Mob takes 30 officers hostage in Guatemala
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - February 22, 2008 The crowd surrounded the police station in the Caribbean coastal
town of Livingston on Thursday night, disarmed the agents and took
them in small boats to their remote village of Maya Creek, national
police spokesman Faustino Sanchez told The Associated Press.
Local media estimated there were hundreds of people in the mob.
"They told us they are going to kill them one by one," Sanchez
said. "We hope that after establishing negotiations we can reach
some type of agreement or at least a more direct communication that
will help us to get them freed."
The villagers demanded the government free Ramiro Choc, who was
arrested Feb. 14 on charges of illegal land invasion, robbery and
illegally holding people against their will. Choc allegedly incited
community residents to invade land and take over protected nature
reserves.
Maya Creek is accessible only by boat and then a half-hour walk
through dense jungle, Sanchez said. The hostages have asked
authorities to send negotiators instead of backup forces.
