In guatemala, dozens of candidates for political office have been murdered since the beginning of may
The symbolism of the act leaves little room for interpretation: when the body of mayoral candidate carlos de leon bravo was found in the trunk of a car on the first weekend of august, it was wrapped in the flag of the left party meeting for guatemala. The murder of leon bravo continues a series of apparently politically motivated murders during guatemala’s current election campaign. Since the start of the campaign on 2. According to non-governmental organizations, more than 50 candidates have lost their lives in the last few months.
The violence has primarily affected the left and the moderate left. The most promising candidate, alvaro colom of the social democratic national unity of hope (UNE), alone has lost 17 candidates from his grouping in recent months. But also affected is the fledgling party of nobel peace prize laureate rigoberta menchĂș, meeting for guatemala (EG). In a fire attack on the house of EC candidate olga lucas a few days ago, both of her children were wounded.