Gangs & Prison deaths, 2

Here's some follow-up news to the prison violence in Guatemala that left 35 gang members dead earlier this week. Not unexpectedly, these attacks came as the Mara 18 sought revenge against the perpetrators of Monday's violence, the Mara Salvatrucha.

("Mara", by the way, is a word used mostly in Central America to refer to gangs. Another common word is "pandillas".)

In the Guatemalan newspaper Siglo XXI one of the gang members responsible for the attack warned that "the payback has begun and will be taken to the streets because my 'homies' have to be avenged".

I'll be taking a deeper look at this issue tonight (if the caffeine kicks in) or perhaps tomorrow.

3 Hurt in Another Guatemalan Prison Riot

Thu Aug 18. Associated Press.

Guatemala City - Three jailed street gang members were injured Thursday, two of them by gunfire, during a prison riot that came three days after a series of gang-related uprisings in Guatemala prisons left 35 prisoners dead.

A police spokesman said at least one inmate had a gun and opened fire during the disturbance at the Canada prison work farm in Escuintla province, 45 miles south of the capital, Guatemala City.

The work farm was one of seven facilities that saw rioting on Monday that killed 35 inmates, some of whom were shot or died because of grenade explosions.

The riots drew international attention, with the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and the Organization of American States both issuing statements holding the government responsible for the riots and demanding that they pay immediate attention to problems inside the prisons.

Monday's riots began shortly after the explosion of grenades at El Hoyon prison in the town of Escuintla, some 30 miles south of Guatemala City.

Violence broke out in six other facilities throughout the day, as Mara Salvatruchas members attacked inmates loyal to Mara 18 with guns, grenades and knives. In addition to those killed, more than 60 prisoners were injured.

Tags: Guatemala, gangs, violence