This Monday, elPeriodico, an investigative daily in Guatemala, published its final edition after more than 26 years. Its executive editor is in jail and some of its reporters are in exile. The newspaper’s demise follows the jailing of its publisher after he was accused by the government of financial crimes and the freezing of its assets as part of the case. This is the latest setback for Guatemala’s increasingly brittle democracy, as President Alejandro Giammattei steers the country toward greater repression, targeting critics, including the news media, opposition politicians and the judiciary.
ElPeriodico was founded during a more hopeful, if uncertain, time, not long before the signing of peace accords in December 1996. The agreement put an end to a civil war in the Central American country, which had lasted 36 years and left hundreds of thousands dead or disappeared.
Since Mr. Giammattei took office in 2020, elPeriodico had published scores of investigative articles focused on government corruption within his administration, including within the prosecutor’s office and the country’s high court.
The shuttering of elPeriodico is a horrible sign for independent journalism in Guatemala and in Central America. It is a reminder of how press freedom is eroding in the region and how strongmen learn from each other to put journalists under pressure.
The closing of elPeriodico is a blow to a nation’s democracy and a reminder of the importance of free thought and expression. We must continue to fight for freedom and democracy in Guatemala and around the world.