Author Archives

• Washington Cracks Down on Guatemala Corruption

  By kevodell on May 2, 2021 • ( 0 )

  US sanctions on two Guatemalan politicians — one a political operator and the other an influential legislator — are the latest salvo by Washington to show it is serious about taking on corruption in Central America. Alex Papadovassilakis writes in… Read More ›

• Guatemala, a high-risk country for environmental defenders, has not ratified the Escazú Agreement

  By kevodell on April 24, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Regina Pérez writes in Prensa Comunitaria about the Escazú Agreement and what it means for environment and land defenders, who continue to face serious threats in their daly lives. In Guatemala, according to Front Line Defenders (FLD), 15 human rights… Read More ›

• Guatemala’s Justice System Is At A Breaking Point

  By kevodell on April 23, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Gloria Porras recently wrote an Opinion piece in Americas Quarterly on the challenges she has faced as a Magistrate in Guatemala’s Constitutional Court, and continues to face following the Guatemala Congress rejection of her election to the current bench. Anyone… Read More ›

• Traditional Guatemalan elites must change now. Here is where to start.

  By kevodell on April 23, 2021 • ( 0 )

  “Let’s suppose we were willing to meet with them [indigenous leaders and communities],” he said, “how would we even know where to find them?” Anita Isaacs writes a thoughtful and interesting piece in Plaza Pública about five traits of the… Read More ›

• “Whether on the Court or Not, I Swore to Protect the Constitution”

  By kevodell on April 21, 2021 • ( 0 )

  “This is an affront to democracy, and each and every citizen of the country should be offended,” José Luis Sanz presents an interesting and timely interview with Magistrate Gloria Porras in El Faro English. As presented here, and elsewhere, the… Read More ›

• Composition of New Guatemalan Constitutional Court

  By kevodell on April 19, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Peace Brigades International recently posted about the composition if the new Constitutional Court in Guatemala – here is a summary. On March 10, 2021, appointments to the Constitutional Court were complete. Five titular, or permanent, judges and five alternate judges… Read More ›

• Guatemalan Congress refuses to appoint graft-fighting top judge

  By kevodell on April 15, 2021 • ( 0 )

  “We are deeply concerned by today’s maneuver to delay the swearing in of a selected constitutional court magistrate. This undermines Guatemala’s commitment to an independent judiciary and addressing systemic corruption,” Acting Assistant Secretary for U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of… Read More ›

• Lolita Chávez: ‘We have the right to live in a territory that for us is sacred’

  By kevodell on April 14, 2021 • ( 0 )

  Barbara Fraser presents, in EarthBeat, an interview with Lolita Chavez, who is to receive the annual Romero Human Rights Award, named for St. Óscar Romero. The award was established by the University of Dayton Ohio, in the United States, in… Read More ›

• A Final Blow to Guatemala’s Justice System

  By kevodell on April 12, 2021 • ( 0 )

  It is crucial that in the coming years, new coalitions coalesce between businesses, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and international allies, to promote a democratization of the country. Otherwise, the only path forward will be the one that leads to authoritarianism…. Read More ›

• US and Canadian Organizations Alarmed Over Illegal Mining

  By kevodell on April 8, 2021 • ( 0 )

  A blog post on MiningWatch Canada links to a letter sent to the CEO of Goldex Resources about illegal mining in Guatemala. Seven organizations, including MiningWatch Canada, sent a letter to the President & CEO and Director of Goldex Resources… Read More ›