THE PROBLEM
Over the past five years extortions and kidnappings have increased dramatically throughout the Department of Sololá. Guatemalans living in Panajachel recall hearing of someone being kidnapped every few days. A general feeling of fear has grown as many wondered who would be next. Because they were little involved, the extent of this development has been unrecognized by many in the foreign colony. Few foreigners have been targets of extortion or kidnapping and most of their contacts are with others who are equally uninvolved.
The fact is, however, that Panajachel has been invaded by criminal elements. The lack of funds and corruption at the national level has made it impossible to provide an adequate number of police officers for the town. Only recently (March 2011) the Vice-Minister of Government and the National Chief of Police promised to assign three additional radio patrol cars, four police motorcycles and additional police to Panajachel.
Much of the criminal activity is related to the activities of G........... M........... who has been widely recognized as a leader among the those operating in Panajachel. The wide network of his accomplices and those controlled by him is also well known. Legal action is seldom taken against them because under Guatemalan law, their crimes have to be proven. Witnesses fearing reprisals consistently refuse to testify. Thus many of those captured go free the next day.
Although kidnappings have diminished in frequency, they have continued until recently. Even in February of this year a member of a major kidnapping ring in the Department of Sololá was captured in Panajachel in a candle shop near the market. At this time here are fourteen or fifteen members of this ring that remain at large.
THE MUNICIPAL SECURITY COMMISSION
The growing criminal activity in Panajachel led concerned citizens to revive dormant the Comisión Municipal de Convivencia y Seguridad Ciudadana de Panajachel, hereafter to be referred to as the Commission.
In August of 2010 an officer of the Ministry of Government in collaboration with the national police in Sololá held a workshop to evaluate the worst problems in Panajachel. It concluded that a major problem was drugs and that the police and the judicial system were unable to deal with it. It was decided to revive a commission on security that had been formed in 2008. At this time a new First Officer of the National Police arrived to help rid the local police station of corrupt officers.
In this reorganized Commission Vice-Mayor Edgar Rodas was named as President and direct representative of the Municipal Council; Juan Manuel Ralón as Vice-President; Teresa Coello as Secretary; and Marina Ben as Treasurer. The mandate of the Commission was extremely broad. It has collaborated with the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala to provide psychological counseling to those suffering from traumas during Tropical Storm Agatha and brought psychologists in to provide wellbeing workshops to groups of adolescents.
In order to establish a digital surveillance system to help detect criminal activity, in November of 2010 Commission members traveled to Pachalum for a tour of their digital security system that won an international award for the use of technology to provide security. By December of 2010, the Commission was able to obtain a camera and conducted a demonstration of how a digital security system can deter crime and provide evidence against criminals. During this period it became clear that in order to have a fully functioning 24 hour system, cameras, monitors and computers would be necessary. Financial support for the purchase of these key security elements is presently being sought.
THE MUNICIPAL PATROLS
Beginnings of the Patrols:
In 2010, when Tropical Storm Agatha began, residents of the Callejón Las Armonías vowed to not let a neighbors drown or get trapped in a mudslide. Leaders of the sector worked to relocate families until the danger from the landslides had subsided. During the confusion dealing with the damage, there was a significant surge of criminal activity. To cope with this, members of the neighborhood organized voluntary patrols to protect themselves. This idea quickly spread to the other sectors of Panajachel.
Patrol Organization.
The volunteer security patrols are officially sponsored by the Municipal Security Commission. The COCODE presidents (community development leaders) in Panajachel appoint a Coordinator of each patrol. Depending on the size of the sector, there may be a number of patrols. A patrol is composed of teams of ten to fifteen volunteer men and women who work on different nights. They are in no sense vigilantes. Currently, there are fourteen patrols in Panajachel. Their activities begin at 11 o'clock at night but cannot be carried out during the day because all the members are volunteers and have other responsibilities. The patrols work under the supervision of the Commission and directly with the national police as well as with each other.
Funding.
Because there has been no external funding available, patrol members have equipped themselves with personal flashlights and with radios to communicate with one another. These personal radios are not state-of-the-art equipment. As such, would-be criminals often intercept communication and thus avoid detection and apprehension. Recently a community member donated four new radios, and the Municipality has agreed to supply all the patrols with 30 additional radios.
The Use of Face Covering.
That the patrol members often use ski masks and other face coverings has also been criticized. Initially, patrols went without any facial covering. Due to the inefficiency of the legal and judicial system, suspects were often released within 24 hours and would seek revenge on the people they had seen capture them. Before patrollers wore masks thieves would observe who was patrolling on which nights in order to target that individual's house knowing that it would be unprotected. A goal of the Commission is to provide identifying vests and caps for all members of the patrol groups to better distinguish them from someone who may be using a mask for more nefarious reasons.
Dunking in the River.
One practice of the patrols that has made some people particularly unhappy has been the dunking of people in the river. This is a practice that has been developed to control people who become violent while awaiting the police to formally arrest them. It is not authorized by the Commission. When called at night, the police often do not arrive for over an hour, or may not arrive at all. During this time, some suspects, often under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, become violent, making them difficult to control. Washing in the river helps to sober up and calm them. Volunteers have escorted drunken youths home after midnight. In several cases, when a youth has been caught attempting a crime, he has been taken to his home to let his parents administer discipline instead of turning him over to the police, where there would be little opportunity for rehabilitation.
Motor Patrols.
The patrols have received material support through the Commission's practice of providing nightly motor patrols. The Commission members provide their own vehicles and pay for their own gasoline. Among their efforts was the prevention of the rape of a woman in February and stopping the lynching of G........... M........... when angry townspeople captured him after his involvement in a local robbery became known. They have also helped the police to arrest suspected criminals in a timely manner. The motor patrols activity should be strengthened when the recent promise by the Ministry of Government to provide support to the national police in Panajachel with patrol cars, motorcycles, and additional police personnel is fulfilled.
NEEDS
The people of Panajachel are tired of continuously feeling insecure even in their own homes. The work of the Municipal Security Commission and the voluntary patrols has been welcomed by the population as a whole. However, more support is needed in order to better identify the patrol groups with appropriate jackets or vests. Now that the rainy season will be starting, appropriate outerwear that still identifies them as official members of the patrol group is necessary.
As the Commission and the patrols continue to focus their efforts on making Panajachel safe, we urge you to be supportive of these members of our community who sacrifice their time and money to maintain the peace and order for the benefit of all residents of our town. If you would like to contribute money to cover fuel costs, identifying vests and caps, radios and flashlights it will be much appreciated. They also appreciate your support if you are willing to make a pot of coffee and offer a basket of bread. Cameras, computer systems, and TV monitors are also needed for ensuring the function of a digital surveillance system.
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