CPJ joins call for Guatemalan authorities to drop criminal charges against journalist Anastasia Mejía
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 50 human rights organizations, media outlets, and individuals in a statement calling on Guatemalan authorities to drop all remaining charges against Indigenous radio journalist Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz. Mejía is facing charges of sedition and aggravated attack for her alleged participation in an August 24, 2020, demonstration, according to…
Guatemalan journalists Marvin del Cid and Sonny Figueroa receive mailed threat
Los Angeles, December 15, 2020 — Guatemalan authorities must quickly and thoroughly investigate the threatening letter sent to journalists Marvin del Cid and Sonny Figueroa, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 7, del Cid, founder of the local press freedom group Artículo 35 and a contributing…
Guatemalan journalist Jovanna García attacked while covering anti-government protest
Los Angeles, December 4, 2020 – Guatemalan authorities should ensure journalists’ safety while covering protests and investigate attacks on the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 28, a man participating in an anti-government demonstration in Guatemala City hit Jovanna García, a journalist with the online outlet Ruda, with an iron pole in…
Guatemalan journalist Mario Ortega shot and killed
Los Angeles, November 18, 2020 — Guatemalan authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the killing of journalist Mario Ortega and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 10, two unidentified individuals shot Ortega outside his home in the southwestern city of San José, according to…
Indigenous journalist Anastasia Mejía arrested in central Guatemala
Managua, Nicaragua, September 28, 2020 – Guatemalan authorities should immediately release radio journalist Anastasia Mejía, drop the charges against her, and guarantee that journalists can report freely without persecution, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 22, the Guatemalan National Civil Police (PNC) arrested journalist Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz, director of the radio station…
Guatemalan journalist Francisco Chox attacked by protesters, arrested while covering land dispute
Managua, Nicaragua, June 17, 2020 – Guatemalan authorities should immediately release journalist Francisco Chox and open a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 11, a group of protesters in the municipality of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, in Sololá department, detained Chox while he…
Journalist Carlos Choc’s home robbed in southeast Guatemala
Managua, Nicaragua, April 21, 2020 — Guatemalan authorities should immediately investigate the robbery of journalist Carlos Ernesto Choc’s home, determine if it was related to his reporting, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
New Guatemalan president must work hard to improve press freedom
Conditions for journalists fundamentally unsound just as coronavirus hits New York, March 27, 2020 —Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei has an opportunity to reverse a longstanding trend of obstruction, legal harassment, orchestrated online attacks, and threats of violence against the press, but it will take an unwavering commitment to overcome the failures of past administrations, the…
Trust deficit: About This Report
With a new president in office, Guatemala has the opportunity to reverse years of declining press freedom after the country’s journalists endured obstruction, legal harassment, orchestrated online attacks, and threats of violence. To win back trust, the administration will need to make a strong commitment to transparency and provide enough resources to combat impunity in…
Trust deficit: Guatemala’s new president must overcome skepticism to improve press freedom
With a new president in office, Guatemala has the opportunity to reverse years of declining press freedom after the country’s journalists endured obstruction, legal harassment, orchestrated online attacks, and threats of violence. To win back trust, the administration will need to make a strong commitment to transparency and provide enough resources to combat impunity in…