Our online meeting heard an excellent presentation on Guatemala from Pauline Uyterwijk-Crosfield, Amnesty UK country coordinator for Guatemala and Nicaragua.

Background: Guatemala has a population of about 17.25 million of whom 41% are indigenous Maya. It is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Its main sources of income are tourism and remittances from Guatemalans living abroad.

Guatemala is beset by gang violence while trying to recover from a long and bitter civil war in which over 200,000 were killed (largely Mayan) including over 40,000 who were 'disappeared'. Current and recent problems include restrictions on freedom of expression, making life difficult for Human Rights defenders, 'foreign agents' (NGOs funded from abroad), perceived political opponents, journalists and protesters. Any of these could find themselves on the receiving end of criminal prosecution. By way of contrast, cases of corruption have been closed. One of the sources of hope is the widespread support from the general population as a whole for those under attack.

The legal profession in particular has been undermined. Judges appointed to the Supreme Court and all Appeals Courts are appointed by Congress. Thirty judicial officials have left the country since 2018.

Pauline took us through the case of Virginia Laparra, a prosecutor, who in 2017 filed a case against a judge for leaking information in a corruption case.  The judge in turn brought criminal charges against Virginia leading to a four year sentence . The UN has denounced the outcome as unlawful. Further charges have been brought against Virginia which could significantly increase her sentence. Pauline quoted a letter from Virginia in which she said she was 'deeply grateful for your support for not forgetting me, for accompanying me and working with me to regain my liberty'.

There is some hope for change with a new president elected in August 2023 on an anti-corruption ticket. However prosecutors have moved against the party of President elect Arevalo who has described their actions as an attempted coup against him.  A case brought by President elect Arevalo against these actions has been thrown out by the Supreme Court.

Pauline also mentioned the case of Claudia Orellana, a former official of CICIG (the UN Campaign against Corruption and Impunity in Guatemala). She had been the legal representative of other former CICIG officials against whom criminal charges had been brought in retaliation for their own work against corruption. Consistent with this playbook, charges have now been brought against Claudia.

On a positive note, Pauline mentioned the release of Bernardo Caal, a defender of indigenous and environmental rights. This followed a 27,000 signature petition seeking his release and over 30,000 letters of solidarity.