Facundo Cabral Killed in Guatemala

Los Angeles Times

Argentine songwriter and singer Facundo Cabral was shot and killed early Saturday morning while traveling from his hotel to La Aurora International Airport.  Cabral had just carried out two performances in Quetzaltenango and Guatemala City and was traveling to Nicaragua for additional concerts.

Cabral had intended to take the hotel bus to the airport but on Friday night he accepted a ride from Nicaraguan promoter, Henry Fariñas. Fariñas was critically wounded in the attack and authorities believe that he was the intended target of the ambush that took Cabral's life. The gunmen were traveling in three vehicles. One forced Fariña to slow down and then the two other vehicles opened-fire. Interior Minister Carlos Menocal said that they are holding back some details and that CICIG is involved in the investigation.

Tico Times

Condemnation of his murder and calls for justice came in from around the hemisphere. In Guatemala, about 300 people gathered at Constitution Plaza in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral to express their repudiation of the violence that claimed Cabral's life. (Prensa Libre)

"Sadly we are outraged by yet another violent crime that is causing terror, fear, and I cannot help thinking that his ideals cost him his life," said Nobel peace laureate Rigoberta Menchu, at the scene of the crime. "He loved Guatemala so much."

"I am deeply saddened by this shameful murder," said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos.

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa called the killing "such bad news."

"Oh such pain," Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez tweeted. "Long live Facundo Cabral! We are crying with Argentina" and Latin America, Chavez said.

Argentina's top diplomat Hector Timerman echoed the "great sadness" on Twitter, and said "farewell, friend." (Tico Times)

The Argentine-born Cabral became famous in the early 1970s as a protest singer. However, he fled Argentina in 1976 during the country's dirty war. In 1996, Unesco declared him a "world messenger of peace” and he was later nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. (Global Post, LAHT, AP, AFP)

There's really nothing good to say about this. I can only hope that this shameful act that has caused Guatemala so much international embarrassment will be the beginning of better times in the country.