensalibrecomgt
Hopefully you can find an English translation or subtitles. But I can tell you that this is really rocking this country as a young democracy which emerged out of a 36 year-long bloody civil war just 13 years ago. Mr. Rosenberg goes on to accuse the President's wife, Sandra de Colom and various people who worked on the President's campaign along with executives from Banrural. Banrural is the official bank used by the government and Rosenberg accuses it of money laundering and says it's full of narco-traffickers, criminals and thieves. What has happened is just the tip of the iceberg and I'm sure more and more information will become available in English.
Here is one article from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/12/world/A P-LT-Guatemala-Lawyer-Killed.html?_r=1&ref=america s
And for any of you Spanish speakers, there's a mountain of articles here:
www.prensalibre.com
You can read the entire transcript on Prensa Libre's website.
My heart goes out to this country because most of the people here are amazing human beings. It's unfortunate that they are going to bear the brunt of this national scandal which will likely harm business and social development.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: May, 2009; Peace Corps Guatemala; Directory of Guatemala RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Guatemala RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers
When this story was posted in May 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez. |
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Story Source: Personal Web Site
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