GUATEMALA CITY, July 7 (Prensa Latina) The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) of Guatemala has denounced abuses committed by the juntas during the June 25 elections before prosecutors, an official source reported here today.
At a meeting with prosecutors from political parties, the President of this body, Irma Palencia, added to the facts presented to the Prosecutor’s Office against the members of these bodies the burning of ballot papers and damage to facilities.
The judge addressed the hospitalization of some citizens and the disappearance of other citizens, which require them to submit habeas corpus, she stressed.
Palencia called for coherence between discourse and practice, citing the violent stance of political forces and their supporters in the contest.
During the election, the high-risk table registered threats against reception and community leaders in Huehuetenango, Jalapa, Quetzaltenango and Alta Verapaz departments.
The participants of the meeting agreed that for the second round of voting, the authorities must ensure the safety of those involved in counting the ballots.
Various sectors of society and international organizations have supported the work of the panels since last Sunday, whose work has been questioned by political groups unhappy with the voting results.
Although the second review of the record, ordered by the Constitutional Court, ended last night in the presence of prosecutors and board members, uncertainty remains in Guatamala over the continuity of the vote.
The new review process, conducted between Tuesday and Thursday, confirmed candidates Sandra Torres, former first lady and representative of the National Unity of Hope, and Bernardo Arévalo of the Seed movement are due to run for the presidency on August 20.
Lam/Znc