Justice
Mingob reveals that, in recent weekends, homicides have increased considerably and attributes it to strategic objectives of criminals.
The violence facts increase in Guatemala, and the authorities attribute it to crisis in criminal structures. (Free Press Photo: Érick Ávila)
The Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) acknowledged on Wednesday, March 12, the increase in the number of homicides in Guatemala, mainly during the weekends, and pointed out that this atypical behavior “seems to have a strategic objective.”
According to Francisco Jiménez, Minister of the Interior, the daily average of homicides in Guatemala is between seven and eight; However, for two weekends an unusual behavior has been recorded, since the figure has reached 19 and 20 murders.
“We are in a complex period, with a sense of violence and insecurity in the last two or three weeks. It is a reality that we must analyze with peace of mind and coldness. In January, February and some days of March we have observed a particular situation: the increase in homicides and the feeling of insecurity based on this reality, ”Jiménez said at a press conference.
The minister added that the fact that the homicides “in large quantities” are increased on specific days indicates an atypical behavior, mainly because the scenarios where the events occur are highly violent.
“This makes us think there is a logic behind, as if the crimes had a strategic objective. That is, it seems that the tendency of criminal behavior is to operate effectively during the weekends. This is only possible if there is a specific will of criminals to act in that way, and we believe, for intelligence and investigation data, which is so, ”said Jiménez.
The official added that there is a crisis in the criminal structures themselves, which generates more violence, since these groups need to succeed in their illicit activities and reorganize in the struggle for the territory.
In addition, he explained that crises in criminal structures are due to the work of security forces, which have impacted their organization. However, he acknowledged that extortion continues to increase and is the crime that most affects Guatemala.