Global Courant 2023-05-12 21:14:44
While the National Civil Police (PNC) ex officio began an investigation into the presence of a group that displayed apparently large-caliber weapons in the Amatitlán Equestrian Parade that closed its employer’s fair on May 7, the Public Ministry (MP) confirmed who joined the investigation.
Elements attached to the General Subdirectorate of Operations (SGO) and the General Subdirectorate of Criminal Investigation (SGIC), have analyzed videos, photographs and other evidence to identify the riders who participated in the parade and find out if they hired the armed subjects who they guarded them.
One of the new findings is that the people who carried the weapons were guarding three horsemen who are already being profiled to establish if they are linked to groups outside the law, according to a researcher consulted.
The Equestrian Parade was opened by Mayor Minor Orellana. According to the first statements obtained by investigating agents from municipal employees, the mayor had only one bodyguard and they said they did not know who the subjects dressed in orange shirts were.
They analyze possible commission of crimes
In addition to the mayor, candidates for popularly elected positions, current local authorities and individuals participated in the Horse Parade.
The personnel of the Amatitlán substation have also sent a report, and in a preliminary way it is indicated that they did establish that they had knowledge of some of the participating people.
According to the MP’s press officer, Juan Luis Pantaleón, through the Amatitlán Municipal Prosecutor’s Office “carry out preliminary coordination with the National Civil Police.”
Through these, he added, “they hope to determine the legal actions to follow in relation to the possible commission of a crime or offense derived from the events that occurred in the Amatitlán Equestrian Parade.”
In the images analyzed by the authorities, at least 20 men dressed in an orange shirt, vests and with apparently large-caliber weapons are observed.
These parade while guarding the riders who show the equine specimens in the equestrian parade. The first investigations have revealed that people carry 2.23 carbines, among others.
Carlos Aquino, director of Táctica y Seguridad GT and a specialist in weapons and ammunition, opined that “most of the weapons that people carry are legal to carry, but not in that ostentatious way.”
“They are 2.23 caliber carbines,” he said.
“Those weapons are not for the city”
“These can be bought and sold legally in the country without any problem, only by complying with the legal requirements. In addition, I also detected that they were carrying 9mm pistols and a 22 ″ rifle, he explained.
“The bad thing about all of this is the ostentation that borders on intimidation, because those weapons are not for display,” Aquino said.
This situation, Aquino explained, borders on an image of narcoculture, which makes the Amatitlán Equestrian Parade lose its meaning, which is showing off the horses, for example.
The weapons expert assured that these types of weapons are not for use in a city, but rather on farms, farms, or management of values. “The bad thing is not buying this type of weapon, but misrepresenting its use to show off and emulate drug culture,” Aquino emphasized.
A weapon of this type costs in the legal market between Q22 thousand and Q40 thousand, according to the specialist.
Ostentation… shows of power….
For Federico Reyes, a doctor in criminology, “these exhibitions were previously carried out, or at least were publicly reported, in municipalities in the interior of the country, generally in Huehuetenango, Petén, San Marcos, Quiché, Chiquimula, Escuintla and Suchitepéquez, to name a few.” ”.
“In no way should we confuse the anthropological approach taken by employer, municipal, and livestock fairs, which is part of cultural expression, with its variants at the regional level,” he said.
“This symbiosis, and in many cases replaced by exhibitionism, ostentation, show of power, demonstration of impunity and immunity, makes them recognized in the area, municipal seat, canton, village as beings of power and legitimization of false community leaders or the so-called role models, who mainly seek to co-opt young people and adolescents”, he pointed out.
