Relatives of Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquin They offered a press conference on July 30th on the occasion of the second year of imprisonment of the Guatemalan journalist.
Zamora faces provisional imprisonment by Public Prosecutor’s Office statementswho accuses him of having committed crimes in several cases.
Jose Carlos Zamorason of the journalist, and Arthur Romeodirector of the association Reporters Without Bordersthey asked for it to stop the chasing against the former director of the newspaper the newspaperas well as against other journalists who have been pointed out for him Guatemalan research entity.
“It is a tough anniversary. It is a forceful attack on the freedom of the press. I appreciate the support of the citizens, Honest Guatemalanslocal journalists’ guild and internationalas well as the foreign community who has supported,” said the son of the imprisoned journalist.
He also assured that the state is controlled by a “criminal cell inside of the Public ministry and a series of judges who issue illegal and unconstitutional rulings.”
Among the demands that the family raises is the celebration of pending hearingsso that there is a “prompt justice”.
Zamora also asked the Government of Arevalo to “listen to the demands of the international community” as well as the resolutions issued by international organizations to “end the arbitrary detention and the attack on the freedom of the press”.
According to ZamoraThe criminalization of critical voices, judges, prosecutors and activists has been a tool of those seeking to maintain corruption.
However, he assured that the Executive has in its hands the eradication of these conditions to get it done justice in the case of the journalist.
Zamora added that they will present the president Arevalo a petition that includes “arbitrariness, abuses e illegalities” in the proceedings against the journalist, in order to reach a agreement and so obtain your freedom.
He assured that in the last two governments record and dismantling of the country’s democratic institutions.
Separately, Artur Romeu indicated that the case of Jose Ruben Zamora It has become emblematic of the “criminalization of the press in Guatemala.”
He said it is necessary to release Zamora as part of a process of “democratic normality“because it has become a symbol of the defense and fight for freedom of the press.
He referred to the postponement of the hearings of Zamora as a fact “cruel”, part of an arbitrary arrest and preventive detention that no longer take place.
“There are court decisions that guarantee, at least, his conditional release. Although the conditions of detention they have improvedwas previously under physical and psychological torturein very poor conditions graves“, he said.
SIP calls for Zamora’s release
Last Monday, the Inter-American Press Association (SIP) published a statement regarding the situation of Jose Ruben Zamorain which he also asked the Guatemalan authorities to release the journalist.
“Zamora remains detained in the military prison Marshal Zavala since July 29, 2022, in retaliation for his reporting work. He was condemned in June 2023 at six years in prison for alleged crimes of money launderingin a trial marked by serious irregularities“, the publication noted.
The statement included statements from the President of that associationRoberto Rock, who points out that the Guatemalan journalist has faced violations of their rights and deals cruel during the Judicial process.
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