Thousands of people blocked several roads in Guatemala this Monday to protest against the actions of the prosecutor’s office and seize the minutes recording the column for the second round of elections over the weekend. BERNARDO AREVALO DE LEONThe last to win the presidency in a runoff.
Demonstrations are going on Especially intense in the Totonicapán sector.
A section of the Atlantic Highway has been blocked by protesters. Numerous blockades are expected throughout the day on major arteries leading into and out of cities, which is why authorities have established a strong police force to ensure people’s safety.
Tribal people and farmers declared a national strike in response to the prosecutor’s office’s attack on the electoral process. These include searches, polling surveys, arrest warrants and requests to remove the immunity of election magistrates.
Aliezer AranaSinha Parliament’s domestic authority told the agency AP The country is “experiencing a coup d’état, a blow to democracy and the rule of law, affecting communities across the country.”
Arana – one of the indigenous officials who called for the national protest – vowed to continue the demonstrations until his demand for the resignation of the attorney general is answered. Consuelo Boras The Constitutional Court will have to deal with petitions raised to put an end to “improper actions” by the prosecutor’s office.
“The Constitutional Court covers everything that is happening and can restore peace to us, so we can wait in peace for the new elected officials to take office,” Arana said.
He added that “Guatemala has always been an oppressive state for indigenous peoples.”“But now it is becoming more complicated and they are tightening the situation so that we are living in a state of insecurity without democracy.”
Saturday and after the raid, the prosecutor’s office, along with at least 100 police officers, Thousands of minutes containing the results of the first round of elections were hijacked 22 political parties contested for more than 4,000 public posts.
The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) broadcast live the seizure of the minutes, and observed how the police and members of the prosecutor’s office pushed and humiliated election judges who tried to prevent them from taking the records. The Elections and Political Parties Act, in constitutional terms, provides custody and protection of election materials only to the TSE.
international community, Organization of American States (OAS)Businessmen, students, professionals, religion and trade unions have rejected the prosecutor’s office’s actions.
Arevalo de Leonwho has already been officially declared the winner of the elections and He will take office on January 14, 2024, denounced the Attorney General as leading a coup to prevent Porus from taking office. The prosecutor’s office has denied the allegations.
Along with the Vice President-elect, Karin HerreraThey called on citizens the day before to take to the streets to protest the “coup”.
The prosecutor’s office has more than 15 complaints against the electoral process and the Semilla movement that brought Arrivalo to the presidency, which was accelerated when he won the presidency.
Boras, as well as the prosecutor Raphael Kuruchich And the judge Freddy Orellana – It accumulates complaints against the electoral process- Approved by the US Government For impeding the fight against corruption, undermining democracy in Guatemala, and issuing judicial decisions for political purposes.
(With information from AP and Europa Press)