Published December 12,2023
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The U.S. on Monday introduced visa restrictions on practically 300 Guatemalan nationals, together with over 100 members of the Guatemalan Congress, for allegedly undermining democracy and the rule of legislation, specifically their alleged efforts to dam the outcomes of presidential elections this June.
“The United States stands with those seeking to safeguard democracy and rule of law in Guatemala and ensure that the will of the Guatemalan people is respected,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller mentioned in an announcement.
The visa restrictions had been taken underneath the Immigration and Nationality Act, in keeping with Miller, who mentioned that the U.S. will proceed to take such steps on any people who “undermine Guatemala’s democracy.”
“The United States strongly condemns ongoing anti-democratic actions by Guatemala’s Public Ministry and other malign actors who undermine Guatemala’s rule of law,” Miller mentioned, noting the ministry’s announcement of arrest warrants for electoral staff and social gathering representatives, its request to take away the immunity of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo, and its makes an attempt to annul electoral outcomes.
“These actions are plainly inconsistent with the Inter American Democratic Charter,” he mentioned.
“These brazen measures follow a long list of other anti-democratic actions including: the lifting of immunity of electoral magistrates, the political targeting of opposition members, the intimidation of peaceful protestors, raids on storage facilities housing election result records, and the opening of ballot boxes.”
Last week, alleging “anomalies” within the vote, prosecutors threatened to annul the June electoral victory of Arevalo, who is ready to take workplace on Jan. 14
Arevalo, who has vowed to struggle corruption within the Central American nation, in current months has confronted hurdle after hurdle to his efforts to take workplace.
Source: www.anews.com.tr