GUATEMALA
Population: 17 million History: It was ruled by a series of dictatorships with short periods of constitutional legitimacy, until democracy in 1944. The government began redistributing land to povertystricken farmers, angering US company United Fruit, who lobbied the US government into staging a coup in 1954. Civil war followed, along with abuses of indigenous Mayans, ending in 1996 with a death toll of more than 200,000. At least 60% of people live in poverty. Government: President Alejandro Giammattei represents the right-wing Vamos party. Last year, protests broke out over proposed health/education cuts. Bands: Noctis Invocat, The Maximones.
COLOMBIA