In Guatemala, threats and violence against journalists and human rights defenders are widespread.
TrialWatch monitored the trial of award-winning Guatemalan journalist and founding director of El Periódico, José Rubén Zamora, who was arrested on July 29, 2022, and was convicted in June 2023 to six years for ‘money laundering.’
TrialWatch is going to release a report on Zamora’s case, having commented publicly on how his defense was hamstrung from day one by a revolving door of defense lawyers. Financial crimes were used to silence journalists and activists around the world in other cases that TrialWatch monitored, including in India, Morocco, and Uganda.
Abelino Chub
TrialWatch also monitored the trial of indigenous land rights activist Abelino Chub, who was detained for over two years based on a complaint by a private company that he was involved in burning down trees on a plantation.
The presence of a monitor in the courtroom during the trial of Abelino Chub likely contributed to his acquittal, according to Chub’s lawyer. The TrialWatch Fairness Report found that “Chub’s unjustified pretrial detention constituted a gross violation of human rights and there are indicia that his prosecution was motivated by improper considerations.”
The presence of a monitor in the courtroom during the trial of 33-year-old indigenous land rights advocate Abelino Chub in Guatemala likely contributed to his acquittal after two years in detention, according to Chub’s lawyer. He was charged with aggravated usurpation and arson for allegedly burning trees and fields on a plantation run by a large banana and palm...
Guatemala: Acquittal of Indigenous Land Rights Activist
The presence of a monitor in the courtroom during the trial of 33-year-old indigenous land rights advocate Abelino Chub in Guatemala likely contributed to his acquittal after two years in detention, according to Chub’s lawyer. He was charged with aggravated usurpation and arson for allegedly burning trees and fields on a plantation run by a large banana and palm company. TrialWatch monitored the criminal proceedings against Chub in 2019 through its partners, the American Bar Association’s Center for Human Rights, and gave the proceedings an F: TrialWatch’s lowest grade.
The TrialWatch Fairness Report found that “Chub’s unjustified pretrial detention constituted a gross violation of human rights and there are indicia that his prosecution was motivated by improper considerations.”
The damage done by Mr. Chub’s prolonged, arbitrary detention cannot be understated.
