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Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez told The Associated Press
that the gang members are holding at least six guards — one of
whom was shot — hostage in two prisons in Guatemala City.
According to Jiménez, the rioters were demanding Guatemalan
authorities return their leaders from the prison where they were
transferred, Renovación I, to the prisons where they were able
to lead the gangs and “exercised criminal power.”
"The Guatemalan state will not bow down to you,” Jiménez posted
on his official social media account.
The transfer of the gang leaders took place just over a month
after the massacre of seven people at a funeral home while they
were mourning another alleged gang member. Authorities have
blamed the gangs for recent violence in the country, which
Jiménez said was fueled by ongoing conflict between the rival
groups.
Jiménez assured that the government will not give in to the gang
members’ threats and that they will continue to have “no
privileges, no concessions. ... The security and peace of
Guatemalans is far above any threat from these criminals,” he
said.
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