The president Bernardo Arevalo This Monday, July 20, he rejected the actions denounced by students of the University of San Carlos of Guatemala (Usac)who claim that their registrations were canceled and that they face obstacles to enrolling and accessing the university campus.
According to the president, the students have also denounced that these measures would be related to the positions they have expressed regarding the process of electing the rector, Walter Mazariegos.
Arévalo recalled that the election of the rector continues under analysis by the Constitutional Court (CC) and pointed out that the Government presented an amparo to request that the process be repeated with the corresponding legal guarantees. However, he stated that this controversy should not affect the rights of students.
“The right to study, the right to demonstrate, to express one’s opinion and, of course, the right to due process are rights that cannot be suspended while the justice system resolves the challenge,” said the president.
Registration cancellation
The administration of Walter Mazariegos would have canceled the registration of nearly 40 students, according to complaints from members of the university opposition, who attribute the measure to retaliation against those who oppose the continuity of the rector.
So far, university authorities have not publicly explained the reasons for these alleged administrative sanctions.
Mazariegos began a new four-year period as rector on July 1, after being elected in a process whose legality has been questioned by different university sectors, who maintain that the participation of other slates was prevented through administrative and judicial resources.
The collective USAC Dignity and Resistance (USAC-DIRE) He also rejected the measures that, according to that organization, would leave a group of students without access to higher education.
Jennifer de la Cruz, a law student, stated in a video broadcast on social networks that she was not able to enroll in the tenth semester of her degree.
“I am suffering political persecution by the academic authorities of USAC,” he said.
The student reported that on July 15, during the course assignment process at the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences, the system told her that she was not registered at the university.
“When I wanted to assign myself to the semester, I was not allowed, because it says that I am not enrolled in the university,” she stated.
According to De la Cruz, although he has a physical document proving his registration for 2026, the university authorities informed him that they could not find his credentials.
“They have the clear intention of violating a constitutional right, which is the right to higher education,” he added.
Legal actions
The lawyer Edwin Orozcomember of USAC-DIREindicated that the organization began to contact the affected students to establish how many people face this situation.
He added that the group’s lawyers will provide legal advice to those who request it to try to reverse the measures, which he described as arbitrary and illegal.
“We strongly condemn the actions that Walter Mazariegos and his allies have undertaken against the students. What is happening today is a consequence of the fact that magistrates have chosen to protect arbitrariness,” he stated.
Some members of the Higher University Council (CSU)consulted on condition of anonymity, indicated that no sanctions related to the suspension of registrations have been issued recently. However, they pointed out that the cases could correspond to disciplinary procedures initiated previously and carried out recently.
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