By: Staff Writer
November 10, 2023
The US State Department has sanctioned a dozen individuals from Guatemala by revoking their visas, in a latest move of how the country is handling its post-election crisis.
The State Department in a statement said: “The United States rejects the continued efforts to undermine Guatemala’s peaceful transition of power to President-elect Arévalo. Most recently, the Guatemalan Public Ministry seized electoral materials under the custody of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), called for the forced removal of peaceful protestors, pressed for the removal of the Minister of Governance who protected the right to peaceful protest, and sought to lift the immunity of a member of Congress who publicly expressed concern about these anti-democratic measures.
“These acts followed earlier attempts to strip TSE officials’ immunity in addition to raids on their offices and the storage facilities that house elections results records. Such anti-democratic behavior undermines Guatemala’s democratic institutions and is inconsistent with the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. We join other regional and international institutions, including the OAS and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, in calling for a transfer of power that respects popular will and adheres to the rule of law in Guatemala.
“The United States stands with those seeking to safeguard democracy and rule of law in Guatemala. Under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, we are imposing visa restrictions on over a dozen individuals, and their immediate family members, for undermining democracy and the rule of law. These individuals include Public Ministry officials and other public and private sector actors engaging in undermining democracy or the rule of law in Guatemala. The Guatemalan people have spoken. Their voices must be respected.”
The move comes weeks after activists blocked roads in demonstration to support President-elect Bernardo Arévalo after Guatemala’s highest court upheld a move by prosecutors to suspend his political party over alleged voter registration fraud.
Arévalo has denounced the suspension as a “coup” aimed neutralizing him before he takes office in January, and his supporters are demanding the resignation of the prosecutors responsible.
Guatemala’s attorney general, Consuelo Porras, has called for the government to act against the largely peaceful protesters. The protests stem as a result of her actions in investigating the Arévalo election campaign.
Since Arévalo’s surprise win in August, Guatemalan officials have been ratcheting up pressure on his supporters.
Ms Porras — herself sanctioned in 2022 over corruption allegations — has become the face of the government’s alleged efforts to stop the transition.
Porras first drew international attention after ordering investigations against lawyers, judges and advocates linked to anti corruption efforts in the country, leading to the sanctions against her.
U.S. officials see her actions, at least implicitly supported by outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei, as a threat to stability in the country, which is both a major source of migration to the United States and a necessary pathway for other migrants from South and Central America.