Indeed there will be a run-off in November between the ex-gen and "Maldicion." There's much in the press about the election, a "light" history of the ex-gen's solider days, and some random information about ol' Maldicion. What is interesting about Maldy is that he says he wants to have public executions, that if he's Prez the Guatemalan national soccer team will win the World Cup and ponies for everyone! Not true about the ponies but his quotes and plans sound like he's running for student government.

Here is an excerpt from an article written by Rights Action. I think this is important because of what I mentioned in my last post and sort of the meaning of "normal" around here.

"COMPLETELY NORMAL ELECTIONS: VIOLENCE, FRAUD AND CORRUPTION
In a Mirador Electoral center for collection of voting data, callers describe armed men blocking villagers from arriving in a voting center; armed men gathered a few blocks from the voting center urging voters to vote for the Partido Patriota; a machete fight in another region; voters burning the ballots from a polling station; a riot destroyed ballots; election workers were kidnapped in another; in four municipalities, electoral observers were forced to leave by death threats; busloads of people were brought to vote from one municipality to another in several areas; over 100 municipalities reported the buying of votes.

These incidents generally were not reported on in the media, and when they were they were dismissed as isolated incidents. Commentators observed that the electoral process was 'completely normal', and in a country wracked by violence, it was.

This was just in the day of the voting.

The violence during the pre-electoral campaign was extreme. The Human Rights Procurator's office reported that 35 people have been killed in elections related violence.

Perhaps the most extreme example was the mayoral race in San Jose Pinula where, on July 5, 2011, Luis Marroquin, the LIDER party mayoral candidate, was charged with the murder of two of his competitors and staging an assassination attempt against himself."

And here is a super fascinating, although long (and thorough!), report about Otto Perez (ex-gen). The article was translated from Spanish. Find the English here.

But, what do I know? I wonder what people here really want. They say the electoral turn out is around 40-50% of the population. And of that the top candidates only really get around 30% of the votes. That leaves a heck of a lot of people whose opinion is not heard. And really, people in office that only a few actually want there. The mayoral election in Guatemala City was won by the old mayor with something like 32% of the vote ...and he wins? I guess they don't need 50% like the presidential election.

Anyway, I think the ex-gen is taking advantage of the fear people live with on a daily basis in this violent country. It is ridiculous, ridiculous!!!, that he was part of the fear during the war. This guy does not think there were massacres or genocide in the 36 years of violence, he says it was just war. Uh-huh... He is accused of being an intellectual author of the murder of Archbishop Gerardi, who was murdered in front of his monastery right after the diocese published a full report of the atrocities of the war. I mean this guy caused the fear he's using to win, not single handedly, but you know... And it is sure he will close the converstation leading this country to healing after the violence. Cases against military folks will cease, and I'm sure Jennifer Harbury's case he will try to ruin.

But what do I know? People are sick of violence and he's the only one who is "promising" to deal with it. People are really desperate for a safer society, with good reason. It's so complicated but ex-gen is not the right direction.