GUATEMALA CITY — A coalition of press freedom teams expressed concern Wednesday about what they referred to as the “historic” threats going through Guatemalan journalists due to authorities prosecutions.

The assertion from the Committee to Protect Journalists, Article 19 and Reporters Without Borders, amongst others stated the scenario “is extremely worrisome, not just for the rights of journalists to report, but mainly for the public’s right to be informed.”

Their go to got here two days after the closure of a Guatemalan newspaper identified for hard-hitting investigations of presidency corruption. The founding father of the newspaper was jailed final yr.

The report stated the federal government of President Alejandro Giammattei had focused some media shops to discourage others from reporting about corruption.

“Daring to report on the corruption and impunity endemic in the Guatemalan government was enough to unleash prosecution,” the assertion learn. “The media are facing historic threats.”

The final digital version of the newspaper El Periódico got here out Monday. It had stopped its print version in November, however had continued to publish as a digital outlet.

The paper’s founder, José Rubén Zamora, is on trial for cash laundering and different expenses, allegations he has stated had been trumped as much as silence an unbiased media outlet that has been vital of Giammattei’s administration.

Prosecutors accuse Zamora of cash laundering associated to a deposit of about $30,000 he requested another person to make for him. Zamora’s relations have stated it was a donation from a supporter to cowl the day-to-day prices of the paper after promoting fell off below authorities strain. Zamora has stated he didn’t deposit the cash within the newspaper’s account as a result of the donor didn’t need to be recognized.

In addition to Zamora, 9 different journalists and columnists from El Periódico are below investigation for alleged obstruction of justice.

The Guatemalan Association of Journalists and human rights activists have referred to as the case a politically motivated marketing campaign in opposition to Zamora due to his anti-corruption efforts.

The report stated at the least 20 Guatemala journalists have been pressured to flee the nation in recent times. The teams stated that they had requested a gathering with the federal government, however bought no reply.

“While the government is incapable of protecting journalists or investigating attacks against them, it is quick to accuse and criminalize them,” the teams stated.

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