IACHR denounces plan to kill Guatemala president-elect Bernardo Arévalo

Less than a week after center-left former diplomat Bernardo Arévalo was elected president of Guatemala in a runoff victory against conservative Sandra Torres, a new obscure chapter of political violence unfolded. On Thursday, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asked the Guatemalan state to provide “urgent protection” for Mr. Arévalo and his running mate Karin Herrera due to rumors of a plot to assassinate them.

In a statement, the IACHR, which serves as the human rights body of the Organization of American States (OAS), said that one such plot is codenamed “Colosio,” in reference to Luis Donaldo Colosio, a former Mexican presidential candidate shot dead during a campaign rally in Tijuana only a few months before an election in 1994. 

According to the document, details of such plans were submitted to the commission by “at least three governmental sources” considered to be “highly reliable.” The resolution also says that “state and private agents” may be behind the conspiracy. Mr. Arévalo and his security team were reportedly aware of the risks before the runoff held on August 20. 

The IACHR has noted with “particular concern” that these rumors take place less than a month after the brutal assassination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, shot dead in Quito shortly before the first round of his country’s snap elections. 

The records showed that unknown social media accounts described Mr. Villavicencio’s episode as a “good idea” to be repeated in Guatemala. During a Friday morning interview, Mr. Arévalo said he has strengthened his security team, adding that he met with government officials after the resolution was published. Incumbent president Alejandro Giammattei did not comment on the case. 

Another parallel between the cases regards those who might be behind it: the new resolution mentions a possible link between the threats to Mr. Arévalo and the activity of “criminal gang structures” — while in violence-hit Ecuador, drug cartels are the primary suspects of having ordered the candidate’s execution.

Messrs. Arévalo and Villavicencio centered their political campaigns on fighting corruption and mafias. 

Although preliminary vote counts show Mr. Arévalo’s triumph was indisputably clear, his adversary Sandra Torres has not yet conceded defeat. This has added to a climate of uncertainty that was already present in the first round, when a court official launched a process to ban Mr. Arévalo’s party following its surprise runoff qualification.

Ms. Torres’ party UNE said a statement will come should “all results are confirmed” by electoral courts. 

• Read more: Skeptical Guatemalans vote amid threats to democracy

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