José Ruven Zamora, editor and founder of the newspaper El Periódico, a fierce critic of the government, was convicted, among other things, of money laundering and extortion, with him denouncing a “fabricated” indictment.
The sentencing of a newspaper publisher and fierce critic of the government to six years in prison in Guatemala was strongly criticized by Washington and press freedom organizations, who saw in the verdict a “threat against independent journalism” in the Central American state.
For the head of US diplomacy in Latin America Brian Nichols, the conviction of José Ruven Zamora, publisher and founder of the newspaper El Periódico, “threatens independent journalism and freedom of expression in Guatemala.”
“The world will be watching the health and physical integrity” of the 66-year-old journalist, Mr Nicholls added via Twitter.
According to the publisher and founder of El Periodico, President Alejandro Yamate and Attorney General Consuelo Porras, whom the US has blacklisted as “corrupt” figures, completely fabricated the indictment to silence him and his newspaper, after publication of investigations into corruption cases involving the government.
“I am innocent and [σ.σ. ο πρόεδρος Γιαματέι] he continues to be a thief,” he said after being convicted of money laundering, extortion and influence peddling. The prosecutor was asking for the heaviest sentence, 40 years in prison. Both Mr. Zamora and the prosecution have announced that they will appeal.
Mr. Zamora’s conviction testifies to “the lack of judicial independence in Guatemala,” commented Michael Greenspon, president of the Inter-American Press Association (SIP).
It is “at least suspicious” that “a journalist whose complaints led to the imprisonment of presidents and top government officials ends up in prison”, SIP said in a statement.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called the publisher’s conviction a “disgrace” and the process against him a “farce”: the verdict, it said, reveals how “freedom of expression has been eroded” in Guatemala.
Washington-based human rights NGO WOLA condemned the decision, while Pedro Vaca, special rapporteur on freedom of expression at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), added his voice to those criticizing the decision. .
Source :Skai
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