Guatemala rules out negotiating with gang members holding 46 guards in 3 prisons

The Government of Guatemala affirmed this Saturday that “it will not negotiate” with the leaders of the Barrio 18 gang who are staging simultaneous riots in three prisons in the country, where they are holding 46 employees of the Penitentiary System as a pressure measure to regain their privileges.

Riots are reported at the maximum security prison Renovación I, in the department (province) of Escuintla (south), as well as in Fraijanes II and Sector 11 of the Preventive Center of zone 18, on the outskirts of the capital.

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In a press conference, the Minister of Governance (Interior), Marco Antonio Villeda, attributed the revolt to an orchestrated reaction by organized crime to the recent raids that seek to regain state control, dismantle extortion “call centers” and stop the entry of illicit goods. “This government will not negotiate with any terrorist group. I will not give in to those blackmail attempts and I will not restore privileges in order for them to cease their actions,” declared Villeda, ruling out any dialogue that involves returning benefits to the inmates. According to official information, the demands come from Aldo López Ochoa, alias Lodo, leader of Barrio 18, who demanded his transfer and amenities such as air conditioning, food from restaurants, and a King Size bed in his cell. Currently, inmates are holding nine guards hostage in Renovation I, nine in Zone 18, and 28 agents in Fraijanes II. In addition, external attacks were reported to create chaos, including the burning of a vehicle on the road to the Pacific. The minister held the inmates responsible for the integrity of the detainees and warned about the imminent use of public force. “Terrorists do not have to direct the State’s agenda (…) If it is necessary to use the force of the State to regain control of these centers and comply with this order, we will do it,” the official stated. The authorities have deployed security cordons with the National Civil Police and the Army to prevent escapes and protect the civilian population, while they assess the tactical incursion to free the personnel.