Guatemala City - The killing of several bus drivers continues today in Guatemala. President Alvaro Colom suspended his trip to a SICA meeting (System of Central American Integration) in Nicaragua to address the current security crisis, he was supposed lo leave this morning to attend the meeting. In his place Guatemala's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Haroldo Rodas will represent the President.
President Alvaro Colom announced a Press Conference for today to inform the public about the current security crisis. The Press Conference that has not yet taken place.
In his statements on the national TV last night President Colom said that today would be a normal day in Guatemala. This has not been the case, the killings of the bus drivers of the public transportation system continue. There are soldiers in the streets of Guatemala City on patrol. The National Police has established search points in different parts of the city.
The leader of the opposition party Partido Patriota, General Otto Pérez Molina, criticized the weakness of the government today in addressing the security crisis and demanded the use of military forces for security actions, to improve civil intelligence and to establish a State of Exception in high crime areas. Pérez Molina stated that the increase of crime and subsequent fear in the population is a consequence of the absence of a security plan and improvisation from the government. Pérez Molina presented a proposal of a security plan today. He had offered his plan to the government last week.
The Minister of Defense stated today that if the National Police wants the help of the military to undertake security operations they only have to ask.
Press Office Government of Guatemala
