Author Archives

• Is this Guatemala’s Plurinational Moment?

  By kevodell on August 5, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Tim May writes in New Socialist about the recent demonstrations in Guatemala, including the recent Paro nacional and places the moment within a period of increasing grass-roots mobilisation. Indigenous authorities are increasingly finding their voice within national politics but still… Read More ›

• Despite Protests, Guatemala’s President May Be Stronger than Ever

  By kevodell on August 5, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Brendan O’Boyle writes in Americas Quarterly on how President Giammattei is, so far, able to hold off calls for resignation despite his attacks on the independence of the judiciary and his government’s catastrophic and grossly negligent response to the pandemic…. Read More ›

• Guatemala Tries to Repeat the 2015 Uprising against Corruption

  By kevodell on August 5, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Roman Gressier writes in El Faro about the national strike, called last week, in response to the sacking of Juan Francisco Sandoval. The paro nacional also confronted the government response to the pandemic, as well as rampant corruption. The national… Read More ›

• “Fear has made me braver and that’s why I want to keep fighting”

  By kevodell on August 3, 2021 • ( 0 )

  ACOGUATE has published a piece about the struggle of the people of Ixquisis Microregion against the imposition of large megaprojects, through the words of María Hernández, a human rights defender. For the past three years, María Hernández has represented women… Read More ›

• As Pandemic Pummels Guatemala, Government Stalls

  By kevodell on August 3, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Jeff Abbott wrote recently, in El Faro English, of the desperate situation in Guatemala regarding the COVID pandemic, and the government’s poor response, rooted in corruption, while noting that “the president is indifferent”. It is within this crisis context that… Read More ›

• Guatemalan Communities Turn Out for Indigenous-Led Nationwide Shutdown

  By kevodell on August 2, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Sandra Cuffe writes in The Intercept about the national strike that took place on 29th July in response to the events surrounding the sacking of Juan Francisco Sandoval and his flight out of Guatemala. The ‘Paro Nacional’ was called by… Read More ›

• UN Human Rights – Stop treating indigenous human rights defenders like criminals

  By kevodell on July 29, 2021 • ( 0 )

  United Nations human rights experts have expressed concerns over the criminalisation, violations of due process, and health rights of Bernardo Caal Xól, a Q’eqchi’ Maya Indigenous leader and Guatemalan human rights defender. “Mr. Bernardo Caal Xól has been criminalised because… Read More ›

• US curbs work with Guatemala after anti-corruption leader removed

  By kevodell on July 28, 2021 • ( 0 )

  A new piece on Al Jazeera on a response of the U.S government of the recent sacking of Juan Francisco Sandoval. The United States has said it will pause some cooperation with Guatemala’s criminal prosecutor after the head of a… Read More ›

• Despite Outrage, Guatemala Continues to Bulldoze Anti-Corruption Edifice

  By kevodell on July 27, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Alex Papadovassilakis writes in InSight Crime on the sacking of Juan Francisco Sandoval last week from his post as head of FECI, Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity, and after-shocks. The dismissal of Juan Francisco Sandoval, the country’s leading anti-corruption prosecutor,… Read More ›

• “It’s Hard to Find an Honest Judge in Guatemala Now”

  By kevodell on July 26, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Ahead of the news of the sacking of Juan Francisco Sandoval, the head of FECI, at the weekend, El Faro published an interview with leading Guatemalan human rights advocate, Helen Mack. Alongside Sandoval, Gloria Porras, Érika Aifán, and Jordán Rodas,… Read More ›