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Guatemalan journalist arrested
from BBC MONITOR 28
Media condemn arrest of prominent Guatemalan journalist
In late July the Guatemalan authorities arrested one of the country’s most respected journalists, José Rubén Zamora, five days after strong accusations of corruption against several officials and former officials were published in the newspaper. Latin American specialist María Martín writes.
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Journalist protests against the arrest of Zamora
JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES MONITORING.BBC.CO.UK
The arrest on 29 July of José Rubén Zamora, publisher of Guatemala's opposition daily El Periódico, quickly became the focus of intense reporting and media commentary in the Central American nation.
Guatemalan media reported that he was being charged with money laundering, influence trafficking and blackmailing, according to local sources.
But others suggested the Guatemalan authorities were acting against him in retaliation for his newspaper publishing of stories highlighting official corruption.
Zamora "is one of the main critics of the government of [Guatemalan President] Alejandro Giammattei, and his arrest took place five days after strong complaints against several officials and former officials for corruption in a Sunday section of the morning paper," a tweet published in El Periódico's official account argued.
Another tweet by El Periódico warned: "We will not be silenced".
Zamora, who has won several international journalism awards including Columbia University's prestigious Maria Moors Cabot award, told local media after his arrest that he was the victim of "a conspiracy".
President Alejandro Giammattei speaks in interview
JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Quick condemnation
Soon after police and judiciary officials raided the offices of El Periódico and the home of its publisher in the capital, Guatemala City, several local television channels including Guatevisión and Canal Antigua live-streamed the scene outside the Zamora residence.
There was quick condemnation of the arrest, with civil society groups calling – often through statements published by El Periódico itself – for Zamora's release.
An editorial in El Periódico quoted a statement by the Guatemalan Conference of Catholic Bishops calling Zamora's detention "a de facto attack against press freedom in the country".
Other media outlets, such as radio network Emisoras Unidas reported calls led by El Periódico for a street demonstration outside a Guatemala City courthouse to demand the journalist's release.
Guatemala's Prensa Libre, another major national news outlet, echoed the "strong condemnation" voiced by the Interamerican Press Association against what it described as "intimidation of the press".
Ironically, some analysts said, Zamora’s arrest took place the same day the Guatemalan Press Association (APG) released a report highlighting attacks on press freedoms. According to digital newspaper La Hora, the APG reported that some 350 attacks on journalists had taken place since President Alejandro Giammattei took office in 2020.
Zamora attends hearing in Guatemala City
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Authorities insist arrest ‘does not target journalism’
Rafael Curruchiche, the head of Guatemala's Public Ministry’s AntiCorruption unit, known as the FECI (The Special Prosecutor Against Impunity), told the press Zamora was being charged, “as an individual businessman, not as a journalist, and this action is not against his paper”.
An analytical piece on the digital website Plaza Pública questioned that the paper itself was not a target when it noted its offices had been raided: A subtitle in that article read: “MP (Public Ministry) hindered the work of the media" and noted: “The prosecutors removed more than 30 people in charge of printing and distributing the morning paper from the administrative offices …The outlet was forced to find an alternative location to print the 30 July hard copy edition.”
From detention, José Rubén Zamora was quoted in numerous press accounts saying he was worried about the future of El Periódico, as he was its principal source of funds. But he insisted that his paper would not be silenced.
Meanwhile, Prensa Libre reported he had gone on a hunger strike, to protest what he called the political conspiracy against him and the paper he founded in 1996.
María Martín is a journalist in our Miami-based Latin America team
Zamora speaks with a journalist after hearing in the Palace of Justice, Guatemala City, on 30 July 2022
JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
