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 ›
Solidarity in Action
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 ›
Fighting for Food Sovereignty in Guatemala
Chelsea Carrick writes in NACLA on Indigenous struggle and land rights in Guatemala, especially with reference to rising global food and consumer prices. On April 26 and 27, Guatemalans demonstrated throughout the country, blocking roads and demanding an end to… 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 ›
Using the Law Against Femicide to Deter Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists has issued an alert on the criminal suit against three journalists under the ‘violence against women’ law. By using this law, to deter journalists from asking questions, is an interesting and novel use of law-fare… Read More ›
EJ Atlas: Lote Ocho – El Estor, Lake Izabal, Guatemala
After decades of resistance against HudBay minerals and other firms, including court cases in Guatemala and Canada, the local Mayan Q’eqchi’ community managed to stop nickel mining in 2020 officially. The Environmental Justice Atlas is a great resource and it… Read More ›
The Exile of Guatemala’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
Jonathan Blitzer writes in The New Yorker on the group of judges and prosecutors who had been investigating Guatemala’s most powerful officials and who had been forced to flee their homeland. It shows the willingness of the State, and the… Read More ›
Guatemala’s Attorney General Elections: Judicial Independence and Democracy at a Crossroads
Ana María Méndez Dardón and Julia Aikman Cifuentes write in WOLA on the challenges facing an independent judiciary and the consequences for Guatemala’s commitment to fighting impunity when these are essential components of a democratic state. The persecution of independent… Read More ›
Guatemala: High Stakes for Attorney General’s Nomination
Human Rights Watch has posted a note regarding the nomination process for the election of the new Attorney General to succeed María Consuelo Porras. HRW has also highlighted the role of The Foundation against Terrorism (FCT) in trying to undermine… Read More ›
Press Release – Concerns About Guatemala’s Attorney General Election Process
Various international organisations recently communicated a Press Release presented their concern over the election process for the new Attorney General to succeed María Consuelo Porras. Given that the incumbent appears to be, again, in the application process appears to suggest… Read More ›