Last year Giammattei, Guatemalan Penitentiary System Director, took over "Pavón", a prison that was basically ruled by it's prisoners. It took 1.700 agents, 1.200 soldiers and 100 guards to achieve full control of the facilities. Around ten prisoners died, casually the most known "leaders".

I found the general public opinion surprising. I mean, I was certainly happy to know the prison was once again under control; it had been in an anarchy state for over 10 years. But what shocked me was that people seemed pleased, almost glad to know prisoners had died. Giammattei's popularity went up like bubbles do when a menthos is dropped into a glass of coca-cola. Giammattei is now running for President in this year's elections.

I know that hard measures most be applied on hard situations. I myself questioned my own personal view and interpretation of what had happened; it seemed pretty clear to me that the dead prisoners were murdered intentionally, not by accident. Still, I felt some kind of relief. I was almost glad, like all those people I had talked to. But then- I started thinking about Human Rights. It's so complex. And even though I don't completely understand basically anything human related, I realized it was wrong.

It's wrong because you can't defend something by violating it, I think. Thinking over this a phrase I heard in Warner Bros TV series "Justice" came to my mind: "Justice is like hot dogs. If you like it, you shouldn't know how it's done" or something like that. I know I may fail to be an idealist by saying this, but I have to disagree.

I like to think justice can be transparent and morally correct. Defending the law by breaking it, revenging human rights's violations by violating basic human rights... it doesn't seem right.

And this post doesn't mean that I don't like Giammattei. It's not a political opinion, but more like a personal attempt to comprehend complex realities such as this. I don't wish to judge anyone, I wouldn't know how.