Opinion:If we don't stand strong for democracy in Guatemala, watch out for a worse border crisis

[Judi Lynn]

Guest Column
Chris Eaton

If we don’t stand strong for democracy in Guatemala, watch out for a worse border crisis | Column
If we don’t support the democratically chosen president-elect, the flow of immigrants to the United States will accelerate as thousands are forced to flee violence, corruption and war.



Police in riot gear stand on a highway blocked by demonstrators during a national strike in Guatemala City on Tuesday. People are protesting to support President-elect Bernardo Arévalo after Guatemala's highest court upheld a move by prosecutors to suspend his political party over alleged voter registration fraud. (AP Photo/Santiago Billy) [ SANTIAGO BILLY | AP ]

Published Oct. 14

With the horrendous crises in Israel and Ukraine demanding the active commitment and involvement of the United States, the last thing President Joe Biden needs is another international emergency. Yet, the attempts by Guatemalan officials to manipulate and circumvent the results of the recent presidential election cannot be ignored.

If Guatemalan authorities prevent President-elect Bernardo Arévalo from becoming president or negate his party so that he has no way to lead, then illegal border crossings from Central America to the United States will skyrocket. Republicans and Democrats have an opportunity to come together to support democracy and protect our border.

Arévalo won the election runoff in August with 59% of the vote, a decisive margin against a well-seasoned politician, Sandra Torres. Arevalo ran on an anti-corruption platform and his sizable margin speaks to the yearning of the population to clean up the corruption that has seized Guatemala. Since the election, however, powers within Guatemala have tried to negate the results and minimize Arévalo’s capability for bringing about sweeping anti-corruption reform. Arévalo has warned of a “siege” and had said Guatemala is using violence to counter protests. Brazilian President Lula da Silva has warned of a potential coup.

To protect Arévalo’s election, Guatemalans have taken to the streets, virtually shutting down the country, to protest the corrupt officials’ attempts to undermine democracy. Guatemalan news reports that approximately 70% or more of restaurants are closed. Pictures of grocery stores with no products on their shelves are widespread on social media.

More:
https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2023/10/14/if-we-dont-stand-strong-democracy-guatemala-watch-out-worse-border-crisis-column/

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. Until we, as a country. understand that the Nixon/Reagan years

and our US policies with regards to SA and CA created the conditions of today's reality...we will never figure this out.