Anyone see the doco on this on SBS a while back?Just a bit of...

Anyone see the doco on this on SBS a while back?
Just a bit of case history folks.
Not suggesting anything like this may or may not follow here.
7w

Read below, I ama coconut vendor.

At least 15,000 people protested in Totonicapán, the capital of Totonicapán department in western Guatemala, on September 6 in opposition to a law under discussion by Congress for the partial privatization of water resources. Starting at 4 a.m., thousands of people gathered in the center of the city in a demonstration called by the auxiliary mayors of 48 cantons to demand that departmental governor Juan Armando Chun Chanchavac communicate to Congress the residents’ opposition to the General Water Law. At the same time, about 1,000 protesters blocked the Inter-American Highway for at least six hours in three points—Cuatro Caminos, Xelac and the entrance to San Francisco El Alto—to demand that Congress respond to a petition against the law that was presented to Congress on August 5 with 35,000 signatures. (Guatemala Hoy 9/7/05; AP 9/6/05)

On September 7, some 3,000 people in Momostenango municipality, Totonicapán department, destroyed the municipal building, burned the home of Mayor Abel Daniel Xiloj, drove out the police and destroyed three patrol cars of the National Civilian Police (PNC). Some criminal gangs reportedly joined the attacks and looted various businesses. One man, Enrique Ajanel Tzum, was accused of stealing a computer belonging to the town. A mob took him to a cemetery and beat him severely; a brigade of volunteer fire fighters took him to the hospital in Totonicapán. Some 500 PNC Special Forces agents finally brought the situation under control. The violence apparently began when a protest against the Water Law turned into a protest against Mayor Xiloj, who has been accused of corruption; the attacks were reportedly encouraged by his political opponents on the town council.

On September 9 about 20,000 Totonicapán residents again blocked the Inter-American Highway, setting up barricades and burning tires at Cuatro Caminos and kilometers 178 and 186. Protesters told reporters they had brought food for several days and didn’t intend to leave. At the same time, the 48 auxiliary mayors were in Guatemala City talking to congressional leaders, who agreed to suspend discussion of the Water Law while they consulted with various sectors of the population. When they were told about the agreement, the demonstrators sang the national anthem and ended the blockades. “When Totonicapán rises up, Congress trembles,” they said. (Guatemala Hoy 9/7/05, 9/10/05; Diario El Popular (Toronto) 9/11/05).

http://www.americas.org/item_21933