Guatemalan President: spurious persecution should stop
Journalist José Rubén Zamora during his trial, Oct 2024 Photo: @PrensaComunitar
October 22, 2024 Hour: 5:13 pm
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo de León on Tuesday referred to the release of journalist José Rubén Zamora. Zamora spent more than 800 days in prison. The president called for an end to the “spurious persecution.” such as that of the former deputy of the Semilla party, Ligia Hernández.
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The Guatemalan president declared at a press conference at the National Palace of Culture, after meeting with Zamora Marroquín on Monday night, “We had a very long talk about the challenges we have as a country.”
The head of State stressed the commitment of his Government to this principles. He pointed out that Zamora has been an example, that is why he was victim of undue persecution and spurious use of preventive detention.
The 67-year-old journalist was released last Saturday, after his arrest on July 29, 2022 for an alleged money laundering. The accusation was formulated by the Prosecutor’s Office, just five days after issuing strong criticism against the president at the time, Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024).
Arevalo De Leon added “Situations like that of Zamora Marroquín should not be repeated, the spurious use of the judicial system against the uncomfortable press should not be allowed,”
The president called on the new authorities of the Judicial Branch, who took office on October 13, to stop imprisoning inconvenient actors and to act in accordance with the law.
The Public Ministry of Guatemala arrested Ligia Hernández, then director of the Institute of the Victim, in mid-August for the Semilla Corruption case, something that analysts called a completely fabricated maneuver.
Between 2018 and 2024, more than 50 people, including prosecutors, journalists, judges and activists, have gone into exile after reporting being victims of political persecution.
Autor: OSG
Fuente: PL
