Guatemala

GUATEMALA The most significant development was a resolution by the Constitutional Court temporarily suspending a decree by Congress that seriously limited access to information sources. The decree concerned regulations on coverage of executions, prohibiting photographs and live or taped broadcasts. A citizen filed a constitutional Challenge to this decree, saying that Article 3 violates the Political Constitution of the Republic, the Law of Freedom of Thought and the human right of freedom of information as is described in international declarations, treaties and conventions signed and ratified by Guatemala. On April 29 the Constitutional Court accepted the case and temporarily suspended Article 3, saying it is blatantly unconstitutional and could cause irreparable damage to the practice of journalism. But, on the other hand, because of the disaster caused by Hurricane Mitch, the government declared a state of emergency throughout the country, suspending certain constitutional rights, including freedom of expression. The first civil right suspended provides that no person may be persecuted for his or her opinions or for actions that are not an infraction of the decree. April 3: The main press associations issued a joint statement of support for Attorney General for Human Rights Julio Arango Escobar, who had complained of continuous official harassment of the media. Actions against the human rights official can be traced to official groups closely linked to the governing party. April 30: Journalist Hector AmHcar Nuila, a resident of Coban, Alta Verapaz, reported that a grenade was placed in his home. He had been reporting and commenting on facts concerning the murder of the auxiliary bishop of Guatemala, Juan Gerardi Conedera. May 20: The National Civil Police reported that it agents had found a hand grenade next to the exterior wall of a residence in the eastern city of Jalapa. The device was wrapped in a note containing a death threat against Raul Rodriguez, editor of the news program Telenoticias.