just a qiuck note, met the US military attache in antigua, and he advised that during September, it may be very unsafe to travel in Guatemala due to the elections to be held September 9th, 2007.

Ride safe.

This is a typical example of just how uninformed the US military are and how
their simple minded replies don't cover the whole story. If the US military guy told you the Whole Story....well, you wouldn't be here.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

In '03 I was in southern Mexico, headed for Guatemala, during the Guatemalan elections. I read there were uprisings in Guat. City and several people had been kiled. We elected to go to Belize for a few days and let things settle down. When we went through Guatemala we didn't see any evidence of political strife, except a lot of billboards and graffiti. The demonstrations seemed confined to the capitol. YMMV.

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Andy Tiegs
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/ts...lsouth-america

We were there two weeks ago and This was not a typical government issue report. The attache is a biker and was just letting us know the reality "on the ground". If you are riding through Guatemala around election time be very careful "more than you usually need to be" as you do not want to be a target.
It was just a heads up for motorcycle travellers.
Cheers

"they have sense enough to not start killing innocent"
"They" are sometimes desperate, indigent country folk whose only concern is the next meal. This warning (Guatemalan Elections) which was also recently issued by the State Department is only a warning of potential protests, roadblocks and interuptions which are common pre/post elections in Latin America. How a warning becomes and lambastation of unintelligent military and CIA conspiracies is beyond me. But I should expect nothing less!!!

It's obvious you have no understanding of what I've written and even less insight into the background in the region.

Below is what I wrote.....and BTW, when you take a quote out of context make sure you READ and UNDERSTAND the whole statement/thought. Basic.

Mollydog Wrote:
"So, hopefully, like Mexico, they have sense enough to not start killing innocent tourists. But who knows....I can see the radical right there pulling stunts they've learned from CIA...like kidknaping tourists and blaming it on the Left. Nothing new with this...lets hope they don't go there. " end quote

NOTE: "They" refers to the Guate. military or para-military acting against indigenous people. Or possibly killing or kidnapping tourists in order to implicate local anti-govt. indigenous political groups and turn the tide of public opinion. Oldest CIA trick in the book.

Do you have any idea of the recent history of Guatemala from the 80's? Have you any clue just how many innocent people where slaughtered? (mostly poor, indigenous people fed up with govt. corruption/crime) Am I making this up? Is it a communist conpiracy?

I'd say our US State dept. should have issued a clearer message, stronger than a simple warning....when 41 people have been murdered....that kinda gets my attention. So its a bit more than "roadblocks and interuptions".

But lets be clear, in my first post I indicated I still felt it would be safe for foreign travelers.

As far as Un-intelligent Military....Lets' look at the track record. Any record,
any war...anywhere.

Do you think CIA exist? And what do you think they do? I guess they don't have anyone working in Guatemala, is that it? And the fact that its public record of their involvement in previous coups in Guate means nothing?
Do your home work before spouting off. Google Rios Mont. Go from there.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!