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 ›
Poverty
Guatemalan Communities Turn Out for Indigenous-Led Nationwide Shutdown
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 ›
When Justice Prevails
In the latest newsletter, from Skylight, Pamela Yates features an interview with Kate Doyle of the National Security Archive (NSA). A powerful recent example [of justice cascade] comes from Guatemala, a small country yet one where human rights defenders have… Read More ›
Revised NGO Law threatens freedom of association in Guatemala
Guatemala Solidarity Network (GSN) wishes to “express our profound concern regarding the amendments to Bill 5257, a law governing the activities of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), that went into effect Monday, June 21st, following the Guatemalan Constitutional Court’s (CC) denial of… Read More ›
The community of Chicoyogüito and their struggle for justice
On the 28th July, 1968, the community of Chicoyogüito, in Alta Verapaz, was evicted from its lands in order to instal the former Military Zone 21 (ZM 21), which became a detention centre, as well as a site for massacres… Read More ›
Central America Needs a Commission to Prosecute Corruption, Not a War on Migration
Victoria Sanford had an interesting opinion piece published in BarrioZona in advance of the visit to Guatemala of the United States Vice President, Kamala Harris. Following a virtual bilateral meeting last month with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, Vice President Kamala… Read More ›
Guatemala’s Disappeared – Fault Lines
In 2017, Al Jazeera produced the film ‘Guatemala’s Disappeared’ as part of their Fault Lines series. It still resonates today especially with the current hearing into the Diario Militar case. The film features the work of the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology… Read More ›
‘Huge step’: Relatives of Guatemala disappeared hope for justice
Retired military officials will stand trial on charges of disappearing and killing dissidents in 1980s during civil war. Sandra Cuffe writes in Al Jazeera about the Diario Militar Case (‘Death Squad Dossier’) and its effect on people who have been… Read More ›
A light of hope in 37 years of impunity
Families of Victims of the Diario Militar Case published a statement in response to the events of the first week of the hearing, following the indictment and remanding in custody of six accused of crimes against humanity, and other crimes…. Read More ›
U.S. Anti-Corruption Drive Faces Bleak Prospects in Central America
Visiting Guatemala on her first foreign trip as vice president, Kamala Harris pledged to tackle corruption as a root cause of U.S.-bound migration. Sandra Cuffe writes in The Intercept on the challenges facing the anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala against the… Read More ›