US expresses alarm over actions against Guatemalan judges and prosecutors

The US State Department said Tuesday that the administration of President Joe Biden is concerned about what it describes as a pattern of actions against anti-corruption judges and prosecutors who address human rights cases in Guatemala in their work.

“The United States is alarmed by the continuing pattern of actions against judges and prosecutors in Guatemala handling anti-corruption and human rights cases,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing.

The official added that the defense of due process for all citizens, including judges, prosecutors and journalists, seeks confidence in judicial institutions.

In just over two years since Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei came to power, several prosecutors have been forced to leave the countryalleging persecution against him.

At the end of October, the main US anti-corruption official, Richard Nephew, made a two-day visit to the Central American nation to coordinate binational support focused on fighting white collar and other crimes.

“I visited Guatemala to speak with government officials, civil society, justice sector stakeholders, and business leaders about how we can strengthen efforts to counter corruption and bolster the rule of law, transparency, and press freedom,” Nephew explained. a Tweet.

The United States has been expressing concern about the lack of progress in the fight against corruption in Guatemala, to the point of get to accuse the attorney generalConsuelo Porras, to “minimize” research in this area.

Precisely, at the beginning of November, the deputy of the Free Party, Xiomara Zelaya, presented in Congress a proposal from the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, for, according to said“give claws to the CICIH to fight corruption and impunity in the country.” This proposal has received the support of US lawmakers.

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