Guatemala

Guatemala: U.S. Embassy Urges Using Security Escort for Petén Travel

Date: August 7th, 2008 |

In late June a van carrying U.S. university students and faculty was robbed by two gunmen while traveling in the Peten region near the Belize border. The incident occurred where the road became unpaved and the van had to slow down, allowing the robbers to fire on the vehicle. The Peten is a remote region [read more]

Guatemala: Tensions Near Lake Izabal

Date: March 20th, 2008 |

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Four Belgian tourists and two locals were abducted and held hostage for two days by Mayan farmers on Lake Izabal in a dispute over land use. The Mayans have been pressing the government to recognize their traditional farming rights to land in the area but Guatemalan law prohibits land use permits in nature reserves. The [read more]

Guatemala: Child-Stealing Rumors Cause Violence

Date: July 25th, 2007 |

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Rumors of child stealing in rural areas periodically come to a boil, and when tensions are high even the most innocent interaction with local children can place a visitor in danger. On July 1 two foreigners (including one American) and a Guatemalan kayaking on a river near Chicaman, Quiche were seized by a mob because [read more]

Guatemala: Rumors of Americans Kidnapping Children

Date: May 23rd, 2006 |

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Rumors that Americans are involved in kidnapping children and taking them to the U.S. have stirred passions in the highlands and made travel in some areas potentially risky. The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City advises against unnecessary travel to Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Sacatepequez Department and nearby areas. Santo Domingo Xenacoj is located on the road [read more]

Guatemala

Date: May 10th, 2005 |

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Highway robbery has been a problem here for years and continues to be, but fewer incidents have been reported in recent months. Buses, vans and private vehicles have all been stopped. The bandits usually are heavily armed and often respond violently to resistance. U.S. Mission personnel are not permitted to travel on inter- and intra-city [read more]

Guatemala: Child-Stealing Rumors Create Tensions in Western Highlands

Date: July 30th, 2008 |

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Rumors of foreigners stealing children are circulating in the area around Tajumulco Volcano, a region in the Western Highlands popular with U.S. tourists. Such rumors are not to be taken lightly because in the past they have resulted in the lynchings of several Guatemalan citizens and many years ago an American woman was beaten almost [read more]

Mexico and Central America: Hurricane Felix and Henriette Hit on Same Day

Date: September 5th, 2007 |

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Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes made landfall on the same day for the first time since such data has been recorded. Current statistics date to 1949 and also show that this hurricane season has seen another first, two category 5 hurricanes (the strongest) occurring in the same season, with this week’s Hurricane Felix coming two weeks [read more]

Guatemala: American Saved from Mob by Police

Date: September 26th, 2006 |

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Police in Panajachel on Lake Atitlan rescued an American man from an angry mob that threatened to lynch him. The mob accused him or raping an 11-year-old girl, and police persuaded them to release him by vowing to investigate the allegations. It is unclear if there is any substance to the charge, but the incident [read more]

Guatemala: Floods and Mudslides

Date: October 11th, 2005 |

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Torrential rains from Hurricane Stan swept across Guatemala and other Central American countries causing extensive flooding and massive mudslides that wiped out entire villages. Areas hardest hit were Mayan mountain villages, but Santiago Atitlan and Panajachel, both on the shores of Lake Atitlan and popular with foreign tourists, were overwhelmed. Some 40 people were killed [read more]

Guatemala

Date: March 15th, 2005 |

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Police clashed with demonstrators in Guatemala City, Huehuetenango and other cities over a free trade agreement with the U.S. ratified by the Guatemalan Congress last week and signed into law March 15. One person was killed in Huehuetenango, 19 were injured in Guatemala City and roads were blocked around the country. The agreement must still [read more]