One step forward and two steps back for Guatemalan media

Two employees of Exploraciones Mineras de Guatemala, S.A. (EXMINGUA), the Guatemalan subsidiary of Nevada-based mining company Kappes, Casssiday & Associates (KCA), were convicted and sentenced to two years in prison for “threats and coercion” against independent journalists reporting on local resistance to a U.S.-owned gold mine during a November 2012 protest. The men can buy their way out of prison by paying $3 per day of their sentence.

Last week's sentencing follows an early October sentence of six months handed down against the ex-minister of Culture and Sports, Jerónimo Lancerio, for threatening journalist Sofía Menchú last March 7th.

These two sentences are important steps by the Guatemalan justice system to protect the growth of a free and independent media. However, Guatemala remains a dangerous place to practice journalism.

On Saturday night, Karina Rottman's bodyguard was shot and killed by two unknown gunmen. Rottman is the head of Guatemala's VEA Canal cable TV channel.

VEA Canal is noted for its analysis and criticism programs generally oriented against the administration of Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina.

The channel allocates TV time to opposition, mainly leftist, leaders, who issue their commentary and critiques of the government.

Apparently, this was the second attacks against Rottman's security detail in the last few weeks.

Two weeks ago, after meeting with Treasury officials in a capital restaurant, two of her bodyguards were beaten up by unknown attackers, she said, demanding that the authorities investigate and clear up the attacks.

There have been more than 80 attacks and threats against journalists in Guatemala so far this year. As I wrote in March, President Otto Perez Molina must do more to protect journalists and a free and independent media in Guatemala if he wants to improve the country's international reputation and gain access to greater international funding like a compact from the Millennium Challenge Corporation. Obviously, it is not all the president but one has to start somewhere.