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May 15, 2023

Guatemalan Newspaper El Periódico Shutters After Persecution by Giammattei Gov't
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In Guatemala, the prominent investigative newspaper El Periódico is
closing after months of intensifying harassment and persecution from the
right-wing government of President Alejandro Giammattei. Founder José
Rubén Zamora remains in detention after nearly one year, accused of
money laundering and other charges that human rights and press freedom
groups have denounced as political retaliation over exposés of
government corruption. Zamora's trial began earlier this month.
Meanwhile, several of El Periódico's journalists and columnists are also
being investigated by Guatemalan authorities. The newspaper laid off
most of its staff and shut down its print edition in November.


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