Guatemala decries fire at Congress
Blaze part of growing demonstrations over cuts to education, health
GUATEMALA CITY— Guatemala’s government called fires set by protesters at Congress “terrorist acts” while the Inter-American Human Rights Commission on Sunday condemned what it called an “excessive use of force” by police against demonstrators opposed to a new budget that slashes social spending.
Protesters broke into the Congress building and set one office afire on Saturday, and tossed rocks at police. Flames poured out of the building’s neoclassical facade.
The protests were part of growing demonstrations against President Alejandro Giammattei and the legislature for approving a budget that cut educational and health spending. Lawmakers approved $65,000 (U.S.) to pay for meals for themselves, but cut funding for coronavirus patients and human-rights agencies.
Police used tear gas and nightsticks to push demonstrators back, attacking not only about 1,000 demonstrators in front of Congress, but also a much larger protest in front of the country’s National Palace. Some protesters also damaged bus stations. Dozens of people were arrested, but many were later ordered released.
The commission wrote in its Twitter account that it “condemns the excessive use of force by authorities against demonstrators,” but also asked for an investigation into “the acts of vandalism against Congress, after which State agents indiscriminately suppressed the protest.”
It said governments “must respect peaceful demonstration,”
but when faced with violence, they “must identify persons — protesters or third parties — who risk rights or infringe State property. ”
The Organization of American States sought more of a middle ground. “Regarding yesterday’s demonstrations, we reiterate that there is a right to protest, which must be absolutely guaranteed, but there is no right to vandalism,” the OAS
said in a statement.
Giammattei’s interior minister, Gendri Reyes, said “a group of people attacked with terrorist acts, throwing firebombs to destroy Congress buildings. They tossed rocks and used weapons against security forces.”
Civic group Alliance for Reforms called for the resignation of Reyes, the country’s top domestic security official, and the director of the National Police.