Guatemala arrests ex-minister who resigned rather than use force against protesters
Guatemala has arrested its former interior minister for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he opted for dialogue with protesters rather than using force to remove them as a court had ordered
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemalan police on Thursday arrested the country's former interior minister for allegedly not carrying out his duties when he opted for dialogue with protesters rather than using force to remove them as a court had ordered.
Police arrested Napoléon Barrientos at his home, leading him out in handcuffs and a bulletproof vest. Barrientos told reporters he didn’t know why he was being arrested.
The Attorney General’s Office said in a message to the press that Barrientos hadn’t complied with a court order to maintain public order.
Barrientos resigned in October, after weeks of nationwide protests aimed at forcing the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras. The protests were in response to Porras’ persecution of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, his party and electoral officials.
