Guatemalan journalist essential of president arrested – Instances of India

Law enforcement officials escort Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora, founder and president of newspaper El Periodico after being detained by Guatemalan authorities. (Reuters)

GUATEMALA CITY: Guatemalan police on Friday arrested journalist Jose Ruben Zamora and raided the places of work of El Periodico, a newspaper he based which has accused key political figures within the nation of corruption.
The publication’s workers denounced the actions as retaliation for its earlier reporting on President Alejandro Giammattei, in addition to Legal professional Common Consuelo Porras, whom america designated earlier this yr for “important corruption.”
Zamora was arrested at his house within the south of Guatemala Metropolis on expenses of “potential cash laundering,” Juan Luis Pantaleon, a spokesman for the Public Prosecutor’s Workplace, instructed AFP.
“It isn’t for his journalistic work, however as a businessman,” Pantaleon mentioned.
As he was transferred to courtroom, Zamora instructed reporters he was placing himself “on the disposal of justice to see what occurs.”
“I think about there have to be a conspiracy, a persecution… and if that’s the case, love for Guatemala have to be paid with jail,” he added.
The headquarters of El Periodico, which has acquired worldwide recognition for its work, had been raided by police.
In social media posts, the newspaper mentioned the lawyer normal was “following via on her threats in opposition to the president of El Periodico. They won’t silence us.”
The Guatemalan Ombudsman Jordan Rodas mentioned Zamora’s arrest was regrettable.
“We’re in a really troublesome second. I might not prefer to suppose that we have gotten Nicaragua 2.0,” Rodas mentioned, referring to the prosecution and conviction of journalists essential of President Daniel Ortega in recent times.
In June, the Inter-American Fee on Human Rights added Guatemala to its record of nations the place it has famous severe human rights violations, a cost Giammattei rejects. Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua are additionally on the record.
The general public prosecutor’s workplace, beneath the management of Porras, has been criticized for arresting and prosecuting a number of anti-mafia judges and prosecutors.