A disturbing incident has occurred in Guatemala, where five men were lynched by a rural community after being accused of (theft)robbing damaged homes following a magnitude 5.7 earthquake. The men were beaten with sticks and stones and then burned in the community of Santa Maria de Jesus, which lies in the Sacatepequez department southwest of the capital.
Police spokesperson Cesar Mateo condemned the lynching, stating, “While it’s true that robbery is illegal, lynching is also a crime.” The Ministry of the Interior reported that residents of Santa Maria de Jesus municipality searched for the men late on Thursday and then blocked authorities who tried to detain and take them away.
This incident highlights the ongoing issue of vigilante violence in Guatemala, where communities often take the law into their own hands when they feel that the authorities are not doing enough to address crime. According to a local civil society organisation, between 2008 and 2020, vigilante justice left 361 people dead and 1,396 injured in the country.
The earthquake that struck Guatemala on Tuesday caused widespread damage and resulted in at least seven deaths across the country. Santa Maria de Jesus was the worst-affected area, with the community left without power and access to roads cut off by landslides.
The government has flown in humanitarian aid to help residents, including a delivery of solar lamps, buckets, mats, mosquito nets, blankets, and kitchen kits from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).
The disaster coordination agency, Conred, is continuing to evaluate the level of damage in affected areas and provide assistance, including the mobilisation and delivery of humanitarian aid. The agency’s efforts are crucial in helping communities affected by the earthquake to recover and rebuild.
The lynching of the five men is a stark reminder of the need for effective justice systems and community engagement to prevent such incidents. It is essential for authorities to investigate the incident thoroughly and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.