Mob Frees 29 Police in Guatemala

By JUAN CARLOS LLORCA | Associated Press February 22, 2008

GUATEMALA CITY - An angry mob in Guatemala that took 29 policemen
hostage released the officers Friday in exchange for talks with the
government on legalizing their lands and possibly dropping charges
against a jailed farm leader, a human rights official said.

The standoff began late Thursday when a crowd surrounded the police
station in the Caribbean coastal town of Livingston, disarmed the
agents and took them in boats to their remote village of Maya Creek.

The mob of hundreds threatened to kill the officers unless
authorities agreed to release a jailed farm leader accused of leading
land seizures.

Guatemalan officials and the Human Rights Prosecutor's office worked
to negotiate an end to the 32-hour standoff.

"We spoke with our people in the town, and I can confirm that the 29
agents were released and are in perfect health," Rolando Yoc, the
human rights office's chief advocate, told The Associated Press.
Police officials had originally put the number of kidnapped officers
at 30 but later said there were 29.

Farm leader Ramiro Choc, who was arrested Feb. 14 on charges of
illegal land invasion, robbery and illegally holding people against
their will, had urged his supporters to release the police officers
in a telephone call from jail on Thursday. Officials accuse Choc of
inciting community residents to invade land and take over protected
nature reserves.

Members of the mob told human rights prosecutors they had occupied
the disputed land for more than a decade and that a powerful person
had been trying to kick them out, Yoc said.

Following the release of the officers, the government promised to
help Maya Creek residents legalize their land and to see if charges
could be dropped against Choc, the human rights official said.

Five organizers from a local farmers union and community
representatives will be transported by plane to the capital to
negotiate with the government.

1,500 Guatemalan farmers seize 30 police

From BBC:

Some 1,500 angry farmers in Guatemala have taken about 30 police officers hostage and demanded that an arrested leader be released.

The officers were taken hostage on Thursday in the town of Livingston on the Caribbean coast, police said.

Police spokesman Faustino Sanchez told AP news agency: "They told us they are going to kill them one by one."

The farm leader, Ramiro Choc, was arrested on 14 February and accused of robbery and illegal detention.

Jungle village

The farmers disarmed the officers at the police station in Livingston and took them by boat to the remote jungle village of Maya Creek, police said.

Mr Sanchez said: "We hope that after establishing negotiations we can reach some type of agreement or at least a more direct communication that will help us to get them freed."

Among those being held were the police station head, a police district head and four other commanders, local media reported.

Mr Choc has also been accused of inciting residents to take over land, including nature reserves.