GUATEMALA: GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN OVER TRANSPORT INCREASES AFTER WIDESPREAD RIOTING.

Record ID: 559617

  • Title: GUATEMALA: GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN OVER TRANSPORT INCREASES AFTER WIDESPREAD RIOTING.
  • Date: 5th September 1985
  • Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (SEPTEMBER 4, 1985) (REUTERS - FABRE) : SVs Man resisting arrest and fleeing, police aim gun at him (2 shots) SVs Man pulling burning fabric out of coach, firemen prepare to put out flames (2 shots) GV People gathered in streets of Miligro slum area of Guatemala City GVs People running away, police in trucks moving in (2 shots) SVs Women in babies protesting at effect of tear gas (3 shots) CU Water being poured over woman's face to curb effect of tear gas GV Police trying to disperse women gathered in street GVs Police throw tear gas canisters, demonstrators flee (3 shots) GV Police along road with arrested man SV People showing bullet cartridges and fragments of grenades SV & CU Woman by side of coffin holding one of her sons, allegedly killed by police (2 shots) SVs Police inspecting documents of motorists at night (2 shots) (2.29) ASG/BB
  • Embargoed: 20th September 1985 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9G2P6F54DUBAZXIJJG4AK16M1
  • Story Text: Thousands of Guatemalans staged anti-government protests despite the repeal of unpopular bus fare increases. On September 4, police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators gathered in the Miligro slum area in Guatemala City. Witnesses said stone-throwing demonstrators gathered in various parts of the city, but troops stopped them approaching the National Palace. Head of State Oscar Mejia Victores told a news conference that his government had decided to give bus companies a monthly subsidy so that fares could return to their former level. A 50 per cent increase, introduced a few days earlier, had caused widespread disturbances. According to official reports, two people were killed, 23 injured and more than 550 detained during the disturbances. It was the second time in less than five months that Guatemala's military government had yielded to demands for the withdrawal of unpopular austerity measures. Mejia Victores also said measures freezing the prices of basic goods and increasing the minimum wage would be published on September 5. He said the army had occupied the national university because it had proof there were arms on the campus. About 500 troops, backed by tanks, occupied the campus while police searched secondary schools in the capital. The fare increases was one of several measures the government has tried t implement in recent months to narrow the country's budget deficit in line with an austerity programme ordered by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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