(APG/IFEX) – In three 19 November 1998 press releases, the APG expressed its solidarity with the dailies “Prensa Libre” and “Al Día”, and rejected continued limits on constitutional rights. Following are the three cases: 1. The APG is deeply concerned by the government’s systematic attacks on the daily “Prensa Libre”. Comments attacking the paper were […]
(APG/IFEX) – In three 19 November 1998 press releases, the APG expressed
its solidarity with the dailies “Prensa Libre” and “Al Día”, and rejected
continued limits on constitutional rights. Following are the three cases:
1. The APG is deeply concerned by the government’s systematic attacks on
the daily “Prensa Libre”. Comments attacking the paper were made through
the official news organ “Avances” after “Prensa Libre” reported that,
according to reliable sources, the government has been politicizing the
distribution of aid (monies from state coffers and from other nations,
international organizations and ordinary Guatemalans) to victims of
hurricane Mitch. The APG considers that this natural disaster, which has
affected tens of thousands of Guatemalans, should not be a pretext to play
partisan politics, which spoil the objective of helping those who have
suffered losses. “Avances” was used as a government propaganda tool; it
ignored its responsibility to function separately from political agendas.
2. The APG denounces the intimidation of the daily “Al Día”. According to
reports by staff at the paper, “Al Día” received anonymous telephone calls
threatening that its offices would be bombed. This is a clear, open
challenge to free expression, a right guaranteed under the Constitution.
The APG expresses its solidarity with the administrative and editorial
staff of the daily, and urges the government to have its security forces
investigate the incidents to avoid a bomb attack which could cost lives as
well as threaten freedom of expression.
3. The APG is concerned by the government’s decision to extend the state of
emergency, which includes restrictions on constitutional rights like
freedom of movement, and suspends Article 6 of the Constitution to allow
arrests without warrants. The APG believes these measures were justified in
the worst days following hurricane Mitch. However, now that the worst has
passed, the APG believes it is unreasonable to limit freedoms and allow for
arbitrary arrests across Guatemala. Other conditions are prevailing now,
and these restrictions are indefinitely suspending the public consultations
on constitutional reform.
