"Pay up or Die"

An article and some of my own thoughts I wanted to share...

This article talks about the escalating violence in Guatemala City that is being perpetuated by street gangs. The human rights group Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo has reported that in this year alone they have lost 175 members to his type of street violence. The main reason for this is basically for intimidation and extortion. The gangs demand that these drivers pay them sums of money and if they refuse than they will be targeted. One driver in particular was left paralyzed from the waist down after his bus was flagged down and he stopped. When he opened the door a young child pulled out a gun and shot him in his spine. He now is forced to rely on his family and other ways to make money. Although he is able to drive a modified bus, he believes it is too dangerous and resorts to selling toys in one of the most troublesome neighborhoods in Guatemala City, Zona 18.

In response to these murders, the Guatemalan army and police have offered security to the bus drivers in order to better protect them. However, there are not always officers available and they cannot be present on all of the routes. Citizens have proposed a type of pre-pay system in which patrons can buy tickets to the bus ahead of time, alleviating the presence of cash on the city buses. They hope that with the lack of money on the bus, the motivation for the crimes will be eradicated. But then one may ask the question, if not the bus drivers then wouldn't the violence just be focused on another group? If they alleviate the threat to bus drivers, than it is possible for taxi drivers to be targeted instead. Although the pre-paid tickets would be a good temporary solution, it will not solve the escalating violence problem in the city, it will only transfer it. In addition to this, the whole city's infrastructure would have to be changed and that could and probably would take years. Because the driver's feel a lack of support from the government, they believe that the only way for them to survive is to give in to the gang's every demand. This again, just broadens the reach of the violence because there is no resistance and absolutely no accountability with all of the murderers still walking the streets. It is also true that some believe that these murders are not just monetarily motivated. They could just be a smoke screen to what these street gangs would like to cover up. For example, if the police and government are focused on the murders and robberies, than they will either turn a blind eye or even forget about their real source of income – drug trafficking.

Another part of the article talks about the Guatemalan government paying pensions to the family of the deceased bus drivers. Although this is a great program, I would like to see more focus on stopping the crimes altogether. I believe that keeping the youth off of the street and in school will greatly help to reduce the rising crime rate in Guatemala City. For example, a young child shot the bus driver at the beginning of this article. Most likely, either this child believed they had no other option but to join this gang, whether financial or social, or he was violently forced. If you give a child an education many doors will be opened for them, and most likely the door to a gang will be slammed shut.


Article and picture from BBC