Justice
On World Press Freedom Day, Guatemalan journalists raised their voice in front of the Tower of Courts to denounce the persecution, criminalization and the forced exile of colleagues.
Journalists who integrate the group will not silence us demand that their work be respected and the press release. (Free Press Photo: Emilio Chang)
In commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, dozens of journalists concentrated in the Civic Center, zone 1 of the capital, to demand the cessation of persecution and criminalization against communicators in the country.
Criminal law is being used and the Public Ministry is being used in coexistence with some judges and magistrates to persecute our colleagues; More than 20 journalists are in exile, said Marielos Monzón, from the collective they will not shut up.
The journalists screened a mapping with 25 stories of persecuted journalists on a facade of the Palace of Justice and the Tower of Courts, with the message “here the truth falls.”
We are here to join their voices, but also to say that the persecution of Guatemala’s journalism ceases. We need decent conditions to do our work, but, above all, security and freedom (…) are 25 stories of colleagues who have been attacked, criminalized, persecuted, exiled and imprisoned, Monzón said.
Among other demands is freedom for the journalist José Rubén Zamora and the safe return of journalists living in exile. In addition, they ask the Government for strong actions to guarantee the journalistic exercise in the country, and that the judges and prosecutors comply with the law.
We are defending the right of the Guatemalans to be informed, they said.