Global Courant 2023-05-13 03:52:22
The closing of elPeriodico underlines the regional trend for governments to crack down on independent media, observers say.
One of Guatemala’s oldest and best-known news organizations has said it will close its doors later this month amid what it describes as a campaign of government persecution.
ElPeriodico, a 27-year-old investigative journalist known for covering government corruption, said Friday it would cease operations on May 15.
“It is with deep sadness that we are forced to discontinue the daily edition of elPeriodico,” the board said in a statement. “The prosecution has intensified, as has the harassment of our advertisers.”
The decision came after Guatemalan authorities arrested the news outlet’s award-winning founder Jose Ruben Zamora last July on charges of money laundering and blackmail.
The publication accused President Alejandro Giammattei’s government of discrediting critical voices through “criminal prosecution and economic pressure”.
Aviso importante a nuestros lectores, anunciantes, sociedad en general y comunidad Internacional. pic.twitter.com/jt0Z8Y8gMc
— elPeriodico (@el_Periodico) May 12, 2023
News outlets in the Americas region have faced growing difficulties in recent years as governments have attempted to suppress independent voices.
Last month, the Salvadoran investigative journal El Faro announced it would move its administrative and legal operations to Costa Rica, citing harassment by the government of President Nayib Bukele.
This included infiltration of El Faro reporters’ phones with Pegasus, an Israeli-made spyware that has also been used in Mexico and other countries.
In Guatemala, Zamora’s trial could become a “breaking point” for press freedom for the country, said Juan Pappier, acting deputy director for the Americas at Human Rights Watch.
The trial, which began this month, has led to the arrest of four of Zamora’s lawyers. In addition, six journalists and three columnists of elPeriodico are being investigated in parallel processes.
In November, elPeriodico cut 80 percent of its staff and ended its print publishing, focusing exclusively on digital in an effort to continue its work.
Zamora has repeatedly described his arrest as “political persecution” amid the newspaper’s attention to alleged cases of corruption by the Giammattei government. The prosecutor’s office denies these allegations.
“It has been 10 tough months of resistance. We thought we could adapt, transform and survive with an online version,” added Ramon Zamora, the founder’s son.
“However, prosecution increased, as did the harassment of our advertisers and sustaining our business became increasingly difficult.”
