The United States Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Brian A Nicholsin a virtual conference offered this Thursday from Washington, responded to the allegations made by President Alejandro Giammattei at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS), that a country intervened in matters that only correspond to Guatemalans, without name, but said that he had withdrawn the visas of deputies who only did their job.
“Under US law we have an obligation to sanction those who hinder democracy or promote corruption. “We have seen corrupt acts by a worrying number of members of the Guatemalan Congress and were forced to act to promote the democratic transition in Guatemala,” Nichols said.
Read also: Giammattei highlights ‘exemplary’ transition in the OAS and criticizes the US
“We will continue to identify those who seek to undermine democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala and hold them accountable… we have several legal tools that we are willing to use even in these days, if there are people who continue to hinder the democratic transition”said the American diplomat.
We condemn the latest actions by anti-democratic actors in Guatemala, including today’s arrest of former Interior Minister Napoleón Barrientos for defending the right to peaceful protest. President-elect @BArevalodeLeon & VP-elect @KarinHerreraVP will take office January 14.
— Brian A. Nichols (@WHAAsstSecty) January 11, 2024
“A corrupt Public Ministry”
“The Public Ministry has acted extralegally and corruptly for too long, but its role is now over. “They – the MP – are going to realize that they have failed in their attempts and that it is time to change,” he added.
“I have no information that any violent incident will occur on Sunday, but we do have to prepare in case the people who have tried to hinder the transition want to continue acting… but the international community has closed ranks on this issue”said the undersecretary when consulted about a resolution proposed yesterday by a group of Democratic senators that ask the Departments of State and Treasury to evaluate sanctions against “possibility that a peaceful transition will not occur” of power in Guatemala.
Nichols stated that the role played by the Constitutional Court (CC), especially in the ruling issued this morning, where it protects the elected vice president Karin Herrera, has been important.
Separately, he pointed out that they have acted, according to North American laws in supporting democracy, on Giammattei’s statements when he said that he had received threats from the United States and the European Union.
