Guatemalan court convicts prominent journalist José Rubén Zamora - another fight against press freedom
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The more the world push for press freedom and quality and truthful journalism, the more the fight against it from corrupt officials and governments across the world. How would the world get better if people can't say the truth without being attacked or threatened. It's time to join the lovers of truth and fairness in discrediting any fight against truthful journalism. Good evening!
Just two days ago I read a post on Julian Assange's permission denied by bntcamelo and this denial means that the innocent journalist's human rights will clapped upon. It's so unfortunate for Assange that his quest to set the pace for truthful journalism has brought him pains and suffering.
Today's it's Reuben Zamora that has been sentenced to 6 years term in Guatemala prison for his efforts to write against corrupt leaders and officials in the South American country.
An award-winning journalist in Guatemala has been convicted on criminal charges, in what human rights observers call yet another blow to press freedom and democracy in the Central American country.
In announcing its decision on Wednesday, a court in Guatemala City found Zamora had “harmed the Guatemalan economy”. The public prosecutor’s office sought a 40-year sentence in the case.
Zamora, however, was absolved on charges of blackmail and influence peddling due to the lack of evidence presented by prosecutors.
The journalist, known for exposing corruption in Guatemala, still faces two other criminal cases, one pertaining to signatures on customs documents that did not match. That case was filed just days ahead of the sentencing.
The trial which held for just 20 days with 11 hearings has raised questions by critics who believe that the quick trial proves that the prosecutors and the court had ulterior motives, which is to frustrate Zamora's publications on topics and findings against corrupt officials in the current administration.
Zamora wasn't sued alone, the prosecutors also filed a case against his newspaper, the El Periódico.
While the public prosecutor’s office has long maintained the case against Zamora was not about his journalism, critics say the accusations and rapid nature of the trial suggest otherwise.
The case stems from allegations made by Ronald Garcia Navarijo, a former banker accused of corruption, about a deposit of $38,000 that Zamora allegedly asked someone to make on his behalf, as part of a money-laundering scheme.
Other irregularities occurred throughout the trial, including Zamora being forced to change lawyers eight times, with at least four facing criminal charges related to the case.
In a statement, El Periodico’s leadership blamed “persecution” for shuttering the newsroom, as well as “the harassment of our advertisers”. Both Zamora’s case and El Periodico’s closure have raised concerns in the international community.
“They’re using all these tools to basically put [Zamora] out of business,” Carlos Martinez de la Serna, programme director with the US-based Committee to Protect Journalists, told Al Jazeera.
This on its own isn't fair for journalism in Guatamala and other states suffering from lack of press freedom. Arresting, detaining and prosecuting an innocent journalists who has evidence(s) against a particular administration or official holding a public office.
This to me is targeted towards silencing journalists who are already in the process of releasing informations that'll indict an administration or official. It should be noted that such society can never be developed in any way because in it society will grow to the point that it'll completely eat up the fabrics of the economy.
Critics say the criminalisation of journalists has become further entrenched since President Giammattei took the oath of office in 2020. A number of renowned journalists have been forced into exile, while others have faced criminal charges and threats.
For example, Anastasia Mejía, a community journalist in Joyabaj, Quiche, was arrested in 2020 on charges of sedition and arson following her coverage of protests against the mayor of the largely Indigenous municipality in Guatemala’s western highlands. The charges were dropped a year after she was first accused.
I think it's time for the international community to come in to rescue Guatemala and push for press freedom. This is the only way to stop the furtherance of corruption in the South American country.
References:
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/14/guatemalan-court-convicts-prominent-journalist-jose-ruben-zamora
- https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/guatemala-convicts-renowned-journalist-jos-rubn-zamora-money-100078597
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/14/guatemala-convict-journalist-prison-jose-ruben-zamora
- https://www.arise.tv/guatemala-sentences-renowned-journalist-jose-ruben-zamora-to-six-years-in-money-laundering-case/