tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929513019181240765.post6374100516744799625..comments2023-11-02T09:33:21.983-04:00Comments on Central American Politics: Guatemala murder rates (1995-2011)Mike Allisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03819823480024681083noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929513019181240765.post-67753898191355943412012-01-09T18:52:31.781-05:002012-01-09T18:52:31.781-05:00Santiago,
Thanks. I've been surprised that fo...Santiago,<br /><br />Thanks. I've been surprised that following the release of 2011's murder statistics, the media just keeps repeating how out of control the murder situation is. There's been very little, if any, attempt to reconcile the declining murder rate with the increased perception of insecurity. Good luck in Guatemala City and stay safe.<br /><br />MikeMike Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03819823480024681083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929513019181240765.post-21593577021346255562012-01-08T09:14:18.111-05:002012-01-08T09:14:18.111-05:00Mike- Thanks for covering this important topic. I ...Mike- Thanks for covering this important topic. I live in Guatemala and remain puzzled as well. The feeling is that the crime and murder rate has remained high. I have lived here for just these three years, so I can't guess perception of violence pre-Colom presidency. I was here when Rosenberg was killed and horrified at the New Yorker in depth piece. As you suggest, data and facts are rarely generated or promoted by dis-interested parties. <br /> Here in the Capital City all levels of crime are out of control. To blame the drug lords or the former continuous civil war misses the point. <br />All levels of criminality have become a way of life. Particularly for the poor. It reminds me of the urban problems in the USA during the 1960's. Too many adolescent males with too much free time and inadequate supervision. <br /> My concern about the theory of vigilantism perpetrated by the government is that will always be a point of view based on promoting one or the other political parties.<br /> I am not an expert in analyzing the data, but it seems that when ordinary middle class and poor people are dying and victims of crime, it is hard to believe a government's claim of success. <br /> A friend of mine just introduced me to your site. Thank you for the fine work you do!Santiago Paredeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05828829459441037720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929513019181240765.post-21092075546325276032012-01-07T14:25:00.822-05:002012-01-07T14:25:00.822-05:00Thanks RAJ. I just wish I had more answers rather ...Thanks RAJ. I just wish I had more answers rather than questions. I don't want to write so much on violence, but I've just found the coverage of Central America, Guatemala in particular, confusing and/or terrible. <br /><br />While some Honduran murders are obviously the result of drug trafficking, I think that what separates Honduras from El Salvador, and maybe even Guatemala, is the large number of politically motivated extrajudicial killings of "anti-coup" (journalists, resistance members, etc.) and land activists. <br /><br />And from what I understand/hear, drug trafficking through Honduras increased dramatically during and after the 2009 coup when traffickers sensed weakness.<br /><br />How is the Honduran media covering the upsurge in murders? Explaining it away as the result of turf battle between various gangs and drug trafficking organizations?Mike Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03819823480024681083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8929513019181240765.post-25566597668878034952012-01-06T20:31:29.921-05:002012-01-06T20:31:29.921-05:00I think these posts of yours are some of the most ...I think these posts of yours are some of the most important on Central America in a long time. Asking the right questions about murder rates is something the media, at least, are not doing-- here, in El Salvador, or in Honduras. For example, US media "explain" Honduran murder rates in terms of drug violence-- but notably lacking are the documented drug war murders as in Mexico. Extrajudicial killings, now, those are clearly there...RAJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00097415587406899236noreply@blogger.com