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 ›
El Faro
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 ›
Trial for “Death Squad Dossier” Ties Guatemalan Wartime Atrocities to Current Criminal Networks
Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada write in El Faro on the Diario Militar, or ‘Death Squad Dossier’ trial, currently taking place in Guatemala. The trial is continuing against a backdrop of sustained attacks on judicial independence and threats against human… Read More ›
Judge Aifán, from Exile: “My life was in danger in Guatemala”
José Luis Sanz interviews Judge Erika Aifán after she had gone into exile after a long, and concerted, series of attacks on her integrity and the integrity of the Guatemala judicial system. It is available in El Faro, as is… Read More ›
Forbidden Stories – Mining Secrets
Forbidden Stories presented Mining Secrets, a leak of thousands of documents, shared by hacking collective ‘Guacamaya Roja’, that comes from mining giant Solway in Guatemala. The leak of more than eight million company documents revealed how the mining company, operating… Read More ›
Crackdown on Guatemala Prosecutors Intensifies Amid Presidential Corruption Claims
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 ›
Imperfect Justice Is Still Justice for Wartime Rape Survivors in Guatemala
Jo-Marie Burt and Paulo Estrada write, in El Faro, on the recent verdicts in the Achí Women Case and what justice means for the surviving victims – perhaps justice but not closure. The piece describes disturbing examples of gendered violence… 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 ›
“Becoming president of Guatemala requires resources that I don’t have”
Roman Gressier presents, in El Faro, an interview with Martín Toc, the President of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapán. Few organizations can paralyze Guatemala without setting foot in the capital. The 48 Cantons of Totonicapán, a Maya K’iche’ Indigenous authority… Read More ›