Thousands protested in Guatemala's capital Nov. 21 against a newly approved 2021 national budget that imposes deep cuts in funding for health care, education and programs to combat malnutrition—at a time when the country is hit hard by natural disasters and COVID-19. One breakaway group of protesters hurled improvised incendiary devices at the Congress building, setting it on fire. Police used batons and tear-gas to push protesters back, attacking not only the some 1,000 in front of Congress but also a much larger demonstration in front of the National Palace. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR [10]) condemned what it called an "excessive use of force" by the National Civil Police [11], while the government of President Alejandro Giammattei accused the protesters of "terrorist acts" that will be "punished with the full force of the law." (NYT [12], Al Jazeera [13], Prensa Libre [8], Prensa Libre [14])
Guatemala's highlands had still not recovered from the devastation from Hurricane Eta [15] earlier this month when the region was hit again last week by Hurricane Iota, leaving many thousands more impacted. (Telemundo [16])