Journalists demonstrate outside the Supreme Court in Guatemala City, Saturday, March 4, 2023. Journalists rejected a judge’s order requesting the investigation of nine journalists from the newspaper El Periódico, including President José Rubén Zamora, a prominent government critic , has been imprisoned on various charges since last year. Several of the journalists investigated by the prosecution filed an amparo appeal in court on Friday March 10, 2023 to end what they consider to be persecution for their journalistic work. (AP Photo/Wilder Lopez)

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A group of journalists being investigated by the Guatemalan prosecutor’s office, with the permission of a judge, have sought an injunction from a court of law to halt the investigation which, in their opinion, constitutes a threat of punishment of persecution for the publications which they carry out within the framework of their journalistic practice.

The amparo was requested by Denis Aguilar, Álex Valdez, Rony Ríos and Christian Véliz, with the support of the organization Acción Ciudadana and the section of Transparency International in Guatemala, with the intention of stopping the investigation.

Edie Cux, of Acción Ciudadana, said that with this call they intend to respect what the constitution says, namely that “there is no crime, nor fault for the criticisms made by journalists”. . Any official who feels offended by journalistic publications can resort to established legal mechanisms such as the press jury to settle the matter.

Just over a week ago, Judge Jimi Bremer, at the request of prosecutor Cinthia Edelmira Monterroso, authorized the investigation of nine journalists and columnists from the morning newspaper El Periódico for allegedly obstructing justice in publishing journalistic investigations of complaints, questionable court decisions or disciplinary sanctions. process of justice operators, including matters where Monterroso was mentioned.

The prosecutor was denounced for actions related to the abuse of power in the exercise of her functions and is also in charge of two proceedings against the president of El Periódico, José Rubén Zamora, imprisoned for more than seven months for money laundering silver. money crimes, blackmail and obstruction of justice.

Zamora is a well-known journalist who is highly critical of the government of current Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei, and his outlet specializes in anti-corruption issues he has denounced for years.

After Zamora’s arrest, dozens of media, national and international organizations called for his release, denouncing that there is a scheme behind the charges against him. Last week, his lawyers announced that at Zamora’s request they were leaving his defense, as the prosecution also filed criminal charges against the defenders.

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