Its officials have done their duty responsibly and abided by the law, the ancestral organization said in response to the Ministry of State’s (MP) attacks on the citizen register of the body responsible for the voting process.
No one is obliged to obey unlawful orders, especially those from corrupt individuals with ties to organized crime and industries that violate human rights, he said in a statement.
He expressed his deep concern at the continued violations of the Constitution by MP and the head of the Seventh Criminal Court, Fredy Orellana.
They aim to violate the fundamental right of Guatemalans to vote and be elected and to protect officials from the regime of corruption and impunity that has prevailed in Guatemala in recent governments, the Council stressed.
They are desperately trying to hold on to power to continue plundering and appropriating the people’s money, he added in the text.
He demanded that the Constitutional Court guarantee compliance with the Elections and Political Parties Act and the second ballot, and also give legal protection to the TSE.
The indigenous authorities blamed the Attorney General Consuelo Porras, the head of the Special Prosecutor against Impunity Rafael Curruchiche and Orellana for the crisis they caused.
They supported the work of the international election observation missions and called for complaints to be lodged with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
They called for the resignation of Porras, Curruchiche and Orellana for “their wrong, illegal and openly undemocratic actions”, while expressing their solidarity with the TSE and their defense of the citizens’ vote.
The 48 cantons called on other indigenous peoples, the general public and social organizations to demonstrate and join the fight for respect for democracy and the popular will expressed at the polls.
They declared a permanent assembly and reaffirmed their readiness to “take such action as is necessary to defend democracy, the will of the people, and a dignified future for our families and our country.”
In favor of a democratic Guatemala, free from corruption and dictatorships, the indigenous authorities shut down after the uproar the MP stirred up from his questioned investigation centered on the Seed movement party.
Bernardo Arévalo, presidential candidate of this force described as progressive, continues his campaign in a duel with former First Lady Sandra Torres of the National Unity of Hope.
Lamb/Znc