The United States asked the Government of Guatemala to respect the due process rights of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, who was detained last Friday by security forces after criticizing the management of President Alejandro Giammattei.
“Safeguarding freedom of the press is essential for democracy. The United States urges full respect for due process under Guatemalan law and the protection of the personal security of José Rubén Zamora,” the head of the US Department of State for Latin America, Brian A. Nichols, pointed out via Twitter. .
Zamora, is founder of the newspaper El Periódico since 1996, and of According to local media, he announced this Saturday that he has declared a hunger strike as a form of protest against his arbitrary detention and also said that he fears for his life.
The Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office accuses the journalist of the crimes of money laundering, influence peddling, blackmail and money laundering conspiracy.
Several national and international organizations have condemned the arrest, including the Association of Journalists of Guatemala, which considers the act as “revenge” for his work.
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