New documentary on bus driver extortions and murders in Guatemala City

Guatemala: Riding with the Devil is part of Channel4's Unreported World series. Reporter Seyi Rhodes lifts the lid on a large-scale problem that the national and international media rarely cover. 

Nearly 200 bus drivers have been killed in Guatemala City so far this year - and the money left in the bodies' pockets rules out robbery. The film focuses on the theory that the drivers are extorted for protection money by the city's two rival gangs. But the relatives of the murdered drivers say that the victims were up-to-date with their payments. Guate is run by a culture of fear; it could be that the murders take place to maintain fear and respect for the gangs, and keep people paying money to them. Another popular opinion is that hit men are being paid by anti-Government forces to destabilise the country and stoke dissatisfaction for Colom's government.