Protests have been taking place in Guatemala, where citizens have been demanding the resignation of president Alejandro Giammattei and other members of its cabinet over corruption and mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the calls by Indigenous leaders for a “paro nacional,” i.e. a nationwide shutdown, on Thursday, communities and unions rallied and blocked roads around the country to demand the resignation of the president and attorney general.
In Los Encuentros, Sololá, the Pan-American highway is packed and people are still arriving. There’s a #ParoNacional29J shutdown called by Indigenous authorities and social movements in #Guatemala today, with nationwide protests to demand the president & attorney general resign. pic.twitter.com/XYBGziIwEC
— Sandra Cuffe (@Sandra_Cuffe) July 29, 2021
Protesters have also demanded resignation of the head of the Public Ministry (MP), attorney general Consuelo Porras.
On July 23, Attorney General Consuelo Porras fired prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval who was the head of the Special Anti-Impunity Prosecutor’s Bureau, or FECI. Porras’s office referred to bias and disrespect as the reason for Sandoval’s termination as head. Sandoval responded in a press conference and raised allegations that Porras stood in the way of FECI’s work so as to protect high-level officials, particularly those in the president’s circle, from prosecution for corruption. The allegations have been refuted by Porras and President Alejandro Giammattei.
Marches, rallies, and highway shutdown protests will continue all day here in Los Encuentros and throughout #Guatemala. For #ParoNacional29J updates, follow @PrensaComunitar and @crfger. They have networks of Indigenous and other community-based correspondents around the country. pic.twitter.com/Jpib3dYR9K
— Sandra Cuffe (@Sandra_Cuffe) July 29, 2021
On Thursday, there were rallies in 22 departments of the country, which continued on Friday as well. The protests were summoned and organised mainly via social media by Indigenous leaders and organizations. These figureheads have been vocal in their demands for ousting corruption in the presidential circle and in their criticisms of last year’s budget cut in sectors such as education, health, and justice.
Read: Deadly Fires in Coasts and Rural Areas of Turkey for Past Three Days
