Alex Papadovassilakis writes in InSight Crime on the continuing hollowing out of independent prosecutors who have been tackling the rampant corruption and impunity that is gripping Guatemala. With cries of corruption mounting against Guatemala’s president, the country’s Attorney General, Consuelo… Read More ›
Corruption
Judicial Persecution of Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Increases
The latest update from Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC) features the arrests of six prosecutors who were investigating high-level corruption. Since February 10, the Guatemalan Public Ministry has issued seven arrests warrants for attorneys connected to the former International Commission… Read More ›
Audio – International court case pits mining interests against Indigenous land rights
Maria Martin hosts a short piece on NPR Radio on a court case being brought to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights by the Maya Q’eqchi’ community of Agua Caliente Lote 9. She speaks with attorney Carlos Pop, representing the… Read More ›
This judge is one of the last U.S. allies in the Guatemala corruption fight. Politicians keep trying to sideline her.
Kevin Sieff writes in The Washington Post on the challenges facing an independent judiciary in Guatemala through the situation of Judge Erika Aifán and the ongoing State attempts at criminalisation. Her bravery is unquestioned and neither is the cowardice of… Read More ›
“Malnutrition in Guatemala is a political strategy”.
Noor Mahtani writes in El País, as part of their Planeta Futuro series, about the scourge of hunger among Indigenous children and the Government’s unwillingness to do anything that might change the future prospects of poor Guatemalans. Any errors in… Read More ›
Witness Accuses Guatemalan President of Funding Campaign with Construction Bribes
José Luis Sanz writes in El Faro about the sworn testimonies regarding bribery and campaign contributions relating to the election of President Alejandro Giammattei, and the attempts by the Attorney General’s office to put a brake to the investigations. It… Read More ›
The Origins of Racism in Guatemala — An Interview with Marta Elena Casaús Arzú on Anti-Indigenous Racism
Plaza Pública published an interview with Marta Elena Casaús Arzú in 2017 by Carlos Arrazola and the subsequent English translation was published in El Faro. It is a fascinating interview on race and racism in Guatemala. Marta Elena Casaús Arzú… Read More ›
Fugitive Guatemala Minister Surrenders Amid Attacks on Justice System
Alex Papadovassilakis writes in InSight Crime on the ‘spontaneous’ and ‘voluntary’ surrender of a high level fugitive, more than a year after he was charged with money laundering. A minister in the government of Jimmy Morales, he is wanted in… Read More ›
25 Years After the Peace Accords, Democracy Weak in Guatemala
In Guatemala, safeguards against corruption, impunity, and state violence are being dismantled by the politicians, elites, and military and some fear the return of an authoritarian state. Giovanni Batz writes in NACLA on the 25th anniversary of the signing of… Read More ›
Hope amidst the darkness: Victims continue to press for justice for wartime atrocities in Guatemala
At the end of last year, Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada presented a commentary, in WOLA, on the challenges facing those seeking justice for crimes carried out during the internal armed conflict. Many successes have occurred but the state, including… Read More ›