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A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 7 September 2018

Guatemala Morales defends ending UN anti-graft commission

By SONIA PEREZ D fight against impunity and
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — corruption in Guatemala,
President Jimmy Morales and to save his own skin in
on Thursday defended his the process."
decision to wind down a Wade said there's no rea-
U.N. commission investigat- son to think "that this is
ing graft in Guatemala, re- somehow going to reaf-
sponding to domestic and firm the state's fight against
international critics who corruption and immunity
called it a blow against ef- — there is no fight within
forts to strengthen rule of the state against corrup-
law and hold the corrupt tion and impunity. There's
accountable. a reason CICIG's there to
In an address in Guate- begin with." Also Thursday,
mala City, Morales argued U.S. Secretary of State
that the exit of the Interna- Mike Pompeo called Mo-
tional Commission against rales and "reiterated the
Impunity in Guatemala United States' support for
next year will not jeopar- Guatemalan sovereignty,"
dize further investigations spokeswoman Heather
of corruption. Nauert said. "They dis-
He added that his decision cussed the importance of
not to renew the mandate Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales reads a statement at the National Palace of Culture in Gua- continuing our cooperation
of the commission, known temala City, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. in the fight against corrup-
as CICIG for its initials in Associated Press tion and impunity and the
Spanish, doesn't obstruct Guatemalan government's
justice but rather aims "to in September 2019 to trans- But with the president fac- us can take this at face val- efforts working with" CICIG,
locate the constitution of fer its duties and expertise ing allegations of receiving ue," Christine Wade, a po- Nauert added in a state-
the republic as our highest to Guatemalan institutions. more than $1 million in un- litical scientist at Washing- ment. "The Secretary ex-
law." "Guatemala will respect the declared financing during ton College in Maryland, pressed continued support
Morales announced last current mandate of CICIG, his 2015 campaign — he said of Morales' claim that of the United States for a
week that he was not giv- and we will be willing to denies wrongdoing — crit- the commission's exit would reformed CICIG and com-
ing the commission another promote the eminently ics see his explanation as a not affect investigations. "It mitted to continue working
two-year term in the coun- technical methodology" cover for self-preservation. would seem that the entire with Guatemala on imple-
try, giving CICIG until the to continue investigations, "I think it's a ridiculous asser- purpose of not renewing menting the reforms in the
end of its current mandate Morales said Thursday. tion. I don't see how any of CICIG is to undermine the coming year."q

Brazil presidential candidate Bolsonaro stabbed during event

By MAURICIO SAVARESE and he is OK," wrote Flavio, He also speaks nostalgical-
PETER PRENGAMAN who also asked for prayers ly about the country's 1964-
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Jair for the family. 1985 military dictatorship
Bolsonaro, a leading presi- A statement from federal and has promised to fill his
dential candidate in Bra- police said the candidate government with current
zil, was stabbed during a had bodyguards. In the and former military leaders.
campaign event on Thurs- videos, Bolsonaro does not His vice presidential running
day, though officials and appear to be wearing a mate is a retired general.
his son said the injury was protective vest. Earlier this week, Bolsonaro
not life-threatening. "This episode is sad," Presi- said during a campaign
Numerous videos on social dent Michel Temer told re- event that he would like
media showed Bolsonaro, porters in Brasilia. "We won't to shoot corrupt members
whose far-right platform have a rule of law if we of the Workers' Party. The
includes cracking down have intolerance." comment prompted an
on crime in Latin Ameri- Bolsonaro, a former Army immediate rebuke the at-
ca's largest nation, being captain, is second in the torney general, who asked
stabbed with a knife to the National Social Liberal Party presidential candidate Jair Bolson- polls to ex-President Luiz In- Bolsonaro to explain that
lower part of his stomach. aro greets supporters as he gets a shoulder ride from a member acio Lula da Silva, who has comment.
of his security detail, in Brasilia's Ceilandia neighborhood, Brazil,
At the moment of the at- Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018 been barred from running Other candidates quickly
tack, Bolsonaro was on the Associated Press but continues to appeal. denounced the attack.
shoulders of a supporter, Despite being a congress- "Politics is done through di-
looking out at the crowd sonaro had been stabbed Bispo de Oliveira, and that man since 1991, Bolsonaro alogue and by convincing,
and giving a thumbs up and that his attacker was he was beaten up badly is running as an outsider never with hate," tweeted
with his left hand. arrested. by Bolsonaro supporters af- ready to upend the estab- Gerado Alckmin, former
After the attack, he is seen Santiago said Bolsonaro ter the attack. More infor- lishment. governor of Sao Paulo who
flinching and then goes out was taken to a hospital in mation about de Oliveira While he has a strong fol- has focused negative ads
of view. Other videos show Juiz de Fora, a city about wasn't immediately avail- lowing, Bolsonaro is also a on Bolsonaro.
supporters carrying him to 125 miles (200 kilometers) able. deeply polarizing figure. He Fernando Haddad, who is
a car. north of Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro's son, Flavio Bol- has been fined, and even expected to take da Silva's
Police spokesman Flavio and was in good condition. sonaro posted on Twitter faced charges, for derog- place on the Workers' Par-
Santiago confirmed to The Santiago said the attacker that his father is doing fine. atory statements toward ty's ticket, called the attack
Associated Press that Bol- was identified as Adelio The wound "was superficial women, blacks and gays. "absurd and regrettable."q