Campesinos Under Siege Guatemala City, August 29. Two days later, the homes of the campesinos who occupy sections of Australia and El Tablero estates in San Marcos province fell to 400 well- armed special forces police agents and 60 soldiers sent to carry out his orders. The state agents also had air support from two army helicopters. Support from neighboring villagers who took 21 police and 17 soldiers hostage for several hours may have aided their escape. The eviction forces failed to carry out 25 arrest warrants against the campesinos' leaders, but managed to arrest four villagers.
Campesino groups say the four had nothing to do with the occupation.
This David and Goliath scene has been repeated six times on these estates, sometimes with tragic results. An eviction in April of last year left one campesino and one police commissioner dead. Police say eight other occupied estates across the country are also poised for eviction. Soldiers will garrison the cleared lands to make sure the families do not return, said Salvador Gandara Gaitan, vice minister of the interior. On signing the peace, Arzu gained national and international credibility, but in practice he is violent and repressive.