Violence and arrests compound swirling crisis in Guatemala

Guatemala shares several similarities with its Central American neighbors. Of its 17.6 million residents, 43.8 percent self-declare as indigenous; the banana trade makes up for almost 10 percent of all exports, and the open wounds of revolutions, massacres, corruption, and a U.S.-backed coup mean crisis is never too far around the corner.

The latest chapter of plight was written at the end of last month, when Guatemala’s President Alejandro Giammattei’s entourage was attacked with gunfire in the western highland department of Huehuetenango. The head of state narrowly escaped unharmed.

Immediately, fingers were pointed at local indigenous groups. At the time of the attack, Mr. Giammattei’s envoy was traveling through an indigenous village near to the town of Jacaltenango, and the president has been at odds with traditional communities over social and land conflicts. In 2020, some indigenous associations even labeled Mr. Giammattei persona non grata on their territories, accusing him of “racism and discimination” for a perceived lack of support during the Covid crisis.

Authorities were quick to dismiss these claims however, later linking the attack to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), the semi-militarized group founded some 1,300 kilometers away in Guadalajara, but with territory throughout...