GUATEMALA: Former gang members in Peronia, a district of Guatemala City, turn their back on violent past and start a food warehouse for local residents

Record ID: 699130

  • Title: GUATEMALA: Former gang members in Peronia, a district of Guatemala City, turn their back on violent past and start a food warehouse for local residents
  • Date: 31st January 2010
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATE, LUIS VELASQUEZ, SAYING: "When we see projects such as this co-op, United for Peace, that's when the government gives it its full backing because it creates opportunities for youngsters and creates jobs. Particularly because we see these youngsters used to be gang members and now they are productive and part of society and they a
  • Embargoed: 15th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Guatemala
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,Industry
  • Reuters ID: LVA993ZCQULSHOR2UNNRZP8WGH1D
  • Story Text: Former gang members in Guatemala have cleaned up their act and are now working for a food warehouse cooperative benefiting local residents in Peronia, a district of Guatemala City.
    They now distribute around 2,000 products - ranging from matches to bottles of milk and eggs - to about 30 general convenience stores they once bullied into forking out monthly payments of about $100.
    Last year, hundreds of business owners and fare collectors were murdered over non-payment of extortion money.
    The co-op project, called "Unidos por la Paz" (United for Peace), employs 15 people - all former gang members - and has 200 partners who used to belong to mara street gangs.
    In order to start the co-op they received a loan from a company that sells general food products in bulk.
    They also receive advice from the president of the national co-op association and the local community.
    Former gang leader, Jose Mejia, said the co-op had helped to stop violent gang deaths.
    "If this had happened 10 years ago, how many of my colleagues would still be alive and here now? But look, for defending territory, they are no longer here and my advice to young men from other gangs in other neighbourhoods and from other countries is to think about what they are doing. It brings no benefits, absolutely nothing. We are now working here and look at the help we have received," he said.
    The men also receive technical assistance from the Technical Institute for Training and Productivity (INTECAP) who provide support to increase productivity.
    A transportation truck and three motorbikes were also donated to them by the local Evangelical Church.
    Former gang rival leaders from now congregate at Mass and listen to inspiring sermons given by Pastor Mardoqueo Daniel Fuentes Mendez.
    Pastor Mardoqueo Daniel Fuentes Mendez approached the two leaders from local gangs called "Los Metales" (the Metals) and "Los Caballos (the Horses) last year and convinced them to stop the violence. His message was heard.
    The gang leaders decided to give up their fighting and prevent further blood shed in July last year.
    "Peronia city is going through a peace process. Let us remember we went through 20 years of violence and extortion. Seven months have passed from July last year until now and we have to remember it's a process. Violence during the first six months fell to cero," said Pastor Mendez.
    Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are overrun with violent youth gangs known as 'maras' that trace their roots to Salvadoran immigrants on the streets of Los Angeles in the 1980s and 1990s.
    The Mara Salvatrucha and the Mara 18 are the two largest gangs, with members often tattooing their faces with gang signs and killing rivals with gruesome beheadings or execution-style shootings.
    "When we see projects such as this co-op, United for Peace, that's when the government gives it its full backing because it creates opportunities for youngsters and creates jobs. Particularly because we see these youngsters used to be gang members and now they are productive and part of society and they are becoming leaders," said presidential delegate, Luis Velasquez.
    Authorities in Guatemala say gang members are responsible for extortion, assaults and murders, which make the country one of the most violent in Latin America with more than 6,000 homicides in 2008 in a population of just 13 million people.
    Guatemala is still scarred by a 1960-1996 civil war between leftist guerrillas and the government that killed nearly a quarter of a million people. Families were sometimes caught on both sides of the violent struggle.
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