2024-11-18 05:52:00
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo announced Sunday evening that public forces would not comply with prosecutors following a Sunday raid on the home of former Communications Minister Felix Alvarado. “Illegal” order from the official’s office.
The prosecutor’s office would not confirm the reasons for the raid, saying the case was a judicial secret.
“What we have to do is ensure that public forces do not carry out orders that are not in compliance with the strictest legality,” the president told a press conference.
“Justice in Guatemala is in crisis,” Arevalo said, accusing the Ministry of Public Affairs of “criminalizing and arbitrarily handling the crisis.” detail.
Arevalo said public prosecutors raided the former official’s home with his face covered and stole his identity documents, including his passport, in what he described as a “bogus act” but which he denies. Police were also deployed during the search, but agents did not enter the home.
Arevalo described Alvarado as a transparent and honest man and thanked him for his six months in charge of the communications department. Alvarado said last week he was leaving his post due to differences with the president.
The president announced he would urgently summon Attorney General Consuelo Porras to explain her involvement in the crisis in the justice system, following reports from international organizations including the Organization of American States and the United Nations about harassment, threats and criminalization of prosecutors reason.
Porras maintained an attack on Arevalo’s government that began when he was a presidential candidate. His prosecutor’s office is trying to investigate more than 150,000 Guatemalans who participated in the electoral commission that received citizens’ votes and are accused of alleged electoral fraud.
The president recalled in this justice crisis the imprisonment of Ligia Hernández, the former director of the Institute for Victims, a member of his party who last week accepted charges and was convicted There were offenses related to the party’s electoral funding. After his conviction, he was immediately free.
Hernandez said she was innocent but accepted the charges in order to get out of jail, where she had been for three months and that she was depressed and sick. Arevalo described Hernandez’s ordeal as psychological torture.
The president has accused corrupt judges of co-opting the judicial system, and they also want to send journalist José Ruben Zamora back to prison, where he spent more than 800 days without being sentenced. Less than a month after regaining his freedom, an appeals court ordered him to return to prison.
“The same corrupt minority is trying to put José Ruben Zamora back in jail to continue demonstrating their disdain for free speech,” the president said.
Arevalo denounced “the persecution of those who think for themselves, those who act according to their conscience, as their daily agenda (…) Our democracy is a threat to them and they want to destroy it at all costs.”
The President recalled that even he was not immune to the actions of the Prosecutor’s Office, which made 11 requests to him to revoke his immunity, but he failed to do so.
Like several of her prosecutors, Porras is subject to sanctions from more than 40 countries that have banned her from their territories, accusing her of hindering the Central American country’s anti-corruption fight and undermining democracy.
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How might international organizations influence the reform of the Guatemalan justice system according to Dr. Lopez?
**Interview with Political Analyst Dr. Maria Lopez on the Crisis in Guatemalan Justice System**
**Interviewer:** Good afternoon, Dr. Lopez. Thank you for joining us today. As we’ve just heard, there’s a significant upheaval in Guatemala concerning President Bernardo Arevalo’s recent statements regarding the public forces and the ongoing judicial crises. Can you give us your thoughts on the implications of this situation?
**Dr. Lopez:** Good afternoon, and thank you for having me. The situation in Guatemala is quite alarming. President Arevalo’s refusal to allow public forces to comply with prosecutors’ orders signals a serious breakdown in the rule of law. His characterization of the actions taken during the raid on former Minister Felix Alvarado’s home as “illegal” is particularly striking. This indicates a deep mistrust between the presidency and the judiciary, which could have far-reaching consequences for governance and public confidence in the justice system.
**Interviewer:** Arevalo mentioned that there are major issues with the Ministry of Public Affairs and accused it of criminalizing the justice process. What do you think is at the root of these tensions?
**Dr. Lopez:** The tensions stem from a broader climate of political and institutional instability in Guatemala. The Ministry of Public Affairs, under Attorney General Consuelo Porras, has been accused by both national and international observers of engaging in practices that undermine democratic processes, including targeting political opponents and manipulating legal actions for political gain. This creates an environment where the judiciary is seen as a tool of the executive branch rather than an independent body.
**Interviewer:** With Arevalo planning to summon Attorney General Porras for explanations, what steps should be taken to address this crisis effectively?
**Dr. Lopez:** Immediate dialogue is crucial. First, there needs to be transparency regarding the allegations of judicial misconduct. It would also be beneficial for Arevalo to seek support from international organizations to monitor the judicial system and ensure accountability. Additionally, creating a space for civil society to participate in discussions about judicial reform could help bridge the divide between the government and the judiciary.
**Interviewer:** Given the president’s statements about heavy international criticism, how do you see the role of international bodies like the OAS and the UN in this situation?
**Dr. Lopez:** International bodies can play a significant role in mediating tensions and promoting transparency and accountability. They can facilitate dialogue between the Guatemalan government and its institutions, providing frameworks for reform. Moreover, their involvement can help protect citizens’ rights and ensure that any investigations into alleged electoral fraud are conducted fairly and without political bias.
**Interviewer:** What do you foresee as the potential next steps for President Arevalo in navigating this crisis?
**Dr. Lopez:** Arevalo needs to strike a balance between asserting the independence of public forces and maintaining operational efficacy within the government. He should proceed with caution, ensuring that any actions taken in response to this crisis don’t exacerbate tensions further. Engaging with stakeholders across the political spectrum and fostering dialogue between the different branches of government will be essential for stabilizing the situation in Guatemala.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Lopez. Your insights into this complex issue are invaluable as we navigate these turbulent times in Guatemalan politics.
**Dr. Lopez:** Thank you for having me. It is indeed a critical moment for Guatemala, and I hope we see progress toward a more just and transparent system.