(APG/IFEX) – The following is a 28 May 2002 press release by the Press Freedom Committee of the APG: The Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association (APG) condemns the attitude of government authorities who repeatedly and systematically violate constitutional rights to free expression and access to information. Alfredo González Guzmán, the mayor of […]
(APG/IFEX) – The following is a 28 May 2002 press release by the Press Freedom Committee of the APG:
The Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association (APG) condemns the attitude of government authorities who repeatedly and systematically violate constitutional rights to free expression and access to information.
Alfredo González Guzmán, the mayor of Gualán, Zacapa and a supporter of the Guatemalan Republican Front (Frente Republicano Guatemalteco, FRG), along with other officials, including lawyer Guillermo Peralta Romero, who works for the municipality, have consistently prevented access to information.
On 30 May, Peralta verbally assaulted journalist Marvin Sosa Pérez, a member of APG, while he was carrying out his journalistic duties. The incident was reported as a violation to justice officials in Zacapa and the United Nations Verification Mission in Guatemala (MINUGUA).
In Gualán, government authorities denied access to information to reporter Jessica Gramajo, who works for the news agency Cerigua.
On Friday 24 May, Gramajo was denied entry to an awards ceremony at the Department of Culture recognising the University Students Association “Oliverio Castañeda de Leon”.
Using the argument that she was not on the guest list, security guards and officials denied Gramajo entry to the awards ceremony. Denying her entry is unconstitutional because Gramajo presented both her press pass and her national identification card to the guards. Furthermore, Cerigua had received an invitation to the event from the Ministry of External Affairs.
These examples can be added to the already long list of violations against constitutional rights to inform and to be informed about the people of Guatemala.
The Press Freedom Committee condemns before the international community these recent violations against Guatemalan journalists and calls on the government to respect constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Guatemala, 28 May 2002
