The latest news on the 'situation' on the Rio is that there are 29 policeman being held by a reported group of 1500 local farmers. Amongst the hostages are the head of the Commissariat of Puerto Barrios, Orlando Lemus Florian, the head of district east, Florian Samuel Fields, and four more heads, including those of substations and Los Amates Lívingston.The hostages are being held in the local school building.
It is also reported in Prenze Libre that Choc was released from jail yesterday but has been detained further in 'Zone 18'.
The farmers are demanding the release of other jailed sympathizers and are threatening to execute their hostages one by one if the authorities send in reinforcements.
Reuters report;
Initially it had been reported that Choc was leader of the National Indigenous and Peasant Coordinating Committee (CONIC), but a spokesman for that organization said that the detainee is not a member of that group.
"We have 22 elements of the PNC in our hands and we demand the release of our colleague Ramiro Choc. We do not want violence, we do not want confrontation but we are avenging of these same authorities," said Col. Santiago, a peasant leader speaking on a local radio station.
There is a long and convoluted background to these current problems. Here is an interesting synopsis, in Spanish, at this site.
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