Former political prisoners in Guatemala oppose attorney general reelection

Guatemala City, Apr 15 (EFE).- A group of former political prisoners marched on Wednesday in Guatemala City to demand that Attorney General Consuelo Porras be excluded from the selection process for the head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, denouncing what they described as a management marked by “criminalization” against them.

The protest reached the Supreme Court, where participants submitted a formal objection to the nominating commission. (Camera: ALEX CRUZ).

FOOTAGE OF LEOCADIO JURACÁN, PEASANT LEADER SPEAKING DURING A MARCH IN GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA.

SOUNDBITES: LEOCADIO JURACÁN, PEASANT LEADER (IN SPANISH).

TRANSLATION:

- We were criminalized, and many others in rural areas as well, without proper investigation — even in a spurious and politically motivated way. This is clearly political persecution against judges, magistrates, students, activists, and Indigenous peoples, some of whom are now in exile abroad, while others remain detained. There are also arrest warrants and ongoing persecution, including in the case of the University of San Carlos (USAC), as well as organizations and peasant communities that are fighting to defend their territories and natural resources.

There is a global crisis related to climate change, and our role has been precisely to protect natural resources so that this crisis does not worsen. However, the response from state institutions — in this case the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the justice system in Guatemala — has been criminalization.

We would also like to thank the media that have covered our activities, as well as the general public who have shown solidarity when we have been criminalized. We send strength and encouragement to our colleagues who are currently detained, including Luis Pacheco, Héctor Chaclán, Estuardo Campos, Jorge, and Marcelino, who have been imprisoned for fighting for justice in Guatemala and for respect for life and human rights. Thank you very much for covering this activity.