In early afternoon today, it seems a couple drunks in a vehicle ran down some people in a crowded area here. For those of you that know Pana, it happened up by the Muni, near the mercado. I heard that two people died and more were hurt.
Police came out but the guys escaped.
Then a mob tried to lynch the guys. A taste of 'Mayan justice'. And they lit the car on fire and insisted the firemen not put out the fire.
Then police used tear gas to break up the he mob. A sister and her two kids and her father in law were caught in the crowd (Jessica Flood). They're ok but pretty shaken up, and burning eyes.
The whole story has other variations. One said it started with a kidnapping. Other variations. News travels fast in a small town, but not always accurately.
As the afternoon progressed, violence in town has spread. Stores started closing up to avoid trouble. The friends were advised to go home and stay there. On our side of town, it's quiet, but I do smell smoke outside.
And... we just got a call from Bill's bible student, Ismar. His wife was seriously hurt in the original incident. She was first taken to the hospital up the mountain in Solola by ambulance. They are now moving her to a bigger hospital in Quetzaltenango. She has injuries around her head and face. We will stay in touch with Ismar by phone.
We leave tomorrow morning for Guatemala City in advance of our flight Monday. I wish we could be here to support Ismar.
Update, 8:30 pm: just heard that a local brother can't get home due to ongoing tear gas and unrest.
Update, Nov 23: We heard some other reports, like it was a child of a wealthy family who was kidnapped, then the kidnappers were pursued by two bodyguards of the family, and in fleeing, the kidnappers ran down people in the mercado.
But the local news has this: http://www.prensalibre.com/solola/Solola-vecinos-turba-pnc-piloto-atropellas-vecinos_0_1253274760.html. It said it all started when three men stole some CDs from a child who was selling them on the street.
Not sure who is right, but it's all past now.
Update, 8:30 pm: just heard that a local brother can't get home due to ongoing tear gas and unrest.
Update, Nov 23: We heard some other reports, like it was a child of a wealthy family who was kidnapped, then the kidnappers were pursued by two bodyguards of the family, and in fleeing, the kidnappers ran down people in the mercado.
But the local news has this: http://www.prensalibre.com/solola/Solola-vecinos-turba-pnc-piloto-atropellas-vecinos_0_1253274760.html. It said it all started when three men stole some CDs from a child who was selling them on the street.
Not sure who is right, but it's all past now.
Hope all the friends are ok. Please stay safe.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kano da Gwarzo! Looks like the brothers are ok, but a Bible students wife was seriously hurt. Once she's able to tolerate surgery, she needs several metal plates in her face - under or around each eye socket and elsewhere in her face. The elders went to visit her and her husband and son yesterday, and he (the bible student) was so touched. She was not awake or conscious. Their young son was also hurt, but a bone scan showed he did not have a fractured pelvis as they feared, just was pretty badly scraped up. Sending love!
ReplyDeleteThat's so awful! I hadn't read that. I hope the wife is stable now. N so sad because who can pay for all that? Oh we need the peaceful paradise. Joy
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