Peter Benson was in Tecpán just after the June 10th protests and was able to interview a wide range of participants, from the mayor to organizers to onlookers.  Here are some of their opinions:

Manifestante: "People came from all over, from each aldea, to organize at 3 am on the highway. This way they could prevent other interests from entering town, police or traders or whatever. They then began up the hill into town center, 10,000 protesters all peaceful with signs. But then something happened and opportunities arose for looting and for violence. This was unfortunate because the majority of the manifestantes were interested in resolving real political issues and they had serious political and social interests, whereas the vandals and gang members only had one thing on their minds: violence and looting. They didn't have any real reason, at least in terms of politics, to do what they did."

Manifestante: "I participated because it is my right to protest and manifest; the alcalde told us we have to pay the tax but we can't, we don't have the money, it's impossible. So it was necessary to protest. For me the violence is bad. This is not what we wanted or meant to happen. The violence was bad because it was not our intention, they were just youth who were not part of the movement and were not there for the same reasons as us. That was not their right to do what they did, but it was our right to be there for our reasons. There was the opportunity to take advantage of the looting and burning, but we had real interests in the tax and the law and to participate with the youth would have been a distraction to our interests. If you want to accomplish something or better your life you need to have serious intentions and a knowledge of what your interests are. The gang members that caused all the trouble had neither and were just interested in money and fun, they took advantage of the opportunity."

Rumor: "I only know this from a friend, but I wasn't there to hear it directly, so don't take it as the truth, but I think it may be true. Many say that the mayor maltrato the protestors when they wanted to talk to him during the manifestation, that he was rude and would not hear their demands. That is why the people got angry. This is important because lots of people also say that it was just a gang that started the violence during the protests. I do not doubt that, but if the mayor was treating the protesters badly when they went to see him, the pacific protestors, the organizers, then we can see a reason for the crowd to become angered."

Manifestante: "The protests were coming since 1980, the people have been made angry, upset, they have been discriminated against. It was coming because the government doesn't listen to us, and there is poverty and too many social problems to ignore, and then they bring new taxes and demand payment, but they don't listen or want to hear our concerns, they only tell us what needs to be done. The people had anger built up inside of them, and they needed a way to release it, to be heard. For me, this is the reason for the violence that you saw there on the 10th. It was not planned, it was not supposed to happen according to the organizers, no one saw it coming, and yet it was already there, meant to be. You can't treat people the way we are treated in this pueblo and expect things to stay quiet and tranquilo forever, peaceful. This protest and the violence had been coming."

Secretario at the Tecpan Muni: "Since December the minister of public finance for Guatemala imposed a tax in Tecpan from the state center. The mayor informed the auxiliary mayors how this tax would be handled, would be paid. Campesinos were eccentric because they couldn't pay the tax, and the auxiliary mayors knew this. How were the aldeas supposed to pay the tax? But the campesinos were misinformed and misunderstood the process, they became eccentirc and thought there was nothing to be done, no possibility for a dialogue. They weren't aware of article 33 of the constitution. Gangs and campesinos both burned the public buildings on the 10th and the private property of the alcalde. The protest organizers lost control of the situation and it became not just a protest against the tax, but also a personal attack on the mayor and his family. No one wanted that violence, not even the protest organizers. Yeah, people say that the mayor has a strong personality, but that is no reason to begin that kind of violence. The mayor will show us that his personality has change when he gets back, he said that he's sorry for the manner that he acted before the incident, and he assures us that that will all change.
        His strong personality might have been the reason that they began looting and burning property, they had that in mind I'm sure. But not to do what they did, with all the violence. We thought this was a democratic relationship, and that's what the protestors and people want too, so why use violence and break that relationship? I say that's wrong and it would have been better for everyone to have remained peaceful and relied on democratic communication. The mayor is still in the hospital recovering from the wounds he suffered during the protests."

Municipal official: “I wanted to participate in the protests because I think it's important to demonstrate, but always peacefully, and those involved had reason to manifest. But I couldn't because of my position in the cooperacion and so I just climbed up on top of the hotel, overlooking the center, and watched the whole thing. Then the violence began and I saw it all, people running away when the police threw tear gas bombs, then others picking them up and tossing them back at the police. Those from the aldeas alrady had training in the military, they served for the state in the past, and they used that knowledge to fight back against the police, to use the weapons and the bombs. I feel very limited in my position; when I entered the muni I had lots of projects in mind, things I wanted to begin and knew could be effective. I was excited about completing lots of initiatives, since the position I thought would allow that. But I am limited, not only because the mayor's character is difficult to work with, but also because the resources are not there, it is difficult to reach a consensus in the muni.
I do not discount that the mayor was robbing money from the pueblo, I do not discount that, but I am not sure and would never say that. Look, he didn't have a car before he assumed office and just afterwards he has a new, nice car, one of the nicest in town (a red BMW). But we must keep in mind the power of rumors in this case, much of the violence during the protests began because of what people said and heard, and so we must be cautious not to be too certain about the mayor's conduct.
        One guy was captured by the police and is in jail right now. People have said that it was for looting during the protests, and he was looting, so people look to this and say that he deserved it, that he got what was coming to him because he was the owner of that cantina there in the central park where there were problems with crime and prostitution. The muni tried to shut him down but he kept resisting. Finally, we got the cantina closed and he was later wanted for not paying his taxes, even though he had the money. But he wasn't looting during the protests, that is a rumer, people just assume because he was arrested two days after the protests that he was involved. He was arrested because of the tax problems, he wouldn't pay. This is how rumors work when it comes to this kind of thing, people just connect one thing with something different.”

 Mayor: "We are all completely in agreement that you have the right to protest. I helped write the law, too, remember, so I completely agree. The campesinos were right. This is basic, we can all agree on that. And the majority of the people didn't have personal problems...But I am saddened that so many honorable persons, persons normally considered honorable who you could repsect when you see them in the street, that they were screaming 'matalo' around me, 'matalo.'...The gangs were the ones who destroyed everything, but people from different communities entered houses to sack them, too...I want to work with the honorable people in these communities who don't have special or personal interests...One thing we don't want to confuse or lose is democracy and liberty."

[The mayor has two bodyguards, the first mayor in Tecpan history to utilize this service. They carry pistols and both dress like the mayor himself--polished boots, sombrero, designer jeans and denim shirts. "He's the first with body guards and the first with a burned out house. This is what's interesting," said one protester. ]