Hundreds of citizens marched through several streets of the Guatemalan capital today to the National Palace of Culture (seat of Guatemala’s executive branch) to defend democracy and prevent a coup.
Photo: twitter@PrensaComunitar
Civil society organizations, groups, families, the elderly, children, the Lgbtiq+ population and students carried national flags and banners and chanted “Here is the strength of the people” to the rhythm of drums.
“Consuelo, coup leader, you are the terrorist” was the central slogan of the protest, referring to Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who was called on to resign along with other of her officials and judges.
As they passed, protesters donned black ribbons denouncing corruption and declared that “they are fed up with everything those in power are doing.”
People who listen, join the fight, escape the coup plotters, the people united will never be defeated, we will not allow Guatemala to be stolen again, participants said.
“This is a cycle of protests that is just beginning,” one of the organizers said before the start, while residents admitted that they had set out from different departments early in the morning to join the call.
Guatemala will prosper, the will of the people must be respected, added the participants, who remained in the Plaza de la Constitución despite the rain.
The country’s elected president, Bernardo Arévalo, denounced a coup the day before and called for unity to defeat coup forces “who intend to keep us trapped in corruption, impunity and poverty,” he claimed.
The incumbent and former MP warned that the inauguration would require four months during which the “political mafias” would try to implement their strategy contrary to the popular will expressed during the elections.
At the deputy’s request, the Registrar of the Supreme Electoral Court, Ramiro Muñoz, complied this week with a court order to revoke the legal personality of the Movimiento Semilla party.
The Executive Board of the Congress (Unicameral) has decided to ignore the Semilla Bank and declare it independent, given alleged anomalies in the constitution of this political force in 2018 that keep this Central American nation in tension.
A rally entitled “United for Democracy” is taking place in the central park of La Paz in Cobán, capital of the Alta Verapaz department.
On Monday at 8:00 a.m. local time, Santa Cruz del Quiché will gather residents under the slogan “Let them stand down.” At the same time, a sit-in is planned in front of the Public Ministry headquarters across Guatemala.
(Taken from Prensa Latina)