Posted: Monday, May 16, 2011 – By EFE
Costa Rica’s Foreign Ministry expressed solidarity with Guatemala after the more than two dozen migrant farmers were killed.
One of the bodies of the 29 laborers killed Sunday, is transferred to a morgue in San Benito, Petén in northern Guatemala. Guatemala's President Álvaro Colom promised Monday to capture those responsible for the killings, which have been linked to the Mexican drug cartel, the Zetas.
One of the bodies of the 29 laborers killed Sunday, is transferred to a morgue in San Benito, Petén in northern Guatemala. Guatemala’s President Álvaro Colom promised Monday to capture those responsible for the killings, which have been linked to the Mexican drug cartel, the Zetas.
Gunmen working for Los Zetas, considered Mexico’s most violent drug cartel, murdered at least 29 farmworkers over the weekend in a community in northern Guatemala near the Mexican border, officials said.
The bodies were found Sunday at the Los Cocos ranch outside the city of La Libertad, located about 630 kilometers (391 miles) north of Guatemala City, National Civilian Police, or PNC, deputy chief Gerson Oliva said.
About 200 heavily armed men belonging to Los Zetas’ Z 200 cell arrived in Los Cocos on Saturday night and attacked the farmworkers, PNC investigators said.
Initial police reports said the victims died in a shootout, but investigators later revised their report after gathering evidence at the crime scene.
The massacre occurred early Sunday and the victims were beheaded by the gunmen, the PNC said.
Dozens of soldiers were sent to the border with Mexico, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from Los Cocos, army spokesman Col. Rony Urizar told Efe.
“Aerial and land surveillance has been ordered, and we are coordinating with Mexican authorities to prevent (those behind the massacre) from escaping across the border,” Urizar said.
Tom Tancredo 