DEMONSTRATORS AT RISK AMID CLAMPDOWN ON DISSENT

Since October 2, thousands of Indigenous people in Guatemala have taken to the streets to protest criminal proceedings led by the Public Ministry to investigate electoral authorities and the party of anti-corruption advocate Bernardo Arévalo, who won the presidential election on August 20. The protestors accuse the government of misusing the criminal justice system to prevent Mr Arévalo from assuming office in January 2024.   

The protests were called by the indigenous authorities of 48 Cantons of Totonicapán, the Indigenous Mayoralty of Sololá, Santa Lucía Utatlán, San Cristóbal Totonicapán, the Xinca Parliament, the Ixil People and other indigenous peoples. Students from several universities quickly joined the protests which have been peaceful. While they include road blockades in different parts of the country, protestors have allowed the passage of ambulances and perishable goods in many locations.

Riot police stand guard as demonstrators block a road on October 10 during a protest demanding the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras, accused of persecution against President-elect Bernardo Arevalo. Photo: Johan Ordonez/AFP via Getty Images

However, on October 9, President Alejandro Giammattei declared that "the blockades are illegal". He alluded to alleged acts of violence, several of which have been attributed to shock groups or infiltrators. The President announced that arrest warrants will be issued against student protestors, as well as foreign nationals who have participated in or supported the protests. On October 11, the Constitutional Court authorized Guatemalan authorities to limit the right to peaceful assembly. 

There is fear of  the use of force against demonstrators, especially as significant police deployments have been observed.

The clampdown on peaceful protest is taking place amid closing civic space and generalized criminalization of dissent. At least 60 human rights defenders, anti-corruption prosecutors, justice defenders and journalists have had to flee the country to avoid unjust detention.