Author Archives

• Trial for “Death Squad Dossier” Ties Guatemalan Wartime Atrocities to Current Criminal Networks

  By kevodell on May 1, 2022 • ( 0 )

  Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada write in El Faro on the Diario Militar, or ‘Death Squad Dossier’ trial, currently taking place in Guatemala. The trial is continuing against a backdrop of sustained attacks on judicial independence and threats against human… Read More ›

• Guatemala’s Attorney General Elections: Judicial Independence and Democracy at a Crossroads

  By kevodell on April 26, 2022 • ( 0 )

  Ana María Méndez Dardón and Julia Aikman Cifuentes write in WOLA on the challenges facing an independent judiciary and the consequences for Guatemala’s commitment to fighting impunity when these are essential components of a democratic state. The persecution of independent… Read More ›

• They Left Guatemala for Opportunities in the United States. Now They Want to Help Others Stay

  By kevodell on April 19, 2022 • ( 0 )

  Ciara Nugent writes in TIME about the challenges and rewards of utilising remittances that are sent back from the United States. New initiatives are suggesting alternative visions for families and for economic and social empowerment of communities through remittance co-ops… Read More ›

• Guatemala: As COVID misinformation spreads, vaccine doses expire

  By kevodell on April 19, 2022 • ( 0 )

  Jeff Abbott writes in Al Jazeera about the low take up of the COVID vaccine in Guatemala, the reasons for this, including conspiracy theorists, and the consequences regarding the expiration of the doses that were available. This is something to… Read More ›

• Guatemala 2021 Human Rights Report

  By kevodell on April 17, 2022 • ( 0 )

  The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, of the U.S. State Department, recently published its 2021 Human Rights Report for Guatemala and it does not make for comfortable reading. The Executive Summary concludes with: Impunity continued to be widespread…. Read More ›

• Guatemala: High Stakes for Attorney General’s Nomination

  By kevodell on April 15, 2022 • ( 0 )

  Human Rights Watch has posted a note regarding the nomination process for the election of the new Attorney General to succeed María Consuelo Porras. HRW has also highlighted the role of The Foundation against Terrorism (FCT) in trying to undermine… Read More ›

• Press Release – Concerns About Guatemala’s Attorney General Election Process

  By kevodell on April 13, 2022 • ( 0 )

  Various international organisations recently communicated a Press Release presented their concern over the election process for the new Attorney General to succeed María Consuelo Porras. Given that the incumbent appears to be, again, in the application process appears to suggest… Read More ›

• Military Diary Case – updates

  By kevodell on April 10, 2022 • ( 0 )

  The Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network (BTS) continues to provide regular updates on the Military Diary Case. From the latest, dated April 6th.. During the sixth session of the Intermediary Phase, The Human Rights Prosecutor of the Public Prosecutor’s Office… Read More ›

• “Yes to life, no to mining:” An update on the Xinka resistance to the Escobal mine

  By kevodell on April 9, 2022 • ( 0 )

  NISGUA has published an update on the Xinka resistance to the Escobal mine. For over a decade, impacted communities have resisted the illegally-imposed Escobal mine. Tahoe Resources, a U.S.-Canadian company, first opened the mine, which is on one of the… Read More ›

• A Guatemalan judge’s flight into exile signals trouble for US

  By kevodell on April 3, 2022 • ( 0 )

  Whitney Eulich writes in The Christian Science Monitor on the situation regarding the exile of Judge Erika Aifán and Washington’s increasing lack of influence in fighting corruption and criminality in Guatemala. One of Guatemala’s most important judges, Erika Aifán, fled… Read More ›