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IN There is an atmosphere of intimidation, fear and self-censorship of the press in Guatemala.assured in the organization Article 19, which this Thursday presented the report of the
IN There is an atmosphere of intimidation, fear and self-censorship of the press in Guatemala.assured in the organization Article 19, which this Thursday presented the report of the international mission, showing the situation with the exercise of freedoms in this country.
In recent years, according to NGOs, Guatemala has experienced democratic returnespecially in the progress made in the fight against corruption, with the political, economic and military elite re-introducing their model of impunity.
This regime gained momentum under the government of Jimmy Morales and intensified under the administration of Alejandro Giammattei, who suppresses, censors and silences critical voices. “Media, journalists, communicators, human rights activists and law enforcement officers are attacked when they oppose this structure.”
Civic space has been suffocated, Article 19 assures, due to the increase attacks on the press and the absence of a role for the state as a guarantor of a violence-free environment for the protection of human rights, along with the strong interference of these elites in various areas of the system, mainly in justice.
As a parallel power structure, the elites have a direct influence on judicial decisions and affect the impartiality of the system. In addition, article 19 states that the said structure harasses and criminalizes journalists And communicators in both physical and digital space, with the intention of silencing them.
Faced with this worrying situation, and in light of the upcoming June 25 elections, various international organizations have formed a freedom of speech and press freedom monitoring mission in Guatemala.
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The elections will be general, which means that citizens will vote for representatives of the presidential authorities, deputies, city mayors and councillors.
The purpose of the mission was to analyze and make visible the violence and obstacles faced by journalists and communicators in the country, especially during the pre-election period.
This report details the organization, attempts to replicate its findings and the voices of journalists in Guatemala, and makes appropriate recommendations.
He added that the mission included representatives of international organizations: ARTICLE 19 Bureau for Mexico and Central America, Freedom House, Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Protection International Mesoamerica, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Fundamedios and the Freedom of the Press Foundation (FLIP), in alliance with the regional networks IFEX-ALC and Voces del Sur.
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He explained that from 3 to 17 May, interviews were conducted with journalists and analysts in different parts of Guatemalan territory and in exile. HE A total of 67 journalists were interviewed, 15 of whom are in different countries. and 52 from various departments in Guatemala, in addition to 12 civil society organizations.
The mission presented preliminary findings to some members of the international community. Meetings were also held with several government bodies, including the Commissioner for Human Rights (PDH), the Presidential Commission on Peace and Human Rights (COPADEH) and the Quetzaltenango Special Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes Against Journalists, which operates in 8 departments of the country .
It should be noted that the secretary The Presidium’s social connection did not respond to the mission’s request for a meetingThe Supreme Court did not complete the requested appointment, and the High Electoral Court did not make the appointment.
Interviews with journalists were mainly held in the format of focus groups. Participants shared their experience and analysis of the implementation of press freedom in Guatemala.
This report presents the results and conclusions of this observation mission. It also details the challenges faced by journalists and communicators, as well as the root causes of the current free speech situation in the country.
Here is the full report:
Guatemala Final Report 2023 with Aline Melanie González Lopez index on Scribd
Source: Aristegui Noticias
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