GHRC/USA led an Emergency Human Rights Delegation to Guatemala to document the impacts of the democratic backsliding and destruction of rule of law on human rights defenders. The delegation met with, among others, defenders, lawyers, journalists, Indigenous land defenders, and… Read More ›
Corruption
A Guatemalan law meant to protect women from violence is being used against journalists
Leila Miller writes in the Los Angeles Times about a particular use of lawfare in obstructing journalists in their work uncovering corruption – the law to protect violence against women. It was a landmark piece of legislation for Guatemala: a… Read More ›
“We are the seeds that the State tried to kill, but now we bloom in the morning light”
The latest Bulletin from PBI Guatemala features several articles as well as an update on their work. Stolen Chilhood – For some years now, walking through the streets of the historic center of Guatemala City, we are astonished by the… Read More ›
Top corruption prosecutor held in jail as Guatemalan elite bids to purge foes
Jody García and Nina Lakhani wrote in The Guardian, recently, on the case of Virginia Laparra, a leading senior anti-corruption prosecutor in Guatemala and the use of what is termed ‘lawfare’ being waged against anti-corruption members of the judiciary by… Read More ›
The Case against Journalist José Rubén Zamora Was Built in 72 Hours
Julie López writes in El Faro English about the case of José Rubén Zamora, the founder and head of El Periódico, one of Guatemala’s premier news outlets. The president and director of Guatemalan newspaper elPeriódico, José Rubén Zamora Marroquín, and… Read More ›
Washington Post on the arrest of José Rubén Zamora of El Periódico
An opinion piece in the Washington Post has attacked the decision of the Guatemala authorities to arrest the president and founder of the newspaper elPeriódico, José Rubén Zamora, for effectively speaking truth to power. “This is not a case against… Read More ›
Inter-American Court of Human Rights orders urgent measures to protect victims and the judge in the Military Diary case
Jo-Marie Burt writes in WOLA about a resolution of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ordering the State of Guatemala to protect Miguel Ángel Gálvez, the pretrial judge in the Diario Militar (Death Squad Dossier) case, and to guarantee… Read More ›
The Guatemalan Link between Jalisco New Generation Cartel and FARC Dissidents
Julie López writes, in El Faro English, on the strengthening of narco-trafiking interests in Guatemala providing links between Colombia and Mexico, noting the influence at various levels of the Government and military. Northwestern Guatemala has been known for years as… Read More ›
Guatemalan Judge under Threat after Ordering Trial in 1980s “Death Squad Dossier” Case
Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada have written a powerful piece in El Faro on the ‘Death Squad Diary’ case (Diario Militar) moving through the Guatemala justice system. It also talks of the bravery of the families of the victims and… Read More ›
Judge Galvez and his appointment with History
Carolína Vásquez Araya writes a powerful defense of the Judge, Miguel Ángel Gálvez, in her blog, El Quinto Patio. Miguel Ángel Gálvez is one of the last of the judicial hold outs against corruption and tyranny in Guatemala. You can… Read More ›