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Mob takes 29 policemen hostage in Guatemala

Police officers held hostage by peasants sit at a school in Livingston, Guatemala, on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

An angry mob took 29 policemen hostage in a Guatemalan town and held them for 32 hours before releasing the officers in exchange for talks about legalizing their lands and dropping charges against a jailed farm leader, an official said.

The standoff began late on Thursday when a crowd surrounded the police station in the Caribbean coastal town of Livingston, disarmed the agents and took them to their remote village of Maya Creek.

The mob of hundreds threatened to kill the officers unless authorities agreed to release a jailed farm leader accused of leading land seizures.

Guatemalan officials and the Human Rights Prosecutor's office worked to negotiate an end to the standoff.

"We spoke with our people in the town, and I can confirm that the 29 agents were released and are in perfect health," Rolando Yoc, the human rights office's chief advocate, said on Friday. Police officials initially said 30 officers were seized but later lowered the number to 29.

Farm leader Ramiro Choc, who was arrested on Feb. 14 on charges of illegal land invasion, robbery and holding people against their will, had urged his supporters to release the police officers in a telephone call from jail on Thursday.

Officials accuse Choc of inciting locals to invade land and take over protected nature reserves.

Members of the mob said they had lived on the disputed land for more than a decade and that a powerful person was trying to kick them off it, Yoc said.

Following the release of the officers, the government promised to help Maya Creek residents legalize their land and to see if charges could be dropped against Choc, the human rights official said.

Community representatives and farm union organizers are expected to meet with officials in the capital to negotiate with government officials.
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