By Mayra Beltrán de Daetz

GUATEMALA: Guatemala is living through a series of events forcing us all to face the issue of insecurity. So much so, that it has caused Guatemalans to think deeply about it and say, “And now…what else can happen?”

A morning headline appears in the first edition of all the newspapers declaring that in Rio Hondo, Zacapa, a shooting took place that left 11 people dead. It is thought this event could be related to the Cartel del Golfo.

Matanza zacapa

The images show destroyed cars — scenes like you can see in a Hollywood move....

The killers had assassinated Juan Jose Leon Ardón, alias "Juancho.” He was considered head of the Cartel Los Leones. He also was owner of the Agroganadera Company del Norte, S.A., according to the information provided by the media.

He had prior arrests for the selling, trafficking and storage of drugs in 1997 and 1998, but he was free. The surprising thing out of all this is that, according to what people said, he always went accompanied with a strong contingent of well-armed bodyguards.

Juancho

It overwhelms and frightens us to know that if a person who was so heavily protected could be killed like this then anything could happen to the common Guatemalan who leaves their home every morning to go to work, takes public transportation — all without any protection.

By Ana María Hanssen

ARGENTINA:
Buenos Aires is going through the unimaginable; there’s no meat, anywhere. This quite possibly could be one of the worst moments in history to be a visitor. Protests, chaos, a bouncing dollar and even the risk of having something stolen could seem folkloric to those tourists looking for a little adventure.

But sitting down at a Buenos Aires “parrilla” and being told that none of Argentina’s famous red meat is being served, that’s as close as unacceptable as a person can take. So where’s the meat?

It’s on strike.