Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 29 July 2019
Guatemalan activists protest migrant asylum pact with US

By SONNY FIGUEROA ing Salvadorans and Hon-
Associated Press durans to flee their country
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — — gang violence, poverty,
Hundreds of Guatemalans joblessness and a pro-
gathered Saturday to pro- longed drought that has
test an agreement that severely hit crop yields —
President Jimmy Morales' are also present in Guate-
government signed with mala.
Washington to require mi- Guatemala's state attorney
grants passing through the for human rights, Jordán
Central American country Rodas, also criticized the
to seek asylum here, rather accord with the U.S., saying
than pushing on to the U.S. it violates the Vienna Con-
Carrying the blue and vention because Guate-
white national flag, dem- mala signed under duress.
onstrators rallied in front As talks toward an immi-
of the presidential palace gration agreement stum-
in Guatemala City. They bled, U.S. President Don-
called on Morales to resign ald Trump threatened to
for having caved in to U.S. tax remittances sent home
demands to make Gua- by Guatemalans working
temala a "safe third coun- in the U.S., to impose im-
try" for migrants, including Demonstrators demand the resignation of Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, featured in the port tariffs on Guatemalan
those headed north from El poster that reads in Spanish "Traitor," outside the Presidential House in Guatemala City, Saturday, goods and to restrict travel
Salvador and Honduras. July 27, 2019. to the U.S. by Guatema-
The protesters also carried Associated Press lans.
signs calling for Guatemala Rodas described the ac-
to maintain its sovereignty year term ends in January, organizers of the protest "Guatemala doesn't have cord as "immoral and il-
and expressing support for and an August runoff elec- march, said this poor na- the capacity to be a safe legal." Guatemala's top
a United Nations-backed tion is scheduled to deter- tion can barely take care country for migrants that court has said the agree-
anti-corruption commission mine his successor. of its own people, much aren't desired in the United ment must be approved by
that Morales expelled from Human rights activist Bren- less shelter vulnerable mi- States," she said. the country's congress to
the country. Morales' four- da Hernández, one of the grants. The same conditions driv- be enforceable.q

Woman set to replace Puerto Rico's governor rejects job

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) dictates the person would
— The woman who is sup- have to be at least 35, so
posed to replace Puerto that would leave interim
Rico's embattled governor Education Secretary Eligio
announced Sunday that Hernández next in line. He
she doesn't want the job as replaced former educa-
the U.S. territory reels from tion secretary Julia Keleher,
political crisis. who resigned in April and
Justice Secretary Wanda was arrested July 10 on
Vázquez said in a Twitter federal corruption charges.
post that she hopes Gov. She has pleaded not guilty.
Ricardo Rosselló will ap- Vázquez's comments
point a secretary of state came less than an hour af-
before resigning Aug. 2 as ter Public Affairs Secretary
planned. Anthony Maceira resigned.
Former Secretary of State "There were many chal-
Luis Rivera Marín would lenges that we had to face
have been next in line as together as Puerto Ricans,
governor, according to the although sometimes we dif-
U.S. territory's constitution. fered," he said. "The work of
But he is one of more than each one of us must con-
a dozen officials who have tinue with the welfare of
resigned in recent weeks In this Jan. 16, 2018 file photo, then Puerto Rico Justice Secretary Wanda Vazquez answers report- our island and its people as
since someone leaked an ers' questions, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. its north."
obscenity-laced chat in Associated Press The announcement comes
which Rosselló and close a day before Puerto Ricans
advisers insulted people chat, corruption charges selló about her wishes, cre- to Rico's law dictates the planned another march,
including women and vic- against several former gov- ating a chaotic scenario treasury secretary would this time against Vázquez,
tims of Hurricane Maria. ernment officials and a 13- about who will be Puerto be next in line if the justice who is accused of not or-
Rosselló on Wednesday year recession. Rico's next leader. secretary doesn't become dering an investigation into
announced that he would Marín's resignation had left If Rosselló choice for a governor. But current Trea- the alleged mismanage-
step down following nearly Vázquez as next in line to secretary of state is not sury Secretary Francisco ment of supplies for hurri-
two weeks of massive pro- be governor. But she said approved by the island's Parés is too young at 31 cane victims, among other
tests amid anger over the she has already told Ros- House and Senate, Puer- years old. The constitution things.q