Guatemalan Natives Block
Highways Protesting Increase On Power Price
GUATEMALA - Guatemalan natives blocked on
Wednesday, for the second consecutive day,
the Pan American highway to protest against
the increase of 30 percent on the
electricity energy price.
According to information reaching here from
Guatemala City, thousands of protestors
blocked the cross road Los Encuentros, 135
kilometers west of Guatemala City, where are
jointed Quiche, Huehuetenango,
Quetzaltenango and San Marcos departments.
The protestors are supported by the mayors
of the 65 municipalities of Solola
department and the National Front of
Struggle.
A spokesman from the Front said "if we do
not have an answer from the government, we
are going to block other points and take
other drastic actions."
The natives demand a freezing of the
electricity fees and an elimination of the
30-percent power price rise announced on
Jan. 1 as well as the subsidy of the
government to cover the increase.
The protestors also demand Guatemalan
President Alvaro Colom nationalize the
energy supply service, which currently is
under the control of two Spanish companies.
The demonstrations intensified on May 1 when
the National Commission of Electricity
authorized the increase to be enforced in
the quarter May to July.
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