Guatemala: Indigenous Journalist Anastasia Mejía Is Arrested Without Hearing Over Her Reporting On Anti-Corruption Protests

Location: Guatemala, Joyabaj
Date: October 12, 2020

Xol Abaj radio reporter and indigenous rights activist Anastasia Mejia was arrested on September 22 with charges of “sedition”, “aggravated attack”, “arson” and “aggravated robbery” following her broadcast from Joyabaj central square informing the public about the protests against corruption.

A month before her detention, on August 24, Anastasia broadcasted live the protests from the central square of Joyabaj. The protests were organized by local small business owners and residents who questioned the use of public resources. Police violence and the arrogant behavior of Mayor Florencio Carrascosa Gámez caused agitation among the protesters which resulted in destruction, vandalism and arsonry of public property, while the mayor and his bodyguards fled through the back door. No authority tried to stop the vandals, as municipal and national police, as well as the individuals who protect the mayor, chose to leave the municipal building behind them.

We know all this because Anastasia transmitted the facts, lamenting what happened loudly, strictly fulfilling her task of reporting, as can be seen and heard in the videos of her transmission that are still circulating.

The persecution of those who report on abuse of power and corruption is becoming the modus operandi of the authorities in Guatemala. The arrest of journalist Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz, which occurred on September 22, is not separate from all that tangle of corruption and impunity that has been rapidly reinstated in the country since 2016. Adding to that the legal and social neglect when it comes to serving justice for indigenous population is another reason why Anastasia was arrested while she was trying to expose social injustice.

Anastasia was supposed to stand before trial on October 8 but the trial didn’t take place and was postponed to October 28 for “further investigation of the evidences” meaning Anastasia will remain under arbitrary pre-trial detention for more than a month. 

The images which the authorities have still not looked through or commented on clearly show who are the ones who broke doors and set things on fire, it is not seen if someone is ordering them to act in such a way, but it was definitely not the journalist. 

Anastasia’s lawyers also state that her persecution is not isolated from her gender and indigenous status. Anastasia Mejía Tiriquiz proudly owns up to her K'iche 'Mayan identity. Her radio channel broadcasts in Spanish and K'iche ', and most of its reporters are women. Moreover, Anastasia is a stone in the shoe for those who take advantage of the system and abuse their power. It is therefore clear that the legal attacks against Anastasia are well targeted and the authorities act in a way to not apply the law but rather aim to keep the journalist behind bars for as long as possible.

There is no material evidence that could prove that Anastasia did in fact take part in sedition aggravated robbery and arson as claimed by the municipality and rule of law requires that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, so it is evident that what is intended is to punish Anastasia without trial, for the simple “crime” of being the voice of the public. The slowness of the trial proceedings further shows that the aim is not to serve justice, but to intimidate journalists and human rights defenders.

Within this context, Anastasia’s arrest is a clear attack against freedom of expression and the public's right to information. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands for immediate release of Anastasia and the authorities to apologize to her for the false accusations. We demand Guatemalan authorities to prosecute those who commit crimes and not those who report on them. Freedom of the press must be strictly respected and legal mechanisms should not be used as a way to take revenge from independent journalists. 

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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