Central America

Demand resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras in Guatemala

Photo: @noficciongt

October 6 |

Indigenous authorities and community representatives, students, teachers and people of Guatemala, demand this Thursday the immediate dismissal of Attorney General Consuelo Porras, accused of conspiring against democracy.

According to local reports, this is the fourth day of protests against the Attorney General and head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Consuelo Porras, by blocking roads and calling for a national strike.

For their part, the indigenous and ancestral authorities of Guatemala, including the Indigenous Groups of Mayan Descent, presented a document to be delivered to President Alejandro Giammattei, in order for Porras to be removed from her position.

Indigenous organizations from 48 cantons of the department (province) of Totonicapán (west) and other social organizations, including universities and some trade unions, started the protests last Monday, when road authorities reported the blockage of at least 15 highways in different parts of the country.

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CEL

On the other hand, the president of 48 Cantones de Totonicapán, Luis Pacheco, requested the resignation of the prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche and the criminal judge Fredy Orellana, whom he accused of being involved in the electoral processes, and called the population to join the protests.

Likewise, they have referred that they will remain in the streets until Consuelo Porras is dismissed, whom they accuse of hindering the elections held this year in the nation, won by the social democrat party Movimiento Semilla, in the person of Bernardo Arévalo de León.

The Attorney General’s Office of Guatemala previously confiscated the voting records of the elections on September 30, an action which has generated accusations of illegality.

Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.