Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu slammed besieged Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina, saying he is a criminal and his ongoing rule is harming the country.
The social activist, who has defended human rights and the equality of Indigenous peoples in Guatemala, tweeted that Perez Molina is harming Guatemala:
Otto Perez es un presidente nocivo para nuestra nación y para los principios y valores de la Democracia.
— Rigoberta Menchú Tum (@RigobertMenchu)
August 24, 2015
“Otto Perez's presidency is harmful for our nation and the principles and values of democracy”
An earlier tweet expressed incredulity that a criminal could be allowed to rule Guatemala:
Otto Perez Molina le salió lo chafa, es insólito que un criminal gobierne un país y lo peor es que se trata de nuestro país.
— Rigoberta Menchú Tum (@RigobertMenchu)
August 24, 2015
“Otto Perez Molina turned out to be crappy, it's incredible that a criminal could rule a country, and the worst is that it's our country.”
Her tweets came after the head of state ruled out his resignation Sunday, despite being linked to the “La Linea” corruption case, for which his former Vice President Roxana Baldetti, was arrested last Friday.
RELATED: Perez Molina refuses to resign
Molina is clinging on to power in spite of massive protests that have taken place in the Central American country calling for his resignation, which Menchu has participated in.
Rigoberta Menchu (C) takes part in a 4,000-strong protest outside the Palace of Culture in Guatemala City, Aug. 22, 2015. | Photo: EFE
The evidence of Perez Molina's links to the scandal was presented by the U.N. anti-impunity body in Guatemala, known as CICIG, which Perez Molina has called an "interventionist action”.
The illegal “La Linea” network began around the same time Perez Molina came to power and the subsequent designation of Claudia Mendez Asencio as head of customs in the tax administration in 2013.
In April, Perez Molina and 158 Guatemalan government officials were accused of involvement with the smuggling, tax fraud and money laundering scam through customs agencies in seven countries.
It is thought the criminal gang was headed by the former Vice President Baldetti and retired Captain Juan Carlos Monzon, who offered importers savings of 30-40 percent in freight payments in return for a commission to the group.
Congress granted Perez Molina impunity, prompting the attorney general to call for impeachment proceedings to begin, which coincided with Baldetti's arrest.
The president is becoming increasingly isolated as more voices call for his resignation, including the Archbishop of Guatemala, Vian Morales, and the country's Chamber of Commerce.
RELATED: Who is Otto Perez Molina?