Posted in: Global Metal Stories | 2 Comments | January 31, 2010
In the classic spirit of Central and South American metal (can you say Dictatorshit!), here is a story of Metal music inspired by continued oppression and rampant political brutality and corruption. Ever since Sam kicked a football around with a hoard of Guatemalan children while studying for his thesis, it’s been common knowledge that the Guatemalan people have had their challenges receiving fair treatment by their own government. In a story too often repeated through the Americas, Alfonso Portillo, the Guatemalan president from the years 2000 – 2004 managed to steal tens of millions of dollars from his people including a $1.5 million donation from Taiwan, a sovereign and independent country. The story below outlines a song inspired by brutal corruption and hypocrisy. Thanks for sharing this with us Carlos!
By Carlos Pepió
Here in Guatemala, in the year 2000, Alfonso Portillo, presidential candidate from the FRG (which stands for Guatemala Republican Front) was elected on his second attempt at the Presidency.
From the very beginning it was nothing but the most barefaced, corrupt government we’ve ever had… and we’ve had some very corrupt ones. I mean, it got so corrupt, that General José Efrain Ríos Montt, an ex-military who headed a previous coupe and who’s accused (and most probably guilty) of the most heinous genocide in Latin American history (around 150,000 massacred) was elected President of Congress fully backed by Portillo to the extent, that because constitutionally he couldn’t be registered as the next Presidential Candidate, he threatened to “lose control” (according to his own words) of the FRG supporters and that they could turn violent. And violent they turned just a few days later on July, 24th and 25th 2003, as truckloads carrying hundreds of “farmers”, armed with sticks, machetes and firearms took hold of the whole of Guatemala City and terrorized the most important parts of the city threatening anyone who dared come close. One senior reporter died of a heart attack while running for his life trying to escape the FRG hordes, skillfully lead by FRG congressmen wearing ski masks. As ridiculous as it may sound, they were videotaped by brave reporters hiding who caught them taking the ski masks off, and even with all that evidence they all escaped from justice thanks to the also bought judges.
Meanwhile, as all the non-official media was bravely covering the riots, the 4 most powerful TV channels, who are sold-out to whoever is in power where looking the other way even as their own reporter got killed. All through this mayhem, all over the radio and printed media people were clamoring for the “authorities” to intervene. But neither the President nor the Police Chief ever did anything about it for two long days.
During these two days I got so furious and felt so helpless that the only way I could release my frustration was writing the main ideas of this song in which I was wishing to see this fucker brought down someday, along with all his crew. Little did I know that what I wrote back then would ultimately come true, as it is the very first time a Guatemalan ex-President spends a night in jail.
I could bore you telling you more about Portillo and his thievery, but right now you can easily read about it in the news or the internet. He’s accused of stealing and laundering several million dollars which he stole during a time when tragedies almost like Katrina stroke Guatemala and people needed international money sent to help the desperate. He stole money from donations, the GDP and anything he could get his hands on, and didn’t practice any discretion at it. The General is still considered untouchable down here.
I usually write Metal in English first, since it feels more natural that way, but then I translated the song to Spanish for my countrymen to truly enjoy it. It is called “Ya cayó el Maldito” which means different from the title in English but the whole song conveys the exact same message line by line. It means “The Damned one has fallen”. I sang the song live countless times all around Guatemala with my previous band called EGO between 2004 and 2005. I’m putting my new band together and will start playing it again as soon as we’re ready.
I personally feel this song expresses not only a Guatemalan’s anger against governmental brutality, corruption and abuse, but any country’s person who’s experienced disappointing Presidents like so many recent history has seen worldwide, like George Bush, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro, Mahmud Ahmadineyad, and so many others who accuse and blame each other of being the bad one, but they’re all the same shit.
You can hear the song in both languages along with Broken (Libre in Spanish) on this link:
http://www.facebook.com/carlos.pepio?v=app_19935916616&ref=profile
Want to check out some other gig’s videos:
http://www.youtube.com/dtruemetallian
