Guatemala: News & Updates

The article discusses the recent intervention of the Biden administration in the presidential election in Guatemala, supporting the center-left candidate, Bernardo Arevelo. Arevelo's surprising victory faced opposition from the conservative establishment in Guatemala, including the outgoing president and ultra-conservative lawmakers. In response, the Biden administration, concerned about the threat to democracy, applied pressure on the Guatemalan elite to accept the election outcome. This included canceling visas for nearly 300 Guatemalans, prompting protests and eventually leading to Arevelo taking office on January 15, 2024. The article reflects on Guatemala's history of U.S. interference, particularly the 1954 CIA intervention that ousted President Arbenz, and suggests that the recent U.S. intervention marks a commendable shift toward supporting democracy in the region. The piece raises questions about the future stability of Arevelo's presidency given the opposition he faces within Guatemala.

Medea Benjamin and Steve Ellner argue that the Trump and Biden administrations' continuation of the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine has led to disastrous consequences in Latin America. The authors highlight the failure of US policies towards Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, leading to economic sanctions, coup attempts, and a migration crisis. They propose a new approach based on Franklin D. Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor Policy" from the 1930s, emphasizing the need to end military intervention, close US military bases in the region, stop political meddling, eliminate economic blackmail, and support trade policies that benefit people and the environment. The authors also call for a humane immigration policy, recognizing Latin America's cultural contributions and addressing the root causes of migration. They argue that a New Good Neighbor Policy is essential for mutual respect, non-intervention, and cooperation in the 21st century.

On December 23, 2023, the community of Aguacatán, Huehuetenango celebrated the publication of a Municipal Water Protection Agreement in the Official Journal of Central America (Diario Oficial de Centroamérica). The Water Protection Agreement symbolizes the recognition of Indigenous people’s right to land and water in the Municipal Code, and the power of local grassroots organizing.

The article discusses the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR) in Guatemala, formed in response to the country's armed conflict. The AJR played a crucial role in the landmark 2013 case that sentenced former dictator Efraín Ríos Montt for genocide. The interview with Romelia, a Maya Achí woman and AJR's leader, highlights their ongoing struggles for justice, historical memory, and transitional justice. Despite successes, challenges persist, including corruption, impunity, and efforts to obstruct justice. The AJR participated in the 2023 national strike for democracy, expressing concerns about the new government's ability to address corruption in the judicial system. Romelia emphasizes the importance of international support to continue their work for justice, historical memory, and the rights of Indigenous communities.

The article narrates the story of Indigenous communities in the Ixquisis valley in north-west Guatemala facing a conflict over a hydroelectric project by the company Energía y Renovación. The company promised development benefits, but locals, led by figures like Juan Alonzo and María Bautista, opposed it due to environmental concerns and false promises. The opposition intensified, leading to violent clashes and the death of Sebastián Alonzo in 2017. The article highlights the dangers faced by environmental activists in Latin America and the pivotal role of women like Bautista in opposing the project. Their efforts, including legal actions, led to the withdrawal of funding for the project in 2022, emphasizing the importance of protecting water resources for the Indigenous communities. Despite the setback, Energía y Renovación remains determined to continue the project.

As we dive into our work for the New Year, we wanted to take a moment to thank you. You’ve helped bring about change  in Guatemala! Shortly after midnight. on January 15, Bernardo Arévalo was inaugurated as Guatemala's president, fulfilling the hopes of many for a new Guatemalan spring.

Until the last minute, sectors opposed to his presidency threatened to derail the inauguration, which was delayed  by nearly nine hours. At around 11:00 PM, former president Alejandro Giammattei–who has now been denied a visa for the United States, due to well-founded evidence of corruption–turned the office over the to Guatemalan Congress rather than to Arévalo, saying he feared that midnight, the deadline for the transfer of power, would arrive without the transition. He did not appear at the inauguration.

Over the last 12 months, there have been 1,482 ICE removal flights, mostly to Latin America and the Caribbean. Notably, there is a focus on removal flights to countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, raising concerns about the impact on individuals' rights and well-being. Three-quarters of removal flights are to those three countries. 

The lack of access to asylum at ports of entry has led to distressing situations for asylum seekers. US lawmakers are considering stricter restrictions on asylum, jeopardizing the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals. The need for improving access to asylum and addressing the challenges faced by asylum seekers, especially women and children, is crucial. 

Read the full IRTF Migrant Justice Newsletter each month at https://www.irtfcleveland.org/blog .

Former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei has been barred from entering the U.S. due to allegations of significant corruption. The U.S. State Department cites credible information indicating that Giammattei accepted bribes during his tenure as president of Guatemala, undermining the rule of law and government transparency. Giammattei faced criticism for not reviving a U.N.-backed anti-corruption watchdog and clashed with the U.S. over efforts to curb graft. He was replaced by anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo, who was sworn in after a chaotic inauguration. Arevalo emphasizes democracy advocacy and aims to reshape Guatemala's political landscape. Giammattei has not commented on the allegations.

On January 14, 2024, Guatemala marks the beginning of its second Democratic Spring as a genuinely democratic government takes power, only the third time in the country's history. The first democratic government emerged in 1944, followed by a U.S. military coup in 1954 that ended it. Rights Action acknowledges the efforts of prosecutors, judges, lawyers, and Congress members resisting systemic corruption. The Semilla Party and newly inaugurated President Bernardo Arevalo and VP Karin Herrera receive thanks and respect. The Guatemalan people, particularly the Mayan indigenous population, endured 60 years of repression, corruption, exploitation, and violence. Sustained protests in the past six months played a crucial role in ensuring the lawful transition of power. Rights Action pledges continued support for indigenous and campesino communities in their struggles for land, rights, and environmental defense. The focus includes truth, memory, and justice work, as well as empowering indigenous Ancestral Councils as watchdogs in the new Democratic Spring.